US08408805B2
A rolling bearing embodied as a radial-axial rolling bearing which has a bearing sleeve in which rolling bodies designed for absorbing axial forces are arranged in pockets of an axial cage. The axial cage has, on its inner side, a centering bevel which is produced by deformation of the axial cage.
US08408804B2
A crankshaft bearing assembly is for a reciprocating fluid-machine. The crankshaft bearing assembly comprises a shaft having a co-rotating first eccentric surrounded by a second eccentric. The second eccentric is adjustable around the first eccentric, and the second eccentric is surrounded by a bearing and a crankshaft bearing housing. The second eccentric is connected, by means of a coupling, to a shaft sleeve concentrically rotatable around the shaft. The coupling comprises a carrier which co-rotates with the shaft sleeve. The carrier, at a radial distance from the center axis of the shaft, is provided with a slide bolt projecting into a groove in a slide casing, the slide casing being fixedly connected to the second eccentric.
US08408802B2
The bi-directional rotation offset pivot thrust bearing includes a carrier and an array of longitudinal protrusions thereon that run through the center axis of the carrier. An array of pads are in slidable engagement with the longitudinal protrusions to permit the thrusts pads to move between first and second rotational positions. The thrust pads are automatically offset pivoted in a first direction when in a the first rotational position and automatically offset pivoted in a second direction when in the second rotational position. The thrust pads are offset pivoted in an approximate 60 percent to 40 percent ratio with the leading side of the thrust pad being 60 percent in both the first rotational position and the second rotational position. A retainer is also provided to maintain the thrust pads in slidable communication with the protrusions.
US08408801B2
An oiling nozzle for a thrust bearing improves the following capability of pads and achieves a higher bearing pressure of the thrust bearing. The oiling nozzles are arranged between respective pads disposed in positions facing the thrust surface of a thrust collar that protrudes radially outward from a rotor shaft, along the circumferential direction. Each oiling nozzle has a cylindrical stem and a rectangular-shaped mainframe whose heightwise middle portions of opposite lateral sides are provided with convex parts. Each convex part presents a semicircular disk shape in a plane view to be fitted into concave parts that are formed in lateral sides of the pads. A top portion located on a side opposite to the stem is formed with a plurality of nozzle holes for ejecting lubricating oil that has been supplied from the bottom of the stem toward a space between the thrust collar and the pads.
US08408795B2
A ball-spline with rotary mechanism is provided which is as small as possible in size, able to perform high-precision works on a small scale and also weighs less than ever, helping the downsizing of the component-placement systems. The ball-spline has a spline shaft, a slider movable along the spline shaft through balls, and bearings installed on the opposite ends of the slider for rotation relative to a machine bed. The holder has a pair of projections which extend through slots in the spacer parts and slots in the end-cap major body to fit into slots in a carriage. Fastening screws fit into threaded holes in the projections to fasten the holder to the opposite ends of the slider.
US08408791B1
An improved storage bag comprises a bag body that defines an opening at a top thereof and two folding lines respectively at two opposing sides thereof. The bag body is provided with two handles respectively at the two opposing sides above the folding lines, so that when the bag body is extended into shape, the handles can be folded relative to the bag body along the folding lines to be overlapped horizontally. The bag body is provided with at least one support bar at each of the two opposing sides. Each support bar extends from a bottom of the bag body to an underside of one of the handles. The support bars can engage with the underside of one of the handles to support the bag body in the extended shape, thereby preventing the bag body from a collapse when the storage bag is in use.
US08408779B2
An illuminated mouse pad having a light guide having a top side, a bottom side and a perimeter side, a light source for directing emitted light through a first portion of the perimeter of the light guide, and an array of light diffusers located on the bottom side of the light guide, said light diffusers capable of diffusing or spreading out or scattering light emitted by the light source to give a soft back light to the top side.
US08408778B2
A display device including a light unit is provided. The light unit may include a light guide plate, a light emitting module, and a color coordinate conversion sheet. The light emitting module may include a plurality of light emitting diodes configured to emit light to a side of the light guide plate. The color coordinate conversion sheet may be positioned on the light guide plate to convert a color coordinate distribution of the light emitted by the light emitting module to a color coordinate distribution that falls within a target distribution range.
US08408764B2
A vehicular lamp includes a reflective housing having a first recessed portion with a reflective surface. An outer housing made of heat dissipating material is fixed to the reflective housing and includes a plurality of fins on an outer surface thereof. The outer housing further includes a second recessed portion receiving the reflective housing. A receiving portion is provided behind the second recessed portion and receives a circuit board. A heat conductive seat made of heat dissipating material includes a connecting plate fixed to the outer housing. An extension extends from the connecting plate to a central, front portion of the reflective housing. The LED light module is mounted to the extension and electrically connected to the circuit board. A light-transmitting cover is mounted to and covers openings of the reflective housing and the outer housing.
US08408760B2
A lamp assembly, that has a fixed base, and a yoke which is controlled to move relative to the base to cause a panning motion. The yoke holds a lamp head. The yoke has a bottom portion and a top portion. A lamp head, which includes a light source therein, is coupled to said bottom portion of the yoke. The lamp head moves to form a tilting motion, thereby allowing both pan and tilt. The yoke includes handles thereon, including a first handle on a bottom most portion of said yoke, and a second handle on a top most portion of said yoke. One embodiment has the handles integrated into the yoke, e.g., molded to or recessed into the yoke.
US08408759B1
A canister for use with a luminaire, the canister having an interior heat sink incorporated into and within a top cover of the canister and a source of illumination retained within the canister. The heat sink includes a multiplicity of air fins separated by air gaps, the air fins extending radially from an interior wall of the cover. The heat sink also includes a multiplicity of air fins separated by air gaps, the air fins extending radially from an interior wall of the canister. The top cover has an opening and a removable sealing cap having a recessed surface extends into an interior of the top cover when affixed to the top cover to enclose the opening.
US08408755B2
A stage lighting fixture has a casing having a closed first end and an open second end; a light source housed inside the casing, close to the first end, to emit a light beam along an optical axis oriented longitudinally with respect to the casing; an objective optical system located along the optical axis, at the second end of the casing, and having a focus position; a circular-aperture diaphragm located along the optical axis, between the light source and the objective optical system, to intercept the beam; and an iris diaphragm located along the optical axis, between the light source and the objective optical system, and which can be set to the focus position.
US08408750B2
An LED illuminating device includes a hollow base including a first end and a second end, an LED substrate, a connector, and a driving circuit module accommodated in the base. A plurality of vents are defined in a circumferential wall of the hollow base; a space is formed between a circumferential wall of the driving circuit module and the inner surface of the circumferential wall of the hollow base. The space can communicate with the plurality of vents and serve as a hot air channel, to promote heat exchange between hot air in the base and cool air outside the base.
US08408749B2
Provided are light emitting apparatus including a solid state light emitting element having a first side and a second side, the solid state light emitting element configured to emit light from the first side. Such apparatus further include an elongated thermally conductive element positioned to conduct thermal energy from the second side of the solid state light emitting element.
US08408745B2
Systems and methods that incorporate a variable liquid lens are disclosed. In at least some embodiments, a light projecting system includes a light source, and a light processing assembly configured to receive a light beam from the light source and to project an output field. The light processing assembly includes at least one liquid lens configured to controllably process the light beam such that the output field is variable between a relatively-broader illuminating field and a relatively-narrower targeting field. In some embodiments, a controller may controllably adjust the at least one liquid lens to alternately provide the illuminating field and the targeting field, and may controllably adjust at least one dwell time to adjust a brightness of at least one of the illuminating and targeting fields, respectively.
US08408736B2
An LED light includes at least one geometric-unit(s) arranged to project light beams to illuminate different remote areas, and may further include LEDs for illuminating nearby areas.
US08408732B2
The present invention provides a wirelessly connectable light source, which includes a woven member, an electrical conductor, a receiver circuit, and a light-emitting element. The woven member includes a body and an extension section extending from the body. The conductor is arranged in the body and the receiver circuit is electrically connected to the conductor. The light-emitting element is arranged inside the body and includes a light emission section and two conductive sections. The light emission section emits light projecting outside the body of the woven member. Light emitting from the light emission section is projected outside the body of the woven member. The two conductive sections are electrically connected to the conductor. Through integration of the extension section of the woven member to an article and coupling of a charging device to the article, the charging device may perform electrical charging to the receiver circuit so as to supply electrical power to the light-emitting element for giving off light.
US08408731B1
A safety vest assembly is provided for enhancing visibility of road workers or others in dark conditions. The assembly includes a vest having a rear section having opposite sides. The vest further has a front section coupled to and extending from the opposite sides of the rear section. A first front panel is coupled to a front surface of the vest forming a first front pocket. A first front light is positioned in the first front pocket. The first front light is visible through the first front panel whereby the vest is configured for enhancing visibility of a wearer of the vest.
US08408728B2
A fixture for through hole mounting to a panel includes a flange structure fabricated of a translucent material. The flange structure includes a body portion adapted to extend through a mount hole in the panel and having a outer peripheral portion, and a transverse flange portion having an outer size larger than the hole opening. A periphery flange portion overlaps the panel surrounding the hole when the flange structure is installed in the panel hole. A light source attachment portion is configured to direct light emitted from a light source into the body portion of the flange structure, so that at least some of the emitted light passes into the flange portion to illuminate the flange portion.
US08408725B1
A remote light wavelength conversion device is provided for converting a source light emitted from a light source within a source wavelength range into a converted light within a converted wavelength range. The remote light wavelength conversion device may include a waveguide and a color conversion optic. The waveguide may include a first end and a second end and the color conversion optic may be adjacently located at the second end of the waveguide. The color conversion optic may convert the source light transmitted through the waveguide to the converted light.
US08408723B2
Backing lighting of induction touch keys is accomplished with a spacer layer surrounding an inductive touch sensor coil and a light source on a substrate, and light transmissive layer having a suspended metal disk proximate to the inductive touch sensor coil. A protective fascia may be placed over the light transmissive layer and spacer layer. When the light transmissive layer is displaced toward the inductive touch sensor coil the impedance value of the inductive touch sensor coil changes and the change is detected. Materials used that are translucent (light transmissive) may be continuous and solid, and opaque materials may have openings therein for transmission of light therethrough.
US08408721B2
An imaging light source module that includes a plurality of light guides, a plurality of light emitting sources, and an intermediate image surface is disclosed. Each of the plurality of light guides has an entrance face, an exit face, and at least one side wall, and all of the light guides are capable of delivering light along associated light distribution axes intersecting a common reference point. Each of the plurality of light emitting sources delivers light only to a single light guide of the plurality of light guides. The intermediate image surface comprises a plurality of pixels, where each pixel receives light from the exit face of a single associated light guide of the plurality of light guides.
US08408717B2
A projection type image display apparatus includes a first lens group including a plural number of lenses being disposed in a direction of propagation light with respect to an image display element, a second lens group including a plural number of lenses being disposed in a direction of propagation light with respect to said first lens group and a reflection mirror, which is configured to reflect light emitted from at least one of said first and second lens groups, so as to project the light obliquely upon a screen. A ratio (Lo/Lp) of a diagonal size (Lo) of said screen and a distance (Lp) from a center of said reflection mirror to said screen is at least 2, and the second lens group includes a refractive lens having a negative power and a rotationally symmetric surface configuration.
US08408714B2
A light source device includes: an arc tube having a light emission portion; a first reflection mirror having a substantially concave surface for reflecting light emitted from the light emission portion; and a container which accommodates the arc tube and the first reflection mirror, wherein the container has a duct unit disposed above the arc tube. The duct unit includes a first opening open to the arc tube and disposed at a position shifted toward the traveling direction side from an opening end of the first reflection mirror, a wall portion which forms the edge of the first opening on the side opposite to the traveling direction side as a final end of the duct unit, and an inclined portion disposed in the vicinity of the edge of the first opening on the traveling direction side to bend the flowing direction of the cooling air toward the surface opposite to the surface having the first opening.
US08408711B2
A reflector applied in a projector including a projection control circuit, a light source unit, a beam combiner, and a lens is disclosed. The reflector includes a transparent electrode layer, an electrophoresis layer and a pixel electrode layer. The electrophoresis layer includes a plurality of micro cups, each micro cup contains suspension therein and a plurality of charged particles. The pixel electrode layer includes a plurality of pixel electrodes corresponding to the micro cups. The projection control circuit provides voltages between each pixel electrode and the transparent electrode layer to drive the charged particles to migrate. When the charged particles arrive at the transparent electrode layer, the lights from the light source unit are reflected by the charged particles to the beam combiner to be combined into an image to be transmitted to the lens to project an image.
US08408708B2
A polarization switch provides substantially ideal binary polarization switching over a broad range of wavelengths using a polarization modulation wheel having at least one retarder stack that transforms polarization. Using the polarization modulation wheel in a polarization system provides a high throughput polarization switch and operates over a wide range of incidence angles while providing substantially continuous and smooth polarization output for each component for any selected polarization basis set. The polarization modulation wheel is well-suited for stereoscopic polarized projection applications.
US08408705B2
The present invention is directed to a system for observing a cornea for transplantation which includes: an illumination means for illuminating the cornea for transplantation contained in a container; an entire-view imaging means for imaging the substantial entirety of the interior of the container; a position adjusting means for adjusting the position and angle of the cornea for transplantation; a magnified-view imaging means for imaging a magnified view of the cornea for transplantation illuminated by the illumination means; an image display means for displaying each image taken by the entire-view imaging means and the magnified-view imaging means; and an image control means for controlling each image.
US08408701B2
A method for generating a trimming setpoint for an ophthalmic lens to be fitted in a surround of a spectacle frame, includes: a) within a coordinate system of the surround identified by a horizontal axis, acquiring the shape of a longitudinal profile of the surround and the perimeter length of this longitudinal profile; b) within an optical coordinate system of the ophthalmic lens which is identified by a centering point and by a horizontal axis and which is made to coincide with the coordinate system of the surround, centering and orienting the longitudinal profile, c) projecting the acquired longitudinal profile onto a curved surface deduced from a curvature parameter of the ophthalmic lens or from the spectacle frame, d) correcting in two operations, the shape of the projected longitudinal profile, so as to equalize its perimeter length with the perimeter length of the acquired longitudinal profile, and e) deducing from the corrected longitudinal profile the trimming setpoint.
US08408687B2
An ink tank of the foam type which is provided with a detected portion capable of exactly and surely detecting the amount of ink used by the printer or remaining in the ink tank. The ink tank includes a sub ink chamber that is disposed or formed between a main ink chamber and an ink outlet of an ink tank of a foam type. When an amount of air flowing into the sub ink chamber increases, one or more reflecting surfaces of a right-angled prism, which function as ink interfaces, resume their original function of reflecting surfaces, thereby enabling the detection of an ink end. Air bubbles having entered the sub ink chamber are surely led onto the one or more reflecting surfaces by a bubble storage part. At an ink passage having a narrow width, which is defined by the one or more reflecting surfaces, air bubbles are pressed against the one or more reflecting surfaces to be put to a crushed state and in surface contact with the latter. Air bubbles are surely led onto the one or more reflecting surfaces, and are crushed and pressed against the reflecting surfaces. This configuration prevents the one or more reflecting surfaces from being covered with ink retained in spaces among the air bubbles. Therefore, the ink end can be detected surely and exactly.
US08408684B2
A core module for an ink jet printer includes a housing and a connection manifold disposed on the housing and including a plurality of ports providing fluid communication into and out of the module. A plurality of components is disposed within the housing, including a filter module, an ink reservoir, and an ink circuit. The filter module includes a fluid filter disposed in a filter housing. The filter housing has an inlet and an outlet. The ink circuit is in fluid communication with the components and the ports, and includes fluid paths for conveying ink between the components. The filter module is connected to the connection manifold such that the filter housing inlet and outlet are each in fluid communication with one of the plurality of ports on the manifold.
US08408682B2
An insulation container has an insulation material, a filter arranged to encase the insulation material, the filter of a material that prevents escape of the insulation material while allowing air to pass through, and a container arranged to encase the filter, the container being heat sealable. A printer has an ink supply, a print head arranged to receive ink from the ink supply and configured to receive electrical signals from a controller and to dispense ink in accordance with the electrical signals onto a print substrate, and an insulator to absorb heat from the print head. A method of manufacturing an insulator includes forming a filter container of a filter material, the filter material having openings small enough to prevent escape of the filter material and large enough to allow air to pass through, filling, at least partially, the filter container with an insulating material, sealing the filter container, inserting the filter container into a sealable container, applying a vacuum to the sealable container such that the vacuum is applied to the filter container as well, and sealing the sealable container.
US08408673B2
A printing apparatus and ink discharge failure detection method capable of precisely detecting temperature information corresponding to each nozzle are provided. Temperatures of respective electrothermal transducers (heaters) are measured on the basis of outputs from a plurality of sensors corresponding to the respective heaters. The temperatures of the heaters at a predetermined timing during a printing operation are predicted on the basis of the temperature change profiles of the respective heaters that are generated by energizing the heaters. A plurality of thresholds corresponding to nozzle states are generated on the basis of the predicted temperatures and the driving conditions of an inkjet printhead, and it is controlled to execute temperature measurement at the predetermined timing. A temperature measured under the control is compared with the respective generated thresholds, and the nozzle state is identified on the basis of the comparison results.
US08408666B2
A drawer assembly for mounting beneath a shelf has a drawer and a mounting unit. The drawer has a bottom, a front end, a rear end, and a pair of opposed side panels. The mounting unit is configured to mount to a shelf and has a pair of spaced apart drawer supports that support the drawer under a shelf. A pair of laterally spaced apart tracks is provided on either the drawer side panels or the mounting unit drawer supports. A pair of lugs protrudes from each of the other of the drawer side panels or the mounting unit drawer supports. Each pair of lugs is slidable relative to and along a respective one of the tracks. The drawer is slidable between a closed position and an open position relative to the mounting unit. The tracks and lugs cooperate such that the front end and rear end of the drawer are substantially level with one another in the closed position and the front end is lower than the rear end in the open position.
US08408665B2
A refrigerator door is provided. The refrigerator includes a door body filled with an insulating material, an exterior member on a front surface of the door body, a home bar frame around an opening opened in a side of the door body, a home bar cover coupled to the home bar frame to support at least one end of the exterior member, and a home bar door pivotally coupled to the home bar frame to selectively shield the opening. The home bar door shields an exposed portion of the home bar cover when the home bar door is closed. Thus, an outer appearance of a front surface of the refrigerator is improved nearly to unity.
US08408661B2
An electronic device enclosure includes a computer case, a mounting tray for receiving an expansion card and a fastening member. The computer case includes a front plate. A positioning slot and an opening are defined in the front plate. The fastening member includes a main body attached to the mounting tray and a latching plate connected to the main body. The latching plate is positioned in the positioning slot. An inserting portion is located on the latching plate and elastically engaged in the opening.
US08408658B2
The present invention relates to a novel method of mining underground coal and recovering coal seam gas, the method including locating a seam of coal; digging a mine shaft to reach the seam of coal; constructing a ventilated underground control center which includes a computerized control panel, wherein the computerized control panel controls the movement of a drill head, a hollow drill shaft, a movable hydraulic shield, a movable resin roof bolting machine, and a movable waste extrusion device; providing mining personnel to the ventilated underground control center; and allowing the mining personnel to operate the computerized control panel wherein they perform the tasks of moving the drill head into the seam of coal to obtain aggregate coal and coal seam gas; extruding waste material into mined-out space of the coal seam; and transferring the aggregate coal and coal seam gas to the surface of the earth.
US08408648B2
A fold and tumble mechanism may be used with a vehicle seat having a seat bottom, a seat back that is pivotable with respect to the seat bottom, and a latch associated the seat bottom for coupling the seat to a vehicle body. The fold and tumble mechanism may include a recliner mechanism adapted to pivotally mount the seat back to the seat bottom, a recliner release lever, and a fold and tumble release lever. The recliner release lever is associated with the recliner mechanism and is movable to selectively release the recliner mechanism to allow the seat back to pivot. The fold and tumble release lever includes a cam that is engageable with the recliner release lever. Furthermore, the fold and tumble release lever is operable to move the recliner release lever to release the recliner mechanism, and is further operable to unlatch the latch.
US08408643B2
A seat for a powered aircraft, the seat comprising a bucket (2) that is supported in hyperstatic manner on a stand. Leg members (7, 8) carry the bucket (2) via bolts (10). A first hinged mechanism for geometrically compensating deformation of the floor associates a ball-joint mounting of the bolts (10) on the leg members (7, 8) with an axial deformation arrangement of the bolts (10) between opposing axial bearing surfaces where they press against a strength member (9) of the bucket (2) and against the leg members (7, 8). A second energy-absorber mechanism associates fuses (22) with deformable support members (23) for the bucket (2), which members engage the bolts (10) and the leg members (7, 8) via slides (25) arranged to adjust the initial height position of the bucket (2).
US08408638B2
A reinforced vehicle structure includes a first vehicle wall, a second vehicle wall, an accessory attachment member and a reinforcement member. The first vehicle wall has a first outer wall surface facing an outboard direction and a first inner wall surface facing an inboard direction. The second vehicle wall extends transverse to the first vehicle wall, and has a second outer wall surface facing a first direction and a second inner wall surface facing an opposite direction. The accessory attachment member is mounted to the first inner wall surface. The reinforcement member has a first end mounted to the accessory attachment member and a second end mounted to the second inner wall surface with the reinforcement member spanning the first and second vehicle walls such that the reinforcement member does not extend parallel to either of the first and second vehicle walls.
US08408626B1
An aerodynamic stowable bed extender for pickup trucks meant to be mounted upon the lowered tailgate of the truck bed and utilized in conjunction with either an aerodynamic truck bed cap or tonneau cover. The aerodynamic bed extender is positioned in either a deployed configuration, upon the lowered tailgate, or a stowed configuration within the bed of the pickup truck. Deployed, the bed extender increases the fuel efficiency of the truck while also increasing usable cargo space within the truck bed. The aerodynamic bed extender comprises a cover and two side panels. The cover can be raised to an open position allowing access to the truck bed or detached from the side panels and stowed within the truck bed. The side panels can be repositioned from a deployed position to a stowed position within the bed of the pickup truck.
US08408624B2
A barrier for a vehicle that comprises a main section adapted to reside in a vehicle footwell and the main section has a width that is defined between opposite first and second ends thereof that is about half of a width of the vehicle footwell. A divider section is disposed substantially perpendicularly to the main section. The divider section is configured to rest on a vehicle seat. The divider section defines a length between opposite first and second ends thereof. The length of the divider section is substantially the distance from one of the first and second ends of the main section to a back of the vehicle seat, whereby the divider section is configured to define first and second discrete areas in the vehicle such that the divider section is located between the first and second discrete areas.
US08408623B1
A vehicle body with multiple elevation hard top has storage underneath and is capable of driving with the hardtop present or removed. A front passenger compartment has a front rooftop and a pair of rear quarter panel sides enclosing a rear of the vehicle body. A pair of removable side sections is disposed on and above respective of the two rear quarter panel sides and further enclosing the rear of the vehicle body. A hard rooftop is capable of setting upon and connecting to either one of said pair of removable side sections or the pair of rear quarter panel sides. A storage compartment is created underneath the hard rooftop and between the pair of rear quarter panel sides. The storage compartment is capable of holding at least said pair of removable side sections and also roof tops and the rear glass.
US08408622B2
A frame molding is provided. The frame molding includes a frame molding main body having first claws and a holder member assembled with the frame molding main body. A holder member includes a metal holder portion and a resin holder portion fixed to the metal holder portion. The resin holder has receiving portions that are crimped by the claws.
US08408619B2
An aspect of the invention provides a robot hand that performs an action for gripping an object between plural finger sections provided to be capable of changing a distance between the finger sections. Between the plural finger sections, a palm section movable along a direction in which a base side of the plural finger sections and a distal end side of the plural finger sections are connected is provided.
US08408616B2
Featured is a gripper for a tailgate; such a gripper includes a rotation pad at each regulation surface of a locator and a clamper of each clamping unit, where a swivel ball is mounted on the rotation pad. Each clamping unit is movable in a vertical direction or a horizontal direction by a movement unit of a frame so as to be adaptable to angle differences of each regulation surface of the tailgate. Such a tailgate gripper further includes a frame having a tool mounting portion to mount a tool changer of a robot in a lower portion of a rear surface thereof.
US08408615B1
An animal waste pickup device that has a handle, an elongate member and an upper pair of operating arms and a lower pair of operating arms located at the lower end of the elongate member. A fibrous material attaches to spiked material underlying the upper pair of arms. The upper arms are hingedly raised and lowered where the hinge connection is at the bottom of the elongate member. The lower pair of arms is configured to clamp together along a generally central point and the lower pair of arms further has spaced-apart apertures that are aligned to correspond with the spiked material such that the spiked material protrudes through the apertures a sufficient distance to engage the fibrous material. The lower pair of arms is operable using a grip trigger at the handle area that is in mechanical communication with the lower arms.
US08408604B2
A quick connector capable of surely confirming that a pipe body is engaged by a retainer when an elastically-deformable claw of the retainer and an elastically-deformable claw of a checker are adjacently arranged in an axial direction. Checker-axis direction elastically-deformable claws have distal-end sides formed flexibly deformable in the axial direction, maintain a state of being engaged by a second engagement portion of a retainer body by having deflective deformation regulated by a retainer diameter-expanding elastically-deformable claw in a state in which the retainer diameter-expanding elastically-deformable claw is expanded diametrically, and regulate sliding from a first position with respect to the retainer body toward a set radial direction by being engaged by the second engagement portion of the retainer body.
US08408603B2
A coupling device for a sealed coupling of first and second pipe sections, which are movable with respect to one another and at the ends of which respective flanges are fastened to be mutually sealed. The end face of the second flange, which is directed toward the first flange, includes an annular groove and a sealing element is disposed within the annular groove. The annular groove is configured to be subjected to pressure so as to press the sealing element against the end face of the first flange. The sealing element is a sealing ring made of elastic material.
US08408600B2
A tank mounting technique of the invention effectively responds to a variation in size of a high-pressure tank T in its longitudinal direction and allows positioning of the high-pressure tank T around its longitudinal axis. A tank receiving recess 110 provided below a vehicle platform F has a pair of a front inclined surface 112F and a rear inclined surface 112R arranged to face each other across a concave groove 114. A side face of the high pressure tank T is brought into contact with both the inclined surfaces 112F and 112R. An end face of a tank positioning groove TVS formed on the high pressure tank T is brought into contact with a contact structure 121 of a tank edge bracket 120. This arrangement enables the high-pressure tank T to be positioned in a vehicle vertical direction and a vehicle front-back direction, as well as in the tank longitudinal direction (in a vehicle width direction). The tank positioning groove TVS is aligned with a notch 122 formed in the tank edge bracket 120 to specify a rotational position of the high-pressure tank T around its longitudinal axis.
US08408599B2
A guide loop for a vehicle seat belt system includes a first portion configured for attachment to a body of a vehicle in one plane and a second portion extending from the first portion at an angle and configured for attachment to the body in another plane. The guide loop is fixedly attachable to and not rotatable with respect to the body. In another embodiment, the guide loop includes a third portion extending from the second portion and substantially parallel to the first portion. The third portion is spaced apart from the first portion prior to attachment to the body so as to define a channel that is configured for receiving a seat belt webbing. A guide loop for a vehicle seat belt system including a height adjuster includes a loop portion and a stop portion, and is fixedly attachable to and not rotatable with respect to the height adjuster.
US08408597B2
A sewing thread of a sewn portion provided in an air chamber of an airbag is prevented from being cut during manufacturing, and damage to the airbag starting from an end of the sewn portion is suppressed. An inner connecting portion (30) provided in an air chamber of an airbag, at which opposing base fabrics are connected to each other, is formed of a first sewn portion (31) formed by sewing the base fabrics together so as to divide the air chamber, a second sewn portion (32) that surrounds an end (31T) of the first sewn portion (31) to protect it, and an adhesive layer (35) formed around the sewn portions (31) and (32). Ends (32T) of the second sewn portion (32) disposed on both sides of the first sewn portion (31) are formed such that they are continuously sewn toward an inner region (R) of the second sewn portion (32) along the end (31T) at a predetermined distance therefrom, such that they project further than the end (31T) of the first sewn portion (31), without intersecting the first sewn portion (31).
US08408594B2
A seatbelt system for a vehicle includes a seatbelt anchor, a seatbelt connected to the seatbelt anchor, and an airbag mounted to the seatbelt anchor such that the airbag is provided separately from the seatbelt. The airbag may be a side airbag for a pelvic area of a vehicle occupant. The seatbelt system may deploy the airbag to a desired location in a short amount of time and in a precise manner with improved confidence that the airbag has been deployed to the desired location.
US08408592B2
A vehicle seat is provided having a sufficient rigidity and strength as well as a lighter weight. It comprises cushion materials and skin materials on a seat frame and has a plurality of triangle or circular recesses and projections that are continuously formed in at least a part of the seat frame.
US08408590B2
An active bolster for passenger crash protection in a vehicle comprises a base wall and a front wall, the walls having first and second facing surfaces to form an inflatable bladder with an initial open space between the surfaces. The bladder includes a plurality of tear joints. Each tear joint is comprised of first and second upstanding ribs wherein the first upstanding rib extends from the first surface part way into the open space and extends end-to-end along a first direction. The second upstanding rib extends from the second surface part way into the open space to contact the first upstanding rib and extends end-to-end substantially along a second direction that is substantially transverse to the first direction so that the first and second upstanding ribs contact at an intersection. At each intersection the first and second upstanding ribs comprise a welded joint that is substantially rigid against compression forces and that allows the tear joints to separate under tension during inflation of the bladder.
US08408587B2
A dashboard support part is provided for fastening on a dashboard of a motor vehicle, having an airbag exit opening for unfolding a passenger airbag, and a flap configuration, which is hinged on the dashboard support part and closes the airbag exit opening. The dashboard support part has a depression, in which the flap configuration is received. The flap configuration comprises a separate flap, which closes the entire airbag exit opening, is only connected to the dashboard support part along a hinge line, and rests in the depression along its remaining circumference.
US08408579B2
Ski adapted to receive a skier's boot, the ski having a front tip, a rear end, front and rear contact lines, and a central zone between the front tip and the rear end. The distance separating the forward contact line and the ski tip is greater than or about 500 mm. The shovel, located between the front tip and the forward contact line has a convex zone which includes a first shovel portion having a lateral profile extending between an arc of circle with a 9-meter radius and an arc of circle with a 5-meter radius; a second shovel portion contiguous with the first shovel portion and having a lateral profile extending between an arc of circle with a 9-meter radius and an arc of circle with a 1-meter radius; a third shovel portion contiguous to the second shovel portion and extending to the front tip of the ski.
US08408577B2
An adjustable hitch assembly including a mounting collar, a hitch base with a vertical post having a plurality of alternating square sections and circular sections, a hitch ball member having at least one hitch ball and a pivot shaft extending therefrom. The vertical post is slidably and rotatably received through the mounting collar; the pivot shaft is rotatably received in the mounting collar. The mounting collar, to which the hitch ball member is attached, may slide vertically along the vertical post and may rotate about the vertical post to adjust the height and angular position of the hitch ball member. The hitch ball member may have a plurality of variously sized hitch balls that a user may select by rotating the hitch ball member about the pivot shaft. A single rotatable latch pin received by the mounting collar engages and disengages the various components of the hitch assembly to allow adjustability.
US08408576B2
Disclosed is an improved all terrain vehicle (ATV) trailer hitch system, comprising a first and second pivotal joint connected by an elongated driveshaft for navigating uneven terrain and maneuvering through tight turns without joint binding or trailer tipping. The driveshaft comprises a length adjustable member having a first end connecting to a lead vehicle via a first pivotal joint that statically supports the joint and allows pitching of the driveshaft. The driveshaft second end attaches by way of a second pivotal and rotatable joint to a trailer attachment assembly. The trailer attachment assembly provides connection to the trailer and for receiving an elongated drive screw member that establishes a rotational joint. The second pivotal joint therefore provides yaw and roll capability for the trailer. The system provides a multiple joint connection separated by an elongated driveshaft between a vehicle and a trailer for reduced binding and off-road maneuvering.
US08408574B2
A bicycle including a front wheel, a rear wheel, and a frame supported on the front and rear wheels, the frame having a frame member. The bicycle further includes a first fairing member protruding outward from the frame member and having a side surface defining an aerodynamic trailing edge and a second fairing member detachably mounted on the first fairing member such that the side surface is exposed.
US08408573B2
In one embodiment, a stem for bicycle handlebar and the like includes an arm joining the handlebar with a fork. The arm includes a three-piece wedge on each end that is adjustable by a screw to tighten and loosen a middle clamp of the wedge. The wedge is moved to release and tighten the fork and the handlebar independently.
