US08834663B2

A method for assembling an electrodeionization device comprising providing in a sequential arrangement: an anode, membrane cell assembly, cathode; wherein the membrane cell assembly comprises at least one sequential arrangement of: a cation exchange membrane, concentrating chamber, anion exchange membrane, diluting chamber, cation exchange membrane, concentrating chamber and anion exchange membrane. The method includes locating an ion exchange spacer in at least one chamber of the membrane cell assembly wherein an ion exchange spacer comprises an ion exchange resin and a dissolvable binder.
US08834659B2

The aim of the invention is to improve the supply of transfer foil in a coating module in which the image-forming layers of a transfer foil are transferred to a printing material. To achieve this, a partial pressing surface is located in the coating module for transferring the layers of the transfer foil. This permits targeted control of the foil feed. The transfer foil can be fed past a pressure cylinder in an approximately tangential manner and with a limited width.
US08834654B1

An adhesive may bond a plastic bonded explosive to a metal surface. The adhesive may include a mixture of hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) and isophorone di-isocyanate (IPDI) in a weight ratio in the range of about 5 to 1 to about 10 to 1. The adhesive may include a solvent and/or a catalyst.
US08834651B2

A method using a continuous annealing furnace where a cooling method of a cooling zone including part or all of the temperature range of the steel sheet of 600 to 250° C. following the heating for recrystallization is one or more of gas cooling, effusion cooling, and cooling pipe cooling, or a joint cold rolled steel sheet/hot dip galvanized steel sheet facility having such a continuous annealing furnace, to continuously anneal cold rolled steel sheet to produce high strength cold rolled steel sheet, characterized by exposing the steel sheet surface to an iron-oxidizing atmosphere in the steel sheet temperature range to make the surface oxidize, pickling the sheet at the outlet side of the annealing furnace, then iron- or Ni-plating the sheet to 1 to 50 mg/m2.
US08834644B2

A dishwasher and a method for operating a dishwasher having a washing receptacle; at least two spraying devices located within the washing receptacle; a reversing device; a drive in functional connection with the reversing device in order to bring the reversing device into different positions; and a circulation pump which, depending on a set position of the reversing device, conveys liquid to at least one of the at least two spraying devices. The method includes controlling the drive such that the reversing device assumes a predefined starting position; and controlling the drive such that, based on the predefined starting position, the reversing device assumes a specific position.
US08834642B2

A method of operating a dishwasher having multiple wash chambers, with each wash chamber executing a different cycle of operation, and liquid from one chamber may be reused in the other chamber.
US08834641B2

A method of using a hand-held power tool having a debris removal attachment is provided. The method includes providing a hand-held power tool having an output shaft and selectively coupling an extension shaft to the output shaft. The method also includes coupling a first impeller to the extension shaft and providing a housing adjacent the first impeller. The method further includes rotating the first impeller to generate a pressure differential sufficient to draw debris into the housing. The extension shaft has a first end and a second end, the first end configured to couple to the output shaft of the hand-held power tool, and the second end configured to couple to a tool bit.
US08834633B2

A method of pre-treating a cellulosic material before hydrolysis is provided. The method comprises the steps of: impregnating the cellulosic material with a reactive water-soluble gas, such as sulphur dioxide (SO2) or carbon dioxide (CO2), in an impregnation chamber to obtain impregnated material; and heating the impregnated material to obtain pre-treated material, wherein the cellulosic material is compressed right before or when it is transferred to the impregnation chamber. A corresponding system is also provided.
US08834623B2

A method of manufacturing a wood product including using a water and wax mixture with wood particles in a production process of wood products, wherein the wax mixture includes a hydrocarbon wax, and a water-repellant material selected from the group consisting of (a) an asphaltite, (b) a polyolefin copolymer, (c) a polyolefin synthetic wax, and (d) combinations thereof, and forming a wood product.
US08834622B2

The invention provides novel binder, slurry and dry mix compositions for use in the production of investment casting moulds. These compositions comprise water insoluble fibers and significant amounts of uncalcined clay. The compositions display favorable separation characteristics and short drying times. The moulds formed using the compositions have a favourable green strength and conform closely to the wax pattern on which the mould is coated. Also provided are methods of producing the compositions, methods of investment casting mould production utilising the compositions and investment casting coating shells produced using the compositions of the invention.
US08834620B2

Black disazo dyes of general formula (V) wherein A is a moiety of formula (VI) or of formula (VII) and B is a moiety of formula (VII) or of formula (IX) and wherein M, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, R13, R14, R15, R16, R17, R18, R19, R20, R21, R22, R23, and R24, are as defined in the specification, are excellent black dyes for dying and printing cellulose containing materials and textile materials and, in particular, for preparation of recording liquids for ink jet printing and for writing utensils.
US08834615B2

The present invention provides an air cleaning unit which contains a blower, an acid/alkaline filter device, and a particle filter device. The blower draws in outside air through the acid/alkaline filter device and produces an air flow through the particle filter device. The acid/alkaline filter device absorbs the acid/alkaline gases in the outside air. The particle filter device traps the particles in the air flow. Through this design, the blower draws in air filtered by the acid/alkaline filter device. The blower therefore does not suffer erosion and therefore the air cleaning unit enjoys prolonged operation life span.
US08834612B2

A hydrogen separation apparatus, provided with an independent hydrogen permeable membrane, capable of suppressing or preventing deformation of the hydrogen permeable membrane. The hydrogen separation apparatus includes a porous support member, an independent hydrogen permeable membrane disposed adjacent to the porous support member, and a joining member for joining the porous support member and the hydrogen permeable membrane. A production process for the hydrogen separation apparatus includes (1) disposing a joining member forming material at a surface side of a porous support member, to be opposite to an independent hydrogen permeable membrane, (2) disposing the independent hydrogen permeable membrane adjacent to the porous support member at the surface side of the porous support member to which surface side the joining member forming material is disposed, and (3) joining the porous support member and the independent hydrogen permeable membrane with the joining member forming material.
US08834610B2

A crankcase ventilation filter assembly and components therefor, are described. In an example arrangement, the crankcase ventilation filter assembly is configured to be serviced from either the top or the bottom. A rotational indexing arrangement is to ensure appropriate orientation of an internally received filter cartridge, and other components of the arrangement are provided. Methods of assembly, servicing and use are described.
US08834597B1

A method of fabricating metallic Cu nanowires with lengths up to about 25 μm and diameters in a range 20-100 nm, or greater if desired. Vertically oriented or laterally oriented copper oxide structures (CuO and/or Cu2O) are grown on a Cu substrate. The copper oxide structures are reduced with 99+ percent H or H2, and in this reduction process the lengths decrease (to no more than about 25 μm), the density of surviving nanostructures on a substrate decreases, and the diameters of the surviving nanostructures have a range, of about 20-100 nm. The resulting nanowires are substantially pure Cu and can be oriented laterally (for local or global interconnects) or can be oriented vertically (for standard vertical interconnects).
US08834591B2

Various methods and apparatus are disclosed that relate to one or more aspects of a filter structure that may remove contaminants from a stream of fluid. In various aspects the filter structure includes a front portion having a first orientation and a rear portion having a second orientation unique from the first orientation.
US08834589B2

A polishing composition for a magnetic disk substrate of the present invention includes water, silica particles, and at least one or more selected from an acid, a salt of the acid, and an oxidizing agent. The silica particles are observed with a transmission electron microscope to measure a maximum diameter and a projected area of each particle, and a value obtained by dividing the area of a circle whose diameter is the maximum diameter of a silica particle by the projected area of the silica particle and multiplying the result by 100, is in the range of 100 to 130.
US08834581B2

Described are dyes of formula (I) where R1 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, trifluoromethyl or halogen, M is hydrogen, an alkali metal cation or an optionally substituted ammonium cation, R2 and R3 are each independently hydrogen, alkyl or alkoxy, R4 is alkyl or alkoxy, R5 and R6 are each independently moieties of the formula —(CmH2m)—O—CnH2n+1, m is an integer from 3 to 6, and n is an integer from 0 to 8. These dyes are useful for dyeing and printing materials having polar groups.
US08834578B2

Bioresorbable wall reinforcement implants include a bioresorbable porous matrix based on a collagen sponge which defines first pores, a bioresorbable porous three-dimensional knit which defines second pores, with the matrix filling the knit and all the first and second pores being at least partially interconnected with one another. Tissue engineering supports including such an implant and uses thereof are also described.
US08834575B2

An orthopaedic knee prosthesis includes a tibial bearing and a femoral component configured to articulate with the tibial bearing. The femoral component includes a posterior cam configured to contact a spine of the tibial bearing and a condyle surface curved in the sagittal plane. The radius of curvature of the condyle surface decreases gradually between early-flexion and mid-flexion. Additionally, in some embodiments, the radius of curvature of the condyle surface may be increased during mid-flexion.
US08834571B2

An interbody spinal implant including a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing lateral sides, opposing anterior and posterior portions, a substantially hollow center, and a single vertical aperture. The single vertical aperture extends from the top surface to the bottom surface, has a size and shape predetermined to maximize the surface area of the top surface and the bottom surface available proximate the anterior and posterior portions while maximizing both radiographic visualization and access to the substantially hollow center, and defines a transverse rim. The body may be non-metallic and may form one component of a composite implant; the other component is a metal plate disposed on at least one of the top and bottom surfaces of the body.
US08834569B2

An artificial interbody spinal implant adapted for placement across an intervertebral space formed across the height of a disc space between two adjacent vertebral bodies is disclosed. The implant has an asymmetrical leading end adapted to sit upon the more peripheral areas, such as the apophyseal rim and the apophyseal rim area, of the vertebral end plate region of the vertebral bodies without protruding therefrom. The asymmetrical leading end allows for the sate use of an implant of maximum length for the implantation space into which it is installed. The implant can also include an asymmetric trailing end adapted to sit upon the more peripheral areas of the vertebral end plate region of the vertebral bodies.
US08834565B2

A foldable accommodating intraocular lens (AIOL) for implantation in a human eye, the AIOL including a hollow flattened sphere shaped housing including a shape memory optical element and a tubular casing mounted on the housing for reciprocation relative thereto for selectively compressing the shape memory optical element between a non-compressed shape and a compressed shape whereby the AIOL has a continuously variable Diopter strength.
US08834563B2

A heart valve prosthesis includes an expandable prosthetic valve including three valve leaflets coupled to an anchoring structure. The anchoring structure includes an annular member and a plurality of arms movably coupled to the annular member at one end. The free ends of the arms extend radially away from the prosthesis toward a valve annulus. The arms are configured to fit in a space defined between an open native valve leaflet and a wall of a valve sinus. The arms are sufficiently resilient such that they resist downward movement in response to pressure exerted on the prosthesis, facilitating anchorage and stabilization of the prosthesis at the implantation site.
US08834559B2

The present invention relates to an aneurysm stent for implantation into a living body, in particular for treatment of aneurysms, in order to implant the stent in the compressed state in a vessel and expand the stent after positioning it in the vessel, having a grid or mesh structure and at least one membrane (2) or a plurality of membranes (2) for covering at least one or more stent cells (1; 3) in the grid or mesh structure, thereby matching the permeation characteristics of the stent structure to the particular characteristics of the aneurysm.
US08834547B2

The present invention relates to methods for use in the selective disruption of lipid-rich cells by controlled cooling. The present invention further relates to a device for use in carrying out the methods for selective disruption of lipid-rich cells by controlled cooling.
US08834546B2

Disclosed herein are systems and methods involving the use of magnetic resonance imaging and optogenetic neural stimulation. Aspects of the disclosure include modifying a target neural cell population in a first region of a brain to express light-responsive molecules. Using a light pulse, the light-responsive molecules in the target neural cell population are stimulated. Multiple regions of the brain are scanned via magnetic resonance imaging. The scans allow for observation of a neural reaction in response to the stimulation in at least one of the multiple regions of the brain.
US08834543B2

Apparatuses for attaching tissue to bone are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes an expandable body defining a bore, an expander pin having a shaft sized to be received in the bore of the expandable body, and an insertion shaft slidingly disposed in the bore of the expandable body and in a bore of the expander pin. The body is configured to expand laterally into and attach to bone when the expander pin is driven into the expandable body. The body includes a proximal main member having a distally extending threaded projection and a harder, distal tip member having a threaded recess in a proximal surface thereof such that the projection is threadedly interengageable with the recess. The expansion of the body by way of the pin can occur when the proximal main member and distal tip member are threadedly engaged. The insertion shaft is releasably secured to the expandable body and extends distally beyond the expandable body.
US08834533B2

A plating system includes moveable plate segments to vary the overall length of the plate. The plating system is capable of both passive and active dynamization and has the ability to produce the former from the latter.
US08834529B2

A method for mounting a polyaxial screw into a bone includes rotating a drive cap so that a screw mounted to the drive cap is screwed into a bone, the drive cap having a socket in which a portion of the screw is pivotably disposed, at least a portion of a collet being disposed within the socket between the screw and the drive cap. A stabilizing structure and a fastener are positioned onto a shaft projecting from the drive cap. The fastener is advanced along the shaft so as to push a portion of a compression cap against the collet which in turn wedges the collet within the socket of the drive cap and causes the collet to bias against a portion of the screw, thereby locking the position of the screw, the collet, and the drive cap relative to each other.
US08834523B2

A tissue graft attachment device includes a platform member including a leading edge and a trailing edge connected to the leading edge by a pair of sides. The platform member defines a pair of slots extending along a longitudinal axis passing between the leading edge and the trailing edge, and an opening between the pair of slots and the leading edge. The device includes a first suture passing through the opening, a second suture passing through one of the slots, and an attachment member passing through the pair of slots to form a loop. A method for attaching a tissue graft includes providing the tissue graft attachment device, forming a bone tunnel, pulling on the first suture to pull the platform member through the bone tunnel, and pulling on the second suture to position the platform member on the bone tunnel.
US08834520B2

The present invention provides devices and methods that treat damaged spinal cord tissue, such as spinal tissue damaged by disease, infection, or trauma, which may lead to the presence of swelling, compression, and compromised blood flow secondary to interstitial edema.
US08834512B1

One embodiment of a nasal dilator comprises a pair of pads (100), supported by arms (110, 112) surrounding an air passage (115). Each arm has a bend portion (120) and a pad (121) that grips a wearer's septum (615). Leg portions (125, 125′) extend down from the arms and are connected by a bight that surrounds the wearer's columella (620). The dilator is installed by gripping an optional handle (130) or the bight and inserting the pads and the arms into both nostrils. The dilator is urged upward and inward until the inner side of the bight touches the wearer's columella. To remove the dilator, the user grips the handle or bight and gently pulls downward until the dilator is removed. In an alternative embodiment, optional cushions (102, 122) soften the contact points between the dilator and the user's nasal structures and can supply medications through the user's nasal membranes.
US08834505B2

A tamponade trocar includes an elongate balloon having a closed distal end and is adapted to expand from a small diameter to a large diameter. A cannula is positioned at a proximal portion within the balloon lumen. A rigid stylet is removably positioned within the balloon and cannula lumens. A distal end of the stylet supported balloon is inserted into a perforation in a body wall and advanced into a body cavity while the balloon is unexpanded. The balloon is expanded and the cannula is advanced to a distal portion of the balloon lumen and across the body wall. At this stage, the perforation is dilated and in compressive tamponade. The proximal portion of the balloon may be removed and a seal housing may be coupled to the proximal end of the cannula. The distal end of the balloon may be punctured and opened, making the trocar ready for use.
US08834504B2

The invention relates to a lancet having a flat shaft (1) which has an upper side (1c) and a lower side (1b), the shaft (1) forming at a front end (2) a cutter (1a) which ends in a point (2), the cutter (1a) having on the underside (1b) two cutting edges (4), which run together at the point (2), and the shaft (1) having at least one depression (3) on its underside (1b) to receive a sample. The invention provides for the shaft, on its upper side (1c), to merge into the cutter (1a) at two edges (5) which run together at a vertex (6), and for the upper side (1c) of the cutter (1a) between the vertex (6) and the front end (2) to be curved convexly, as seen in cross section.
US08834503B2

Lancet device including a first housing. A first guide wall is disposed within the first housing. The first guide wall includes an opening. A cap removably mounted to the first housing. A needle holding member for holding a lancet. At least a portion of the needle holding member being able to move within the opening. A first spring for biasing the needle holding member toward an extended position. The first spring surrounding a portion of the needle holding member and being disposed between the first guide wall and a shoulder of the needle holding member. A movable trigger having a first position and a second position. A movable second housing including a proximal end, a distal end and a second guide wall arranged at the proximal end. The second guide wall including an opening. A portion of the needle holding member being able to move within the opening of the second guide wall. The second housing being configured to move the needle holding member to the retracted position when the second housing is moved away from the first housing. The proximal end of the second housing being configured to move axially within the distal end of the first housing. A second spring for biasing the second housing towards the first housing. The second spring surrounding a portion of the needle holding member and being disposed between the second guide wall and another shoulder of the needle holding member. At least a portion of the needle holding member is always retained within the first housing.
US08834498B2

A method and devices for accomplishing the successful anastomosis of two hollow organ structures are disclosed. The method includes bringing the structures together, applying at least one fastener to hold the structures together and form a connection site, and applying, as alternatives or in conjunction, an adhesive, a wrap and/or a buttress about the connection site. Various examples of fasteners, fastener appliers, adhesives, adhesive initiators and buttress rings also are disclosed.
US08834492B2

A system and associated method for manipulating tissues and anatomical or other structures in medical applications for the purpose of treating diseases or disorders or other purposes. In one aspect, the system includes a delivery device configured to deploy and implant anchor devices for creating continuous defects or indentations in lobes of a prostate.
US08834490B2

A method for robotic surgery on a joint using a robotic system and a navigation system. The robotic system includes a base, a plurality of arms, and a cutting tool. The navigation system tracks movement of bones associated with the joint during the surgery. Information related to tracked positions of the bones is communicated from the navigation system to the robotic system. The navigation system may include a plurality of locating devices.
US08834475B2

Apparatus for performing an open wedge, high tibial osteotomy, the apparatus comprising a wedge-shaped implant for disposition in a wedge-shaped opening created in the tibia, wherein the wedge-shaped implant comprises at least one key for disposition in at least one corresponding keyhole formed in the tibia adjacent to the wedge-shaped opening created in the tibia, wherein each of the at least one keys comprises an interior bore for receiving a fixation screw, at least one fixation screw for disposition in the interior bore of the at least one key, and further wherein the apparatus is configured so that when the at least one fixation screw is received in the interior bore, the at least one fixation screw terminates within the bore.
US08834468B2

There is disclosed a device and method for stabilizing a bone. The device includes a polymer with a glass transition temperature. The polymer is relatively deformable at a temperature above the glass transition temperature and relatively rigid at a temperature below the glass transition temperature. The device, while the polymer is above the glass transition temperature, is responsive to a bending force to bend during insertion into the intramedullary canal of the bone. The device, while the polymer is below the glass transition temperature, is relatively rigid and able to provide reinforcement to the bone.
US08834463B2

A medical resector for oblating, cutting, or coagulating human or animal tissue includes a rotatable high-frequency electrode on the distal end of a shaft of the medical resector and an axle that runs from the proximal end to the distal end of the shaft and is mechanically coupled with the high-frequency electrode on the distal end. The axle is positioned on the distal end of the shaft in the center or as close as possible to the center of the cross-section of the shaft and on the proximal end of the shaft on the border or as close as possible to the border of the cross-section of the shaft.
US08834460B2

A microwave ablation safety pad includes a base layer, an electromagnetic shielding layer and a physical protection layer. The base layer is configured to support a cooling medium designed to absorb thermal energy. The electromagnetic shielding layer, adjacent the base layer, includes a faraday shield configured to prevent the generation of electromagnetic fields. The physical protection layer, adjacent the electromagnetic shielding layer, is configured to resist penetration therethrough.
US08834459B2

A hollow needle for removing unhealthy inclusions from organism is cooled by filling with a cooling medium by its cooling device and freezes an inclusion, the needle is then heated by it heating device to dislodge the inclusion, and thereafter the dislodged inclusion is withdrawn through a passage in the needle by its withdrawing device.
US08834457B2

Laser emission systems for surgical and other therapeutic uses are herein disclosed. In the preferred embodiments, different laser control systems are disclosed and disposable tips and fiber with a unique connection structure are utilized. By being disposable, the tips are manufactured to minimize material loss while also providing the confidence patients desire for their health which comes from knowing the tips are sterile. One end of the fiber is encased in a ferrule, which provides the permanent connection. A lens structure may also be utilized to focus laser light as it passes from a waveguide into the tip. The laser generation module may emit laser light in multiple wavelengths simultaneously and may also feature remote operation.
US08834453B2

The invention relates to a steerable wound drainage device which permits control of the positioning within the body of the device thereby affording the practitioner the ability to re-position the wound drain within the body while avoiding unnecessary trauma to surrounding tissues and organs. In one embodiment, the wound drainage device contains at least one longitudinal duct, at least one internal lumen, and at least one lateral opening communicating therewith, and an internal steering apparatus adapted to controllably position the catheter within the body.
US08834448B1

A medical device and method are provided for accessing a side branch in an artery. The device includes a catheter having a sidewall, an internal lumen, and a side port formed through the sidewall. A perforating guide wire has a proximal portion within the internal lumen and a distal portion arranged to be movable out of the side port. The guide wire can be delivered through the side port to a side branch artery when the catheter is deployed to a location with the side port aligned with the side branch artery. In another embodiment, the catheter has inner and outer telescoping tubes with offset exit ports formed therein. The telescoping tubes can be used to change the degree of deflection of the perforating guide wire by changing the relative positions of the offset exit ports.
US08834442B2

A diaper cover having a front part, a back part and an intermediate part located between the front part and the back part in a front-back direction, a right waist part and a left waist part extending from the back part in a width direction, and a right flap part and a left flap part extending from the front part in the width direction. The right flap part and/or the left flap part is provided with a hook member having a plurality of hooks. The hook member has a first region in which the hooks are oriented in one direction and a second region in which the hooks are oriented in another direction; and the first region and the second region are arranged such that a hypothetical straight line extending in the front-back direction in the right flap part or the left flap part crosses both the first region and the second region.
US08834429B2

An infusion pump assembly includes a locking tab and a pump barrel inside a pump barrel housing, the pump barrel accommodates a reservoir assembly. The reservoir assembly includes a reservoir and a plunger rod. The infusion pump assembly also includes a locking disc at a terminus of the pump barrel. The locking disc includes a clearance hole for the plunger rod. The locking disc also includes at least one locking tab notch in close proximity with the locking tab. The locking tab is in moveable engagement with the locking tab notch, and the reservoir moves the locking tab from a locked position to an unlocked position when the plunger rod is inserted through clearance hole. The locking disc rotates upon torque being applied to the reservoir assembly, the locking disc rotating from a non-loaded position to a loaded position with respect to the plunger rod and a drive screw.
US08834427B2

A slotted catheter securement device adapted for securing a catheter extending generally perpendicularly from skin of a patient, having a base member and a securing member co-planarly oriented, the securing member being joined to the base member non-coextensively, an interior opening, a slot passing through the base member and the securing member in communication with the interior opening; the securing member having a first bridging member and a second bridging member non-coextensively joined to the base member, a securing adhesive layer positioned on at least one of the first and second bridging members, the first bridging member having an attached end and a free end, the second bridging member having two attached ends, whereby the first and second bridging members fold away from the base member to adhere to each other and to the catheter disposed therebetween.
US08834422B2

A safety intravenous (IV) catheter assembly is disclosed which includes a safety device having a housing defining a cavity and distal and proximal openings, and a biasing member positioned within the cavity. The biasing member is movable from a first position to a second position to tilt the housing in relation to the needle when the needle tip is withdrawn through the distal opening of the housing to misalign the needle tip and the distal opening. A blocking arm is provided on the biasing member to prevent the biasing member from moving from the second position back to the first position.
US08834415B2

A needle tip assembly includes a needle tip, a needle tip cover structured and arranged to facilitate installation of the needle tip onto at least one of a pen needle, a pre-loaded syringe, and an injection device, and a slot arranged on a sidewall of a body of the needle tip. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
US08834404B2

A system, apparatus and methods are provided for extra-corporeal blood treatment, and in particular for establishing and maintaining a neck down differential body temperature, while maintaining near normal brain temperatures, to protect the brain from extended or extreme hypothermia or hyperthermia. A blood treatment apparatus and system is provided for differential control of brain temperature and body temperature below the neck. For example, a first bypass circuit with heat exchanger for brain blood circulation maintains a near normal blood temperature, while a second bypass circuit for below the neck blood circulation provides for thermal treatment to induce a temperature differential, e.g. hyperthermia or hypothermia, relative to brain circulation. Such systems and apparatus have application, for example, for diagnostic and therapeutic treatments using hyperthermia, particularly for treatments of extended duration or at elevated temperatures above 42° C., for example, hyperthermia for treatment of cancer, infectious bacterial or viral diseases.
US08834392B2

Techniques relate to operating a medical device in response to a detected posture state of a patient. A trigger event such as a request to modify how therapy is being delivered to the patient may cause a determination to be made as to whether the patient's posture state is stable. If the posture state is stable, an association is created between the posture state and one or more therapy parameter values. Over time, a library of such associations is created that may reflect any posture state in three dimensional space, wherein a posture state comprises at least one of a posture and an activity component. The library of associations may be used to automatically control therapy delivery. Similar ones of the associations may automatically be grouped into posture state regions to facilitate more efficient classification of the patient's posture state to control therapy delivery.
US08834378B2

Systems and methods for calculating a measure of respiratory effort of a subject are provided. The measure of respiratory effort may be calculated based on a differential pulse transit time (DPTT) calculated for received photoplethysmograph signals. The systems and methods may allow for the calculation of respiratory effort in absolute units, and without the need for calibrations from a device that measures blood pressure (e.g., a non-invasive blood pressure cuff).
US08834369B2

A method of ultrasound receive beamforming includes receiving a first plurality of sensing signals from target tissue, forming a first plurality of digital sensing signals, and data processing the digital sensing signals along a first plurality of data paths to form a first plurality of delayed and apodized digital sensing signals. Data path combining generates data combinations of the delayed and apodized digital sensing signals to include two or more of the delayed and apodized digital sensing signals that originate from different ones of the transducer elements. The data combinations are interpolation filtered using a plurality of interpolation filters to form a second plurality of delayed and apodized digital sensing signals, which are then summed to form an ultrasound receive beamformed signal. The interpolation filters can be interpolation filters in a single shared filter bank, with each interpolation filter providing a different fractional delay.
US08834357B2

A steering mechanism is used as part of a medical device such as a catheter or an endoscope to allow movement of a steerable distal portion of the catheter or endoscope. The mechanism can include a elongate housing adapted to be coupled to the steerable portion of the medical device and an actuation system including an actuator, a first cam, and a second cam. The actuator can move the first cam between a first position and a second position along a first axis (or about a second axis different than the first axis) to move the steerable portion of the medical device along a first plane. The actuator can move the second cam between a first position and a second position along the second axis (or about the first axis) to move the steerable portion of the medical device along a second plane different than the first plane.
US08834356B2

An endoscope deflection section frame including a plurality of rings and rivets. Each ring has front ears and rear ears with rivet holes through the ears. The rivets are located in the rivet holes to thereby pivotably connect the rings to one another. Each rivet includes a head at an interior side of an inner one of the ears and an opposite end at an exterior side of an outer one of the ears. The opposite end is welded to the outer ear.
US08834353B2

A medical manipulator which includes: a plurality of arms formed in a cylindrical shape a distal end portion of which is made of a rigid member having a bending portion capable of bending; an insertion portion made of a rigid member having a plurality of channels in which base ends of the plurality of arms are connected to a distal end of the insertion portion so as to connect lumens of the arms to the plurality of channels; a photographic device provided at the distal end of the insertion portion; an operation portion that operates the bending portion; and a transmission member that connects the bending portion and the operation portion, in which the bending portion has: a first bending portion that is capable of bending in a predetermined direction by an operation of the operation portion, and a second bending portion provided in a base end than the first bending portion that is capable of fixing the plurality of arms in a bent state so as to mutually separate, and the transmission portion has: a first region which is flexible, and a second region which is rigid and connected to a base end portion of the first region.
US08834352B2

Endoscopic instrument assemblies and methods for making and using the same. An example endoscopic instrument assembly includes an endoscope having a working channel and an endoscopic instrument slidably disposed in the working channel. The inside surface of the working channel and the outside surface of the endoscopic instrument each have a non-circular cross-sectional shape along at least a portion of their respective lengths.
US08834349B2

A tissue modification apparatus includes a first and a second guide, a first and a second set of mounts, and a first and a second actuator. The first guide defines a first axis, and the second guide defines a second axis intersecting the first axis. The mounts of the first set of mounts are movable relative to one another along the first axis, and the mounts of the second set of mounts are movable relative to one another along the second axis. The first actuator and the second actuator are each settable to a stress load, with the first actuator and the second actuator movable, respectively, along the first axis and the second axis to transmit each respective stress load to a piece of tissue mechanically coupled to the first and second set of mounts.
US08834348B2

A system for treating pelvic organ prolapse includes a shell and an anchor. The shell is made of biodegradable material that is insertable into a vagina. The shell has a convex exterior apex that is sized to contact an interior apical portion of the vagina. The anchor has a proximal portion that is attachable to the apex of the shell and a distal portion that is provided with a tissue fixation device that is attachable to tissue exterior the vagina such that the anchor and the shell combine to support and elevate the interior apical portion of a vagina.
US08834339B2

This invention relates to an assembly for performing brachytherapy treatment of tumour tissue in an animal body comprising at least a longitudinally extending intracavitary component and at least a guiding unit which extends at least partly parallel to said intracavitary component. Said guiding unit comprises at least one interstitial needle for guiding a radiation source into the tumour tissue. Said guiding unit is tubular over at least a longitudinal distance sufficient that in use a proximal end of said guiding unit is situated outside said body to be treated, while a distal end of said guiding unit is situated in situ close to or adjacent the tumour tissue.
US08834330B1

A forearm exerciser apparatus that includes a box-shaped member having a pulley assembly disposed thereupon, said pulley assembly in operational communication with a bottom pad suspended within said box-shaped member by means of a cable, said bottom pad configured to receive extant weights additional thereto, wherein said bottom pad is liftable when the pulley assembly is moved between a first position and a second position, whereby the flexor and extensor muscles used to open and close a hand are strengthenable thereby.
US08834325B2

A boxing training device including a main body and at least one boxing assembly is provided. The boxing assembly is mounted to an upper portion of a main body via a shell body. The shell body defines a receiving space, one end of a rod is disposed in the receiving space, and the rod is pivoted to the shell body via a pivoting portion. Two resilient members are disposed at two sides by the pivoting portion and resiliently engaged against between the rod and the shell body. Whereby, the boxing training device is easy to control so as to prevent users from being injured, simple in structure, and easy to assemble and convenient to store.
US08834323B2

A flywheel device for an exercise bike includes a frame body, a pedal unit and a reinforced glass flywheel. The pedal unit and the reinforced glass flywheel are assembled to the frame body. The frame body has a driving member connected with the pedal unit and the reinforced glass flywheel. The pedal unit and the reinforced glass flywheel are rotated spontaneously via the driving member. A driven device is pivotally mounted on a center portion of the reinforced glass flywheel. Two ends of the driven device are positioned on the frame body. One end of the driven device assembled with the driving member.
US08834322B2

