US08968288B2
An ablation device includes a feedline including an inner conductor having a distal end, an outer conductor coaxially disposed around the inner conductor, and a dielectric material disposed therebetween, an elongated electrically-conductive member longitudinally disposed at the distal end of the inner conductor and having a proximal end, a first balun structure disposed over a first portion of the outer conductor and positioned so that a distal end of the first balun structure is located at a first distance from the proximal end of the electrically-conductive member and a second balun structure disposed over a second portion of the outer conductor and positioned so that a distal end of the second balun structure is located at a second distance from the proximal end of the electrically-conductive member.
US08968282B2
There is provided a method of supplying cryoenergy to a plaque within a blood vessel. The method comprises expanding an expandable membrane of a catheter apparatus with a pressure of less than 5 ATM (507 kPa), the catheter apparatus having been placed in thermal contact with the plaque within the blood vessel. The method also comprises establishing a temperature of between +15° C. (288K) and −35° C. (238K) at an interface of the expandable membrane and the blood vessel. A system and catheter apparatus are also provided.
US08968273B2
The present invention relates to a catheter set with a catheter, which has a catheter shaft; a package, which encompasses at least partially the catheter and which has an slide-out removal opening for the catheter; and a gripping aid, which is arranged in the package and which is movable on the catheter shaft, whereby the gripping aid is attached to the package and spaced a distance to the slide-out removal opening in such a manner that package material that can be pushed together is arranged between the gripping aid and the slide-out removal opening.
US08968271B2
A connector for medical infusion lines, transfusion lines, and the like, includes a tubular body having at one end a male connector including an inner tubular element and an outer hollow element, which is internally threaded and can be coupled by screwing to a complementary female connector. The line connector further includes an outer maneuvering sleeve coupled in unidirectional rotation to the body in the direction corresponding to screwing of the male connector with respect to the complementary female connector and free to turn in the opposite direction, formed by two parts coupled together on the body of the connector.
US08968267B2
The embodiments disclosed herein relate to various medical systems, including systems that can be used in conjunction with medical devices used in endoscopic surgery. Certain embodiments include various material handling devices that can transport materials between the inside and the outside of an endoscopic surgery patient.
US08968247B2
A laparoscopic port assembly includes a cannula unit including three cannulas each extending at an acute angle relative to a base. The cannulas are flexible for receiving respective angulated laparoscopic instruments. The cannula unit is rotatingly received in a port holder for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the holder, the holder being disposable in an opening in a patient's skin.
US08968240B2
Methods of manufacturing a catheter introducer or needle assembly and needle shield are disclosed. A needle shield has a blocking object (preferably a ball) which moves from an non-shielding position to a shielding position. The catheter introducer is made by placing the blocking object into the shield and inserting the proximal end of the needle into the shield while the blocking object is in the shielding position. The catheter introducer is made using extruded polymeric tubes which may have coextruded reinforcing.
US08968237B2
The present invention provides a method whereby a drug can be conveniently injected into the living body, without sticking a needle, from a device that is not in contact with the living body, and a device therefor. Specifically provided is a method for injecting a peptide drug such as insulin, and a device therefor. No special consumables are needed except the drug solution or suspension. The method and device comprise injecting a drug into the living body by electrospraying a solution or suspension of the drug from a nozzle to which high voltage is applied and which is not in contact with the living body.
US08968229B2
A method for treating plantar fasciitis and foot pain utilizes a pre-cut sole support strap and an arch support strap formed of flexible woven material having an adhesive layer on an underside surface that are adhered to a foot individually or in combination. The sole strap is adhered to the skin surface along the sole from the ball of the foot to the heel and the back and lateral sides of the heel, and provides stability and support to the foot and, when subjected to forces induced during walking, absorbs tensile loads and stresses to prevent damage to the plantar fascia by reducing tensile stress carried by the plantar fascia. The arch support strap is adhered transversely over the sole support strap and arch of the foot to maintain the sole support strap in engagement with the sole of the foot and provide additional support and stability.
US08968223B2
Second joints are provided in positions where a seating unit is restrained from swinging relative to leg links due to a force acting on the seating unit from upper limb links through the intermediary of the second joints. A motion not intended by a user can be restrained from being generated due to a force acting from the upper limb links provided in the upper limbs.
US08968221B2
There is provided a phototherapy apparatus, in which the therapeutic light is delivered through or in proximity to one or more massage components. The massage component provides mechanical massage to the subject biological tissue and modifies the properties of the subject tissue in thickness, density, etc. to facilitate the absorption of the therapeutic light and enhance the effect of the phototherapy procedure.
US08968217B2
An apparatus for determining an optimal amount of tissue compression for applying a surgical element to tissue is disclosed. The apparatus includes a device for compressing tissue which supports a measuring device adapted to detect a tissue parameter upon the compression of tissue. The measuring device communicates with an indicator. Upon compressing tissue, when the measuring device determines that the compressed tissue parameter reaches a predetermined threshold, the measuring device sends a signal to the indicator such that the indicator provides an indication to a surgeon that the threshold has been reached. The measuring device may include a load cell and the tissue parameter may be a viscoelastic reactive force of the tissue per unit time.
US08968215B2
A guide wire includes a first wire disposed on the distal side of the guide wire and a second wire disposed on the proximal side. The second wire has an elastic modulus larger than the first wire. The first wire is joined to the second wire at a welded portion by welding. A coil is disposed on the distal side of the first wire. A cover layer is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the wire member in such a manner as to cover at least the welded portion. The cover layer is made from a material capable of reducing the friction of the cover layer, for example, a fluorocarbon resin or a hydrophilic material, to thereby improve the sliding performance of the guide wire. Such a guide wire is excellent in operationality and kink resistance.
US08968211B2
Among other things, there is disclosed a biopsy needle capable of taking samples of varying size. In particular embodiments, a user selects one of a plurality of sample-size settings, which sets the needle to a particular cannula throw-length by moving an internal wall against which a spring engages. For a shorter throw, the wall is in a forward position and the cannula is retracted the smaller amount to compress the spring. For a longer throw, the wall is in a rearward position and the cannula is retracted a larger amount to compress the spring.
US08968203B2
Operation of a patient's heart or lungs may be analyzed by transmitting ultrasound energy into the patient's lung, and detecting Doppler shifts of reflected ultrasound induced by moving borders between blood vessels in the lung and air filled alveoli that surround the blood vessels. Movement of the border is caused by pressure waves in the blood vessels that result in changes in diameter of those blood vessels. The detected Doppler shifts are used to obtain power and velocity data at each of a plurality of different air pressure levels, and the pulmonary blood pressure of the patient is then estimated based on the obtained data.
US08968200B2
An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention has an ultrasonic probe for transmitting/receiving an ultrasonic wave to/from an object while the object is pressed, a phasing and adding unit for generating RF signal frame data of a cross-sectional site of the object on the basis of a reflection echo signal measured by the ultrasonic probe, an ultrasonic image generating unit for generating an ultrasonic image of the cross-sectional site of the object on the basis of the RF signal frame data, a measurement target setting unit for setting a measurement target to the RF signal frame data or the ultrasonic image, a measurement target position tracing unit for tracing a positional variation of the set measurement target, a displacement image generating unit for generating a graph representing transition of a press state applied to the measurement target on the basis of the positional variation of the measurement target, and a display unit for displaying the generated graph.
US08968197B2
A processor-implemented method, system, and/or computer program product directs a user using a physiological sensor to a needed medical resource. A real-time state of a medical condition of a user is determined based on readings from a physiological sensor on a user. A processing system correlates the real-time state of the medical condition of the user to a medical resource, which has been predetermined to have a capability of ameliorating the real-time state of the medical condition of the user. Directions are then sent, to the user, for a temporally nearest medical resource that has been predetermined to have the capability of ameliorating the real-time state of the medical condition of the user.
US08968196B2
Various methods and apparatuses for measuring a state parameter of an individual using signals based on one or more sensors are disclosed. In one embodiment, a first set of signals is used in a first function to determine how a second set of signals is used in one or more second functions to predict the state parameter. In another embodiment, first and second functions are used where the state parameter or an indicator of the state parameter may be obtained from a relationship between the first function and the second function. The state parameter may, for example, include calories consumed or calories burned by the individual. Various methods for making such apparatuses are also disclosed.
US08968195B2
A monitoring system includes a wearable eyeglass, band, belt, patch or bandage appliance; and a processor coupled to the wearable eyeglass, band, belt, patch or bandage appliance to analyze vital data or wellness data.
US08968193B2
The present disclosure may provide a system and method for analyzing data acquired using a physiological monitor. In one embodiment, the analysis is performed on the physiological monitor and results in the analysis of data collected by the physiological monitor over an interval of time. The analysis may include comparing the data to sample data representative of known disease states and/or may include performing statistical analyses or recalculations of the data based on adjusted monitor settings. In one embodiment, the settings of the physiological monitor may be adjusted based on the results of the analyses.
US08968192B2
A retractor system for percutaneous surgery in a patient includes first and second retractor portions positionable opposite one another in an incision of the patient. An actuating member is coupled with and extends between ends of the retractor portions which are positionable above the incision. The actuating member is in communication with a controller which includes a user interface for receiving actuation commands from the user. In response to actuation commands, the actuating member is actuated and its length is adjusted to position the first and second retractor portions relative to one another in the incision. In another form, a method is directed to retracting tissue for percutaneous access to a surgical site in a patient. However, other embodiments, forms and applications are also envisioned.
US08968189B2
An access assembly configured to receive one or more surgical instruments is provided. The access assembly includes a flexible housing having a proximal end and a distal end, the housing defining a longitudinal passageway extending from the proximal end to the distal end and a seal assembly received within the longitudinal passageway of the housing. The seal assembly defining a plurality of ports each configured to receive an instrument inserted therethrough in a sealing manner.
US08968186B2
A laryngoscope handle for use with a fiber optic laryngoscope blade having fiber optics includes a laryngoscope handle body configured to be gripped by a handle of a user; one or more power sources carried by the handle body; a light source assembly carried by the handle body and powered by the one or more power sources; a connection section for mechanically connecting the fiber optic laryngoscope blade to the laryngoscope handle and optically coupling the light source assembly in the laryngoscope handle to the fiber optics of the fiber optic laryngoscope blade, wherein the light source assembly includes at least two different types of light sources and a light mixing chamber where light emitted from the two different types of light sources mix to create a combined, mixed light that is transmitted to the fiber optics of the fiber optic laryngoscope blade for emission there from.
US08968172B2
A cell excitation terminal and a therapeutic system using customized electromagnetic (EM) waves varying dynamically with time for excitation include one or more EM wave generators, each of the EM wave generators is connected to a central processing unit (CPU), and the CPU controls, according to a signal detected by a human body status detection device, the EM wave generator to send EM waves corresponding to a detected subject. The therapeutic system can perform remote management. A remote server optimizes and updates therapeutic waveforms of a patient constantly according to a therapeutic effect of the patient, thereby improving the therapeutic effect constantly.
US08968162B2
The present invention provides a compact, unitary exercise machine which may be rapidly reconfigured such that the user can perform a variety of exercise routines employing essentially the same rotary exercise movement, whether using the legs or the arms, while simultaneously exercising all the muscles of the subject extremity, including antagonistic muscles.
US08968158B2
A device (10) for stressing and training the joints and muscles of the hand, wrist and forearm, usable by an individual in order to develop each single muscular group involved in the movement of each finger of the hand, comprising a horizontal support plane or base (11) to which a vertical column (16) is associated and means suitable for allowing the movement of one or more fingers (15) of the hand (14) either at the same time or in an alternate way and according to a plane both horizontal and vertical against a resistance, in which a support element or block (12) for the metacarpus placed onto said plane (11) is provided.