US08408559B1
An active geometry control suspension system may include an active roll control unit having a guide rail formed along a predetermined distance in a front-rear direction from a rail seat inserted down from above a lower arm, sliders slidably fitting in the guide rail, a stabilizer link with one end pivotally coupled to the sliders, a pushrod with one end pivotally connected to the sliders, and an actuator having an operation bar, one end of which may be pivotally connected to the other end of the pushrod, the operating bar operating forward or backward, wherein the one end of the stabilizer link and the one end of the pushrod may be connected to the sliders through a double ball joint, and the other end of the pushrod and the one end of the operation bar may be connected through a ball joint.
US08408551B2
A card shoe handling device includes a playing card output receiver including a playing card support surface and a ceiling at least partially disposed relatively over the playing card support surface. The playing card output receiver is sized and positioned to receive a number of playing cards handled by the playing card handling system. The playing card handling system also includes an elevator mechanism operable to selectively move the playing card output receiver between a lowered position and a raised position, where in the lowered position the ceiling limits access from an exterior of the playing card handling system to the playing cards carried by the card support surface of the playing card output receiver and in the raised position the ceiling does not limit access from the exterior of the playing card handling system to at least some of the playing cards carried by the playing card output receiver.
US08408545B2
Apparatus for feeding sheets of paper printed by a printer to a sheet processing device is disclosed where the printer has a sheet discharge outlet and the processing device has a sheet inlet at a different location (e.g., a different height) than the discharge outlet. A sheet conveyor is provided for conveying the sheets from the sheet discharge outlet to the sheet inlet. The apparatus blows air to cool on each sheet as it is conveyed from the discharge outlet to the sheet inlet, and the apparatus at least partially eliminates static electricity from the sheets as they are conveyed.
US08408541B2
A method and apparatus for controlling transfer of paper. In order to align the leading end of a sheet of paper, when the sheet arrives at a predetermined position in an image forming apparatus, a registration unit is stopped from operating and a driving unit that transfers the sheet from an auxiliary paper-feeding unit is also stopped from operating so that bending and crumpling of the sheet can be minimized.
US08408538B2
A discharge mechanism includes a rotary shaft, a roller member, and a deforming unit. The roller member has a peripheral surface that is coaxial with the rotary shaft, rotates together with the rotary shaft, and discharges a medium that is in contact with the peripheral surface. The deforming unit deforms the medium in such a way that a part of the medium, the part being not in contact with the peripheral surface, passes through a position that is closer to the rotary shaft than the peripheral surface is. A part of the peripheral surface, the part being in contact with the medium, is continuously displaced in an axial direction and in a rotation direction of the rotary shaft when the roller member is rotated.
US08408537B2
A sheet reversing mechanism for an image forming apparatus including a switchback reverse path for reversing print sheets, including a transfer roller, a drive motor, and a driving force transmission mechanism. The transfer roller transfers a print sheet along the switchback reverse path. The drive motor rotates in a forward direction and in a reverse direction. The driving force transmission mechanism transmits driving force generated by rotation of the drive motor to the transfer roller. The driving force transmission mechanism includes a clutch configured to connect or disconnect transmission of the driving force to the transfer roller.
US08408524B2
In a device for humidifying a gas flow, an atomized liquid is combined with a gas flow in a spray chamber, and passed through a generally U-shaped gas flow passage having a first generally vertical part 3 through which the atomized liquid and gas passes to a lower part 4. From there, the gas passes generally vertically upwardly to an outlet 9. The lower part of the passage incorporates an opening 6 to a water separator 7. The opening 6 is closable by a float device 10, or includes a flow restricting control valve 13.
US08408522B2
The invention relates to a lifting device (10), in particular a semitrailer support or the like, comprising a shank tube (11) and a support tube (12) which is movable with respect to the shank tube, wherein on the shank tube a lifting gear mechanism (26) is arranged which comprises an input shaft arrangement (27) for connecting a drive device, and an output shaft arrangement (28) for driving a lifting spindle (20) which is arranged within the support tube and which acts on a pressure plate (18) arranged within the shank tube, wherein the pressure plate is located above the lifting gear mechanism.
US08408512B2
A mount for mounting a mirror on a knife. The knife has a blade, a blade tip, and a handle. The mount has a base that is configured to engage a mirror, and a housing that is coupled with the base. The housing defines a cavity that is configured for receiving at least a portion of the knife blade such that the blade tip is substantially enclosed by the housing when the blade is positioned in the cavity. Preferably, the housing encloses approximately between 1 to 5 inches of the knife blade.
US08408501B2
A hose clamp includes a hanger configured to be suspended from a harness. A clasp defines lower pockets and is rotatably attached to the hanger by a hinge. The clasp is configured to rotate about the hinge between an open position, in which flexible lines can be laid into the pockets, and a closed position in which the hanger and the clasp together surround and capture the lines in the respective pockets. A latch is configured to latch the clasp in the closed position.
US08408500B2
An aircraft wing comprising a wing fixed central body, and a leading edge mobile slat (16) designed to be moved in rotation relative to the fixed central body along a circular trajectory inscribed on a sphere with center (C). According to the invention, the wing also comprises a cable carrier chain (30) comprising links (34) articulated to each other through articulation axes (44) that converge towards a single point, the chain being connected at its two ends to the fixed central body and to the mobile slat. Furthermore, the single point is the center (C) of the sphere, located on a rotation axis (42) of the leading edge mobile slat relative to the wing fixed body.
US08408499B2
The invention provides according to one aspect an aircraft, comprising a fuselage, an airfoil mounted to the fuselage and a flap for steering the aircraft. Furthermore, connecting means articularly connect the flap to the airfoil such that the flap is allowed to rotate around a rotation axis substantial parallel to the trailing or leading edge of the airfoil between a retracted position and an extended position and to translate in a direction substantially parallel to the rotation axis. A rod articularly connect the flap to the airfoil or to the fuselage, wherein the rod defines the translation of the flap in the direction parallel to the rotation axis. Hence, by way of one aspect of the invention, forces acting of the flap in a direction parallel to the rotation axis can be taken up by the rod. Consequently, there is no need for using locating bearings having negative aerodynamic effects due to their by comparison large dimensions in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of flight of the aircraft.
US08408492B2
A floor panel, in particular for covering floors of cargo holds of aircraft, is formed by a plurality of milled profiles, which are friction stir welded along their longitudinal edges, with preference continuously to form longitudinal (butt) seams. The milled profiles each form a beam “of equal stress”, with an upper flange and a lower flange spaced apart from one another along their extent. The milled profiles have a double-T-shaped cross-sectional profile, the upper flanges and the lower flanges being respectively connected by webs. With preference, the milled profiles are milled out in one piece from solid material of a sufficiently tough aluminum alloy. The joining together of the floor panel including a plurality of milled profiles that are arranged in parallel and friction stir welded allows a high mechanical load-bearing capacity of the floor panel in comparison with conventional sandwich floor panels along with a comparatively low weight.
US08408485B2
A mixer attachment for use with a skid steer. In one embodiment, the mixer attachment includes a mixing tub with a circumferential wall extending between a floor and a rim to define an interior compartment for holding a quantity of material. An auger may be provided that mixes the materials and is driven by a hydraulic drive unit. In some embodiments, one or more material retarders extend into the interior compartment to impede movement of the material within the interior compartment. A discharge chute allows discharge of material from the interior compartment. The mixing tub is movable between a scooping position and a mixing position.
US08408483B2
A dental water jet apparatus for adjusting a pressurized water stream from a pump to a tip moves pressurized water from a reservoir to a tip in fluid communication with the pump. A flow control knob may be turned to selectively adjust the water pressure supplied by the tip between a minimum and a maximum value. When the flow control knob is turned in a first direction, the volume of fluid directed towards the tip decreases and the volume of fluid returned to an inlet of the pump increases. Fluid may flow from the reservoir and ultimately into the tip to provide oral irrigation and/or cleaning of the teeth, gums, and tongue.
US08408479B2
Method of spraying a pulverulent material into a carrier gas, comprising the acceleration of the carrier gas under pressure up to a sonic velocity before an expansion enabling the pulverulent material to be entrained, with formation of a constant stream of carrier gas entraining an adjustable predetermined amount of pulverulent materials, and safety device for spraying pulverulent material into a carrier gas.
US08408476B2
An optical recognition pattern for length measurement is mounted on an optical contact surface and includes a plurality of optical recognition units, each of which corresponds to a length value. The sequence of the optical recognition units on the optical contact surface is consistent with that of the corresponding length values in such a way that the optical recognition pattern imitating the conventional measuring ruler can be constituted. Besides, the optical recognition pattern can further work with an optical recognition device to constitute a length measurement system that the optical recognition is applied to.
US08408467B2
An optical apparatus (10) for an optoelectronic sensor (100, 200) which has at least one lens (14a-b), wherein a further optical element (18) is provided in the beam path of the optical apparatus (10) for extending the depth of field, wherein the optical element (18) is made and/or arranged such that a part of the beam path remains free and thus generates a first depth of field; and wherein the optical element (18) has a planoparallel zone which only covers a part of the beam path of the optical apparatus (10) and thus generates a second depth of field.
US08408463B2
An electronic transaction card communicates with an add-on slot of an intelligent electronic device. The add-on slot may be a memory card slot. The intelligent electronic device may be a mobile phone or other device with or without network connectivity. The electronic transaction card may have magnetic field producing circuitry compatible with magnetic card readers, smartcard circuitry, other point-of-sale interfaces, or any combination thereof.
US08408460B2
A ranging system for use with a projectile launching device is provided. The ranging system includes an alignment marker visible with an optical sight device. The position of the alignment marker is adjusted based at least on a determined range to a target.
US08408450B2
A packaging configuration is disclosed. The packaging configuration comprises a sheet of packaging film having a leading end portion and a trailing end portion. The sheet is formed into a tube such that the leading end portion and the trailing end portion overlap each other to form an overlapped region having overlapping films. The overlapped region comprises a tear line region along a tear line extending in a machine direction. The sheet further comprises a tab having an attached end attached to the sheet at the leading end portion and a free end opposite to the attached end. The overlapping films in at least a portion of the overlapped region are sealed against each other; and the overlapping films within the tear line region are not sealed against each other or are less strongly sealed against each other than the overlapping films outside the tear line region.
US08408442B2
A surgical device comprising an anvil, a cartridge assembly, a dynamic clamping member, a clamp ring and a drive mechanism is disclosed. The cartridge assembly is configured to house a plurality of fasteners at least partially therein. The anvil and cartridge assembly are movable in relation to each other between open and approximated positions. The dynamic clamping member is slidably positioned to translate at least partially through the cartridge assembly to eject fasteners therefrom. The dynamic clamping member engages the anvil and the cartridge assembly. The clamp ring is movable from a retracted position to an advanced position at least partially encircling proximal portions of the anvil and cartridge assembly for preventing a gap between proximal portions of the anvil and cartridge assembly from exceeding a predetermined distance. The drive mechanism includes a single actuator for driving both the clamp ring and the dynamic clamping member.
US08408441B2
An anvil assembly comprising an anvil shaft and an anvil head, the anvil head having anvil depressions for forming surgical staples. The anvil head is mounted to the anvil shaft and the anvil shaft has a longitudinal axis and first and second spaced apart elongated projections attached to the anvil shaft and extending therefrom. The projections are configured and dimensioned to retain a purse string suture.
US08408438B2
An adjustable depth-of-drive assembly for use with a fastener-driving tool upper probe includes a workpiece contact element carried on the upper probe and having a contact end and an adjustment end, a stop configured for being secured to the upper probe and being moveable between an adjusting position in which the workpiece contact element is movable relative to the upper probe, and a locked position wherein the adjustment end is secured against movement relative to the upper probe, a biasing element associated with the stop and configured for urging the stop and the adjustment end into a selected locked position relative to the upper probe with a biasing force, and at least one camming element carried on the stop for selective camming engagement between the upper probe and the stop by means of a user's manual force to urge the stop into the adjusting position against the biasing element force.
US08408437B1
A motorcycle saddlebag storage system employs a specially configured shelf that enables a user to segment a saddlebag interior into multiple sections, each for holding articles (e.g. tools, gloves, supplies).
US08408431B2
A fluid dispenser valve having a valve body (10) containing a metering chamber (20), and a valve member (30) that is slidable in the valve body (10) between a rest position and a dispensing position so as to dispense the contents of the metering chamber (20) selectively. The valve member (30) is urged resiliently towards its rest position by a spring (8) that co-operates firstly with the valve body (10) and secondly with a radial collar (320) of the valve member (30), the radial collar (320) being of a shape that is polygonal, the vertices (325) of the polygon being substantially rounded.
US08408428B2
The device includes a membrane slidably mounted in a metering chamber, the membrane including a first sealing element forming a check valve, and a second sealing element enabling the membrane to slide in a leaktight manner relative to the metering chamber. The first and second sealing elements are made of a material that is relatively flexible, the membrane also including a rigid portion made of a material that is more rigid than the material of the first and second sealing elements.
US08408426B2
A squeeze bottle forces substantially all of the liquid to be dispensed toward a top of the bottle. A valving arrangement reduces or eliminates a likelihood of air contacting the liquid to be dispensed. A top cap has a nozzle with a one-way valve allowing liquid to leave a liquid bag. A bottom cap has a one-way valve allowing air to enter an airbag. The liquid bag and the airbag are positioned within a sealed third chamber. The liquid bag and the airbag have a controlled interaction within the sealed third chamber, which results in substantially complete emptying of the liquid bag by squeezing the bottle.
US08408424B2
An apparatus that promotes the flow of materials has a body having an inner shape for holding the materials, a wall having a shape that approximates a portion of the inner shape of the body, and a vibrator attached to the wall. The wall may be disposed vertically within the body close to the body's inner shape. The vibrator transfers vibrations to the wall to agitate the material and encourage material flow.
US08408423B1
A method and apparatus for dispensing sanitizer fluid from a door handle. The apparatus includes a handle having a nozzle, an actuator fluidly coupled to the nozzle, and a cartridge of sanitizer fluid fluidly coupled to the actuator. Manipulation of the handle causes the actuator to dispense sanitizer fluid from the nozzle.
US08408417B2
A tank, comprising a storage space enclosed by a substantially fluid-tight tank wall, wherein the tank wall comprises a curing material for causing transition from a first flexible state to a second substantially form-retaining stage, wherein the tank wall is provided with a preformed opening for substantially fluid-tight co-action with a preformed valve.
US08408405B2
A shelving system including an elongated support member and a plurality of shelves, each of which can be supported by a clamping mechanism. The support member has a telescoping configuration so that upper and lower ends of the support member can be pressed against upper and lower stationary objects. The clamping mechanism allows the plurality of shelves to be adjusted both vertically and laterally along a length of the elongated support member.
US08408402B2
A desk organizer is adapted to be located between a computer screen and keyboard to store or locate various items of stationery. The desk organizer has an elongate body, having an upper inclined surface facing the user and a lower surface to face and abut a support surface. The elongate body is shaped having recesses to removably locate various items therein and at least one device support surface to support an IT device. The device support surfaces are positioned in the elongate body at the ends such that when a device is located on the device support surface a user can both secure and operate the IT device with one hand.
US08408397B2
A shaker apparatus including a basket having an upstream side, a downstream side, and two side walls, at least one wedge guide and one support rail disposed on each side wall, and at least one screen assembly. The support rails and the wedge guides may be configured to engage the screen assembly. The screen assembly may have one or more layers of screen mesh mounted on a screen frame. The screen frame may include a first and a second side rail, each having an upstream end, a downstream end, a top surface, and a bottom surface. A slope of the top surfaces intermediate the upstream end and the downstream end may be different than a slope of the bottom surfaces intermediate the upstream end and the downstream end.
US08408396B2
The invention is a process for the beneficiation and utilization of various kinds of coal and shale oil as a solid fuel for thermoelectric power stations. The beneficiation process is performed underground, near to the place of beneficiation waste stowing, using aqueous salt solution with a density between those of the target component and waste rock. The regeneration of heavy liquid from final beneficiation tailings is performed by washing with non-aqueous volatile liquid, with subsequent drying by the subsurface heat after placing these tailings in the worked-out space. The resulting vapors are compressed and condensed; thus regenerated non-aqueous liquid is returned for washing the beneficiation tailings, while effluents produced by washing are separated into aqueous and non-aqueous components by heat released at the liquefaction of the non-aqueous liquid vapors. The enriched solid fuel remaining in the floatable state is delivered by its flow to the thermo-electric power plant.
US08408389B1
A three piece sealed dispensing and storage cap that is inserted onto the neck of a liquid bearing container threaded neck of a bottle, said device being a storage chamber for sealably containing a liquid and/or dry material and a dispenser for releasing the material when desired into the primary container. The dispensing cap may include a desiccant to prevent moisture from reaching the storage chamber. The bottom seal that is frangible and ruptured to activate the device may include a line of weakening. The button top is depressed manually forcing an actuator against the bottom of the cap body seal to rip away the bottom seal dispensing the material. The present invention allows the use of materials that would discolor, degrade or interact with other substances when added to the contents of the bottle, to remain stable and/or inactive until the time of use.
US08408374B2
A coupling assembly which has an adjusting device. In order to prevent uncontrolled adjusting of the adjusting device during transport until installation, a transport lock is provided. In order to be able to further propose an installation space-neutral solution, which, in particular, has no negative impact on the actuating system, grabber arms are disposed for lever elements of the coupling assembly axially in the direction of the counterpressure plate.
US08408368B2
A caliper brake including a mounting bracket adapted to be secured to a vehicle. The mounting bracket includes a pair of laterally spaced holes, and a mounting bolt is received through each hole. Each bolt includes a head and a threaded portion on opposing ends, and a nut is received on each threaded portion. An inner spacer extends between the mounting bracket and the nut on each bolt, and an outer spacer extends between the mounting bracket and the head on each bolt.
US08408361B2
A ladder assembly includes a ladder, two wheel carriers mounted on the ladder movably and rotatably, two wheels each rotatably mounted on a respective one of the wheel carriers, two fastening members each extended through a respective one of the wheel carriers and each secured on the ladder to attach the respective wheel carrier to the ladder, and a support rack pivotally mounted on the ladder. Thus, when the support rack and the wheels are expanded outward from the ladder, the ladder assembly can function as a carrier, and when the support rack and the wheels are folded onto the ladder, the ladder assembly can function as a ladder so that the ladder assembly both functions as a ladder and a carrier, thereby enhancing the versatility of the ladder assembly.
US08408357B2
An attenuator for the air inlet tract of an internal combustion engine comprises an unobstructed tube (4) having a surrounding enclosure (9) divided into a primary chamber (11) in fluid communication with the inlet tube, and a secondary chamber (12) in fluid communication with the primary chamber. Two secondary chambers (12, 13) may be provided. The arrangement can be tuned to attenuate a wide range of frequencies.
US08408356B2
A box-shaped enclosure of a storage box includes a deadening wall or walls defining a storage space between first and second planes. The storage space is open at the first and second planes. A deadening wall member extends along the first plane. An auxiliary box-shaped enclosure is connected to the box-shaped enclosure so as to close the first plane of the box-shaped enclosure. The auxiliary box-shaped enclosure defines an auxiliary space isolated from the storage space with a deadening wall member. The storage space is connected to the fresh air through the ventilation opening and the auxiliary space. The deadening wall or walls of the box-shaped enclosure and the deadening wall member serve to prevent the leakage of the operating sound.
US08408353B2
Disclosed is a vehicle steering apparatus (1; 301) equipped with a control device (12; 322) which controls the actuation of an electric motor (18; 317). First and second housings (23, 24 325, 312), which are in contact with each other, partition off an accommodation chamber (100; 324) which contains the control device (12; 322). The first housing (23; 325) is at least one part of the motor housing (25; 323). The first housing (23; 325) includes a first interior wall surface (101; 401) which partially partitions the accommodation chamber (100; 324). The second housing (24; 312) includes a second interior wall surface (102; 402) which partially partitions the accommodation chamber (100; 324). The first and the second interior wall surfaces (101, 102; 401, 402) are opposite each other with respect to the axial direction (X1) of a rotatable shaft (37; 352) of an electric motor (18; 317). The second interior wall surface (102; 402) includes the flat annular surface that surrounds a central axis (C1) of the rotatable shaft (37; 352) and an extension (C2) of the central axis (C1). The flat circular surface is orthogonal to the central axis (C1) and the extension (C2) of same.
US08408350B2
An airbag module for use in a vehicle. The airbag module an airbag cushion configured to deploy externally to the vehicle and an inflator configured to inflate the at least three inflatable chambers of the airbag cushion. The airbag cushion is configured to span between first and second ends and having at least three inflatable chambers. The airbag cushion is configured to be anchored at both ends and deploys into a position wherein at least one inflatable chamber is entirely separated from the vehicle by a gap formed by the deployed airbag cushion projecting away from the vehicle, and wherein the deployed airbag is configured to hinge between the first and second end so that the gap is bounded by the at least three inflatable chambers.
US08408346B2
A motor vehicle front end has a frame, which supports a heat exchanger and has an upper horizontal crosspiece connected to two uprights by means of connection elements, which are plastically deformable so as to allow the upper horizontal crosspiece to be lowered in the event of an accident; the upper horizontal crosspiece comprises a rigid rear portion and a plastically deformable, front portion which is made of plastic material and is fixed to the rigid rear portion.
US08408338B2
A drill bit employing a plurality of abrasive, particulate-impregnated cutting structures extending upwardly from a bit face and defining a plurality of fluid passages therebetween. The plurality of cutting structures may be configured as spaced posts, or as blades with circumferentially extending grooves at radially spaced intervals. Superabrasive cutting elements in the form of thermally stable diamond are placed between the posts or in the grooves, depending on the cutting structure configuration, and at a reduced exposure. Additional cutting elements may be placed in a cone of the bit surrounding a centerline thereof. The blades may extend generally radially. Additionally, discrete protrusions may extend outwardly from at least some of the plurality of cutting structures. The discrete protrusions may be formed of thermally stable diamond.
US08408328B2
A hydraulic control system includes a first motor, a second motor, a pump operatively associated with the first motor, a first coupling valve operatively associated with the second motor, first parallel valves operatively associated with the second motor, and a first switching valve operatively associated with the first coupling valve and the first parallel valves. The first switching valve is configured to switch the first coupling valve between a first coupling state and a second coupling state opposite the first coupling state and to switch the first parallel valves between a first parallel state and a second parallel state opposite the first parallel state. While the first parallel valves are in the first parallel state a portion of the output of the first motor drives the second motor while the first parallel valves are in the second parallel state, the output of the pump drives the second motor.
US08408327B2
A method for operating a driving tool, such as a fastening tool, that has a driver, a motor assembly with a motor and an output member, and an electrical power source. The methodology includes transmitting electrical power to the motor to rotate the output member and thereafter adjusting one or more control parameters if a rotational speed of the output member is not within a predetermined operating range.
US08408325B2
An upper link for a utility vehicle, in particular for an agricultural tractor having a hydraulic cylinder (34) for adjusting the upper link (32) and at least one fluid tank (36), to which the hydraulic cylinder (34) can be coupled, so that in a coupled condition, hydraulic fluid limited to a pre-determined volume can be exchanged between the hydraulic cylinder (34) and the fluid tank (36), and so that a piston (40) of the hydraulic cylinder (34) can move in floating fashion by a distance (ls) corresponding to the pre-determined volume in the hydraulic cylinder (34). The present invention further includes a front-end as well as to a back-end three-point hitch of a utility vehicle with two pivotally connected lower links and an upper link with such a fluid tank.
US08408321B2
A ceiling-only dry sprinkler system configured to address a storage occupancy fire event with a sprinkler operational area sufficient in size to surround and drown the fire. The system and method preferably provide for the surround and effect by activating one or more initial sprinklers, delaying fluid flow to the initial activated sprinklers for a defined delay period to permit the thermal activation of a subsequent one or more sprinklers so as to form the preferred sprinkler operational area. The sprinklers of the operational area are preferably configured so as to provide sufficient fluid volume and cooling to address the fire-event with a surround and drown configuration. The defined delay period is of a defined period having a maximum and a minimum. The preferred sprinkler system is adapted for fire protection of storage commodities and provides a ceiling only system that eliminates or otherwise minimizes the economic disadvantages and design penalties of current dry sprinkler system design.
US08408318B2
A method for radially expanding a tubular element in a wellbore formed in an earth formation comprises arranging the tubular element in the wellbore such that a lower end portion of the wall of the tubular element extends radially outward and in an axially reverse direction so as to form an expanded tubular section extending around a remaining tubular section of the tubular element. An annular space is defined between said expanded and remaining tubular sections. The expanded tubular section is axially extended by moving the remaining section downward relative to the expanded section so that said lower end portion of the wall bends radially outward and in an axially reverse direction. A tube is positioned in the annular space so that the tube extends substantially concentrically with the expanded section and is arranged to support at least one of the remaining section and the expanded tubular section.
US08408314B2
An intelligent completion system includes production tubing configured for production from multiple zones in a wellbore. At least one flow control valve is disposed on the production tubing for each of the multiple zones, this flow control valve capable to regulate the flow of a wellbore fluid into the production tubing. A chemical injection mandrel is disposed on the production tubing adjacent the at least one flow control valve in the each of the multiple zones, this mandrel being connected to at least one chemical injection line for injecting one or more chemicals into the wellbore. A control mechanism is connected to the at least one flow control valve and the chemical injection mandrel such that the injection mandrel and the at least one flow control valve are operated in a coordinated manner.
US08408306B2
Systems and processes are provided for removing fluid from a subterranean well and enhancing the production of oil and/or gas are herein disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes an injection conduit, an injection valve, a relief valve, a container, a container valve, a return conduit valve, and a return conduit, all arranged within a subterranean well for removing at least one fluid from the well. The removal of at least one fluid from the well is controlled by the flow of gas into the injection conduit.
US08408305B2
The method disclosed herein includes the introduction of proppant-free stage and a proppant laden stage into the wellbore and/or subterranean formation. The method increases the effective fracture width and enhances fracture conductivity within the formation. Either the proppant-free stage or the proppant laden stage contains a breaker. The other stage contains a viscosifying polymer or viscoelastic surfactant to which the breaker has affinity. The proppant-free stage may be introduced prior to introduction of the proppant laden stage into the wellbore and/or formation. Alternatively, the proppant laden stage may be introduced into the wellbore and/or formation prior to introduction of the proppant-free stage.
US08408303B2
A method of cementing in a subterranean formation comprises placing a cement composition comprising a non-metallic thermally conductive fiber into the subterranean formation, and allowing the composition to set therein, wherein the non-metallic thermally conductive fiber has a thermal conductivity greater than about 500 W/m·K. Another method of cementing in a subterranean formation comprises providing a cement composition comprising a pitch-based carbon fiber, a hydraulic cement material, and water, placing the cement composition in a formation, and allowing the cement composition to set therein, wherein said pitch-based carbon fiber has a density of from about 2.0 grams/cc to about 2.3 grams/cc. A cement composition comprising a cementitious material, water, and a non-metallic thermally conductive fiber having a thermal conductivity greater than about 500 W/m·K, or a pitch-based carbon fiber having a density of from about 2.0 grams/cc to about 2.3 grams/cc.
US08408289B2
A fracturing system for a well, in which a stream of LPG, a mixture of propane and butane, is injected into the well at frac pressure. Proppant is supplied into the LPG stream, and carried by the LPG mix into the formation. Inert gas such as nitrogen is used for purging system components of LPG, and to help protect against risk of explosion. Nitrogen may also be added to the LPG mix during a frac of shale gas or coal gas formations.
US08408283B2
A serpentine fin for assembly between tubes in a heat exchanger core, and a method of making same from a metal strip. The strip edges have a hem comprising a double thickness of the strip material extending inward from the edge. The metal strip has folds extending across the strip width such that the strip forms a serpentine shape, with the folds being adapted to contact the tubes in the heat exchanger core. Multiple rows of split louvers are disposed between adjacent folds. Each row of split louvers comprises louvers having openings extending in the direction of the strip length and formed in a pair of adjacent, spaced louver banks. Ribs are disposed parallel to the louver openings adjacent the strip edges and in at least one center portion of the strip between the strip edges, and extend across the pair of louver banks.
US08408270B2
Apparatuses useful in printing, fixing devices and methods of stripping media from surfaces in apparatuses useful in printing are provided. An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus useful in printing includes a first member including a first surface; at least one heating element for heating the first surface of the first member; a second member including a second surface forming a nip with the first surface, the nip including an inlet end at which a substrate enters the nip and an outlet end at which the substrate exits from the nip; and an air knife disposed downstream from the outlet end of the nip and extending along an axial direction of the first member, the air knife including a first end, a second end opposite to the first end and a plurality of axially-spaced nozzles disposed between the first end and second end; and at least one gas inlet through which gas is supplied to the air knife. The nozzles are oriented to eject the gas toward the first surface downstream from the outlet end of the nip to facilitate stripping of the substrate from the first surface. The air knife has a configuration and is positioned proximate to the nip such that the substrate does not contact the air knife after exiting the outlet end of the nip when the nozzle gas ejection is ON or OFF.
US08408268B2
A label for a container is formed by wrapping a length of label material around a cylindrical mandrel and introducing heat, adhesive or other sealing means into a gap between the leading end portion of the label material and the trailing end portion as the label material is wrapped around the mandrel. The cylindrical sleeve is slid off of the mandrel and telescoped over a container passing thereunder. The container with a cylindrical sleeve therearound is then moved to a heating station which heats the label material, preferably foam polystyrene, to cause it to shrink into conformity with the contour of the container.
US08408262B2
An electrostatic chuck includes an array of independently biased conductive chuck elements, an array of sensor-conductor assemblies, and/or a combination of an array of sensor-conductor assemblies and at least one motorized chuck. Conductive chuck elements, either standing alone or embedded in a sensor-conductor assembly, are independently biased electrostatically to compensate for bowing and/or warping of a substrate thereupon so that the substrate can be bonded with a planar surface. A single electrostatic chuck can be employed to reduce the bowing and warping of one of the two substrates to be bonded, or two electrostatic chucks can be employed to minimize the bowing and warping of two substrates to be bonded.
US08408257B2
A liquid medicine dispensing device includes a rotary unit 12 which rotates while holding a plurality of original drug vials 100, and a conveyance mechanism that conveys a prescription bottle 110 in the horizontal direction on the underside of the rotary unit 12. Each of the original drug vials 100 is connected with a discharge nozzle 17 to which a discharge valve 26 is attached, and an air nozzle 29 connected with a pump and an atmospheric relief valve. When discharging liquid medicine, the prescription bottle 110 is conveyed in advance to a position that is directly below an original drug vial 100 required for dispensing. In that state, the original drug vial 100 is inverted by rotating the rotary unit 12 by 180 degrees, and the discharge valve 26 is opened.
US08408256B2
Apparatus for filling containers having stoppers that are penetrable for filling the containers with a substance, and thermally resealable for thermally sealing the resulting hole. A container support supports at least one such container in a substantially fixed position during filling and resealing. A manifold drivingly mounted over the container support comprises (1) a cartridge including a filling needle for penetrating the resealable stopper and introducing a substance therethrough into the container, a mount for mounting the cartridge on the manifold, and a removable cover releasably coupled to the mount for covering the filling needle during transportation, installation and/or removal of the cartridge from the manifold. The manifold includes a thermal source for heating a penetrated region of the stopper and, sealing the hole.
US08408255B1
A beverage dispensing system comprising a dispensing port for dispensing a beverage, a drip tray located below the dispensing port for collecting the beverage dispensed and an antenna located between the dispensing port and the drip tray is provided. The beverage dispensing system is RFID-enabled by configuring the antenna to receive signals from radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.
US08408251B2
Apparatus, methods, and systems are provided for venting gases and removing sediment from a liquid comprising a body containing a flow through passageway running from a top end of the body to a bottom end of the body, adapted to sealably attach to an opening of a liquid container at a top end; a substantially annular secondary valve positioned within the flow through passageway adapted to selectively seal flow around the outside of the secondary valve; a primary valve contained within the secondary valve configured to selectively seal flow through a tubular shaft formed down an axis of the primary valve; an air breather valve attached to the body adapted to selectively seal an air vent formed in the body, wherein the air breather valve is attached to the body such that liquid leakage from the air vent is minimized; and a reservoir adapted to sealably engage to the bottom end of the body; wherein the reservoir is configured to cause the primary valve to unseal flow through the tubular shaft when the reservoir is at least partially engaged to the body, and wherein the reservoir is configured to unseal flow around the outside of the secondary valve when the reservoir is fully engaged to the body.