A wrist training apparatus includes a housing, a rotation component disposed in the housing, a signal emission assembly and a counter. The rotation component includes a shaft and an annular wrapper wrapping the shaft and including an outer and inner surfaces and receptacle hole extending from the outer to the inner surfaces. A hole wall of the receptacle hole includes a stopper part. The signal emission assembly is disposed in the receptacle hole and includes a holding cover disposed in the receptacle hole and including a first holding structure in the receptacle hole and a second holding structure protruding from the inner surface and a signal emission device. The first and second holding structures are leaned against the stopper part and inner surface respectively. The signal emission device is disposed in the holding cover. The counter is disposed in the housing and senses signals from the signal emission device.
US08834317B2

A hybrid vehicle and method of control are disclosed wherein the ratio of engine speed to vehicle speed varies continuously in some operating modes and is controlled to simulate a discrete ratio transmission in other operating modes. The disclosure specifies the method of controlling the engine speed and the combined output torque of the engine and at least one traction motor in each of the operating modes. Transitions among operating modes occur in response to driver movement of a shift lever, driver operation of shift selectors, and changes in vehicle speed.
US08834303B2

An Arena Baseball Game system and method for playing an electronic interactive spectator participation game incorporating many aspects of Rounders, Knickerbocker rules and Negro League baseball innovation “Night Baseball.” The method of play is disclosed, involving some of the same rules as American baseball with virtual interplay. Time is regulated by a game clock and balls may be deflected back as playable by a rebounding assembly that surrounds the arena field. The Arena method of play includes monitored base force out zones and means for ball game conclusion by predetermined “aces” or “runs” and time duration. The arena has a playing area surrounded by a wall structure such as pad and or panel walls and spectator protective vision enabled side covering. A baseball-like game played within an enclosed facility, wherein the game method of play rules and facility are designed for fast paced action.
US08834291B2

This invention provides a golf club head including a plurality of parallel scorelines formed in its face surface, and a plurality of grooves which are formed in the face surface and have a width narrower than the scorelines. Rounded portions are formed on the edges of the scorelines. The plurality of grooves are formed at positions on the two sides of each of the scorelines to extend parallel to the scorelines.
US08834285B2

Putter heads and putters include one or more of: (a) a main putter body portion including a first arm and a second arm; (b) a first polymeric and/or damping element engaged with the first arm; and (c) a second polymeric and/or damping element engaged with the second arm. The putter heads further may include polymeric material within the putter head structure and exposed at a central ball striking portion of the ball striking face, e.g., in elongated openings provided in the ball striking face. Grooves may be provided in the material of the ball striking face and/or in the exposed polymeric material to affect the ball launch. The putter heads may have various additional features or structures, e.g., relating to weighting features, alignment aid features, putter head constructions or parts, polymeric material exposure features, groove features, etc.
US08834278B2

According to one embodiment, a system for electronic trading is provided. The system includes an interface application having an associated mapping module that defines a plurality of controller signal relationships. Each controller signal relationship associates a game controller signal with a trading system command associated with the electronic trading of financial instruments. The interface application is operable to receive a particular game controller signal, determine the trading system command associated with the particular game controller signal using the mapping module, and communicate the determined trading system command such that the trading system command is executed.
US08834276B2

A system and computer-implemented method for cross-promoting electronic games is provided. First and second electronic game databases are configured to store first and second game user attributes relating to first and second electronic game, respectively. An aggregator database is coupled to the first and second electronic game databases and is configured to store a first game user attribute, associated with the user and relating to a first electronic game, and user data of a user of the first electronic game. A processor is coupled to the aggregator database and configured to automatically associate a second game user attribute to the user according to a predetermined rule based on at least one of the first game user attribute stored in the aggregator database and the user data. The second game user attribute associated to the user by the processor is stored in the aggregator database.
US08834274B2

An apparatus comprising one or more servers of a hosting service server center and a RAID that stores geometry for objects of a complex scene. The RAID being coupled to the one or more application or game servers and being operable to interactively stream the geometry on-the-fly during real-time animation associated with running of a game or application on the one or more servers. The geometry is being streamed with substantially no detectable latency.
US08834272B2

A gaming machine comprises one or more display devices, a configurable joystick, and one or more memory devices. The memory devices store instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the machine to dispose the joystick in a first joystick state during a first game part and, responsive to a trigger, dynamically reconfigure the joystick to a second joystick state for use during a second game part. A method comprises receiving an input to play a game, providing a configurable joystick in a first joystick state, conducting a first game part with the joystick in the first joystick state, dynamically reconfiguring the joystick from the first joystick state to a second joystick state responsive to a trigger, and conducting a second wagering game part with the joystick in the second joystick state.
US08834266B2

A method and a device provide a tactile sensation. Devices include a plurality of actuators. The plurality of actuators includes first and second actuators. The first actuator is adapted to provide a first tactile sensation, and the second actuator is adapted to provide a second tactile sensation.
US08834248B2

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a gaming device configured to record gaming activity, a method of processing the recorded gaming activity to analyze player behavior, and a system including the gaming device. The gaming device may include a gaming display to display gaming events played on the gaming device by a player during a gaming session, a player interface panel including a plurality of gaming buttons and a game initiating button configured to initiate the gaming events, and a game processor configured to record each activity between the player and the gaming device, wherein each recorded activity is associated with a time stamp.
US08834243B2

A support assembly for supporting a moveable member of an agricultural combine is provided. The support assembly includes a moveable member, such as a foldable chaff pan assembly for spreading chaff and other crop residue from the rear of an agricultural combine, a support member and a resilient member connected to the support member for supporting the moveable member. The resilient member can be configured as an arched shaped or cylindrically shaped member.
US08834238B2

Methods and systems for processing fish are provided which enable removal of the head or other portion of a fish in a particularly reliable and efficient manner. The systems include a conveyor drive motor which provides continuous movement of a conveyor device for transporting fish along a transport path and which simultaneously provides intermittent movement of a blade across the transport path to sequentially sever a portion of each fish. An intermittent drive mechanism is coupled to the conveyor drive motor and coupled to the blade to convert continuous movement produced by the conveyor drive motor to intermittent movement of the blade between a standby position and a cutting position. Related methods for severing a portion of each fish in a series of transported fish are also provided.
US08834234B2

A double-side polishing apparatus including at least: upper and lower turn tables each having a polishing pad attached thereto; a carrier having a holding hole formed therein for holding a wafer between the upper and lower turn tables; a sensor for detecting a thickness of the wafer during polishing, the sensor being disposed in a through-hole provided at the upper turn table in a direction of an upper-turn-table rotation axis; and a sensor holder for holding the sensor, wherein a material of the sensor holder is quartz. As a result, there is provided a double-side polishing apparatus that can polish a wafer while the difference from the target wafer thickness is reduced by surely inhibiting deformation of the sensor holder due to the influence of heat generated during the polishing of the wafer.
US08834233B2

A method for producing an implant whose surface is roughened by the sandblast method using shot material containing fluoroapatite. Fluoroapatite, compared to hydroxyapatite, has poor biocompatibility, but is superior in hardness. It also has a property of being dissolved in acid. As a result, by the sandblast method using shot material containing fluoroapatite, the surface roughening is performed quite effectively, and shot materials remained on the surface can easily be removed by acid.
US08834224B2

A method of manufacturing a metal shell assembly for a spark plug including a cylindrical metal shell that extends in a direction of a central axis and which has a screw portion formed in an outer peripheral surface thereof, and a bar-shaped ground electrode that extends from a front end portion of the metal shell, the method including: disposing an intermediate assembly, having the ground electrode provided in a metal shell intermediate body, between a plurality of rolling dies having process surfaces facing each other; forming the screw portion by performing a rolling process on the intermediate assembly by the plurality of rolling dies while the intermediate assembly is interposed between the plurality of rolling dies; and positioning the ground electrode in a circumferential direction about a central axis of the intermediate assembly between the disposing and forming steps.
US08834217B2

A dog clutch mechanism incorporated in an outboard motor includes a sliding clutch dog member splined to a propeller shaft and having recesses on each end face thereof, and a row of gear teeth formed on an end face of each of a pair of driven gears rotatably mounted on the propeller shaft. Each of the recesses has a bottom surface stepped to provide a corner edge at a stepped portion thereof. Each of the gear teeth has a beveled surface formed at a rear edge as viewed from a rotating direction of the driven gear. When the gear teeth are in mesh with the recesses of the clutch dog member, the corner edge of the stepped bottom surface of each recess is in contact with the beveled surface of the mating gear tooth.
US08834213B2

In a structure in which a crimping terminal (10) in which an electric wire connection part (12) is formed in substantially a U shape in cross-section view by having base plate parts (21, 23) and pairs of electric wire crimping pieces (22, 24) is used and a metallic tubular cap (30) is attached to a conductor (Wa) exposed by removing a portion of an insulating sheath (Wb) of the distal end of an electric wire W and the electric wire crimping pieces (22, 24) are crimped while crushing the conductor (Wa) of the distal end of the electric wire W together with the cap (30) thereon, a front end (31) of the cap (30) is crushed and thereby the front end of the cap (30) is sealed with its crush part (35).
US08834203B2

An eSATA connector includes a connector plug and a mated connector receptacle. The connector plug includes a plug member, a plug metal housing, plug data terminals and a terminal holding part, in which the plug data terminals are held, and further includes plug power terminals held in the terminal holding part, wherein the plug power terminals and the data terminals each other electrically insulated.
US08834202B2

A connector assembly having a body is provided. The body forms an inlet, an internal cavity, and an outlet. A plate is oriented in the cavity and adjacent to the outlet. A harness partially extends through the inlet, into the cavity, and is connected to the plate. A molded material is disposed over the harness within the internal cavity on an inlet side of the plate. The molded material includes an integrally formed grommet that is oriented at the inlet of the body for providing strain relief to the harness.
US08834201B2

A coaxial connector has a structure in which slits into which the both sides of a core wire crimp part are to be inserted are respectively formed on facing inner walls of a core wire containing groove in an inner housing and the core wire crimp part is covered with the inner housing and a terminal fitting by crimping of the terminal fitting.
US08834200B2

Axially compressible, self-sealing, high bandwidth F-connectors for conventional hand tools for interconnection with coaxial cable. An internal, dual segment sealing grommet activated by compression elongates and deforms to provide a travelling seal. Each connector has a rigid nut that is rotatably secured to a, tubular body. A rigid, conductive post has a barbless shank with a groove that coaxially extends through the connector and penetrates the coaxial cable within the connector. A tubular, metallic end cap is slidably fitted to a body shank, and is thereafter forcibly compressed lengthwise during installation. The end cap has a ring groove for seating the enhanced grommet. The grommet travels and extrudes during compression to mate and intermingle with a portion of the cable braid that is looped back from a prepared cable end, and portions of the cable are urged towards the post groove for sealing.
US08834195B2

A cable connector system that comprises a first contact assembly that includes a housing and a first contact received in the housing, where the first contact has a cable termination portion and an interface portion that includes a first contact surface and a cap that has a first locking surface. A second contact assembly mates with the first contact assembly and includes a housing and a second contact that has a second contact surface configured to engage the first contact surface and the second contact being rotatable with respect to the first contact. A locking member that includes a second locking surface is configured to engage the first locking surface, wherein when the second locking surface engages the first locking surface, the first contact assembly is prevented from moving axially with respect to the second contact assembly while the first contact remains rotatable with the second contact.
US08834191B2

An electrical connector for electrically connecting an IC package to a circuit board includes an insulating housing having a number of contacts received therein, a load plate covering the insulating housing and rotating between an open position and a closed position and a holder assembled on the load plate for retaining the IC package. The holder is sandwiched between the insulating housing and the load plate and capable of loading the IC package to the insulating housing when the load plate is rotated to a close position.
US08834187B2

A connector for determining whether or not to having been disengaged from the mating connector 2 to be exploded includes a housing including a main body accommodating a terminal fitting, and a pair of projections projecting from the main body; a lever including a pair of plates provided with holes through which each of the pair of projections is passed, and the pair of plates sandwiching the main body therewithin, the lever being arranged rotatively about the pair of projections. The lever includes a label-attached part to which a label is attached, the label-attached part is provided with a plate part coupling the pair of plates to each other, the plate part has a slit open to the hole, extending toward the plate-coupling part, and the label is attached to the label-attached part so as to cover the slit.
US08834185B2

An electrical connector assembly comprises: an insulative housing defining a receiving space therein communicated with an exterior along a longitudinal direction. The insulative housing defines a resilient latch mechanism integrally formed on a top surface thereof and a pair of projecting portions located at two opposite sides of the latch mechanism for preventing a rotational movement with respect to a complementary mating connector. Two printed circuit board (PCB) modules are arranged in substantially a stacked manner and received into the receiving space. And, a retainer fixes the two PCB modules to the insulative housing.
US08834178B2

A manipulation device, which is configured to be used with an interactive whiteboard, includes an elongated rod and a body portion. The elongated rod is connected to the body portion at one of its ends, and the body portion has an outer surface with a layer of foam disposed thereon. The layer of foam disposed on the body portion is configured to be displaced along an outer display surface of an interactive whiteboard so as to facilitate a manipulation of objects displayed on the interactive whiteboard by a user thereof. According to another aspect of the invention, the manipulation device is provided as part of an interactive teaching system, wherein the manipulation device is used in conjunction with an interactive whiteboard having an outer display surface, the interactive whiteboard being operatively coupled to a data processing device.
US08834166B1

A user device displays portions of an electronic publication for a user to read. The user device tracks the user's reading behavior of the portions of the electronic publication. The user device then selects a problem from a group of pre-generated problems for the user based on the user's reading behavior and provides the selected problem to the user.
US08834165B2

A process for providing upset recovery training (URT) includes using a sustained-G multi-axis platform (e.g., a centrifuge-based simulator). Various embodiments of the present invention address an important aspect of URT that is not present in the prior art, namely the placing of physiological stresses on the trainees during URT, such as sustained motions including, but not limited to, sustained, elevated G-forces and continuous rotational cues. Elevated, sustained, G-forces and continuous rotational cues can create many physiological challenges to aircrew. These challenges can include motion discomfort, disorientation, and visual disturbances. Embodiments of the present invention provide URT that includes physiological stresses on the pilot. If a pilot learns the correct procedures for recovery from an upset, as in the prior art URT programs, but cannot execute the procedures in the real world because he or she has not been prepared for the physiological environment to be faced, then safety is compromised.
US08834161B2

A process for the manufacture of a zirconium oxide prosthesis, the zirconium oxide being stabilized, which process includes the following steps: a) compacting a zirconium oxide powder at a pressure of at least 45 MPa to an object of a desired form, b) impacting an etchable medium into the surface, c) optionally working the object to a final shape, d) sintering the body at a temperature of above 1170° C. to transfer zirconium oxide into a tetragonal crystalline structure, and e) etching the etchable medium using hydrofluoric acid to remove the medium and impart a micromechanical retention surface. A prosthesis prepared by this process is also disclosed.
US08834157B2

A system and method for modeling bite function. A top pantograph is fixed to a patient via clutches to the top teeth of the patient, a bottom pantograph is fixed to a patient via clutches to the bottom teeth of the patient and the actual bite of the patient is optically monitored by monitoring the relation of the top pantograph to the bottom pantograph during a bite cycle and storing a hinge axis. Data is stored relating to the actual bite and the top teeth are scanned to create a top teeth model while the bottom teeth are scanned to create a bottom teeth model. A digital representation of the top pantograph is digitally fitted to the top teeth, a digital representation of the bottom pantograph bottom pantograph is digitally fitted to the bottom teeth, and the relationship of the top teeth model and the bottom teeth model to the hinge axis is recorded. A bite model is digitally created by recording the position of the top teeth model in relation to the bottom teeth model while digitally moving the bottom teeth model with respect to the top teeth model around the hinge axis.
US08834144B2

An imprinting machine that brings a mold having a pattern into contact with an object and transfers the pattern onto the object includes a measurement unit that measures a position of the mold when the mold contacts the object.
US08834143B2

A tire vulcanization mold can be configured to provide stable ventilation. For example, a tire molding surface has a ventilation groove having a rectangular shape in plan view. A blade has upper end, contact and communication sections. The upper end section thickness is smaller than a groove thickness. The contact section below the upper end section contacts both thickness-direction-facing side faces of the groove. The communication section communicates between a ventilation hole, and a small gap is formed between the groove and the upper end section. Alternatively, the blade has a groove section formed in at least one side face that faces in a blade thickness direction and extends between upper and lower blade ends to form a small gap between the groove and groove section. Air and gas pass through the gap and the communication section and vent to an exterior of the mold through the ventilation hole.
US08834142B2

A granulator, having a granulation unit having a bottom floor with a perforated plate as its bottom part; an upper air-supplying pipe for supplying a fluidizing air to the bottom of the granulation unit; a lower air-supplying pipe; air-spouting pipes, each of which is branched from the lower air-supplying pipe, and has an opening in the bottom of the perforated plate, for jetting the air into the granulation unit; and spray nozzles for spraying a granulation raw material liquid, which each are provided in the center of an air outlet of the air-spouting pipe, or having: the bottom; the air-supplying pipe; and spray nozzles for spraying a granulation raw material liquid each of which are provided in an opening in the bottom of the perforated plate, and use a high-pressure atomizing air as an auxiliary gas, with the spray nozzles being provided in a triangular arrangement.
US08834141B2

An impression system is provided for capturing an anatomical impression of an animal. The impression system comprises a foam that substantially retains an impression after application of pressure and subsequent removal of pressure and a case having a recessed area for receiving the foam and a case for retaining the foam therein. The system further comprises a cover having a viewing pane attachable to the case for providing viewing of the foam when closed.
US08834129B2

An integrally bladed disk includes a rotor disk and circumferentially spaced first and second blades. The rotor disk has a rim the periphery of which forms a flow surface. The first and second blades extend integrally outward from the rim. The rim defines a trench in the flow surface between the first and second blades aft of a leading edge of the rim. The trench extends axially forward and rearward of a leading edge of the first blade.
US08834128B2

A tension-torque-transmission element (3; 3′; 4) for a rotor blade of a rotary wing aircraft (helicopter), in particular for a fenestron blade of a tail rotor, with a connecting section on the blade side and a connecting section (30; 30′; 40) on the axis side, with a connecting eye (32) on each connecting section, and with a torque-transmission section (34; 34′; 44) that connects the connecting sections (30; 30′; 40), is improved in that the tension-torque-transmission element (3; 3′; 4) is designed in a fiber-reinforced composite design including several layers (A to G) of a textile fabric. A method for producing such a tension-torque-transmission element (3; 3′; 4) is also described.
US08834124B2

A locking device for enabling the circular locking of a set of blades provided with a hammer base on the rim of a turbine engine compressor hub is disclosed. The rim includes a peripheral groove on the outer surface thereof for receiving the bases of the blades of the set and two shoulders framing the groove with surfaces which form bearings for holding the blades; and a cut-out provided in at least one of the shoulders to enable the bases of the blades to be inserted in the groove. The locking device translatably immobilizes the blades in the groove and is positioned in the groove between two consecutive blades and in turn translatably held in the groove by an attachment device. A carrier is shaped so as to fit into the cut-out and to rest circumferentially on at least one engagement surface of the shoulder.
US08834123B2

A turbomachinery blade for a gas turbine engine is provided and includes an airfoil extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. In one embodiment the turbomachinery blade is a compressor blade. The blade can include a platform attached to the airfoil on one side, the other side being attached to a stalk having a lower attachment portion useful for being received in a compressor disk. The blade includes an undercut beneath a portion of the airfoil, preferably beneath the leading edge and/or trailing edge of the airfoil. In one form the undercut is located in a corner of the platform and extends partially along two sides of the platform.
US08834120B2

A method for connecting a low speed main shaft of a wind turbine to an input shaft of a transmission gearbox of the wind turbine is disclosed. The method includes providing a connection surface on the main shaft and a corresponding connection surface on the input shaft, placing a friction enhancing means on at least one of the connection surfaces, and firmly connecting both connection surfaces to one another, a permanent load being applied on the connection surfaces.
US08834119B2

A device including a pair of counter rotating propellers with variable pitch which may be modified by an actuator located in a central cavity of the shafts. A system for transporting energy to the actuator includes a conduit passing into a static case in proximity to an epicycloidal gear train, and then control conduits leading to the actuator and crossing the planet carrier of an epicycloidal gear train. The junction is affected by a dynamic joint with a collector. This transport path avoids a high temperature turbine.
US08834114B2

Systems for increasing the efficiency of a turbine and an overall power plant system are disclosed. In one embodiment, a turbine includes: an outer shell including a set of grooves configured to complement components of a wheel and diaphragm steam path section; a drum rotor disposed within the outer shell; a set of shell converts connected to the outer shell via the set of grooves, the set of shell converts configured to complement components of the drum rotor; and a working fluid passage substantially defined by the drum rotor and the set of shell converts.
US08834113B2

An alignment member for a turbine diaphragm segment is disclosed. The alignment member is configured to span radially across a portion of the turbine diaphragm segment and an adjacent turbine casing segment. The alignment member can include: a main body having a first aperture for aligning with a first corresponding aperture in one of the turbine diaphragm segment or the turbine casing segment; and a flange extending from the main body, the flange including a second aperture for aligning with a portion of the other of the turbine diaphragm segment or the turbine casing segment, the alignment member for adjusting a position of the turbine diaphragm segment relative to the adjacent turbine casing segment.
US08834107B2

The present application provides a tip clearance control system for reducing an airflow through a turbo machine. The tip clearance control system may include a casing shroud and a tip shroud positioned within the casing shroud. The tip shroud may include a first step at a leading edge and a second step adjacent to the first step. The casing shroud and the tip shroud may define a first cavity therebetween downstream of the second step.
US08834096B2

In an axial flow gas turbine efficient cooling and a long life-time can be achieved by providing the outer blade platforms (45) with a plurality of outer teeth (46a-c) running parallel to each other in the circumferential direction and being arranged one after the other in the direction of the hot gas flow. The teeth (46a-c) are divided into first and second teeth (46a; 46b-c), the second teeth (46b-c) being located downstream of the first teeth (46a), the first teeth (46a) are opposite to a downstream projection (33) of the adjacent vanes (21) of the turbine stage (TS), and the second teeth (46b-c) are opposite to the respective stator heat shields (27).
US08834084B2

A fastening assembly includes a fastening member, a locking member engaged with the fastening member, and an elastic member sleeved on the fastening member. The fastening member forms an arc resisting sidewall. The elastic member includes a main body and a plurality of elastic strips extending from a same side of the main body and spaced from each other. Each elastic strip gradually closes to an center axis of the main body along the direction of away from the main body. Each elastic strip forms an arc protrusion towards the center axis of the main body on an inner wall. The arc protrusion matches with the resisting sidewall.
US08834076B2

The invention relates to a side-milling cutter for producing a toothing system, having at least one insert having a rectangular cross section arranged in a holding pocket as an insert seat, having two top surfaces facing away from each other, having two long insert sides located opposite each other and also having two narrow insert sides located opposite each other. Of four cutting edges of the insert which extend along the long insert sides in the longitudinal direction, in each case two cutting edges delimit the top surfaces of the insert at the edge, each cutting edge extending in a curve.
US08834069B1

A buoyancy compensation apparatus for underwater use by a SCUBA diver, includes a pressurized air source, a buoyancy vest including air chambers and a pressure regulating unit. The pressure regulating unit includes a chamber in communication with the vest air chambers and the pressurized air source. The pressure regulating unit also includes a normally closed air injection valve and a normally closed relief valve. The wall of the pressure regulating unit chamber includes a flexible portion that flexes inwardly when outside water pressure exceeds the pressure in the vest air chambers, which, in turn, opens the air injection valve. The relief valve opens when air pressure in the vest air chambers exceeds outside water pressure. The air injection and relief valves respond faster than the walls of the buoyancy vest air chambers so that the volume of the vest air chambers remain generally constant even as the diver changes depth.
US08834068B2

A device includes a digging device to cut the seafloor and with a device for hooking onto a pipeline and for sliding over the same. The device includes at least one float device constrainable to the pipeline for supporting it in span, connected to the back of said digging device with respect to the direction of the movement. The method includes excavating the seafloor by a digging device, collecting a float device from a storage base and transporting it to said pipeline, constraining the first float device to the pipeline behind the digging device and connecting the first float device to the digging device, when at least one portion of pipeline is in a suspended configuration, and when the portion of suspended pipeline increases, collecting a subsequent float device and constraining it to the pipeline and connecting the same to the float device previously constrained.
US08834066B2

A retention basin includes interlocking concrete vertical wall segments engaged with adjacent segments. Each segment has a vertical wall and a top edge that defines a lifting bore that is complimentary in shape to a removable lifting bolt that is configured to provide a lifting attachment point for a lifting cable and an internal bore in alignment with the internal bore of an adjacent segment. A pin is disposed in the internal bores to maintain the segments in alignment. An eyebolt includes an eye portion disposed around the pin. A plate is bolted to the eyebolt and against the vertical walls of two adjacent segments to maintain the two segments in a spatial relationship. An earth anchor is buried in the soil to provide lateral support to the segments. A post-installation attachment is affixed to the lifting bore of at least one segment.
US08834052B2

A lip gloss case for guiding an applying tip into an entry of a main body, includes: a main body accommodating cosmetics; an applying tip inserted into an entry of the main body to apply the cosmetics to user's skin; a first magnetic material provided in the applying tip; and a second magnetic material provided on the entry of the main body and attracting the first magnetic material in the applying tip to guide the first magnetic material into the entry of the main body. By doing so, due to the attractive force between the first magnetic material and the second magnetic material which are respectively provided in the applying tip and on the entry of the main body, an eye handicapped person or the old suffering from eyesight or tremor of the hand may easily insert the applying tip into the entry of the main body.
US08834050B2

The present invention refers to a system for docking and undocking packages for cosmetics, capable of offering a simplified and efficient fitting and detaching mechanism for the packages The system comprises a first package and a second package for cosmetics, the first and second packages being respectively comprised by a first and second bottle, the first and second bottles being respectively associated with a first cap and a second cap, the first package for cosmetics being docked to the second package for cosmetics upon a compression movement, and concomitantly, upon the cooperation between a first cap projection and a second cap projection respectively arranged on the first and second caps, the first package for cosmetics being undocked from the second package for cosmetics upon a traction movement substantially contrary to the compression movement, the first cap projection having a geometry which is identical to the second cap projection.
US08834047B2

A label printing apparatus, comprising a cassette-receiving bay adapted to receive a cassette, said cassette-receiving bay having a base, an opening opposite the base, and side walls extending between the base and the opening; a cassette locking mechanism comprising at least one locking element having a locking position for engagement with a cassette inserted into said cassette-receiving bay; and cassette detection means operable to determine whether said at least one locking element is engaged with a cassette inserted into the cassette-receiving bay.
US08834046B2

A credential printing device is provided. The credential printing device includes a credential substrate transport, a transfer ribbon and a transfer roller. The credential substrate transport is configured to feed a credential substrate along a processing path. The transfer ribbon is adjacent to the processing path. The transfer roller is positioned below the processing path and is configured to transfer an image from the transfer ribbon to a bottom surface of the credential substrate in the processing path.
US08834039B1

An adhesive void mitigating fiber ferrule optical connector includes a housing for an optical fiber, the housing including opposite front and rear openings and an elongate bore providing an interior surface and extending between the opposite front and rear openings for insertably receiving the optical fiber from the rear opening through the front opening, the housing also including a front adhesive fill-port in communication with the elongate bore nearer the front opening for providing adhesive substantially void-free in the elongate bore and for surroundably securing the optical fiber extending therein to the interior surface.
US08834038B2

A fiber optic connector arranged to be releasably connected to a fiber optic adaptor. The fiber optic connector includes a body configured to receive and terminate two optical fibers, and a latch mechanism provided on the body. The latch mechanism is configured for releasable engagement with each of two sockets of the fiber optic adaptor. The latch mechanism of the fiber optic connector is configured for actuation in a direction laterally across the body.
US08834037B2

A hermaphroditic connector assembly for fiber optic cables includes a base portion defining at least one passage for receiving at least one optical fiber. The connector further includes an insert cap that selectively connects to and disconnects from the base portion to receive the optical fiber. The insert cap defines a first face and a tower extending substantially perpendicularly adjacent the first face. The tower defines a cavity therein. A first ferrule is supported by and extends through the first face of the insert cap. A second ferrule is supported by and extends through the tower, and the second ferrule is within the cavity defined by the tower. The first and second ferrules define sets of socket and pin termini within the hermaphroditic connector assembly. An electrical pin terminus extends through the first face, and an electrical socket terminus extends into the tower.
US08834030B2

A bush bearing includes a bearing body having an inner peripheral surface which is brought into contact with a cylindrical outer peripheral surface of a rotating shaft portion so as to be rotatable in a first direction, a groove provided on an outer peripheral surface of the bearing body so as to extend in the first direction, and an elastic ring fitted on said groove and having a pair of projecting portions and a portion, the pair of projecting portions partially projecting radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of said bearing body in second direction, the portion being provided at positions in the first direction between the pair of projecting portions, and not projecting radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the bearing body.
US08834023B1

A bag opening device that includes a strip having a distal end and a proximal end, the distal end insertible through a central slit disposed in a lock, said lock disposed on the proximal end, which lock has a locking tab to releasably engage with a plurality of slots disposed along the length of the strip, whereby the strip forms a rigid circumference securable to a particular bag opening by means of a clip and a plurality of securing ties, said bag thereby held open to more easily dispose of items therein.
US08834010B2

An appliance for rapidly vibrating test tubes containing samples to be ground up, the appliance comprising an electric motor (12) for driving rotation of a disk (16) that is provided with an eccentric pin (17), the appliance being characterized in that the test tubes (23) are perpendicular to the eccentric pin and are held by a clamp (21) mounted on a support (20) that is substantially parallel to the eccentric pin, being connected to a fixed baseplate via a Cardan type hinge (15) having two mutually perpendicular axes of rotation (X and Y), one of which axes (Y) is substantially parallel to the eccentric pin (17) and connects the support (20) to the other axis (X) of the hinge (15) that prevents the support (20) from moving in rotation about a perpendicular axis (Z). The support (20) is connected to the eccentric pin (17) by a link (19).
US08834004B2

Extended area lighting devices include a light guide and diffractive surface features on a major surface of the light guide, at least some diffractive surface features adapted to couple guided-mode light out of the light guide. The diffractive features include first and second diffractive features disposed on respective first and second portions of the major surface. A patterned light transmissive layer, including a second light transmissive medium, optically contacts the second diffractive features but not the first diffractive features. A first light transmissive medium optically contacts the first but not the second diffractive features. The first and second portions may define indicia, and the first and second diffractive features provide low distortion for viewing objects through the light guide such that the indicia is not readily apparent to users when guided-mode light does not propagate within the light guide. Optical films having such diffractive features are also disclosed.
US08834002B2

The present invention provides a backlight module, which includes a backplane, a light guide plate arranged inside the backplane, a light bar arranged at one side of the light guide plate, a side reflector plate arranged at one side of the light guide plate that is distant from the light bar, and four corner pieces arranged between the backplane and the light guide plate. The corner pieces are made of a rubber material. The corner pieces have surfaces that face the light guide plate and are of a white color. The side reflector plate is arranged between two of the corner pieces. The side reflector plate has a length that is less than or equal to a distance between the two corner pieces so as to achieve a separate arrangement of the side reflector plate and the corner pieces.
US08834001B2