US08968157B2
A hurdle includes two base parts, each base part having a hollow space; a counterweight; a gear transmission arranged in each base part to displace the counterweight; tubular elements that include first second tubes displaceable telescopically relative to one another, each of the first tubes being fixed to one of the base parts; locking elements that lock the first and second tubes relative to one another; a bar connecting upper ends of the second tubes; a force-transmitting unit that extends from the hollow space in each base part and is connected to an associated second tube; and guides arranged in each base part, where the gear transmission engages both with the force-transmitting unit and with a driver for the counterweight, where the force-transmitting unit is received in the guides, and where the gear transmission is adapted to cooperate with openings provided in the force transmitting unit.
US08968153B1
A method of controlling a launch clutch during an engine restart event commands a positive torque capacity before the engine reaches idle speed. Early application of the launch clutch reduces the time delay between brake pedal release and vehicle acceleration. To avoid excessive drag on the engine during the restart event, the torque capacity is adjusted using closed loop control. A controller calculates a maximum rate of change of torque capacity based on measured engine speed and an engine acceleration and does not increase the commanded torque capacity faster than the calculated rate. In some circumstances the maximum rate of change may be negative, resulting in a reduction in commanded torque capacity.
US08968139B2
An object is to reduce various losses occurring in a speed-reduction/differential gear apparatus for electric vehicles including a planetary-gear speed reducer and a differential device, thereby improving transmission efficiency of the driving force and increasing travel distance of the electric vehicle per battery charge. A speed-reduction/differential gear apparatus for electric vehicles includes a planetary-gear speed reducer and a differential device. A planetary gear mechanism in the speed reducer includes a speed-reducer-side carrier which has its inner diameter surface supported by a speed-reducer-side carrier support bearing. The invention provides proper mesh between in the pair of engaging teeth, leading to decrease in loss torque.
US08968132B2
In a transmission chain including alternately interleaved and articulably connected sets of link plates, the link plates of least one of the sets have back surfaces arranged for sliding contact with a chain guide. These back surfaces have a convex, substantially arc-shaped, curvature in the longitudinal direction of the chain, and a convex, substantially arc-shaped, curvature in the widthwise direction. The radius of curvature of the widthwise curve of the back surface of each of the link plates of the at least one set is at least as great as the radius of curvature of the curve of the same link plate in the longitudinal direction.
US08968126B2
A dart is disclosed that may comprise an elongate dart body, a base, and a cap. The elongate dart body may have a first end, a second end, and an interior cavity, which can be a bore. The base may include a mount and a stem inserted into the interior bore of the dart body at the first end of the dart. The cap may be attached to the base and may have a flexible, substantially bulbous-shaped head portion and an interior post so that the head portion may be configured to deform upon an impact.
US08968125B2
A tennis racket may include a handle with a butt end, and a head configured to support strings. The tennis racket may also include a throat connecting the handle and the head, wherein the racket may have a Power Maneuverability Ratio from about 4500 to about 7915, the Power Maneuverability Ratio governed by the equation: PMR= ( S W ) ( R W ) ( P U W ) , where SW=the moment of inertia in kilogram-centimeters squared of the tennis racket about a swingweight axis that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tennis racket, parallel to a tennis ball hitting surface contained by the head, and intersecting a point on the handle that is four inches from the butt end along the longitudinal axis, R W = S W - ( W t 1000 ) ( b 10 - 10.16 ) 2 , Wt=the weight of the racket in grams, b=the distance in millimeters between a center of gravity of the racket to the butt end.
US08968116B1
A golf club head with means for adjusting a center of gravity along more than one axis and means adjusting at least one of a characteristic selected from the group consisting of face angle, loft angle, and lie angle is disclosed herein. The golf club head comprises one or more adjustable features such as weight bars, weight screws, weight cartridges, and adjustable sole members, and preferably includes structural features such as pegs, teeth, and polymeric dampeners that serve to preload the one or more adjustable features on the golf club head and prevent or reduce unwanted vibrations when the golf club head is in use.
US08968114B2
A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head that includes a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face. A face member formed primarily of a metallic material forms the face, and a body member is connected to the face member and extends rearward from the face member to form at least a portion of the body. The body member is formed at least partially of a polymer material, and has a doped portion containing a doping material dispersed within the polymer material. The doping material may have a different density than the polymer material, such that the doped portion has a different density than the portions of the body member not containing the doping material. A co-molding method may be used to form the ball striking device.
US08968111B2
This invention relates to the field of playing billiards and in particular to a cue ball aiming or training device for learning to aim a cue ball to an object ball to drive the object ball in a desired direction. The aiming device provides an indication of the true point of aim for directing a cue ball to an object ball, to drive the object ball in a desired direction. In use, the aiming device is positioned on top of the object ball and has a direction indicator to point to the desired intended direction of the object ball and a strike point indicator to identify the true point of aim for the cue ball.
US08968102B2
A wireless communication game system includes a plurality of mobile game apparatuses, which function as a parent device or a child device and are capable of making a communication with each other, and broadcasts from the parent device a parent device packet including a parent device PID, a user name UserName, a game name GameName, an OC flag, an E slot, a U slot, and a payload. All the parent device packets are received from the parent device existing within a communicationable range of a user's own apparatus, and the user's own apparatus creates a parent device list, and displays the parent device list on an LCD. Therefore, a user or a player of his own apparatus looks at the game name of the parent device list, for example, and operates a cross key included in an operation key so as to select one desired parent device. Then, transmitting a child device number CID of the user's own apparatus at the E slot designated by the parent device packet, the user's own apparatus transmits a connection request to the parent device.
US08968099B1
Systems and methods of transporting virtual objects through a virtual world associated with a parallel reality game are provided. The virtual world has a geography that parallels at least a portion of the geography of the real world. A method includes accessing at least one data source storing or providing data associated with the location of a real world carrier. The method further includes modifying game data associated with the parallel reality to transport at least one virtual object through the virtual world, such that the position of the virtual object in the virtual world is based, at least in part, on the data associated with the location of the real world carrier. Other implementations are directed to systems, apparatus, non-transitory computer-readable media, devices, and user interfaces for transporting virtual objects in a location-based parallel reality game.
US08968098B2
A method and apparatus for enabling a player to participate in a live online game via a landbased gaming terminal. A game manager is playing the game while being captured for example by a video camera. A player participates in the game through using the landbased gaming terminal, which presents the image stream and lets the player make selections and perform actions for participating in the game.
US08968094B2
There is provided a power management apparatus including a game service providing unit providing, to an electronic appliance, a service using game contents whose theme is power. The game service providing unit includes a game control unit controlling execution of the game contents, a real world constructing unit constructing a setting of a game reflecting a real-world environment, based on managed appliance information stored in a database, and a virtual world constructing unit constructing a setting of the game reflecting a virtual environment, based on a setting set in advance in the game contents. The game control unit is operable to initialize the game contents by combining the setting of the game constructed by the real world constructing unit and the setting of the game constructed by the virtual world constructing unit.
US08968081B2
Disclosed are data processing apparatus, systems, and methods implemented over a gaming network for providing for disposition of promotional offers in a wager-based gaming environment. A monitoring engine receives an identification of a promotional offer as having an unredeemed status. A determining engine determines that the promotional offer having the unredeemed status satisfies one or more parameters to designate the promotional offer for an auction. Such designation is independent of real-time wager-based game play in the gaming network. An auction control engine provides the designated promotional offer as an item to be auctioned in the wager-based gaming network.
US08968070B2
The field of the invention relates generally to lotteries and gaming, and more particularly, to systems for conducting casino-based gaming. After a player subscribes to play multiple games on a video gaming machine, the player may choose to finish playing the games elsewhere. The video gaming machine may then determine the outcomes for the games yet to be played and then may issue a ticket to the player.
US08968067B1
An approach to facilitate providing personalized leaderboards based upon user parameters, game parameters or a combination thereof. The personalized leaderboard determined by identifying a group of users (i) to which the first user belongs, and (ii) among which performance in the online game by the first user as characterized by the first set of game parameter values is relatively high. Providing leaderboards where the user features relatively high incentivizes the user to continue playing the game to continue progressing toward the top of the leaderboard, improving player retention.
US08968066B2
Method and apparatus for modifying gaming machines to provide supplemental or modified functionality
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for transferring credits from one gaming device to another via the use of coded scrip is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of accepting a cash-out command in the gaming device, scanning a magnetically manifested code uniquely identifying a scrip stored in the gaming device, transmitting a cash-out message comprising the code to a remote processor having access to a database configured to store and retrieve codes from a plurality of gaming devices, receiving a scrip dispense message from the remote processor, and dispensing the scrip. The apparatus comprises a scrip storage unit, a scrip dispensing unit having a scrip transducer for reading and recording a magnetically manifested code on a scrip retrieved from the scrip storage unit, and a processor, communicatively coupled to the scrip transducer and a remote computer having access to a database for storing and retrieving code information from the plurality of gaming devices.
US08968053B2
In order to avoid using anti-stick paints, based on polytetrafluoroethylene or the like, on parts of cheesemaking machines which are to be in contact with hot curds (pastafilata), their surfaces are sandblasted with preferably virgin white corundum powder having a granulometry of about 180 mesh. Surprisingly, surfaces so treated are non-stick for the purposes mentioned above.
US08968046B2
Building sets including a plurality of blocks and a plurality of clips configured to engage a thickness of one or more of the blocks. Each clip includes a base and first and second substantially parallel extensions extending from the base and defining a channel therebetween into which a thickness of a block is receivable. The width of the channel is substantially equal to and slightly less than the thickness of the block receivable within the channel so that the thickness is frictionally retained therein. The clip may include a magnet enclosed within the base so that the base of a first clip may be magnetically coupled to the base of another clip, and each clip may in turn be frictionally coupled to a block received between the extensions of the respective clip. In one embodiment, the clip includes a plurality of channels.
US08968037B2
A subsea container electrical through connector for providing an electrical connection from an interior of a subsea container to an exterior of the subsea container is disclosed, wherein the connector extends partially into or fully through a hole in a subsea container. The connector comprises a conductive bolt having a conical bolt portion with an outer diameter increasing in a longitudinal direction. Further, the connector comprises an electrical insulator having a conical insulator portion with an inner surface, facing the conical bolt portion of the bolt, and an outer surface having an outer diameter which increases in the longitudinal direction.
US08968030B2
A chip card holder includes a latching member and a housing. The latching member includes a first cover portion, a second cover portion and a connecting portion therebetween the first cover portion and the second cover portion. The housing defines two receiving grooves. The first cover portion and the second cover portion respectively protrude from the two receiving grooves. The receiving grooves with the first cover portion and the second cover portion define a first latching space and a second latching space for receiving two chip cards.
US08968025B2
A coaxial cable connector including a continuity element extending between a nut shroud and a body base.
US08968021B1
A plug-in connector for connecting to a receptacle including a housing including fins, at least one electrically conductive terminal at least partly situated in the housing and defining a mating axis and a mating direction, cantilevered locking beams arranged in the housing, a slider slidingly coupled to the housing and including blocking beams extending in the mating direction, a compressive member arranged to urge the slider outward away from the housing in the mating direction. The fins are situated to engage with the blocking beams during an initial stage of relative movement between the housing and the slider against a bias of the compressive member and allow inward deflection of the locking beams. The blocking beams are configured to prevent inward deflection of the locking beams after a final stage of the relative movement between the housing and the slider.