US08408249B2
A weaving machine with drive elements including two or more crankshaft parts rotatable along the width direction of the machine and a common rotational center line. The drive elements are situated in intermediate sections and include respectively a lay sword and lay sword shaft and are connected to a connecting rod belonging to the intermediate section. The machine utilizes a computerized control system for controlling the weaving process. Substantial weight and space reductions are made as large, heavy shaft mountings and gearboxes can be avoided.
US08408247B2
The invention relates to an element for controlling filling and/or drawing of a pressurized gas, to be mounted in an opening of a tank (1), comprising a body (21) provided with at least one device (8) for controlling the circulation of gas placed between a first end, which has an opening (31) forming an inlet and/or an outlet for the gas with regard to the tank, and a second end for communicating with the inside of the tank. The control element also comprises a safety gas escape device (5) for evacuating the gas from the reservoir in the event of a dangerous situation and comprises a channel or gas escape circuit (215, 213, 212, 211, 31) running between a first end (215) for communicating with the pressurized gas of the tank and a second end (31) for communicating with a user circuit or with the atmosphere, the escape circuit being closed or not according to the state of a safety element (52), characterized in that the second end of the gas escape circuit (215, 213, 212, 211, 31) coincides with the opening (31) of the control element forming an inlet and/or an outlet for the gas.
US08408224B2
A walking assistance device is disclosed that includes a support member having a first end and a second end. Attached to the support member is a hand grip, and attached to the second end is a base member. The base member includes a rounded surface that is configured to rotatably pivot relative to a walking surface as a user walks. The base member may further include a foot portion that has a toe and a heel. The toe and the heel may be the same length, or alternatively they may have varying lengths. Additionally, a pad is optionally attached to the foot portion and may be configured with tread to engage the walking surface in a way that provides traction to the walking assistance device.
US08408223B2
A removable sanitary cover for a leg extremity of a cane, walker, crutch, and the like, to reduce dirt and contaminants coming into from outdoors or dirty environment into an indoor or sanitary area. The sanitary cover includes a base and at least one sidewall that together form an enclosure having an opening generally opposite of the base. The sanitary cover also includes a closure positioned generally circumferentially about the enclosure at the at least one sidewall near the opening. In use, the sanitary cover is positioned about a distal end of the leg extremity of the cane, walker, crutch, and the like, with the closure keeping the sanitary cover in place relative to leg extremity until the sanitary cover is removed through an external force. The closure may be an elastic band, drawstring or other closure means. An optional skid-resistant material may be added or otherwise incorporated into an outer surface of the base.
US08408218B2
An applicator system for applying a product to a surface includes an extendable implement comprising an applicator that is selectively extendable. By virtue of having an applicator that is selectively extendable, the extendable implement is capable of applying various products utilizing individual portions of the extendable implement to apply the product to hard-to-reach areas and to achieve multiple desired effects.
US08408216B2
Flavor carriers, smoking articles, method of making flavor carriers, methods of making smoking articles, methods of flavoring gas streams such as mainstream tobacco smoke and methods of smoking are provided. The flavor carriers and smoking articles comprise a mesoporous molecular sieve and a flavor releasably disposed within the sieve.
US08408211B2
A method of intercepting controlled quantities of air exhaled from at least one of two nostrils on an individual's nose to permit inhalation of the intercepted air, including the steps of: providing an air flow intercepting apparatus; and placing the air flow intercepting apparatus in an operative position relative to the individual's nostrils so that as the individual inhales and exhales during repeating breathing cycles: a) a first quantity of exhaled air flows past the air flow intercepting apparatus; and b) a second quantity of exhaled air impinges upon the air flow intercepting apparatus so as to at least one of: i) stagnate; and ii) be redirected by the air flow intercepting apparatus so that at least a portion of the second quantity of exhaled air is drawn into the individual's nostrils as the individual inhales.
US08408210B2
According to various embodiments, a tracheal tube ventilating device includes a sealing portion near a distal end of the tube. The sealing portion has an electroactive polymer configured to undergo a clinically effective change in volume, thickness, or both upon application of an electrical potential. Such a change in volume, thickness, or both enables sealing of the device against an inner surface of a trachea while permitting the free passage of ventilating gas through the tube. In addition, at least one electrical conductor is coupled to the electroactive polymer and is configured to apply the electrical potential.
US08408203B2
System and methods for ventilating a patient are provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises steps of placing a ventilator in a mode capable of delivering respiratory gas based on at least one fixed parameter and at least one variable parameter, the fixed parameters being tidal volume and peak airway pressure and the variable parameter being PEEP, identifying a first level for the PEEP, configuring the ventilator to deliver the respiratory gas at the peak airway pressure and the PEEP to achieve the tidal volume, monitoring respiratory gas flow over time to measure tidal volume, setting a second level for the PEEP based on the measured tidal volume, automatically adjusting the PEEP to the second level relative to the peak airway pressure and repeating the steps of configuring, monitoring, setting and automatically adjusting to achieve the ventilation.
US08408194B2
A device for storing projectile balls and feeding the balls into a projectile chamber of a gun is provided. A ball container includes a feeder positioned within the ball container for feeding balls into a feeder tube. A motor is configured to supply drive energy to the feeder. Operation of the motor is controlled as a function of the movement of the balls in the feeder tube. A spring element having a storage capacity is configured to store at least some drive energy of the motor. A slip clutch is configured to dissipate drive energy of the motor that exceeds the storage capacity of the spring element.
US08408191B2
An engine control system, a controller for the engine control system, and a method of controlling a combustion process in an internal combustion engine operating at an engine operating condition. The engine control is based on closed-loop control of ignition dwell. Ignition dwell is defined as time or crank angle difference between an end of fuel injection (EOI), or some other aspect of an injection control signal, and a start of combustion (SOC), or some other aspect of an internal combustion event. One or more engine control devices, such as a fuel injector or an exhaust gas recirculation valve may be varied to control ignition dwell. By providing such a closed-loop engine control based on ignition dwell, the air/fuel charge mixture, and/or stratification present in the combustion chamber at the moment combustion starts may be controlled. Advanced combustion systems utilizing premixed compression ignition (PCI) offer the benefit of low temperature combustion for simultaneous low NOx and particulate emissions with high fuel economy. Combustion control based on ignition dwell can be used to optimize engine emissions and fuel consumption for PCI over the operating range.
US08408190B2
An engine assembly includes an engine and an intake assembly. The engine defines a combustion chamber and a crankcase, and the intake assembly includes an intake manifold in fluid communication with the combustion chamber. An air-oil separator is provided with the engine and defines a separator volume, an inlet and an outlet, where each of the inlet and outlet are in fluid communication with the separator volume. The inlet of the air-oil separator is provided in fluid communication with the crankcase, and the outlet of the air-oil separator is provided in fluid communication with the intake manifold. The air-oil separator further includes an interior surface that abuts and surrounds the separator volume, and the interior surface has a surface roughness (RA) of greater than about 75 microns.
US08408188B1
A belt drive pulley system termed a “flip drive” is configured to provide at least two belt drive pulleys that are co-axially and integrally arranged and share common axle/bearing and mounting components. By being co-axially disposed, the belt drive pulleys will operate in separate and distinct planes. The flip drive is adapted for use in various applications so that power received on its first pulley from a first belt drive is transferred from its second pulley to a second belt drive (where the first and second belt drives are not co-planar).
US08408186B2
A fuel conservation device for a combustion engine includes a heat-exchanging tube disposed through a heating coil that is contained within a housing containing coolant. The heat-exchanging tube is adapted to be coupled inline with a fuel line used to supply fuel from a gas tank to a fuel management device, such as a carburetor provided by the engine. In addition, the heating coil is configured to be coupled to an exhaust pipe coupled to the engine, so as to be heated by the hot exhaust gases generated as it operates. A radiator fluidly coupled to the housing cools the coolant, so that the fuel passing through the fuel line is maintained at a temperature just below the boiling point of the fuel.
US08408184B2
A Fastening element has a carrier. A first pair of prongs branches off a first side face of the carrier designed to be in a mechanical engagement with a protrusion of a injector cup. A second pair of prongs branches off a second side face of the carrier. The second pair of prongs is designed to retain a fluid injector and to couple mechanically to a first protrusion of the injector. A pair of pins branches off a respective prong from the second pair of prongs at a respective inner side face of the respective prong. The pins are arranged opposed to each other and in a given distance from each other and they are designed to be in a mechanical engagement with the fluid injector. A clamping device being designed to couple mechanically with the fluid injector cup and to exert a repelling force on the fluid injector cup.
US08408181B2
A throttle control module for controlling a throttle, comprises: a BLDC motor; a gear train connecting the motor to the throttle; and a throttle position sensor. A PWM module is connected to the throttle position sensor and generates a pulse-width modulation sequence according to the signal from the throttle position sensor and a desired throttle position signal. A decoder module generates commutation logic for the motor based on the signal from the throttle position sensor. A motor controller controls commutation of the motor according to the pulse-width modulation sequence and the commutation logic.
US08408180B2
Disclosed is a control apparatus for a turbocharged diesel engine. The control apparatus comprises an engine start controller (10) operable, when an engine restart condition associated with a demand for vehicle start is satisfied, to execute a split-injection control to perform a main injection for injecting fuel at a timing around a top dead center of a compression stroke, and a post injection for injecting fuel in an expansion stroke following the main injection, during the engine restart control, and, when an engine restart condition nonassociated with the demand for vehicle start is satisfied, to execute the engine restart control to perform only the main injection without executing the split-injection control. This makes it possible to optimize the engine restart control to be execute in response to satisfaction of the engine restart condition, depending on the presence or absence of the demand for vehicle start.
US08408178B2
A firing deck (16) for an engine crankcase includes a firing side surface (35) and a coolant side surface (34). A plurality of cylinder bores (18) are disposed through the firing deck (16) from the firing side surface (35) to the coolant side surface (34). The cylinder bores (18) form a centerline defining an intake side (26) of the firing deck (16) and an exhaust side (28) of the firing deck. A plurality of bosses (30) through the deck (16) from the firing side surface (35) to the coolant side surface (34) are disposed around each cylinder bore (18). A plurality of anti-distortion projections (36, 136) are disposed on the coolant side surface (34) of the firing deck (16) and provide the firing deck with a varied thickness. The anti-distortion projections (36, 136) are disposed on both the intake side (26) and the exhaust side (28) of the firing deck (16).
US08408176B2
A method is described for starting an engine of a motor vehicle under varying temperature conditions. The method may include during a first, higher-temperature, starting condition, directly injecting fuel into all of the combustion chambers the initial fueled cycle comprising crankshaft rotations during which at least some fuel is injected for a first time since the engine was brought from rest. Further, during a second, lower-temperature, starting condition, the method includes directly injecting fuel into less than all of the combustion chambers during at least the initial fueled cycle of the engine. In this way, it is possible to prevent the engine's pump from being outstripped during cold-start conditions at low engine temperatures. Also, it may allow subsequently fueled cylinders to start at a higher engine speed and lower manifold air pressure than otherwise possible, thereby further reducing the need for overfueling.
US08408174B2
A rocker arm for a tappet pushrod valve train, which has a contact surface for a gas exchange valve on an underside at one end and a first bore in which a hydraulic lash adjusting element is arranged at another end. A second bore extends transverse through the rocker arm, between the ends. From the second bore, a passage leads to the first bore. A venting passage extends from a bottom of the bore at the another end and has an outlet aligned with the primary passage. A secondary passage branches from the venting passage and has an opening that extends to an upper side of the rocker arm and is situated in a longitudinal channel. The channel extends along the upper side and into a region on the one end. From the region, the hydraulic medium can be routed through an end passage to the contact surface.
US08408171B2
In a variable stroke engine assembly for a front engine, front wheel drive vehicle, an engine output shaft (OS), a variable stroke control mechanism (63, 65, CR), an actuator (AC) and a starter motor (SM) are laid out in a favorable manner so that the general outer profile of the engine assembly can be made free from excessive protrusions, an increase in the engine room space requirement is avoided, layout freedom can be enhanced, and the cooling performance for the actuator can be improved.
US08408161B2
The present invention provides a pet brush including a handle, a hub, a ring, and a bristle member. The bristle member is detachably connected to the handle. The hub is provided at a connecting portion of the bristle member and the handle so that the ring may be rotated. The ring may be shifted between a first position and a second position. The bristle member is secured to the handle when the ring is moved to the first position, and the bristle member is free to be inserted into and drawn out of the handle when the ring is moved to the second position.
US08408160B1
A secure pet waste containment system utilizing an automated gear, roller and spool assembly to secure pet waste on all sides and store them for future disposal. A housing includes an aperture in its top side into which a pet, typically feline, would deposit waste. The aperture and space thereunder is lined with bagging that has its source from a bag cartridge disposed around the circumference of the aperture. When waste has been deposited, the lining secures the waste on all sides by traversing a series of rollers until the lining is wound within a circular spool. As this is occurring, the bag cartridge automatically releases more bagging into the aperture and space thereunder for subsequent deposit of pet waste.
US08408154B2
An improved strake for structures that are subject to vortex induced vibrations and motions due to fluid flow around the structure. One embodiment includes a streamliner on the edge of the strake. The streamliner may be added to existing strakes or may be formed at the same time as the strake for extruded strakes. The streamliner reduces vortex induced vibrations and motions of the structure to which the strake is attached. Another embodiment of the invention provides a tension resisting support attached to the strake and structure. The support provides a different load path along the strake than the previously known art for carrying the pressure loading from fluid pressure acting normal to the surface of the strake.
US08408153B2
A mooring system for receiving and exercising at least partial control over the approach of a vessel approaching a mooring facility. An array of mooring robots are mounted to the mooring facility. Each robot has at least one vessel contact member supported by a moving mechanism in a manner to thereby be (i) movable relative to the mooring facility and (ii) presentable to engage the side of said vessel. A sensor can sense the position of the vessel relative the mooring facility. A processor can calculate movement instructions based on information received by the processor to calculate instructions for the movement of the contact member during the receipt of the vessel by the mooring system. A controller can preposition the contact member and then control the condition of each mooring robot such as to reduce the approach speed of the vessel at least in a direction towards the mooring facility.
US08408142B2
In a guide rail type vehicle, a guide wheel includes a main guide wheel that rolls in contact with a main guide rail and a branch guide wheel that rolls in contact with a branch guide rail, a guide frame includes a guide arm that extends in a vehicle width direction and a guide link, the guide arm and the guide link are rotatably connected to each other via a first rotational shaft, the guide link includes a second rotational shaft in which the main guide wheel and the branch guide wheel are rotatably mounted to both ends, a buffer mechanism is provided between the guide arm and the guide link, and when the guide link rotates around the first rotational shaft with the guide wheel contacting with the guide rail, the buffer mechanism suppresses rotation of the guide link.
US08408134B2
A hand grenade fuze has a firing cap, a delay charge, which can be fired by the firing cap, in a delay charge holder, a detonator, which can be fired by the delay charge, in a detonator holder, and a booster charge, which can be fired by the detonator, for firing a hand grenade explosive charge.
US08408133B2
A method for detonating an unexploded munition including: firing one or more munitions into an area without detonation; providing the one or more munitions with a power supply having a piezoelectric material for generating power from an induced vibration; inducing a vibration in the power supply of the one or more munitions to generate power; and generating a detonation signal from the generated power to detonate the one or more munitions.
US08408128B2
A method for operating a cleaning apparatus, having a trough and a brush disposed in the trough, in a printing press, includes first, second and third steps. In the first step, a cylinder of the printing press is cleaned by the cleaning apparatus, with the brush bearing against the cylinder. In the second step, the brush is moved away from the cylinder, and a level of a liquid in the trough is changed, resulting in the liquid being brought into contact with the brush. In the third step, the brush is cleaned by the liquid in the trough. A printing press for carrying out the method is also provided.
US08408127B2
A method for mounting and dismounting a doctor blade chamber in a support holder on a printing unit as well as an apparatus in which the doctor blade chamber is placed in the support holder in a mounting position and subsequently is brought in contact with a roller, preferably, an anilox roller, in a position of operation. The method and the apparatus advantageously have the doctor blade chamber disposed with the opening upwards in the support holder, preferably in a horizontal position or in a position at such a small angle that ink does not run out of the doctor blade chamber, and is brought into a position under the roller, after which the doctor blade chamber is brought into contact with the roller and pivoted about an axis coinciding with the rotary axis of the roller, into the position of operation.
US08408126B2
A self-inking hand stamp includes a frame made of metal and having two side walls which are interconnected by an upper cover wall, and an actuating bow made of metal, which in use is downwardly movable relative to the frame against a spring force. The actuating bow has two legs protruding from an upper web, which are displaceable along the side walls of the frame and coupled with a type unit arranged to be upwardly and downwardly displaceable and turnable within the frame. Two parallel guide webs laterally abutting on the respective bow leg, which is rectangular in elevation and narrower as compared to the frame side wall, are latchingly attached to the outer side of each side wall of the frame in the upper region thereof.
US08408124B2
A device is presented for adjustment of height in a transport cylinder gripper pad. The device includes a first notch, a gripper pad which is equipped in the first notch, a gripper pad bar, a first adjusting bar, a biasing member which biases the bottom surface of the gripper pad bar against the upper surface of the first adjusting bar, a drive shaft, and a driving unit which moves the drive shaft in the cylinder axial direction. A first connecting portion is interposed between the drive shaft and the first adjusting bar, and moves the first adjusting bar in the cylinder axial direction as the drive shaft moves.
US08408117B2
The coffee machine infusion group comprises a closure piston and an infusion cylinder subjectable to a reversible movement between a position of engagement with the closure piston for the creation of an infusion chamber and a position of disengagement from the closure piston for the loading of a coffee powder load, the infusion group having an expulsion system of the spent coffee powder load from the infusion cylinder, the expulsion system comprising an expulsion piston displaceably housed in the infusion cylinder, the expulsion system further comprising a speed multiplier mechanism operatively connecting the infusion cylinder and the expulsion piston for their relative displacement between a receiving position of the coffee powder load into the infusion cylinder and an expelling position of the coffee powder load from the infusion cylinder.
US08408116B2
A piston assembly including a piston body having a crown and a skirt, the skirt including at least a major thrust face and a minor thrust face, wherein the piston body defines a bore between the major thrust face and the minor thrust face, and a wear coating applied to the major thrust face and the minor thrust face, the wear coating having a cured thickness of at least about 30 microns.
US08408112B2
A trimming, sizing and decapping device that has a simple, very compact construction and that allows the user to economically and quickly produce, restore or prepare cartridge cases to the utmost precision. The device consistently produces very smooth processing surfaces and has good tolerances with respect to various cartridge case wall sizes and materials. Furthermore, a method is detailed for producing or preparing empty cartridge cases using the trimming, sizing and decapping device that allows efficient preparation of the cartridge cases for subsequent loading or reloading in as few process steps as possible.
US08408104B2
A screwdriver includes a handle, a shaft, a torque-transmitting unit and a torque-adjusting unit. The shaft is partially inserted in the handle. The torque-transmitting unit is located in the handle and operable to transmit an adjustable maximum value of torque to the shaft from the handle. The torque-adjusting unit is partially located in the handle, connected to the torque-transmitting unit, and operable to adjust the adjustable maximum value of torque.
US08408102B2
A wrench for engaging a workpiece comprises a pair of fixed jaws and a pair of movable jaws being movable relative to the pair of fixed jaws. The workpiece includes a plurality of flats which may be adjoined at a plurality of corners. The pairs of fixed and movable jaws may be configured to engage the workpiece in at least one of a flat engaging position and a corner engaging position. The flat engaging position comprises the pairs of fixed and movable jaws being engaged to one of the flats on each one of the opposing sides of the workpiece. The corner engaging position comprises the pairs of fixed and movable jaws being engaged to an adjacent pair of the flats on each one of the opposing sides of the workpiece.
US08408101B2
An open end wrench includes first and second jaws. The first jaw includes an arcuate sliding groove having an arcuate sliding wall. A slide is received in the sliding groove and includes an arcuate sliding face slideable along the sliding wall. An arcuate guiding slot is formed in the slide. A guide is fixed in the sliding groove and received in the guiding slot. The guiding slot includes an abutting end and a pressing end. The abutting end is in contact with the guide when the slide is in an initial position. A spring seat is mounted in the pressing end of the guiding slot. The spring seat includes a face pressing against the pressing end. An elastic element has two ends respectively abutting the guide and the other face of the spring seat for biasing the slide to the initial position.
US08408099B2
A tool includes a handle including a pivotal end, a holding end held by the user in use of the tool and a plurality of teeth formed on an outer periphery of the pivotal end. A first working head includes a pivotal end coupled to the pivotal end of the handle pivotally, a working end engaged with a work piece desired to be driven and an aperture between the pivotal end of the first working head and the working end. A positioning unit includes a positioning plate and an elastic element received in the aperture, with the positioning plate hooking the first working head and pressing the elastic element of the positioning unit respectively. A restricted portion protrudes from the positioning plate between two ends of the positioning plate toward the pivotal end of the handle.
US08408097B2
The invention relates to a screwing tool that comprises a drive arranged in a housing and an output shaft connected to said drive, a screwdriver point being arranged at the front face of the output shaft. The aim of the invention is to provide a screwing tool with which different connecting elements, in particular actuating and clamping elements consisting of a screwable sleeve and an inner screw can be screwed with only a single screwing tool. In order to achieve this aim, the screwing tool comprises a receiving part (500) which surrounds the output shaft and is displaceably guided in the direction of the axis (202) of the output shaft (200) against the force of a return element (505). Furthermore, an annular screwing tool (400), which surrounds the output shaft (200) and the screwdriver point (201), is rotatably mounted on the receiving part (500) for detecting the drive contours (305) of the peripheral surface (304) of a connecting element (303), at least one shiftable clutch (600) being arranged between the rotatably mounted annular screwing tool (400) and the output shaft (200).
US08408089B2
An energy absorbing steering column includes a first cylindrical member for accommodating a steering shaft of a vehicle and a second cylindrical member for accommodating the first cylindrical member and normally supporting the first cylindrical member in a predetermined position to allow the first cylindrical member to axially move relative to the second cylindrical member upon a predetermined or greater load applied to the steering shaft. The first cylindrical member includes first and second enlarged diameter portions, and the second cylindrical member includes first and second supporting portions. An elastic bush is provided between the first enlarged diameter portion and the first supporting portion for applying elastic force for supporting the steering shaft to restrict an axial movement of the first cylindrical member relative to the second cylindrical member.
US08408085B2
A transmission is connectable to an input member and includes an output transfer gear, first and second shaft members, first and second countershaft members, a plurality of co-planar gear sets, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. The torque transmitting devices include a plurality of gears, synchronizer assemblies and a dual clutch assembly. The transmission is operable to provide at least one reverse speed ratio and a plurality of forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member.
US08408084B2
In a dual clutch transmission with a main group and final shift group, with a coupling device for coupling a transmission element of the main group to a final shift group transmission element of the final shift group, the transmission comprises two transmission gears (V4L, V5L, V1 H, V2H) which can be formed simultaneously with one of the transmission gears (V4L, V5L) assignable to a lower group of the final shift group and another of the transmission gears (V1H, V2H) assignable to an upper group of the final shift group.
US08408076B2
The present invention relates to a weight sensor device. The weight sensor device comprises a housing, which includes a receptacle for a load pin and an insert. A cable nest is secured to each end of the housing. In exemplary embodiments, a load pin is engaged in the housing and secures an insert. A cable clamping mechanism may be attached to the insert. In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, the housing itself is non-load sensing.
US08408072B2
A coupling element for an ultrasonic, flow measuring device, wherein the coupling element has a pedestal with a bearing surface, on which bearing surface a piezoelement is applied. The pedestal is an integral component of the coupling element.
US08408070B2
An electromagnetic flowmeter for measuring the flow of a medium through a measuring pipe, wherein the flowmeter includes first and second electrodes arranged on opposite sides of the measuring pipe and coupled electrically or capacitively to the medium. A common mode test signal is passed to the first and second electrodes. A third electrode is provided at the top of the measuring pipe for receiving a response signal in response to the test signal passed to the first and second electrodes. The flowmeter also includes a detection device for detecting whether the third electrode is in contact with the medium based on the response signal.
US08408067B2
A pressure sensor device (1) comprises: a pressure sensor (9) having a sensor body (9a) defined in which is a cavity (11) with a bottom surface (11a) belonging to a membrane portion (9′) of the body itself, a detection element operatively being associated to the membrane portion (9′), a connection structure (2) having a duct (2a, 15, 19) in communication with the abovementioned cavity (11), designed to receive a fluid a pressure of which is to be detected. The connection structure comprises a body (2) for supporting the pressure sensor (9), defining at least one respective passage (2a), and one compressible element (12) designed to be in contact with the fluid and configured to compensate possible volume variations thereof, the compressible element (12) being positioned at least partially within the cavity (11), in such a manner to substantially divide it into two opposite regions. The device (1) is provided with connection passages (12f) for maintaining different regions of the cavity (11) in fluid communication, i.e. equilibrate in pressure.
US08408065B2
This invention relates to permanent, ultrasonic, flexible, dry-coupled, linear arrays for the inspection of pipelines, process equipment, and the like. The permanent, ultrasonic, flexible, dry-coupled, linear arrays detect and/or measure corrosion wall loss, stress corrosion cracking, and/or internal initiated pipeline cracking. The apparatus for ultrasonically testing materials includes a linear array of ultrasonic sensors, and a flexible, acoustically transmissive, dry-coupling surrounding at least a portion of each of the ultrasonic sensors.
US08408064B2
A distributed acoustic wave detection system and method is provided. The system may include a fiber optic cable deployed in a well and configured to react to pressure changes resulting from a propagating acoustic wave and an optical source configured to launch interrogating pulses into the fiber optic cable. In addition, the system may include a receiver configured to detect coherent Rayleigh noise produced in response to the interrogating pulses. The CRN signal may be use to track the propagation of the acoustic wave in the well.
US08408063B2
An ultrasonic probe including a cMUT chip that has plural oscillation elements whose electromechanical coupling coefficient or sensitivity varies in accordance with a bias voltage and transmits/receives an ultrasonic wave, an acoustic lens provided at an ultrasonic wave transmission/reception side of the cMUT chip, a backing layer provided to the opposite surface of the cMUT chip to the acoustic lens, and a substrate provided between the backing layer and the cMUT chip. The ultrasonic probe further includes thermal stress suppressing means for suppressing thermal stress occurring due to the difference in linear expansion coefficient caused by temperature variation between the substrate and the backing layer.
US08408062B2
A scanning device (36) is useful for scanning a body, especially a stud (10), from a bore (13) which extends through the body or stud (10) and is accessible from the outside. The scanning device (36) includes a probe (15) which is fastened on a cylindrical rod (14) and can be inserted into the bore (13) for scanning the body or stud (10), which probe, by displacing the rod (14) in its longitudinal direction is longitudinally displaceable in the bore (13), and by rotating the rod (14) around its cylinder axis (34) is rotatable around the bore axis. A compact and light construction, and flexible applicability, are achieved by a compact, controllable drive unit (20), through which the rod (14) extends and which longitudinally displaces and/or rotates the rod (14) depending upon selection, for displacing and rotating the rod (14).
US08408060B2
An inertial sensor includes driving piezoelectric transducers for enabling an oscillation of a resonator, sensing piezoelectric transducers for enabling a detection of a movement of the inertial sensor, and piezoelectric compensating elements substantially equidistantly among the driving and the sensing piezoelectric transducers, wherein the compensating elements and the resonator form corresponding capacitors having capacitive gaps, and wherein, during the oscillation of the resonator, changes in electrostatic charges stored in the capacitors are measured with the compensating elements and are modified so as to modify the oscillation of the resonator.
US08408059B2
A yaw rate sensor is described which includes a substrate having a main plane of extension and a Coriolis element, the Coriolis element being excitable to a driving oscillation along a first direction parallel to the main plane of extension, using a driving arrangement, and a deflection of the Coriolis element along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction being detectable, and the yaw rate sensor having an interference element for exciting the Coriolis element to an interference oscillation.
US08408053B2
The present invention relates to a process for measuring the effectiveness of a corrosion inhibitor. More specifically, the invention relates to placing a corrosion inhibitor in at least one fluid and then simultaneously suspending coupons in the fluid having the corrosion inhibitor and at least one additional fluid, wherein both fluids are contained in the same vessel.
US08408049B2
An apparatus and method to determine fractions of various phases in a multiphase fluid. The apparatus includes main body including an interior configured receive a multiphase fluid and an exterior. The apparatus senses fluid pressure of multiphase fluid received in the interior and senses a fluid temperature of the multiphase fluid. The apparatus transmits an ultrasonic wave into the fluid and detects the transmitted wave to determine its velocity and attenuation. The apparatus may adjust the determined velocity and attenuation based on the temperature and pressure of the fluid to compensate for a difference between the sensed temperature and pressure and a standard temperature and pressure. The apparatus determines a gas fraction, water fraction, and a non-water fluid fraction of the multiphase fluid based on the sensed fluid pressure, the sensed fluid temperature, and the velocity and attenuation of the ultrasonic wave in the multiphase fluid.
US08408048B2
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for monitoring the soft water conducted in a main flow, which includes a hardness measuring cell, a first secondary flow line branching off from the main flow and leading to the hardness measuring cell, and a second secondary flow line leading away from the hardness measuring cell and feeding into the main flow, wherein the two secondary flow lines and the hardness measuring cell are connected to a multiway valve.
US08408042B2
A device for generating impacts on a structure has a projectile head. The head includes a main body on which an impact element is mounted so it projects. The device includes a mechanical propulsion element to set the projectile head in motion, and the propulsion element can move between an initial resting position where the propulsion element is immobile and the projectile head is held against the propulsion element by at least one retaining element, and a second position where after the propulsion element comes to a stop against stop elements, the projectile head moves alone in translation toward the structure guided by guidance elements. The device also includes an anti-rebound system to prevent any rebound by the projectile head after impact on the structure.
US08408036B2
A roll-flanging tool, including a bearing structure having a connector, by which the tool can be connected via a connection plane to an actuator which can be moved spatially. A first arm and a second arm are spread apart from each other and connected to each other in a connection portion which includes the connector. A first flanging roller is mounted on an end of the first arm which faces away from the connection plane, such that it can be rotated about a first rotational axis which extends along the first arm and pierces the connection plane. A second flanging roller is mounted on an end of the second arm which faces away from the connection plane, such that it can be rotated about a second rotational axis. The first rotational axis intersects or crosses a perpendicular dropped onto the second rotational axis, in or on the roll-flanging tool.
US08408020B2
A temperature chamber in which a device is tested is connected to a temperature-controlled air source for controlling temperature of the chamber. The temperature chamber includes thermal insulation formed on side surfaces of the chamber. A universal manifold adaptor for directing the temperature-controlled air directly to a device being tested is connected to the chamber. The temperature chamber also includes an exhaust system. A self-closing cable feed-through module is connected to an outer surface of the chamber. The feed-through module includes a first portion and a second portion, wherein cables are fed through the first and second portions into the chamber in a first position and the first and second portions form a leak tight seal around the cables in a second position.
US08408002B2
A gas turbine combustor includes a pilot burner, a plurality of main burners disposed around the main burners on the radially outer side. Each of the main burners (2) includes an extension tube disposed at the downstream end. The outlet of the extension tube is shaped to have a radial edge which is parallel to the radial direction. In this manner, occurrence of flashback is effectively prevented.
US08407993B2
A method is provided for controlling a hydraulic cylinder in a work machine, which hydraulic cylinder is arranged to move an implement in relation to a part of a vehicle, with the hydraulic cylinder being controlled by a hydraulic machine. The method includes the steps of detecting initiation of a movement of the implement that is such that the piston of the hydraulic cylinder is moved in a first direction, of driving the hydraulic machine in a first rotational direction, prior to the movement of the implement taking place, so that a line from the hydraulic machine is pressurized, which line is arranged to connect the hydraulic machine to the side of the cylinder toward which the piston will be moved during the movement of the implement.
US08407992B2
The invention relates to an ammonia tank of an exhaust gas treatment system of a vehicle, having a tank wall. The invention provides that the tank wall is surrounded by a reagent reacting with regard to ammonia.
US08407991B2
A construction machine that permits an exhaust gas after-treatment device to be disposed while avoiding an increase of height and hence avoiding narrowing of an operator's visual field. A guard panel is disposed substantially in parallel with a base frame. The guard panel includes a top plate, the top plate including an opening formed at a portion thereof corresponding to an engine, and a bonnet formed so as to project upwards from the top plate and cover the opening. A first treatment section is disposed lower than the top plate and a second treatment section includes at least a portion positioned higher than the top plate through the opening and lower than the bonnet.