An edge light backlight device includes a light guide plate having a base portion and microstructures, LEDs, and a reflective plate. The base portion has a light emitting side, a rear side, and a light incident side. The microstructures are formed on one of the light emitting side and the rear side and each of which extends from the light incident side in a longitudinal direction. Each of the microstructures includes a curved surface with a radius of curvature (R). The light guide plate has a thickness (T). R/T ratio ranges from 0.04 to 0.15 and each of the microstructures has a height ranging from 20 μm to 300 μm so that the light guide plate has a performance of local lighting ranging from 1% to 40%.
US08833998B2

A backlight module includes a light emitting unit for emitting light, a light guide plate disposed on a side of a display panel for guiding the light emitted by the light emitting unit to the display panel, a back cover installed outside the light emitting unit and the light guide plate, and a frame combined with the back cover for accommodating the light emitting unit and the light guide plate with the back cover. The frame includes a first side facing a surface of the light guide plate, and a second side opposite to the first side. The backlight module further includes an optical material layer disposed between the second side of the frame and the display panel for misting and focusing the light refracted from the light guide plate so as to provide uniform and bright light to the display panel.
US08833991B2

A light emitting device of the present invention includes: a laser diode group which generates a plurality of laser beams; a cylindrical light emitting element which emits incoherent light in response to the plurality of laser beams; and a light guide irradiation section which (i) guides the plurality of laser beams entered via a light incidence plane toward a light irradiation plane and (ii) irradiates the light irradiation area of the cylindrical light emitting element with the plurality of laser beams thus guided. The light irradiation plane of the light guide irradiation section has an area which is smaller than that of the light incidence plane.
US08833989B2

A vehicle glazing comprising a pane of glazing material having an exposed surface and a light emitting diode device a) other than an auxiliary stop lamp adhesively attached to the exposed surface of the pane of glazing material, or b) in the form of an auxiliary stop lamp adhesively attached to the exposed surface of the pane of glazing material, the lamp comprising a substrate having a functional surface on which a plurality of light emitting diodes is provided, and which is provided with a layer of transparent encapsulant to cover the light emitting diodes is disclosed. A process for the production of such a vehicle glazing comprising applying adhesive to a surface of the vehicle glazing, positioning the light emitting diode device with respect to the pane of glazing material and activating the adhesive is also disclosed.
US08833988B2

A convenience light for the rear storage area of a motor vehicle also serves as a breakdown warning light. A light source on an underside of the storage compartment lid is a warning light visible from behind the when the compartment lid is open. A reflective panel is disposed on a lid-receiving portion of the vehicle body to reflect light from the light source toward the lid when the lid is open, so that the light and reflective panel combine to serve as a convenience light for the storage area. The light is detachably attached to the compartment lid and has a battery to power the light when detached from the compartment lid. The light source has three lighted segments foldable relative to one another when detached from the compartment lid to form a triangle. The light is thus usable as a warning triangle for a disable vehicle.
US08833986B2

A lighting assembly for illuminating a work area, such as the area underneath the hood of a vehicle or the area underneath the body of a vehicle. The lighting assembly has a light, support rod having an adjustable length and two clasping members, the two clasping members being able to attach the lighting assembly to the hood or body of a vehicle.
US08833982B2

In accordance with a first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, a lighting device includes light-emitting elements arranged in lines that are extended in parallel with one another, the light-emitting elements being divided into groups each including the same number of light-emitting elements, a first connecting electrode is disposed adjacent to one end portion of the lines extended, a second connecting electrode is disposed adjacent to another end portion of the lines extended, and the light-emitting elements within each group are electrically connected in series with one another by metallic wires and electrically connected in series to the first connecting electrode and to the second connecting electrode. The groups each include the same number of light-emitting elements that are electrically connected in parallel between the first connecting electrode and the second connecting electrode.
US08833980B2

A high-efficiency LED lamp is disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention provide a high-efficiency, high output solid-state lamp. The lamp includes an LED assembly, and an optical element or diffuser disposed to receive light from the LED assembly. The optical element includes a primary exit surface for the light, wherein the primary exit surface is at least about 1.5 inches from the LED assembly. In example embodiments, the optical element is roughly cylindrical in shape. An LED lamp according to some embodiments of the invention has an efficiency of at least 150 lumens per watt. In some embodiments, the lamp has a light output of at least 1200 lumens. In some embodiments, the LED lamp produces light with a color rendering index (CRI) of at least 90 and a correlated color temperature of from 2800 to 3000 K.
US08833977B2

A lighting apparatus is disclosed. The lighting apparatus may be an omni-directional LED light source. The lighting apparatus may include a heat sink and at least one LED module provided on the heat sink. The LED module may be mounted on a mounting block that protrudes a prescribed height over the heat sink. A first reflector may be provided over the heat sink and below the LED module, and a second reflector may be provided over the LED module. An upper surface of the first reflector may be sloped at a first prescribed angle with respect to a central vertical axis of the heat sink, and a bottom surface of the second reflector may be sloped at a second prescribed angle with respect to the central vertical axis of the heat sink. The first and second reflectors reflect light emitted from the LEDs to produce omni-directional light patterns.
US08833976B2

A LED lighting device comprises a lampshade, a thin aluminum heat dissipating plate, and a LED lighting component. The lampshade has an opening portion. The thin aluminum heat dissipating plate is provided with a supporting member perpendicular to the thin aluminum heat dissipating plate at a lower side portion or an upper side portion of the thin aluminum heat dissipating plate and being surrounded and covered by the lampshade. The LED lighting component includes a circuit board and a LED element provided on the circuit board to form a light emitting surface, the circuit board of the LED lighting component connected with the thin aluminum heat dissipating plate, the light emitting surface of the LED lighting component being faced toward the opening portion of the lampshade. Thus, a color changeable LED lighting device is provided.
US08833961B2

A multi-purpose illumination device includes a lamp-holder body and a portable lighting device detachably installed in the lamp-holder body. The lamp-holder body has a partially transparent cover and a power converter. The power converter converts a utility power into a DC power. The portable lighting device has a housing, a charging circuit, a battery unit, a push-button unit, an LED driving circuit, an LED unit, and a controller. The controller is coupled to the push-button unit, the charging circuit, a detection mechanism, and the LED driving circuit for detecting a button pressing state of the push-button unit, whether there is utility power, and whether the portable lighting device is installed in the lamp-holder body to control the LED driving circuit to drive the LED unit to light. The portable lighting device can also be used as a backup power.
US08833947B2

A display apparatus includes a variable aperture stop device, a control circuit and a user interface. The variable aperture stop device is operable to adjust the lens opening size by opening and closing an aperture. The control circuit is operable to control the opening and closing of the aperture based on an aperture ratio for the brightness distribution of an input signal constituting a screen. The user interface permits to set times necessary for the opening and closing of the aperture. The control circuit controls the opening and closing of the aperture based on times set via the user interface so that the response to the opening and closing of the aperture differs between when the signal changes from dark to light levels and when the level changes from light to dark levels.
US08833945B2

The present speckle reduction device comprises an optical element intended to be passed through by the coherent light beam to be treated. It also includes means able to cause heating of the said optical element; and a cooling element coupled to the said optical element so as to be able to cool the latter. A control module is configured to control the heating means and the cooling element so as to create thermal perturbations in the optical element, causing corresponding variations in the refractive index of the said optical element. The optical element is a piezoelectric crystal which is excited in a specific deformation mode causing its heating.
US08833932B2

A recording apparatus, including: a support portion; a recording portion; a first casing; a second casing; a positioning mechanism: a restricting mechanism configured to be selectively placed in one of: a restricted state in which a pivotal movement of the second housing is restricted; and a non-restricted state in which the pivotal movement of the second housing is not restricted, and an interlocking mechanism configured to move one of a guide pin and a guide hole in conjunction with the restricting mechanism, such that the guide pin and the guide hole are selectively placed at one of: an engaged state in which the guide pin and the guide hole engage each other when the restricting mechanism is in the restricted state; and a non-engaged state in which the guide pin and the guide hole do not engage when the restricting mechanism is in the non-restricted state.
US08833931B2

A liquid ejection apparatus is provided. The liquid ejection apparatus includes a first housing, a second housing, covers and a moving mechanism. The first housing is rotatable relative to the second housing about a rotational shaft between a close position and a separate position. The covers are movable relative to heads provided to the first housing between a protection position of covering the heads and a retraction position. When the first housing is moved from the close position toward the separate position, the moving mechanism moves the covers such that an angle formed between the first housing and the second housing when a cover corresponding to the head away from the rotational shaft reaches the protection position is smaller than an angle formed between the first housing and the second housing when a cover corresponding to the head close to the rotational shaft reaches the protection position.
US08833930B2

An electronic apparatus includes a circuit portion having a connector to which an interface cable is connected, a case for accommodating the circuit portion and having a wiring route for the interface cable leading from the connector to an external space and a connection opening for exposing the wiring route, and a cover for opening or closing the connection opening.
US08833928B2

A media substrate for imaging includes a front and back surface defining a thickness. The front receives imaging fluid and absorbs it. The back has scoring lines extending into the thickness that limit curling of the media substrate as the absorbed fluid dries on the front. Patterns and locations of scoring lines as well as their depth into the thickness are noted. Imaging and scoring stations in an imaging device are still other embodiments as are cutting features for scoring.
US08833926B1

Systems and methods are provided for generating flush lines for printers. The system includes a flush line generator able to receive a print job, to determine a drying limit that defines a maximum areal density of ink for the print job that may be dried by a dryer, and to generate a flush line based on the drying limit that does not exceed the drying limit. The system further includes a marking engine able to mark the print job and the flush line onto a web of printable media upstream from the dryer.
US08833922B2

The invention involves application of a clear, low-density after-layer of high gloss ink onto a printed substrate to reduce or eliminate negative printing effects, such as gloss banding. Some embodiments of the invention involve a method of applying colored ink, curing the colored ink, applying a clear ink layer in a pattern, and curing the clear layer.
US08833916B2

An liquid ejecting apparatus includes a head main body which ejects liquid and a flow channel member to which the head main body is fixed, the flow channel member includes a plurality of liquid chambers to which the liquid is supplied, and a filter chamber which communicates with each liquid chamber and in which a filter is provided, the liquid passing through the liquid chamber and the filter chamber is supplied to the head main body, inlets which are opened to the liquid chamber and communicate with each filter chamber, the filter chamber includes a plurality of first filter chambers which are juxtaposed in a first row and a plurality of second filter chambers which are juxtaposed in a second row, the first filter chambers directly communicate with the inlet, and the second filter chambers communicate with the inlet through the communicating flow channel.
US08833914B2

An image recording apparatus includes a liquid chamber, a first path having a flow resistance R, a second path, a recording head configured such that a predetermined operation of the recording head causes liquid to flow to the recording head at a flow rate greater than or equal to a minimum flow rate I, a pressure responsive portion including a membrane configured to move in response to the internal pressure of the second path and configured to move when a pressure differential between inside and outside of the membrane is greater than or equal to a minimum pressure differential ΔP, a detector configured to detect a position of the membrane, and a controller configured to determine presence of the liquid in the liquid chamber based on detection by the detector. The following condition is satisfied: flow resistance R≧(minimum pressure differential ΔP/minimum flow rate I).
US08833911B2

A liquid ejecting head includes: a nozzle plate provided with nozzle openings; an actuator unit including a flow channel formation substrate in which pressure generation chambers are provided and piezoelectric actuators that cause a change in the pressure of the liquid within respective pressure generation chambers; a communication substrate in which communication channels that communicate between the pressure generation chambers and corresponding nozzle openings are provided; a first case member that is a frame member affixed to the communication substrate so that the actuator unit is disposed within the first case member and that, along with the actuator unit, forms a manifold that holds the liquid to be supplied to the pressure generation chambers; and a second case member that is affixed to the first case member and in which is formed an introduction channel that sends the liquid from the exterior to the manifold.
US08833905B2

An ink containing device includes an ink cartridge and an adaptor. The ink cartridge comprises a first main body comprising a chamber configured to store ink, and an ink outlet portion disposed on a first surface of the first main body configured to direct the ink from the chamber to an exterior of the first main body, and an ink detecting portion configured to detect an amount of the ink stored in the ink chamber. The adaptor is configured to attach to the ink cartridge. The adaptor comprises a second main body comprising a second surface, and an electrical interface disposed on the second surface.
US08833904B2

A first registration mark is printed by a first printhead on print media at a first initial encoder value. A second registration mark is printed by a second printhead on print media at a second initial encoder value. The second registration mark is spaced apart from the first registration mark. The first and second registration marks are detected using the mark detection system as each is transported past the mark detection system. The displacement signal is used to measure a displacement of the print media between the detection of the second and first registration marks by the mark detection system. A cue delay value is determined for the second printhead so that a subsequently printed first image plane and a second image plane are registered relative to each other using the displacement, the first initial encoder value, and the second initial encoder value.
US08833900B2

Inkjet printing systems are described that have deflection surfaces to guide a condensation reducing airflow between a printing module and a receiver without disrupting inkjet drop placements.
US08833894B2

A motor control device comprises: a motor control unit; and a signal output unit, wherein the motor control unit controls a motor based on an output signal of the signal output unit, wherein the motor control unit is configured to function as: a first control unit performs a first motor control, in which a current upper limit is estimated based on a rotation speed of the motor and is input to the motor, a second control unit performs a second motor control, in which a second driving current, which is a driving current lower than the first driving current at the end of the first motor control is input, a third control unit performs a third motor control, in which a third driving current to be input to the motor is determined, and a switching unit that sequentially switches the first, second, and third control units.
US08833887B2

A control device includes an execution unit, a determining unit, and a setting unit. The execution unit controls a printing unit to execute a multi-pass printing for a predetermined partial area of printing medium by executing sub scans and a prescribed number of times of main scans. In the main scan, a print head of the printing unit forms dots on the recording medium while being conveyed in a main scanning direction. In the sub-scan, the printing medium is conveyed in a sub-scanning direction. The determining unit determines an acceptable range based on an actual conveyance error in the sub-scanning direction. The setting unit sets the prescribed number to N when a representative value of predetermined partial area falls in the acceptable range, and sets the prescribed number to M being an integer greater than N when the representative value does not fall in the acceptable range.
US08833885B2

An ink jet recording apparatus records an image on a recording material by ejecting a first ink composition through at least one first liquid ejecting nozzle having an open end. The ink jet recording apparatus also includes a platen having a surface on which the recording medium is placed. The surface is away from the open end at a distance PG satisfying the relationship 0.5 mm
US08833880B2

A track-based synchronous interlinking device having a lower track with a knurl pattern; a central track completing slides relative to the lower track; and an external track completing slides relative to the central track and having a knurl pattern. A synchronous interlinking device includes a roller bracket positioned at the central track and a roller featuring flexibility and elasticity, pivoted to the roller bracket, and allowing both sides to resist the lower track's knurl pattern and the external track's knurl pattern. The synchronous interlinking device completes smooth and accurate relative slides based on a synchronous triple-track interlinking operation among the lower track, the central track and the external track.
US08833865B2

Multicolor motor vehicle wheels and vehicle wheel components are increasingly desirable. The coloring has been carried out so far essentially by expensive manual labor. The present invention provides for an industrially applicable method for preparing color-coated vehicle wheel components and vehicle wheels, which is characterized in that the metal body is at first machined at least in areas to be coated, after which at least two layers of paint are applied one after another, and at least one layer of paint is removed by machining in a partial area of the wheel. A component according to the present invention with a surface coating is thus characterized by areas machined with high precision and provided with a coating, wherein said coating has at least two layers of paint applied one on top of another, of which at least a first layer of paint is exposed in visible partial areas of the metal body, by a second layer of paint covering it being mechanically removed in partial areas not covered by it.
US08833862B2

The invention relates to a wheel (1) with a driven wheel body (2), comprising two support elements (21, 22), between which a number of roller bodies (3) with a spherical surface are arrange to rotate, which at least partly extend beyond the circumference of the support elements (21, 22) the rotational axes of which are arranged at an angle to the rotational axis (23) of the wheel body (2). The ratio of the outer diameter (Du) of the wheel (1) to the maximum radius (Ra) of the roller body (3) is between 1.08 and 1.13, in particular, between 1.09 and 1.12.
US08833860B2

A vehicle head restraint assembly has a guide member mounted proximate to a vehicle seat back. A head restraint is mounted to another guide member. A button actuator is mounted to an outboard side of the head restraint for movement of the button actuator in a direction perpendicular to a lateral direction of the head restraint. A locking mechanism cooperates with the first guide member and the second guide member for locking the second guide member relative to the first guide member. The locking mechanism is connected to the button actuator so that actuation of the button actuator disengages the locking mechanism and permits adjustment of the position of the head restraint relative to the vehicle seat back.
US08833856B2

A chair comprises a seat and a backrest support which are mounted on a support member, the backrest support being pivotal about a horizontal pivot axis, and an energy accumulator which is tensioned when the seat is subjected to a load and acts on the backrest support, the energy accumulator engaging the backrest support at an effective distance from the pivot axis.To improve the efficiency of such a mechanism, the energy accumulator is connected on the one side to the support member and one the other side via a transverse connector to the backrest support.With the mechanism the energy accumulator is subject to a load substantially by the rear region of the seat and thus substantially by the complete weight of a person sitting on the seat.In an alternative embodiment the seat comprises an elastic cover which on the one side is clamped in the support member and on the other side is connected to the backrest support, the elastic cover serving as energy accumulator.According to a further alternative the seat comprises a flexible cover which is connected on the one side to the energy accumulator and on the other side to the backrest support.
US08833855B2

The present invention relates to a vehicle seat having a seat part and having at least one backrest part which is pivotable about an axis of rotation relative to the seat part, and having a spring means which is effective between the seat part and the backrest part, wherein the backrest part comprises at least a backrest rear wall, backrest upholstery and a backrest cover. According to the invention, a spring means designed as a torsion spring is in each case arranged completely within the corresponding backrest part, is supported at the first end thereof on the backrest rear wall and acts at the second end thereof opposite the first end on an intermediate piece or on a stop of the intermediate piece, wherein the intermediate piece is arranged on the axis of rotation and is fastened to a bearing in a manner fixed relative to the frame.
US08833850B2

A vehicle seat including a rod installed between left and right side frames of a seat cushion, wherein the rod is provided with a weakened part which is configured to promote the buckling distortion of the rod in a predetermined direction, wherein the weakened part includes first and second weakened portions which respectively weakens a portion of a surface of the rod facing a first direction and a portion of a surface of the rod facing a second direction opposite to the first direction at an end portion of a side of the rod to which an impact load is inputted, so that the rod is configured to be bent in the first direction and the second direction, and wherein the first weakened portion is formed closer to the side to which the impact load is inputted than the second weakened portion.
US08833838B2

A vehicle body front structure includes a pair of left and right front side frames which are installed at a front of a vehicle body, and extend in a fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle body; and a power unit disposed in a driving force transmission chamber between the left and right front side frames. The left and right front side frames include respective branch frames which extend from the left and right front side frames obliquely forward and outward in a vehicle width direction, rear ends of the branch frames penetrate through respective outer walls of the left and right front side frames, and extend along inner surfaces of the left and right front side frames, and a reinforcing member is integrally connected to each of intersection portions of the branch frames and the front side frames.
US08833828B2

A guide wheel device for a guide rail vehicle includes a wheel shaft rotatably supported on a bearing, and a main guide wheel and a branch guide wheel rotatably mounted to upper and lower portions of the wheel shaft, wherein the main guide wheel has a rotation center eccentric to an axis of the wheel shaft, a plurality of fitting body receiving portions are provided in an outer peripheral surface of the wheel shaft so as to be arranged sequentially in a circumferential direction, a fitting body to be fitted into the fitting body receiving portions is provided in the bearing, and fitting adjusting means capable of pressing the fitting body against the fitting body receiving portions toward the wheel shaft or releasing the pressing of the fitting body is provided.
US08833827B2

A tendon-driven robotic gripper is disclosed for performing fingertip and enveloping grasps. One embodiment comprises two fingers, each with two links, and is actuated using a single active tendon. During unobstructed closing, the distal links remain parallel, creating exact fingertip grasps. Conversely, if the proximal links are stopped by contact with an object, the distal links start flexing, creating a stable enveloping grasp. The route of the active tendon and the parameters of the springs providing passive extension forces are optimized in order to achieve this behavior. An additional passive tendon is disclosed that may be used as a constraint preventing the gripper from entering undesirable parts of the joint workspace. A method for optimizing the dimensions of the links in order to achieve enveloping grasps of a large range of objects is disclosed and applied to a set of common household objects.
US08833823B2

A grabber assembly has a base to secure with the refuse collection device. A pair of arms is pivotally coupled with the base. The pair of arms moves between a grasping position and a release position. Belts are coupled with the arms. The belts contact the refuse container in the grasping position. A tensioning device tensions the belts to provide a variable force rate to tension the belts.
US08833822B2

A lifting assembly includes a link member defining a pivot axis and a latch axis. The lifting assembly also includes a latch pin and a jaw member. The jaw member is pivotally coupled to the link member about the pivot axis and selectively fixedly coupled to the link member about the latch axis by the latch pin. The jaw member defines a cam surface. Engaging the cam surface with a load rotates a portion of the jaw member into alignment with the latch axis, such that the latch pin may be received by the jaw member and the link member.
US08833817B2

An animal waste scooper has a flexible extension adapted to be reversibly coiled such that when it is uncoiled, a trigger operated jaws/scooping portion of the device is employed to pick up waste. The flexible scooper device includes a handle with a trigger, a flexible, preferably corrugated extension assembly and a pair of jaws. Other embodiments are directed to a reversibly flexible, bendable hand operated device for grasping a golf ball from the ground from a standing position.
US08833813B2

A handle device includes a handle part which is operatively connected to a locking device and movably mounted in relation to a door of a vehicle. The handle part at least partially extends through an opening of the door and can be displaced between a rest position and an operational position. The handle device further includes a cover arrangement fastened to the handle part with respect to an outer side of the door.
US08833811B2

A trunk locking system provided with an emergency trunk release handle inside a trunk, a locking mechanism of the trunk locking system being unlocked by operating the emergency trunk release handle, wherein the emergency trunk release handle includes a handle body made of a luminous resin material containing a luminous material, and a locking-mechanism interconnecting member made of a non-luminous resin material. One of the handle body and the locking-mechanism interconnecting member is molded with the other of the handle body and the locking-mechanism interconnecting member to be joined thereto with at least a part of the other of the handle body and the locking-mechanism interconnecting member embedded in the one of the handle body and the locking-mechanism interconnecting member.
US08833797B2

To obtain an automobile ceiling material provisional placement structure and an automobile ceiling material installation method in which it is not necessary to set dedicated receiving portions for provisionally placing a ceiling material and with which the degree of freedom of setting positions of receiving portions can be improved. In an automobile ceiling material provisional placement structure, receiving portions for provisionally placing a roof headlining are disposed on existing resin covers covering curtain airbags, so it is not necessary to dispose dedicated receiving portions. Therefore, an increase in cost can be suppressed. Moreover, resin covers are formed in long shapes along roof side rails, so the degree of freedom of the setting positions of the receiving portions disposed on the resin covers can be improved. Therefore, workability when installing the roof headlining in a vehicle body can be improved.
US08833779B1

A torsion axle assembly for a rear suspension of a vehicle is provided. The torsion axle assembly includes a torsion axle cross beam, a first trailing arm, a second trailing arm, and a connection node component. The torsion axle cross beam has a first end and a second end. Each of the first trailing arm and the second trailing arm has a first end coupled with the vehicle frame and a second end configured to support a rear wheel of the vehicle. The connection node component is formed as a single unitary piece and is configured to couple the torsion axle cross beam, one of the first and second trailing arms, and a rear wheel hub.
US08833777B2

The combination scooter and messenger bag is an article-carrying device that can be converted into a wheeled land vehicle. When used as an article carrying device, the invention resembles a conventional messenger bag with a single strap. This is known as “carrying mode.” When used as a wheeled land vehicle, the invention resembles a kick scooter. This is known as “riding mode.” The invention employs a mechanism that quickly and easily converts the combination scooter and messenger bag from “carrying mode” to “riding mode” and vice versa. Raising the handlebar shifts the messenger bag from on top of the footboard to the side of the footboard. Lowering the handlebar shifts the messenger bag in the apposite direction. In this way, the scooter footboard is largely hidden from view in “carrying mode” and exposed for a user to stand upon in “riding mode.”
US08833775B2

An electronic control suspension (ECS) system for vehicles is provided. The ECS system includes a strut assembly which is coupled to a vehicle body, and a lower portion of which is inserted through the housing so as to absorb the rocking from the wheel. A vehicle-height control module converts a rotating force of a motor to a linear motion of the strut assembly when the rotating force of the motor is provided to a screw section thereof surrounding the stmt assembly. This allows the strut assembly to be vertically moved relative to the housing, thereby controlling the height of a vehicle.
US08833773B2

A workholding apparatus comprising a chuck body, first jaw members and second jaw members wherein the second jaw members are shaped to grip a workpiece of a particular geometry. The first and second jaw members are constructed to enable easy, quick and manual replacement of the second jaw members with other second jaw members having different grip shapes so as to enable gripping of workpieces with different geometries.
US08833771B2

A gasket assembly and method of construction is provided. The assembly includes a carrier body having opposite planar surfaces with at least one media-conveying opening extending through the planar surfaces with at least one through opening spaced radially from the at least one media-conveying opening. Further, the carrier body has at least one projection formed of the material of the carrier body. The at least one projection extends from the at least one through opening outwardly from at least one of the planar surfaces. The assembly further includes an elastomeric material encapsulating the projection.
US08833769B1

A portable gaming top which can serve as a vehicle sunshade, with multiple accessory attachments, which may be folded onto itself to facilitate portability, enabling the playing of multiple card and board games anywhere there is a flat surface. The game table top is designed to be used as a smooth table covering or play surface for various games, including card games where a smooth surface is ideal being able to deal cards; board games where convenience of storage and ability to move game pieces on a smooth surface is ideal. The game table top is designed to be twisted and folded upon itself into a smaller form factor to enable convenient storage and transport. The game table top also includes fasteners such as hook-and-loop fasteners or straps to be used to attach additional features. The game table includes a carrying case with pockets to hold additional accessories.
US08833767B2

A document storage device includes a document storage rack, a document distributing apparatus, and a transmitting roller. The document storage rack defines a first storage space and a second storage space. A first protecting door is mounted on the document storage rack to close and lock the first storage space. The second storage space is readily accessible. The document distributing apparatus includes a controlling pole and a first distributing roller connected to the controlling pole. The transmitting roller transmits a document to the first distributing roller. The controlling pole moves the first distributing roller between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the first distributing roller transmits the document into the first storage space. In the second position, the first distributing roller transmits the document into the second storage space.
US08833765B2

A paper sheet conveying apparatus includes: a conveying path in which a paper sheet is conveyed; a plurality of conveying rollers; a plurality of driving motors; an out-of-step detection portion; a stop control portion; and a driving restart control portion. The plurality of conveying rollers are disposed along the conveying path. The plurality of driving motors rotates the conveying rollers. The out-of-step detection portion detects an out-of-step in each of the driving motors. The stop control portion stops each of the driving motors when an out-of-step is detected. The driving restart control portion drives, after each of the driving motors is stopped, a first driving motor in which an out-of-step has occurred, and a second driving motor in which no out-of-step occurs, under a driving start condition that an amount of rotation of the second driving motor is less than an amount of rotation of the first driving motor.
US08833764B2

A sheet feeding machine comprises a housing 1, a feed section for feeding a plurality of sheets 40 in a feed direction 11, and a detecting section 3 having detector 30, 31 for detecting information 41, 42 printed on the sheet 40. The detecting section 3 comprises a support frame 32 for supporting the detector 30, 31, a guide rail 33 mounted on the support frame 32 and extending for guiding the detector 30, 31, and a guide mechanism 35 arranged between the housing 1 and the support frame 32 for guiding the support frame 32. The support frame 32 can be accommodated in the housing 1 when detecting the information 41, 42 of the sheet 40. The support frame 32 can be drawn out of the housing 1 when moving the detector 30, 31 along the guide rail 33.
US08833757B1

A method of using a separator roll positioner and separator roll rotational speed to correct media feed errors by angularly rotating a separator roll between a retracted position and an extended position to adjust the height of the separator roll with respect to a media contact surface or by varying separator roll rotational speed thereby varying the media sheet separation force.
US08833750B2

A device and a method for folding a print substrate web is disclosed. The device has devices for quarter folding and for cross-cutting the print substrate web for severing individual products as well as devices for cross folding. As viewed in the transport direction of the products, an arrangement for dividing the product stream is provided after a second quarter folding device, the arrangement conveying the successive products to a first and a second conveyor belt in an alternating manner.
US08833744B2

A condenser includes a high pressure side condenser, a high pressure side cooling tube bank, a high pressure side hot well, a low pressure side condenser, a low pressure side cooling tube bank, a pressure shroud provided inside the low pressure side condenser, a low pressure side hot well, high pressure steam introducing portion, low pressure side condensate introducing portion, a flash box which communicates with at least one of the high pressure side hot well and the low pressure side hot well, flashes a heater drain from a feed water heater, and urges at least one of the high pressure side hot well and the low pressure side hot well to recover the flashed heater drain, and a flash steam path which introduces flash steam generated inside the flash box into at least one of the high pressure side hot well and the low pressure side hot well.
US08833743B2

A multi-disc air diffuser according to the present invention comprises a bolt having a vent groove formed in a longitudinal direction thereof; a plurality of discs, each of the discs having a bolt joint section to be passed through the bolt, an air room for holding the air supplied through the vent groove, and a nozzle section having a plurality of nozzles which are arranged in an end part of the air room at a regular size and intervals, wherein the lower surface of each of the discs is more than the upper surface thereof and the outer circumference surface of each of the discs is formed to be inclined; and a backflow prevention section for joining to an end part of the bolt to adhere closely the discs to one another, connecting the vent groove to an air supply pipe, and having a check valve to prevent the air flowing backward from the vent groove to the air supply pipe.
US08833738B2

A desalination system in the form of a submerged gas evaporator that includes a vessel, a gas delivery tube partially disposed within the vessel to deliver a gas into the vessel and a fluid inlet that provides a fluid to the vessel at a rate sufficient to maintain a controlled constant level of fluid within the vessel. During operation, gas introduced through the tube mixes with the fluid and the combined gas and fluid flow at a high rate with a high degree of turbulence, thereby promoting vigorous mixing and intimate contact between the gas and the fluid, which leads to a more efficient and complete evaporation. Additionally, vapor exiting the submerged gas evaporator is condensed in a condensing unit thus precipitating vapor into a liquid for removal.
US08833723B2

An apparatus for transporting equipment and a method for the manufacture of the apparatus are disclosed. A damping assembly configured to dampen movement of a first item relative to a second item may include an arm and a shock absorber. The arm may be configured to be located between the first item and the second item and may be configured to pivotally couple to the first item and configured to slidably couple to the second item. The shock absorber may be configured to couple between the first item and the arm, such that the shock absorber dampens rotation of the arm to dampen movement of the first item relative to the second item.
US08833718B2

Disclosed is a sprinkler mounting device having a mounting bracket that includes a tightening member mounted on the front of a bracket body for opening and closing an open portion by a lever, so that the tightening member can firmly hold a reducer, to which a head is joined, once a worker shifts the lever back after inserting the reducer into the bracket body.
US08833717B1