US08968018B2
An electrical penetrator assembly has a ceramic housing with a through bore, a first electrical conductor extending through at least part of the bore and terminating and having an outer end outside the bore and a second end, and a second electrical conductor having a first end in electrical communication with the second end of the first conductor and an outer end. The second end of the first conductor and the first end of the second conductor are in electrical communication and at least one of the conductors is movable relative to the other conductor to accommodate expansion and contraction as a result of temperature variations, and first and second seals extend between respective ends of the ceramic housing and the first and second conductor, respectively.
US08968015B2
A safety socket includes a main body, a restraint mechanism and a release mechanism. The restraint mechanism includes an immovable end and a movable end. The immovable end is disposed in the main body. The movable end has a through hole. The through hole corresponds in position to one of insertion holes of the main body. The movable end has an annular protruding portion axially extending from the wall of the through hole. The annular protruding portion has a free end which is curved outward. The safety socket can prevent a plug from being disengaged from the socket by accident. The outer surface of the conductive pin of the plug won't be scraped and damaged by the wall of the through hole to enhance the service life and safety of the plug.
US08968009B2
An electrical connector is provided in the present invention, including an insulating housing, multiple power terminals and multiple signal terminals. The insulating housing has at least one upright power receptacle body and at least one upright signal plug body parallel to the power receptacle body. Wherein the power receptacle body forms an upright power port on a front surface thereof, and the signal plug body forms at least one signal port on a front surface thereof. Each power terminal has a plate-shaped base plate, at least one spring connection end and multiple tails. The power receptacle body and the signal plug body of the present invention are designed to be upright for saving the edge space of a circuit board. Moreover, the electrical connector of the present invention also has a character of zero insertion force by controlling the length of the signal terminal and the power terminal.
US08968007B2
Provided is a connector which ensures a sufficient contact pressure at a low cost and has a long connection life and also provide a fabrication method the connector. The connector 10 comprises a base member 100 and the contacts 200 projecting upwards and downwards of the base member 100. Openings 110 formed on the base member 100 extend in the direction crossing the pitch direction of the contacts 200. The contact 200 has an elastic-support member 220 and a contact film 260 pasted on the elastic-support member 220. The contact film 260 faces the opening 110 so that length of the contact film 260 can be larger than interval between the contacts 200 in the pitch direction. The contact 200 absorbs variations of a size of pads of the connection objects.
US08968006B1
In some embodiments, an interconnectable circuit board may include one or more of the following features: (a) a first electrically conductive pad located on a top of the circuit board, (b) a plated through hole on the conductive pad which passes through the circuit board, (c) a second electrically conductive pad coupled to the plated through hole; the second conductive pad capable of being electrically connected to a third electrically conductive pad attached to a top of a second interconnectable circuit board, (d) cut marks indicating safe locations for separating the circuit board, and (e) a second cut mark adjacent to the first cut mark where the area between the first and second cut mark can be utilized to make a safe cut through the circuit board.
US08968004B2
Several methods, processes and system for modular tool as an integrated multimedia tool system to explore and study the virtual human body is disclosed. Content and context modules allow for scientific gaming using modular multimedia objects, social media and different configurations. The disclosure allows an individual to travel through the virtual human body in a self guided and interactive tour. It specifically enables the user to learn the structure and function of different organs, different types of cells, intercellular space as well as different cellular organelles etc. Further, the system may be used by the local authority as an electronic study tool for seamless integrated mode of delivering the educational tool suited to the local curriculum. This may also serve as a tool for patients, doctors, focus groups and student to explore and learn about the pathological and physiological conditions in a human body.
US08968001B2
The invention involves the use of pre-calculated and preformed, specific forms of medical grade polyurethane foam for sinus membrane surgery by a dentist, physician, or veterinarian, as a non-cutting surgical instrument. The invention uses various shapes to do the job of safely and gently releasing free, predetermined membrane thicknesses of sinus membranes from the boney sinus floor and sinus walls. Sinus surgery is made safer and simpler, even those with a challenging anatomy. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the claims rather than the foregoing description. Furthermore, the present invention may utilize other specific sponge forms without departing from the spirit of essential characteristics. The forms and shapes and the various sized components are merely exemplary and can be varied to preferred surgical osteotomy and still fall within the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention will be determined only by the claims.
US08967996B2
The combustion controller controls the fuel and air that are supplied to the combustion furnace for burning substances, and addresses the aforementioned object by including: fuel supply unit for supplying fuel and air into the combustion furnace; air supply unit for supplying air into the combustion furnace, the air supply unit being disposed downstream of the fuel supply unit in the direction of flow of combustion air; concentration measuring unit for measuring the concentration of hydrogen sulfide of the combustion air by passing a measurement beam of light through the combustion air at a measurement position downstream of the fuel supply unit in the direction of flow of the combustion air; and control unit for controlling the amount of air supplied from the fuel supply unit based on a measurement result provided by the concentration measuring unit.
US08967991B2
An imprint lithography template is disclosed. In an embodiment, the template includes a patterned region to imprint a layer of imprintable medium, and an alignment mark for use in aligning the imprint template, the alignment mark configured such that imprintable medium is prevented from filling the alignment mark when the imprint template imprints the imprintable medium.
US08967989B2
The present invention provides an apparatus and process for making softgel capsules having incorporated therein other solid dosage forms selected from the group consisting of pellets, smaller capsules, smaller tablets, sustained release solid dosage forms, immediate release solid dosage forms, extended release solid dosage forms and zero order release solid dosage forms, said apparatus comprising: (a) two spreader boxes; (b) two casting drums; (c) a pair of rotary dies having means for suction; (d) a liquid fill system; (e) a wedge for heating gelatine ribbons and feeding said fill; and (f) two lateral dispensing devices said lateral dispensing devices including hoppers having said solid dosage forms, channelguides for transporting said solid dosage forms and a grasping claw for dispensing said solid dosage form into the softgel pocket formed in the rotary dies.
US08967986B2
To provide a higher sealing capability irrespective of the pressure difference between compression chambers, lips having leading ends extended toward the inner surface of a recessed groove are formed. At least some of the lips have a base end that is shaped to reduce rigidity against extension of the lips.
US08967980B2
A fan assembly includes a nozzle and a system for creating a primary air flow through the nozzle. The nozzle includes an outlet for emitting the primary air flow, and defines an opening through which a secondary air flow from outside the fan assembly is drawn by the primary air flow emitted from the outlet. To allow a parameter of an air flow, formed from the combination of the primary and secondary air flows, to be adjusted by a user, the nozzle has an adjustable configuration.
US08967972B2
A turbine blade is provided and includes a tip end carrying a shroud and at least one fin, which extends radially away from the shroud. The fin includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall, which are spaced apart, arranged parallel to each other, and are connected to the shroud, and a cutting edge, which is connected to the first and second sidewalls. The cutting edge thereby creates a hollow space between the sidewalls, the shroud, and the cutting edge, and further extends radially away from the first and second sidewalls. Also provided is a method of manufacturing the blade by casting the blade as single piece with the hollow fin or by forging the blade; and machining the fin to create the first and second sidewalls and cutting edge thereby opening the hollow space between said sidewalls and the cutting edge.
US08967958B2
A bypass axial turbomachine includes a fan, a low pressure stator stage, a high pressure stator stage, the compressors being traversed by a flow referred to as primary flow of the turbomachine, at least one passage of discharge flow rate controlled from the primary flow in one of the stator stages toward the secondary flow, a heat exchanger of the surface air-oil (ACOC) type arranged flat on or in the wall surrounding the stator stages and defining the internal surface of the secondary flow, directly downstream of the junction of the passage of the discharge flow rate with said wall, so as to be run through by the secondary flow enriched with the discharge flow rate.
US08967954B2
A radial turbomachine includes a radial diffuser channel with a diaphragm, a deflecting channel connecting to the radial diffuser channel downstream thereof, and a return flow channel connecting to the deflecting channel downstream thereof. The main flow direction of the radial diffuser channel runs radially from inside to outside. The main flow direction of the deflecting channel is deflected from radially outward to radially inward. The main flow direction of the return channel runs radially from outside to inside. The diaphragm comprises first, second and third outer surface sections. The first outer surface section has a convex shape for delimiting the deflecting channel. At least one consumption-gas removal channel is provided in the diaphragm so that, if the main flow in the deflecting channel comprises solid or liquid particles, a consumption gas can be discharged therefrom through the consumption-gas removal channel as low-particulate gas of a main flow.
US08967953B2
A coupling pin for use in a pump housing, the pump housing including an outer casing and an inner pump liner, the coupling pin being suitable for locating the liner and casing relative to one another, the coupling pin including a shank and a head at one end of the shank. The head includes a cammed surface thereon which is adapted to co-operate with a follower on the liner, and a locating section on a remote or terminal end of the head which is adapted to be positioned against a seat in the outer casing when fitted. The arrangement is such that rotation of the coupling pin causes the follower to track along the cammed surface so as to cause relative movement between the outer casing and the inner pump liner.
US08967951B2
According to one aspect of the invention, a turbine assembly includes a first static structure and a second static structure radially outward of the first static structure. The assembly also includes a support member placed in a recess of the second static structure, wherein the support member includes first and second curved surfaces to contact the first and second static structures, respectively, and wherein the support member includes a biasing structure to retain the support member in the recess.
US08967946B2
A modular wind and solar energy converting and structurally self-supporting assembly including a plurality of conjoined tubular wind turbine modules angularly extendable in different directions and solar panels attachable to said wind turbine modules for joint and sequential energy collection and conversion into electric power.
US08967943B2
A load carrier includes a load changing frame that has first and second end portions. The load changing frame has two longitudinal frame beams, two transverse frame beams arranged at the end portions of the load changing frame, and a first, upwardly tapering lifting stand. The second end portion of the load changing frame includes a second lifting stand, which is shaped and arranged in accordance with the first lifting stand. The transverse frame beams are elongated to extend outward from the longitudinal frame beams for mounting of supports facing the support surface. A plurality of such load carriers are adapted to be stacked on top of each other, wherein each overlying load carrier with its lifting stands is adapted to straddle the lifting stands of the underlying load carrier vertically from above, wherein the length of the stack corresponds to the length of the load carrier.
US08967941B2
Pressware stacking systems and methods for using same. The system can include a conveyor for moving pressware in a first direction; a stop ramp at least partially disposed on the conveyor; and a lifter in communication with the stop ramp. The lifter is adapted to move at least a portion of the stop ramp to an inclined position above the conveyor.
US08967938B2
A transport tray for use in an installation for manufacturing food products, the installation having actuators. The transport tray has a chassis and a bottom having two panels mounted on the chassis, each having a first parallel edge and being able to move in rotation about a rotation axis parallel to the first edges between a transport position in which the distance between the first edges is less than the diameter of the fruit products and an unloading position in which at least one of the first edges is lowered so that the distance between the first edges is greater than the diameter of the food products. Each panel cooperates with an actuator for passing it from the transport position to the unloading position. Apparatus is provided to prevent lifting of the first edge of each panel beyond the transport position.
US08967928B2
An interface element between a first tool element and a second tool element includes a projection on one of the first and second tool elements and a cavity that receives the projection on the other of the first and second tool element. The cavity includes inner contours which are designed to receive polygonal and/or stellate projections.
US08967926B2
A method of manufacturing bevel gears with a tool, such as a tapered milling tool (16), wherein the tool is located at a position offset (Rw) from the center position of a conventional face milling cutter and the tool follows a path, such as a circular arc path, during machining.