US08407987B2
The invention relates to a system and a control method for an exhaust aftertreatment system (10) of an engine (12) in which one or more constituents of the exhaust gas are oxidized in an oxidation catalyst (20) and one or more constituents of the exhaust gas are deoxidized in a selective-catalytic-reduction catalyst (70), wherein the exhaust gas flows from the oxidation catalyst (20) to the selective-catalytic-reduction catalyst (70). It is. proposed to control the flow of the exhaust gas through the oxidation catalyst (20) depending on a desired ratio among the one or more constituents, wherein the exhaust gas enters the selective-catalytic-reduction catalyst (70) with the desired ratio among the one or more constituents; and to establish the desired ratio among the one or more constituents so that at a given reaction temperature in the selective-catalytic-reduction catalyst (70) one specific chemical reaction is selected out of a group of possible chemical reactions which can take place among the one or more constituents of the exhaust gas and the catalyst material in the selective-catalytic-reduction catalyst (70) at the given temperature, wherein the selected specific chemical reaction has a higher probability to be performed than each single one of the other chemical reactions which are not selected.
US08407980B2
Microthruster includes a combustion chamber comprising a substrate material, a fuel inlet, and a gas outlet. A first resistance heater is arranged in the combustion chamber. A catalyst is structured and arranged to decompose fuel entering the combustion chamber. First substrate material sections are heated by the first resistance heater to at least one of a predetermined temperature and a predetermined temperature range.
US08407972B2
A container sealing apparatus 10 comprises an electrically conductive linearly displaceable cutting member 14 operable to cut a portion 18 of sealing material from a web 16 and an independently linearly displaceable transfer member 42 comprising an electrically insulating material and extendible relative to the cutting member 14 to transfer the cut portion 18 of sealing material to an open top of a container 12 to be sealed. An induction coil 52 produces an induction field 54 for heating the cut portion 18 of sealing material, either directly or indirectly, by induction heating to seal the cut portion 18 of sealing material to the open top of the container 12. The linearly displaceable transfer member 42 holds the cut portion 18 of sealing material against the open top of the container 12 during induction heating. A field concentrator 56 is provided to concentrate the induction field 54 in a desired region away from the linearly displaceable electrically conductive cutting member 14 and other electrically conductive component parts of the apparatus 10 to optimize the induction heating of the cut portion 18 of sealing material.
US08407971B2
A single package providing dormitory room supplies for at least one student at an institution of higher education and associated method of use is disclosed. This package includes at least one shipping container. Numerous internal containers can be located within the shipping container. Dormitory room supplies are then located within the shipping container and/or internal containers. The essential items included are classified into the following categories: linen, clothing, organizational, electrical or electronic, and kitchen items. The package can be used to supply one or more dormitory rooms with all the essentials needed or to provide extras, which are typically required but not strictly essential. The single package can also include a cargo container, in which multiple shipping containers are located, to supply multiple dormitory rooms. This cargo container can be transported on a ship and as the trailer or placed on a trailer of a semi-trailer truck.
US08407964B1
A method that streamlines concrete building construction and marketing of the building. Prefabrication units are designed and constructed in a controlled environment at a prefabrication factory using familiar, off the shelf components already used in the concrete construction industry. The method has allows one to build the prefabrication unit, which is 90% of the structure in the factory, with the remaining 10%, including the external walls and final utility connections, at the building site. Also because the prefabricated structures are light-weight and pre-finished structures, on-site installation is easier. With the prefabrication units completed at the factory, plumbing, heating and electrical and finishing can be tested and corrected while complete access is still available in the earlier stages of construction. Plumbing, electrical, heating tradesmen and subsequent inspectors visit the building site only for hook-up and inspection.
US08407963B2
Disclosed is a floor covering consisting of a plurality of panel elements (1) that can be laid in combination with each other. On the front sides (2, 3) and longitudinal sides (4, 5), the panel elements (1) have locking strips (6, 7) that engage with each other in the assembled position in a covering in which panel elements (1) adjoin each other. The front sides (2, 3) of the panel elements (1) have grooves (19, 20). The grooves (19, 20) of two abutting front sides (2, 3) are aligned and form a locking channel (21) for accommodating a front spring (22) that is pre-assembled in one of the grooves (20). The front spring (22) projects from an end of the groove (20) that faces the longitudinal side (5) of the panel element (1) and can be moved in part from one groove (20) into the corresponding groove (19) of the adjoining panel element (1) by sliding the projecting end (24) of the front spring (22) into the groove (20). The groove (20) that accommodates the front spring (22) has at least one recess (45) within which a stop surface (25) is formed and into which a cam (43) of the front spring (22) engages. The front spring (22) has a wavy shape. The wavy sides of the front spring (22) face a decorative side and a bottom side of the panel elements (1). The orientation of the troughs (27) and crests (26) of the wavy zones (28, 29) should correspond to the direction of travel (V) of the front spring (22) when the front spring (22) is slid into the recess (45) and the cam (43) rests thereagainst.
US08407952B2
The present invention relates to a spacer tube (1) for the production of spacer frames for multi-pane insulated glazing having at least two glass panes, having a tube wall (2) that has a visible wall (6), a bottom wall (7) that lies opposite the former, and two side walls (8) that lie opposite one another, for a connection with a glass pane each, whereby at least one of the two side walls (8) is cold-strengthened, at least in partial regions, to increase the bending stiffness of the spacer tube (1), as well as a multi-pane insulated glazing having a spacer frame having at least one such spacer tube (1), and a device and a method for production of the spacer tube (1).
US08407948B1
A landscape edging device provides alignable blocks that are both conformable to a desired curvature and provide a broad base for weed control and ease of mowing along landscaping edges. The device includes a planar base having a concave end and a convex end. The device also has a planar divider coupled to and extending upwardly from a top surface of said base. The divider has a concave end and a convex end that are offset from the ends of the base.
US08407947B2
A connector for securing a horizontally extending member of a sloped roof at a selected angle relative to an upright member of the sloped roof includes a first portion adapted for secure engagement with the upright member and a second portion adapted for secure engagement with the horizontally extending member. An angular measurement section extending from the first portion and having multiple visible features thereon is usable to secure the connector to the upright member at a selected angle by aligning a selected visible feature with a portion of the upright member. Each visible feature corresponds to a selected angular relationship, such that a desired angle between the horizontally extending member and the upright member can be provided through selective alignment of a corresponding visible feature of the connector with the upright member.
US08407942B1
A door jamb reinforcing device includes a first face member configured to engage with a face of a stop rail of the door jamb and a second face member interconnected with the first face member and configured to engage with a face of a latch-engagement portion of the door jamb. A first side member may be attached orthogonally to the first face member. A second side member may be attached orthogonally to the second face member. The first and second side members may be spaced apart from one another by a distance that corresponds to a width of the jamb.
US08407934B1
A tree planting support system that mounts onto a tree trunk to stabilize a recently planted tree in a substantially vertical position until its root system can hold it in that orientation without the need for additional support. It has a housing assembly with a top wall, a bottom wall, a rear wall, first and second sidewalls, an angled front wall extending between first and second front walls, and at least one slot. The housing assembly further has a first interior base wall defining an angled cavity section, and a second interior base wall defining another angled cavity section. At least one band is secured through the at least one slot and at least one support post has first and second ends. A stake assembly also has two angled cavity sections.
US08407932B2
An animal deterring device has a carrier with a first conductive trace that is separated from a second conductive trace. The carrier has a bottom with a first glue trough disposed beneath the first conductive trace. The first conductive trace is coupled to the carrier by a first fastener that extends from the first glue trough to the first conductive trace.
US08407929B2
An apparatus provides a fishing rig designed for improved performance in bottom fishing applications such as surf fishing. This fishing rig includes a hoop attached to the top of a sinker. The rig line is attached at its bottom end to the hoop, and a hook-shaped member is attached to the rig line above the hoop. Above the hook-shaped member, one or more fish hooks are attached to the rig line, and a swivel is attached at the top end of the rig line.
US08407923B2
Systems and methods for associating an accessory with a firearm include, in one embodiment, an accessory having an accessory portion and an attachment portion. The accessory portion is associated with any accessory a user may desire to associate with the firearm. The attachment portion allows the accessory to be associated with a rail assembly of the firearm. The attachment portion includes a first mounting arm and a second mounting arm configured to be positioned about the rail assembly when the accessory is snapped about the rail assembly. Also included is a securing mechanism for limiting the movement of the accessory when the accessory is snapped about the rail assembly.
US08407919B2
A method for the effective recovery of as large a portion as possible of the energy in the waste heat of a trough mangle (10) or other launderette machines. To this end, provision is made for a portion of the energy contained in the waste heat to be recovered by cooling the waste heat in a heat exchanger (14), with the waste heat being cooled to such an extent that it falls below the dew point and condenses, with the result that the energy released during condensation and at least a large portion of the energy from the condensate can also be recovered. In this way, it is possible for up to half the residual energy in the moist waste air from a trough mangle (10) and the waste gas from a heating device to be recovered and reused again.
US08407916B2
An apparatus for solvent recovery from a solvent/gas mixture from the exhaust air of systems processing printing, painting or other solvents, wherein the solvent/gas mixture from at least one oil-containing solvent/gas mixture is cooled down to a temperature below the lower condensation temperature of the oil of the solvent mixture using a heat exchanger, wherein a further, second heat exchanger is connected upstream of the heat exchanger, said second heat exchanger cooling the solvent/gas mixture specifically to the condensation temperature of an oil present in the mixture and both heat exchangers produce a recovery unit.
US08407915B2
Tray assemblies and methods for manufacturing ceramic articles are provided. In one embodiment, a tray assembly includes a tray body having a supporting surface operable to support a ceramic article for passage through a microwave drying apparatus during a microwave drying process and a microwave coupling cover associated with the tray body. The microwave coupling cover envelopes at least a portion of the ceramic article during the microwave drying process. The microwave coupling cover has a dielectric property such that a greater percentage of microwave energy is coupled into the ceramic article with the microwave coupling cover present during the microwave drying process than with the microwave coupling cover not present. Methods may include rotating the ceramic article when the ceramic article is about 40%-60 dry.
US08407911B2
This invention discloses systems and methods for conversion of high moisture waste materials to dry or low moisture products for recycle or reuse. The equipment systems comprise a gas turbine generator unit (preferred heat source), a dryer vessel and a processing unit, wherein the connection between the gas turbine and the dryer vessel directs substantially all the gas turbine exhaust into the dryer vessel and substantially precludes the introduction of air into the dryer vessel and wherein the processing unit forms the dried material from the dryer vessel into granules, pellets or other desired form for the final product. Optionally, the systems and methods further provide for processing ventilation air from manufacturing facilities to reduce emissions therefrom.
US08407908B2
A profile measurement apparatus includes: a probe which includes a gauge head for measuring a profile of an object to be measured and which moves the gauge head within a given range; a movement mechanism which moves the probe; and a controller which measures the profile by controlling the movement mechanism to contact the gauge head against the object. The controller comprises: a movement amount acquisition section which acquires a movement amount of the gauge head from a reference position; a deviation acquisition section which acquires as a deviation the movement amount when the gauge head is in a non-contact state; a determination section which determines whether the deviation is greater than a first threshold value; and a resetting section which, when the deviation is greater than the first threshold value, resets the reference position to a position arrived at by combining the reference position and the deviation.
US08407905B1
A plurality of integrated electronic compasses and circuit system. The system includes a semiconductor substrate and one or more CMOS integrated circuits formed on one or more portions of the semiconductor substrate. The system has a plurality of electronic compass devices operably coupled to the one or more CMOS integrated circuits. The plurality of electronic compass devices can be integrated with one or more sensors, MEMS, or other devices.
US08407903B2
The invention relates to a rotating construction laser (1), in particular a self-compensating construction laser. The construction laser (1) comprises a base (2,115) and a laser unit (3,114) for emitting a laser beam (11,83) rotating around an axis (18) of rotation so that the rotating laser beam (11,83) defines a laser plane. Therein, the laser unit (3,114) is built and tiltably arranged to the base (2,115) in such a way, that the axis (18) is tiltable in at least one direction. Furthermore, a tilt sensor (19,96,109) is present for measuring the tilt of the axis (18). According to the invention, the tilt sensor (19,96,109) is supported by a sensor platform being pivotable with respect to the laser unit around the axis (18) between at least two defined pivoting-positions (54,55,70-22) in such a way, that the tilt of the axis (18) is measurable by the tilt sensor (19,96,109) in the at least two pivoting-positions (54,55, 70-22).
US08407888B2
A method for manufacturing a silicon chip package for a circuit board assembly is provided with a package substrate having a silicon chip and an array of contact pads provided by conductive material. A plurality of conductive springs are affixed to the array of contact pads for providing conductive contact with the corresponding array of contacts on a circuit board assembly.
US08407886B2
A lead wire implanting apparatus is provided that can fabricate high-quality brushes that are without variations in implanting height and implanting strength and free from cracks and that can make the reproducibility of set values better and improve the workability in setup changing. The lead wire implanting apparatus has a tamping member and a storing cup for storing conductive metal powder, for implanting and fixing a lead wire to a brush main body by performing a tamping action of the tamping member a predetermined number of times. The apparatus has a linear-type servo motor serving as a drive source for driving the tamping member in vertical directions, a first position detector for detecting a shift position of the tamping member, and a controller device for controlling the linear-type servo motor based on detected information by the first position detector to cause the tamping member to perform a predetermined tamping action.
US08407884B2
A device for removing of profiles cut out from mattresses of cellular material including at least one conveyor, onto which a mattress of cellular material is laid. The mattress is led towards a turn around device for bending the mattress. At the turn around device at least an adjustable gap for a brush, at least an adjustable back pressure member and at least an adjustable brush are provided. The member bends the mattress into the gap and the brush removes the cut out profiles from the bend in the mattress.
US08407883B2
A damascene process is utilized to fabricate the segmented magnetic core elements of an integrated circuit inductor structure. The magnetic core is electroplated from a seed layer that is conformal with a permanent dielectric mold that results in sidewall plating defining an easy magnetic axis. The hard axis runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core and the inductor coils are orthogonal to the core's longitudinal axis. The magnetic field generated by the inductor coils is, therefore, parallel and self-aligned to the hard magnetic axis. The easy axis is enhanced by electroplating in an applied magnetic field parallel to the easy axis.
US08407881B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a small, high-power rotating electrical machine by suitably forming a distributed winding coil such that two stator magnetic poles each formed of in-phase coil turns are arranged within an electric angle of 360 degrees formed by magnetic poles of the rotor. The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a stator, the method including a first step of placing a distributed winding coil 207 composed of a wire wound around a reel 210, as a whole, inside a stator core 202, and a second step of moving an insertion blade 213 so as to spread the distributed winding coil 207 in the radial direction of the stator core 202, thus inserting the distributed winding coil 207 into a stator core slot 206.
US08407869B2
A carpet is having a raschel fabric to the back face. The raschel fabric consists of wefts which are inlay-yarns and warps which are chain-stitched yarns. The warp consists of chain-stitched ground yarns 3a, 3b, and a pile yarn 4 which forms standing loop piles on specified courses and which is chain-stitched with the ground yarns except said specified courses. The pile yarn consists of two mono-filaments 5, 5. The two mono-filaments 5, 5 are twisted at least one time per the length of each loop pile. Cut piles are formed by mechanically cutting the each loop pile near the top thereof. The two mono-filaments in the cut pile are disjoining each other and standing with inclination at random direction on the raschel fabric. When the carpet is placed on the surface of a mat, each mono-filament which is formed on the back face of the carpet, bites into the surface of the mat. Therefore, it is prevented that the carpet is displaced.
US08407862B2
A bi-directional releasable connector includes a connecting link defining a main tension leg and a pair of looped ends, the connecting link engaging a pair of spring-biased plungers axially movable independently of one another inside an outer housing. Axially outward movement of the plungers under the bias of the spring is limited by stops in the housing engaged by the plungers. Either end may be selectively opened and, in the static position with both ends closed, oppositely directed axial loads on the ends of the connector link are borne by the tension leg which is preferably made of steel or other high tensile strength material. Axial loads on the connector impose no loads or forces on the remaining components.
US08407861B1
The present invention relates to an extension for handles of an existing device. In accordance with the current invention, extensions can be connected to the handles and securely adjusted in both generally vertical and generally horizontal directions. Extensions of the current invention are particularly well-suited for use with the handles of rollable devices.
US08407860B2
The invention relates to an apparatus for positioning and fastening a device, in particular of a handle on a power tool. The apparatus includes a receptacle for the device, which receptacle is adjustable between at least one positioning position and at least one fastening position. The at least two positions of the device are definable by a tension lever. A detent geometry, embodied with the receptacle, cooperates with a receptacle geometry, embodied on or associated with the power tool. Various radial positions of the apparatus relative to the power tool can be set by the detent geometry and the receptacle geometry. According to the invention, it is provided that in addition, an axial securing device associated with the apparatus or the power tool, is provided, which in the positioning position and the fastening position secures the apparatus in its axial position relative to the power tool.
US08407857B2
A cushion clip may include a cushioning portion made of a soft material and capable of being elastically deformed when a compression force is applied thereto, an attachment portion made of a hard material, and a connecting portion integrally formed with the attachment portion. The connecting portion is embedded in the cushioning portion such that the cushioning portion can be integrated with the attachment portion. A portion of the cushioning portion surrounding an outer circumferential periphery of an end surface of the connecting portion has a lateral thickness that is varied in a direction in which the compression force is applied to the cushioning portion.
US08407854B2
A protective device for a castor includes a mounting ring, and a driving piece secured on the mounting ring. The mounting ring has an outer periphery formed with a breakable portion which is located beside the driving piece. The driving piece has a first end extending from the mounting ring and a second end formed with a pull tab. When the mounting ring is released by tearing the breakable portion, the mounting ring is directly driven by the driving piece to remove from each of the two rollers of the castor. Thus, the user only needs to apply a single action to pull the pull tab of the driving piece so as to remove the protective device from the castor completely so that the protective device can be removed from the castor easily and quickly.
US08407849B2
A cleaning tool includes a mop which includes at a lower end a mop head with a wiping object. The mop includes a mop rod formed of an inner rod and an outer rod and a drive mechanism is used to convert the telescoping motion of the mop rod to rotation motion of the mop head. The drive mechanism is a variable speed drive mechanism. As a result, the mop head of the cleaning tool achieves different rotation speeds under dry working condition with a lower resistance compared to washing conditions with a higher resistance. During washing, the mop head is washed rotationally at a lower speed, and the washing operation is conducted through depressing the mop rod.
US08407847B1
Disclosed is a wet and dry disposable cloth sweeper that has a cleaning head with a cleaning body and a ridged substrate, push fit zippers for securing a cleaning pad, an annular universal joint with a handle connector for pivotally securing the cleaning head to a handle, and a handle connected to the cleaning head. The wet and dry disposable cloth sweeper may be a cleaning kit having a cleaning head, a handle, and optionally cleaning pads.
US08407839B2
A roofing tool comprises a handle with a longitudinal axis and a longitudinal shaft coaxial therewith, the handle having a first end and a second end, a hollow shaft having a first end and a second end, the first end of the hollow shaft being axially inserted into the second end of the handle and the second end of the hollow shaft extending therefrom, a bracket attached to the second end of the hollow shaft, a roller rotatably attached to the bracket, a seam tester member having a tapered pick end and an elongated shaft disposed within the hollow shaft; and a detent member secured to the handle and configured to detain the seam tester member within the handle.
US08407837B1
A foldable structure for a hospital bed contains two mounts, a bed frame, and a bed plane, each mount including two rotary positioning pieces, wherein each rotary positioning piece has a hole and an arcuate groove to axially connect the each rotary positioning piece with two coupling elements of the bed frame, such that the bed frame rotates relative to the two mounts, the each rotary positioning piece has two orifices corresponding to two ends of the arcuate groove so that a spring pin of each side of the bed frame is inserted into one of the two orifices of the each rotary positioning pieces, hence the spring pin is pushed out of the one of the two orifices of the each rotary positioning pieces, a coupling element in the arcuate groove rotates smoothly relative to a coupling element in the hole, thus retracting or expanding the bed frame easily.
US08407834B1
A foldable mattress support is made by covering a metal frame with a fabric covering. The metal frame includes two sections that fold together at two hinges. A first section includes first upper and lower frames, and a second section includes second upper and lower frames. Each of the upper and lower frames is pivotally attached to a hinge. A bolt that is oriented along a first axis passes through the first upper frame and through a plate of the hinge. The first upper frame pivots about a first axis; the second upper frame pivots about a second axis; the first lower frame pivots about a third axis; and the second lower frame pivots about a fourth axis. Each of the axes is orthogonal to the plate, and the third axis is spaced farther apart from the fourth axis than the first axis is spaced apart from the second axis.
US08407831B2
A patient positioning apparatus comprising a base, a support column, at least one positioning arm on the support column capable of being positioned over a bed and having a buckle and strap capable of securing to a patient support with a receiving buckle so that a patient can be partially or totally suspended when an adjustable bed is lowered. The apparatus further comprising a telescoping support column and horizontal support for holding a first and second positioning arm. The positioning arms further comprising locking pivots for extending and retracting. Patient repositioning is effectuated by positioning the arms over a patient, extending straps with buckle inserts into receiving buckles on a fabric gripper secured to bed linens. A patient positioning apparatus can further be mounted to either a ceiling or a wall or can comprise a swiveling support column.
US08407829B2
A drain assembly for use with a faucet including a lift rod, a lever arm, and a coupler operably coupling the lift rod and the lever arm.
US08407828B2
A faucet assembly including a mounting base and an upper faucet assembly. A coupler is pivotally supported by the mounting base and releasably couples the upper faucet assembly to the mounting base. A lift rod is slidably received within a lift rod passageway defined by the coupler.
US08407820B1
A buckle includes a base having a plate. A compartment is defined between upper and lower walls of the plate. A front end of a pressing board is engaged with a front end of the plate. A rear end of the pressing board includes a pressing face and two guiding faces. An operating button is received in the compartment and includes a resilient section having upper and lower buttons extending through slots in the upper and lower walls. The operating button can be pressed to cause two pressing surfaces of the resilient section to press against the guiding faces of the pressing board for moving the pressing board rearward relative to the base, disengaging the pressing face of the pressing board from the head strap to permit the head strap to move in a reverse direction for loosening the head strap.
US08407817B2
A garment includes a first side, possibly corresponding to a user's front. The first side includes left and right portions that each have a free mating edge. Fastener elements are attached to or formed in each of the right and left portions of the garment. One of the two portions includes a two layer placket. Some of the fastener elements include a portion on the outer layer of the two layer placket. At least one interstitial fastener element is positioned only on the inner layer and is between two other fastener elements that include a portion on the outer layer. The at least one interstitial fastener element may be positioned at a wearer's chest or waist region to minimize or eliminate gapping of the shirt in areas of larger girth.
US08407816B2
An exemplary embodiment provides for a secure pocket that includes a backing, an inner-lower panel coupled to the backing and an upper-outer panel flap coupled to the backing. The upper-outer panel flap overlaps a portion of a circumference of the inner-lower panel and an inner-lower panel opening is covered by the upper-outer panel flap.
US08407812B2
Protective knee pads are comprised of a first shell member which fits over the patella and knee joint and a second member which is attached to the lower thigh and pivotally engaged with the knee pad shell so that they may articulate one with respect to the other while providing additional support and protection for the user of the knee pad. An additional shin pad may also be attached to the lower end of the shell which covers the knee.
US08413261B2
Sharing a secret that can later be revoked. A client sends data to a server that makes the data available to other clients. The data is shared generically without specifically identifying the client. The data can be considered quasi-secret data or data that is secret except for the anonymous sharing of the data. The client can later make the shared data private again by changing or deleting the sharing of the data.
US08413252B2
In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, every time a user submits a form the client software tries to match the submitted information with the stored profile of that user. If a match is discovered, the program tags the field of the recognized data with a corresponding type. The resulting profile can be used after that to help all subsequent users to fill the same form.
US08413244B1
Techniques for classifying unknown files taking into account temporal proximity between unknown files and files with known classifications are disclosed. In response to a classification request for a target file, client systems hosting (or hosted) instances of the target file are identified. For each system, files created around the time the target file was created on the system are identified. Within the identified files, files with known classifications are identified, and a score is determined for each such file to measure temporal proximity between the creation of the file and the creation of the target file. Local temporal proximity scores aggregate the scores for the client system. Global temporal proximity scores measures an aspect of the local temporal proximity scores for all identified client systems. The global temporal proximity scores are fed into a classifier to determine a classification, which is returned in response to the classification request.
US08413241B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for integrated deflection, detection and intrusion. Within a single computer system configured for operating system virtualization (e.g., Solaris™, OpenSolaris™), multiple security functions execute in logically independent zones or containers, under the control and administration of a global zone. Such functions may illustratively include a demilitarized zone (DMZ) and a honeypot. Management is facilitated because all functions work within a single operating system, which promotes the ability to configure, monitor and control each function. Any given zone can be configured with limited resources, a virtual network interface circuit and/or other features.
US08413237B2
Methods of simulating vulnerability are provided. In an example, multi-stage vulnerability across multiple systems may be simulated by first simulating a probing of at least one intermediate entity, the at least one intermediate entity connected to a target system, second simulating a probing of the target system if the first simulated probing is successful and generating an attack graph based on the results of the first and second simulating steps. In another example, multi-system vulnerability may be simulated by receiving a plurality of attributes associated with vulnerabilities of a plurality of systems within a network, the plurality of systems including at least one target system and generating an attack graph including one or more attack chains based at least in part on the received plurality of attributes. In another example, system (e.g., single-system) vulnerability may be simulated by first simulating whether vulnerabilities exploited from a first system state cause a transition to a second system state, the second system state having a higher-privilege level than the first system state within a target system and generating an attack graph based at least in part on the results of the simulation.
US08413234B1
A method, system, and medium are provided for detecting fraud, the method comprising: initializing a fraud hypothesis variable associated with a communications device, receiving data that describes a plurality of outgoing communication records that are associated with said communications device, wherein the data is related to activity that took place over a given period of time, extracting a plurality of destination identifiers from said plurality of communication records, for each of at least a portion of said plurality of destination identifiers, modifying said fraud hypothesis variable based on a fraud metric associated with said destination identifier, comparing said fraud hypothesis variable to a first predetermined threshold, and when said fraud hypothesis variable exceeds said first predetermined threshold, generating a fraud indication that is related to said communications device.
US08413229B2
In a method and appliance for authenticating, by an appliance, a client to access a virtual network connection, based on an attribute of a client-side certificate, a client authentication certificate is requested from a client. A value of at least one field in the client authentication certificate received from the client is identified. One of a plurality of types of access is assigned responsive to an application of a policy to the identified value of the at least one field, each of the plurality of access types associated with at least one connection characteristic.
US08413210B2
Disclosed are techniques for sharing user credentials between multiple client applications when connecting to a set of remote resources. The mechanism enables a single sign-on between a terminal server web access service and the remote applications, remote desktops and corresponding terminal servers accessible through the service. User credentials may be received by one of the client applications and passed to a credential store running as a local software object in association with the user's logon session. Further requests to launch a new remote connection may then pass through the credential store. Upon successful validation of the request, the credential store may attach user credential information to the request and pass the request to the requested client. The requested client may also execute as a software object associated with the current logon session. The client may then use the supplied credential for authentication to the requested resource or application.
US08413199B2
A media device comprising: a memory storing a communication client application; a processor, coupled to the memory and operable to execute the communication client application, wherein the client application is programmed so as when executed to allow a user to establish a call with one or more other users via a packet-based communication network; and a remote control unit comprising wireless communication means arranged to transmit data to the processor, a control means coupled to the wireless communication means and configured to control the wireless communication means, user input means coupled to the control means and arranged to receive input commands from the user and provide the input commands to the control means, and a microphone coupled to the control means and arranged to receive audio signals from a user, wherein, responsive to the control means receiving a command to establish a call from the user input means, the control means is arranged to activate the wireless communication means from a deactivated state, establish a wireless connection with the processor, and transmit data comprising audio signals from the microphone using the wireless communication means to the processor for transmission in a call over the packet-based communication network.
US08413198B2
A method and system for providing controlled on-demand distribution of content via a centralized server and a peer-to-peer network have been described. The method may include receiving, at a server, a request from a client for content where the requesting client and the server are part of a peer-to-peer network. The server may then determine whether the requesting client has access rights to the content. If the requesting client has access rights to the content, then the server may determine one or more other clients on the peer-to-peer network that have the content available for download. The server may then select one or more clients from the one or more other clients and allow the requesting client to download the content from the selected one or more clients. Other embodiments have also been described and claimed.
US08413196B2
Aspects of an audio/visual architecture are disclosed. In one aspect, a system is disclosed where the system has a media manager object, an audio/visual program, and a player/recorder object so that when the program is selected, the media manager dynamically loads the player/recorder object for either playing or recording the program. For example, with respect to the media manager object, it can manage a collection of related program entities and any corresponding player/recorder components. Also, the media manager can allocate share source ports and shared sink ports in order to dynamically create virtual circuit paths for selected program entries.
US08413181B2
A cross-platform advertising system utilizes viewing data, browsing data, and telephone call data to establish subscriber account profile and, optionally, user profiles for users at the subscriber account. An ad selection processor selects ads based on subscriber account profile and, optionally, the user profile. An ad delivery processor delivers the selected ads to a device associated with the subscriber account.
US08413179B2
A disk holding device for a disk having a center hole is provided. A disk holding mechanism is movable between a holding position and a release position, for engagement with an edge of the center hole when in the holding position, and for coming away from the edge when in the release position. A solenoid as actuator shifts the disk holding mechanism, to hold the disk by setting the disk holding mechanism in the holding position, and to release the disk by setting the disk holding mechanism in the release position. A regulating portion contacts a peripheral portion of an upper surface of the disk, to keep the disk retained on the disk holding mechanism by preventing skew relative to the disk holding mechanism. Preferably, the disk holding mechanism enters the center hole downwards and holds the disk on a lower side.
US08413148B2
A method and system for protecting against failure of hardware elements (HEs) in a virtual machine system using an information model with virtualization support. Based on the information model, the method boots virtual machine monitors (VMMs), virtual machines (VMs) and operating systems (OSes). The information model includes a graph of objects representing configured relationships between the hardware elements (HEs), VMMs, VMs, and OSes through parent child relationships between the graph's objects. The graph of objects includes: a domain object, HE objects, VMM objects, VM objects, and OS objects. The VM objects of a migration-enabled type represent those of the VMs that may migrate between the VMMs. Based on the runtime associations between the VMM objects and the VM objects of the migration-enabled type, the method identifies which of the migration-enabled VMs are hosted by a same HE and are therefore vulnerable to hardware failure of the same HE.
US08413136B2
A virtual application packaged for a specific executing environment may be executed on a processing device having an executing environment different from the specific executing environment. A reference, included in extracted installer metadata, to one or more key paths of a hierarchically-structured data store may be modified according to a set of rules related to the executing environment detected in the processing device. The modified extracted installer metadata may be provided to an installer for installing the virtual application. During execution of the virtual application, a request to read, write, or modify the hierarchically-structured data store may be intercepted and changed, such that a first key path included in the request may be mapped to a second key path, based on the detected executing environment. Similarly, a response to the request, which may include the second key path, may be intercepted and modified, to the first key path.
US08413132B2
Techniques directed to an update package including a set of instructions used for, in a remote client device, creating a new data image from a base data image are provided. A method for generating an update package includes determining differences between a base data image and a new data image, generating COPY instructions corresponding to respective sections of code in the base data image, organizing the COPY instructions into a directed acyclic graph, performing cycle detection on the COPY instructions in the directed acyclic graph to detect any cycles, when a cycle is detected, identifying a COPY instruction in the detected cycle with a smallest overlapping part, removing the overlapping part from the identified COPY instruction, and generating a COPYBACK instruction including the overlapping part removed from the identified COPY instruction, and after all cycles have been detected, generating the update package based on the COPY and COPYBACK instructions.
US08413131B2
A system for computer-based testing for producing a test and delivering the test to an examinee includes a storage device that has a first storage location, which stores a first segment of a test definition language, and a second storage location, which stores a second segment of the test definition language, a validation expansion module that validates the first segment and the second segment of the test definition language, a test packager that amalgamates the first storage location and the second storage location and transmits the amalgamated segment to the validation expansion module such that the validation expansion module can determine whether the amalgamated segment forms a complete and valid set, and a test driver that has an executable code that controls functionality that enables the test driver to deliver the test to an examinee.