An hanger apparatus including one or more extension elements with each extension element including a top portion and a bottom portion with the top portion having at least one flexible connector connection with the top portion also in communication with the bottom portion and the bottom portion including apertures for connecting a pool pole-head attachment, with the apparatus additionally including a flexible connector connecting to the at least one flexible connector connection of the top portion.
US08833716B2

A tablet mounting system for mounting a tablet. A tablet mounting system with an interface for attaching the mounted tablet to a support object. A tablet mounting system with edge retaining members to retain the tablet.
US08833708B2

A support structure for providing internal vertical support within an underground water storage system, including a column member, a foot spreader module adapted for fitting to a lower end of the column member to support the column member in a substantially vertical orientation on an underlying surface, and a head spreader module adapted for fitting to an upper end of the column member to support an overlying surface relative to said underlying surface, whereby the column member with said foot and head spreader modules fitted thereto forms a column support for supporting a ground surface above the water storage system.
US08833699B2

A vehicle has a passenger section, a control section and a door positioned between the passenger section and the control section. The door has an indented region on a side of the door facing the control section when the door is in a closed position, where the indented region has a surface. The vehicle also includes a second surface. A locking mechanism has a first locking portion, a second locking portion and a connecting portion connecting the first locking portion and the second locking portion. The locking mechanism locks the door in the closed position when the first locking portion engages the surface of the indented region and the second locking portion engages the second surface.
US08833696B1

A balloon is provided having an envelope, and a payload positioned beneath the envelope, wherein the envelope has an exterior shape adapted for directing sunlight towards the payload. The balloon may further include a control system configured to cause the balloon or payload to rotate to cause a first portion of the balloon envelope or a first portion of the payload to be positioned facing the sun. The first portion of the balloon envelope may be asymmetrical with respect to a second portion of the balloon envelope, with the first portion angled to direct sunlight towards the payload. The balloon envelope may include a transmissive or translucent surface adapted to direct sunlight towards a lower portion of the envelope, which in turn is adapted to direct sunlight onto the payload. The balloon may also be lens-shaped to focus sunlight onto the payload.
US08833693B2

The invention relates to a device for selectively transmitting force, the device comprising a first element and a second element that is movably mounted on the first element, a friction member being arranged between the first element and the second element to exert a friction force between them, which force presents a maximum value that depends on prestress imparted by a presser member. The device includes control means for varying the prestress imparted by the presser member to the friction member and arranged, where appropriate, to substantially release the prestress imparted by the presser member so that the prestress becomes substantially zero.
US08833689B1

An apparatus for use with a fishing rod and reel is provided, which allows ease of use by a person who has the ability to effectively use only one arm and/or hand. The reel has a reel foot and crankshaft, and the rod has a rod seat. The apparatus includes a mounting body having a mounting body foot securely but removably receivable by the rod seat, and also having a mounting body seat in which the reel foot is securely but removably receivable. The apparatus further comprises an electric motor having a drive shaft, a motor mounting means for fixedly but removably mounting the motor to the mounting body, and a linkage mechanism for mechanically linking the drive shaft of the motor to the crankshaft of the reel.
US08833687B2

A grinding assembly for the comminution of material that enhances the durability of the side edges of both a grinding roll and a flange roll. Both the grinding roll and the flange roll include a wear ring that is received within a side groove formed at each end of a cylindrical roll body. The wear ring includes a series of spaced receiving cavities that each receive a wear member. Each wear member includes a radially outer surface and an axial end face to enhance the durability of the edge of the roll body. The edge ring is retained on the roll body by a series of connectors that pass through the edge ring. In the flange roll design, a flange ring is attached to the roll body by a series of connectors that also secure the edge ring to the roll body.
US08833686B2

A roller mill for comminuting brittle grinding stock comprises at least one grinding roller constructed as a loose roller and rotatable about an axis and interacting with a counter-surface such that grinding stock is comminuted between the grinding roller and counter-surface. Horizontally slidable bearing blocks bear the grinding roller and are guided in a frame rotatably about a vertical bearing axis. A pressing device applies an adjustable grinding pressure to the grinding roller via the bearing blocks. At least two resilient compensation elements are associated with each bearing block in order to compensate a skewed position and/or deflection of the grinding roller. The compensation elements are arranged between the frame and the bearing blocks, and, in the plan view of the roller mill, are arranged tangentially to a circle around the vertical bearing axis or constructed in a circular arc around the vertical bearing axis.
US08833680B2

A plugged nozzle monitoring system uses a thermal flow sensor located within a spray nozzle of an agricultural sprayer. The thermal flow sensor is free of moving parts and is made of corrosion-resistant materials. The thermal flow sensor is placed within the fluid flow path through the nozzle and activates an alarm if flow through the nozzle falls below the baseline value.
US08833677B2

The invention discloses a sport-type multifunctional spray mineral water bottle, including cap body, spray means, drink means and water locking means. The invention can ensure normal drinking of mineral water as well as carry out spray drinking of water by means of squeezing the bottle body to transform bottle body and increase the pressure inside the bottle, thus making water to enter inlet from the outlet of water locking means on the cap, and to enter the atomizing channel through the water channel, finally to be sprayed from the spray aperture. Furthermore, in the open air or in the dusty and hot environment, you can place the mineral water bottle upside down, put the nozzle to face your body or surrounding, and squeeze the bottle body to spray, thus reducing surrounding temperature, as well as subsiding dust by combining dust and spray to make you feel cool, fresh and comfortable.
US08833676B2

A rotary spray device includes a seat body having an entrance and a spray head body in which a fluid passage is provided. The rotary spray device further includes at least one impeller. The entrance communicates with the fluid passage by a fluid chamber. The impeller is located within the fluid chamber and is rotated with the spray head body. The spray head body is rotatably connected with the seat body. Preferably, the spray head body has eccentric spray nozzles, and the minimal distance is not zero between the center lines of the eccentric spray nozzles and the rotation center line of the spray head body, and the center lines do not parallel the rotation center line. The rotation center line of spray head body is an axis about which the spray head body rotates relative to the seat body. The spray device according to the present invention rotates the spray head body by the drive of the fluid energy, to perform a pressure pray, and may also spray leak liquid through the rotation clearance. It has a simple, compact structure, and may achieve a good effect.
US08833674B2

An adjustable sprinkler includes a base and a mobile tube. The base has a vertical water way and a transverse axle tube linked to an upper end of the vertical water way. The transverse axle tube has at least one water outlet. An axial water way and a water outlet are formed to an end of the mobile tube, a transverse axle hole connected the water way is formed to the end also. The transverse axle tube can be received by the transverse axle hole. An inner wall of the transverse axle hole has the same quantity of protrusion with the water outlets of the transverse axle tube. The protrusions will be rotated to cover the water outlets. Another end of the mobile tube has an extension portion bent downwards.
US08833673B2

A straw for dispensing fluids includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end, an outer surface, and at least one aperture extending from the first end to the second end defining an inner surface. The aperture has a non-circular cross-sectional shape, such as an oval, an ellipse, a tear drop, and the like. The straw is made of a durable, non-toxic material, such as thermoplastic material that is suitable to withstand a temperature of the fluid of up to 212 degrees Fahrenheit, while preventing toxin release related to common cold beverage straws when immersed in hot beverages.
US08833671B2

Railway rail fastening apparatus, for suspending a railway rail at discrete locations along its length above a rail foundation, comprises two rail suspending assemblies located when in use one on each side of the rail. Each assembly comprises an elastic member for supporting the head of the rail on one side thereof and a bracket for applying a lateral clamping force to the elastic member. The rail suspending assembly on one side of the rail is located such that the center line of the assembly is offset with respect to that of the rail suspending assembly on the other side of the rail by x mm along the longitudinal axis of the rail, where x is 50≧x>0 mm.
US08833668B2

In various embodiments, a chip card contact array arrangement is provided, having a carrier, a plurality of contact arrays which are arranged on a first side of the carrier, an electrically conductive structure which is arranged on a second side of the carrier, which is arranged opposite the first side of the carrier, a first plated-through hole and a second plated-through hole, wherein the first plated-through hole is coupled to the electrically conductive structure, a connecting structure which is arranged on the first side of the carrier, wherein the connecting structure connects the first plated-through hole to the second plated-through hole, the connecting structure having a longitudinal extent which runs parallel to a direction in which a contact-connection device on a reading device is moved relative to the plurality of contacts.
US08833664B2

The present invention is directed to a selectively accessible enhanced radio-frequency identification (RFID) device, that is enhanced performance and security by being selectively responsive to predetermined electromagnetic interrogation thereof, that comprises an enhanced component for enabling a user to adjust and/or increase readable distances and selectively enable or disable interrogatory access to the enhanced RFID device, to protect from unauthorized interrogation thereof. The inventive enhanced RFID device comprises an antenna, a microchip and at least one enhanced component. The enhanced component may use “Electromagnetic Induction” to the antenna to increase performance (increase readable distances) and “Electromagnetic Shield”, to cover the antenna (for turn Off the RFID device). Therefore, the enhanced RFID device of the present invention provides an inventively user controllable, two functions in one of enhanced component, for enhanced performance and greater level of data security advantageously balanced with convenience.
US08833658B2

An improved document or ID card scanner for imaging documents and decoding coded indicia such as bar codes and magnetic strips is disclosed. The scanner incorporates an internal motor and automatic multi-pass scanning function to quickly and accurately capture all data on a document. During these passes the document is imaged under a number of different lighting conditions and a magnetic strip is read multiple times. The document scanner can perform scans as the document moves in forward and reverse directions; and each scan occurs at a speed optimized to the particular scanning method and direction of the current pass. During the multiple passes, the document is scanned and or read at varying speeds for reliability and for different purposes as detailed herein.
US08833655B2

A method is used to determine an aiming point for a sighting system used by a shooter to shoot a target. The method includes receiving a range signal that corresponds to a distance from the shooter to the target. A first position signal is received from a magnification system sensor. A first magnification setting based at least in part on the first position signal is then determined. Thereafter, a first aiming point based at least in part on both of the range signal and the first magnification setting is determined.
US08833653B2

A system detects a transaction outcome by obtaining video data associated with a transaction area and analyzing the video data to obtain at least one video transaction parameter concerning transactions associated with the transaction area. The transaction area can be a video count of items indicated in the video data as detected by an automated item detection algorithm applied to the video data. The system obtains at least one expected transaction parameter concerning an expected transaction that occurs in the transaction area, such as a scan count of items scanned at a point of sale terminal. The system automatically compares the video transaction parameter(s) to the expected transaction parameter(s) to identify a transaction outcome that may indicate fraudulent activity such as sweethearting in a retail environment.
US08833648B1

Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for prioritizing tasks associated with a group of first users based on number of times the first users have monitored the status of a task. In addition to the general system, systems, methods and computer readable media for task prioritizing, the tasks may be prioritized based on the number of first users associated with a task, the importance of each first user associated with a task, and the way the task was identified.
US08833647B2

A method for licensing a system for obtaining an X-ray image of a subject. The system employs flexible information carrier plates for computed radiography, which are exposed to X-rays and then scanned in a scanner. A license media is provided with a RFID transponder, which stores in its memory identification information referring to the system components as well as information referring to an amount of valid licenses available for use of the system components. When the identification information stored in the memory of the license media RFID transponder matches the identification information transmitted to the scanner by a processing and acquisition station the carrier plates are scanned automatically.
US08833646B1

A card actuated automated banking machine (10) is operative to early out financial transactions responsive to data included on user cards. The banking machine includes a user interface (15) including a display (24). The user interface includes a card reader (16) which is operative to read data on user cards which identify at least one of user and a user's financial accounts. A fascia of the machine includes a keypad (404, 438, 458) through which users input confidential data. Covers (400, 422, 430) prevent unauthorized persons from viewing confidential inputs to the keypad. Authorization signals assure that the display is operating in a manner that provides appropriate user instructions. A visual indicator is operative to indicate to a user that keypad inputs are being encrypted. Alternatively a touch screen display module (608) is operative to securely receive manual inputs and/or card data.
US08833643B1

Disclosed is encoding of probiotic formulations, in order to alert both consumer and producer to counterfeiting and to allow purchasers of authentic product to gain access to quality and quantity testing regarding the product. The purchaser would preferably also provide, along with its identifying information, any product complaints, adverse reaction and positive responses, and consumer interest in and reaction to different formulations and products, as well as demographic, general health and education information, and other information about the purchaser (including any information useful for marketing and future product development and selection).
US08833636B2

A process and apparatus for forming and transferring metal arrays of balls and shapes is described incorporating molds, tape, injection molded metal such as solder, metal reflow and a mask on a substrate for shearing solidified metal of metal arrays into respective openings in the mask.
US08833635B1

Methods of screening a polycrystalline diamond element for suitability for electrical discharge machining (“EDM”). The method includes providing a PCD element including a plurality of bonded diamond grains, determining at least one characteristic of the PCD table correlated to electrical conductivity of the PCD element, and EDM the PCD element if the value of the at least one characteristic correlates to an electrical conductivity above a threshold value.
US08833632B2

A surgical stapling instrument can comprise a jaw configured to receive a staple cartridge, a firing member configured to eject staples from the staple cartridge, and a system for supplying a continuous number of staple cartridges to the jaw. The surgical stapling instrument can further comprise a system for displacing the firing member into a position in which a staple cartridge can be slid relative to the firing member. In at least one such embodiment, the surgical stapling instrument can comprise a shaft and a plurality of staple cartridges positioned within the shaft, wherein the firing member can be dropped downwardly within the shaft such that one or more staple cartridges can be slid by the firing member.
US08833618B2

A sizer for a hanger lacking a hook boss includes a pair of longitudinal walls spaced apart from each other by a pair of end sections. The sizer may include a pair of protrusion, wherein a first is disposed on a first wall of the pair of longitudinal walls and directed toward a second wall of the pair of longitudinal walls. A first jaw is disposed on one of the pair of end section. The pair of longitudinal walls flexes apart when the jaw passes over a flange of the hanger. The first jaw includes a lower portion having a curved edge. The first jaw further includes an upper portion. The lower portion and upper portion meet at an abrupt jaw point.
US08833616B2

A flow control device is provided. The flow control device includes a body including a containing space, a discharge opening fluidly communicating with the containing space, and a pair of side holes configured to be in radial correspondence with each other; a flow control member installed in the containing space and including a pair of engaging portions corresponding to the side holes; an adapter including an adapting part coupled to the body and a hitching part for being coupled to an external container; a washer coupled to the adapting part and inserted into the body for installing the flow control member in the containing space; and a handle including an operational part, and a pair of engaging ends coupled to the operational part and engaged with the engaging portions through the side holes.
US08833609B2

The present invention relates to a self supporting closed beverage container (1) of a paper based material (2) composed of a carton for comprising a low-carbonate beverage, wherein said beverage container comprises: —at least one inner liquid sealant polymeric layer (4) welded to the paper based material; and/or —an inner bag (11) for holding a beverage and which inner bag (11) has a deformable wall part which is compressible, for dispensing beverages from the container upon deformation of the flexible wall part caused by gas pressure produced by pressure means (12); and the beverage container (1) comprises: —at least one beverage delivering tube (5) having at least one flexible section, —at least one beverage outlet opening (6) through which a lower part (7) of said beverage delivering tube (5) extends to the bottom (8) of the inner beverage container (1) and the upper part of the tube extends outwards (9), —at least one gas pressure inlet opening (10); wherein said self supporting closed beverage container (1) can in an empty stage be folded by hand and beverage can be delivered through the beverage delivering tube (5) due to gas pressure fed into the beverage container (1), the tube (5) being connected with the beverage container (1) in a gas and liquid tight manner, so that beverage cannot leak from the beverage outlet opening (6) of the beverage container (1).
US08833608B2

A system and method to facilitate the unloading of bulk materials from containment vessels and transport vehicles, including non-flowing DDGs in such vehicles, is disclosed. The system includes a compressed air system that further includes a motor, an air compressor, and an air reservoir; a hydraulic fluid system that further includes a motor, a hydraulic fluid reservoir, and a pump; a wireless control system; a slew drive; a hydraulically-powered, articulating boom arm that also includes hydraulic cylinders that remain in a plane parallel to the boom arm throughout operation of the system; and a blaster assembly with first and second ends that includes an air reservoir proximate the first end, a mount assembly, a discharge tube assembly, and a discharge tip assembly that includes a shooting valve proximate the second end.
US08833605B2

A product delivery and monitoring system is provided. The system includes at least one air pump, an air pump sensor for each air pump, at least one diaphragm pump, a diaphragm pump sensor for each diaphragm pump, a controller and an indication system. Each air pump sensor is configured and arranged to monitor the operation of the air pump. The at least one diaphragm pump is configured and arranged to deliver a product in response to the operation of an associated air pump. Each diaphragm pump sensor is configured and arranged to monitor the delivery of the product by the diaphragm pump. The controller is in communication with each air pump sensor and each diaphragm pump sensor. The controller is configured to generate at least one control signal based on a comparison of communications from an air pump sensor and an associated diaphragm sensor. The controller is configured to manipulate the indication system with the at least one control signal.
US08833604B2

An apparatus for dispensing solid articles includes a housing and a gate system. The housing defines a dispensing channel and a portal through which articles can flow along a dispensing pathway. The gate system includes a gate member positioned in the dispensing pathway. The gate member is selectively positionable between an open position and a closed position. When the gate member is in the open position, the gate member permits the articles to pass through the portal and, when the gate member is in the closed position, the gate member blocks the articles from passing through the portal. The gate system is configured such that the gate member is passively transitionable between the open and closed positions.
US08833595B2

A package for food products, including a cup (2) adapted to contain a food substance and a sealing member (6) applied to the mouth profile of the cup and in combination a take-up member (12) for taking up the food substance, such as a spatula or the like. The base wall (8) of the cup (2) has a depression (10) wherein the eating member (12) is housed and wherein the package includes a laminar member (14) applied to cover the depression (10) and the eating member (12); preferably, the laminar member (14) has on its face facing toward the eating member (12) a peripheral region (20) having an adhesive, which allows its fastening by adhesion to at least a portion of the wall of the cup (2) adjacent to the depression (10) and an internal non-adhesive region (16) overlying the eating member.
US08833578B1

A bottle assembly is disclosed having a container component and a lid assembly. The lid assembly includes an outer lid and an inner lid that are aligned with each other and with a rim section of the bottle assembly in order to be removed. The bottle assembly advantageously provides that no complex threading, ratcheting mechanism or push tabs are required to provide locking functionality while still providing beneficial child-resistant safety features.
US08833576B2

The re-closable container (1) for fluid products, particularly for medical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, includes: a hollow body (2) for containing a fluid product, which extends to a neck (4) having at least a dispensing mouth (5) for the product, and closing elements (7) for closing the dispensing mouth (5), which include: a flat-plane gripping member (8), from which a shutter pin (9) of the dispensing mouth (5) extends substantially coplanar, an annular collar (12), which is associated with the flat-plane gripping member (8) along at least a pre-established breaking area (13) and which is rigidly associable with the neck (4), and a resting base (17) suitable for allowing the flat-plane gripping member (8) to rest on a supporting surface (18) in a resting configuration in which the shutter pin (9) remains lifted with respect to the supporting surface (18).
US08833571B2

An eyewear display including a plurality of pods. Each pod includes a pair of opposing sidewalls, a back wall, and a front wall to form a proximal opening. The front wall defines a plurality of apertures for receiving eyewear support fixtures. A base wall encloses a distal end of the pod to form a storage space for holding eyewear stock accessible by the proximal opening. A mounting mechanism attaches to the back wall by a hinge and has at least one mounting clip for coupling the pod to the display mounting fixture. Each pod is selectively pivotable away from the display mounting fixture to provide access to the storage space for restocking the eyewear display. Preferably, in a display position, the plurality of pods are arranged so that at least one of the proximal openings is at least partially blocked by an adjacent.
US08833569B2

A lid holder device is disclosed. The lid holder device includes a cupped holding portion that has a bottom collection portion and 4 curved indentures that are positioned to hold and accommodate a pot lid and one or more other kitchen utensils in an upright position to collect and contain condensation and material from the pot lid and the one or more other kitchen utensils and a base is attached and disposed underneath the bottom collection portion of the cupped holding portion to support the cupped holding portion, wherein the cupped holding portion and the base form the lid holder device into one piece.
US08833567B2

A coalescence media for separation of water-hydrocarbon emulsions comprises an emulsion-contacting sheet formed of: (a) at least one component of the group consisting of natural fibers, cellulose fibers, natural-based fibers, and cellulose-based fibers, at least one component of the group consisting of high-surface-area fibrillated fibers, surface-area-enhancing synthetic material, glass microfibers, and nanoceramic functionalized fibers; and (c) at least one component of the group consisting of a dry strength additive, and a wet strength additive, wherein the fibrous components of the media constitute at least about 70% of the media. In preferred embodiments, the coalescence media comprises kraft fibers, fibrillated lyocell fibers, glass microfibers or nanoceramic functionalized fibers, a wet strength additive, and a dry strength additive. Preferably, the coalescence media is formed as a single, self-supporting layer from a wet-laid process using a homogenously distributed, wet-laid furnish. It may also be formed as a multi-layer structure.
US08833560B2

A packing cushion includes a base and a plurality of sidewalls coupled to the base. An inner surface of one of the plurality of sidewalls defines at least one first protruding block. An inner surface of the base defines at least one second and third protruding blocks. Each of the at least one third protruding block protrudes from an end of the at least one second protruding block. The at least one first protruding block contacts with the object to act as a cushion in a first direction. The at least one third protruding block supports the object and is capable of cooperating with the at least one second protruding block to provide a second cushioning in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction for the object.
US08833558B2

The present invention provides a liquid crystal glass panel packaging structure, which includes a package box and a plurality of cushioning members mounted inside the package box. The package box includes a lower case and an upper case mating the lower case. The lower case forms, on side walls thereof, mounting sections corresponding to the cushioning members and also forms a receiving channel below each of the mounting sections to correspond to the cushioning member. The cushioning members each form a mounting slot and projections. The mounting sections are each in the form of an arch bridge having a bridge floor forming mounting holes corresponding to the projections, whereby to set up, the mounting slot is fit to a side of the bridge floor and the projections are fit into the mounting holes to fix the cushioning member inside the lower case.
US08833547B2

The present invention provides a transmission device and transmission method for glass substrate. The transmission device includes a transmission channel and a calibration mechanism; wherein the transmission channel for loading and transmitting, the calibration mechanism being disposed next to the transmission channel and the calibration mechanism comprising: a first positioning pillar, a second positioning pillar and a driver module; the first positioning pillar being disposed on one side of the transmission channel and the second positioning pillar being disposed on the other side of the transmission channel; the driver module driving the first positioning pillar and the second positioning pillar through the conveyor belt to move towards or away from each other so as to calibrate the position of the glass substrate by clamping or releasing the glass substrate during transmission. The present invention can solve the position deviation problem during transmitting glass substrate.
US08833546B2

A web product sorting machine includes a first conveyor unit, a second conveyor unit set adjacent to the first conveyor unit, and a screening unit. A gap is defined between the first conveyor unit and the second conveyor unit. The first conveyor unit is adapted for delivering web products and tail wastes and for enabling web products to be sent to the second conveyor unit. The screening unit is set above the first conveyor unit for screening the web products and the tail wastes to cause each passed tail waste to fall onto the first conveyor unit from a standing position and then to fall out of the first conveyor unit through the gap.
US08833544B2

A conveying device for moving a carrying plate includes a pulling mechanism in the form of a belt. To pull the carrying plate, the belt is contacted against the carrying plate via a magnetic force of at least one permanent magnet. The carrying plate is then entrained by the belt as a result of static friction or sliding friction.
US08833540B2

A pallet changing system which utilizes the moving function itself of a machine head at a machining center for conveying a pallet and a configuration of a machining center equipping the system, combines a machine head 2 for machining a workpiece with a pallet changing unit 1 having a pallet changing arm 11 which can be rotated by a motor 13 and then allowed to move, by which a pallet 3 is conveyed, and the new pallet 3 for changing is changed with the existing pallet 3 gripped by a pallet clamping device 4 by turning the pallet changing arm 11, and a machining center which equips the above system and also machines a workpiece by using the machine head 2.
US08833539B2

A belt conveyor system for creating an overland material transport assembly on a ground surface comprises a frame configured for transportation over the ground surface, a plurality of pivotally connected conveyor belt support sections, a head pulley assembly mounted to the first end of the frame, a tail pulley assembly mounted to one of the conveyor belt support sections, and a conveyor belt. The plurality of pivotally connected conveyor belt support sections are supportable on the frame in a transport configuration wherein the plurality of support sections are accordion-folded relative to one another. The plurality of pivotally connected conveyor belt support sections are movable to a material transport configuration wherein the plurality of support sections are unfolded.
US08833537B2

A medium stocking apparatus includes a housing having an open area, reels on which tapes are wound, a diverting unit for turning backward the tapes, a cylindrical drum on which a medium is wound with the tapes overlaid, and an openable unit for closing and opening an internal space from and to outside. During an operation, a closed state can be retained, and, during a maintenance work, an open state can be achieved, in which the openable unit is rotated in an upward direction for displacing upper tapes. The medium stocking apparatus can thus be offered which allows a maintenance work with high workability without impairing the tapes.
US08833535B2

A constant-force device includes a first ratchet wheel mounted rotatably on a shaft and having first sawtoothed projections, a second ratchet wheel mounted on the shaft so as not to rotate relative to the shaft but to move along the shaft and having second sawtoothed projections opposed to the first sawtoothed projections, an intermediate ratchet wheel mounted on the shaft so as not only to rotate relative to the shaft but also to move along the shaft between the first ratchet wheel and the second ratchet wheel and having a pair of intermediate sawtoothed projections meshing with the first and second sawtoothed projections respectively, a biasing member configured to bias the second ratchet wheel towards the first ratchet wheel, and a lock mechanism configured to set the first and intermediate ratchet wheels in a connected or unconnected state.
US08833528B2

A brake device includes: a damper; an advancing and retreating member; a support section; and wedge members. The support section is provided on an opposite side to the wedge members with respect to the advancing and retreating member, and is capable of supporting the advancing and retreating member on an application side in a drive direction. On one of the support section and the advancing and retreating member, there is provided a raised strip section which extends in a braking direction. On the other of the support section and the advancing and retreating member, there is provided a groove section which restricts movement of the raised strip section towards a release side in the drive direction, and restricts movement of the raised strip section to both sides in a widthwise direction orthogonal to the drive direction and the braking direction.
US08833521B1

The rotatably-engaged tree stand and ladder for access there with includes a pair of track straps that install around an outer surface of an existing tree, and which are generally parallel with one another. A seat and foot base may attach onto the pair of tracks, and are able to roll around the track and tree. A handle strap including a plurality of handles attaches onto an outer surface of an existing tree, and which is positioned above the pair of tracks so as to enable an occupant to manually move the seat and foot base along the track. The seat and foot base enable the occupant to look outwardly with respect to said tree. A ladder extends up from the ground to a height upon said tree, which shall be below the track straps to provide clearance for the seat and foot base.
US08833519B1

A vehicle mounted telescopic boom structure including a stowable jib boom and a stowable extension boom pivotally secured thereto as well as a personnel basket which is secured to the outer end of the extension boom. When the boom structure, jib boom, extension boom and personnel basket are in their stowed position, the personnel basket is stowed on the deck of the vehicle beneath the jib boom and boom structure.
US08833517B2

An apparatus for the emergency lowering of a person from a high-rise building is fastened on the person's back. The apparatus includes an inflatable central toroidal chamber having a membrane for accommodating the person. The chamber is connected on one side to inflatable shafts which, upon inflation, are arranged in a cone, and which are interconnected by inflatable connectors. The chamber is connected on the other side to an inflatable damping structure with a toroidal inflatable chamber connected by inflatable shafts to the central toroidal chamber. The toroidal inflatable chamber of the damping structure has a diameter which is greater than the diameter of the central toroidal chamber and is less than the diameter of the base of the cone formed by shafts straightened out upon inflation. An air-impermeable perforated fabric is stretched between the shafts and toroidal chambers. An independent gas source is connected to one of the toroidal inflatable chambers or to one of the inflatable shafts.
US08833515B2

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a body provided with a honeycomb structure, which body is designed preferably axis-symmetrical, with sheet-metal parts being provided with a wave-like structuring by means of a forming process and formed to ring elements, with the sheet-metal parts being shaped and designed in a substantially identical way as regards their structuring, with adjacent sheet-metal parts being arranged offset to one another and then joined together to form the honeycomb structure.
US08833502B2

A muffler assembly for a vehicle includes a muffler and one of a mount structure and a mount bracket, which is attached to the muffler. Vehicles that include muffler assemblies are also described herein.
US08833492B2

A PDC cutter includes a body formed from a substrate material, an ultrahard layer disposed on the body, and a concave cutting face perpendicular to an axis of the body. A PDC cutter includes a body formed from a substrate material, an ultrahard layer disposed on the body, and a non-planar cutting face perpendicular to an axis of the body, the cutting face including a circumferential concave portion, and an inner protrusion portion.
US08833489B2

The present invention relates to a system for transferring signals through a drill pipe system during drilling of a subsurface well. The drill pipe system comprises a first pipe (1) provided concentric inside a second pipe (2) by means of hanging devices (3, 3a). The first pipe (1) is electrically insulated from the second pipe (2). A first signal transceiver is electrically connected to the top of the drill pipe system. A second signal transceiver is electrically connected along or in the bottom of the drill pipe system. The first and second signal transceivers are electrically connected to the first and second pipes (1, 2) for transferring the signals through the drill pipe system.
US08833485B2

A battery-powered portable tool, such as a chainsaw, hedge trimmer or handheld drill, comprising: a housing (1), a driven element (2) supported by the housing (1), an electric motor (6) coupled to the driven element (2) so as to drive the driven element (2), a battery (5) electrically coupled to the motor (6) so as to supply electric current to the motor (6) and a control circuit (8) arranged to control the supply of electric current to the motor (6) from the battery (5), in which the control circuit (8) comprises a main switch (8) operable by a user and an auxiliary switch (10, 11) also operable by a user; in which the control circuit (8) has: an active state in which operation of the main switch (8) by the user allows electric current to flow to the motor (6) so as to cause the driven element (2) to be driven; and an inactive state in which operation of the main switch (8) does not allow electric current to flow to the motor (6) and so the motor (6) does not drive the driven element (2); in which operation of the auxiliary switch (10, 11) causes the control circuit (8) to change between the active and inactive states; and in which the control circuit is further provided with an indicator (30) arranged to provide an indication to a user whether the control circuit (8) is in the active or inactive mode. The indication may be by the light emitting devices (31, 32) or a speaker (33); user-uploadable sounds may be stored in a memory (34) of the tool to enable a user to customise the sound of their tool.
US08833480B2

A coupler for connecting an implement to a machine includes a first mounting structure configured to attach the coupler to the implement. The first mounting structure includes a first actuator including a first cylinder rod extendable relative to a first cylinder body. The first cylinder rod has a first rod longitudinal axis. The first mounting structure also includes a first wedge attached to the first cylinder rod. The first wedge is movable between a retracted position and an extended position by the first actuator. The first wedge includes a first wedge tip insertable into the implement. The first wedge tip has a first wedge longitudinal axis. The first rod longitudinal axis is offset from the first wedge longitudinal axis to form a first opening extending through the coupler adjacent the first actuator. The coupler also includes a second mounting structure configured to attach the coupler to the machine.
US08833461B2