US08967924B2
A core drilling machine having an axial extending hollow drill shaft supported rotatably in a housing and rotated by means of a drive unit; a coaxial tool holder receiving an axially displaceable drill bit, the tool holder having a locking mechanism securing the drill bit in a rotationally fixed manner to the hollow drill shaft; wherein the hollow drill shaft is suitable for receiving a shaft of an interchangeable centre drill, the center drill axially supported against a first spring element; and an axial stop element preventing in a first position a complete displacement of the center drill into the interior of the hollow drill shaft and allows in a second position a complete displacement of the center drill into the interior of the hollow drill shaft; and an activation device for activating the first or second positions of the stop element.
US08967923B2
A dust suction device for detachable attachment to a hand-held drilling machine includes a housing, a telescoping suction pipe coupled to the housing, an electric motor positioned in the housing, a suction fan driven by the electric motor and operable to generate a vacuum in the suction pipe, a dust collection container coupled to the housing and positioned upstream of the suction fan, and a support frame. The support frame includes a first portion coupled to the housing, a second portion coupled to a neck of the drilling machine, and an auxiliary handle extending from one of the first and second portions of the support frame. The support frame supports the drilling machine in a side-by-side relationship with the dust suction device.
US08967915B2
A ground stabilizing device (10) comprises a securing arrangement (16) and a load spreading arrangement (18) on the securing arrangement. The securing arrangement defines a through passage (40) for an elongate article (12). The securing arrangement comprises a guide member (54) extending towards the passage, and a clamping assembly (38). The clamping assembly is movable along the guide member towards the passage to clamp the elongate article in the passage and secure the elongate article to the ground stabilizing device.
US08967907B2
An artificial flagstone for use in combination with other similar flagstones for covering a surface with a natural random look, the flagstone having a generally hexagonal body comprising a first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth consecutive vertices; a first pair of first and second sides extending radially from the first vertex; a second pair of third and fourth sides extending radially from the third vertex; a third pair of fifth and sixth sides extending radially from the fifth vertex; wherein the sides of at least one of the first, second and third pair of sides have at least one split deviation along their length and are respectively rotational images of each other, and the artificial flagstone has no rotational symmetry when rotated about a central axis.
US08967886B2
An optical connector includes a substrate and a lens element. The lens element includes a first bottom surface contacting with the substrate, and the lens element defines a groove in the bottom surface.
US08967885B2
Stub lens assemblies for use in optical coherence tomography. The stub lens assembly has an optical fiber having an end, and an optical fiber ferrule that supports the optical fiber. The stub lens assembly also has a sleeve having a central channel with first and second ends, with the optical fiber ferrule supported within the central channel at the first end. The stub lens assembly further includes a stub lens element having a stub section with a proximal end that resides adjacent the optical fiber end within the central channel of the sleeve. The stub section is formed integral with a lens, which has a lens surface. The sleeve supports the optical fiber end and the proximal end of the stub section in a cooperative optical relationship.
US08967880B2
In order to fix an optical fiber to a desired position in a holding member easily and tightly, provided is an optical collimator (10) having a plastic optical fiber (13) and a cylindrical holder (11). The holder (11) is configured to hold a collimator lens (12) at an end and has an insertion hole (11a) at an opposite end for inserting the plastic optical fiber (13). The plastic optical fiber (13) is sandwiched by an inner surface of a recess (11e) which is formed at a part of the holder (11) in proper alignment with the collimator lens (12).
US08967876B2
A rolling contact bearing includes a shaft having a first radial elevation and a second radial elevation. A first inner ring has a first raceway for the rolling bodies to roll on, a first radial narrowing and a second radial narrowing, the first radial elevation and the first radial narrowing forming a first press fit, and, respectively, the second radial elevation and the second radial narrowing forming a second press fit. The shaft has a third radial elevation and a fourth radial elevation. A second inner ring has a second, radially outer rolling body raceway for rolling bodies to roll on, a third radial narrowing and a fourth radial narrowing, wherein the third radial elevation and the third radial narrowing forming a third press fit and, respectively, the fourth radial elevation and the fourth radial narrowing forming a fourth press fit.
US08967872B2
Bearing components, bearing assemblies and related methods are provided. In one embodiment, a bearing element includes a base layer and a polycrystalline diamond (PCD) layer comprising a plurality of PCD elements coupled with the base layer wherein each PCD element comprising a substrate and a diamond table. The plurality of PCD elements may be fit together to form a substantially continuous bearing surface. For example, the diamond tables may exhibit substantially square or rectangular geometries that are fit together to define the bearing surface. In other embodiments, the bearing elements may be spaced apart from one another. In other embodiments, the bearing element may include a single PCD element formed from a prefabricated PCD compact or cutting tool blank. Various bearing assemblies may incorporate such a bearing element including, for example, thrust bearings, journal bearings, and tilting pad bearing assemblies.
US08967870B2
A high-precision slide bearing includes a substrate of sintered metal and a synthetic resin layer. The bearing can be used for rotary shafts in compressors of room air-conditioners or in transmissions of motor vehicles and construction machines to support relatively large radial and axial loads. The resin layer is integrally superposed on the radially inner surface of the sintered metal substrate of the slide bearing, which is a cylindrical member. The resin layer is made of a resin composition of an aromatic polyetherketone resin containing a fibrous filler. The fibrous filler is made up of fibers dispersed in the resin layer and oriented such that their length directions intersect the rotational direction of the bearing at angles of 45 to 90 degrees. The resin layer has a thickness of 0.1 to 0.7 mm.
US08967865B2
A bearing apparatus includes a first cup portion defining a portion of a stationary portion of a bearing apparatus includes a first circular plate portion and a first cylindrical portion projecting downward from an outer edge portion of the first circular plate portion. A rotating portion of the bearing apparatus includes an annular recessed portion arranged to accommodate at least a lower end portion of the first cylindrical portion. The stationary portion includes a second cup portion including a second circular plate portion arranged to extend radially outward from an outer circumferential surface of a stationary shaft below the first cup portion and a second cylindrical portion arranged to project upward from an outer edge portion of the second circular plate portion. One of the first and second cup portions is integral with the stationary shaft defining a single monolithic member, and the other is fixed to the stationary shaft.
US08967864B2
A main spindle device of a machine tool includes a plurality of bearings that rotatably support a main spindle of the machine tool, and that are placed inside a housing with a pressure receiving member interposed between the bearings and the housing. The pressure receiving member is capable of moving in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the main spindle. A pressure chamber, which a pressure medium pressing the pressure receiving member toward the bearings in the perpendicular direction is supplied to, is formed in the housing. A plurality of the pressure chambers are independently formed in the housing so as to correspond to the bearings, respectively. The main spindle device further includes a plurality of adjustment units provided independently so as to correspond the pressure chambers, respectively, and each capable of independently adjusting a pressure of the pressure medium for a corresponding one of the pressure chambers.
US08967848B2
Provided is a lightweight flexible lighting device with excellent durability and stable performance over repeated use that combines an organic electroluminescent element, an organic photoelectric conversion element, and a secondary cell. The lighting device has a control means for controlling the electrical connections of the organic electroluminescent element, the organic photoelectric conversion element, and the secondary cell. The control means controls the electrical connections such that a reverse bias voltage is applied to the organic electroluminescent element when the organic electroluminescent element receives light, generates power, and charges the secondary cell, and such that a reverse bias voltage is applied to the organic photoelectric conversion element when the organic electroluminescent element is supplied with power from the secondary cell and emits light.
US08967841B2
The invention relates to an LED light module (1) for a motor vehicle or for a head light for a motor vehicle, wherein the LED light module (1) has at least one LED light source (3) which comprises at least one light-emitting diode, and wherein the light (10, 11) which is emitted by the at least one LED light source (3) is emitted via at least one reflector (2) into a region located in front of a motor vehicle, wherein the light (10′, 11′) which is emitted via the reflector (2) forms a defined basic light distribution (30′), wherein according to the invention at least one shutter (4) is provided after the at least one LED light source (3) in the light exit direction, which at least one shutter (4) is located in the beam path of at least part of the light (20) which is emitted in the light exit direction by the at least one LED light source (3), and wherein the at least one shutter (4) is designed to reflect light at least in certain areas on its side (4′) facing the at least one LED light source (3), and wherein the at least one shutter (4) is arranged with respect to the at least one reflector (2) and the at least one LED light source (3) in such a way that light (20′, 21′) which is emitted by the at least one LED light source (3) and is reflected at the least one shutter (4) is reflected onto the at least one reflector (2) and is emitted from there into the external space, wherein the light beams (20″, 21″) which are emitted by the at least one reflector (2) form an additional light distribution (31′) which is located at least partially underneath the defined basic light distribution (30′) in the light pattern, or in one or more regions of the basic light distribution, preferably in a lower region of the defined basic light distribution (30′).
US08967836B2
Disclosed is a lighting device including a body having an inside wall to provide a cavity, the inside wall being provided with a first screw, a light source disposed in the cavity, a power supply disposed at one side of the body to supply power to the light source, and a lens disposed on the light source, the lens being provided with a second screw coupled to the first screw. Disclosed is also a lighting device including a body having an inside wall to provide a cavity, the inside wall being provided with a first screw, a light source disposed in the cavity, a power supply disposed in the body to supply power to the light source, and a lens disposed on the light source, the lens being provided with a second screw coupled to the first screw so that the lens is spaced from the light source.
US08967827B2
Provided is lead frame in which a wiring pattern supported by a support piece inside of a one-pitch outer frame section comprises a plurality of base units, each of which comprises a die pad on which a solid-state light emitting element is mounted, a heat sink extending from die pad so as to surround die pad electrically connected to one electrode of the element, and a lead electrically connected to the other electrode of the element. Lead of one base unit among adjacent base units and heat sink of the other base unit are coupled and electrically connected in series. Increase in temperature of the element is inhibited, light output is increased, and cost of a light emitting unit in which a plurality of solid-state light emitting elements connected in series are used is reduced. Also provided are wiring board, light emitting unit, and illuminating apparatus.
US08967814B2
An imaging lens includes a lens barrel having a base wall with a light incident hole around an optical axis, an imaging unit disposed in the lens barrel and including imaging components arranged along the optical axis, and a light shielding plate having an annular fixing portion for positioning the light shielding plate and a bent portion bent from an inner periphery of the fixing portion and extending slantingly toward the optical axis. The light shielding plate is disposed at one of a position between the base wall and one of the imaging components that is adjacent to the base wall, and a position between two adjacent ones of the imaging components.
US08967800B2
A lens is permanently engaged with a substantially rigid lens retaining apparatus to form a lens unit during a formation molding process of the lens retaining apparatus. The rigid lens retaining apparatus is permanently engaged with a substantially flexible eyewear frame during a formation molding process of the frame. Therefore, a secure attachment of lenses to the substantially flexible eyewear frame through rigid lens retaining apparatus is provided.
US08967798B2
An optical system is configured using a coordinate system such that an origin 1 is placed at a middle point of centers of rotations 1L and 1R of both eyeballs 10L and 10R, and an object is specified in a viewing direction from the origin 1. A reference value of an angle of convergence θCH0 is calculated with lines of fixations 13L0 and 13R0, a viewing direction of the lines of fixation being an object 12 which is placed at an intersection point at which the lines of fixations 13L0 and 13R0 cross after passing through design reference points 11PL and 11PR of eyeglass lenses 11L, 11R. The angle of convergence is calculated with the lines of fixations which extend to an object evaluation point in an arbitrary viewing direction and pass the eyeglass lenses, and a convergence aberration is calculated from a difference between the angle of convergence and the reference value of the angle of convergence θCHO.