US08413128B2
Asynchronous loading of source dependencies is disclosed. An indication is received in the course of executing a script that a source file on which a current class or function depends is not available, wherein the current class or function is called or executed during the execution of the script. Execution of remaining portions of the script, if any, that do not depend on the source file, continues, or other processing tasks are performed if no such portions remain, while the source file is loaded asynchronously.
US08413125B2
A computer is programmed to automatically have multiple sessions update a common counter which is shared therebetween, when interpreting a given method so that system-wide statistics are collected for each method. The single counter is commonly accessed for updating by the respective interpreters in the multiple sessions which are executing the method. The computer is further programmed to asynchronously compile the method (regardless of the state of the multiple sessions), to obtain compiled software in the form of executable machine instructions. Specifically, asynchronous compilation starts dynamically, whenever a method's common multi-session counter satisfies a predetermined condition. Finally, each session is informed when compilation is completed so that the next time the method needs to be run, it is not interpreted and instead the compiled software is executed. The compiled software is kept in a shared memory which is accessible to each session.
US08413123B2
According to an embodiment, a compiling device compiling a source program written so as to use a frame memory includes a processing delay amount calculator configured to calculate respective processing delay amounts between a plurality of process tasks in the source program on the basis of processing states of pieces of data processed by the process tasks. The compiling device also includes a line memory amount calculator configured to calculate respective line memory sizes required for each of the process tasks on the basis of an access range of a frame memory from which the process task reads data and an instruction code converter configured to convert the plurality of process tasks to instruction codes executable in a pipeline on the basis of the processing delay amounts and the line memory sizes.
US08413122B2
Since multi-core processors have become the standard architecture for general purpose machines, programmers are required to write software optimized for parallelism. Verification of correctness is an important issue for parallel code because of its complexity. There are still tools missing that provide verification for complex code, such as testing the execution of code provides. Consequently, described herein are systems and methods to evaluate the correctness of program traces. Furthermore, the systems and methods described herein do not demand excessive computational requirements and the size of the program trace being evaluated increases.
US08413120B2
An apparatus and methods for hardware-based performance monitoring of a computer system are presented. The apparatus includes: processing units; a memory; a connector device connecting the processing units and the memory; probes inserted the processing units, and the probes generating probe signals when selected processing events are detected; and a thread trace device connected to the connector device. The thread trace device includes an event interface to receive probe signals, and an event memory controller to send probe event messages to the memory, where probe event messages are based on probe signals. The probe event messages transferred to memory can be subsequently analyzed using a software program to determine, for example, thread-to-thread interactions.
US08413117B1
A computer-implemented method for focusing product testing based on areas of change within the product is described. A link between resource files of a product and test cases associated with the product is created. The resource files of a first build of the product are compared with the resource files of a second build of the product. A report that comprises which resource files changed between the first build of the product and the second build of the product is generated. The resource files that have changed and the test cases linked to the changed resource files are displayed. The test cases linked to the changed resource files are executed.
US08413112B2
The present invention relates to the visualization of complex information using a set of navigable landmasses. A method for generating a visualization of a programming code base using a set of navigable landmasses in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: representing each of a plurality of different code components using a respective landmass; adjusting a size of each landmass based on a number of lines of code in the code component corresponding to the landmass; and displaying the landmasses.
US08413107B2
Systems and methods are defined of operating a service orientated architecture software factory system. In some embodiments these systems and methods include storing a plurality of definitions in a common definitions repository, transferring the plurality of definitions into a software factory definition layer, integrating the service orientated architecture with a software orientated architecture development environment and a registry, and creating runtime environment. In these embodiment, the runtime environment is created based upon the plurality of definitions, the software orientated architecture development environment, and the registry.
US08413103B2
Embodiments of a computer system, a method, a graphical user interface and a computer-program product (i.e., software) for use with the computer system are described. A chip designer may use these devices and techniques to configure and monitor the execution of tasks in a user-configurable electronic-design-automation (EDA) flow associated with a circuit or chip design. In particular, using an intuitive and interactive graphical user interface in EDA software, the chip designer can configure and initiate execution of the EDA flow. Then, during execution of EDA tasks in the EDA flow, an execution monitor in the graphical user interface may provide a graphical representation of real-time execution status information for the EDA tasks. Moreover, using the EDA software, the chip designer can debug the circuit or chip design if any errors or problems occur.
US08413099B2
Some embodiments of the present invention provide techniques and systems for reducing the number of scenarios over which a circuit design is optimized. Each scenario in the set of scenarios can be associated with a process corner, an operating condition, and/or an operating mode. During operation, the system can receive a set of scenarios over which the circuit design is to be optimized. Next, the system can compute values of constrained objects in the circuit design over the set of scenarios. The system can then determine a subset of scenarios based at least on the values of the constrained objects, so that if the circuit design meets design constraints in each scenario in the subset of scenarios, the circuit design is expected to meet the design constraints in each scenario in the set of scenarios.
US08413086B2
Processor pipeline controlling techniques are described which take advantage of the variation in critical path lengths of different instructions to achieve increased performance. By examining a processor's instruction set and execution unit implementation's critical timing paths, instructions are classified into speed classes. Based on these speed classes, one pipeline is presented where hold signals are used to dynamically control the pipeline based on the instruction class in execution. An alternative pipeline supporting multiple classes of instructions is presented where the pipeline clocking is dynamically changed as a result of decoded instruction class signals. A single pass synthesis methodology for multi-class execution stage logic is also described. For dynamic class variable pipeline processors, the mix of instructions can have a great effect on processor performance and power utilization since both can vary by the program mix of instruction classes. Application code can be given new degrees of optimization freedom where instruction class and the mix of instructions can be chosen based on performance and power requirements.
US08413080B1
A method for creating an apodization mask is disclosed. According to the method, a grid is created for the pattern. The grid includes a number of elements. Each element is processed to determine whether the element is to be made transmissive based on a predetermined local optical density and a random value. The predetermined local optical density and the random value are associated with the element. The random value is generated on a random basis. Each element is further processed to determine whether the position of the element is to be shifted. The positional shift is determined on a random basis. The grid with the processed elements is then used to make an apodization mask. The apodization mask may be used in an optical instrument, such as, an interferometer.
US08413077B2
An input apparatus includes: a motion signal output section to detect a movement of an object for controlling a movement of an image displayed on a screen and output a motion signal corresponding to the movement of the object; a control command generation section to generate a control command corresponding to the motion signal for controlling the movement of the image; an operation signal output section to detect a user operation unintended for the control of the movement of the image and output an operation signal based on the operation; an operation command generation section to generate an operation command based on the operation signal; and a control section to control the control command generation section to generate, in temporal relation with a generation timing of the operation command, the control command with a sensitivity of the movement of the image with respect to the movement of the object changed.
US08413075B2
The display of gesture movies is disclosed to assist users in performing gestures. Gesture movies can be short, unintrusive, and available on demand. A list box can appear in a pop-up window or preference panel, containing a list of gestures that can be displayed. If a user clicks on a gesture in the list, a video, movie or animation of the gesture being performed appears in one box, and a video, movie or animation of the action being performed on a particular object is displayed in another box. Thus, a hand can be shown performing the selected gesture over a touch sensor panel, while at the same time, and synchronized with the gesture being displayed, an object being manipulated by the gesture is displayed.
US08413072B2
An apparatus, system and method that allow for context and language specific data entry via a user interface. A user interface is displayed on a display device, where the user interface includes a data entry menu having one or more menu selections. A menu selection is activated. A data entry method is displayed, where the data entry method is context and language specific to the activated menu selection. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08413066B2
A method of presenting keys of a touchscreen device, to facilitate correct actuation. Following depression of a key, the device determines likelihood of selection of a subsequent key. Keys determined to be more likely to be subsequently selected are visually enhanced. Enhancement may be by presenting the keys as relatively large relative to keys not so determined, by adjusting coloring, and introducing dynamic effects, among others. Also, keys surrounding keys determined to be likely to be subsequently selected may be visually enhanced. Visually enhanced surrounding keys may have enhanced brightness relative to keys not surrounding keys so determined. Keys may be further categorized in an intermediate category as being of equal likelihood rather than of relatively great or relatively unlikely subsequent selection. Visual presentation may intuitively reflect the three categories.
US08413056B2
A method and system is provided for detecting, commanding and controlling diverse home devices currently connected to a home network. An interface is provided for accessing the home devices that are currently connected to a home network. According to the method, a device link file is generated, wherein the device link file identifies home devices that are currently connected to the home network. A device link page is created, wherein the device link page contains a device button that is associated with each home device that is identified in the device link file. A hyper-text link is associated with each device button, wherein the hyper-text link provides a link to an HTML page that is contained on the home device that is associated with the device button, and the device link page is displayed on a browser based home device.
US08413051B2
Text may be contextually previewed in various fonts using preview panes with a level of transparency. Fonts or font groups may then be applied to a document using the preview panes. In one example, text to be inserted may be previewed in different fonts against the document in which the text is to be added. Once a user has selected a desirable font, the user may choose to insert the text into the document using the preview pane. Alternatively, a user may apply a font to existing text from the preview pane. Text in fonts of different types and/or sizes may be previewed in a variety of formats in a single preview area and/or with individual font preview panes.
US08413050B2
Presentation of results of a predictive analysis of text is delayed until entry of the text by a user is paused by a particular amount of time. The results are available for selection by the user for another particular amount of time. After the other particular amount of time is expired, the results are no longer available to for selection. If a particular result is selected, the selected result either replaces or supplements the entered text.
US08413045B2
A computer-implemented method for presenting a document for interaction with a user in a web browser includes accessing an electronic model of the document; determining, with a computing device, positions for items in a visual rendering of the electronic model based on relative sizes and positions of other items in the electronic model; and generating, with the computing device, a document object model (DOM) that defines an editing surface, wherein the DOM (a) places placing the items at the determined positions on the editing surface, (b) places a graphic element that represents a cursor at a determined location on the editing surface, and (c) is arranged to receive user input on the editing surface and to correlate a location of the received user input to a location in the electronic model.
US08413034B2
In a magnetic data processing device, an input part sequentially receives magnetic data output from a magnetic sensor. A storage part stores a plurality of the magnetic data as a data set of statistical population. An index derivation part derives a distribution index of the data set of the statistical population. A reliability determination part determines whether or not reliability of the data set of the statistical population is acceptable based on the distribution index and a decision criterion. A decision criterion setting part increases strictness of the decision criterion when the reliability determination part determines that the reliability of the data set of the statistical population is acceptable, and decreases the strictness of the decision criterion when the reliability determination part determines that the reliability of the data set of the statistical population is unacceptable.
US08413033B2
A method for calculating backward state metrics of a trellis, the method includes: performing a radix-K calculation of backward state matrices of multiple states of at least one time instance of a trellis; and performing a radix-J calculation of backward state matrices of multiple states of at least one other time instance of the trellis; wherein K differs from J.
US08413032B1
A channel decoder including an amplifier configured to amplify a signal; a first summer configured to generate an output signal based on the signal amplified by the amplifier; and a Viterbi detector module configured to, based on the output signal, generate a first estimate signal and a second estimate signal, wherein the first estimate signal and the second estimate signal respectively indicate an estimate of data in the signal. The channel decoder further includes a second summer configured to generate a first error signal indicating a first gradient based on the first estimate signal; and a third summer configured to generate a second error signal indicating a second error gradient based on the second estimate signal. The first summer is configured to generate the output signal based on (i) the first error signal and (ii) the second error signal.
US08413027B2
A method of decoding a coding pattern disposed on or in a substrate. The method comprises the steps of: (a) operatively positioning an optical reader relative to a surface of the substrate; (b) capturing an image of a portion of the coding pattern, the coding pattern comprising a plurality of square tags of length/identifying two-dimensional location coordinates; and (c) sampling and decoding x-coordinate data symbols within the imaged portion and y-coordinate data symbols within the imaged portion. The imaged portion has a predetermined diameter and is guaranteed to contain sufficient data symbols from each of the Reed-Solomon codes so that symbol errors are correctable in each of the codes during the decoding.
US08413014B2
A method of writing data to and reading data from a storage medium includes cycle slip detection and correction. An LDPC matrix includes a first area for cycle slip detection and correction. The first area satisfies a set of conditions such that a cycle slip at a particular position creates a pattern of parity check errors indicative of the position and polarity of the cycle slip. Writing user data to the storage medium includes encoding the user data with parity data according to the LDPC matrix. Reading the user data and the parity data from the storage medium includes decoding the user data and the parity data according to the LDPC matrix. Decoding includes, upon detecting a pattern of parity check errors indicative of the position and polarity of a detected cycle slip, correcting the detected cycle slip.
US08413012B2
Frames of data that have transverse Reed-Solomon (TRS) coding and subsequent cyclical-redundancy-check (CRC) coding are subjected to de-interleaving before concatenated convolutional coding (CCC). The de-interleaving is related to the symbol interleaving of the outer convolutional coding prior to the inner convolutional coding so as to result in implied interleaving of data bits in the CCC on which wireless digital transmissions are based. The CCC is turbo decoded in a receiver for the wireless digital transmissions and re-interleaved to reproduce soft data, hard data bits of which data are TRS coded. CRC coding is decoded during the turbo decoding procedures and used to influence the confidence levels of the soft data. The confidence levels of the soft data are used for locating byte errors when the TRS coded hard data bits of the soft data are decoded.
US08413008B2
A method for recovery of lost and/or corrupted data transmitted from a transmitter device to a receiver device. The data is coded by an encoder connected to the transmitter device. The data is transmitted from the transmitter device to the receiver device via a transmission system and is decoded by means of a decoder connected to the receiver device. This is performed through application of a low density parity check method, wherein lost and/or corrupted data is restored during decoding. The decoding is performed by solving the equation system of the parity check matrix H. The parity check matrix H is brought into a triangular form by column and/or row permutations. Columns of a sub-matrix B of the matrix H which impede the triangulation process are shifted into a sub-matrix P of the matrix H so that the triangulation process can be continued until the matrix H except for the sub-matrix P has been completely brought into a triangular form. The Gaussian elimination method is applied to a part of the sub-matrix P. The selection of the column or columns of the sub-matrix B which are to be shifted into the sub-matrix P is performed on the basis of the weight of the column which corresponds to the number of non-zero-entries in the column, and/or on the basis of the weight of the rows of the sub-matrix B connected to the column.
US08413007B2
A DRAM device includes an ECC generator/checker that generates ECC syndromes corresponding to items of data stored in the DRAM device. The DRAM device also includes an ECC controller that causes the ECC syndromes to be stored in the DRAM device. The ECC controller also causes a flag bit having a first value to be stored in the DRAM device when a corresponding ECC syndrome is stored. The ECC controller changes the flag bit to a second value whenever the corresponding data bits are modified, this indicating that the stored syndrome no longer corresponds to the stored data. In such case, the ECC controller causes a new ECC syndrome to be generated and stored, and the corresponding flag bit is reset to the first value. The flag bits may be checked in this manner during a reduced power refresh to ensure that the stored syndromes correspond to the stored data.
US08413004B2
A phase-change memory (PCM) includes a matrix of storage cells, including at least a first group with at least one cell. Each cell includes a phase change material having at least a first resistance value and a second resistance value, such that the first group can have an identical message encoded therein in at least a first way and a second way. The memory also includes a controller configured to encode the identical message in the at least first group the first or second way, based on which way causes the least amount of writing cost, given current levels of the group. Another embodiment of memory includes a matrix of storage cells. Each of the storage cells has at least two levels, such that each of the storage cells can have an identical message encoded therein in at least a first way and a second way.
US08413002B2
A data transmission method using automatic repeat request (ARQ) in a radio interface protocol system consisting of a plurality of layers is provided. The method includes delivering, from an upper layer to a lower layer, a data block stored in an ARQ buffer, the ARQ buffer storing a plurality of data blocks to be transmitted in response the lower layer, the data block; delivering, from the upper layer to the lower layer, a new data block stored in the ARQ buffer if a delivery success message is received from the lower layer, the delivery success message indicating successful transmission of the data block; and shifting a window of the ARQ buffer. The present invention can effectively use radio resources since an ARQ procedure does not require a polling process and a process of receiving a status PDU, and is suitable for high rate data transmission.
US08413001B2
A communication apparatus (CA) such as a mobile node/station (MN), a base station (BS), or a radio station (RS) may support determination of HARQ timing. The CA may generate at least in part one or more generalized frames such as a frequency division duplex (FDD) frame or a time division duplex (TDD) frame. The generalized FDD and TDD frames may include support to determine the HARQ timing considering various factors, which may affect the HARQ timing. The FDD and TDD frames may include information corresponding to various factors to determine the HARQ timing considering factors such as DL/UL ratio, number of sub-frames per frame, variable transmission time interval (TTI), relay zones, legacy IEEE® 802.16e zones, and availability of ACKCH.
US08413000B2
Embodiments disclosed herein are configured for retransmission above the gamma (γ) interface. At least one embodiment of a method includes receiving data from an Ethernet layer, the data being identified as eligible for retransmission or not eligible for retransmission; in response to a determination that the data is eligible for retransmission, storing a copy of at least a portion of the data in a retransmission queue; and transmitting the data across a gamma (γ) interface to a packet transfer mode transmission convergence layer.
US08412999B2
A method for specifying a transport block-to-codeword mapping relationship and a method for transmitting a downlink signal using the same are described. If a swap flag has a first logic value, a first transport block is mapped to a first codeword and a second transport block is mapped to a second codeword. If the swap flag has a second logic value, the first transport block is mapped to the second codeword and the second transport block is mapped to the first codeword. If the size of any one of two transport blocks is 0, the swap flag is not used.
US08412996B2
A device and a method detect an acceleration of a logic signal expressed by a closeness, beyond a closeness threshold, of at least two variation edges of the logic signal. A first control bit and a second control bit are provided. At each edge of the logic signal, the value of the first control bit is inverted after a first delay and the value of the second control bit is inverted after a second delay. An acceleration is detected when the two control bits have at the same time their respective initial values or their respective inverted initial values. Application is in particular but not exclusively to the detection of error injections in a secured integrated circuit.
US08412985B1
Subject matter disclosed herein relates to on-the-fly remapping a memory device by hardware-switching data paths to locations of the memory device.
US08412982B2
Methods and systems for facilitating fault tolerance in a non-hot-standby configuration of a network routing system are provided. According to one embodiment, a failover method is provided. One or more processing engines of a network routing system are configured to function as active processing engines, each of which having one or more software contexts. A control blade is configured to monitor the active processing engines. One or more of the processing engines are identified to function as non-hot-standby processing engines, each of which having no pre-created software contexts corresponding to the software contexts of the active processing engines. The control blade monitors the active processing engines. Responsive to detecting a fault associated with an active processing engine the active processing engine is dynamically replaced with a non-hot-standby processing engine by creating one or more replacement software contexts within the non-hot-standby processing engine corresponding to those of the active processing engine.
US08412977B2
A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and system are presented for establishing redundant computer resources. According to one embodiment, in a system including a plurality of processor devices and a plurality of storage devices, the processor devices, the storage devices and the management server being connected via a network, the method comprises storing device information relating to the processor devices and the storage devices and topology information relating to topology of the network, identifying at least one primary computer resource, selecting at least one secondary computer resource suitable to serve as a redundant resource corresponding to the at least one primary computer resource based on the device information and the topology information, and assigning the at least one secondary computer resource as a redundant resource corresponding to the at least one primary computer resource.
US08412976B2
According to some embodiments, a method and system are provided to initiate communication at an integrated circuit that is electrically coupled to a plurality of voltage regulators, determine a slowest one of the plurality of voltage regulators that is electrically coupled to the processor, transmit address information to the plurality of voltage regulators that are electrically coupled to the processor at a first speed associated with the slowest one of the plurality of voltage regulators, determine a second speed associated with a voltage regulator to which the address information is associated, and transmit a second portion of the packet at the second speed associated with the voltage regulator to which the address information is associated.
US08412972B2
Described herein are a method and an apparatus for reducing power consumption of memories by monitoring the power states of the memories via an operating system. The method comprises reading counter values corresponding to power states of each memory of a plurality memories; computing a power state usage corresponding to the power states of each memory of the plurality, the computing based on the counter values; determining whether the power state usage exceeds a predetermined threshold usage; and adjusting current and future usage of each memory of the plurality in response to determining that the power state usage exceeds the predetermined threshold usage.
US08412971B2
A method and apparatus for dynamically controlling a cache size is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes changing an operating point of a processor from a first operating point to a second operating point, and selectively removing power from one or more ways of a cache memory responsive to changing the operating point. The method further includes processing one or more instructions in the processor subsequent to removing power from the one or more ways of the cache memory, wherein said processing includes accessing one or more ways of the cache memory from which power was not removed.
US08412969B2
A computer system and overclock controlling method and program thereof, which includes steps of providing an overclock work voltage to a CPU when overclock is requested, then the CPU adjusts its clock domain according to the overclock work voltage. The overclock work voltage is a sum of a normal work voltage and an additional external voltage, by which the CPU may enter an overclock mode (a frequency of a clock domain signal is higher than a standard frequency value). Eventually, when the frequency of the clock domain signal of the CPU is in a stable status during the overclock mode, the work voltage for the CPU is reduced and the CPU keeps working in the overclock mode.
US08412965B2
A forward converter circuit includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding. A first transistor is coupled in series with the primary winding and a second transistor is coupled in series with the secondary winding. A control circuit generating control signals for controlling operation of the first and second transistors. The control signals are generated responsive to the values in certain triggered counting circuits satisfying programmable thresholds.
US08412959B2
Disclosed herein is a terminal apparatus designed as a self-powered device according to the Universal Serial Bus standard, the terminal apparatus including: a battery; a USB port; and a control section configured to allow relevant components of the terminal apparatus to operate on power from the battery upon power-up, the control section further notifying a host device upon connection thereto through the USB port that the terminal apparatus is a bus-powered device, in order to request a current necessary for the relevant components to operate only on the power supplied from the host device to the bus-powered device.
US08412948B2
An apparatus and method are provided for reducing time taken for generating a digital signature and generating the digital signature using a minimum number of operations using at least two secret keys. One secret key among at least two secret keys may be set from a value resulting from hashing a message to be transmitted. A number of times for hashing the secret key is determined, and a value resulting from hashing the determined secret key by the determined hashing number of times is set as the digital signature.
US08412944B1
A professional subscriber station, a document authority station and a client station are provided. The professional subscriber station has a first electronic device for creating a document for being certified. The document authority station has a second electronic device adapted to receive the document and to certify the document and to transmit a document of certification and a cover sheet with codes to the professional subscriber station. The client station is adapted to receive the document and cover sheet with codes from the professional subscriber station. The client station has a third electronic device for viewing the certificate of authenticity at the client station and the document.
US08412939B2
Disclosed a system and method for mutual authentication between a node and a sink in a sensor network. At least one sink periodically creates a neighboring sink list including information on at least one adjacent sink, and the sink requests node authentication to a base station when receiving an authentication request from the node and transmits its own neighboring sink list to the node when the node authentication has been completed. When the node moves and requests authentication to another sink, the another sink stores a neighboring sink list received from the node, determines if a node-authenticable sink exists in its own neighboring sink list according to the authentication request, and requests re-authentication of the node to the node-authenticable sink when the node-authenticable sink exists, so that re-authentication between the node and the sink is easily performed.
US08412938B2
In the fields of data security and system reliability and qualification, this disclosure is of a method, system and apparatus for verifying or authenticating a device to a host using a zero-knowledge based authentication technique which includes a keyed message authentication code such as an HMAC or keyed cipher function and which operates on secret information shared between the host and the device. This is useful both for security purposes and also to make sure that a device such as a computer peripheral or accessory or component is qualified to be interoperable with the host.
US08412935B2
A storage system that administrates data to be mounted on a client terminal, the data being categorized into a plurality of generations, and that controls data in response to a request to mount data received from the client terminal. The storage system including a storage unit that stores a first generation that is currently under operation as operational data, a second generation that had functioned as the operational data as backup data, and a third generation that is to be in operation as standby data, and a switching unit that switches the first and the third generations such that the third generation is stored as the operational data, and the first generation is stored as the backup data, and that switches the first and the second generations such that the second generation is stored as the operational data, and the first generation is stored as the backup data.
US08412932B2
A method and system for collecting account access statistics from information provided by client certificates. In one embodiment, the method comprises requesting client certificates from remote terminals that request to access a computing resource. The method further comprises updating the account access statistics based on information provided by presence or absence of the client certificates and contents of the client certificates for the client certificates that are present.
US08412920B2
A boot sequence method comprises a determination step 110 and 200, a first starting step 120, 210 or 240 for starting a first interface, a first negotiation step 140 or 220 wherein a power negotiation is performed, a second negotiation step 140 or 230 for determining the interfaces to activate simultaneously, and a second starting step 150 or 230 wherein the interfaces that can be activated simultaneously are started one after each other.
US08412911B2
A system and method for invalidating obsolete virtual/real address to physical address translations may employ translation lookaside buffers to cache translations. TLB entries may be invalidated in response to changes in the virtual memory space, and thus may need to be demapped. A non-cacheable unit (NCU) residing on a processor may be configured to receive and manage a global TLB demap request from a thread executing on a core residing on the processor. The NCU may send the request to local cores and/or to NCUs of external processors in a multiprocessor system using a hardware instruction to broadcast to all cores and/or processors or to multicast to designated cores and/or processors. The NCU may track completion of the demap operation across the cores and/or processors using one or more counters, and may send an acknowledgement to the initiator of the demap request when the global demap request has been satisfied.
US08412894B2
Solutions to a value recycling problem facilitate implementations of computer programs that may execute as multithreaded computations in multiprocessor computers, as well as implementations of related shared data structures. Some exploitations allow non-blocking, shared data structures to be implemented using standard dynamic allocation mechanisms (such as malloc and free). Some exploitations allow non-blocking, indeed even lock-free or wait-free, implementations of dynamic storage allocation for shared data structures. In some exploitations, our techniques provide a way to manage dynamically allocated memory in a non-blocking manner without depending on garbage collection. While exploitations of solutions to the value recycling problem that we propose include management of dynamic storage allocation wherein values managed and recycled tend to include values that encode pointers, they are not limited thereto. Indeed, the techniques are more generally applicable to management of values in a multithreaded computation. For example, value recycling techniques may be exploited, in some cases, apart from dynamic storage allocation, to allow a multithreaded computation to avoid the classic ABA hazard.
US08412882B2
Embodiments are described that leverage variability of a chip. Different areas of a chip vary in terms of reliability under a same operating condition. The variability may be captured by measuring errors over different areas of the chip. A physical factor that affects or controls the likelihood of an error on the chip can be varied. For example, the voltage supplied to a chip may be provided at different levels. At each level of the physical factor, the chip is tested for errors within the regions. Some indication of the error statistics for the regions is stored and then used to adjust power used by the chip, to adjust reliability behavior of the chip, to allow applications to control how the chip is used, to compute a signature uniquely identifying the chip, etc.
US08412880B2
The present disclosure includes methods and devices for a memory system controller. In one or more embodiments, a memory system controller includes a host interface communicatively coupled to a system controller. The system controller has a number of memory interfaces, and is configured for controlling a plurality of intelligent storage nodes communicatively coupled to the number of memory interfaces. The system controller includes logic configured to map between physical and logical memory addresses, and logic configured to manage wear level across the plurality of intelligent storage nodes.
US08412875B2
A network system that is part of a main system includes: a first PCI express-network bridge with a first control unit and a first PCI express adapter terminating a first PCI express bus; and a second PCI express-network bridge connected to the first PCI express-network bridge through a network. The second PCI express-network bridge includes a second control unit and a second PCI express adapter terminating a second PCI express bus, wherein the first control unit detects a destination of a packet sent from the first PCI express adapter, searches a physical address of the destination from a packet encapsulating table, and encapsulates the packet in a frame so that the frame includes the physical address, and wherein the second control unit removes the encapsulation tagged to the packet, and transfers the packet to the destination through the second PCI express bus by referring to a PCI express configuration register.
US08412868B2
Methods and systems for creating, reading, and writing compressed files in a computer system comprising a file system coupled with storage medium and at least one application program interface (API) configured to communicate with the file system by means of file access-related requests are provided. The file access-related requests are intercepted in order to provide at least one of the following: a) to derive and compress data corresponding to the intercepted file access request and to facilitate storing the compressed data at the storage medium as a compressed file; b) to facilitate restoring at least part of compressed data corresponding to the intercepted file request and communicating the resulting data through the API. The compressed files comprise plurality of compressed units. One or more corresponding compressed units may be read and/or updated with no need of restoring the entire file whilst maintaining de-fragmented structure of the compressed file.
US08412865B2
A method for authentication of an external storage device (16) operatively connected to a port of a host computer (10) where the host computer (10) conducts a handshake with the external storage device (16) seeking an authentication key from the external storage device. The host computer (10) electrically disconnects the external storage device (16) from the host computer (10) if the authentication key is incorrect or not provided within a predetermined period. The host computer (10) allows access to the host computer (10) by the external storage device (16) if the authentication key is correct and provided within the predetermined period. Corresponding apparatus and systems are also disclosed.
US08412862B2
A mechanism is provided for improving the efficiency of multiple smaller direct memory access transfers. The mechanism uses one input buffer and a small result buffer, or some temporary variables, to temporarily store computation results. The mechanism performs a computation on a segment of data in the input buffer and stores the result in the temporary result buffer. The mechanism then copies the result back into the input buffer. As such, the mechanism uses the input buffer as both an input buffer and a results buffer. The mechanism then performs a direct memory access transfer on the segment of the input buffer that contains the computation result and then performs a computation on the next segment of the input buffer. The mechanism then repeats this process until the entire input buffer has been processed.
US08412855B2
Systems and methods of processing write transactions provide for combining write transactions on an input/output (I/O) hub according to a protocol between the I/O hub and a processor. Data associated with the write transactions can be flushed to an I/O device without the need for proprietary software and specialized registers within the I/O device.
US08412854B2
A method and system that allows a host system application to securely communicate with a legacy device is provided. A redirector software module receives data that is destined for a host system serial COM port. Data is secured and re-directed to a legacy device via a network port instead of the serial COM port. Conversely, data destined for the host system is provided to a device server via a server COM port by the legacy serial device. The data can be encrypted and sent to the host system via the network. The redirector software module decrypts the encrypted data and presents it to the consumer application as if the data had arrived via the local COM port.
US08412852B2
A computer implemented method, computer program product, and a data processing system access a version of shared assembly in a componentized environment, wherein multiple versions of the shared assembly exist concurrently in a single process, and wherein each version of the shared assembly comprises an assembly stub and an assembly implementation. A call to an assembly stub of the shared assembly is received. The call is then forwarded from the assembly stub to an identified assembly implementation using a proxy pointer. A function table structure is then retuned from the identified assembly implementation, wherein the function table structure contains implementation symbols from the identified assembly implementation.
US08412849B2
The present disclosure includes a system, method, and article of manufacture for lossless compression of data and high speed manipulation thereof. The method may comprise associating one or more of a plurality of unique entities with one or more of a plurality of unique binary numbers; associating a collection with the plurality of unique entities; and determining that the collection includes one of the plurality of unique entities based upon the unique binary number associated with the unique entity. The associating the collection with the plurality of unique entities may further comprise summing the unique binary numbers associated with the plurality of unique entities, and/or associating the collection with a binary number that is a logical result of a bitwise operation between unique binary numbers associated with the plurality of unique entities.
US08412846B2
The present invention provides a wireless network system that enables direct wireless delivery of a multimedia message from a first MMS user agent to a second MMS user agent. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the wireless network system includes a MMS server that receives, from the first MMS user agent, a request to send a multimedia message to the second MMS user agent. The request includes an identification (ID) number of the second MMS user agent. From a core network, for example, the MMS server obtains an Internet address of the second MMS user agent based on the ID number of the second MMS user agent, if the ID number is not an Internet address of the second MMS user agent. Then the MMS server forwards the Internet address to the first MMS user agent to enable the first MMS user agent to wirelessly deliver the multimedia message directly to the second MMS user agent using the Internet address. Therefore, by not involving a MMS server in delivering multimedia messages, a substantial amount of network resources is saved, and delivery speed of multimedia messages is significantly increased. As a result, the performance of the overall network system is greatly improved.
US08412829B2
System and method for controlling and managing sessions between endpoints in a communications system
In a communications system having at least one service entity and a plurality of endpoints each including a logical entity and a terminal, a method facilitates a session between at least two of the endpoints in the system. The method includes: receiving a first message having information that includes a request for a session between a first endpoint that includes a non-dispatch terminal and at least one other endpoint; detecting that the first endpoint includes a non-dispatch terminal as a function of the first endpoint being unable to perform at least one function; and causing the at least one function to be performed on behalf of the first endpoint by the at least one service entity to facilitate the session between the first endpoint and the at least one other endpoint.