A subsea wellhead assembly includes a housing with a bore. A hanger is lowered into the housing, the hanger having at least one downward facing load shoulder. An expandable load ring is carried on the hanger. When casing weight is applied to the hanger, the weight energizes the load ring, causing it to expand and thereby increase the contact area between a load shoulder on the load ring and a load shoulder on the housing. The shoulders create a path for the load to be transferred to the housing. The increase in contact area increases the load carrying capacity of the hanger. The load ring expansion is limited to elastic expansion to allow it to return to a retracted position when the casing weight is removed.
US08833453B2

A first conductor is positioned in the substantially horizontal or inclined portion of a first wellbore. The first conductor includes electrically conductive material. A portion of the first conductor positioned in the first wellbore includes copper coupled to the electrically conductive material. The copper tapers from a larger thickness at a first end of the portion to a smaller thickness at a second end of the portion. A power supply coupled to the first conductor electrically excites the electrically conductive materials of the first conductor such that current flows between the electrically conductive materials in the first conductor, through at least a portion of the formation, to a second conductor located in the hydrocarbon containing layer in the formation, and the current resistively heats at least a portion of the formation between the two conductors.
US08833446B2

A centralizer comprises a first collar, a second collar, a plurality of bow springs coupling the first collar to the second collar, and a plurality of particulates disposed on an outer surface of at least one bow spring. One or more of the first collar, the second collar, and the bow springs comprises a composite material. In some embodiments, the centralizer comprises a third collar, wherein the plurality of bow springs comprise a first portion of bow springs and a second portion of bow springs, and wherein the first portion of the bow springs couple the first collar to the third collar and the second portion of the bow springs couple the second collar to the third collar.
US08833441B2

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a cable suspended pumping system. In one embodiment, a method of producing fluid from a reservoir includes deploying a pumping system into a wellbore to a location proximate the reservoir using a cable. The pump assembly includes a motor, an isolation device, a pump, and a power conversion module (PCM). The method further includes setting the isolation device, thereby rotationally fixing the pumping system to a tubular string disposed in the wellbore and isolating an inlet of the pump from an outlet of the pump; supplying a DC power signal from the surface to the PCM via the cable; and supplying a second power signal to the motor, thereby operating the pump and pumping reservoir fluid from the reservoir to the surface.
US08833438B2

An apparatus, system and method for multi-orientation single or two phase coldplate with positive flow characteristics is disclosed. In representative embodiments and applications, the present invention generally provides improved methods and systems for cooling through fluid cooled coldplates.
US08833436B2

The heat exchange assembly (1) for exchanging heat between a first and a second fluid comprises: a plurality of heat exchange modules (12) for exchanging heat between the first and second fluids, these being distributed about a central axis (X) and having opposing respective lateral faces (47); feed manifolds (14, 16) for feeding the modules (12) with primary and secondary fluid and collection manifolds (18, 20) for removing these fluids. At least some of the said manifolds (14, 16) or parts of the said manifolds (18) run between the modules (12), the said manifolds (14, 16) or parts of manifolds (18) flanking one and the same module (12) being positioned substantially symmetrically with respect to the mid-plane situated between the two lateral faces (47) of the said module (12) in such a way that the said manifolds (14, 16) or parts of manifolds (18) create substantially identical thermal stresses in the lateral faces (47) of the module (12).
US08833435B2

A method and system for providing a heat sink assembly are described. The assembly includes a two-phase heat sink, a condenser, and a pump. The two-phase heat sink may include flow micro-channels that accommodate the flow of boiling coolant and cross-connect channel(s) that at least partially equilibrate a pressure field for the boiling coolant. The condenser receives coolant from the heat sink and removes heat. The pump drives coolant through the assembly. In one aspect, the assembly is a closed system for the coolant. In another aspect, the condenser includes first and second plates and a heat exchange surface there between. Coolant flows from the heat sink and through the plates. The gaseous coolant passes the heat exchange surface. In one aspect the gaseous coolant flows opposite to the direction coolant flows. In one aspect, at least one of the plates includes dummy channel(s) for insulating part of the plate(s).
US08833434B2

A method for making hollow metal tubes includes a step combining a polyphenylene sulfide-containing resin with a water soluble carrier resin to form a resinous mixture. The resinous mixture is then extruded to form an extruded resinous mixture. The extruded resinous mixture includes polyphenylene sulfide-containing fibers within the carrier resin. The extruded resinous mixture is contacted (i.e., washed) with water to separate the polyphenylene sulfide-containing fibers from the carrier resin. The polyphenylene sulfide-containing fibers are then coated with a metal layer. The hollow metal tubes are then formed by removing the polyphenylene sulfide-containing fibers.
US08833433B2

Tubular metal articles such as pipe and cylinder liners are produced by centrifugal casting on a permanent metal mold coated by refractory glass on the active surface. A coating suspension mix is evenly distributed onto the mold to form a uniform layer of insulation on the surface of the mold. The material for the coating includes essentially a waterborne suspension mix of glass particles. The suspension is given time to dry on the surface of the mold. The glass particles dispersed in the suspension are both non-crystalline and nonporous. The glass particles in the suspension and forming the coating are not dissolved and do not chemically attract the polar water molecule or cause it to bond to the surface of glass in the suspension or to the mold active surface. Articles cast as such are smooth surfaced and require only limited machining. The coating provides thermal protection to the mold, but more importantly, the water in the suspension vaporizes quickly on a warm mold because the water is not attracted or bonded to the refractory glass particles.
US08833428B2

A winding shaft for a roller blind system with a main body for holding a rolled up planar structure that can be unwound from the winding shaft, wherein the main body takes the form of a partial cone around a winding shaft axis. The main body is formed as a hollow metal tube shaped as a partial cone.
US08833413B2

The problem of damage sustained to a traction device and the extendable traction elements thereof due to tire-roadway interaction forces exerted on the traction elements while extended over the tire tread area is solved by resiliently coupling a traction assembly within a tire rim to permit movement and repositioning of the traction assembly relative to the rim and biasing back to the original position. Preferably the traction assembly is mounted to a traction hub through a resilient coupling, and with the traction hub permitted to rotate relative to the rim. Also preferably, the invention provides for full retraction and extension of the curved traction elements by use of a linear actuator. The present device delivers increased traction in slippery conditions while protecting the traction device and surrounding mechanics from damage due to the impact of roadway forces, and the device is effectively stowed within the rim when not in use.
US08833410B2

A tire includes a tread strip configured in such a way that, beyond a predetermined radial wear threshold, at least one pair of first and second sounding cavities is exposed. Each first and second sounding cavity is arranged respectively in a first and second circumferential groove of the tread strip. Each sounding cavity of the pair is connected to the other sounding cavity of the pair by a sounding channel formed in the tread strip. Each cavity of the pair and the associated channel: open radially to the outside of the tyre, and are configured so that they are closed by a ground surface in a substantially airtight manner as they pass through a contact patch where the tyre makes contact with the ground surface.
US08833405B2

A beverage dispenser for dispensing a carbonated beverage from a beverage source into a receptacle includes a housing defining an interior volume and having a first surface proximal to the beverage source and a second surface distal to the beverage source. The beverage dispenser further includes a conduit in fluid communication with the beverage source entering the first surface of the housing and terminating proximate the second surface of the housing. The dispenser also includes a multi-nodal flow rate controller disposed within the interior volume of said housing in contact with said conduit and a subsurface dispensing nozzle in fluid communication with the terminal end of the conduit. The flow through the conduit to the subsurface dispensing nozzle is compensated to maintain substantially hydraulic beverage flow within the conduit by adjusting the contact between the multi-nodal flow rate controller and the conduit.
US08833402B2

A woven fabric for a low profile implantable medical device includes a plurality of textile strands of a composite yarn aligned in a first direction interlaced with a plurality of textile strands of the composite yarn aligned in a second direction. The composite yarn includes a combination of a first material and a second material. The textile strands have a size between about 10 denier to about 20 denier. The first material has at least one characteristic different from the second material and the second material reacts favorably with blood when placed within an artery.
US08833392B2

A regulating valve for flow control of a medium in a heating or cooling system includes a valve body including an inlet connection, an outlet connection, and a valve neck in which a valve seat and a flow through opening are provided. In the valve neck, a complete valve trim and a valve hand wheel are provided. The valve body includes a first cone to determine the preset (Kvs-value) of the maximal flow through the complete regulating valve. The first cone has at least one opening for flowing through of the medium, where the design of the opening determines the regulating characteristic of the complete regulating valve, and where the Kvs-value of the valve is changed continuously, with maintained regulating characteristic. The first cone is arranged continuously, axially displaceable relative the valve seat, whereby selected parts of the opening of the first cone are shielded by the valve seat.
US08833384B2

A valve and actuator assembly includes a valve to control a flow of liquid into a coil, and an actuator to control the valve. The assembly includes a first temperature sensor to sense the temperature of liquid flowing through the valve, a second temperature sensor to sense the temperature of air surrounding the coil, and a flow meter to measure a flow rate of liquid through the valve. The actuator includes a module that receives data from the first and second temperature sensors and from the flow meter, and determines, based on data received from the flow meter and temperature sensors, a likelihood that the liquid in the coil will freeze. The actuator operates the valve to allow a minimum flow of the liquid through the valve and coil during a potential freeze condition. The minimum flow is sufficient to prevent the liquid in the coil from freezing.
US08833383B2

A multi-vane throttling valve for a vacuum process chamber includes a throttle chamber body having an inside exposed to the vacuum process chamber and an outside exposed to atmospheric pressure, the chamber body defining a through-opening for controlling vacuum within the vacuum process chamber, a plurality of rotatable vanes mounted within the through-opening for controlling a flow of gases through the through-opening where each rotatable vane includes a cooling flow pathway in fluid communication with and disposed longitudinally along each rotatable vane, and a drive mechanism disposed on and connected to an outside of the throttle chamber body for rotating the plurality of rotatable vanes to vary the flow of process gases.
US08833379B1

A pocket-sized container securable to the back of a mobile phone or smart-phone-like device for a personal care product (preferably a cosmetic) includes a housing substantially smaller than the phone and provided with an adhesive layer on its bottom surface for securing the housing to the rear surface of the phone. The top surface of the housing has a substantially reflective mirror-like surface. The container includes a sliding drawer having a personal care product contained therein (pills, mints, cosmetics, blush, lip gloss, etc.). The drawer is slidable into and out of the housing to provide access to the personal care product while the housing is adhered to the phone. The drawer preferably includes a pair of opposed finger-gripping surfaces, such as raised ridges or projections, adapted to facilitate sliding of the drawer out of the housing. Replaceable trays of personal care products can be inserted into the drawer, as desired.
US08833377B2

Wrapper for cigarette manufacture includes transversely extending band regions applied by a printing technique, such as gravure printing. The band regions comprise starch, an anti-wrinkling agent such as 1,2 propylene glycol or glycerin, and optionally calcium carbonate. Any suitable printing technique can be used to apply the aqueous solution to the banded regions. The pattern of banded regions may be bands, stripes, two-dimensional arrays, undulated regions, and the like along and/or around the tobacco rod. The pattern can be applied in one or more layers. The pattern may be configured so that when a smoking article is placed on a substrate, at least two longitudinal locations along the length of the tobacco rod have film-forming compound located only on sides of the smoking article not in contact with the substrate.
US08833373B2

A nasally inserted airway opening device with inflatable cuff is provided to treat obstructive sleep apnea. The airway opening device includes a hollow flexible tube extending between a proximal end and a distal end, and an inflatable cuff attached to the tube at or near the distal end. The inflatable cuff may be inflated and deflated via the tube. The inflatable cuff defines an interior through hole extending along the length thereof. When deflated, the inflatable cuff may be packed closely to the tube and may be inserted or removed through a nostril of a user. When inserted through the user's nostril and positioned in the user's oropharynx or naso-oropharynx and inflated, the inflatable cuff prevents soft tissue in the user's naso-oropharynx from collapsing toward the posterior pharyngeal wall while simultaneously allowing airflow through the through hole. A method for utilizing the airway opening device to prevent/treat sleep apnea is also provided.
US08833371B2

A mask (10) for use with a system for supplying breathable gas pressurized above atmospheric pressure to a human or animal's airways. The mask (10) includes a mask shell (12) which is, in use, in fluid communication with a gas supply conduit and a gas washout vent assembly (20). The gas washout vent assembly (20) includes at least one gas washout orifice (22) extending from a first side of the vent assembly (20) positioned, in use, adjacent the human or animal's face and a second side positioned, in use, adjacent the atmosphere. The cross-sectional area of the orifice (22) at the first side is larger than the cross-sectional area of the orifice (22) at the second side.
US08833369B2

A nasal air filtration device includes a pair of either planar or concave-convex filters, a support structure incorporating a pair of generally annular bases or sleeves for supporting the filters, and a bridge that couples the bases or sleeves to maintain them in a desired spaced-apart relation and to determine a desired angular relationship. The support structure is insertable into the nasal cavities to position the filters within corresponding nasal cavities. Flexible rims maintain the support structure and the filters in spaced-apart relation to the surrounding nasal wall. The filters may be placed within the bases at an angle with respect to the walls of the bases. Also, the filtration device may be flesh tone in color, thereby blending with the skin tone of the user. In some embodiments, a post structure is supplied for supplying a scent or aroma to the wearer.
US08833368B2

A system comprises a respiratory delivery arrangement adapted to cover at least one respiratory orifice of a patient. The system also comprises a first conduit having a first end and a second end, the second end connected to the respiratory delivery arrangement. A positive pressure is provided to the respiratory orifice via the first conduit and a second conduit having a third end and a fourth end, the fourth end connected to the respiratory delivery arrangement. An exhaled gas is extracted from the respiratory orifice by one or both of a valve configured to redirect flow through the respiratory delivery arrangement and a venturi opening.
US08833366B2

The present application relates to a liquid-evaporate delivery device which relies on the efficient use of air currents to deliver liquid evaporate to airspace around the device. Efficient air currents may be provided by rotating the air currents around the wick, by providing a helical channel for the air to flow around the wick, and/or by aligning a fan with the longitudinal axis of the wick.
US08833364B2

The present disclosure relates to an inhaler component for producing a steam/air mixture or/and condensation aerosol in an intermittent and inhalation- or pull-synchronous manner, the inhaler component including: a housing; a chamber arranged in the housing; an air inlet opening for the supply of air from the surroundings to the chamber; an electrical heating element for evaporating a portion of a liquid material; and a wick having a capillary structure, which wick forms a composite structure with the heating element and automatically supplies the heating element with fresh liquid material after evaporation.
US08833360B2

An oven for cooking foods includes a housing having a fire chamber and a cooking chamber disposed generally above the fire chamber. A vessel is receivable in the fire chamber and is adapted to hold combustible material therein to generate heat and smoke for cooking food in the cooking chamber. A blower is mounted on the housing. The blower is selectively operable to move air. A tube is attached to an outlet of the blower and extends into the fire chamber such that when the vessel is received in the fire chamber the tube extends to a position adjacent the vessel so that air from the blower is blown directly into the vessel without first passing a heating element. The oven does not require supplemental heat from a burner or similar heating element.
US08833354B2

Bushing for the chamber of a sporting pistol or rifle and the procedure for its manufacture. It comprises a tubular configuration, with a connection passage with its entrance orifice (2) and exit orifice (4) characterized in that said connection passage (8) is calibrated to a predetermined value in function of the output power of the sporting pistol or rifle.
US08833337B2

Systems and methods for driving engine auxiliaries are provided. A front drive power take-off system is used to drive an auxiliary unit mounted on the engine. A pulley and belt drive assembly includes a drive sprocket mounted on the engine crankshaft, a toothed belt interconnecting the drive sprocket, and a pulley mounted on a drive shaft of the auxiliary unit to transmits power from crankshaft to the auxiliary unit.
US08833318B2

A device (11) for the variable adjusting of the control timing of gas exchange valves (9, 10) of an internal combustion engine (1) with a drive element (13), an output element (14), at least one pressure chamber (23) and a volume accumulator (31), wherein the output element (14) is arranged in a rotatable manner to the drive element (13), and the pressure chamber (23) is bordered at least partially by these components (13, 14), wherein a phase position between the output element (14) and the drive element (13) can be variably adjusted by the pressure medium supply to or pressure medium removal from the pressure chamber (23). Pressure medium lines (25a, b, p) are provided by which the pressure medium can be supplied to the pressure chamber (23) or removed therefrom. The volume accumulator (31) has at least one housing (32) and a displaceable separating element (33) therein that separates a supply chamber (34), which connects to one of the pressure medium lines (25a, b, p), from a ventilated complementary space (35). The separating element (33) is displaced in the housing (32) by the admission of the pressure medium in the supply chamber (34) in such a way that the volume of the supply chamber (34) increases at the expense of the complementary space (35).
US08833315B2

In split-cycle engines and air hybrid split-cycle engines, the sizing of the crossover passage is critical to engine efficiency. Efficiency can be improved by sizing the crossover passage volume to be small relative to the volume of the cylinders, and in particular relative to the volume of the compression cylinder. This allows for a higher pressure in the crossover passage, which extends the duration of sonic flow from the crossover passage into the expansion cylinder and increases combustion pressure. The methods, systems, and devices disclosed herein generally involve sizing the crossover passages, cylinders, or other components of a split-cycle engine or air hybrid split-cycle engine to improve efficiency.
US08833310B2

A tether device is provided which includes a first wristband to which a retracting mechanism is attached. A first end of a cord may be attached to the retracting mechanism. A second end of the cord may be attached to a second band. The retracting mechanism permits retraction and extension of the cord between the first and second wristbands responsive to changes in distance between first and second persons wearing the respective first and second wristbands. The present tether device provides an effective, lightweight tether system that may be used by an adult for inconspicuous, hands-free restraint of a child, particularly in public areas.
US08833307B2

A mobile cart for isolating an animal from a herd has a protective enclosure for housing an operator and the animal, and for concealing and protecting the operator from the herd. The cart has several modes of operation including a drive mode allowing the operator to move the cart toward the animal, a capture mode allowing the operator to capture the animal within the enclosure and conceal it from the herd, and a treatment mode allowing the operator to treat the animal within the enclosure before releasing or moving it elsewhere. In the capture mode the cart's front end may be lifted over the animal to trap it, or a gate may be raised to bring the calf into the enclosure, or both. A rear end basket for holding the captured calf has a screen with multiple positions for controlling visibility into the basket and enclosure.
US08833304B2

An animal feeder apparatus for remotely monitoring a level of feed is provided. The animal feeder apparatus comprises a feed dispenser component, a sensing component, and a transmitter. The animal feeder apparatus allows a user to receive an electronic message when the level of feed changes or when the position of the animal feeder apparatus is disturbed, and a method of using the same.
US08833292B2

An indicator device includes a surface provided with at least one channel or at least one through-hole with at least two openings, wherein flowable material in an immobile state is provided adjacent to the channel or adjacent to a first opening of the through-hole, such that after application of a stimulus the material is directed along the channel by the action of capillary forces or into the at least one through-hole by the action of capillary forces and emerges at a second opening, thereby providing an indication of the application of the stimulus.
US08833286B1

A recreational sport boat includes a hull, having starboard and port sides and a transom, and a pair of wake-modifying devices positioned aft of the transom. One of the wake-modifying devices is positioned on a port side of the boat's centerline and another of the wake-modifying devices is positioned on a starboard side of the boat's centerline. Each wake-modifying device includes a plate-like member and at least one downturned surface at a trailing portion of the plate-like member. Each wake-modifying device is pivotable between a non-deployed position and a deployed position about a pivot axis that is horizontal or inclined no more than about 35° from horizontal. When a wake-modifying device is in the deployed position, the downturned surface is lower than it is in the non-deployed position so as to be able to modify the boat's wake.
US08833284B1

This invention is a two tunnel, four hull, trimaran-catamaran, flying boat that incorporates hydrodynamic planing surfaces with the benefit of aerodynamic lift. A boat that accommodates two people, such that, the pilot and passenger sit back to back in a low, semi-reclining position in a distinctive fuselage along the centerline, situated between and below a wing structure on either side, and thus forming the mid-structure of a trimaran. This fuselage flys in air above the water line. A streamlined canopy structure is located overhead and above the wing. The horizontal wing structure forms two tunnels below, each on either side of the centerline fuselage, providing a chamber for aerodynamic lift. Outboard of the wings are the catamaran hull arrangements with two hulls forward of amidship in parallel, followed in tandem by two hulls aft. The four hulls provide hydrodynamic lift.
US08833283B2

An inkjet printhead, in particular for sewing/embroidering machines, includes a support structure; a plurality of firing cells included in the support structure, each firing cell being adapted to eject ink through a respective nozzle for coloring a thread to be used in a sewing/embroidering machine; a guide element, provided on the support structure, for guiding the thread in a position facing said nozzles. Also disclosed are a sewing/embroidering machine including the printhead and a method for making the printhead.
US08833281B2

A texture hoop for use in a sewing machine which aids the application of ribbons, yarns and other embellishments within a design. The texture hoop has a fixture with a central opening. A base fabric to receive embellishments is stretched across the central opening and affixed to the fixture edges. Embellishments are positioned upon the base fabric to achieve a pleasing design. The embellishments are then readily secured in the texture hoop fixture at the desired locations and laying upon the base fabric. A stitch pattern is then applied to sew the embellishments to the base fabric by manipulating the fixture with base fabric and secured embellishments beneath the sewing machine presser foot. The texture hoop may also be used in conjunction with automated stitch patterns and embroidery elements available in processor controlled machines.
US08833273B2

A table device comprises a base, a footing and a tabletop. The base is designed with an upper portion, which is rotatable relative to a lower portion in the horizontal plane. The lower portion of the base is arranged to abut a basis. The upper portion of the base is provided with two diametrically opposite castors abutting rollably the lower portion of the base. A friction element arranged to be able to abut the lower portion of the base, is connected to the upper portion of the base outside an axis extending between the two castors.
US08833268B2

Railroad tank cars are provided that include an inner tank, an outer tank, and tank to tank clearance between the inner tank and the outer tank. Insulation and spacers can be located within the tank to tank clearance. The inner tank can shift within the outer tank, and spacers can crush, under significant force loading, such as impact forces generated during a collision or derailment. The inner tank, insulation, spacers, and outer tank thus form an energy absorbing system that reduces the likelihood that the inner tank will be breached, and that a hazardous material contained therein will be released, under such conditions.
US08833265B2

The present disclosure is directed to a power control system for a consist. The consist may include a plurality of locomotives, each locomotive having an engine. The power control system may include a plurality of locomotive controllers. Each locomotive controller may be associated with one of the engines and configured to monitor temperature and power conditions of the associated engine. The power control system may also include a central controller adapted to receive temperature and power conditions from each locomotive controller and to determine desired power levels for each engine in the consist based on the received temperature and power conditions of the plurality of locomotives.
US08833254B2

A system comprises an electrophotographic subsystem, a transfer subsystem, an imaging member, and an inking subsystem. The electrophotographic subsystem comprises a photoreceptor, a charging subsystem, an exposure subsystem, and a development subsystem. In operation, the photoreceptor is charged areawise. An exposure pattern is formed by the exposure subsystem on the surface of the charged photoreceptor to thereby write a latent charge image onto the photoreceptor surface. The image is developed with an image defining material, such as a dampening fluid. The image defining material forms a negative pattern of the image to be printed. This negative image is then transferred to the reimageable surface. The negative image is then developed with ink. The inked image may be transferred to a substrate.
US08833253B2

There are provided an operating knob 42 capable of movement operation in a front-back direction with respect to a right and left side support part 31, a rod member 45 whose front end is joined to the operating knob 42, a back edge stopper 47 which is moved in the front-back direction through the rod member 45 and also is abutted on the back edge of the mask 15 by fixing operation of the rod member 45 by the operating knob 42, and a front edge stopper 53 abutted on the front edge of the mask 15.
US08833246B2

Recyclable plastic film is efficiently collected for recycling at stores or other locations by compacting and baling plastic and cardboard (or other recyclable material) into layered bales. The layered bales can be formed using existing cardboard balers that stores typically already have for baling recyclable cardboard.
US08833243B2

A grill includes a lower platen assembly having a lower grilling surface and a pivotally attached upper platen assembly having an upper grilling surface. The upper platen assembly includes three motors encased in a shell. A cable attached to each motor suspends the upper grilling surface. The grill is automatically calibrated to ensure that the upper grilling surface is level. Each motor independently and sequentially raises the upper grilling surface from the lower grilling surface. When the upper grilling surface lifts from the lower grilling surface, the current in the motor changes. The settings of each motor at this instant are stored in a control to determine the calibration point when the upper grilling surface is level. The grill also automatically recognizes a food item placed on the lower grilling surface to determine the cooking parameters of the grill.
US08833239B2

The invention relates to a coffee machine (1) including a ground coffee dispensing device (3), a percolating device (4) and a tray for recovering coffee grounds (5). According to the invention, shown in a section along the horizontal plane, the ground coffee dispensing device (3), the percolating device (4) and the recovery tray (5) are arranged in three areas (22, 23, 24) with a substantially rectangular shape and contiguous to one another, a first area with a vessel (22) for the recovery tray (5) and a second vessel (15), a second percolation area (23) for the percolating device (4), and a third adjoining area (24) for the ground coffee dispensing device (3).
US08833234B2

A cylinder includes a piston moving in a cylinder housing fastened to a cylinder rod and rotatable about a cylinder longitudinal axis, and a position sensor comprising a sensor magnet and a sensor element, which interacts with the sensor magnet and which is configured to detect a cylinder rod position relative to the cylinder housing. The sensor magnet is fastened on the cylinder rod rotatably with respect to the cylinder rod and is guided non-rotatably with respect to the cylinder housing.
US08833227B2

A sealing ring obturates a propellant charge cartridge of an automatic firearm for caseless ammunition, in particular against an end face of a firearm element, in particular for a breech or a projectile cartridge. The sealing ring contains a sealing surface that can be brought into contact with the end face. The sealing surface contains a first region around an annular opening of the sealing ring and a second region around the first region. The second region is set back relative to a tangential surface to the first region. In addition, a propellant charge cartridge for an automatic firearm for caseless ammunition, has at least one of the sealing rings. The propellant charge cartridge preferably contains one or multiple, in particular two, propellant charge chambers, which are provided with a sealing ring on each of the breech side and the projectile cartridge side.
US08833225B2

A bomb rack lock, as part of a bomb rack, comprising a plunger movable to engage a bomb rack linkage to be alternately secured and released and a solenoid body coupled to and operable to support the plunger. The plunger and the solenoid body are movable relative to each other and the bomb rack linkage and the solenoid body is movable between a first position and a second position. The bomb rack lock also includes a sensor to determine whether the solenoid body is in the first position. The plunger is movable to engage and disengage the bomb rack linkage with the solenoid body in the first position. In the second position, the solenoid body prevents engagement between the plunger and the bomb rack linkage.
US08833221B2

An electric power tool has an electric motor disposed in a main body and a power supply circuit electrically connected to the electric motor by wires to supply electric power to the electric motor. A switch is disposed in the power supply circuit so as to electrically open and close the power supply circuit. A movable member is supported by the main body, a detector is disposed in the main body to detect a movement of the movable member and the switch is configured to electrically open the power supply circuit when the detector detects the movement of the movable member. The wires connected to the electric motor are not connected to the detector so that the length of the wires is shortened.
US08833219B2

A device for cutting a length of pipe includes a clamp portion for clamping around a length of pipe and a bow moveable with respect to the clamp portion that retains a loop of diamond embedded wire. The device further includes a feed for driving the bow with respect to the clamp portion and a detector for detecting bending of the wire and a control responsive to the detector for controlling feed rates. The device is made of modular parts and has synchronizing arms for clamping around a length of pipe. In one embodiment, the wheels are retained in enclosures with slots through which the cutting wire passes.
US08833215B2

A cutting tool that can cut concentric ringed features (e.g. protruding ridges or intruding grooves) onto a weld face of an electrical resistance welding electrode is disclosed. The cutting tool includes a cutter blade that can be rotated about the electrode weld face. The cutter blade has at least one cutting surface configured to cut the concentric ringed features onto the weld face when the cutting surface is rotated relative to the weld face while engaged therewith.
US08833212B2

An electrical torque screwdriver includes a handle, a shaft, a torque limiter, and an electrical switch. The shaft is disposed on the handle and rotatable but not movable linearly. The torque limiter includes a driving tooth, a slipping block, a pawl, and at least one restoring element. The driving tooth is disposed on the shaft. The slipping block is disposed on the handle. The slipping block is displaceable linearly but not rotatable. The pawl is disposed on the slipping block and engaged with the driving tooth. The restoring element is pivotally disposed on the handle and has a restoring force, wherein one end of the restoring element resists against the slipping block for pushing the pawl to be engaged with the driving tooth. The electrical switch is disposed on the handle for optionally resisting against the other end of the restoring element to stop the restoring element.
US08833211B2

The present invention relates to a non-return ratchet type torque socket comprising a shaft rod and a shaft cylinder. A core shaft of shaft rod is sleeved with a mobile ratchet capable of axially moving; the shaft cylinder having a shaft slot formed for being sleeved with the core shaft; an accommodation slot is formed in the shaft slot thereby allowing the mobile ratchet to be accommodated; the interior of the accommodation slot is formed a fixed ratchet; a fixed ratchet teeth are mutually engaged with a mobile ratchet teeth; when the core shaft rotates in the shaft slot and the applied torque exceeds the preset torque value, the core shaft idly rotates in the shaft slot, the mobile ratchet teeth of the mobile ratchet are engaged and rotated along the fixed ratchet teeth of the fixed ratchet for axially and elastically moving so as to generate a sound.
US08833209B2

A self-energizing and de-energizing adjustable gripping tool for engaging a work piece to impart work thereto includes a first element and second element connected for relative movement. The second element includes an actuation portion having a plurality of slots. The first element includes gripping elements which are each associated with a force transfer element which engages one of the slots such that movement of the second element relative to the first element actuates the gripping elements to engage the work piece.
US08833206B2

A wire sheath stripping machine having at least one cutter for cutting an outer circumference of a wire, a cutter rotating means for rotating the cutter in a circumferential direction of the wire, a cutter driving means for advancing and retracting the cutter in a radial direction of the wire, and at least one wire support arranged at a position facing the cutter across the wire to receive the outer circumference of the wire.
US08833203B2

A damper apparatus for an input shaft of a transmission, may include a flywheel having a reception space in which a inertial body may be provided so as to be rotatable relative to the flywheel, the input shaft extending into the reception space of the flywheel, and an inertial body assembly slidably coupled to the input shaft so as to provide rotational inertial force to the input shaft, the inertial body assembly being disposed in the reception space.
US08833200B2

An apparatus comprising a body, an actuator assembly and an actuator control assembly. The actuator assembly includes a lever arm in pivoting engagement with the body about a pivot axis spaced apart from an axis of a handlebar to which the body is attached. The lever arm is associated with a suspension adjust cable. The actuator control assembly includes a locking assembly and an adjustment assembly. The locking assembly is associated with each of the body and the actuator assembly. The locking assembly is capable of preventing pivoting of the actuator relative to the body in a first position corresponding to a first suspension setting. The adjustment assembly is associated with each of the body and the actuator assembly. The adjustment assembly is capable of preventing pivoting of the actuator relative to the body in a second position corresponding to a second suspension setting.
US08833198B2