US08967795B2
A printing apparatus includes a transfer device that transfers a printing medium in a transfer direction, a platen having a support surface that supports the printing medium thereon, a liquid ejection head that ejects an ink onto the printing medium on the support surface, and a heating device that heats the printing medium. The transfer device includes a plurality of driven rollers. The support surface of the platen has a plurality of suction holes that suck the printing medium on the support surface. The support surface includes first portion extending in the transfer direction corresponding to extension lines extending in the transport direction from the portions between each driven roller, and second portions other than the first portions. The first portions are high-density regions where the suction holes are arranged at high density, and the second portions are low-density regions where the suction holes are arranged at low density.
US08967794B2
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting unit that ejects ink onto paper, a first removal roller that rotates in a direction opposite to a transportation direction of the paper at a first contact position in a state of being contact with a first surface of the paper that is transported at the first contact position so as to remove adhering objects which have adhered to the paper, and a second removal roller that rotates in a direction opposite to the transportation direction of the paper at a second contact position in a state of being contact with a second surface of the paper that is transported at the second contact position so as to remove adhering objects which have adhered to the paper.
US08967791B2
A method of producing a set of blinds with a custom printed graphic image disclosed. The set of blinds have slats which are not connected and thus the set of blinds can be assembled easily after having been printed on.
US08967790B2
A sheet cutting device includes a cutter including opposed blades to cut a sheet fed along a sheet feed path to the device, a cutter holder holding the cutter and reciprocally movable in a width direction of the sheet perpendicular to a sheet feed direction in which the sheet is fed, and a guide member including a first path to guide the holder in the width direction of the sheet to cut the sheet with the cutter and a second path to guide the holder in the width direction after the sheet is cut. The second path is disposed away from the first path in a thickness direction of the sheet perpendicular to both the sheet feed direction and the width direction of the sheet. When the holder moves along the second path, the holder is retracted away from the sheet feed path in the thickness direction of the sheet.
US08967788B2
A drying unit that dries a printed paper sheet is disposed at a position downstream to a liquid ejecting head in a transportation direction. The drying unit includes a heater having a heating surface that also serves as a transportation surface of the paper sheet, an upstream roller that is disposed at a position opposite the heating surface, and a downstream roller that is disposed at a position downstream to the upstream roller in the transportation direction and opposite the heating surface. A distance between the upstream roller and the heating surface is longer than a distance between the downstream roller and the heating surface.
US08967773B2
A liquid ejection head includes a plurality of ejection orifices which eject a liquid, a plurality of pressure chambers which store the liquid ejected from the ejection orifices and eject the liquid from the ejection orifices in accordance with expansion and contraction of an inner wall of the pressure chambers, and a plurality of recess portions which are formed around the pressure chambers, wherein a piezoelectric member is present between at least one of the recess portions and the pressure chambers.
US08967768B2
An inkjet printing apparatus and an inkjet printing method are realized which can improve a print quality while minimizing the volume of waste ink, running cost and throughput degradations. For this purpose, the scan width is set according to the size and position of the print medium and then, based on that scan width, a location where the preliminary ejections are to be executed and the number of times that the preliminary ejection is to be executed in a single preliminary ejection session are determined.
US08967754B2
A printing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention sets a printing condition, which specifies a condition for permitting printing using a sheet, for that sheet in accordance with an instruction from a user. The printing apparatus then decides on a sheet feed tray, from a plurality of sheet feed units, for which printing using the sheet contained in the sheet feed unit is permitted, as a sheet feed source, based on the printing condition and printing settings including a setting regarding the sheet feed source for the sheet to be used in a print job. Furthermore, the printing apparatus executes the print job using the sheet contained in the sheet feed tray that has been decided on.
US08967751B2
When an image is recorded using a multichip recording head including a plurality of chips each having a plurality of nozzle arrays, a change in image density can occur due to a registration error between chips in an overlapping part where two chips are connected. To suppress the change in image density, input image data is distributed to two chips such that there are dots overlapping each other between the two chips in the overlapping part.
US08967739B2
Components for assembling a modular exhibit structure are provided. These components include: frames, connectors (for connecting together frames), panels (for mounting within frames), cover plates (for mounting over sides of frames), and dust covers (for mounting over top of connected frames). These components are configured to allow a single person to assemble an exhibit structure without any specialized tools or mechanical skills.
US08967736B2
A track drive includes a primary driven gear configured to attach to a vehicle hub plate and an annular gear having gear teeth on in inner circumference and an outer circumference. The track drive can also include a plurality of intermediate gears disposed between the primary driven gear and the inner circumference of the annular gear, and a plurality of track drive wheels having an integrated gear configured to mate with gear teeth on the outer circumference of the annular gear. The track drive can further include a continuous track configured to be driven by the plurality of track drive wheels.
US08967730B2
A continuous mining machine may include a stationary boom member, a stationary gear and bearing housing attached to the boom member, and a cutter drum assembly rotatably mounted on the stationary gear and bearing housing. Cutting elements and spray nozzles may be mounted on the rotatable cutter drum assembly. The spray nozzles may be configured to direct liquid spray at a mine face as mine material is dislodged by rotation of the cutter drum assembly and contact of the cutting elements with the mine face. Stationary liquid passageways may be provided through the gear and bearing housing, and rotatable liquid passageways may be provided through the rotatable cutter drum assembly and configured to convey liquid to the spray nozzles. A liquid distribution cavity may be defined within the cutter drum assembly between two labyrinth-type, non-contacting seal assemblies, the liquid distribution cavity configured to convey liquid from the stationary liquid passageways to the rotatable liquid passageways and to the spray nozzles.
US08967723B2
An aircraft seat assembly including multiple seats together having a total seating area. The aircraft seat assembly also includes an armrest separating a first seat of the multiple seats from a second seat of the multiple seats and a sliding mechanism coupled to the armrest. The sliding mechanism enables movement of the armrest to change a portion of the total seating area that is associated with at least one seat of the multiple seats. The aircraft seat assembly also includes a controller that controls movement of the armrest responsive to a control command.
US08967721B2
The disclosed headrest support device is formed with a synthetic thermoplastic resin material as a base, in an effort to reduce overall weight. The headrest support device is provided to the top of the seatback of a seat for a vehicle, holds a headrest that supports the head of a seat occupant, and is such that the height in the vertical direction of the headrest can be adjusted. The headrest support device is caused to comprise two stay guides (1, 1) into which two headrest stays (81, 81) provided to the headrest (8) couple, and which fulfill the role of holding said two headrest stays (81, 81) at a predetermined position; strip-shaped staying-pressing sections (15, 15) that are a portion of each of the tubular sections (11, 11) forming the stay guides (1, 1) and that are formed at a portion in the axial direction of the tubular sections (11, 11); and holding clips (2, 2) that are provided to the place on the tubular sections containing the staying-pressing sections (15, 15) and that move so as to press said staying-pressing sections (15, 15) towards the inner surface.
US08967720B2
A head and neck restraint system includes a vertical support and a head and neck restraint assembly coupled to the vertical support. The head and neck restraint assembly includes a pair of spaced members coupled to the vertical support. The pair of spaced members have a spring memory that permits movement of one of said members toward and away from the other member or movement of both of said members toward and away from each other. One or more spring biased wedges avoid the spring memory from returning one or both of the spaced members to a starting position after movement of one of the members toward the other member or movement of both of the members towards each other.
US08967715B2
A child restraint system has a bottom portion configured to rest on a dedicated seat of a vehicle. The bottom portion has a front end, a rear end, and a pair of sides. An anchor latch system is carried by the bottom portion and has two latch belts partially housed within the bottom portion. Each latch belt has an anchor end protruding rearward from and external to the bottom portion. An adjuster is exposed on at least one side or the front end of the bottom portion. The adjuster can be manipulated to selectively retract or pay out the two latch belts simultaneously. The adjuster can have an adjustment belt protruding from one side of the bottom portion. The adjuster can have a knob positioned on the front end, one side, or both sides of the bottom portion.
US08967712B2
A skin for a seat back of a vehicle seat includes a rear upper piece arranged on the upper rear surface of the seat back, and a rear lower piece arranged on the lower rear surface of the seat back. The rear upper piece has a rear upper piece pocket portion that extends downward in front of the rear lower piece. A left end portion, a right end portion, and a lower end portion of the rear upper piece pocket portion are sewn to the rear lower piece to form a pocket, and an opening of the pocket is formed between the upper end portion of the rear upper piece pocket portion and the rear lower piece. The rear upper piece and the rear lower piece are sewn together at a seam that extends laterally from the opening of the pocket.
US08967707B2
What is proposed is a vehicle roof which has a cover element which can be used to selectively close or at least partially expose a roof opening and which, with respect to a vertical vehicle longitudinal center plane, has a control mechanism for the cover element on each of the two sides, said control mechanism comprising a drive carriage which can be moved in a respective roof-mounted guide rail and controls a pivoting and/or displacement of the cover element, wherein the drive carriages are each connected to a pressure-resistant drive cable which can be driven by means of a drive motor. At least one of the control mechanisms has an initialization stop which, in a front or a rear end position of the cover element, engages in a corresponding guide rail cutout whose edge forms a counter-stop for the initialization stop.
US08967702B2
Structure of a vehicle body rear part in which a back door opening section around which a closed cross-sectional structure is provided wherein the vehicle body rear part includes rear lamp house panels, a back panel section and a back door opening section arranged to incline obliquely such that a lower part is located further toward a vehicle back than an upper part. In the structure, a tail end member extending along a vehicle width direction is coupled to lower side corner portions of the closed cross-sectional structure located on both the left and right sides of the back door opening section, swelling sections extending further outward than the lower side corner portions of the closed cross-sectional structure are provided on both the left and right sides of the tail end member, and the swelling sections are joined to the rear lamp house panels and the back panel section.
US08967681B2
A locking apparatus for an openable window disposed in a cabin provided with a beam that has a first face and a second face includes a lock main body that is attached to the first face so as to be swingable between a closed position and a half-closed position, and a half-lock striker that is disposed on the lock main body. The half-lock striker is engageable with an operation piece provided on the openable window when the lock main body is at the half-closed position. The half-lock striker is positioned on a second face side of the beam at the closed position.
US08967680B2
In a planetary gear mechanism of a vehicle door closer device, a planetary gear meshes with a sun gear and a ring gear. When the ring gear turns in one direction, the planetary gear orbits while it turns on its own axis. A closing lever is pivoted on the planetary gear and turns with orbiting of the planetary gear to move the latch to a full-latch position to enable the door to close. When the ring gear turns in the other direction, the planetary gear turns on its own axis and the sun gear turns to allow the ratchet to release from the latch to to enable the door to open.The planetary gear mechanism slows down a motor and a motion is transmitted to the ratchet to enable the ratchet to release from the latch. When the motor stops, the motion is disconnected to enable the ratchet to return to engagement with the latch.
US08967677B2
An anti-intrusion lock includes a sliding element at a handle shaft, a stop element under the handle shaft, wherein the stop element is suitable for moving upward or downward, a clamp button and a sliding lever connected to the clamp button, wherein the clamp button is led to be exposed and protruded from a side of the lock. When the lock is locked, the clamp button is pressed down to drive the sliding lever to push the stop element upward such that the stop element is stopped at the handle shaft. Thereby, when a thief turns the handle shaft, only the sliding element is driven to move along a sliding groove set at the lock such that the lock pretends to open and the thief misunderstands the lock has been broken and gives up intruding.