US08412827B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a server having a controller to receive a request from a client server for computing resources associated with a processor, determine an estimated completion time associated with previous requests associated with the processor, calculate a priority value for the request based on the estimated completion time, establish a processing schedule for the request and other requests associated with the processor based on the priority value, and provide the request to the processor according to the processing schedule. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08412825B2
A method of facilitating access to services of an IP Multimedia Subsystem network by services located behind an access point to said network. The access point is associated with a subscription to the IP Multimedia Subsystem network. The method comprises including within an Implicit Registration Set defined for said subscription, a wildcarded Public Service Identity or Public Service Identity sub-domain representative of a range of Public Service Identities. At IP Multimedia Subsystem registration of said access point with the IP Multimedia Subsystem network, the Public Service Identities contained in the Implicit Registration Set are distributed to a Serving Call Session Control Function allocated to said access point and to a Proxy Call Session Control Function to which said access point is attached.
US08412820B2
Methods and a system for exploiting the secondary traffic generated by social networking sites are disclosed. Traffic on a commercial website is constantly monitored by a web analytics tool, which collects traffic measurements of hits, button presses, enquiries, purchases etc., as well as the referrer URL of a site such as a social networking site through which the commercial website is accessed. The collected measurements are forwarded to a Referred Traffic Analysis System. Concurrently, the Referred Traffic Analysis System crawls the Internet and collects a large number of social networking sites, analyses their content by extracting insight terms and phrases from them. In a third step, the collected traffic measurements are correlated with the collected insights from the social networking sites, and the top insights that reoccur frequently enough to appear to be a driver for the measurements observed, are presented to the client. A corresponding system is also provided.
US08412817B1
A load balancing server system balances the load imposed by requestor requests for services across a set of service-providing servers. A network interface receives the requestor requests from a network communication system and sends server requests for services to the service-providing servers. A data processing system creates and maintains server status information indicative of whether each service-providing server is operational, and server pointer information identifying the service-providing server to which the next server request should be sent. In response to each requestor request, the data processing system causes the network interface to send one or more server requests for one or more services related to the requestor request to the service-providing server identified by the server pointer information and increments in a round-robin manner the server pointer information to the next operational service-providing server.
US08412800B2
One or more universal serial bus (USB) devices are connected at a client computer. The USB devices are recognized by the client computer and a determination is made as to whether an application server computer provides functionality for one or more of the USB devices. A specific communication path is provided from the USB device to the server computer if functionality is provided by the application server computer.
US08412799B2
A method for communication between a DICOM QR-enabled device, such as a medical imaging device, and a DICOM QR-enabled computer. The method includes transferring, using the DICOM QR protocol, an explicit command from the DICOM QR-enabled device to the DICOM QR-enabled computer. The DICOM QR-enabled device may include a user interface, and the explicit command may have been received in advance from a user through the user interface. The explicit command may be a question or a command to perform a task that is otherwise unavailable for medical imaging devices. The command may include at least one parameter.
US08412794B2
A system for integrating user-specific institutional content for mobile delivery is disclosed. The system includes a communications module configured to receive, from a mobile device, a request for target institutional content based on source institutional content and an identification of a user. The system also includes a processor configured to obtain, from a memory, the target institutional content based on the source institutional content and the identification of the user, and further configured to provide, to the mobile device in response to the request, the generalized institutional content in a format configured for display on the mobile device. Methods and machine-readable mediums are also disclosed.
US08412791B2
An apparatus and method for off-loading application components to edge servers are provided. An application is made edge-aware by defining which components of the application may be run from an edge server, and which components cannot be run from an edge server. When a request is received that is to be processed by an application on an origin server, a determination is made as to whether the application contains edgable components. If so, an edgified version of the application is created. When a request is received that is handled by a component that may be run on the edge server, the request is handled by that component on the edge server. When a request is received that is handled by a component that is not edgable, the request is passed to a proxy agent which then provides the request to a broker agent on the origin server.
US08412790B2
The present invention relates to a method, system and computer readable recording medium for determining a major group in a network split-brain situation that occurs in a network-based distributed computing environment. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of determining a major group among at least two groups created by splitting an initial group consisting of a plurality of nodes in a network-based distributed environment, the method comprising the steps of comparing the number of nodes included in a first group with the number of nodes included in a second group; acquiring history information of the nodes included in the first and second groups; and determining whether the first group or the second group is the major group using at least one of a result of comparing the number of nodes and the history information.
US08412771B2
A method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium are provided for matching items of user-generated content to entities is provided. Items of user-generated content, such as status updates, are gathered. For each of the items, a machine determines a degree to which the item is associated with an entity. In one aspect, items are matched to an entity by matching the content of the items to attributes of the entity. In another aspect, items are matched to an entity by predicting attributes of an author of the items and determining a distance between the predicted attributes of the author and the attributes of the entity. The distance may be a physical distance between locations of the entity and user or a contextual distance between categories for the entity and posts by the author. Items matched to the entity may be displayed on an interface concurrently with information about the entity.
US08412770B2
A question is received on a first social network site from a first user. The question is sent to a second user of a second social network site who receives the question from the second social network site. The first social network site receives an answer to the question from the second user via the second social network site and provides the answer to the first user.
US08412768B2
A message oriented middleware server application executable by at least one processor implements a message oriented middleware message provider that mediates messaging operations with a plurality of heterogeneous applications including a number of casino gaming applications, where instances of the heterogeneous applications which execute on the plurality of networked processor-based client devices including the networked processor-based casino gaming devices.
US08412763B2
Improved techniques that facilitate the use of podcasts are disclosed. The improved techniques can pertain to publishing, hosting, accessing, subscribing, managing, organizing, searching, browsing, transferring, and/or playing podcasts. According to one aspect, tags are embedded into syndication feeds (e.g., RSS feeds) that may be made available for distribution by an online media store to facilitate the management of podcasts. In accordance with one embodiment, an explicit tag may be embedded at the feed and/or episode level to indicate that the feed and/or episode includes explicit content. In accordance with another embodiment, a duration tag may be embedded at the episode level to indicate an estimated duration associated with the episode. Upon downloading the episode, the duration may be replaced by the actual duration of the episode. In accordance with yet another embodiment, a new feed-URL tag may be embedded in a syndication feed to identify a new URL at which the feed is to be accessed.
US08412756B1
A programmable logic device is programmed to add a plurality N of unnormalized numbers at once. Because the inputs are not normalized, they could all have different exponents. The largest exponent of the N exponents is found, and for each of the inputs, its mantissa is right-shifted at by the difference between the largest exponent and the exponent of that particular input. The N shifted mantissas are combined, optionally with sign data, in an (N+1):2 compressor to provide carry and save vectors which may be combined in a carry-propagate adder. Numbers may converted back to normalized form at the end of the operation. If necessary to avoid data loss, a number may be normalized after an intermediate step.
US08412754B2
A virtual system environment in a computing system allows non-root users to perform administrative operations normally requiring root privileges. A virtual control module has a virtual file system with virtual directories corresponding to one or more of the system directories of a root file system. Each virtual directory contains one or more symbolic links symbolically linking to one or more system files as link targets. The symbolic links have non-root permissions that allow the non-root users to perform administrative operations in the virtual control module that delete, change or replace the symbolic links. A capability is provided to resolve the symbolic links within the virtual control module to allow the non-root users to execute the link targets via the symbolic links. One or more non-root users may be placed in the virtual control module by setting their apparent root directory to a root directory of the virtual file system.
US08412753B2
An application program interface (API) provides means for dynamic filesystem creation, that allows complex filesystem hierarchies to be created and written on-the-fly without having to generate a complete on-disk representation. The filesystem is laid out in a one-parent many-children hierarchy of file and folder objects. The API recursively traverses the filesystem hierarchy beginning at the root node to determine the filesystem's structure. Callback functions for retrieval of file data are determined for each filesystem object and stored in memory. Output blocks are allocated for file data as needed. During the writing phase, the callback functions are executed to retrieve file data which is then written to the desired computer readable media.
US08412752B2
An electronic data system comprises memory storage having stored data, file system software, and a transaction file. The transaction file is maintained by the file system software, and includes a plurality of transaction records corresponding to transactions that have been or are to be executed on one or more files and/or the or more directories of the file system. The file system software operates to organize and maintain the stored data in the files and directories and also to coalesce multiple transaction records meeting one or more criteria into fewer coalesced transaction records. The physical memory space required by the transaction file is reduced by the transaction record coalescing. The coalesced transaction records may be constructed so that they represent a logical result of applying each transaction record of a transaction record set in chronological order. Once the coalesced transaction records have been committed in the file system, the physical memory used by the original transaction records in the set may be reclaimed for further use (e.g., to store further transaction records) or may be otherwise removed from further use (e.g., when the physical memory is located in a block of memory in a flash-like memory device that has reached its maximum number of write and/or erase cycles).
US08412747B1
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that learns a generative model for textual documents. During operation, the system receives a current model, which contains terminal nodes representing random variables for words and cluster nodes representing clusters of conceptually related words. Within the current model, nodes are coupled together by weighted links, so that if a cluster node in the probabilistic model fires, a weighted link from the cluster node to another node causes the other node to fire with a probability proportionate to the link weight. The system also receives a set of training documents, wherein each training document contains a set of words. Next, the system applies the set of training documents to the current model to produce a new model.
US08412742B2
A storage system comprises a plurality of vdisks, with each vdisk containing a plurality of storage segments, and each segment providing a specific class of service (CoS). Each vdisk stores files with data and meta data distributed among its storage segments. A storage system comprises a memory having multiple classes of service. The system comprises an interface for storing a file as blocks of data associated with a class of service in the memory. The interface chooses the class of service for a block on a block by block basis. A file system for storing a file comprises a plurality of vdisks, with each vdisk having a plurality of inodes. Each inode of each vdisk stores data on one or more segments, with each segment having a different class of service. The system comprises a controller which stores data of a file in an inode of a vdisk, in one or more segments of that vdisk. A file system for storing a file comprises a plurality of vdisks, and each vdisk having a plurality of inodes. The system comprises a controller including a plurality of processors, with each processor serving one or more of the vdisks. A file system for storing comprises a plurality of vdisks, with each vdisk having a plurality of inodes, a plurality of inodes of at least one vdisk storing data on a plurality of segments, each segment having a different class of service. The system comprises a controller which stores data of the file in one or more segments of one vdisk. A method for storing a file.
US08412738B2
A method for capturing an image of a machine having one or more disks is presented. The method comprises creating a snapshot of the machine, the snapshot including full machine encapsulation, querying the one or more disks on the machine to obtain information stored thereon, creating metadata able to access one or more files, one or more folders, and the application on the machine, and capturing the snapshot, the obtained information and the metadata in the image. The method may also comprise migrating the captured image and/or extracting one or more files and/or folders from the captured image on another machine. The migration can be between physical and physical, physical and virtual, physical and cloud, etc. The method may comprise capturing another image comprising the snapshot, the metadata and changed information different from the obtained information.
US08412735B2
A method, in one embodiment, can include encoding knowledge about a topic domain into a data modeling technique. Additionally, a set of candidate conditional functional dependencies can be generated based on a data set of the topic domain. Moreover, the set of candidate conditional functional dependencies and the data modeling technique encoded with the topic domain knowledge can be applied to the data set to obtain a plurality of data quality rules for the data set.
US08412733B1
Methods for processing streaming data records are provided that include facilities for defining and naming multiple input and output data streams using relational processing definitions and abstractions similar to those found in relational database management systems (RDBMS) and embodied as a set of communicating stream processing nodes. The result is a Distributed Data Stream Management System (DDSMS) which is also a kind of Relational Data Stream Management System (RDSMS). The former comprises a set of Relational Data Stream Management System (RDSMS) nodes, whereas the latter might contain only a single RDSMS node.
US08412731B2
The invention provides a file management method and system for managing file retrieval and access. The method operates at the operating system level within a file system of a computer device and allows creating file move links upon detection of a file move request. The file move link associates the file source location with the file target location and is stored within a file move link table of the file system for subsequent file access request. File path to target location is automatically retrieved and file reached transparently for the user.
US08412728B1
Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for optimizing search engine user input selection are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method may include receiving a partial query from a user, identifying two or more query suggestions based on the partial query, and determining a probability that each respective complete query suggestion is a query that the user intended to input. The method may also include ranking the two or more query suggestions based on the probability of each respective query suggestion, and determining that a top ranking query suggestion is associated with a probability above a threshold. The method may further include providing for display the two or more query suggestions relative to the partial query, and providing for display, an indication of the top ranking query suggestion among the two or more query suggestions.
US08412725B2
A method for processing, in a platform having one or more processors and memories, an object including elementary information of same type. The method decomposes the object to be processed into at least two sub-objects of N elementary information each, all the sub-objects having the same quantity N of elementary information, the processing performing at least one sequence of specific operations on the elementary information of each sub-object performing, for each sub-object, at least N times each specific operation, such that each elementary information for each sub-object is applied at least one time, and N results are produced for each specific operation, the sequence of specific operations being such that at least one specific operation of the sequence produces, at least once during its N applications, a result used for the processing of another sub-object.
US08412720B2
The invention provides, in one aspect, a method of searching an RDF triples data store of the type in which the triples are maintained in accord with a first storage schema. The method includes inputting a first query specifying RDF triples that are to be identified in the data store. That first query assumes either (i) that the triples are stored in a schema-less manner (i.e., with no storage schema) or (ii) that the triples are maintained in accord with a second storage schema that differs from the first. The method further includes generating, from the first query, a second query that specifies those same RDF triples, yet, that reflects the first storage schema. That second query can be applied to the RDF triples data store in order to identify and/or retrieve the desired data.
US08412717B2
Search term ranking algorithms can be generated and updated based on customer settings, such as where a ranking algorithm is modeled as a combination function of different ranking factors. An end user of a search system provides personalized preferences for weighted attributes, generally or for a single instance of the query. The user also can indicate the relative importance of one or more ranking factors by specifying different weights to the factors. Ranking factors can specify document attributes, such as document title, document body, document page rank, etc. Based on the attribute weights and the received user query, a ranking algorithm function will produce the relevant value for each document corresponding to the user preferences and personalization configurations.
US08412716B2
In one embodiment the present invention includes a computer implemented method of presenting relevant application components to a user of a computer system. The method includes capturing text displayed in open applications, determining key terms in the captured text based on a key terms catalog, and determining potentially relevant components by using the key terms to search a user interface dictionary. The user interface dictionary corresponds to a map between user interface strings and user interface components. The method further includes computing relevance scores for potentially relevant components, and presenting to the user the relevant components that correspond to relevant ones of the potentially relevant components, according to the relevance scores.
US08412712B2
A method is provided of grouping similar values of an attribute type and determining the best value of an attribute type for an entity in an entity resolution system. By applying attribute grouping rules to organize similar values into groups, an accurate number of “distinct” values for an entity is ascertained by counting the number of resulting groups. A preferred group is selected from the resulting groups and a “best value” is selected from the preferred group by applying best value rules.
US08412707B1
Some embodiments provide a system that provides a user interface (UI) for categorizing content. The UI includes (i) a first UI tool for receiving identification of a set of tags and associating the set of tags to the content and (ii) a second UI tool for receiving identifications of relationships between the tags within the set of tags in order to describe the content. In some embodiments, the set of tags includes one or more tag chains that are based on a hierarchy of the tags within the set of tags. In some embodiments, the set of tags includes one or more tag chains that are based on a set of operators. Each operator in the set identifies a relationship between two or more tags within the set of tags. In some embodiments, the UI also includes a UI tool for receiving content or presenting the list of content items through a communications network. In various embodiments, the communications network may be a network of networks (e.g., the Internet), a private network, a public network, a wireless cellular network, etc.
US08412691B2
A method includes atomically reading a next field of a current element of the linked list to determine a first value that encodes a first pointer to the first element and a first indication of an owner of the first element. The first indication of the owner is stored in a first of a plurality of multi-field reservation data structures. The operation includes determining whether the next field of the current element still indicates the first value. The operation includes reading the first element of the linked list via the first pointer if the next field of the current element still indicates the first value. If the next field of the current element indicates a current value different than the first value, the first indication of the owner is removed from the first multi-field reservation data structure, and storing and determining with the second value is repeated.
US08412685B2
A system and method for managing data is provided. The system includes a network for interconnecting a plurality of computers. A data storage means is connected to the network to receive, store and transmit a plurality of files to and from the network. A plurality of computers is also connected to the network. Each computer is configured for originating and for receiving files. Each of the files has a unique identifier associated therewith. Each computer may retrieve a file from the data storage means using the unique identifier.
US08412684B2
An information creating apparatus creates a leaf page information including one or more records with a key information to be compared with a retrieval key information inputted for retrieval of a record. The apparatus creates, based on the key information of the record included in the leaf page information, a judgment information used to judge a possibility that the leaf page information located in a position of child of the node page information located between the root and leaf page informations, and in lower positions than it, includes the record to be retrieved with the retrieval key information, and creates the node page information including the judgment information. The apparatus creates the root page information including the judgment information included in the node page information located in the positions of the child of the root page information, and stores the root, node and leaf page informations in a tree structure.
US08412681B2
Content archival and retrieval, in which connections with multiple, different enterprise applications operated by an organization are established. In addition, a connection with a central archival system is established and content to archive is received from the multiple, different enterprise applications. The central archival system is controlled to archive, in a central location, the content received from the multiple, different enterprise applications such that content from a first type of enterprise application is archived in the central location together with content from a second type of enterprise application.
US08412677B2
Described in detail herein are systems and methods for deduplicating data using byte-level or quasi byte-level techniques. In some embodiments, a file is divided into multiple blocks. A block includes multiple bytes. Multiple rolling hashes of the file are generated. For each byte in the file, a searchable data structure is accessed to determine if the data structure already includes an entry matching a hash of a minimum sequence length. If so, this indicates that the corresponding bytes are already stored. If one or more bytes in the file are already stored, then the one or more bytes in the file are replaced with a reference to the already stored bytes. The systems and methods described herein may be used for file systems, databases, storing backup data, or any other use case where it may be useful to reduce the amount of data being stored.
US08412675B2
A context aware data application presents information about a first user's contact means and methodologies. The application organizes, filters and present the information taking into account multiple inputs regarding the specific context and the relationship and preferred communication means between the first user and other users seeking to contact the first user. The information allows the users seeking to make contact to quickly take an action that is expected given the context of the first user as presenting the most relevant data allows the contacting users to take actions quickly and effectively.
US08412667B2
The location of a user over time is monitored by a mobile device. The monitored locations are organized into tracks that describe a path or route that the user took over a period of time. Segments that correspond to each of the tracks are determined. The segments may correspond to road on a map, or some other standardization. The segments are associated with their corresponding tracks, and used to identify similar tracks or to generate similarity scores for pairs of tracks.
US08412654B2
Fully automated demand response may be implemented at end users, in accordance with terms agreed to by end users to reduce energy demand during demand response events. Demand reduction actions to implement the objectives of a demand response event at the end users may be determined, desirably using artificial intelligence and neural networks, based on energy demand curtailment objectives of the demand response event, hierarchy(ies) of demand reduction actions for respective demand response events ordered to minimize undesired impact at the end users, and monitoring data received from, or relating to implementing energy demand curtailment at, the end users. In addition, demand reduction actions may be automatically implemented at end users in the absence of a demand response event, to implement energy demand curtailment according to criteria of end users, where the demand reduction actions are determined based on monitoring data and a hierarchy(ies) of demand reduction actions and using artificial intelligence and neural networks.
US08412646B2
An agent-based system may be automatically generated from a specification provided by a user or third-party process. An agent generator may map the specification to a canonical model identifying one or more tasks to be performed by the agent-based system as ontological concepts. The agent generator may generate one or more candidate agents using the canonical model. The candidate agents may comprise one or more interconnected data transforms, which may comprise data access transforms, preprocessing transforms, machine learning transforms, and/or structural transforms. The agent generator iteratively modifies the agent-based system until a termination criteria is satisfied. The termination criteria may provide a selection mechanism whereby a performance of the plurality of candidate agents may be evaluated. An optimal agent may be selected using, inter alia, the performance of the agent-based system.
US08412634B2
The present invention proposes a safe and quick individual certification method using a portable terminal. When a portable terminal 30 sends a request for certification to a certification server 10, the certification server 10 transmits query code for certification to the portable terminal 30. The portable terminal 30 transmits said query code to the certification server 10 via a reader 21 or the like and also via a sales management server 23 to be certified. The certification server 10 verifies the query code to that generated in the past, and returns a result of verification and personal data required by the sales management server 23 to the sales management server 23.
US08412633B2
Systems and methods for evaluating electronic value transfers. Various of the methods include receiving money transfer requests, electronically storing records of the money transfer requests, and performing an analysis of the records. The analysis of the records can indicate that two or more of the records are related. The related records are associated with a reference designator that is used to search money transfer records and identify suspect activity. The systems can include a fraud processing system associated with a money transfer system.
US08412629B2
An electronic fund transfer system is disclosed wherein commissions for point-of-sale purchase transactions are determined and distributed to members of an organizational network for promoting use of a non-cash payment device that is tangible for effecting purchase transactions. Purchase data is electronically transmitted from the point-of-sale to an automated clearing house for effecting fund transfers to prepare the purchase, and also to a commission management system. The commission management system maintains an electronic database reflecting the structure of the organizational network, and further determines the distribution of purchase commissions according to a predetermined schedule of proportions relating to the position and business volume of each member of the network. The commission management system further comprises a payment processor for effecting commission payments to the members or to a designated sponsor on a scheduled basis.
US08412624B2
A computer-implemented method of point of sale transaction processing can include determining an identity of a user at a transaction site, identifying a plurality of financial accounts associated with the user, and for each financial account, accessing account information associated with the account. The method can include identifying a vendor type for the transaction site, selecting a financial account with which to process a transaction according to the vendor type and the account information for each of the plurality of accounts, and outputting the selected financial account. A list of financial accounts and incentives may be presented from which a user may select a particular financial account for processing the transaction.
US08412620B1
At least one exemplary aspect comprises a method comprising: (a) receiving electronic data describing a trading order; (b) receiving data describing a selection of one or more first trading algorithms from available stored algorithms for execution of the trading order; (c) commencing execution of the trading order via the one or more first trading algorithms; (d) evaluating quality of execution, during the execution, of the trading order via the one or more first trading algorithms; (e) comparing the evaluated quality of execution to a prediction of future performance of execution of the trading order by the one or more first trading algorithms; and (f) if the evaluated quality of execution compares unfavorably to the prediction of future performance, switching the execution of the trading order to one or more second trading algorithms. Other exemplary aspects comprise related computer systems and software.
US08412617B1
One exemplary aspect comprises a method comprising: (a) receiving data describing an executed trading order in a market traded security and related trade execution data; (b) calculating components of execution costs associated with execution of the order; and (c) transmitting data sufficient to describe the components of execution costs. Other aspects comprise calculations of (1) cost effect of trade decision factors associated with execution of an order; (2) a decomposition of execution of an executed limit order into components related to algorithm performance and components related to trader-input parameters of the order; (3) components of implementation shortfall associated with execution of an order; (4) components of profit/loss associated with execution of an order; and (5) components of execution outcome associated with execution of an order. Other aspects and embodiments comprise related computer systems and software, as will be understood by those skilled in the art after reviewing the present description.
US08412613B2
A method of executing a transaction related to the purchase of fuel. A contract is entered into by a purchaser with a card service provider or financial institution for a certain amount of fuel at a fixed or capped price offered over a predetermined duration. The fuel is purchased from a retail merchant. A payment is made or received by the purchaser depending on the difference between a prevailing retail index price and the fixed or capped price. A premium may be paid for entering into a capped price arrangement. The fixed and capped prices may be related to a retail index price at or before the time the contract is entered into. In another embodiment, the method includes receiving retail price index data for fuel sales and determining fuel sale contract criteria, with a fuel sale contract proposed for a purchaser.
US08412610B2
A system for preparing an employee benefits form for, e.g., ERISA includes a server in support of a website, and a processor in communication with the server and a memory. The memory includes a program for automatically preparing a benefits form and/or plan via the internet. The program includes instructions to the processor for retrieving previously filed data from a public database, converting and storing into a database, searching the database for a desired portion of the data, and populating the entries of the form. The website connection also allows a remote user to periodically update the benefit data.
US08412609B2
A method for identifying a regime-based asset allocation via an adaptive risk premium (ARP) involves receiving a financial data; receiving financial parameters; generating an ARP; determining risk regimes; calculating an expected return and a covariance matrix of assets; calculating a number of calculated weights for each risk regime; determining a current risk regime; determining a number of asset weights of a current portfolio; adjusting the asset weights of the current portfolio to match the calculated weights for the current risk regime; calculating a momentum, volatility, and a correlation (MVC) for each of the asset classes of the current portfolio; ranking each asset class of the current portfolio; adjusting the first adjusted asset weights of the current portfolio; determining one of the second adjusted asset weights for the current portfolio; and generating an investment portfolio based on one of the second adjusted asset weights for the current portfolio.
US08412607B2
A system for and method of using a financial instrument to take a view on a price-to-earnings ratio for a set of one or more equities. The system and method may be used to commodify the price-to-earnings ratio for one or more equities, such a as a stock or an index. The system and method may include a financial instrument that allows a user to take a view on an earnings, or ratio comprising price and earnings, for underlying equities.
US08412598B2
A causality analyzer that provides attribution of causality effects for changes in revenue, margin and margin percentage is provided. The causality analyzer selects a reference time period and a comparison time period, and receives transaction data. Data cleansing and correction may be performed on the transaction data. The analyzer may then calculate change in total margin, percent margin and total revenue between the reference time period and the comparison time period using the transaction data. Each of the total margin, the percent margin and the total revenue may be disaggregated into one or more of a price effect, cost effect, quantity effect, product mix effect, customer mix effect, exchange rate effect, new and lost business, and an adjustment change. In this way the total margin, the percent margin and the total revenue are each defined as a summation of the individual causality effects. Causality effects may be disaggregated in such a way that the shared effects are allocated according to the proportion of percent change for each element, thereby unbiasing the effects to more accurately reflect actual causality.
US08412589B2
A computer system for creating a design for an image product includes servers that can identify a blog page that includes an image, text, or designs, automatically incorporate at least one of the image, text, or the design object in the blog page into the design of an image product, and allow a user to review the design of the image product. The servers communicate with a printing finishing facility that makes a physical image product according to the design of the image product.
US08412587B2
Multiple simultaneous auctions can be monitored and participated in using a single bidding device operated by a single remote bidder. A multi-windowed environment allows for the display of active bidding windows and docked bidding windows. The active bidding windows are fully functional bidding windows and include auction status, product information and the like. The docked bidding windows provide a subset of the information but, nonetheless provide real-time auction status information and allows for bidders to enter bids into the auctioning process without having to move the bidding window into an active status. A customer-identifier selector of identifier allows the remote bidder to associate a customer with a particular bidding window. The customer-identifier advantageously helps the remote bidder to track who purchased items are associated with, as well as providing control structure over the bidding process.
US08412580B2
A program by which retailers offer customers an exchange of older technology for newer technology. The older technology and newer technology have a common characteristic that facilitates the retailer to give the customer the newer technology for a reduced cost.
US08412579B2
The present invention is generally related to a system for managing recipes using a web server and an off-line software application. A user using the software application will be able to create, display, print, modify, and search recipes and menus. The web server will be a recipe store where a user can buy and download individual recipes and electronic cookbooks into the software application secure database storage. The software application has a web interface to communicate with the recipe store, allowing the user to have an extended set of facilities like posting his/her own recipes for sale, requesting restaurant and food store services for a given recipe or menu, requesting the restoration of their recipe database, and receiving suggested drinking dates for their current wine inventory. The software application comes in two versions: the read-only and the all-inclusive version. With the read-only version a user will not be able to create or modify a recipe or use any of the extended facilities. The read-only version will be free to download from the recipe store.
US08412576B2
A software based system and method of displaying location based information from an information site on a network by determining location data of a user of the location based information on the network. The location based information is generated based on the determined location data of the user; and generated location based information is provided to the user over the network.
US08412574B2
A content owner partner (e.g., a Website/Web page publisher) can easily block entire broad or narrow categories of ads, and can specify objectionable ad content or targeting. Concepts may be associated with a property and ads related to those concepts may be blocked for the given property. Further, terms may be associated with a property and ads including any of the terms may be blocked for the given property.
US08412572B2
A method for representing and managing an inventory of overlapping multi-dimensional items such as advertising or ad impressions. The method uses an inventory management module to generate unique segment identifiers for sets of inventory items by processing descriptions of the sets of impressions including defining criteria. The method includes processing the unique segment identifiers to create a representation of the inventory as a plurality of inventory regions, which may include non-overlapping regions that correspond to inventory items in a single set of the inventory and also include overlapping regions that correspond to inventory items in two or more of the sets (e.g., items that match two or more sets of defining criteria or attributes). Availability and selection of inventory is determined using the information on inventory regions to control effects of cannibalization, such as by implementing logically necessary allocation to only cannibalize a region on a limited or forced basis.
US08412568B2
A crowd-sourcing system performs a method that includes generating a request that a user provide candidate media data to the crowd-sourcing system. The candidate media is descriptive of a product, and the request includes information about the product. The crowd-sourcing system transmits the request to a user system and receives the candidate media data from the user system. The crowd-sourcing system selects the candidate media data as stock media data for the product. The selection of the candidate media data may be based on a selection criterion, such as a grade of the candidate media data determined by the crowd-sourcing system. The crowd-sourcing system provides a reward to the user based on the selecting of the candidate media data as the stock media data for the product.
US08412564B1
The present invention provides for a system and method of identifying excellence within a profession. In one embodiment, excellent performing candidates within a profession group are identified by creating a candidate pool from independent research and a peer nomination process. Identified candidates then obtain a score according to an independent research and objective evaluation process. Peer evaluators contribute to this score by evaluating top-scoring candidates, and a total score is compiled for each identified candidate. Candidates with scores in a top percentage of the candidates are then recognized as demonstrating excellent performance in the profession group.
US08412554B2
A method of representing user tasks to be performed by one or more of a plurality of electronic devices in a task orchestration system. Each device includes therein a function description specifying a function that the device can perform. The function descriptions are obtained from one or more of the devices, task descriptions that describe device functionalities required for certain tasks are obtained, and task suggestion are generated based on the obtained device function descriptions and task descriptions. Each task suggestion represents a user task as an abstraction of on or more of the obtained device descriptions and task descriptions. The tasks suggestion are displayed on a display for the user to select from, wherein the user selected task suggestion is to be performed by orchestration (automation) of one or more of the devices based on task descriptions that use device functionalities described in the device function descriptions.
US08412550B2
Projects of any type require sophisticated management software programs. In reality, these management software programs are provided by various vendors and for different professional fields. For example, scheduling programs for construction professionals, blue print programs for drafting professionals, accounting programs for cost-control professionals. In addition, there are numerous other unofficial and official documents generated by managers of different levels for reporting or track-record-keeping purposes using popular word processing programs and spread-sheet programs. Documents generated by different software programs can only be viewed under the programs they are generated under or compatible programs. This poses a problem in that there is a lack of organized control resulting in difficulty in locating and viewing documents in a timely manner. The present invention provides an one view software program that would be able to provide an organized control and viewing of all documents regardless which software programs they are generated under.
US08412534B2
Methods and apparatus for manifesting mailpieces. processing mailpieces from a mail system, and certifying a mail system are provided. A mailpiece is received at a manifest mailing system and mailing information from the mailpiece is obtained. A manifest of the mailpiece is created and the mailpiece is then delivered using the manifest. Based on a certification of the mail system. an accuracy of a portion of the manifest may be selectively determined. Based on the accuracy of the portion of the manifest. the mailpieces are then conditionally delivered using the manifest. To determine a certification. test information may be provided to a mail system. A manifest generated by the mail system is then received. The accuracy of the manifest based on the test information is determine and a certification level is then assigned to the mail system.
US08412531B2
The present invention provides a user interface for providing press-to-talk-interaction via utilization of a touch-anywhere-to-speak module on a mobile computing device. Upon receiving an indication of a touch anywhere on the screen of a touch screen interface, the touch-anywhere-to-speak module activates the listening mechanism of a speech recognition module to accept audible user input and displays dynamic visual feedback of a measured sound level of the received audible input. The touch-anywhere-to-speak module may also provide a user a convenient and more accurate speech recognition experience by utilizing and applying the data relative to a context of the touch (e.g., relative location on the visual interface) in correlation with the spoken audible input.