A robot has a robot arm, a support structure, and a movable platform. The platform includes a cantilevered member coupled to a guide of the support structure such that motion of the platform is directed along a first direction. The robot further includes first and second timing belts having portions that extend along the first direction and that are disposed on opposite sides of the cantilevered member, and first and second shafts movable with the movable platform. The shafts are coupled to the respective timing belts, to the robot arm such that rotation of the first shaft imparts angular motion to the robot arm and rotation of the second shaft imparts radial motion. The robot also includes a third timing belt to which the platform is coupled and by which it is moved. Motors are provided that impart movement to the timing belts.
US08833175B2

A floating element shear sensor and method for fabricating the same are provided. According to an embodiment, a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-based capacitive floating element shear stress sensor is provided that can achieve time-resolved turbulence measurement. In one embodiment, a differential capacitive transduction scheme is used for shear stress measurement. The floating element structure for the differential capacitive transduction scheme incorporates inter digitated comb fingers forming differential capacitors, which provide electrical output proportional to the floating element deflection.
US08833170B2

An apparatus for determining a distance includes a converter element that generates n acoustic surface wave, a surface that feeds over at least part of the acoustic surface wave to a surface having a reflection point, and a processor that determines a distance between the apparatus and the reflection point from the propagation time of the acoustic surface wave. The converter element registers the acoustic surface wave reflected at the reflection point.
US08833165B2

The miniaturized piezoelectric accelerometer includes a support frame (102) having a cavity (104) and a seismic mass (108) supported by a plurality of suspension beams (110) extending from the support frame (102). Each of the suspension beams (110) has a piezoelectric thin film coated on a top surface thereof, with a pair of inter-digital electrodes (114) deposited on an upper surface of each piezoelectric thin film. The presence of acceleration excites bending and thus strain in the piezoelectric thin film, which in turn causes electrical signals to be generated over terminals of the electrodes (114). To collect constructively the output of the electrodes (114), one terminal of each of the electrodes (114) is routed to and electrically connected at a top surface (308) of the seismic mass (108).
US08833164B2

An integrated MEMS structure includes a driving assembly anchored to a substrate and actuated with a driving movement. A pair of sensing masses suspended above the substrate and coupled to the driving assembly via elastic elements is fixed in the driving movement and performs a movement along a first direction of detection, in response to an external stress. A coupling assembly couples the pair of sensing masses mechanically to couple the vibration modes. The coupling assembly is formed by a rigid element, which connects the sensing masses and has a point of constraint in an intermediate position between the sensing masses, and elastic coupling elements for coupling the rigid element to the sensing masses to present a first stiffness to a movement in phase-opposition and a second stiffness, greater than the first, to a movement in phase, of the sensing masses along the direction of detection.
US08833161B2

In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a resonant structure having a plate, a drive electrode and a sense electrode. The resonant structure defines an axis substantially orthogonal to a plane defined by the plate when the resonant structure is not excited. The plate is formed from a piezoelectric material. The drive electrode is configured to excite the resonant structure, and the sense electrode is configured to sense a signal in response to rotation of the resonant structure about the axis.
US08833160B2

The invention relates to a sensor, comprising a sensor element (1) that operates without contact, an electronic component (5), and a housing (2) having an electrical/electronic connection. The sensor element (1) is part of the housing (2) and is used to close and seal the housing (2) with respect to the measurement side (3).
US08833131B2

The invention describes a bending press, in particular a press brake, with a stationary bottom press beam or press table and a top press beam which can be displaced relative to the bottom press beam or press table by means of a displacement drive. The bottom press beam or press table or a machine table or machine frame supporting the bottom press beam has at least one recess affording foot room for an operator on a control side of the bending press.
US08833128B2

A method for producing slit hollow profiles from a cut blank is provided, in which the hollow profile is produced from the essentially flat blank using rolling-up technology or using U-O-forming, so that the hollow profile has a slit in the axial direction along the abutting edges of the formed blank. Highly dimensionally stable, slit hollow profiles can be produced which can be easily joined to form closed hollow profiles, is achieved by the cut blank providing a circumferential length in the locally provided cross-sectional areas which is greater than the required forming length, so that when the cut blank is formed into a closed hollow profile the opposite edges of the formed cut blank abut on one another and when it is formed into the final shape at least the areas of the hollow profile abutting on the edge joint are at least partly compressed in the circumferential direction.
US08833123B2

A method of manufacturing a branched pipe includes: a first swelling step of swelling a swelled part from a main body of a pipe blank by pressurizing the inner surface of the pipe blank by an elastic body, and simultaneously, forming an opening in the tip portion of the swelled part along a circumferential direction; and a second swelling step of swelling the swelled part from the main body by pressurizing the inner surface of the pipe blank by the elastic body.
US08833108B2

A double-cylinder circular machine, particularly for knitting hosiery items, with simplified actuation mechanism, comprising a supporting structure which comprises a footing, which supports a lower needle cylinder, and a column which extends substantially vertically, protrudes upwardly from the footing and supports an upper needle cylinder, which is arranged above and coaxially with respect to the lower needle cylinder, and further comprising elements for the actuation of the lower needle cylinder and of the upper needle cylinder with a rotary motion about a common axis, the actuation elements comprising an electric motor which is connected kinematically to the lower needle cylinder and to the upper needle cylinder and is accommodated inside the column.
US08833100B2

Refrigeration devices that have a water dispensing system to dispense water to an exterior water dispenser from a water supply line have need of a water vessel for storing water under pressure within the refrigeration device until dispensed. The water vessel has an inlet for receiving water from the water supply line and an outlet for dispensing water to the exterior water dispenser. A plurality of pressure resistant walls are formed between the inlet and the outlet to form an internal volume to reservoir water within the water vessel. The water vessel is constructed to reservoir water within the vessel under hydrostatic pressure from the water supply line until dispensed through the outlet when requested by the exterior water dispenser and/or the icemaker.
US08833098B2

A direct exchange heating/cooling system includes a specially designed supplemental air-source heat exchanger (also referred to herein as a High Level Heat Dissipater (“HLHD”). The HLHD is coupled to the primary vapor/hot gas line exiting the system's compressor at a point between the compressor unit and the sub-surface geothermal heat exchange tubing, and is operable only in the cooling mode of system operation. The HLHD includes heat exchange tubing that is sheltered from rain/moisture and has supply and discharge refrigerant transport tubing with relatively equally sized interior diameters, designed solely for mostly vapor (as opposed to liquid) refrigerant transport. The HLHD incorporates at least two check valves, or the like, so as to force hot compressor discharge gas through the HLHD in the cooling mode, and so as to prohibit geothermally warmed refrigerant gas flow through the HLHD in the heating mode. The HLHD has specially designed heat exchangers and may optionally include a fan.
US08833097B2

The disclosure provides systems and methods for regulating and distributing cooling fluid through a plurality of heat sinks, such as cold plates, using a flow regulator, which sets the total flow rate, in combination with one or more individual orifices that allow further flow distribution as required by individual cold plates, despite flow variations upstream of the orifices. An orifice can be coupled to an orifice holder, which includes a body to support the orifice, and which may be coupled (directly or indirectly) to an inlet of the cold plate. Alternative manners of coupling orifices in the fluid flow besides an orifice holder can be employed. Generally, the flow regulator(s) is coupled with a plurality of orifices and conduits through which the cooling fluid flows. Related system components can be assembled as a module for installation into a cooling system that includes other system components such as a pump, compressor or other pressure sources for the cooling fluid.
US08833096B2

A heat exchange assembly and apparatus and method employing the heat exchange assembly are provided. The heat exchange assembly includes a coolant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger and a heater. The heat exchanger includes a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet for passing a coolant through the heat exchanger, and a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet for separately passing a refrigerant through the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger cools coolant passing through the heat exchanger by dissipating heat from coolant passing through the heat exchanger to refrigerant passing through the heat exchanger. The heater is integrated with the heat exchanger and applies an auxiliary heat load to refrigerant passing through the heat exchanger to facilitate ensuring that refrigerant passing through the heat exchanger absorbs at least a specified minimum heat load, for example, to ensure that refrigerant egressing from the refrigerant outlet of the heat exchanger is superheated vapor refrigerant.
US08833093B2

A method of controlling temperature in a compartment of a refrigerator is disclosed. During a normal operation of the refrigerator, the compartment is cooled by a temperature control circuit operated in accordance with a predetermined thermodynamic cycle. The method includes the steps of measuring a variable parameter of the compartment, and comparing the variable parameter with a threshold, and if the variable parameter is greater than the threshold, continuing to operate the temperature control circuit in accordance with the predetermined thermodynamic cycle.
US08833092B1

In one example, we describe reliable, flexible, low-maintenance, low-overhead, low-cost installation, practical, and easy-to-install structures and components or techniques (methods and systems) for water capture from high humidity sources, e.g., sea or river, for use or consumption by humans, animals, or plants/agriculture/food production. In one example, it is modularized. Thus, it is easier for transportation and maintenance, with less cost and down-time. For example, it can be used in some regions in the Middle East or Africa, with dry land with no or small amount of rain. In one example, we describe the use of renewable energy sources. In one example, we describe the control system for operation of water collection and distribution systems, e.g., for optimization and efficiency or cost. We also describe the mechanisms, techniques, components, and systems to implement various tasks and goals related to these.
US08833090B2

A drink dispenser includes a housing defining a chamber that contains a cooling fluid therein. A refrigeration unit is disposed within the housing. The refrigeration unit includes an evaporator coil extending into the cooling fluid such that a frozen cooling fluid bank forms about the evaporator coil. An agitator is disposed within the housing. The agitator extends into the cooling fluid for circulating the cooling fluid about the frozen cooling fluid bank. Dispensing valves mounted onto the housing dispense drinks from the drink dispenser. An electronic control system is disposed within the housing. The electronic control system is coupled with the agitator such that the electronic control system cycles the agitator between an agitator on period and an agitator off period. Cycling the agitator between an agitator on period and an agitator off period promotes stable growth of the frozen cooling fluid bank.
US08833089B2

In a plasma processing apparatus, a check valve is installed close to a refrigerant inlet of a compressor. When performing maintenance of a sample stage, refrigerant collected from a refrigerant flow path is temporarily stored in a flow path section extending from an expansion valve to the check valve, making it possible to perform the maintenance without changing the amount of refrigerant in the refrigerating cycle. With a refrigerant storage tank, a refrigerant supply valve, and a refrigerant discharge valve included in the refrigerating cycle, when maintenance of the compressor, a condenser, or the expansion valve is performed, the refrigerant collected from the refrigerating cycle can be put in use again.
US08833085B2

A system and method for startup control of a gas turbine is disclosed. The system and method includes defining a target startup time for the startup of the gas turbine and determining a remaining time to achieve the target startup time. The system and method includes monitoring at least one parameter associated with the startup and determining a first operating point for the parameter. The system and method adjusts the first operating point for the parameter to a second operating point based at least in part on the remaining time for the startup. The system and method controls an effector based on the second operating point for the parameter.
US08833078B2

The present invention is directed generally to a system and method which employ a compressed gas-driven device with a passive thermodynamic composition. Certain embodiments provide a compressed gas-driven (e.g., CO2-driven) device implementation that includes a passive thermodynamic composition which allows for extended use of the device without freezing and without requiring a persistently-maintained, active (e.g., electrically-powered) heating. Further, certain embodiments provide a compressed gas-driven (e.g., CO2-driven) device implementation that includes a passive thermodynamic composition which allows for extended use of the device without freezing and without requiring an ignition heat source (e.g., electrically-powered or pyrotechnic as generator) for heating the device. In one embodiment, a CO2-driven sanitizing device is provided for dispensing a sanitizing solution, wherein a passive thermodynamic composition is employed for enabling substantially-continuous use of the sanitizing device for an extended time without requiring an on-board active heater.
US08833072B2

The present invention relates chiefly to a hydraulic brake booster comprising a motor, preferably an electric motor. The main subject of the invention is a hydraulic brake booster comprising a thrust chamber (76) receiving, on command, a pressurized hydraulic fluid that drives a hydraulic piston (78) that drives a piston of a master cylinder, characterized in that it comprises a source of pressurized hydraulic liquid (116) provided with an electric motor (88) driving a hydraulic fluid pressuring device. The invention applies notably to the automotive industry. The invention applies mainly to the braking industry.
US08833070B2

A hydro-pneumatic cylinder for converting buoyancy energy of compressed gas into mechanical energy. The cylinder can include a pair of end plates disposed at opposite ends of the cylinder and a drive axle extending longitudinally through the cylinder and passing through the center of each end plate. The cylinder can also include a core support coupled to each end plate and centrally disposed in the cylinder and a plurality of vanes for promoting a low-drag flow. Each of the plurality of vanes is coupled to the core support and the pair of end plates. A bucket is defined by the core support, two of the plurality of vanes, and the pair of end plates. The cylinder further includes a vane support coupled to the plurality of vanes and the core support. The vane support defines a plurality of openings formed therein through which a gas can pass for equalizing pressure in the bucket.
US08833055B2

A locking/unlocking device for a thrust reverser with sliding cover and adaptive nozzle is provided that includes a fixed pin secured to a fixed structure of the reverser, a first sleeve secured to the sliding cover and able to accommodate the pin, a second sleeve slidably mounted on the first sleeve, a third sleeve secured to the adaptive nozzle and slidably mounted on the second sleeve, first locking means able to lock the first sleeve with respect to the pin, second locking means able to lock the second sleeve with respect to the first sleeve, and third locking means able to lock the third sleeve with respect to the second sleeve.
US08833044B2

A harvesting head (104) with conveyor drive system comprising a frame (106), on which are mounted a first conveyor deck (108) and a second conveyor deck (110) includes a plurality of hydraulic fluid flow control elements that are configured to reduce hydraulic fluid flow through at least one conveyor belt drive motor (124, 130) while shifting at least one conveyor deck (108, 110).
US08833041B2

Apparatus, systems, devices, methods and computer program products are configured to package products using automated movement of components that fill, then clip bags in a manner that is particularly suitable for packaging blasting powder and/or explosives in shot bags.
US08833035B2

A method of replacing an existing fenestration unit secured in a rough opening in a wall having a finished exterior includes releasing an existing fenestration unit from the wall by cutting around the existing fenestration unit, including cutting into the finished exterior of the wall and through a perimeter portion of the existing fenestration unit to release the fenestration unit from the wall. The method also includes removing the existing fenestration unit from the rough opening in the wall, installing a water management system along a sill of the rough opening, and inserting a new fenestration unit into the rough opening. The new fenestration unit is secured in the rough opening.
US08833032B2

A variety of roof mount sealing assemblies are disclosed. The roof mount sealing assemblies allow a user to mount rails for solar panels, signs, satellite dish or any other desired item on the roof and have the mounting location sealed against water. The roof mount sealing assemblies has a body with a recess for a flexible washer, which is attached to a bolt body (or formed with the bolt body) and threaded either down in a base plate or directly into the roof. The bolt body and body form a double stud assembly, which also holds a flashing onto the roof to provide further water proofing.
US08833025B2

A system for supporting exterior panels or cladding units on a building substrate. The system includes a plurality of polymeric bracket members, wherein each of the polymeric bracket members further includes an anchor section, adapted to be coupled to the building substrate, and a support section adapted to couple to the exterior cladding unit. In assembly, as disposed between the building substrate and the exterior cladding units, the polymeric bracket members provide a thermal break from the exterior cladding units to the building substrate.
US08833022B2

A method of manufacturing a hollow core door is disclosed, as well as a corresponding hollow core door. The method includes the steps of providing a solid flat door skin, moisturizing the flat skin, applying a conditioning resin thereto, pre-heating the flat door skin, and thereafter pressing the flat door skin between a pair of heated platens in a press in order to reform the flat skin into a molded skin including a plurality of panels defined therein. The press continuously closes in order to reform the flat skin into the molded skin, with the rate of press closure being a function of the determined hardness of the flat skin to be reformed. The resulting door skins have an improved bond strength, and are efficiently manufactured.
US08833020B2

A foundation system for supporting a manufactured building having a support beam, comprising a ground pan having a planar surface received on a ground surface and a thermally insulative member disposed on the ground pan, which cooperatively define in situ a proximate thermally isolated ground column, with a foundation support connected to the ground pan and to the support beam, the thermally insulative member restricts communication of heat from the proximate thermally isolated ground column below the ground pan for resisting frost heaving. A method of resisting frost heave of a foundation is disclosed.
US08833017B1

A rapid hanging curtain wall unit for a wall assembling structure includes a wall structure, at least one curtain wall plate, and multiple connecting units. The wall structure has a base and a supporting apparatus mounted in the base. The at least one curtain wall plate has a back surface and multiple positioning holes which are formed in the back surface and separately and horizontally arranged in positions adjacent to an upper edge and a lower edge of the back surface. The multiple connecting units are respectively mounted in the multiple positioning holes. Each one of the at least one curtain wall plate can be hung in the supporting apparatus of the wall structure by the multiple connecting units easily and rapidly.
US08833014B2

A system for providing a sealed transit for a situation wherein one or a plurality of cables, pipes or ducts (2) extend through the transit, wherein the system comprises a frame (100) which is sealingly fixed or fixable into or onto an opening, wherein the frame (100) comprises one or a plurality of conduits (203) which are each suitable for receiving at least one of the plurality of cables, pipes or ducts (2) and for receiving an elastically deformable plug (4) for sealingly filling space between an inner circumferential wall of the conduits (203) and at least one of the plurality of cables, pipes or ducts (2), when the system further comprises at least one blocking element (37) for hindering in each conduit (203) movement of one end of a plug (4) which is inserted in that conduit (203).
US08833008B2

A method and apparatus is disclosed for mounting a rail support post to the perimeter of a stairway having stingers at the edge of the stairway and treads, risers and possibly blocking laterally across the stairway. The apparatus includes a bracket member that is attached to or against the interior of a stringer and includes at least one hole for accommodating a fastener that passes through the stringer and into or through a post member at the outside surface of the stringer. The bracket includes flanges that attach to a rise or a tread and/or a block to secure the assembly together.
US08833003B1

A high-strength rectangular pintle veneer tie and cavity wall anchoring system employing the same is disclosed. The rectangular wire formative construct optionally includes a square cross-section that provides greater volumetric occupancy than that of a similar diameter circular wire formative. The interengaging portions and insertion portion are optionally compressed for greater strength and the rectangular shaped interengaging portion provides a locking interconnection within the anchor precluding significant movement lateral with or normal to the inner wythe.
US08832997B2

Electro-mechanical and electronically controlled access devices are described for controlling access to a building, premises or area in a secure manner such that a subject who is deemed ineligible for access will be barred entry and may be optionally retained. The devices can contain multiple rotatable door panels, which can be positioned behind one another. The door panels can be controlled by mechanized arms or other control devices in order to control the passage through the device. The direction of flow through a device according to these embodiments is electronically controlled and may be changed at any point in time. At any instant in time, the flow through the device is unidirectional. Multiple devices can be stacked together to form clusters, which can be controlled according to traffic, time of day, or other factors.
US08832995B2

A system for providing a barrier and redirecting the growth of grass away from concrete, walkways, patios and material typically found in a landscape. The system is comprised of a single sheet of extruded polyethylene having three members. The main member is inserted orthogonally to the surface of the ground, and has two members extruded away from it as some angle. The anchor member is part of the main member, and is inserted in the ground to provide support for the barrier. The surface member extends at some angle with respect to the main member into one edge of the landscape. The surface member extends into one edge of the material to provide a barrier between different types of landscape.
US08832994B2

A termite control bait container includes an upper end portion opposite a lower end portion. The bait container includes a chamber containing a termite bait. The lower end portion includes an air-trapping pocket below at least a portion of the bait to reduce intrusion of water through the lower end portion when installed in a selected orientation at least partially below ground.
US08832993B1

An illuminated aerator dip net system is submerged into a body of water within a container. The dip net assembly has a net with a rigid air tube and lid with a handle attached as one unit. An aerator is attached to the top of the lid. A flexible air tube is connected to an air valve, which is attached to the rigid air tube. The aerator pumps oxygen through the air valve and through the rigid air tube to an air stone that is attached to the bottom of the net thereby oxygenating the body of water within the container keeping the bait alive. The aerator provides an electrical source and switch for a light that is mounted to the bottom side of the aerator. A hole provided in the lid of the dip net assembly allows the light to illuminate live bait within the container.
US08832991B1

In the fishing lure art there is a need for a lure that remains near and parallel to the surface of the water not only when the lure is reeled in by a fisherman, but also when the lure is stationary or left to the whims of the water's current. Described are lures having a floating body that is incorporated into a non-linear lure design. Some arrangements of the invention comprise fins on the floating body to allow the lure to generate noise as it moves through the water. Still other arrangements of the invention have a ballast that adds weight and stability to the lower portion of the lure.
US08832990B2

An apparatus for fishing includes a fishing rod and a separate base unit onto which the rod can be mounted and readily removed. The rod is generally conventional and includes a reel mounted on a rod body for winding in the fishing line with a spool and a hand cranked rotor for winding the line around the spool. The base unit includes a cylindrical holding sleeve for mounting the rod body and a battery driven electric motor for driving the spool independently of the rotor by a drive shaft extending parallel to the sleeve. An adjustable pressure switch for activating the motor is connected between the holder and the base unit so that pulling force on the line pivots the holder around a pivot mount.
US08832987B2

The present invention relates to systems and methods for aiding the insertion of detachable magazines in AK rifle variants. The magazine well attachment includes a well attachment body having a slit configured to slide over a trigger guard of a firearm during the assembly process. The attachment body includes a beveled well opening for guiding a tilt-lock magazine into the firearm. The beveled well opening includes beveled steps for funneling and centering the magazine during insertion and also includes an angled front well ramp for guiding the magazine into the rifle at an appropriate angle. In order to accommodate the dimensional variances between receivers made by different manufacturers, a front retainer secures the attachment to the magazine opening. The magazine well attachment also includes a rear overhang secured to a ledge of the firearm's trigger guard.
US08832986B2

The present invention is a quick detach swivel utilizing pawls to engage a ridge or trench in a socket. The pawls are biased outward by the spurs of two sliding buttons which cam the pawls in an upright and outward orientation. When the buttons are squeezed together, the cam lock is released and the pawls fall into the swivel frame, releasing the swivel body. When pressure on the buttons is released, the buttons return to their normal positions and catch the pawls, returning them to their upright and engaged position.
US08832972B2

A shoe is described having a removable heel, removable platform, and in some embodiments one or more removable straps. The shoes of the present invention provide for flexibility in design with the same sole by allowing for replacement of one type of heel with another and in some shoes replacement of the strap or straps by alternate styles or colors of straps. The replaceability or modularity of the heel and straps allows for compact storage as well, which is desirable during travel. The removeability of the platform enables the shoe to adjust to different heights. Additionally, some embodiments have one or more hinges formed in the sole to allow the shoe to collapse to an even smaller size for storage or travel.
US08832971B2

The present invention generally relates to therapeutic footwear such as sandals, conventional shoes, and corrective inserts that may be inserted into conventional shoes. Specifically, the therapeutic footwear may be used for maintaining, correcting, or repositioning the great toe to decrease pressure on the first metatarsal-phalangeal joint or bunion. Additional therapeutic features may include spreading of the wearer's toes, supporting the wearer's arch to control excessive pronation, and providing sustained heel cord stretch at rest, during ambulation, pedicure, and before, during, or after medical treatment.
US08832970B2

Articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include one or more of: (a) an upper; (b) a sole structure including a midsole and an outsole, the outsole having a plurality of polygonal lugs arranged about a base surface of the outsole. The outsole may include one or more regions wherein the characteristics of a portion of the lugs within a region differ from the characteristics of a portion of the lugs in another region. The lugs may differ, for example based on size, construction and/or spacing between the lugs. Methods of manufacturing such articles of footwear also are disclosed.
US08832969B2

An orthopedic foot appliance providing optimal and adaptable comfort and shock absorption while at the same time varying degrees of heel support, arch support and motion control depending on the foot type and footwear. The orthopedic foot appliance consists of a cushioning insole and a re-attachable support piece for attaching and re-attaching to the insole. The insole includes a trim line allowing the insole to be adapted to a three quarters length of a full insole. The three quarters length may extend form from the back of the heel to the metatarsal heads. The support component may be constructed from any of a group of materials including polyethylene, polypropylene and polypropylene incorporating glass or silica.
US08832964B2

A system, method and configuration for recovering turpentine during the manufacturing of wood chips, wood pellets or other substances that may include turpentine. In general, a turpentine recovery system is used to capture turpentine from exhaust of a dryer as wood chips are being dried. Advantageously, application of the various techniques disclosed herein can result in the recovery of turpentine that can then be sold to generate revenue and, may contribute to a reduction in the capital and operation costs for emission controls for the dryer exhaust.
US08832961B1

A vehicle-drying air blower for drying a vehicle exterior, the air blower including a base housing having a fan disposed in a fan compartment thereof and a motor, which is operational communication with the fan, disposed in a motor compartment thereof. An air intake housing having an intake duct attached thereto receives an incoming air stream upon the activation of a trigger switch disposed on a handle on the base housing bottom side. A soft rubberized ergonomic grip area is disposed on a handle forward end proximal to a lower end thereof allowing a user to hold the air blower comfortably for an extended period of time during operation. A nozzle extending from a base housing collar is soft and rubberized to prevent denting and scratching a vehicle exterior during operation.
US08832960B2

An apparatus for purge to prevent AMC & natural oxide includes an FOUP configured to contain wafers and to have a receipt supply hole for supplying gas and a receipt discharge hole for discharging the gas at a lower part of the FOUP; stage units each configured to have the FOUP separated therefrom or seated therein, to support the seated FOUP, and to have a gas supply hole for supplying the gas at a position corresponding to the receipt supply hole and a gas discharge hole for discharging the gas at a position corresponding to the receipt discharge hole; a first gas supply port unit disposed in response to the gas supply hole and configured to supply the gas to the FOUP; and a first gas discharge port unit disposed in response to the gas discharge hole and configured to discharge the gas from the FOUP.
US08832959B2

A wood chip drying system for drying wood chip includes a furnace, a drier for the wood chip and a recirculation apparatus for the recirculation of exhaust vapors into their drier. The recirculation apparatus has an exhaust vapor heater, and the wood chip drying system is designated to reduce organic compounds present in the exhaust vapor prior to the recirculation into the drier. The exhaust vapor heater includes a regenerative and/or catalytic heat exchanger which is arranged downstream after the drier and which is designated so as to heat up the exhaust vapor to a temperature which is high enough to oxidize at least a majority of particles present in the exhaust vapor.
US08832957B2

A system for determining ash height in a filter is disclosed. The system may comprise a string, and a pressure source configured to propel a portion of the string down a channel of a filter. A method for determining ash height in a filter is also disclosed. The method may comprise propelling a portion of a string down a channel of a filter, and determining an ash height in the filter channel based on a measurement of the string inside the filter channel and a known length of a clean filter channel having no ash accumulation.
US08832953B2

An improved coordinate measuring apparatus is provided. The coordinate measuring apparatus has a device that holds a CMM adapter plate in a way that simulates the locating points on the electromagnetic device in the CMM. Once in place, the threaded cube on the adapter plate is aligned to the CMM machine axes by holding a sliding V-block on the device against any corner of the cube. The screws that hold the threaded cube in the adapter plate are then tightened, and the adapter plate is released from the device. The threaded cube is now square to the CMM X-Y-Z axes.
US08832952B2

Provided is an apparatus for measuring outer diameters of fuel rods of a nuclear fuel assembly, in which the fuel rods are standing upright and are used in a light water reactor. The apparatus includes a support unit fixed to a floor at a lower portion thereof so as to be kept insulated from vibrations caused by external forces, a measuring unit mounted on the support unit and moving up and down to measure the outer diameters of the fuel rods, and a transducer cooperating with the measuring unit, converting the measured outer diameters of the fuel rods into electrical signals, and sending the converted signals to the outside. Thus, the apparatus moves up and down to measure the outer diameters of the fuel rods, so that it can accurately check abnormalities in the outer diameters of the fuel rods.
US08832948B2

To provide a device that can execute both of two kinds of processes, at least, for a target medium inexpensively with high accuracy. A plotter 20 includes a cutter 1 and a pen 2 for individually executing each specific process for paper being transferred in a predetermined direction, and a receiving portion 8 for supporting the paper to be processed by the cutter 1 and the pen 2, while the receiving portion 8 being provided at a position facing the cutter 1 and the pen 2 through the intermediary of the paper. Then, the cutter 1 and the pen 2 are positioned on different lines individually in a direction intersecting the transfer direction of the paper. Therefore, a condition of the receiving portion 8 after a process by one tool does not affect the other tool.
US08832941B1

A method for assembling a propshaft assembly. The method can include: providing a tubular member, the tubular member having an annular wall with an inside circumferential surface; pushing a first ram through the tubular member; loading a damper between the first ram and a second ram; twisting the damper between the first and second rams; moving the first and second rams to translate the twisted damper into the tubular member; untwisting the damper in the tubular member; and withdrawing the first and second rams from the tubular member. A machine for assembling a propshaft assembly is also provided.
US08832940B2

An electromagnetic clamping system contains a housing, numerous permanent magnets, numerous low friction surfaces having a number of wheels, an end effector, an electromagnetic clamping device, first, second, and third coil systems, and a core. The end effector performs operations on a workpiece. The electromagnetic clamping device has an activated state and a deactivated state. The electromagnetic clamping device further includes a first coil system generating a first magnetic field causing normal forces on the permanent magnet unit and the clamping device; a second coil system generating a second magnetic field causing side forces on the permanent magnet unit; and a third coil system generating a third magnetic field causing a rotational force on the permanent magnet unit. The core provides access to the workpiece surface for performing operations thereon; and concentrates forces from a number of magnetic fields on the core surface contacting the workpiece surface.
US08832937B2

A method for stuffing a monolith wrapped with a mounting mat into a housing includes the steps of radially elastically clamping the housing during stuffing at several locations, and compensating for at least one of a housing tolerance and a housing rotation through an elastic deformation of the housing caused by the clamping.
US08832932B2

A printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) includes a printed circuit board (PCB) with through holes, a supporting member standing on the PCB adjacent to the through holes, and an electronic component mounted on the PCB is provided. The electronic component includes a component body and a plurality of conductive leads. Fixing ends of the conductive leads of the electronic component is received in the though hole and electrically and mechanically fixed to the PCB. The component body of the electronic component is supported by the supporting member.
US08832929B2

A method of manufacturing a flexible printed circuit board including determining an elastic modulus of a conductive portion and an elastic modulus of first and second dielectric portions, determining a thickness of the conductive portion and the first and second dielectric portions so that a neutral plane is located within a predetermined range of the thickness of the conductive portion, the neutral plane being substantially free from tension or compression in response to bending of the flexible printed circuit board, and insulating the conductive portion according to the determined thickness and the determined elastic modulus.
US08832921B2

A two-piece locking nut assembly for securing a mantle to a head assembly of a cone crusher. The two-piece locking nut assembly includes an inner nut and an outer nut. The inner nut includes a set of axial bores that each receive a jackscrew. Once the locking nut assembly is in position on the head assembly, the series of jackscrews are tightened to exert a force on the mantle that is counteracted by forces through the inner nut and into the head to create a locking force between the locking nut assembly and the head assembly. The outer nut is turned along the inner nut to hold the locking nut assembly in place. Once the outer nut is moved into position, the jackscrews are removed such that the outer nut continues to apply the locking force between the mantle and the head through the locking nut assembly.
US08832912B2