US08967671B2
A bolting structure of a sub-frame includes a reinforcer mounting the sub-frame through a side member. The reinforcer includes: a reinforcing member disposed to intersect with the side member in a cross shape and bolted, together with the side member, to a lower panel; an inner pipe disposed at the side member from surfaces interfacing between the reinforcing member and the side member; an outer pipe disposed at the reinforcing member from the surfaces interfacing between the reinforcing member and the side member and inserted into the sub-frame; and a bolt bolted to the inner pipe through the outer pipe and fixing the sub-frame.
US08967669B2
In one embodiment, a vehicle for transporting passengers can include a chassis, a support member, and a labyrinthine girder. The support member can be rigidly engaged to and project from the chassis. The labyrinthine girder can include a coupling platform that is coupled to the support member. The labyrinthine girder can form a partial enclosure that surrounds a portion of the frame rail. An offset distance can be disposed between the labyrinthine girder and the frame rail.
US08967660B2
A vehicle curtain airbag device is provided including: a curtain airbag including a main chamber that inflates and deploys to a vehicle width direction inside of a driving-seat-side side window due to being supplied with gas from an inflator installed to a vehicle, a delay chamber that is provided at a vehicle front-rear direction front side of the main chamber, and that completes inflation and deployment later than the main chamber upon receipt of the gas supply, and a sub chamber that is disposed on the vehicle width direction inside of the main chamber and that inflates and deploys so as to block off a gap formed between the main chamber and a driver's seat airbag that is inflated and deployed from a steering wheel; and a controller that inflates and deploys the driver's seat airbag and actuates the inflator in the event of a small overlap collision.
US08967659B2
A panel having a deployable cover for an airbag module is provided. The panel having: an outer layer having a show surface and an inner surface opposite the show surface; a tear seam formed in the outer layer, the tear seam defined by a plurality of holes formed in the outer layer extending from the inner surface towards the show surface, wherein a residual wall thickness of the outer layer is located between each of the plurality of holes and the show surface, wherein the outer layer includes at least one filler material, that exhibits an absorbance of a wavenumber of a laser used to form the plurality of holes.
US08967658B1
A folding ball trolley has a frame and a bag. The frame has two main rod assemblies and two connecting rod assemblies. When the folding ball trolley is expanded, the main rods and the connecting rods lean outward under gravity until the main rods brace the bag. The bag holds the main rods at a specific angle, and the main rods hold the connecting rods at a specific angle. The main rod assemblies and the connecting rod assemblies are connected into a rectangle, such that the frame is expanded horizontally when the rods are leant outward. Thus, the folding ball trolley can achieve auto expansion without any resilient element, and therefore a user does not have to resist the resilient force when folding. Besides, the amount of the rods is reduced to eight (four main rods and four connecting rods), which reduces the manufacturing cost and facilitates ease of assembly.
US08967655B2
In order to assure smooth and essentially equidistant running of correspondingly loaded pair of skis over ground when turning left or right without any sideslip, a ski is bent at its tip at a pre-determined angle around its longitudinal axis and deflected from the ground by a radius along a that longitudinal axis. Despite a practically symmetric appearance of the circumference of such ski when observed in top view, the distance between a front inflection point and a rear inflection point on the left ski edge and the distance between the front inflection point and the rear inflection point on the right ski edge differ from each other such that the active lengths of the ski edges differ from each other. A weak area of the ski is provided adjacent at least one inflection point to provide different compression distributions between the ground and each of the ski edges.
US08967654B1
A trailer hitch is disclosed which eliminates the need for safety chains. The trailer hitch includes a locking device which is selectively pivotally secured to the tongue of a trailer or the hitch ball coupler assembly at the forward end of the tongue or to both the hitch ball coupler assembly and the tongue. The locking device is selectively movable between locked and unlocked positions. When the locking device is in its locked position, the locking device prevents the disconnection of the hitch ball coupler assembly from the hitch ball.
US08967652B2
A wheelchair includes a seat for supporting an occupant and a frame supporting the seat, where the frame further includes a first pair of wheels and a second pair of wheels connected by a differential for reversibly locking the second pair of wheels such that propulsion of only one of the wheels in the second pair of wheels results in both of wheels in the second pair of wheels moving in an identical direction.
US08967651B1
A bicycle trailer that is foldable into a small storable position that expands to include a bicycle trailer that can be configured to convert into a lounge chair, a dolly, a baby bed with or without a canopy, a table or a wagon using an improved tow bar and trailer hitch that easily attaches and detaches to a bicycle as desired.
US08967643B2
Split roll stabilizer of a motor vehicle, between the two stabilizer parts (2a) of which an actuator (1) for a torsion of the stabilizer parts (2a) can be effectively disposed, a sensor (11) for determining the torsional moment acting in the stabilizer parts (2a) being provided.
US08967641B2
Balance bike having a frame provided with a steering bush or holder for rotatably holding handlebars with a front wheel fork whereby one or several front wheels are connected to the front wheel fork and whereby the balance bike having two back wheels, characterised in that the frame of the balance bike having two frame parts which are directly or indirectly hinge-mounted at a distance (D) from one another to the steering bush or holder by hinges from where the frame parts extend up to a distance thereof and are each provided with a back wheel.
US08967634B2
An article transport vehicle including a frame and at least one wheel supporting the frame on a substrate. The vehicle further includes a support surface extending outwardly from the frame and a lift device secured to the support surface. The lift device is capable of axial movement at an angle relative to the support surface to selectively establish a raised position or lowered position of the support surface relative the substrate.
US08967633B2
A support assembly for supporting and moving objects including a lever, such as a dolly, that utilizes a support portion, a base portion, and a fulcrum to support and move an object. The support portion forms a vertical support while the base portion is substantially horizontal. The object engages both portions. A fulcrum tilts the dolly for control and movement. At least one arm extends and retract from the support portion to provide additional surface area for the dolly for supporting heavy or bulky objects. The arms join the support portion at rotatable hinges that allow the arms to incrementally rotate as needed to achieve a desired width or angle for supporting the objects. The arms may also be detachable joined with the dolly. In this manner, the object may utilize the additional surface area of each arm for enhanced stability and leverage.
US08967632B1
A tool cart caddy suitable for carrying a tool cart as well as tools and materials at a construction site moves easily around a construction site. An especially successful version of this tool cart caddy is as a transport or another cart, such as a cart for an electrician or plumber to transport the required tools and materials around the construction site. The tool cart caddy has a base can both support a cart and carry additional tools or materials. The lower base is generally rectangular with a caster, preferably a lockable caster, mounted at each corner thereof. Thus, the tool cart caddy can be moved on the casters, with the casters being locked or unlocked as desired.
US08967630B2
The present invention is a system for adjusting the height of vehicles that have coil spring suspensions. The invention may be added to existing vehicle suspensions without the need to remove and replace the existing vehicle suspension components. The invention includes cylinders, pistons, seals, dust shields, pressure pump(s) and storage tank(s). It also may optionally include electronic hardware, such as, an electronic controller and software, to control the functions of the system and sensor(s) which detect ground clearance and speed. The invention may be operated manually by a vehicle driver through push buttons, which may operate through the vehicle's existing cruise control buttons. Alternatively, the system can be automated through an electronic control unit (ECU) to avoid collision with obstacles in the vehicle's path.
US08967629B2
A first communication passage is coupled to a left wheel cylinder pressure chamber at an upper vehicle side and a right wheel cylinder pressure chamber at a lower vehicle side to be communicated with each other, and a second communication passage is coupled to a left wheel cylinder pressure chamber at the lower vehicle side and a right wheel cylinder pressure chamber at the upper vehicle side to be communicated with each other. Between the first and second communication passages is a valve mechanism so that the first and second communication passages are normally communicated with each other, and fluid flow from one of the first communication passage and the second communication passage to the other is blocked, when a pressure difference, caused when fluid moves from one of the first communication passage and the second communication passage to the other, becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined value.
US08967626B2
The invention relates to an arrangement (10) for sealing off a joint area (1) between a first joint partner (20, 200) and a second joint partner (30, 300) by means of at least one elastic sealing element (18, 180) disposed between a first sealing surface (12.1) of the first joint partner (20, 200) and a second sealing surface (12.2) of the second joint partner (30, 300), and an associated method for sealing off the joint area (1) between a first joint partner (20, 200) and a second joint partner (30, 300). According to the invention, at least one reservoir (14) for an anticorrosion agent (16) is introduced in a sealing zone (11) of the first and/or second sealing surface (12.1, 12.2), wherein the sealing element encloses the reservoir (14) together with the first and/or second sealing surface (12.1, 12.2).
US08967624B1
A receptacle for receiving a disc thrown in a disc game includes a vertically extending cylindrical sidewall presenting upper and lower portions, an upper edge, a lower edge, an inner surface, an outer surface, and a floor. The inner surface and the floor cooperatively define an open-topped interior chamber configured for receiving and retaining the disc. When the receptacle is installed in the ground surface or an elevated playing surface, the lower portion of the cylindrical sidewall extends approximately 3 to approximately 10 inches below the ground surface or playing surface and the upper portion of the cylindrical sidewall extends approximately 0.125 to approximately 5 inches above the ground surface or playing surface to block and reject discs sliding along the ground surface or playing surface or travelling lower than the upper edge of the cylindrical sidewall.
US08967623B1
The subject game table apparatus comprises a generally flat play surface configured for placement between opposing players. The play surface is preferably rectangular in shape and is equipped with at least one water trough set into a channel in the top side of the table. The trough is parallel and proximal to a side edge of the table and near but outside of a generally central play area. The water trough has a drain at one end and a nozzle at the opposite end of the trough, such that liquid will flow from the nozzle end of the trough to the drain end. The trough is configured to collect and rinse thrown play pieces, usually balls, and return such objects to a player located near the drain end of the trough. The trough further has a liquid pump and tubing configured to convey flowing water from the trough drain to the opposite nozzle, for recirculation.
US08967614B2
An image recording apparatus including a first tray having a first holding portion for holding sheets, a second tray disposed above the first tray and including a second holding portion for holding sheets, a sheet feeder that selectively feeds a sheet from one of the first tray and the second tray in a sheet feed direction, a recording unit that records an image on the sheet fed by the sheet feeder, and a discharge roller that discharges the sheet on which the image is recorded by the recording unit. The second holding portion of the second tray moves above the first holding portion of the first tray. The second tray further includes a discharged sheet receiving portion for receiving the sheet discharged by the discharge roller. The second tray including the discharged sheet receiving portion pivots relative to the first tray.
US08967612B2
A medium processing device includes holding section that temporarily retains a medium therein. A gear inside the holding section drives a mechanism that stores the medium into and feeds out from the holding section. A main body includes a mounting location at which the holding section is mounted, and transfers the medium to and from the holding section at a time at which the holding section is mounted. An operation knob transmits, to the gear, a rotary operation applied from outside the holding section. An operation restriction portion at the main body, blocks transmission of the rotary operation from the knob to the gear in a mounted state in which the holding section is mounted at the mounting location, and allows transmission of the rotary operation from the knob to the gear in a detached state in which the holding section is detached.
US08967605B2
[Problem] A carrier assembly apparatus which is able to be streamlined in structure is provided.[Solution] The carrier assembly apparatus 1 comprises: an assembly table 31 which supports a base member 70 on which a die 90 is placed, a holding head 46 which holds a cover member 80, a pressure reduction head 44 which has a pressure reduction chamber 443 accommodating the cover member 80 and having an opening part 444 and which abuts against the assembly table 31 so as to form a sealed space, a first elevating actuator 43 which simultaneously move the holding head 46 and the pressure reduction head 44 to the assembly table 31, and a second elevating actuator 47 which moves the holding head 46 relative to the pressure reduction head 44.