US08412519B2
In a method for embedding steganographic information into the signal information of a signal encoder, a solution is to be created, which enables steganographic information being embedded into the signal information of a signal encoder such that a reduction of the voice quality is largely avoided. This is achieved by means of providing data information, particularly voice information, selecting steganographic information from a quantity of steganographic information, generating a code word from a code book provided by means of the signal encoder on the basis of the code elements forming the code book such that with the use of the code word generated within the scope of a transmission standard associated with the code book the data information is encoded into signal information containing the code word and/or making reference to the code word; and by the code word generated having an additional feature that can be calculated on the basis of the code elements forming the code word, wherein the additional feature represents the steganographic information.
US08412517B2
Context signals in documents are identified, characters bounded by the context signals are identified, one or more candidate words defined by the characters bounded by the context signals are identified, and one or more of the candidate words are added to an input method editor dictionary.
US08412513B2
In one embodiment, the invention provides a method for machine translation of a source document in an input language to a target document in an output language, comprising generating translation options corresponding to at least portions of each sentence in the input language; and selecting a translation option for the sentence based on statistics associated with the translation options.
US08412512B1
A system and method for translating a social feed is disclosed. The system comprises a communication module, a decoding engine and a re-encoding engine. The communication module receives social feed data and a request from a social network application. The social feed data is configured to cause a client to display a social feed in a first language. The request includes data indicating that the social feed should be displayed in a second language. The decoding engine decodes the social feed data to generate decoded social feed data. The re-encoding engine re-encodes the decoded social feed data to cause the client to display the social feed in the second language based at least in part on the request. The communication module sends the translated social feed data to the client.
US08412508B2
A node on a serial bus, preferably a device such as a personal computer (PC), can emulate other devices using virtual device drivers. A PC connected to a 1394 bus exposes its CROM on the bus which presents an image to other nodes on the 1394 bus and describes the functional units supported by the node. The CROM can be changed dynamically by adding unit directories to the CROM detailing peripherals connected to the PC. The PC can then be enumerated as the connected device by other PCs on the bus. The PC can emulate or morph itself into any desired device or even multiple devices at the same time. The invention also allows a PC to create devices that don't yet exist on the bus. The invention allows a user to create virtual device objects with device properties to have just in case a user plugs the particular device in to the PC.
US08412492B2
A system and method for fitting feature elements is provided. The method first receives a point-cloud of an object from a point-cloud obtaining device and constructs a triangular mesh surface of the point-cloud. The method then determines a plurality of uppermost boundary points of the triangular mesh surface, and fits a feature element according to the uppermost boundary points. The method further creates the feature element, and outputs the feature element to a display.
US08412489B2
A system including an environmental sensor that can travel with a product within a carrier's logistics network. The environmental sensor being configured to sense an environmental condition capable of affecting the product to generate product environment data. The system includes a scanner configured to read product environment data from the environmental sensor. The system also includes a hub control unit configured to communicate with the scanner and receive the product environment data from the scanner and determines whether the product environment data transcends a limit of exposure of the product to an environmental condition. The hub control unit is also configured to generate a transporting instruction to redirect transport of the product to an alternate destination different from its original destination if the hub control unit determines that the product environment data indicates the environmental condition of the product has transcended the limit of exposure.
US08412484B2
A non-contact scanning system for three dimensional non-contact scanning of a work piece is disclosed for use in various applications including reverse engineering, metrology, dimensional verification and inspection The scanning system includes a scanner carried by an arcuately configured gantry assembly and a fixture for carrying a work piece. The gantry assembly includes a fixed arcuately shaped gantry member and a telescopic arm that is movable in an arcuate direction relative to a rotary table that carries the object to be scanned. A scanner is mounted on the end of the telescopic member and is movable in a radial direction. Objects to be scanned are mounted on a rotary table that is also movable in an X-Y direction or alternatively in the X, Y and Z directions under the control of a motion control subsystem, a machine control user interface subsystem and an image capture.
US08412483B2
An improved method for verifying a position of a sensor with respect to an object under test includes detecting a signal from the sensor that is positioned at a given location on an object under test and comparing the signal from the sensor with a historical signal that is associated with a Uniquely Identified Location (UIL) on the object under test. If the two signals are consistent, and if the position of the sensor at the given location on the object under test is the same as the UIL, it is concluded that the position of the sensor is correct.
US08412480B2
The invention provides a method for determining the angular magnitude of an imaging acquiring apparatus, which is capable of obtaining an arranging angular magnitude with respect to the imaging acquiring apparatus in various environments by an iteration algorithm having parameters of position of a calibrating tool with respect to an image coordinate system and characteristic value corresponding to a spatial coordinate system respectively. Meanwhile, the present further provides a vehicle collision warning system which functions to obtain the relative distance between the carrier and objects around according to the image acquired by the imaging acquiring apparatus and the angular magnitude and height of the imaging acquiring apparatus. By means of the method disclosed in the present invention, the procedure to detect the angular magnitude of the image acquiring apparatus is more convenient and accurate such that the convenience for using the vehicle collision warning system is capable of being improved.
US08412479B2
Memory power estimation by means of calibrated weights and activity counters are generally presented. In this regard, in one embodiment, a memory power is introduced to read a value from a memory activity counter, to determine a memory power estimation based at least in part on the value and a calibration, and to store the memory power estimation to a register. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08412478B2
Device for determining an error induced by a high-pass filter and associated error correction method
Device for determining an error induced by a high-pass filter in a signal, including a unit (3) for calculating the error according to the formula: E(t)=Ve(t)−Vs(t)=2·Π·Fc·∫α=t0t(Vs(α)− Vs(α))·dα+E(t0) with: E(t) the value of the error induced by the high-pass filter, as a function of the time variable t, Πthe trigonometric constant, Fc the cutoff frequency of the high-pass filter, t0 the initial instant, αintegration variable, Ve the signal input to the high-pass filter, Vs the signal output by the high-pass filter, Vs the mean value of the signal Vs. A method of correcting the error induced is also presented and applicable to the error correction of a piezoelectric pressure sensor.
US08412466B2
The present invention relates to methods and systems for the analysis of the dissociation behavior of nucleic acids and the identification of determining whether a genotype is present in a biological sample. This includes methods and systems for determining whether a genotype is present in a biological sample, through generating a dynamic profile an unknown genotype, correlating the dynamic profile to an average profile for a known genotype to generate a correlation value, and determining whether the correlation value falls within an acceptable threshold to determine if the unknown genotype is the known genotype. The present invention also relates to methods and systems for generating a training set to allow a machine to recognize a known genotype from within a class of known genotypes. The training set generated by these methods and systems may be used to assist in identification of unknown genotypes.
US08412459B2
The present invention is related to a method for determining the sensitizing potential of a chemical (test) compound, comprising the steps of: (a) Providing a suitable cell culture of a specific cell type and providing a test sample and a control sample thereof, said test sample and said control sample being identical, (b) Exposing said test sample to a chemical compound in a solvent and exposing said control sample to said solvent for a predetermined period of time, (c) Determining for the test sample and the control sample gene expressions xi for a subset of i=1 to n genes selected from the group of genes corresponding to SEQ ID NOs 1 to 153, (d) For this subset of n genes looking up in a database the gene expressions xi for a set of control and test samples, the test samples being exposed for said predetermined period of time to a set of chemical sensitizing model compounds comprising both sensitizers and non-sensitizers, (e) Using the gene expressions of the said test sample and the said control sample of step (c) as input to a statistical classification model that is based on said database and that is trained and optimized to classify chemical compounds as either sensitizers or non-sensitizers using gene expressions xi for said subset of n genes, and (f) Predicting through said model whether the chemical compound tested belongs to the class of sensitizers or to the class of non-sensitizers.
US08412445B2
A user of a telematics-navigation device in a vehicle requests a recommendation as to a route to take to reach a destination. Multiple routes are identified from a current location of the vehicle to the destination. For each route, traffic conditions of the route are predicted. Based on the traffic conditions predicted for each route, one route is chosen to recommend to the user for traveling to the destination. The recommended route is presented to the user along with the other identified routes. When the user selects to travel along one of the presented routes, directions to the destination are provided to a driver of the vehicle along the selected route.
US08412432B2
A protective circuit arranged on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) has two conductor loops. At least one supply voltage track, at least one semiconductor switch and at least one control component are arranged on the PCB. A first terminal of the control component and a first terminal of the semiconductor switch are connected electrically. A first conductor loop of the protective circuit is arranged on the PCB so that it surrounds an electrically conducting connection between the supply voltage track and the semiconductor switch and/or the control component. A second conductor loop is arranged on the PCB so that it surrounds the electrically conducting connection between the first terminal of the control component and the first terminal of the semiconductor switch, and thereby screens the same from the semiconductor switch and at least from those regions of the control component that are also connected to the supply voltage track.
US08412408B2
A system including a calculator and a control housing including switches having a single stable position in an opened position and with a manual control member for the switches. The control member is of monostable type with automatic return into a rest position in which all switches are open. The housing includes: a single first switch controlling actuation of brakes and adapted to be closed upon an action on the control member in a first direction; a single second switch controlling release of the brakes and adapted to be closed upon an action on the control member in a second direction opposite the first direction; and a diagnosis circuit providing, according to the position of the control member, an analog information distinguishing between a system activated state in which one of the first and second switches is closed, a system deactivated state in which the first and second switches are open, and malfunction states.
US08412407B2
A base determination module determines a base value based on a base value input. A compensation determination module determines a base compensation value based on a base value input. A compensation coefficient determination module determines a compensation coefficient based on a compensation coefficient input. A multiplier module determines a compensation value based on a product of the base compensation value and the compensation coefficient. A target module determines a target value based on the base value and the compensation value and controls an actuator based on the target value. A calibration module selectively displays predetermined options for calibrating one of the base compensation value input and the compensation coefficient input and sets the one of the base compensation value input and the compensation coefficient input to a selected one of the predetermined options.
US08412406B2
A method and system for performing diagnostics or software maintenance on a vehicle comprises a data processor for performing a particular task. A resource monitor is arranged for determining if resource consumption of the data processor for the respective particular task exceeds a threshold amount of resource consumption. A loop counter is arranged to increment a loop counter in a data storage device associated with the data processor if the resource consumption for the respective particular task exceeds the threshold amount. A poison task module is capable of designating the particular task as a poison message if the data processor has been rebooted a maximum number of times as indicated by the loop counter.
US08412404B2
A crash sensor system and method used for determining when a vehicle is involved in a frontal impact crash. The crash sensor system including at least one pressure sensor coupled to a vehicle frame member. The vehicle frame member having a cavity and the at least one pressure sensor being configured to generate a pressure signal indicative of a pressure change within the cavity. The crash sensor system further including a controller configured to compare the received pressure signal against a predetermined pressure threshold. The controller also being configured to determine that a frontal impact crash has occurred when the pressure signal exceeds the predetermined pressure threshold.
US08412399B2
An electricity generation control device calculates a virtual electricity generation efficiency where a transmission gear ratio of a continuously variable transmission is changed with a minute amount when an electricity generation condition by an engine drive is realized, changes the transmission gear ratio with a minute amount in a case where the virtual electricity generation efficiency is superior to a present electricity generation efficiency, calculates a virtual electricity generation efficiency where an engine drive torque and an electricity generation drive torque are changed with a minute amount, and changes the engine drive torque and the electricity generation drive torque in a case where the virtual electricity generation efficiency is superior to a present electricity generation efficiency, in which the minute amount change of the transmission gear ratio and the minute amount change of the engine drive torque and the electricity generation drive torque are alternatively performed.
US08412398B2
An example vehicle includes a motor and a gearbox. A controller is configured to identify oscillation peaks of a performance signal representing the rotational speed of the motor, the input speed of the gearbox, or the amount of torque generated by the motor or provided to the gearbox. The controller is configured to simultaneously detect unstable regular and irregular oscillations of the performance signal given the oscillation peaks identified and substantially dampen the unstable oscillations detected. An example method may include determining a mean of the performance signal and defining peak values, including peak moving average values or filtered peak values, representing a magnitude of at least two oscillation peaks. The method further includes simultaneously detecting the unstable regular and irregular oscillations of the performance signal using the defined values and substantially dampening the unstable oscillations.
US08412395B2
A controller for detecting abnormality of a motor control ECU of an electric vehicle 50 has a travel control unit 1 for calculating a target driving torque for an electric motor 3, and a motor control unit 2 for calculating a final indication torque obtained by correcting the target driving torque from the travel control unit 1, and supplying electric power according to the final indication torque to the motor 3. The travel control unit 1 includes a target driving torque calculating unit 21 for calculating the target driving torque, a final indication torque confirmation value calculating unit 23 for calculating a final indication torque confirmation value based on the calculated target driving torque, and an abnormality determining unit 24 for determining the abnormality of the motor control unit 2 based on a result of comparison between the final indication torque and the final indication torque confirmation value.
US08412393B2
A system and method for vehicle-centric infrastructure monitoring system includes an inspection system mountable on a vehicle configured to travel over an expanse of rail track having a plurality of track blocks. The inspection system acquires track data for at least some track blocks along the expanse of rail track. The monitoring system also includes a positioning system to determine a location of the vehicle and generate location data indicative of an associated track block location, a communications device to transmit the track/location data to a remote location, and a centralized computing system positioned at the remote location to receive the transmitted track/location data. The centralized computing system is programmed to determine a current probability of a track condition for a track block and combine the current track condition probability with a previously determined cumulative track condition probability to provide an updated track condition probability for the track block.
US08412389B2
Systems, methods, and machine-executable programming products adapted for the control of aircraft or other vehicles by receiving from at least one Inertial Reference System (IRS), including a plurality of Inertial Reference Units (IRUs), signals representing vehicle state data; receiving from at least one Augmented Direct Mode Sensor (ADMS) signals representing independently-acquired vehicle state data corresponding to at least a subset of the signals received from the IRS; performing signal selection and fault detection processes on the signals received from the at least one IRS and on the corresponding signals received from the ADMS; based at least partly on the signal and fault detection processes, determining whether at least one component of at least one of the IRS and ADMS is in a fault condition; and based on the fault condition, providing to at least one vehicle control system device one or more vehicle control command signals.
US08412384B2
Quick recovery or recovery support of a faulty power generating facility by real time diagnoses such as facility failure diagnosis, supervision for failure symptoms, facility diagnosis by evaluation of performance using databases between the power generating facilities and an operation control system. The operation control system transfers information on operating status and secular characteristic changes of apparatus from power generating facilities or information from operators of selected power generating facilities. The level of a failure of a power generating facility which has a failure is evaluated and repairing information (e.g. recovery procedures, processes, required parts, inventory of the parts, possible failure causes, etc.) is automatically created from repairing information prepared in advance for each evaluation condition. The repairing information is then sent to the operation supporting section of the power generating facility.
US08412380B2
A method for curing a rubber article including maintaining a measured curing temperature between a high temperature limit (TH) and a low temperature limit (TL). The TH TL are derived from high and low temperature curing curves respectively. Other steps may include obtaining a curing target A1 or A2, wherein A1 and A2 are areas between the high temperature curing curve and a base temperature (TB) and the low temperature curing curve respectively wherein TB is selected to make A1 and A2 within at least 10% of each other and determining an area under a measured curing curve, the area under the measured curing curve being between the measured curing curve and the TB, wherein the measured curing curve is defined as a plot of the measured curing temperature over time.
US08412371B2
A laser welding system includes a robot control unit that acquires movement amount measurement values from encoders provided on axes of the robot and calculates the current position of a laser processing head based on the measurement values. Based on the calculated current position of the laser processing head, the robot control unit calculates a laser beam emission direction specifying the direction in which the laser beam should be aimed in order to strike a predetermined laser irradiation position. The robot control unit sends a command indicative of the laser beam emission direction to a processing head control unit which changes the direction of a reflecting mirror provided inside the laser processing head such that the laser beam is emitted in the specified direction.
US08412369B2
Multiple product, multiple step optimization methods useful for manufacturing products. The optimization methods comprise defining a first group and a second group. The first and second groups each comprise at least two subgroups. One or more of the subgroups for each group comprises one or more variables and one or more constraints. The variables are optimized to obtain final values for the variables based on a defined objective subject to the constraints.
US08412368B2
A method includes generating a reticle transport job using a computing device. The reticle job identifies a selected reticle. A reticle pod available for transporting the reticle is autonomously identified using the computing device. The reticle transport job is updated suing the computing device with an identifier of the reticle pod.
US08412367B2
A computer-implemented method for rapidly forming a vehicle body model includes identifying a vehicle design using a computer. Sectioning data is determined by sectioning the vehicle design into multiple virtual sections using a design program implemented on the computer. The sectioning data is used by a machine to form multiple modeling sections that correspond to the multiple virtual sections. The multiple modeling sections are nested together to form the vehicle body model. The multiple modeling sections are fixed together once the vehicle body model is formed.
US08412358B2
A method and an electronic device are disclosed for testing drive parameters of an electropneumatic valve which is inserted into a closed control loop for position regulation of a switching element of a pneumatic actuating drive for a fitting which can be operated thereby. The electropneumatic valve can be driven by an alternating signal of a specific amplitude, such that the control loop will oscillate about a nominal position value to be regulated by alternate ventilation and venting of the valve, such that hysteresis present in the pneumatic actuating drive can be overcome. The trajectory of the position oscillation that is produced can, at the same time, be detected at the switching element using sensors, from which a characteristic of the control loop for the selected amplitude can be determined to confirm whether an opening point which is suitable for the control loop has been found.
US08412357B2
A system for operating a process includes a processing circuit that uses a self-optimizing control strategy to learn a steady-state relationship between an input and an output. The processing circuit is configured to switch from using the self-optimizing control strategy to using a different control strategy that operates based on the learned steady-state relationship.
US08412355B2
Systems and method for controlling a device are provided, including at least one controlling device and at least one controlled device. The controlling system includes a first controlling device which has controlling authority over the controlled device and a second controlling device which requests and receives the controlling authority over the controlled device from the first controlling device. Therefore, a controlling device may more easily and intuitively receive controlling authority from other devices.
US08412352B2
This disclosure is directed to an implantable medical device having a housing that encloses at least a communication module. The implantable medical device also includes a first electrode electrically coupled to the communication module and an electrically conductive fixation mechanism that is mechanically coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the communication module within the housing. The electrically conductive fixation mechanism includes a dielectric material that covers part of a surface of the fixation mechanism. A portion of the electrically conductive fixation mechanism is not covered by the dielectric material such that the portion of the electrically conductive fixation mechanism is exposed to form a second electrode that is electrically coupled to the communication module. The communication module is configured to communicate using the first electrode and second electrode.
US08412349B2
A lead anchor comprises a housing, and a plunger. The housing comprises a rigid body and a flexible covering disposed over at least a portion of the rigid body. The housing defines a first opening and a second opening configured and arranged to receive a lead. The housing further defines a transverse lumen. The rigid body comprises one or more projecting locking ridges extending into the transverse lumen. A plunger comprising one or more locking detents disposed thereon is configured and arranged for insertion into the transverse lumen and engaging a lead and locking with the housing by engagement of at least one of the one or more locking ridges of the housing with at least one of the one or more locking detents of the plunger. At least one suture element is formed by the flexible covering for receiving a suture to suture the lead anchor to patient tissue.
US08412344B2
Provided is a deep brain stimulation (DBS) device having power wirelessly fed by magnetic induction. A rotating magnetic field is formed using a rotating magnetic field disk installed inside a hat of a patient. The rotating magnetic field generates induced power using an induction coil plate fixed underneath a scalp of the patient to drive electrodes implanted into a brain of the patient so as to correct abnormal motor and sensory functions of the patient using power wirelessly fed from an external device into the electrodes. The DBS device includes: a hat module installed inside a hat of the patient to generate a rotating magnetic field; and an implantation module implanted through a skull under a scalp to contact a nervous system of the patient and combined with the rotating magnetic field of the hat module to stimulate the cerebral nerve using induced power generated by the magnetic induction.
US08412333B2
This is a neurostimulator that is configured to treat epilepsy and other neurological disorders using certain stimulation strategies, particularly changing various pulse parameters, during the imposition of a burst of those pulses. The invention includes the processes embodying those stimulation strategies.
US08412322B2
Embodiments of the present concept are directed to external defibrillators that include an electrode connection port having multiple connection options, and include a detection device to determine an electrode connection configuration so as to provide an appropriate electrical shock to a patient. The detection device detects the electrode connection configuration of a plug connector for connected electrodes to determine if the plug connector is in an adult orientation or a pediatric orientation. The external defibrillator is configured to a deliver an electrical shock with less energy when the pediatric orientation is detected rather than the adult orientation.
US08412313B2
An apparatus for generating ECG recordings and a method for using the same are disclosed. The apparatus includes a handheld device and a controller. The handheld device has first, second, third, and fourth electrodes on an outer surface of the handheld device. The controller records signals from the first, second, third, and fourth electrodes and generates an ECG recording from the signals. The controller also provides placement information regarding locations on a user's body that are to be brought into contact with the first, second, third, and fourth electrodes while the controller records the signals. The handheld device can include a cellular telephone or a PDA. The controller stores an exemplary normal ECG recording, and compares a newly generated ECG recording with the stored ECG recording and generates an indication that indicates whether the newly generated ECG recording is consistent with the stored ECG recording.
US08412307B2
The present invention is a device localization system that uses one or more ultrasound reference catheters to establish a fixed three-dimensional coordinate system within a patient's heart using principles of triangulation. The coordinate system is represented graphically in three-dimensions on a video monitor and aids the clinician in guiding other medical devices, which are provided with ultrasound transducers, through the body to locations at which they are needed to perform clinical procedures. In one embodiment of a system according to the present invention, the system is used in the heart to help the physician guide mapping catheters for measuring electrical activity, and ablation catheters for ablating selected regions of cardiac tissue, to desired locations within the heart.
US08412293B2
Systems and methods for determining a physiological parameter in a patient are provided. In certain embodiments, a system can include an analyte detection system configured to measure first analyte data in a fluid sample received from a patient, a medical sensor configured to measure second analyte data in the patient, and a processor configured to receive the first analyte data and the second analyte data and to determine a physiological parameter based at least in part on the first analyte data and the second analyte data. In certain such embodiments, the medical sensor may be a pulse oximeter, and the physiological parameter may include a cardiovascular parameter including, for example, cardiac output.
US08412290B2
A miniaturized, low power RF transmitter with a dual mode active on-chip antenna/inductor is disclosed in which antenna also serves as the oscillator inductor. Also disclosed is a miniaturized low power RF receiver with an on-chip antenna; and a RF transmitter system wherein an on-chip antenna is wirelessly coupled to an off chip patch antenna are disclosed. Advantageously, the TX chip is housed in a low loss, e.g. Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (LTCC) package with a patch antenna to provide a System-on-Package implementation comprising electromagnetic coupling between a RF TX chip comprising an integrated on-chip antenna and a package antenna. The on-chip antenna feeds the LTCC patch antenna through aperture coupling, thus negating the need for RF buffer amplifiers, matching elements, baluns, bond wires and package transmission lines, and significantly increases the gain and range of the module with respect to the on-chip antenna alone, without deterioration of the circuit performance and power consumption. Exemplary embodiments are disclosed which may be fabricated using standard CMOS technology, for operation in the 5 GHz U-NII band for applications such as miniaturized, low cost, low power wireless devices and sensor systems.
US08412287B2
Various example embodiments are disclosed. According to an example embodiment, a technique may include transmitting a scheduling information to a mobile station in a wireless network during a listening window, determining whether an acknowledgement has been received within the listening window from the mobile station that acknowledges receipt of the scheduling information, resetting a size of a next sleep window for the mobile station to an initial sleep window size if the acknowledgement has been received from the mobile station, and increasing a size of the next sleep window for the mobile station if the acknowledgement has not been received from the mobile station within the listening window. In another example embodiment, techniques are disclosed for determining a starting location of a next listening window for a mobile station in a wireless network.
US08412273B2
The present invention provides a method and device for data transmission. The method for data transmission includes: when a base station supports multiple radio access technologies, determines radio access technologies respectively supported by RE's two ports, and transmits data corresponding to the radio access technologies respectively through the two ports. With the technical solutions provided in embodiments of the present invention, the base station can support multiple radio access technologies and transmit service data and control data corresponding to multiple radio access technologies.
US08412271B2
A base station includes a reference signal generator, a boost selector, and a transmitter. The reference signal generator provides a dedicated reference signal to be transmitted over a plurality of antennas to a dedicated user device. The boost selector selects a dedicated boost level that is specific for the dedicated reference signal. The boost selector applies the dedicated boost level to the dedicated reference signal and not to a data signal to be transmitted to the dedicated user device. The boost selector generates a boosted dedicated reference signal. The transmitter transmits the boosted dedicated reference signal and the data signal to the dedicated user device after beamforming weights are applied to the boosted dedicated reference signal and to the data signal.
US08412270B2
A method, telecommunication apparatus, and electronic device for securely using a subscriber identity module are disclosed. A secure memory 308 may store a secure international mobile subscriber identity. A subscriber identity module interface 312 may receive an unlocking international mobile subscriber identity. A processor 304 may erase a cache temporary mobile subscriber identity if the unlocking international mobile subscriber identity does not match the secure international mobile subscriber identity.
US08412259B2
Outer-loop power control methods and apparatus are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a short-term block error rate is measured for a received signal, and a coarse adjustment to a target signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) is calculated as a function of the short-term block error rate, a target block error rate, and a first loop tuning parameter. In some embodiments, a fine adjustment to the target SIR is also calculated, as a function of a smoothed block error rate, the target block error rate, and a second loop tuning parameter. The coarse adjustment provides quick responsiveness to received block errors, while the fine adjustment moderates the coarse adjustments by accounting for a longer-term view of the received block error rate. The target SIR adjustments disclosed herein may be computed in each of several iterations of an outer-loop power control loop.
US08412253B2
The present invention related to a Push to talk Over Cellular (PoC) Server for providing PoC communication services in communications system, the PoC Server being arranged to simultaneously perform a first PoC Session between a first PoC Client and at least a second PoC Client, and at least one second PoC Session between the first PoC Client and at least a third PoC Client in accordance with a priority setting. The Push to talk Over Cellular (PoC) Server is characterized in that it is further arranged to: receive, from said at least second PoC Client, a first information indicating that a user of said at least second PoC Client wants to alert the user of said first PoC Client about relevant Media being shared in said first PoC Session; or receive, from said at least third PoC Client, a second information indicating that a user of said at least third PoC Client wants to alert the user of said first PoC Client about relevant Media being shared in said at least second PoC Session; and if the received information is a notification, forward said received information to said first PoC Client; or if the received information is an override message, change said priority setting for said first and/or said at least second PoC Sessions associated with said first PoC Client in accordance with said override message. The present invention also relates to a method for providing PoC communication services, a mobile terminal comprising a PoC Client and methods thereof, a communications system and a computer program product.
US08412251B2
An apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating home, or other public network access by a wireless device. The access is made in order to access public-network services by the wireless device when connecting to the public network by way of another network. Access availability by way of 802.1x-capable wireless local area networks, if any, is determined A listing is made of networks through which connections are able to be made. And, if operator policy permits, a public-network access attempter attempts to make communication connections by way of non-802.1x-capable wireless local area networks, if any. Identification is made of network access availability, and such identified network access is displayed to provide a user of the wireless device with an opportunity to select in what manner to connect to the public network.
US08412239B1
Apparatus, systems and methods for estimating a position of a mobile terminal (MT) using joint probability distribution values are disclosed. In an example, the MT is capable of receiving signals from a plurality of access points. The MT receives a map of expected measurements for a parameter observable by the MT, from any of a plurality of hypothesis locations. The expected measurements are predictive of a value of the parameter observed by the MT, when the MT is proximal that hypothesis location. The MT captures measurements of the parameter for the plurality of access points, computes interim vectors for the hypothesis locations using the captured and expected measurements, computes joint probability distributions for the interim vectors using a covariance matrix, and filters the joint probability distributions to produce an estimated position of the MT.
US08412236B2
A system and associated method receives a command from a user's mobile device to locate points of interest near the mobile device's location. The points of interest are associated with different, user-identified, point of interest categories. Based at least in part on the mobile device's location, the system substantially simultaneously provides a list of points of interest for at least some of the point of interest categories.
US08412235B1
A method and apparatus of processing a call are disclosed. One example method may include receiving a request at a server for dealer information. The request may be initiated by a user via his or her mobile station. The example method may also include determining whether there is user preference information and user location information included in the request. The information may be used to limit the amount of search results to increase relevancy. The method may also include searching a database for at least one dealer based on the user preference information and the user location information, and transferring the at least one dealer information to the user.
US08412231B1
A system, method, and computer readable medium for providing information to a mobile device based on an event comprising detecting an occurrence of the event, determining if the event is a specific event and if the event occurred at or near a geographical location and sending an alert of the event to at least one mobile device if the event is the specific event, if the event occurs at or near the geographical location, and if the at least one mobile device is located at or near the geographical location.
US08412228B2
A mobile terminal and photographing method for the same are disclosed. The mobile terminal includes an optical section receiving optical signals, an image sensor comprising color sensor elements detecting sensing-image information from a transmitted optical signal, and infrared sensor elements detecting infrared-image information from the transmitted optical signal and an image processing unit producing infrared-image information of the color sensor elements, using the detected infrared-image information.
US08412226B2
A method for locating a misplaced mobile phone, including receiving, by a mobile phone, a transmitted message, identifying, by the mobile phone, the transmitted message as being an alert request, and in response to the identifying, generating, by the mobile phone, an alert. A mobile phone is also described and claimed.
US08412219B2
A base station includes a scheduling unit and a call reception control unit. The call reception control unit includes a managing unit that updates total resource usage amount based on total resource allocation amount and manages the total resource usage amount, and a decision unit that adds an initial radio resource to be allocated to a new call to the total resource usage amount and decides whether the new call can be accepted. The managing unit updates the total resource usage amount by subtracting a radio resource in response to the release of an existing call that radio resource allocation being not controlled at each transmission time interval. The managing unit manages the total resource usage amount without subtracting a radio resource in response to the release of an existing call that radio resource allocation being controlled at each transmission time interval.
US08412210B2
The present invention concerns a method, a device, a mobile terminal and a base station for transferring data from a mobile terminal to a base station after a wireless resource enabling the transfer of the data from the mobile terminal to the base station has been allocated. The method comprises the steps, executed by the mobile terminal, of transferring, information indicating whether or not an allocated wireless resource is needed for the transfer of the data from the mobile terminal to the base station, the information indicating that no allocated wireless resource is needed for the transfer of the data from the mobile terminal to the base station being transferred by setting the power of pilot symbols to a null value, receiving, from the base station, allocation information indicating that the wireless resource is allocated to the mobile terminal when the information indicates that the allocated wireless resource is needed, and transferring the data to the base station in the wireless resource indicated as allocated to the mobile terminal.
US08412207B2
A method comprising running an application on user equipment; providing a mobility service; using a packet switched connection when said mobility service is unavailable; and using said mobility service when said mobility service becomes available.
US08412205B2
The invention relates to a method for operating a mobile communications network having two or more supply levels (1, 2, 3), wherein the supply levels (1, 2, 3) overlap and are each formed by a plurality of transmission stations, wherein a first supply level (1) is defined as the standard level (1), which guarantees the availability of the mobile communications network, and a second supply level (2, 3) is at least partially and/or temporarily deactivated.
US08412199B2
Provided is a method and apparatus for decreasing a handover latency time using a context exchange between a mobile terminal (MT) and a Media Independent Handover Server (MIHS). The method used by the MT for decreasing handover latency between a first network and a second network includes when a handover is performed from the first network to the second network, transmitting to the MIHS information required for first network communication as context; and when a handover is performed from the second network to the first network, receiving from the MIHS first network access information comprising the context through the currently used second network. Accordingly, the MT can reduce a Vertical Handover (VHO) latency time and simultaneously consume almost the same power as a single mode terminal.
US08412197B2
A method, terminal, and system for cell reselection are disclosed. The method includes: a terminal obtains a dedicated priority list from a first system; and performs cell reselection according to the dedicated priority list when the terminal camps on a cell of a second system. The corresponding terminal and system are also provided in other embodiments of the invention. According to an embodiment of the invention, the terminal performs cell reselection by using the dedicated priority list obtained from the first system so as to free the second system from establishing the dedicated priority list. Problems in the prior arts that establishment of the dedicated priority list causes too much increased signaling and too high costs for network upgrade are solved.
US08412194B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless terminal device and a method of controlling the same, which can receive a broadcast message transmitted from a base station, without increasing the load on a base station that refuses location registration and on the communication line thereof. The cellular telephone device includes: a search unit that searches for a base station, from which a signal can be received; and a reception control unit in which, in a case in which location registration was not permitted in all of the base stations found, the reception control unit performs synchronous processing for a reception signal from one of the base stations in which location registration was not permitted, without performing location registration, and enters a reception stand-by state for a broadcast message from the one of the base stations.