An apparatus for fastening a shoelace includes a housing, a rotating cover, a reel part, and a restricting member. The housing includes a ratchet gear. The restricting member includes a repulsion restricting part which is provided between the rotating cover and the reel part and includes a ratchet coupling part protruding from an external circumference thereof to restrict a rotation in one direction by the ratchet gear, and a pressure coupling part which is slidably contacted and pressed by a rotation of the restricting projection in the other direction along a rotational radius and is repulsively deformed and selectively coupled to the coupling accommodation part.
US08832896B2

A paint roller apparatus is provided. In one example, the paint roller apparatus is configured to apply paint to a surface and includes a roller arm and a paint roller rotatably mounted on the roller arm about a roller axis. The paint roller has an end and a paint applicator surface. The paint roller apparatus includes a roller guard having at least one painting feature for applying paint to the surface. The roller guard is selectively movable between first and second positions. The first position comprises the painting feature disposed adjacent the end of the roller on a first side of the roller axis and the second position comprises the painting feature disposed adjacent the end of the roller on a second side of the roller axis.
US08832895B2

An oral hygiene implement for evaluating applied force is described herein. The oral hygiene implement has a handle region, a head, and a neck extending between the handle region and the head. The head has a plurality of cleaning elements attached to the head. The handle region has a first portion and a second portion and a force sensor pivotally connected to the first portion and the second portion. The force sensor includes the head and the neck and at least a portion of the force sensor is integrally formed with the first portion and/or the second portion.
US08832886B2

The described system and method allows for the control of inflation and deflation of air mattresses such that fast and accurate deflate times and satisfaction of consumer expectations may be achieved. A combination of empirically-derived deflate profiles, corrected dynamic measurements, and static measurements may be used to achieve fast and accurate deflation to user-defined target pressures. Additionally, a marketing routine that invokes simulated deflation or simulated inflation when deflation or inflation is not necessary but a user is expecting deflation or inflation, respectively, may be used to better satisfy the user's expectations.
US08832874B2

A person moving device for moving a person of limited mobility. The device comprises a lower floor engaging frame part (1) and an upper patient carrying part (6) adapted to carry a patient by engaging the patient's torso from the front and which is mounted to the lower frame part for movement between a patient load-unload position and a patient transport position. The upper patient carrying part being mounted to the lower frame part for curvilinear movement about an axis extending across the patient and positioned so that the patient's torso moves substantially by rolling about an axis across the device and the patient and substantially about a center of mass of the patient. A handle (12) is also provided by which a user can cause the upper patient carrying 10 part to move from the load-unload position to the transport position.
US08832869B2

A helmet massager and a helmet thereof are provided. The helmet massager comprises a helmet. The helmet comprises a first helmet body. The first helmet body comprises a first left helmet body and a first right helmet body which are butt jointed. The first left helmet body and the first right helmet body respectively have a first left rack and a first right rack. The helmet further comprises an adjusting device. The adjusting device comprises a base, a gear, a ratchet body with ratchet teeth, and a knob for driving the ratchet body to rotate. The base is located at a butt-joint site of the first left helmet body and the first right helmet body. Each of the first left rack and the first right rack engages with the gear. The ratchet body is positioned on the gear. The knob is mounted on the ratchet body. The base has a ring of locking teeth. The ratchet body has a rotating state and a rest state. When it is desired to adjust a size of a head room, the knob is turned in a forward direction or a reverse direction so that, via the ratchet body, the gear is driven by the knob to rotate. In this way, two adjacent butt-joint ends are driven by the gear to move away from or close to each other to change the size of the head room.
US08832862B1

A cover up torso top outer garment provides increased coverage and support for a woman wearing a bikini top, the garment formed of stretchable right and left breast portions with an open-ended front zipper releasably securing the breast portions, with elastic back and neck straps. The garment is donned over a bikini top, the zipper attaches the two breast portions together, and the straps are adjusted. The garment may then be doffed when appropriate to expose the bikini top.
US08839455B1

A system, method and computer program product for an isolated security domain which is a bounded area of the VM for protected objects. The objects include executable code and/or data, hardware units (e.g., ports) or a combination thereof. The secure units in this area are accessible using secure rules used to ensure that objects are not malware. Authentication for connections to security domain is required and certain areas of the domain are made to be read only.
US08839453B2

Mobile devices provide security based on geographic location. With such a technique, a mobile device may automatically check its current location against geographic information as to the location(s) in which it is permitted to operate. When the user attempts access to the device, the mobile device will prompt the user for his/her credential only if the geographic location matches an allowed location. The user gains access then by inputting information corresponding to the credential, e.g. username and password, of a valid user. In the examples, if the geographic location does not match an allowed location, the mobile device provides a warning to the user, and the user is not allowed to enter any credential information. Optionally, the mobile device may send an alert message about the device being taken outside a specified boundary, e.g. to report the situation to other personnel.
US08839431B2

A network browser has a Malware detection manager for direct or indirect scanning of files during an upload or download processes for viruses, adware, spyware, etc. The malware detection manager defines and employs a quarantine bin, which is an isolated and secure memory space or directory for temporary placement of file packets during the file transmission while malware detection can commence. The malware detection manager scans for any malware code associated with the packet sequence encountered during a file transmission to and from the Internet, during which it quarantines all the scanned packets in the quarantine bin. Quarantined files can be released if there is a human challenge authorizing the release of the file. The invention also comprises exchanging a Malware free signature between server and client via a trusted download center. If a certified and valid malware free signature is provided, the client device need not scan the files for malware bytes as the content is certified and guaranteed as malware-free.
US08839430B2

An intrusion detection arrangement for communication networks comprising a network activity observer configured to monitor network traffic by the related traffic elements, such as data packets, thereof and to establish traffic profiles relative to the monitored traffic elements, such as one profile per each monitored traffic element, a misuse detector configured to determine a first indication of a probability of the profiled traffic representing malicious activity through co-operation with a model repository comprising at least one model characterizing a known intrusion attack, an anomaly detector configured to determine, at least logically in parallel with the misuse detector, a second indication of a probability of the profiled traffic representing anomalous activity through cooperation with a model repository comprising at least one model characterizing legitimate network activity, and a classifier configured to operate on said first and second indications to generate a classification decision on the nature of the profiled traffic, wherein the applied classification space includes at least one class for legitimate traffic and at least one other class for other traffic such as malicious and/or anomalous traffic. A corresponding method is presented.
US08839421B2

Methods and systems for mitigating the effects of a malicious software application are disclosed. A dedicated module on the computing device receives from a malicious software detector a message indicating whether the application is malicious or has a malicious component. The dedicated module obtains a set of permissions to be granted to the application, and instructs software on the computing device that controls the permissions of the application to grant the set of permissions.
US08839419B2

A security investigation system uses a central server to distribute requests for security information regarding an asset, receive responses, and manage the information in the responses in a case object. Requests may be distributed to various servers, each of which may have an agent that may receive the request, search various databases, logs, and other locations, and generate a response. A case object may be continually updated in some embodiments. The case object may be viewed, analyzed, and other requests generated using automated or manual tools. A case object may be sanitized for analysis without compromising sensitive information.
US08839417B1

A device, system, and method for defending a computer network are described. network communications are received by a traffic filter, which dynamically determines whether the communications include an anomaly (i.e., are “anomalous” communications), or whether the communications are normal, and do not include an anomaly. The traffic filter routes normal communications to the correct device within its network for servicing he service requested by the communications. The traffic filter routes any anomalous communications to a virtual space engine, which is configured to fake a requested service (e.g., to entice deployment of a malicious payload). Anomalous communications are analyzed using an analytical engine, which can dynamically develop rules for handling anomalous communications in-line, and the rules developed by the analytical engine can be employed by the traffic filter against future received communications.
US08839414B2

A custom database connectivity component is deployed in conjunction with a native database connectivity component and a credential manager. The custom connectivity component has a requestor interface for communicating with a requestor application, a credential service interface for communicating with the credential manager, a native database connectivity interface for communicating with native connectivity components, and a decision engine for determining how to convert a request from a requestor to an appropriate API call to the credential manager. The custom connectivity component provides an authenticated and authorized database connection for a requestor application. The component transparently serves retrieves database, or other target resource, credentials on a real time basis, without requiring code changes to the requestor application.
US08839407B2

Some embodiments of the invention are directed to techniques for determining whether a process on a computer system that is sending or receiving data, or is attempting to send or receive data, with another computer system is executing in kernel mode or user mode and providing an indicator of this determination to a security engine. In some embodiments, such an indication is provided to a security engine (e.g., a firewall) that implements a security policy based at least in part on whether the sending or receiving process is in kernel mode or user mode, and filter communications based on a process' operating mode. This enables a security engine to maintain security policies of greater specificity and thus improve security of a computer system.
US08839404B2

A security gateway appliance is configured to evaluate network traffic according to security rules that classify traffic flows according to specifically identified application programs responsible for producing and/or consuming the network traffic and to enforce policies in accordance with network traffic classifications. The appliance includes an on-box anti-virus/anti-malware engine, on-box data loss prevention engine and on-box authentication engine. One or more of these engines is informed by an on-box dynamic real tie rating system that allows for determined levels of scrutiny to be paid to the network traffic. Security gateways of this type can be clustered together to provide a set of resources for one or more networks, and in some instances as the backbone of a cloud-based service.
US08839400B2

A method and computer program product for managing and controlling access of an administrator to a managed computer system. At least one computer program on an access system of the managed computer system receives from the administrator a request for access to the managed computer system and requests a managing computer system to search open tickets for service management. In response to that the open tickets are not found, the at least one computer program redirects the administrator to log onto the managing computer system to obtain a new open ticket for the access. In response to that the open tickets are found, the at least one computer program requests the administrator to choose at least one ticket from the open tickets and grants the administrator the access to the managed computer system in response to determining that the at least one ticket is valid.
US08839392B2

A method responsive to receiving a data from a computing device connected to the computer in a cloud computing system or data center, identifies a criteria associated with the computing device, responsive to identifying the criteria, determines whether the data is authorized for transmission to a storage in the cloud computing system or data center, and responsive to determining that the data is authorized for transmission to the storage, forwards the data to the storage.
US08839388B2

Various embodiments are disclosed for a services policy communication system and method. In some embodiments, a communications device stores a set of device credentials for activating the communications device for a service on a network; and sends an access request to the network, the access request including the set of device credentials.
US08839383B2

Identity-independent authentication tokens enable issuance of a single strong credential that can be mapped to an individual at each of multiple accounts within the online world. An issuer generates one or more authentication tokens for issuance to individuals or other entities. In some instances, each of these authentication tokens comprises a unique serial number. The individual or other entity may then request an authentication token from the issuer. The issuer may then issue the token to the individual without the need to ask or require the individual to identify his or herself. The individual may then map this issued authentication token to the individual's password at each of the individual's online accounts.
US08839379B2

A method for providing at least one credential to access a service includes receiving an image from a camera that is included in a user device that also includes a processor and a communications device. The image is analyzed using an optical character recognition engine coupled to the processor. The analyzing the image includes determining that the image includes potential credential information that includes at least one credential including at least one character string. The at least one credential from the potential credential information is provided, using the communications device, to a service in order to access the service. In an embodiment, the user device may include a limited input device that is free of a physical keyboard having alphanumeric characters, and the determination and use of the at least one credential from the image simplifies the accessing of the service by minimizing or eliminating the need to use the limited input device.
US08839369B1

Detection of email phishing attacks is initiated when an email is received in a computer system. The email is parsed for features indicative of an email phishing attack, such as a link to an external website. The link to the website is followed to connect to and access the website. Fictitious information, such as fake user credentials or fake credit card information, is provided to the website. The response of the website to the fictitious information is evaluated to determine if the website is a phishing site. The website is deemed to be a phishing site when the website accepts the fictitious information as valid. The email is blocked to prevent its addressee from opening the email when the email is deemed part of a phishing attack, such as when it links to a phishing site.
US08839366B2

A vehicular communication system includes a mobile communication terminal, an in-vehicle apparatus, and a distribution center to distribute a content. The mobile communication terminal includes a terminal-side application to execute a content. The in-vehicle apparatus includes a vehicle-side application to execute a content. If the mobile communication terminal and the in-vehicle apparatus are not communicably connected, the terminal-side application of the mobile communication terminal executes a content acquired from the distribution center. If the mobile communication terminal and the in-vehicle apparatus are communicably connected, the terminal-side application and the vehicle-side application are caused to be cooperative and the vehicle-side application of the in-vehicle apparatus is enabled to execute a content acquired by the mobile communication terminal.
US08839360B1

Methods having corresponding computer-readable media comprise: generating a authorization token, wherein the authorization token represents i) one or more actions for a target computer, wherein the one or more actions require an authorization, ii) one or more preconditions, wherein the preconditions must be true for the target computer to execute the one or more actions, and iii) the authorization; and providing the authorization token to a person, wherein the person does not have the authorization, and wherein the person provides the authorization token to the target computer.
US08839354B2

A system includes an application server that hosts a plurality of enterprise applications and stores enterprise data associated with each of the enterprise applications. A client device executes a client application that can provide access to each of the enterprise applications. The client application includes a memory protection engine that allocates a first memory location for the enterprise data transmitted to the client device so the enterprise data is accessible to each of the plurality of enterprise applications through the client application. A second allocated memory location is allocated for non-enterprise data. A mobile enterprise server transmits the enterprise data to the client device.
US08839352B2

A security device may be interconnected, via multiple links, between multiple network devices in a network. The firewall device may include multiple input interfaces that receive data units from a first network device destined for a second network device of the multiple network devices, identify a session associated with each of the data units, and process the data units in accordance with the identified sessions and a security policy.
US08839333B2

A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving Ultra High Definition (UHD) broadcasting service in a digital broadcasting system are provided. The method includes receiving a TS through a transport channel, determining whether or not the TS includes information about an association relation with other TSs, analyzing the information about the association relation from the TS, determining whether or not the TS includes information about a program provided in association with the other TSs based on the information about the association relation, extracting the information about the program from the TS, and obtaining the program based on the information about the program. In accordance with the present invention, high definition broadcasting service can be provided because a broadcasting program having a great transmission bandwidth can be transmitted and received in a digital broadcasting system.
US08839329B2

A method of processing a non-real time service of a broadcast receiver includes receiving a signaling information table including additional information on contents configuring a non-real time service and a content identifier for each content, acquiring the additional information on contents and the content identifier for each content from the signaling information table, storing contents being downloaded through a FLUTE or an internet in a storage medium, based upon the additional information on contents and the content identifier for each content, and displaying a list of recordings including the contents stored in the storage medium.
US08839326B2

Some aspects of the disclosure relate to automated quality control of a media asset. The quality control can comprise testing automatically various facets of content reproduction. In one embodiment, three facets can be tested: (1) access to a rendering unit configured to reproduce content of the media asset; (2) rendering of at least a portion of visual content of the media asset; and (3) rendering at least a portion of the aural content of the media asset. In one aspect, testing the rendering of the visual content can be differential in that features of the rendering can be monitored at a plurality of instants during content reproduction and can be compared for two or more instants of the plurality of instants. In another aspect, based on the comparison, the media asset can be deemed to pass the quality control and thus be accepted for consumption.
US08839319B2

A method and system of limiting recording demands on digital video recorders and other media records. The limiting being facilitated through analysis of programs and other media available from one or more network resources associated with and/or having capabilities to provide media to the recording element. The network resources may be associated with provider resources, customer resources, and/or any other resource in communication with the recording element.
US08839316B2

A system includes a set-top box and a server for a subscription television service. The set-top box includes a processor to receive a video-on-demand (VOD) programming suggestion from a user and send, to the server, the VOD programming suggestion. The server includes a processor to receive the VOD programming suggestion, compile the VOD programming suggestion with other VOD programming suggestions from other set-top boxes, and send a notification to the set-top box that the VOD programming suggestion has been added to the list of available VOD programming for the subscription television service.
US08839306B2

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a computing device, including a controller to: transmit a client program having a graphical user interface (GUI) to a media device operating in an interactive television (iTV) network, wherein the client program presents a symbolic overlay that superimposes onto media content received by the media device and enables the media device to associate commentary with the media content received at the media device; and conduct searches for one of consumer products or consumer services associated with the media content based on the commentary regarding the media content. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08839299B2

An apparatus and method for creating channels dedicated to a particular type of content. The method includes acquiring seed content and using the seed content in the creation or updating of a content list. Additional content for the channel is acquired based on the common features of the content list.
US08839275B1

A method and system for intercepting I/O requests and responses in a proprietary operating environment or hypervisor-virtualization utilizing open source software or general public license device drivers. The processing includes at the added functionality module comprises at least one of encrypting, de-duplicating, compressing and caching.
US08839273B2

A system and method for notifying users in a manner that is appropriate for the event and the environment for the user. The method of the present invention relates to determining the desired properties of an event and assigning varying notification characteristics to that event. Profiles are created of the various events, wherein each profile relates to a different mode or situational environment, such as a meeting environment, an office or normal environment, a louder outside-type environment, etc. The invention further relates to placing the small computer device in a particular mode, either automatically or manually. Once in a particular mode the device provides notifications according to that mode.
US08839270B2

A method, system, computer system and computer program product determine that a communication connection has switched between an active state and an inactive state and cause a user interface for communicating via the connection to be updated asynchronously to correspond to the current state. For example, the user interface can indicate that the connection is active or inactive and allow or disallow initiation of communication via the connection accordingly. For example, consider a call center agent using a computer system as the user interface to the telephone channel, but the user does not click a “hang up” button when the caller hangs up the telephone. The disconnection of the telephone is determined and the user interface is asynchronously updated, thereby allowing the agent to make another call. In one embodiment, a communication server determines the change in state and causes a web browser user interface to be updated asynchronously.
US08839269B2

Management of transaction message flow utilizing a transaction message queue. The system and method are for use in financial transaction messaging systems. The system is designed to enable an administrator to monitor, distribute, control and receive alerts on the use and status of limited network and exchange resources. Users are grouped in a hierarchical manner, preferably including user level and group level, as well as possible additional levels such as account, tradable object, membership, and gateway levels. The message thresholds may be specified for each level to ensure that transmission of a given transaction does not exceed the number of messages permitted for the user, group, account, etc.
US08839268B2

A method and system of avoiding silent data corruption in a request-response messaging system where a requester relies on tags to match request messages with response messages. The silent data corruption occurring if the requester process a response message after a tag used with the response message was reused with another request message.
US08839260B2

A computing device associated with a cloud computing environment identifies a first worker cloud computing device from a group of worker cloud computing devices with available resources sufficient to meet required resources for a highest-priority task associated with a computing job including a group of prioritized tasks. A determination is made as to whether an ownership conflict would result from an assignment of the highest-priority task to the first worker cloud computing device based upon ownership information associated with the computing job and ownership information associated with at least one other task assigned to the first worker cloud computing device. The highest-priority task is assigned to the first worker cloud computing device in response to determining that the ownership conflict would not result from the assignment of the highest-priority task to the first worker cloud computing device.
US08839259B2

A thread scheduler may be used in a chip multiprocessor or symmetric multiprocessor system to schedule threads to processors. The scheduler may determine the bandwidth utilization of the two threads in combination and whether that utilization exceeds the threshold value. If so, the threads may be scheduled on different processor clusters that do not have the same paths between the common memory and the processors. If not, then the threads may be allocated on the same processor cluster that shares cache among processors.
US08839254B2

Pre-computing a portion of forecasted workloads may enable load-balancing of data center workload, which may ultimately reduce capital and operational costs associated with data centers. Computing tasks performed by the data centers may be analyzed to identify computing tasks that are eligible for pre-computing, and may be performed prior to an actual data request from a user or entity. In some aspects, the pre-computing tasks may be performed during a low-volume workload period prior to a high-volume workload period to reduce peaks that typically occur in data center workloads that do not utilize pre-computation. Statistical modeling methods can be used to make predictions about the tasks that can be expected to maximally contribute to bottlenecks at data centers and to guide the speculative computing.
US08839250B2

An image forming apparatus includes a memory configured to store programs installed in the image forming apparatus and having plural states; a condition storing unit configured to store at least one condition defining a set of states of one or more of the programs; a state obtaining unit configured to obtain state information indicating current states of the programs; and a condition examination unit configured to examine the condition based on the obtained state information to determine whether the condition is satisfied and to output a result of the determination.
US08839244B2

A method of data processing includes a physical host executing a virtual machine monitor (VMM) that instantiates a plurality of virtual machines (VMs). The VMM supports processing of a virtual link manager (VLM) that deploys and configures a plurality of Layer 2 virtual links sharing bandwidth of a Layer 2 physical link between the physical host and an access switch. The VMM communicates parameters of the plurality of virtual links with the access switch.
US08839239B2

Technology is described for protection of virtual machines executing on a host device having host processors and host memory. The system can include a hypervisor configured to enable the virtual machines to execute concurrently on the host device. An emancipated partition can be provided with a communication channel to the hypervisor. A primary partition can be configured to interface with the emancipated partition through the communication channel via the hypervisor. In addition, an emancipated memory space and virtual register state for the emancipated partition can be protected from direct access by the primary partition.
US08839238B2

Techniques for dynamically managing a sleep state of a virtual machine are provided. The techniques include detecting idleness of a virtual machine, putting the idle virtual machine into a sleep state, implementing a virtual machine surrogate, wherein the virtual machine surrogate listens to network traffic, enabling the virtual machine to handle network traffic that is capable of being handled by the virtual machine, and enabling the virtual machine to queue network traffic and wake-up the virtual machine in the sleep state for network traffic that the virtual machine surrogate is incapable of handling.
US08839236B2

A virtual machine monitor provides a trusted operating environment for a software usage metering application when a qualified virtual machine monitor is loaded as part of trusted boot and when all other programs and operating systems run in containers managed by the virtual machine monitor. The virtual machine monitor may also host a locking application for limiting the functionality of the computer if contractual terms of use are not met. Both the metering and locking applications run at a higher privilege level than ring 0, at the same level as the virtual machine monitor.
US08839228B2

A system and method for updating an offline virtual machine are disclosed. The method comprises mounting an image of an offline virtual machine on a host operating system. The method further comprises generating drive-mapping information for the mounted virtual machine image and loading registry information of the mounted virtual machine image onto the host operating system using the drive-mapping information. An update to be applied to the offline virtual machine is determined based on the registry information and a patch bundle is retrieved based on the determination, wherein the patch bundle comprises registry update instructions, file system update instructions, and a patch file. The patch bundle is executed on the host operating system to update the offline virtual machine.
US08839221B2

An automated approach to updating, testing, and distributing virtual machine images is described. Centralized updates allow for a virtual machine image executed locally on thousands of machines to be updated in a single place and the automated testing and distribution signaling provides for smooth rollouts of the updates.
US08839217B2

A method for efficiently solving the “use-def” problem involving label variables performs a data-flow analysis on a control flow graph that includes calculating an inset for each node as follows: if a predecessor node directly branches to the node, the method includes an outset of the predecessor node in the inset of the node; if a predecessor node indirectly branches to the node via a label variable and the node is in definitions of the label variable in the outset of the predecessor node, the method includes the outset of the predecessor node in the inset of the node; if a predecessor node indirectly branches to the node via a label variable and the node is not in definitions of the label variable in the outset of the predecessor node, the method does not include the outset of the predecessor node in the inset of the node.
US08839215B2

A method, system and computer program product for optimizing memory usage associated with duplicate string objects in a Java virtual machine. The method comprises scanning a heap of the Java virtual machine at the end of the start-up process of the virtual machine to identify duplicate strings associated with the virtual machine, storing the identified strings in a string cache file, and determining whether a new string that needs to be created during start-up already exists in the string cache file. The duplicate strings are added to an interned strings table. A reference to a duplicate string is returned if a string to be created is already in the string cache file.
US08839201B2

In a method of testing a software item, an automated test of a software item is conducted. In response to occurrence of an error condition during the test, test data associated with the error condition is captured. A portion of the captured test data is forwarded to a designated electronic notification location.
US08839199B2

To make it possible to perform efficient program development, a development system includes a label managing unit configured to update, when an execution program D2 is regenerated, a label information table D3, which corresponds to the execution program D2, for generating execution screen data D5 and executes or does not execute, according to update content of the label information table D3, update of ID information associated with the label information table D3 and the regenerated execution program D2 and a drawing apparatus configured to associate, when execution screen data D5 is generated based on the label information table D3, ID information of a value same as the ID information, which is associated with the label information table D3 at a point when the execution screen data D5 is generated, with the generated execution screen data D5.
US08839198B2

An application analysis mechanism analyzes a composite application for conformance to a set of component interaction rules that define one or more conditions that should be satisfied between components written in different languages, along with an action that is performed depending on the analysis of the conditions. Once the component interaction rules are defined, the composite application is received. Next, a model of the composite application is built that separates components of the composite application into categories based on the programming language used, and includes metadata to describe interaction between components. The set of component interaction rules is then run against the model of the composite application. The results of the analysis are then output. The automated analysis of composite applications removes much of the process that is prone to human errors to provide an efficient and consistent approach for analyzing composite applications.
US08839194B2

The present invention relates to a user interface server framework and a method of using the framework, which supports a user interface developer to develop a final user interface based on components. The component-based web application development framework used for creating a web page comprises a runtime engine for executing a method of a business object and returning a result of executing the method in response to a user's request; a script component for performing a preprocessing on a user input value before executing the method of the business object, performing a post-processing on the result of executing the method after executing the method of the business object, and dynamically arranging a user interface object; and a core component for initializing the framework and confirming whether the user's request can be processed in the framework.
US08839185B2

A method for generating a transport track for routing transport requests through a software system landscape comprising a central control system and a plurality of logical systems interconnected by logical transport paths, a transport request defining a software service to at least one of the code and the data of a system in the landscape, is described. The method includes selecting a group of systems for a software service project according to a project definition; analyzing in the central system the transport paths between the systems of the group for finding a suitable route through all systems of the group; and generating in the central system a transport track according to the analysis, the transport track defining a route for transport requests through all systems of the group in a particular order, the transport track specifying one source system in which software services are permitted, pairs of adjacent interconnected systems, and at least one target system.
US08839184B1

Techniques for computer-assisted routing of an electronic design for a programmable target device are described herein. In an example embodiment, a computer system displays a representation of the programmable target device in a user interface. The computer system receives first user input that indicates a first component in the electronic design for the programmable target device. The computer system determines one or more second components of the electronic design that can be routed to the first component and displays one or more visual objects that indicate the one or more second components. The computer system then receives second user input that selects a particular component from the one or more second components and stores interconnect data indicating that the first component is routed to the particular component.
US08839183B2

A computer-implemented method, system and computer program product for visualizing derived layer shapes of an integrated circuit design are disclosed. The computer-implemented method, system and computer program product include visualizing the derived layer shapes on a layout canvas; providing a step by step process for visualizing each derived layer shape as each derived layer shape is generated; and providing a hierarchy of intermediate derived layers based upon the step by step process.
US08839182B2

A method for checking signal transmission lines of a printed circuit board (PCB) layout includes determining differential pairs to be checked and dividing the differential pairs to be checked into a first group and a second group. A first reference distance between differential pairs belonging to the same group and a second reference distance between differential pairs belonging to different groups are set. A first box surrounding each line section of one to be checked signal differential line of the first group and a second box surrounding the first box are created. One first box surrounding each line section of the to be checked differential line of the second group is created. Whether or not in the first box and the second box there are differential lines which do not satisfy design standards is determined.
US08839162B2

Exemplary embodiments include a method for modifying a circuit synthesis flow having automated instructions, the method including receiving circuit design input for a circuit design, receiving custom specifications to the circuit design input, synthesizing high level logic from the circuit design input, placing logic on the circuit design, refining the circuit design and generating a circuit description from the circuit design.
US08839158B2

A pattern designing method, including the steps of carrying out transfer simulation calculation and step simulation calculation by using physical layout data produced from circuit design data, and comparing a result of the transfer simulation calculation and the step simulation calculation with a preset standard; and carrying out calculation for electrical characteristics by using parameters obtained from the physical layout when as a result of the comparison, the preset standard is fulfilled, and carrying out calculation for the electrical characteristics by reflecting the result of the transfer simulation calculation and the step simulation calculation in the parameters when as the result of the comparison, the preset standard is not fulfilled, thereby extracting the parameters.
US08839148B2

A method and apparatus managing processing resources in a portable electronic device are provided. An area of the display device is controlled to provide a banner region comprising device state data, the area of the display device enabled to receive focus using an input device. While focus is in the banner region, first input data is receiving, and the display device is responsively controlled to provide in the banner region an indication of the first application, replacing the device state data. Further input data is received while the indication of the first application is provided in the banner region. In response and, in response, at least one of the following occurs: the first application is brought to the foreground by controlling the display device to provide a representation of the first application; and the first application is closed such that resources used by the processing unit are reduced.
US08839144B2

A system may include reception of a selection of a first report, the first report based on a first data source defining a first plurality of fields and defining a first at least one key figure, the first report including at least one of the first at least one key figures and at least one of the first plurality of fields, presentation of a first graphical representation of the first data source, the first graphical representation comprising a first graphical icon representing the first at least one key figure, and at least one second graphical icon, each of the at least one second graphical icons representing a respective one of the at least one of the first plurality of fields of the first report, reception of a selection of a second report, the second report based on a second data source defining a second plurality of fields and defining a second at least one key figure, the second report including at least one of the second at least one key figures and at least one of the second plurality of fields, presentation of a second graphical representation of the second data source, the second graphical representation graphically linked to the first graphical representation and comprising a third graphical icon representing the second at least one key figure and a plurality of fourth graphical icons, each of the plurality of fourth graphical icons representing a respective one of the second plurality of fields, reception of a selection of one of the plurality of fourth graphical icons representing one of the second plurality of fields, and generation of a third report comprising the at least one of the first plurality of fields and the one of the second plurality of fields.
US08839130B2

An electronic apparatus includes a display unit, a sensor, and a controller. The display unit includes a screen. The sensor is configured to detect a user operation with respect to the screen and output a signal corresponding to the user operation. The controller is configured to cause a data icon to be displayed on the screen, judge a drag operation with respect to the data icon based on the signal from the sensor, judge, based on the signal from the sensor, a user operation different from the drag operation for one of copying and moving data related to the data icon based on the drag operation, and execute processing for one of copying and moving the data according to the user operation.
US08839129B2

A user interface for a communication device allows a user to set up and manage conference communications. The user interface has an active communication area and a held communication area. Communication icons representing communications at the communication device are shown in either the active or held areas of the user interface. By detecting where a user has positioned one or more communication icons within the user interface, the communication device handles the communications to place communications in conference, place communications on hold, swap held and active communications, or disconnect communications.
US08839127B2

Object transitions can include providing a graphical transition of an object item that retains an aspect ratio associated with the object item while transitioning the object item into an instance of an executing object associated with the object item.
US08839121B2

Systems and methods for unifying coordinate systems in an augmented reality application or system are disclosed. User devices capture an image of a scene, and determine a location based on the scene image. The scene image may be compared to cartography data or images to determine the location. User devices may propose an origin and orientation or transformation data for a common coordinate system and exchange proposed coordinate system data to agree on a common coordinate system. User devices may also transmit location information to an augmented reality system that then determines an a common coordinate system and transmits coordinate system data such as transformation matrices to the user devices. Images presented to users may be adjusted based on user device locations relative to the coordinate system.
US08839120B2