US08967603B2
A magnetic device for gripping and clamping a workpiece in a machining unit or on a machining line including a magnetic plate having a distribution of high-energy permanent-magnet modules, which can be electrically activated. An auxiliary workpiece-holder plate made of ferromagnetic material rests on a main surface of the magnetic plate and has a top surface shaped in a way complementary to a surface of the workpiece that rests thereon. The workpiece rests on the top surface of the auxiliary workpiece-holder plate only in points corresponding to some supporting pads, while the facing surfaces of the workpiece and auxiliary workpiece-holder plate are kept slightly set apart from one another for most of their extension.
US08967598B2
A bushing suitable for use as a vehicle suspension mount comprises a hydraulic component in series with an outer rubber bushing. The series combination provides good absorption of shock loads without exceeding suspension system packaging constraints.
US08967596B2
The present invention relates to a high-concentration oxygen-dissolving apparatus using ultrasonic waves. More particularly, the present invention relates to a high-concentration oxygen-dissolving apparatus using ultrasonic waves in which, when liquid is introduced via an inlet port, a sediment filter filters out foreign substances, a pre-carbon filter filters out harmful chemical substances, a UF membrane filter filters out impurities, a post-carbon filter filters out gas components and odorous components, the filtered liquid is stored in a storage tank, the liquid stored in the storage tank passes through a cooling device to be cooled to a low temperature, the liquid compressed to high pressure by means of a high pressure pump and a Venturi tube is introduced into an ultrasonic wave irradiating unit, oxygen is dissolved into the liquid by ultrasonic waves irradiated from the ultrasonic wave irradiating unit, the liquid flows to the storage tank through a flow pipe, and the liquid having an oxygen concentration higher than a predetermined level is discharged through an outlet pipe.
US08967580B2
A seat base frame has pairs of tracks, each having an upper rail longitudinally displaceably guided relative to a lower rail and lockable by means of a locking device on the lower rail. A seat structure is connected to the upper rails, and a transverse support extends substantially perpendicular to the upper rails and is connected thereto. The transverse support is fixed in the axial direction thereof relative to the upper rails and rotatably connected thereto, wherein an actuating lever and a control lever are disposed rotationally fixed relative to each other and spaced apart from each other on the transverse support such that each can be engaged by a locking device for adjusting the locking device between a locked position fixing the upper rail relative to the lower rail and a release position releasing the upper rail relative to the lower rail.
US08967579B2
An angle inclining structure for a desk contains a body and an angle inclining structure, the body including two opposite support legs, a horizontal rod, and two support posts connected with the two support legs and a first plate, wherein the angle inclining structure is disposed between the horizontal rod and the first plate and has a holder, a covering member, and a buffer member, the holder includes a locking tab and connects with the horizontal rod, a receiving room to receive a retainer and a pushing element, and a groove to receive a positioning member; the covering member includes a slot, plural tilted recesses, and a locking hole; a free end of the buffer member axially couples with one end of the covering member and a bottom surface of the first plate so that when the first plate axially rotates upwardly, the covering member slides on the holder.
US08967574B2
Hang tags are provided for mounting on merchandise in a retail setting. The hang tags include a card with a plurality of edges, with a region of reinforcing material located at or adjacent to the top edge of the card, surrounding an aperture through which a fastener is received. The region defines the shape of a pair of intersecting elongated shapes such as ovals or ellipses, thereby positioning the reinforcing material in the locations where it is most needed to prevent theft-based removal of the tag from the merchandise, while omitting reinforcing material from the locations where it is not needed. Also provided is an attachment device, such as an applicator gun, for substantially simultaneously applying the reinforcing material to the tag and fastening the tag to a piece of merchandise.
US08967571B2
A flat plastic structure is provided with several horizontal, parallel rows of openings, each comprising several single, for horizontally attaching openings, alternating with several double, for vertically attaching openings. Each of the several single, for horizontally attaching openings has an upper and a lower wall converging inwardly from horizontal edges of those several openings. A flat bar for horizontally attaching centrally connects opposite vertical walls of each single opening. A double, for vertically attaching opening incorporates a vertically extending, centrally located apex-shape structure formed by a pair of intersecting walls diverging towards the back side. A flat bar for vertically attaching is located at each side of the vertically extending centrally located apex-shape structure connects opposite vertical walls of the double, vertically attaching opening.
US08967570B2
A mount assembly includes a main body, a bayonet, and a block. The bayonet is movable relative the main body to insert a portion of the bayonet into an internal cavity of the main body. The block is disposed within the internal cavity and is movable relative to the main body from a first position to a second position. In the first position, the bayonet is captured and held between the block and an inner wall of the internal cavity. In the second position, the block allows the bayonet to be removed from the internal cavity.
US08967565B2
A mount bracket includes a fixing frame, an installation unit, a movable member, a positioning member and a release member. The fixing frame includes a side wall and an end wall. The movable member has a first board movably connected to the side wall and a second board. The first board includes an engaging hole and a contact portion. The positioning member is fixed to the side wall and has an engaging portion. The movable member is movably connected to the first board. When in assembling, the contact portion and the second board contact the inside and outside of a post of a rack. The fixing frame is pushed toward the post to insert the installation unit into the holes of the post. The engaging portion of the positioning member is engaged with the engaging hole of the movable member to connect the movable member to the fixing frame.
US08967563B2
A fitness equipment bracket adjustment structure includes an adjustable sliding bracket including a base member defining therein a sliding groove, a sliding member coupled to and movable in and out of the sliding groove of the base member and a positioning member fixedly fastened to a sidewall of the base member and kept in communication with the sliding groove, and a locking device set including an anti-skid block mounted between the sliding member and the positioning member and defining a stop portion detachably abutted against the sliding member of the adjustable sliding bracket, a connection member inserted through a through hole of the anti-skid block, a coupling member fixedly connected to the connection member and threaded with its one end into the positioning member and a handle coupled to the other end of the coupling member and rotatable relative to the coupling member.
US08967544B2
A method of releasing cargo suspended from at least one cargo hook release pendant in a suspension system coupled to a cargo hook release system includes receiving a voltage release signal at a cargo hook control interface and a cargo release harness assembly; receiving an energizing voltage signal at the cargo release harness assembly; energizing a relay in response to receiving the energizing voltage signal, the relay being electrically coupled to the cargo release harness assembly; automatically transmitting the voltage release signal from the cargo release harness assembly to at least one cargo hook release pendant in response to energizing the relay; and automatically releasing the cargo from at least one cargo hook release pendant in response to automatically transmitting the voltage release signal. Also, the cargo hook release system includes the cargo hook control interface, the cargo release harness assembly, and at least one cargo hook release pendant.
US08967534B2
An aircraft vehicular assembly is provided that includes a nonelastomeric outer tubular member having an inner axial center bore with a tubular cylindrical frictional interface contiguous smooth inner surface segment, and a nonelastomeric inner member having an outer bonding surface segment. The nonelastomeric inner member is rotationally received in the outer member inner axial center bore with the nonelastomeric inner strut member rotatable within said outer member. An elastomer encompasses the nonelastomeric inner strut member outer bonding surface segment. The elastomer has an inner bonding surface segment and an outer grooved elastomer surface, the inner bonding surface segment is bonded to the nonelastomeric inner member outer bonding surface segment.
US08967531B2
A unique airborne electrical power and thermal management system and a unique aircraft having a unique airborne electrical power and thermal management system are provided. The electrical power and thermal management system includes a turbine, which may power loads, for example but not limited to, a generator and a refrigerant compressor. The turbine may be in fluid communication with a gas turbine engine bleed air source to extract power from bleed air for powering the loads. A combustor may be fluidly disposed between the bleed air source and the turbine. The turbine may be part of a gas turbine engine distinct from a propulsion gas turbine engine. In one aspect, at least a portion of the electrical power and thermal management system may be disposed within an aircraft external pod. The pod may be configured to appear similar to a conventional external fuel tank pod employed by the aircraft.
US08967529B1
A battery-structure that may be located at least partially in the wings of an aircraft. The battery-structure forms a portion of the structural support of the wings and includes a plurality of battery receiving compartments; and a plurality of batteries located in the battery-structure. The batteries are configured to fit snugly within the battery receiving compartments, thereby increasing the rigidity of the battery-structure and the wings. The structural constituent of the battery-structure may be made from a carbon or graphite reinforced composite material or from a fiberglass composite material. The battery-structure may include a top panel, a bottom panel, a pair of side panels, and a plurality of web members. The panels and the web members may define the battery receiving compartments. The batteries can be received snugly between the web members to reinforce the rigidity and/or strength of the battery-structure.
US08967516B2
A wear tip holder for holding a wear tip adjacent to an outflow opening of a vertical rotor wall of a rotor of a VSI crusher includes a mounting plate for mounting the wear tip holder to the rotor wall. The mounting plate has a mounting face for facing the rotor wall to which it is to be mounted and a wear face for facing the interior of the rotor. The wear face is provided with at least one material retention hole for retaining, at the wear face, at least one of a wear-resistant insert and material to be crushed.
US08967505B2
An apparatus a circular blade device to produce consistent separated portions of a product to produce a severed portion, pulled and/or shredded product from cooked meat items or other food products as well as a more consistent sized crumble with precooked sausage based items. One embodiment can include a 16 point star shape with angled head or teeth to allow for the pulling of a consistent size product.
US08967501B2
The invention relates to a valve arrangement (2) for metering a fluid medium into an exhaust line (22), comprising a valve seat (10) which acts together with a closing body (12) and in which a valve passage (14) is implemented, and a perforated disc (6) that is disposed downstream of the valve seat, closes off the valve passage, and has at least one axial hole (8) in the area of the valve passage through which the fluid medium can be injected into the exhaust line (22). The valve arrangement further comprises a connecting flange (16) for connecting the valve arrangement (2) to the exhaust line (22) in a fluid-tight manner, wherein the perforated disc (6) extends from the valve passage to the connecting flange and is implemented such that said perforated disc seals the connecting flange against the exhaust line in a fluid-tight manner in the installed state. A separate seal is thus no longer required, because the perforated disc performs the sealing function.
US08967500B2
An injection hole inlet is disposed at the upstream side face of the injection hole plate in such a way that, assuming that α denotes the angle between respective lines obtained by vertically projecting a straight line that passes through the center of the injection hole inlet and the center of the valve seat and the major axis of the injection hole inlet onto a perpendicular plane that passes through the center of the injection hole inlet and is perpendicular to the center axis of the valve seat and assuming that β denotes the angle between respective lines obtained by vertically projecting the straight line that passes through the center of the injection hole inlet and the center of the valve seat and the minor axis of the injection hole inlet onto the perpendicular plane, α<β is satisfied.
US08967498B2
A device is disclosed which is intended for spraying a pressurized liquid, in particular water, and brings about a good cleaning action despite a low volume flow. The device comprises a plurality of swirl chambers (14), wherein each of the swirl chambers has at least one inlet for feeding the liquid into the respective swirl chamber and an outlet nozzle (18) in order for a liquid jet to exit from the swirl chamber. A liquid stream entering into the device is distributed between the inlets of the swirl chambers by means of an arrangement of inflow channels. The outlet nozzles are inclined in relation to one another such that the exiting liquid jets come into contact with one another at a predetermined distance from the outlet nozzles. This achieves an improved cleaning action. The device may be designed, for example, as a mouthpiece for a sanitary outflow fitting, as a showerhead, etc.