US08412191B2
A system and method are provided for the management of user terminal (UT) cellular network services. The method includes: registering a UT in a cellular telephone network; accessing a management server; receiving UT-specific management instructions for cellular network services; and, requesting cellular network services for the UT in response to the UT-specific management instructions. In one aspect, the management server is embedded in the UT. Alternately, the management server is accessed via the cellular network. The UT-specific management instructions can be uploaded in a message received via a common control channel, such as Short Message Service (SMS) message or a paging channel message. As another alternative, the management server can be accessed via a UT Broadband subsystem with a hardwire management server interface, or a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) subsystem with a wireless management server interface, such as WiFi, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11, or IEEE 802.15.
US08412190B1
A wireless device is arranged to switch the radio access technology it is using. The wireless device disconnects from using a first radio access technology and at least attempts to connect to use a second radio access technology. It is determined that the wireless device should revert to using the first radio access technology. At expiry of a predetermined period of time after the determining, the wireless device is caused to cease using or attempting to use the second radio access technology and to revert to using the first radio access technology.
US08412186B2
A mobile station connected to a wireless network can comprise a subscriber identity module. The subscriber identity module can maintain a list of networks. The list can comprise forbidden public land mobile network data. Software can manage the forbidden public land mobile network data. For example, an applet transmitted to the subscriber identity module can periodically delete entries from the list and/or reset the subscriber identity module on predefined time intervals or when specified events occur.
US08412178B2
In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for facilitating dynamic and segment-based monitoring of cellular network performance. In one embodiment and by way of example, a method includes dividing a cellular network path of a cellular network into a plurality of network segments, and monitoring performance of the cellular network at a first network segment of the plurality of network segments. The first network segment is associated with a first segment point includes a first computing device. The method may further includes generating first metrics based on first monitoring data relating to the first network segment, and forwarding the first metrics to a second segment point coupled with the first segment point over the first network segment. The second segment point includes a second computing device.
US08412175B2
A method for a mobile communication device to indicate activity associated with an operating domain includes establishing a plurality of operating domains for the mobile communication device each operating as an independent virtual machine. The method also includes providing a trusted indicator at the mobile communication device for indicating activity associated with a high-side domain. The method also includes providing an input on the mobile communication device for switching from a low-side domain to the high-side domain. The method also includes providing a trusted element for the mobile communication device that is independent of either the high-side domain or the low-side domain. The trusted element may be configured to receive a signal from the input for switching from the low-side domain to the high-side domain and to perform user authentication for switching from the low-side domain to the high-side domain.
US08412170B2
Apparatus comprising at least one processor configured to compare an identifier of a calling party with one or more contacts of a receiving party to determine privilege information associated with the calling party, the privilege information providing one or more authorised receiving party location-based responses. The apparatus further comprising at least one processor configured to determine a location of the receiving party and provide an associated authorised response to the calling party.
US08412158B2
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for a mobile device to provide increased security that is less obtrusive. A mobile device includes a display device, a user interface, and a processor. The processor may be configured to execute instructions to: implement a monitoring function to monitor the operation of the mobile device and to implement a plurality of monitor functions; and implement an authentication process to compare the plurality of monitor functions to a time period to determine an authentication value, wherein if the authentication value exceeds a threshold, a lock screen is implemented on the display device, and a user is required to enter a valid passcode through the user interface for authentication. Each monitor function may be associated with a pre-determined weight such that different monitor functions are given different priorities.
US08412141B2
An LR polyphase filter implemented with inductors and resistors and capable of operating at high frequencies is described. In one design, the LR polyphase filter includes first and second paths, with each path including an inductor coupled to a resistor. The first and second paths receive a first input signal and provide first and second output signals, respectively, which may be in quadrature. For a differential design, the polyphase filter further includes third and fourth paths, which receive a second input signal and provide third and fourth output signals, respectively. The four output signals may be 90° out of phase. The first and second input signals are for a differential input signal. The first and third output signals are for a first differential output signal, and the second and fourth output signals are for a second differential output signal. Each inductor may be implemented with a transmission line.
US08412137B2
A radio transmitter includes a radio module, a battery from which power is fed to the radio module, and a metal plate. The radio module includes a transmission module generating a transmission signal and an antenna configured to wirelessly transmit the transmission signal. The metal plate is located so as to cover a part of the battery and a part of the antenna. The battery is electromagnetically coupled to the antenna. A main radiation direction of the antenna is parallel to a principal surface of the metal plate.
US08412135B2
A method and apparatus for controlling power of a transmitter in a mesh network. A controller, if it sets a reference power to one of a first measured transmission power and a maximum power, compares the reference power with a first power in level, and compares the first power with a second power in level. A cumulation factor calculator calculates a cumulation factor by comparing the first power with the second power. A reference power setter sets the reference power according to a scope to which a value obtained by adding a reference power to a sum of the calculated cumulation factors belongs. A power controller controls transmission power according to the set reference power.
US08412133B2
Coefficients of a pre-distorter are determined for correction of distortion of a signal amplified by a radio frequency amplifier by sampling the signal at the pre-distorter input to generate a plurality of input samples and sampling the signal at the amplifier output to generate a plurality of output samples, each of the output samples corresponding to one of the input samples, calculating a figure of merit for one or more of the input samples on the basis of the one or more of the input samples, selectively updating a previously selected set of input samples with said one or more input samples on the basis of the calculated figure of merit, whereby to generate an updated selected set and determining the coefficients of the pre-distorter on the basis of the input samples in the updated selected set and the corresponding output samples.
US08412132B2
A technique for performing adaptive predistortion in a transmitter includes receiving, at a first input of an error signal unit, a delayed version of a baseband input signal. The technique also includes receiving, at a second input of the error signal unit, a power amplifier feedback signal from an output of a power amplifier. An input error signal that corresponds to a difference between the delayed version of the baseband input signal and the power amplifier feedback signal is then provided at an output of the error signal unit. The input error signal is then received at an input of a signal conditioner. An adjusted error signal that has a lower direct current offset than the input error signal is provided at an output of the signal conditioner.
US08412131B2
A down-conversion filter is provided, using first and second input terminals to receive signals that are differentially outputted by a preceding circuit, and using an output terminal to output a down-converted and filtered signal. An output capacitor is coupled to the output terminal. A first switched-capacitor network is arranged between the first input terminal and the output terminal. A second switched-capacitor network is arranged between the second input terminal and the output terminal. Each switched-capacitor network has capacitors, charging switches and charge-summing switches. The charging switches are designed to alternatively couple the capacitors to the first (or second) input terminal. The charge-summing switches are designed to couple the capacitors to the output terminal.
US08412123B2
A radio opaque container for communication devices upon a vehicle has a bottom joined to four walls, a pivoting lid sealing upon the walls, a connector from the container to a vehicle, a locking mechanism keeping the lid closed, and circuitry between the locking mechanism and the vehicle that engages the locking mechanism only when the vehicle's electrical system is on. In an emergency, the contents within the container remain available to a vehicle operator but the container opens only when vehicle's electrical power has been turned off. The container forms at least one faraday cage around the contents and prevents equipment placed therein from activating and distracting a vehicle operator. In an alternate embodiment, the container includes a shelf therein.
US08412096B2
Bidirectional iterative beam forming techniques are described. An apparatus may include a wireless device having an antenna control module operative to initiate beam formation operations using an iterative training scheme to form a pair of communications channels for a wireless network, the antenna control module to communicate training signals and feedback information with a peer device via the transceiver and phased antenna array using partially or fully formed high rate channels, and iteratively determine antenna-array weight vectors for a directional transmit beam pattern for the phased antenna array using feedback information from the peer device.
US08412092B2
A method is presented for providing information associated with a geographical area to users of broadcast communication receivers. The information, as well as an indication of the geographical area associated with the information, are transmitted to, and received by, each of the broadcast communication receivers. In each of the receivers, the indication of the geographical area is compared with a geographic code associated with, and stored within, the receiver. Each of the receivers also provides at least one alert to a user of the respective broadcast communication receiver if the geographic area is located on a travel vector of the respective broadcast communication receiver indicated by the geographical code.
US08412090B2
Disclosed is an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a housing having a discharge port, a plurality of photosensitive bodies mounted in the housing, a transfer unit to transfer visible images formed on the plurality of photosensitive bodies onto a printing medium, a fusing unit to fuse transferred visible images to the printing medium, and a reverse unit to reverse a moving direction of the printing medium, after the printing medium has passed through the fusing unit. As the moving direction of the printed printing medium is reversed by the reverse unit, the printing medium may be discharged while a printed surface of the printing medium is directed downward, allowing a user to easily draw out the printing medium.
US08412082B2
A conveying device including: a rotating body that rotates; a conveying belt that rotates while nipping a conveyed member between the conveying belt and the rotating body, thereby conveying the conveyed member; a pressing member that is disposed at an inner periphery of the conveying belt along a conveying belt rotation axis direction and presses the conveying belt towards the rotating body; a pair of support members that are respectively disposed at each of two rotation axis direction edge sides of the conveying belt and that support the pressing member; and a contact member that is disposed at the inner periphery of the conveying belt along the conveying belt rotation axis direction, makes sliding contact with the rotating conveying belt, and is supported so as to be independently displaceable relative to the pressing member.
US08412079B2
A toner cartridge includes a container body and a screw conveyer section. The screw conveyer section includes a rotation shaft and a toner conveying blade. The toner rotation shaft includes a first rotation shaft portion and a second rotation shaft portion concentrically communicated to the first rotation shaft portion and having a diameter smaller than that of the first rotation shaft portion. The toner conveying blade includes a first blade portion formed on the first rotation shaft portion, and a second blade portion formed on the second rotation shaft portion, a period of a spiral of the second blade portion winding around the second rotation shaft portion being smaller than a period of a spiral of the first blade portion winding around the first rotation shaft portion.
US08412067B2
According to an aspect of the invention, a laser fixing device includes a laser beam generating device and an airflow generating unit. The laser beam generating device generates laser beams and irradiates a recording medium transported with the laser beams. The airflow generating unit generates airflow flowing between the laser beam generating device and the recording medium. A flow speed of the airflow in a transport direction of the recording medium in an irradiation position of the laser beams is higher than a transport speed of the recording medium.
US08412066B2
Methods and systems herein provide for printing a plurality of variations of a test image utilizing different values of a print quality parameter for print quality analysis of a printer. A print quality parameter is selected that modifies a print quality of the printer when printing a test image. A range of values for the print quality parameter is defined to utilize when printing the test image. A plurality of variations of the test image are printed based on the range of values defined for the print quality parameter, which allows for an analysis of the print quality of the printer by the user.
US08412062B2
Methods, systems, computer readable media and other means for generating a profile for a particular type of media are provided. The profile represents a set of preferred printing parameters to be used to achieve a target print quality for a reference printing device. The profile may be used by other non-reference printing devices in order to optimize printing for that type of media. For each non-reference printing device, an offset may be established that represents the differences between the non-reference and the reference printing devices. A processor of the non-reference printing device may identify the type of media and the profile for that media and then adjust the printing parameters for the non-reference printing device based on the profile and the offset in order to optimize the print quality. The profile may also include a parameter that is based on a temperature coefficient associated with the type of printer.
US08412060B2
Image forming apparatus and method for performing image forming using an electrophotographic process
An image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process includes an image forming unit, a storage unit, and a control unit. The image forming unit performs monochrome printing and color printing. The storage unit stores print ratio data that relates to printing in the image forming unit is measured over time. The control unit separately performs correction of monochrome toner density and color toner density based on a predetermined first condition. If the first condition in the monochrome printing is met, the control unit performs correction of the monochrome toner density if a predetermined second condition concerning an amount of variation in the print ratio identified from the print ratio data is also met.
US08412059B2
In an image forming device, toner in a developing unit is efficiently utilized. A printing unit includes a developing unit, a toner cartridge, a photo-electronic sensor, a CPU and a counter. The toner cartridge replenishes toner to the developing unit at one time. The photo-electronic sensor detects toner in the developing unit. The CPU processes an output signal from the photo-electronic sensor to create comparison data, then compares comparison data with a predetermined threshold and issues an alarm when the comparison data exceeds the predetermined threshold. The counter counts the number of times that toner is replenished to the developing unit. The CPU changes the threshold to a level at which an alarm is hardly issued as the number of counts in the counter increases.
US08412057B2
An image forming cartridge comprises a developing unit configured to hold toner including a developing section configured to use the toner for developing and a supplying section configured to provide the toner to the developing section and a toner cartridge attachable to the developing unit, wherein the toner cartridge contains toner and supplies toner to the developing unit and the toner cartridge includes a stand-by charging unit configured to perform stand-by charge to the toner in the toner cartridge.
US08412055B2
Methods and systems herein provide for calibration of a production printing system that accommodates a plurality of different print paper types, including new paper types with no ICC profiles or optical density curves on file. One exemplary method includes printing test patches of primary colors on a first print medium, measuring colors of the test patches printed on the first print medium to determine an optical density of the first print medium, and comparing the optical density of the first print medium to a plurality of optical density curves to identify a comparable optical density curve of a different print medium. The comparable optical density curve is one of a plurality of optical density curves installed on the production printing system. The method further includes automatically selecting the comparable optical density curve to calibrate the production printing system to the different print medium for use in printing to the first print medium.
US08412051B2
The present disclosure provides integrated performance monitoring (PM); optical layer operations, administration, maintenance, and provisioning (OAM&P); and alarming in optical transceivers, such as multi-source agreement (MSA)-defined modules. The present disclosure includes an optical transceiver defined by an MSA agreement with integrated PM and alarming for carrier-grade operation. The integration preserves the existing MSA specifications allowing the optical transceiver to operate with any compliant MSA host device. Further, the host device can be configured through software to retrieve the PM and alarming from the optical transceiver. The optical transceiver can include CFP and variants thereof (e.g., future CFP2, CDFP, CXP), OIF-MSA-100GLH-EM-01.0, CCRx (Compact Coherent Receiver), Quad Small Form-factor Pluggable (QSFP) and variants thereof (e.g., future QSFP+, QSFP2), 10×10 MSA, XFP, XPAK, XENPAK, X2, XFP-E, SFP, SFP+, 300-pin, and the like.
US08412043B2
An optical communications network that is composed of one station-side equipment being connected to plural subscriber-side equipments. The station-side equipment refers to downstream data signals and prepares transmission plans, and generates downstream control signals that include the transmission plans, and converts downstream signals, that include the downstream data signals and the downstream control signals to which identifiers indicating the subscriber-side equipments that are addressees are assigned, into downstream optical signals, and sends the downstream optical signals out toward the subscriber-side equipments. The subscriber-side equipment converts downstream optical signals into downstream electric signals, and refers to identifiers and extracts downstream electric signals addressed to itself, and reads the transmission plans, and generates timer control signals including information of receiving start times and receiving stop times, and, on the basis of the timer control signals, opens and closes a path connecting a receiving section and an electricity supply section.
US08412042B2
According to one general aspect, an interconnection node may be configured to dynamically provide interconnection access between a first optical network (e.g., a core optical network) and at least either a second optical network (e.g., an access optical network) or a third optical network (e.g., another access optical network) in a purely optical fashion. The interconnection node may include a first network portion and a second and third network portions. The first network portion may be coupled with the first network that includes a first pair of wavelength cross-connect (WXC) units coupled between a first transmission path of the first network, and providing a plurality of add and drop ports, and a second pair of wavelength cross-connect (WXC) units coupled between a second transmission path of the first network, and providing a plurality of add and drop ports. The second network portion may be coupled with the second network and the first network portion of the interconnection node such that optical signals may be routed between the second network and the first network. The third network portion may be coupled with the third network and the first network portion of the interconnection node such that optical signals may be routed between the third network and the first network.
US08412036B2
An imaging apparatus (1000) includes: an imaging device (110), a lens (120), an initial focal point detecting unit (130) detecting a positional relationship between the imaging device (110) and the lens (120) to specify an initial focal point which is a focal point found when an exposure start instruction is received from a user; a shift pattern determining unit (140) determining a shift pattern of the focal point, such that the focal point in an exposure time moves from the initial focal Point, passes through both of a nearest end and a farthest end of a predetermined range of focus at least once, and returns to the initial focal point, the initial focal point being specified by the positional relationship between the imaging device (110) and the lens (120); and a shift control unit (150) moving one of the imaging device (110) and the lens (120) based on the shift pattern, such that the focal point moves from the initial focal point as soon as exposure starts, and arrives at the initial focal point again as soon as the exposure ends.
US08412032B2
The A/D conversion circuit may include A/D conversion units each of which converts input analog signals into digital signals, a switch unit that receives a first and second analog signals among the analog signals, the switch unit alternately switching output destinations of the first and second analog signals input in the same period to the A/D conversion units in each sampling cycle of the A/D conversion units; and an arithmetic unit that performs a differential operation between a result of addition of the digital signals output from the A/D conversion units to which the first analog signal is input and a result of addition of the digital signals output from the A/D conversion units which the second analog signal is input, the arithmetic unit outputting a third digital signal corresponding to a result of the differential operation.
US08412025B2
With this invention, at least one of a video file containing video information, a still picture file containing still picture information, and an audio file containing audio information and a management file having management information on a control method of reproducing the information in the file are recorded on an information storage medium. This realizes a data structure that causes the recording and deleting places on the information storage medium to correspond spuriously to places on a single tape, such as a VTR tape. Use of the data structure provides users with an easy-to-use interface.
US08412024B2
With this invention, at least one of a video file containing video information, a still picture file containing still picture information, and an audio file containing audio information and a management file having management information on a control method of reproducing the information in the file are recorded on an information storage medium. This realizes a data structure that causes the recording and deleting places on the information storage medium to correspond spuriously to places on a single tape, such as a VTR tape. Use of the data structure provides users with an easy-to-use interface.
US08412022B2
With this invention, at least one of a video file containing video information, a still picture file containing still picture information, and an audio file containing audio information and a management file having management information on a control method of reproducing the information in the file are recorded on an information storage medium. This realizes a data structure that causes the recording and deleting places on the information storage medium to correspond spuriously to places on a single tape, such as a VTR tape. Use of the data structure provides users with an easy-to-use interface.
US08412017B2
A cable pulling assembly includes an enclosure that is adapted for enclosing a connector of a fiber optic cable. The enclosure includes a body having a base portion and a cover portion. The base portion includes a first axial end and a second axial end and defines a first connector cavity. The first connector cavity is adapted to receive a portion of the connector of the fiber optic cable. The cover portion includes a first axial end and an oppositely disposed second axial end. The second axial end is engaged to the second axial end of the base portion at a hinge. The cover portion defines a second connector cavity that is adapted to receive a remaining portion of the connector. The enclosure defines a hole that extends through the base and cover portions. The hole is adapted to receive a pulling member.
US08412016B2
A waterproof communication cable connection box includes a protective cover, a cable pass-through end surface, a hollow cylindrical pipe formed on the cable pass-through end surface, an elastic rubber shrinking pipe, and a flexible hard plastic strip provided on the inner wall of the elastic rubber shrinking pipe. The plastic strip will be removed after a cable passes through the cable connection box so that the elastic rubber shrinking pipe closely covers the hollow cylindrical pipe and the cable part exposing outside of the hollow cylindrical pipe.
US08412013B2
An optical fiber cable includes an elongated optical element portion having an optical fiber, a pair of tensile strength members and an outer jacket. The optical fiber is composed of one or more plastic coated optical fibers, tight-buffered optical fibers or optical ribbon fibers. The pair of tensile strength members is arranged in parallel at both sides of the optical fiber in a width direction of the optical fiber. The outer jacket covers outer circumferences of the optical fiber and the pair of tensile strength members. A frictional coefficient of the outer jacket is equal to or less than 0.20. Shore D hardness of the outer jacket is equal to or more than 60.
US08411992B2
An image processing device includes: an estimated plane calculation portion calculating, for inputted image data, estimated planes defined by luminance values in blocks each containing a predetermined number of pixels including a reference pixel; an optimal estimated plane selection portion selecting an optimal estimated plane having a least summation of errors between luminance values of respective pixels in a block and an estimated plane among the estimated planes; a weighting factor calculation portion calculating a weighting factor for the reference pixel base on luminance values of the reference pixel and in the optimal estimated plane; and a weighted smoothing portion computing a sum of products of relative luminance differences between the luminance values of the respective pixels in the block and in the optimal estimated plane and the weighting factor for the reference pixel and adding a luminance value in the optimal estimated plane at a reference pixel position to a result of computation.
US08411991B2
An image processing apparatus includes: a characteristic value calculation unit calculating a block luminance average value, which is an average value of luminance values in each of spatial blocks obtained by dividing an input image in a space direction, and a block luminance dispersion, which is a dispersion of the luminance values in each of the spatial blocks; and an edge-preserving smoothing unit calculating a general luminance value of pixels of the input image by setting a value obtained by approximately calculating a weighted average value of the luminance values of a noticed block containing noticed pixels of the input image, on the assumption that a distribution of the luminance values of each of the spatial blocks conforms to a Gaussian distribution based on the block luminance average value and the block luminance dispersion of each of the spatial blocks, as the general luminance value of the noticed pixels.
US08411989B2
A spectral characteristic calculation device stores a plurality of conversion matrices used to calculate the spectral characteristic values based on brightness values of a digital color image, and a plurality of pieces of brightness value information respectively corresponding to a plurality of sample groups. The plurality of conversion matrices are generated based on the sample color image information contained in the plurality of sample groups, respectively. An evaluating unit is configured to evaluate similarity of brightness value information of the target data with respect to each of the plurality of pieces of brightness value information of the plurality of sample groups. A conversion matrix corresponding to the sample group that is evaluated to have the highest similarity is selected as the conversion matrix. Then, a calculating unit calculates the spectral characteristic values of the target data using the conversion matrix selected by the selecting unit.
US08411981B2
Provided is an image processing method and apparatus for removing blur in a screen image, including detecting blur in an input image, segmenting the image according to an amount of the detected blur, performing a high pass filtering of the segmented image in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, detecting corresponding weights by using corresponding coefficients of each direction obtained from filtering; and restoring the image by applying the detected weights to one of: an iterative form or a closed form of an image restoration.
US08411977B1
A method is described that includes producing an audio spectrogram from a target sample, generating a number of fingerprints based on the audio spectrogram, comparing the series of fingerprints to samples in a data repository using wavelet coefficients, and identifying the target sample based on the matches found in the data repository.
US08411976B2
An image compression apparatus includes: a line memory unit for holding pixel values for at least one immediately previous line in the lines to be processed of an image to be compressed; a division unit for dividing pixels of the line to be processed into 2n-pixel blocks; a first estimation value calculation unit for extrapolation-estimating the 2n-1-th pixel and the 2n-th pixel in the blocks divided, and obtaining an estimated value in processing for the first hierarchical level; a second estimation value calculation unit for interpolation-estimating certain pixels and obtaining an estimated value in the processing for the second hierarchical level through the processing for the n-th hierarchical level; and an estimation coding unit for obtaining an estimation error from the estimated value, converting the estimation error into a quantization number, converting the quantization number into a variable length code, and obtaining a compression code.
US08411970B2
A system and method for determining statistical data within an image having pixels with relatively higher bit depth per band and a system and method of converting a first image within the image having pixels with the relatively higher bit depth per band into a second image having a relatively lower bit depth per band. The higher bit depth per band includes greater than 8 bits per band. The method of determining statistical data for pixels of an image includes dividing the image having pixels with the higher bit depth per band into a plurality of polygonal sections, each polygonal section including substantially homogenous features; computing statistical data for pixels within each polygonal section; and storing the statistical data with the image.
US08411966B2
The invention relates to a method for estimating an image relation model for two or more related images based on a plurality of point correspondences. The method includes using a weighted random sampling algorithm to repeatedly draw subsets of point correspondences for generating model estimates, evaluating said model estimates for the full plurality of the point correspondences, and updating weights associated with each of the point correspondences in the random sampling algorithm based on information obtained in said evaluating.
US08411961B1
Method and apparatus for image feature matching in automatic image stitching processes. Embodiments may provide a computer-implemented method for performing a portion of an automatic image stitching process where feature correspondences are established between pairs of images. In embodiments, a computer-implemented image feature matching component may use a combination of one or more of heuristic techniques, information obtained from the user, file information related to the component images, and/or information obtained from previous feature matching iterations to narrow the number of images that are in a subset of component images to be compared for any given component image, and thus to narrow the number of pairs of component images on which image feature comparisons are performed.
US08411959B2
Disclosed is a method for extracting a region-of-interest of a user in a multimedia mobile terminal. The method includes: setting a search region in an input picture input to the multimedia mobile terminal on a screen picture-to-screen picture basis, and extracting a group of boundary of a region-of-interest based on a brightness difference between the set search region and an environment around the set search region; determining boundary coordinates of the region-of-interest through learning during a predetermined frame among the extracted group of boundary coordinate candidates; and enlarging the region-of-interest having the determined boundary coordinates, and displaying the enlarged region-of-interest. As a result, a region the user is most interested in or pays more attention to than other regions on a screen is automatically extracted. Accordingly, it is possible for users to view pictures in such an efficient manner as to provide the users with an even better experience and understanding during viewing.
US08411957B2
In one embodiment, a character recognition result verification apparatus has a group generation section and a verification image generation section. The group generation section generates a group including a plurality of character images recognized as the same character from a document image including a plurality of character images. The verification image generation section generates a verification image including a first region and a second region by superimposing the plurality of character images included in the generated group. The first region corresponds to a pixel having the same pixel value in all of the plurality of character images. The second region corresponds to a pixel having the same pixel value in a part of the plurality of character images.
US08411954B2
It is determined whether a repeating pattern is present in an image (100). When no repeating pattern is present, the image is divided into patch images, the resultant patch images are used to create a random repeating pattern, and the random repeating pattern is output (108). In addition, when the number of repetitions of the repeating pattern in the image is 2×2 or more (102), the repetition period is determined by transforming pixel values into frequency coefficients, and the repeating pattern is extracted based on the result of determining the repetition period, and is output (104). When the number of repetitions of the repeating pattern in the image is less than 2×2, the repetition period is determined by performing division using local maximum values of autocorrelation coefficients, and the repetition pattern is extracted based on the result of determining the repetition period (106).
US08411940B2
Method for up-scaling a color image prior to performing subsequent processing on said color image, comprising the steps of converting the color image into multiple image layers distinguishable from each other and up-scaling at least one of said multiple image layers. The up-scaling is tuned towards the subsequent processing, for example luminance is upscaled at higher quality than chrominance. Further, a method for interpreting information present on digitally acquired documents, comprising the steps of: (i) determining a country; (ii) identifying a list of languages and character sets in use in said country; (iii) performing optical character recognition simultaneously using all languages and character sets of the list; (iv) performing field parsing to identify fields in the digitally acquired document on the basis of international as well as country-specific field recognition rules; (v) storing the recognized information according to the identified fields in a database.
US08411933B2
An image processing apparatus includes an extracting unit, a detecting unit, a selecting unit and a change control unit. The extracting unit extracts a first part of an image that is a processing target, as a display area. The detecting unit sets a second part of the image as a detection target area and detects a boundary of an image element included in the detection target area. The selecting unit selects one of sides that constitute the detected boundary. The change control unit receives a command for changing the display area and changes the display area to a position in which the selected side is matched with one side of the display area.
US08411930B2
A system and a method for detecting a damaged or missing machine part. The system includes an image capturing device for capturing images of the machine and a processor for processing the captured images. The system may further include a sensible output for providing an indication of a damaged or missing machine part. The method includes capturing images of the machine against a background which moves relative to the machine over time, selecting a pair of time-separated images from the captured images, generating a displacement image from the pair of images, comparing the machine from the displacement image with a machine model, and identifying a damaged or missing machine part from the comparison of the displacement image with the machine model. The method may further include providing a sensible output which indicates a damaged or missing machine part.
US08411926B2
A system and method is provided for reconstructing single photon emission computed tomography data acquired with a pinhole collimator without pre-knowledge of 3D coordinates of point source markers. The system and method include reiteratively applying a downhill simplex process to determine a first parameter and a second parameter, keeping a lowest vertex from a previous iteration, randomly resetting starting values for rest vertexes for a current iteration, wherein the lowest vertex is prevented from performing a last iteration, determining whether at least one of a first threshold and a second threshold has been reached, wherein the first threshold comprises a cost function value and the second threshold comprises a predetermined number of iterations of the downhill simplex process, acquiring projection data from the first parameter, determining locations of 2D data from the projection data of the first parameter; and estimating the second parameter by fitting the forward projected data locations to the measured data locations.
US08411924B2
Method of image processing, the method comprises providing a sequence (2) of images (F) which have contrast modulation (100) along said sequence (2); providing a reference frequency (fm, 10) related to said contrast modulations (100) along said sequence (2); and filtering said sequence of images depending on said reference frequency (fm, 10). According to an embodiment, a windowed harmonic filtering is applied to the sequence of input images to extract fundamental in-phase (122) and quadrature (124) components at a heart beat frequency (fm). The resultant time-signal phase is displayed (34) as image sequence.
US08411920B2
A detecting device detecting a skin region of a subject. The detecting device comprising: a first irradiation section that irradiates the subject with light of a first wavelength; a second irradiation section that irradiates the subject with light of a second wavelength; a captured image creating section that creates a first image based on light reflected from the subject when the subject is irradiated with light of the first wavelength, creates a second image based on light reflected from the subject when the subject is irradiated with light of the second wavelength, and creates an external light image based on light reflected from the subject when the subject is not irradiated with any light of the first and second wavelengths; and a detecting section that detects the skin region on the basis of the first image, the second image, and the external light image.
US08411916B2
A method and device for determining a concentration of a biological target. The method and device include: capturing an image of a ticket including the biological target and information about the ticket; selecting pre-determined data corresponding to the ticket and the target responsive to the read information about the ticket; and determining the concentration of the biological target according to the pre-determined data. The method and device may further comprise selecting calibration data corresponding to the ticket, responsive to the read information about the ticket; and determining the concentration of the biological target according to the pre-determined data and the calibration data.
US08411906B2
The present invention provides an information processing apparatus including combination generating means for getting a first feature quantity of N dimensions, N being an integer of at least two, from first information prepared for execution of learning and use the first feature quantity of N dimensions to generate at least two of a first feature quantity combination that are not greater than N dimensions of the first feature quantity; and learning processing executing means for computing a correlation coefficient between the plurality of first feature quantity combinations generated by the combination generating means and a learning model feature quantity matching each dimension of the plurality of first feature quantity combinations and, by use of the first correlation coefficient, classify the first information, thereby executing learning processing for classifying predetermined second information.
US08411898B2
Security of photographic identification documents is enhanced by embedding within the photographic image encoded information that may be correlated to other information pertaining to the individual represented by the image, such other information being, for example, printed on the document adjacent to the photograph.
US08411897B2
A method, computer program product, and computing device for obtaining an uncompressed digital media data file. One or more default watermarks is inserted into the uncompressed digital media data file to form a watermarked uncompressed digital media data file. The watermarked uncompressed digital media data file is compressed to form a first watermarked compressed digital media data file. The first watermarked compressed media data file is stored on a storage device. The first watermarked compressed media data file is retrieved from the storage device. The first watermarked compressed digital media data file is modified to associate the first watermarked compressed digital media data file with a transaction identifier to form a second watermarked compressed digital media data file.
US08411894B2
A transducer generates acoustic energy. The transducer is suitable for incorporation into any device that needs sound reproduction capability, including devices with generally rectangular geometries such as cell phones, PDAs, and portable gaming devices. The transducer includes a displaceable membrane with a deformable corner. The deformable corner may extend the frequency range over which the transducer generates acoustic energy without distortion. The deformable corner may be part of a membrane periphery around the displaceable membrane. The membrane periphery may be square, triangular, or may take any other polygonal shape.
US08411891B2
The invention is a garment with an integrated earphone, headset, and wire. The wire allows an audio signal to travel from an electronic device at one end of the wire to the earphone or earphones, and/or a microphone at the other end of the wire. The wire, or wires, is preferably permanently sewn into the seams of the garment. The earphone may be retractable and/or kept in a small pocket near the collar of the garment to limit the movement of the earphone when it is not being actively used. The integrated earphone and microphone are preferably machine washable and dryable along with the garment with which they are integrated.
US08411890B2
In an embodiment, a hearing aid is provided. The hearing aid may include a behind-the-ear component, a sound tube coupled with the behind-the-ear component at its one end, and a loudspeaker coupled with the sound tube at the other end of the sound tube opposite to the behind-the-ear component. The hearing aid may further include a joint connected between the loud-speaker and the sound tube, wherein the joint is moveable or flexible such that a degree of freedom in movement is provided in a direction substantially perpendicular to an insertion direction of the loudspeaker into an ear canal.