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for initiating communication between two users among several users while at least one of the two users is browsing a web page. User information is collected about each user among the several users. Page information is collected about what web page each user among the several users is browsing. A portion of the user information and page information for a first user and a second user is shared between the first user and the second user when a predetermined criterion is met, and request by the first user to initiate communication with the second user is processed.
US08839111B2

A computer readable medium containing media creating application code which implements the following procedures, generating in a user interface an application window having a window frame the window frame defining a pane, displaying a theme in the pane, displaying a plurality of buttons on the frame; and displaying a status indicator on the frame.
US08839100B1

Exemplary embodiments update a revision value related to a data set that includes data. The revision value indicates whether a revision event has occurred with respect to the data set. Exemplary embodiments identify whether a change associated with the data qualifies as a revision event in the data set. The identification is based on a configurable requirement. The revision value is specified based on the identification to provide a user with an indication of whether the revision event has occurred.
US08839095B2

Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, an object may be utilized to define, communicate, and/or control a spatial relationship between at least two other objects. Such an object may be somewhat analogous to a spring in that a minimum margin between the two other objects may be defined to allow the two other objects to approach one another until the minimum margin is reached, and a flexible margin may allow movement of the two other objects within the flexible margin relative to each other, optionally up to a maximum distance of separation.
US08839094B2

A yearbook system is provided. The yearbook system provides a single, extensive resource to plan, create, educate about, sell, and distribute yearbooks. The system further provides an integrated yearbook system management and yearbook production system to enable the production of the yearbook to a printed output. A yearbook server hosts a client site and a client database. The client site is enables the school to plan, create, sell and distribute a yearbook. Further, they system may be used to create the yearbook online. A production server hosts a production database synchronizes with the yearbook server, providing images to the client for use in creating the yearbook, and accepting completed created pages submitted by the school from the yearbook server. The production server translates the created pages into the format to proceed through the regular preparation for production of the yearbook.
US08839093B1

Webpages are optimizing through the use of experiments that compare the responses of viewers that are either presented with the original webpage or a variant thereof. One or more variants are first defined through the use of a browser-based editor application that initially examines the webpage for a snippet of code. The snippet can be added to the webpage, if missing, and the webpage returned to the editor application. Changes made to the webpage to define a variant are saved in variation code. When the webpage is later requested by multiple viewers, in each instance the viewer receives the webpage with the snippet, the snippet instructs the browser to download a file, and the instructions of the file determine whether the viewer will see the variant or the original webpage. Tracking viewer responses to the webpage and the variant allow a statistical basis for comparison to be developed.
US08839089B2

A multi-dimensional data reporting system presents a data report based on a data model, creates a callout report model based on a cell in the data report, and presents an instance of the callout report model in a callout interface. In one implementation of the multi-dimensional data reporting system, upon receiving a callout control associated with selected cell of the data report, the system retrieves the multi-dimensional data associated with the selected cell, builds the callout report model based on the retrieved multi-dimensional data, and presents an instance of the callout report model in a callout interface. In one implementation, the callout interface provides the capability to change the type and the dimensionality of the instance of the callout report model in the callout interface. The callout interface also allows inserting the instance into the data report and to update the data report based on the instance.
US08839085B2

A method for decoding linear network codes that includes receiving a plurality of packets from an ererror detector and generating a matrix out of the plurality of packets where elements of each column of the matrix correspond to symbols of the plurality of packets. Then decoding across each row of the matrix using only the symbols with highest associated reliability values to obtain a decoded matrix, where each column of the decoded matrix corresponds to a message packet.
US08839084B2

Systems and techniques for serial data stream operations are described. A described system includes a serial bus communicatively coupled with a memory structure to handle a serial data stream from or to the memory structure; generators configured to generate enablement signals that are associated with different bit-groups of the serial data stream, each of the enablement signals including pulses that are aligned with time-slots that are associated with a respective bit-group; logic elements configured to store internal states and produce output signals that are based on the serial data stream, the enablement signals, and the internal states, and circuitry configured to capture values. Each of the enablement signals enables a respective logic element to selectively change a respective internal state responsive to bit-values of a respective bit-group. Each of the captured values represents an output of a respective logic element that is responsive to all bit-values of a respective bit-group.
US08839073B2

An SSD controller maintains a zero count and a one count, and/or in some embodiments a zero/one disparity count, for each read unit read from an SLC NVM (or the lower pages of an MLC). In an event that the read unit is uncorrectable in part due to a shift in the threshold voltage distributions away from their nominal distributions, the maintained counts enable a determination of a direction and/or a magnitude to adjust a read threshold to track the threshold voltage shift and restore the read data zero/one balance. In various embodiments, the adjusted read threshold is determined in a variety of described ways (counts, percentages) that are based on a number of described factors (determined threshold voltage distributions, known stored values, past NVM operating events). Extensions of the forgoing techniques are described for MLC memories.
US08839071B2

Semiconductor memory devices are provided that include a nonvolatile memory that has a plurality of memory cells and a memory controller that is configured to control at least some of the operations of the nonvolatile memory. The memory controller include an error correction unit. Moreover, the memory controller is configured to determine whether a read failure that occurs during a read operation of a first of the plurality of memory cells is due to charge leakage based at least in part on an output of the error correction unit. Related methods are also disclosed.
US08839066B2

Consistent the present disclosure, errored bits are inserted into a data stream, which is carried by an optical signal. The optical signal is transmitted over an optical link that may induce additional errors, i.e., add additional errored bits to the data stream. At the receive end, the optical signal is converted into a corresponding electrical signal that carries the data stream. The data stream is subject to forward error correction (FEC) decoding with an iterative decoder, for example. The iterative decoder decodes the data stream over a number of iterations until both the inserted errored bits and the additional errored bits are corrected. Since the number of inserted bits is known, the number of iterations required to correct the inserted bits is also known (“first iterations”). Accordingly, the number of iterations required to correct the additional errored bits caused by transmission over the optical link may be determined based on the total number of iterations performed and the number of the first iterations.
US08839058B2

A method and apparatus for multi-site testing of computer memory devices. An embodiment of a method of testing computer memory devices includes coupling multiple memory devices, each memory device having a serializer output and a deserializer input, wherein the serializer output of a first memory device is coupled with a deserializer input of one or more of the memory devices of the plurality of memory devices. The method further includes producing test signal patterns using a test generator of each memory device, serializing the test signal pattern at each memory device, and transmitting the serialized test pattern for testing of the memory devices, wherein testing of the memory devices includes a first test mode and a second test mode.
US08839055B2

A system and method for the execution of a program comprises a user-defined sequence of standard hardware and analysis module commands of an instrument, in the context of a tester comprising a plurality of VSAs and VSGs, or other hardware measurement modules types, where the coordination of command execution and resource availability is built into the system as an inherent part of its overall architecture. As such, the commands are the same as those ordinarily executed in piecemeal fashion, but are now automatically and sequentially executed in an atomic and deterministic manner through the coordinated interaction of embodiments of the invention.
US08839054B2

A read only memory (ROM) with redundancy and methods of use are provided. The ROM with redundancy includes a programmable array coupled to a repair circuit having one or more redundant repairs. The one or more redundant repairs include a word address match logic block, a data I/O address, and a tri-state buffer. The word address match logic block is provided to the tri-state buffer as a control input and the data I/O address is provided to the tri-state buffer as an input. An output of the tri-state buffer of each redundant repair is provided as a first input to one or more logic devices. One or more data outputs of a ROM bit cell array is provided as a second input to a respective one of the one or more logic devices.
US08839051B1

A system for clocking a decoder is disclosed. The system includes: a channel front end configured to receive input data, a first clock configured to provide a first clock signal as input to the channel front end, a decoder configured to receive intermediate data associated with the output of the channel front end, and a second clock configured to provide a second clock signal as input to the decoder. In some embodiments, the second clock signal is not derived from the first clock signal.
US08839047B2

A client device in a distributed system includes a timer for timing a request time duration substantially including a period of time that the client device is waiting for results to be received via a network from a server in response to a request sent by the client device. A processor of the client device compares the request time duration with a dynamically generated request time threshold, and automatically controls a network interface to issue one or more alert messages to a network operation center (NOC) via the network when the request time duration is greater than the request time threshold. The request time threshold is dynamically calculated according to historic request time durations timed by the timer for a plurality of previous requests sent by the client device.
US08839046B2

Re-arranging data handling in a computer-implemented system that comprises a plurality of existing physical entities. At least one reliability rating is assigned to each of various existing physical entities of the computer-implemented system; and in response to change. Reverse predictive failure analysis uses the assigned reliability ratings to determine cumulative reliability rating(s) for at least one arrangement of the system. Data handling is re-arranged with respect to at least a portion of the existing computer-implemented system to provide a designated cumulative reliability rating.
US08839045B2

An approach is provided in which a network hardware adapter stores offload information in a shared memory area that is located on a host system. The offload information includes connection information that was offloaded to the network hardware adapter by an application executing on the host system. An operating system (e.g., a network device driver) detects a network adapter error corresponding to the network hardware adapter and, in turn, retrieves the offload information stored in the shared memory area. As such, an analysis application utilizes the retrieved offload information to debug the network adapter error.
US08839039B2

An approach is disclosed for performing initialization operations for a graphics processing unit (GPU). The approach includes detecting errors while performing one or more initialization operations. Further, the approach includes releasing a holdoff on a communication link that couples the GPU to a memory bridge and causing debug output to be displayed to a user that indicates the error.
US08839035B1

In some implementations, a testing service receives a test execution request for executing test operations on a test target. The testing service may map the test execution request to a particular type of supported test framework from among a plurality of types of supported test frameworks. The testing service may obtain a test package provided by a user that requested the testing, such as from a cloud storage location. The testing service determines a computing capacity for executing the testing and appropriates a plurality of workers in a cloud computing service. The testing service configures the plurality of workers for executing the test operations based on at least one of the test framework, the test execution request or the test package. The testing service provides test execution chunks from the test package to the plurality of workers for executing the testing on the test target.
US08839032B2

A method of managing errors in a data processing system (10) may involve at least one computer system (14). Each computer system (14) may include a plurality of hardware components (18), including a processor (20) for executing a respective operating system and a memory (22) for storing instructions for the respective operating system (24), and firmware (28) including a firmware error handler (30). For each computer system (14), the firmware error handler (30) may identify an error occurring in one of the hardware components (18). Each respective firmware error handler (30) may communicate error information about the identified error to an error manager (32) external of the computer system (14). The error manager (14) may compile the error information communicated from each respective firmware error handler (30).
US08839015B2

Generally, this disclosure describes an energy-efficient Ethernet communications approach. In at least one embodiment described herein, an Ethernet controller may be configured to operate in an active power state to transmit or receive data packets at a maximum available link speed. The maximum available link speed may be determined by a negotiation between the Ethernet controller and a link partner coupled to the Ethernet controller. Once the data packets are transmitted or received, the Ethernet controller may be configured to operate in an idle power state to reduce energy consumption.
US08839013B2

A method of reducing power consumption in a network. A first network device powers down or reduces the port speed of a port if said port is blocked by a loop mitigation protocol.
US08838996B2

Provided is a non-transitory computer readable medium causing a computer to function as a designation receiving unit that receives designation of a protection target section, a movement arranging unit that moves and arranges the protection target section of a program to a second arrangement location different from a first arrangement location, and a changing unit that changes the protection target section of the program to a substitution code, wherein the substitution code causes a native environment to function as a reconstruction unit that reconstructs context of the native environment as virtual context for a virtual machine in a memory of the native environment, and a virtual machine execution unit that executes the virtual machine, and delivers information indicative of an address in the memory of the virtual context to the virtual machine, so that the virtual machine executes the protection target section using the virtual context.
US08838994B2

A method that protects computer data from untrusted programs. Each computer's object and process is assigned with trust attributes, which define the way it can interact with other objects within the system. When an object is classified as untrusted, it can interact with other object within the system on a limited basis. A virtualized system is provided on the computer so that when the untrusted object attempts to perform an operation that is outside its scope of authorization, the virtualized system intercepts the operation but present the untrusted program with an indication that the requested operation has been performed. The method further includes processes to securely move a program from an untrusted group to a trusted group.
US08838976B2

Systems and methods are provided for controlling access to online services. For example, the system may include an application running on a user computer (130) that collects platform data (e.g. physical device parameters) and generates a machine fingerprint (stage 602). The computer (130) may send the machine fingerprint to the authentication server (110). The server (110) may associate the received machine fingerprint with the appropriate online account information received from a host server (120) or the like (stage 604). The authentication server (110) may send the appropriate registration status signal to the host server (120), which in turn may update the online profile information to include the user's registration status (stage 606).
US08838974B2

A method of ensuring the integrity of read-only components in deployed mixed-mode applications that includes generating a digital fingerprint prior to the deployment of a mixed-mode application is discussed. The digital fingerprint is based on a read-only component in the mixed-mode application and uniquely identifies the read-only component. The method also deploys the mixed-mode application and the digital fingerprint. Additionally, the method verifies, at execution time by using the digital fingerprint, that the read-only component in the mixed-mode deployed application that served as the basis for the digital fingerprint is identical to the same read-only component originally packaged with the mixed-mode application.
US08838972B2

A communication network manages key material. A method generates and provides session keys from a security node to an access node for further propagation during handoff procedures, without requiring the security node to take part in the handoff procedures.
US08838967B1

The Internet is becoming an essential part of our lives. This trend is even stronger with the rise of cell phones having Internet access that almost the entire population carries with them at all times. Security is a huge problem on the Internet, however, and new authentication methods are needed specifically for cell phones. Presented here is a method of identifying a mobile electronic device by its configuration settings, potentially including contact list information. This invention, in particular, fills a crucial need to secure access to the Internet from mobile phones.
US08838964B2

A method and system for software package auditing is described. A processing device receives user input that identifies one or more software packages to be included in a software product release. The one or more identified packages are imported into a package audit tool executable by the processing device and the package audit tool automatically validates that the imported packages comply with a set of one or more requirements specified for the software product release using the package audit tool.
US08838960B2

Users of Internet services (e.g., SKYPE messaging service, GOOGLETALK messaging service, AOL INSTANT MESSENGER messaging service, and MICROSOFT MESSENGER messaging service) that are initially identified using separate identifiers that may be associated with respective service providers (e.g., email addresses) can manage network identities using a single unified set of account information managed by a registry service. The registry authenticates the user's request(s) to bind a service provider identity to his or her personal registry user record by presenting a random challenge to the user which the registry must then receive back from the service provider corresponding to the identity being added. Later, the registry may authenticate itself to service providers using information received from a service provider application as the service provider application authenticates itself to the service provider.
US08838958B2

A method for using a network appliance to efficiently buffer and encrypt data for transmission includes: receiving, by an appliance via a connection, two or more SSL records comprising encrypted messages; decrypting the two or more messages; buffering, by the appliance, the two or more decrypted messages; determining, by the appliance, that a transmittal condition has been satisfied; encrypting, by the appliance in response to the determination, the first decrypted message and a portion of the second decrypted message to produce a third SSL record; and transmitting, by the appliance via a second connection, the third record. Corresponding systems are also described.
US08838955B2

Systems and methods for two-way, secure, data communication within critical infrastructures are usable to protect critical infrastructure information while allowing real-time monitoring and remote access. Such communication systems and methods can be used to protect critical data by, for example, providing a single point of access via unidirectional, serial, non-routable connections. Additionally, data flow may be controlled by a first server that is not accessible outside of the critical infrastructure.
US08838946B2

An apparatus includes an instruction decoder, first and second source registers and a circuit coupled to the decoder to receive packed data from the source registers and to unpack the packed data responsive to an unpack instruction received by the decoder. A first packed data element and a third packed data element are received from the first source register. A second packed data element and a fourth packed data element are received from the second source register. The circuit copies the packed data elements into a destination register resulting with the second packed data element adjacent to the first packed data element, the third packed data element adjacent to the second packed data element, and the fourth packed data element adjacent to the third packed data element.
US08838945B2

A data processing circuit is described that includes an instruction decoder operable in a first and a second instruction mode. In the first instruction mode instructions have respective fields for controlling each of multiple functional units, and in the second instruction mode instructions controlling only one functional unit. A mode control circuit controls selecting the instruction modes. The instruction decoder uses time-stationary decoding of operations and destination registers. When instructions are scheduled, constraints are imposed on operations for which operation selection and destination register selection are included on different sides of an instruction mode change. When an instruction containing a jump is encountered, the mode control circuit sets the instruction mode for subsequent instructions in conformity with information provided by executing the jump command.
US08838931B1

Described are techniques for performing storage optimizations in a system. The optimizations may include a data movement optimization. First processing may be performed by a first component to determine whether to automatically perform the data movement optimization for devices included in one or more data storage systems. The first component may be external with respect to the data storage systems and may not be included in any of the data storage systems. As a result of performing the data movement optimization, a first portion of data is automatically moved from a first of the devices to a second of the devices. The first and second devices may have different performance classifications. Additionally, automated discovery processing may be performed to determine performance classifications for devices of the data storage systems and/or determine physical device dependencies.
US08838927B2

A system includes a data collector, a plurality of data placement optimizers, a data placement arbitrator, and a data mover. The data collector is configured to collect system configuration data and system performance data. The plurality of data placement optimizers are each configured to analyze the system configuration data and the system performance data for developing a corresponding data movement plan. The data placement arbitrator is configured to arbitrate conflicts between at least two data movement plans of generated by the plurality of data placement optimizers to form an execution plan. The data mover is configured to perform the data movement plans according to the execution plan.
US08838924B2

An apparatus providing for a secure execution environment. The apparatus includes a microprocessor that is configured to execute non-secure application programs and a secure application program, where the non-secure application programs are accessed from a system memory via a system bus. The microprocessor has a non-secure memory and a secure volatile memory. The non-secure memory is configured to store portions of the non-secure application programs for execution by the microprocessor, where the non-secure memory is observable and accessible by the non-secure application programs and by system bus resources within the microprocessor. The secure volatile memory is configured to store the secure application program for execution by the microprocessor, where the secure volatile memory is isolated from the non-secure application programs and the system bus resources within the microprocessor. The secure application program is decrypted using a processor unique key and is written to the secure volatile memory.
US08838918B2

An information processing apparatus includes a battery for providing the interior of the information processing apparatus with power; a volatile memory for storing data; a nonvolatile memory for backupping the data stored in the volatile memory; a controller for controlling backup of the data in accordance with a process comprising the steps of: saving the data into the nonvolatile memory; upon recovery of the power from the external power source, writing back the data into the volatile memory; and deleting the data saved in the nonvolatile memory; wherein when the power from an external power source to the information processing apparatus is stopped during deleting data in the nonvolatile memory, the controller selectively writes back deleted data from the volatile memory into the nonvolatile memory.
US08838915B2

The present invention may provide a computer system including a plurality of tiles divided into multiple virtual domains. Each tile may include a router to communicate with others of said tiles, a private cache to store data, and a spill table to record pointers for data evicted from the private cache to a remote host, wherein the remote host and the respective tile are provided in the same virtual domain. The spill tables may allow for faster retrieval of previously evicted data because the home registry does not need to be referenced if requested data is listed in the spill table. Therefore, embodiments of the present invention may provide a distance-aware cache collaboration architecture without incurring extraneous overhead expenses.
US08838914B2

One embodiment of the present invention includes a method for maintaining a shadow page table in at least partial correspondence with guest page mappings of a guest computation. The method marking with a traced write indication at least those entries of the shadow page table that map physical memory locations which themselves encode the guest page mappings, the marking identifying, for a hardware facility, a subset of memory access targets for which updates are to be recorded in a guest write buffer accessible to the virtualization system. Responsive to a coherency-inducing operation of the guest computation, the method reads from the guest write buffer and introduces corresponding updates into the shadow page table.
US08838912B2

A disclosed embodiment is an interruptible write block comprising a primary register having an input coupled to an input of the interruptible write block, a secondary register having an input selectably coupled to an output of the primary register and to an output of the secondary register through an interrupt circuit. The interrupt circuit is utilized to interrupt flow of new data from the primary register to the secondary register during an interrupt of a write operation, such that upon resumption of the write operation the secondary register contains valid data. A method of utilizing an interruptible write block during a write operation comprises loading data into a primary register, interrupting the write operation to perform one or more other operations, loading the data into a secondary register while loading new data into the primary register, and resuming the write operation using valid data from the secondary register.
US08838904B2

The present disclosure discloses a method, a system and a server of removing a distributed caching object. In one embodiment, the method receives a removal request, where the removal request includes an identifier of an object. The method may further apply consistent Hashing to the identifier of the object to obtain a Hash result value of the identifier, locates a corresponding cache server based on the Hash result value and renders the corresponding cache server to be a present cache server. In some embodiments, the method determines whether the present cache server is in an active status and has an active period greater than an expiration period associated with the object. Additionally, in response to determining that the present cache server is in an active status and has an active period greater than the expiration period associated with the object, the method removes the object from the present cache server. By comparing an active period of a located cache server with an expiration period associated with an object, the exemplary embodiments precisely locate a cache server that includes the object to be removed and perform a removal operation, thus saving the other cache servers from wasting resources to perform removal operations and hence improving the overall performance of the distributed cache system.
US08838900B2

A cache-coherence protocol distributes atomic operations among multiple processors (or processor cores) that share a memory space. When an atomic operation that includes an instruction to modify data stored in the shared memory space is directed to a first processor that does not have control over the address(es) associated with the data, the first processor sends a request, including the instruction to modify the data, to a second processor. Then, the second processor, which already has control of the address(es), modifies the data. Moreover, the first processor can immediately proceed to another instruction rather than waiting for the address(es) to become available.
US08838898B2

For a plurality of input/output (I/O) operations waiting to assemble complete data tracks from data segments, a process, separate from a process responsible for the data assembly into the complete data tracks, is initiated for waking a predetermined number of the waiting I/O operations. A total number of I/O operations to be awoken at each of an iterated instance of the waking is limited.
US08838896B2

The present patent application discloses a method and apparatus for using external and internal memory for cancelling traffic interference comprising storing data in an external memory; and processing the data samples on an internal memory, wherein the external memory is low bandwidth memory; and the internal memory is high bandwidth on board cache. The present method and apparatus also comprises caching portions of the data on the internal memory, filling the internal memory by reading the newest data from the external memory and updating the internal memory; and writing the older data back to the external memory from the internal memory, wherein the data is incoming data samples.
US08838895B2

A solid state disk (SSD) caches disk-based volumes in a heterogeneous storage system, improving the overall storage-system performance. The hottest data blocks are identified based on two factors: the frequency of access, and temporal locality. Temporal locality is computed using a logarithmic system time. IO latency is reduced by migrating these hottest data blocks from hard-disk-based volumes to the solid-state flash-memory disks. Some dedicated mapping metadata and a novel top-K B-tree structure are used to index the blocks. Data blocks are ranked by awarding a higher current value for recent accesses, but also by the frequency of accesses. A non-trivial value for accesses in the past is retained by accumulating the two factors over many time spans expressed as a logarithmic system time. Having two factors, access frequency and the logarithmic system time, provides for a more balanced caching system.
US08838879B2

Created is transfer order information indicating an order of transfer from multiple memory areas in accordance with an order of logical addresses and memory locations which are specified by read commands. Readout from the multiple memory areas in accordance with the transfer order information is performed by controlling memory controllers in accordance with the created transfer order information.
US08838878B2

A method of operating a controller for controlling the programming of a NAND memory chip is shown. The NAND memory chip has a plurality of blocks with each block having a certain amount of storage, wherein the amount of storage in each block is the minimum erasable unit. The method comprising storing in a temporary storage a first plurality of groups of data, wherein each of the groups of data is to be stored in a block of the NAND memory chip. Each group of data is indexed to the block with which it is to be stored. Finally, the groups of data associated with the same block are programmed into the same block in the same programming operation.
US08838866B2

A device receives a standard command. The device judges whether an address field and/or a data length field and/or a data field of the standard command includes at least one of a vendor command, a vendor data and a checkword. The device judges whether the address field and/or a data length field and/or the data field of the standard command matches a vendor predetermined pattern. If matched, the device performs a vendor operation based on the vendor command and/or the vendor data of the standard command.
US08838865B2

An adapter card adapting the ad hoc resource add/removal inherent to a host PCI or PCI Express-based system to a wireless link and wireless endpoint. The adaptation allows mobile PCI Express resources to ingress and be allocated system resources within a host's PCI system and then egress and have the allocated resources freed up for re-use/reassignment, emulating the hot plug insertion and removal of an adapter card.The invention leverages the i-PCI protocol as defined by U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/148,712, filed Apr. 21, 2008, the teachings which are incorporated by reference.
US08838859B2

In an embodiment, a host computing device includes an internal display and also includes a connector to connect to an external display. A cable is provided to connect to the connector and to connect to the external display. The cable includes video processing capabilities. For example, the cable may include a memory configured to store a frame buffer. The frame buffer may store a frame of video data for further processing by the video processing device in the cable. The video processing device may manipulate the frame in a variety of ways, e.g. scaling, rotating, gamma correction, dither correction, etc.
US08838854B2

A terminal data stream (TDS) is received and converted in a pixel-based representation. The pixel-based representation is stored in a frame buffer and a video signal based on the contents of the frame buffer is provided to a video multiplexor. The video multiplexor is also coupled to a video signal from a computer system, and the video multiplexor routes the video signal from the frame buffer to a display device.
US08838848B2

Systems and methods are provided that may be implemented to manage machine-specific System Profile Unique Data (SPUD) information for one or more information handling systems. Such SPUD information may be managed and transported through in-band and/or out-of-band processing and communications, and may be employed to make restoration of machine-specific data possible either through network data communications and/or local system data communications.
US08838845B2

In general, this disclosure relates to techniques for management of a multimedia connection between a wireless communication device (WCD) and one or more output devices. The connection may be a multimedia interface connection with content protection, e.g., High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI). In some cases, the multimedia interface connection with content protection may be inactive because the output device is no longer connected or the multimedia application is stopped or paused. The techniques include detecting a use mode of the multimedia interface connection with content protection between the WCD and one or more output devices. When the use mode of the multimedia interface connection with content protection is inactive, the WCD may reduce at least one of content processing or content protection processing. In this way, the techniques may reduce battery power consumption from multimedia processing by the WCD.
US08838837B2

Some embodiments of the invention provide a failover capability in a computer system that employs multiple paths to transfer information between virtual machines and a network, without introducing a driver component to provide this capability. For example, some embodiments of the invention provide a networking virtual switch client capable of direct communication between a networking stack implemented by a virtual machine operating system and components comprising either a direct path or a synthetic path to a network interface controller coupled to a network. The networking virtual switch client may be capable of determining which of the paths to employ for a given communication, such as by determining that a synthetic path should be employed if a direct path is not available.
US08838834B2

A method for combating electronic communication that may cause an individual to adopt extremist or terrorist philosophies. The method comprises intercepting electronic communication intended for or initiated by the individual over an Internet communication medium, identifying electronic communication, as intercepted, that relate to extremist or terrorist philosophies, analyzing content of the electronic communication that relates to extremist or terrorist philosophies, injecting counter-narrative content to the individual's communication stream to counter determined content, and displaying text associated with one or more of the method steps on a display screen.
US08838832B1

The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a method for clustering network addresses that includes receiving data for one or more first network communications from a first network address and one or more second network communications from a second network address. The method further includes determining whether the first network communications and the second network communications include a first number of distinct identifiers in common. The method further includes associating the first network address and the second network address as a cluster based on determining that the first network communications and the second network communications include the first number of distinct identifiers in common.
US08838831B2

A method for populating location wiremap databases. In particular implementations, a method includes establishing a link layer connection with a client on a switch port, where the switch port is associated with a port identifier and is mapped to a location; identifying one or more connection attributes of the connection, where the connection attributes comprise a network layer address of the client; and transmitting the port identifier and the network layer address of the client to a location server.
US08838829B2

A method and apparatus for providing information in a network by way of a Pseudowire switching TLV is presented. A second device in the network receives a first message having information relating to a first device in the network. The second device appends information relating to the second device (by way of a Pseudowire switching TLV) to the first message, resulting in a second message. The second message is then forwarded to a third device in the network.
US08838822B2

A media converter, a system and a method for converting packet based data into serial data and vice versa are provided. The media converter comprises a first interface configured to receive and provide a first type of data stream based on data packets, a second interface configured to receive and provide a second type of data stream based on a continuous serial bit stream, and a signal processor connected to the first and second interfaces and configured to convert said first type of data stream into said second type of data stream and vice versa on the basis of a block encoding/decoding algorithm and a line encoding/decoding algorithm. Thus, enhanced bit error rate may be obtained, thereby allowing the use of optical transmission channels of increased length.
US08838817B1

Embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method, and computer program product that enables applications transferring data packets over a network to a multi-processing system to choose how the data packets are going to be processed by, e.g., allowing the applications to pre-assign connections to a particular network thread and migrate a connection from one network thread to another network thread without putting the connection into an inconsistent state.
US08838814B2

A method for establishing a connection includes the following steps: A mobility management entity generates a create bearer context request message and sends the message to a selected serving gateway. The create bearer context request message at least includes address information of at least one packet data network gateway and corresponding indication information of the protocol type of connection establishment. The serving gateway receives and analyzes the create bearer context request message, and determines the protocol type of the connection according to the indication information of the protocol type of connection establishment. The serving gateway processes the create bearer context request message with the determined protocol type of connection. Further provided are a mobility management entity, a serving gateway, and a network system which are able to reduce time delay when connection is established.
US08838807B2

A system maintains a dormant state in the host, in which no beacons (or “bubbles”) are transmitted from the host when no application or service (collectively, “processes”) of the host is accepting unsolicited traffic via the edge traversal service. When at least one application or service begins to accept unsolicited traffic via the edge traversal service, the host enters a qualified state and begins transmitting the beacons. As each additional application or service begins to accept such traffic, the number of accepting applications and services is maintained. As applications and services terminate acceptance of such traffic, the number of accepting applications and services is decremented. When the last application or service terminates acceptance of unsolicited traffic via the edge traversal service, the host re-enters the dormant state and ceases transmission of its beacons.
US08838792B2

A method of discovering an identity provider instance according to this disclosure begins upon receipt from a service provider (or from a discovery service to which the service provider redirects the user) of a request for an IdP instance. Preferably, the request for an IdP instance is received as a Web services request following receipt at the service provider of an end user client request to access an application. In response to receiving the request, an IdP instance is selected, preferably using one or more criteria, such as user proximity, instance load, instance availability, the existence of a prior IdP binding, or the like. Following the selection, a response to the request is generated and returned to the requesting service provider. Preferably, the response is a redirect to the selected IdP instance.
US08838787B2

A network communication system includes a talker that may communicate a data stream having an optimal presentation time to a plurality of listeners over a network, such as an Ethernet Audio/Video Bridging network. The optimal presentation time may be determined by a maximum latency among a plurality of latencies for connections between the talker and the listeners. A controller may communicate with the listeners to determine the maximum latency. The controller may also provide the maximum latency to the talker and the listeners. The talker may determine the optimal presentation time based on the maximum latency. The listeners may allocate an optimum amount of resources to buffer the data stream before the data in the data stream is presented.
US08838786B2

Human interaction with a webpage may be determined by processing an event stream generated by the client device during the webpage interaction. A classification server receives the event stream and compares components of the event stream, including components of an event header message, with prerecorded datasets. The datasets include prerecorded event streams having a known interaction type. Training clients may be provided for generating the prerecorded datasets.
Patent Agency Ranking