US08967496B1
An actuator and nozzle assembly for a dispensing device for dispensing product under pressure, wherein a product chamber is supported within an outer container and a source of pressurized air pressurizes the product to dispense it through the nozzle. A stem valve normally biased to closed position is opened by an actuator reciprocal on a coupling member that attaches the actuator to the outer container. A first valve controls flow of pressurized air to the nozzle, and a second valve controls flow of product to the nozzle. In a first position of the actuator flow of air to the nozzle is enabled and in a second position flow of product is also enabled. Release of the actuator first interrupts flow of product then interrupts flow of pressurized air.
US08967487B2
Provided is a non-contact communication device including an antenna configured to transmit data through non-contact communication after load-modulation of an RF signal from a reader/writer (R/W), wherein the antenna includes: a standard coil having an aperture with a predetermined size; and a small coil having an aperture with a size smaller than a size of the standard coil, wherein the standard coil and the small coil are connected in series or in parallel, and the small coil is arranged such that the aperture of the small coil overlaps a winding part of a coil that is an antenna of the R/W when the non-contact communication device is caused to face the R/W by matching a predetermined position of the non-contact communication device with a reference position of the R/W determined in advance as a position with which the predetermined position of the non-contact communication device is to be matched.
US08967482B2
A method of selecting digital images includes using a processor to store the digital images in an electronic storage and retrieval system, forming a corresponding machine-readable code for each stored digital image, the machine-readable code encoding a reference to the storage location of the corresponding digital image in the electronic storage and retrieval system, providing a viewable image that includes a representative image of each digital image in the first collection of digital images in association with its associated machine-readable code, selecting one or more but not all of the digital images by receiving references or photographs of the machine-readable codes and extracting the references from the received photographs, and compiling the digital images corresponding to the received or extracted references into a second image collection.
US08967477B2
A secure smart card reader is disclosed that is enabled to make reader signatures on data representative of events and actions which may be security related and which may include data representative of reader commands received from a host or remote application, smart card commands exchanged with an inserted smart card, data presented to a user for approval, and/or configuration parameters applied when dealing with any of the foregoing. The smart card reader may be adapted to maintain logs of events and actions which may include exchanging reader commands, exchanging smart card commands, and/or interactions with a user. The logs may include data representative of the reader commands received, the smart card commands exchanged, data presented to the user for approval, and/or configuration parameters applied when dealing with any of the foregoing. The secure smart card reader may be adapted to generate a reader signature over the logs.
US08967472B2
An RFID reader includes an HF antenna formed on a compound, or three-dimensional, surface. With an HF antenna so configured, the RFID reader operates with an expanded region in which a short-range RFID device can be effectively read, while still requiring close proximity between the RFID device and the RFID reader for successful communication. Consequently, the physical security of information associated with the RFID device can be maintained while simultaneously enhancing the reliability of communications between the RFID device and an RFID reader. In addition, the HF antenna can be reliably and repeatably formed into a desired three-dimensional shape with a relatively simple two-step process.
US08967471B1
Technology is disclosed for detecting a malfunctioning electronic device. The technology can receive payment information for multiple successfully completed transactions, wherein the payment information includes card-present transactions and card-not-present transactions, and determine status of an electronic device based at least in part on the payment information for the successfully completed transaction.
US08967469B2
The invention relates to a system and method for tracking items of interest using one or more signal tags, configured to receive information and transmit information using a longwave frequency in the magnetic field. Additional components include one or more data entry devices; one or more tag readers; and one or more database components, configured to transmit information to and receive information from the one or more data entry devices and the one or more tag readers.
US08967454B2
Packaging systems, such as envelopes and folders, with digital media storage are disclosed. In some embodiments, an envelope may include a unitary planar material folded along first and second transverse folds forming a first end panel, a second end panel, and a middle panel disposed between the first end panel and the second end panel, along the second transverse fold to form a closure for the document receptacle, and a lateral projection on one of the first and second end panels folded along a longitudinal fold onto another portion of the one of the first and second end panels and affixed along an edge of the lateral projection opposite the longitudinal fold to the another portion of the one of the first and second end panels to form a pocket between the lateral projection and the another portion of the one of the first and second end panels.
US08967445B2
A shipping wedge for use with a surgical instrument includes a base configured to be detachably secured with a body portion of the surgical instrument, a blocking member depending from the base and engageable with a movable operative member of the surgical instrument, and a locking member depending from the base and engageable with a lockout mechanism of the surgical instrument.
US08967444B2
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a surgical instrument for operating on tissue is provided. The surgical instrument includes an end effector including a first tissue engaging member and a second tissue engaging member in juxtaposed relation to the first tissue engaging member; a gap determination element operatively associated with each of the first tissue engaging member and the second tissue engaging member for measuring a gap distance between the first tissue engaging member and the second tissue engaging member; and a tissue contact determining element operatively associated with a respective tissue contacting surface of at least one of the first tissue engaging member and the second tissue engaging member. The present disclosure also relates to methods of using the surgical instrument.
US08967440B2
A wrapping film dispenser has a generally cylindrical container that defines a cavity for accommodating a wrapping film roll, and further defines a slot extending along its length for extracting a sheet of wrapping film through the slot. A gripping pad member is rigidly attached at a first lengthwise edge of the slot. A locking element is rigidly attached proximal to a second lengthwise edge of the slot. The locking element extends towards the gripping pad member, presses the extracted wrapping film sheet against the gripping pad member, and restricts movement and prevents roll back of the extracted wrapping film sheet. A cutting frame is rigidly attached proximal to the first lengthwise edge of the slot above the gripping pad member, and has a protruding element located at a predetermined location on the cutting frame for cutting the wrapping film sheet extracted out through the slot.
US08967437B2
An electronic device holder having a retention member for retaining an electronic device, such as an MP3 player, preferably an Apple® IPod nano having a multi-touch color screen, and a strap or shank attached to the retention member to allow fastening to an object, such as a user's wrist or a chain, is disclosed. The device may be secured by friction fitting into a recessed area having two ridges to engage the device along two edges. The device may be inserted by sliding or snap fitting into the recessed area. An opening along the back of the recessed area allows the device to be pushed laterally or vertically from the retention member. Alternatively, the retention member may be a two-piece frame which partially encloses the device. The frame pieces affix to either a wristband strap or a carabiner clip shank as they are secured to one another.
US08967435B2
The push-button dispenser with compressed-gas capsule (7) for bottles (2) consists of a head which can be screwed onto the bottle (2) and have a lateral pouring channel (4), a push-button (15) on its upper side and downwardly projecting suction tube (11). The latter is intended to extend as far as the base of the bottle (2) which is to be fitted with the dispenser, and it opens out at the top into a valve device in the head. This valve device has a regulating means (39) which can be moved axially in relation to the bottle (2) and is biased in the closing direction by a spring (17), and can be opened by manual pressure being applied to the push-button (15) from above. This reduces pressure in the interior of the suction tube (11) to ambient pressure, as a result of which liquid is expelled from the bottle (2), by way of the internal pressure prevailing in the bottle (2), out of the lower mouth opening of the suction tube (11) via the pouring channel (4). As a special feature, the dispenser is configured as a single-piece housing (14) with inner housing (37), which contains all the other elements of the dispenser, or bears the same externally.
US08967431B2
A device for packaging and dispensing several fluid products includes at least two sealed flexible gags arranged in a single rigid container, associated with at least one pump, the rigid container consisting of an open cylinder and the bags are provided each with a pump and a push button, and are mounted opposite on each of the two opposite openings of the cylinder. The device is applicable to appliances containing fluids to be dispensed independently of one another.
US08967414B2
A drinking mug includes a lid affixed at the mouth of the mug. The lid includes fluid openings between a bottom portion of the lid and sidewalls of the lid about the circumference of the lid to permit drinking from any position along the circumference. The lid has a gasket that seals the mug closed when the lid is threaded to a closed position. When the lid is partially unscrewed, the gasket opens, permitting liquid to be consumed from the beverage container through the fluid openings in the lid. The lid includes a ramp-shaped cam and the mug includes a pivotable latch that engages the cam that prevents the lid from being unscrewed from the mug. The latch has a push button that releases the latch from the cam to permit removal of the lid.
US08967412B2
A drinking cup that has a lid with a receiving portion is provided. The receiving portion may have a flow control engagement surface. A flow control element that may be configured for releasable attachment with the lid may be included and can have an attachment portion. The attachment portion may have a lid engagement surface. When the flow control element and the lid are attached, the flow control engagement surface engages the lid engagement surface. At least one of the flow control engagement surface and the lid engagement surface may have a concave shape.
US08967411B2
A pressure relief device of domed construction for venting an internally pressurized container. The pressure release device includes a coined pressure vent and is characterized by a relatively high venting pressure in combination with a failure pressure in the absence of venting which is higher than the intended venting pressure. The pressure relief device includes a sloped sidewall having an outer annular segment and a sloped annular intermediate segment. The sloped annular intermediate segment has a width dimension greater than the width dimension of the outer annular segment. A circular central plateau defines a flat dome top. The circular central plateau has a center point with an arc shaped coin line extending about an arc with the apex of the arc positioned at the center point of the circular central plateau.
US08967391B2
A method for preparing a composite multilayer porous hollow fiber membrane and the device and product thereof. The method comprises preparing uncured porous hollow fibers with larger pore diameters as the inner supporter of the membrane from thermoplastic macromolecule polymer resins by thermal induced phase separation method and then bonding a superthin coating layer with microfiltration or nanofiltration function and small pore diameter prepared on the outer surface of the hollow fibers from a solution of the thermoplastic macromolecule polymer resins by a coating process using non-solvent induced phase separation method. The composite multilayer porous hollow fiber membrane has such excellent mechanical strength and high water flux as the membranes prepared by thermal induced phase separation method, such high precision filter effect and high contamination resistance as the membranes prepared by non-solvent induced phase separation method, and high binding force of the membrane prepared by the above method.
US08967389B2
A document recycle box is provided to comprise: a housing 60, a cover 52 rotatably attached to housing 60, a convey belt device 51 of a recycle conveyor device 50 attached to one of housing 60 or cover 52 along one side of a recycle pathway 11 extending within housing 60, a plurality of rollers 53 of recycle conveyor device 50 attached to the other of housing 60 or cover 52 along the other side of recycle pathway 11 on the opposite side of conveyor belt device 51, and a drum device 43 rotatably disposed within housing 60. Cover 52 may be released from housing 60 to move recycle conveyor 50 away from rollers 53 to easily remove a jammed document within recycle pathway 11.
US08967388B1
A screening panel and screening arrangement are provided for screening materials. The screening panel includes a peripheral frame having a first side frame member and an opposing second side frame member defining an opening therebetween. Further, the screening panel includes a plurality of spaced elongated screening ribs defining a screening surface of the screening panel. The screening panel includes a one or more sets of screening ribs that extend continuously across at least a portion of the screening surface of the screening panel in a non-parallel direction relative to a flow direction of material in the screening arrangement.
US08967385B2
An installation for clear separation in one cycle of a conglomerate of different metals into individual material components. The installation involves the conglomerate of different metals being comminuted in a machine for producing a homogeneous mixture of metals and being transported to a feeding device. The conglomerate is transported to a highly magnetic rotating drum that separates ferrous-magnetic materials together with fluff and then conveys remaining nonferrous materials to a slowly running conveyor belt, underneath the conveyor belt, slowly rotating discs are mounted in a row that carry on their outer surface area a plurality of permanent magnets of an alternating pol direction. The nonferrous materials include particles that are stripped into a collection bin.
US08967383B1
The present disclosure teaches improved processes to produce high-brightness kaolins at high yields from various natural sources of crude kaolin. In some embodiments, a process for treating mined kaolin comprises: blunging kaolin material with water at high shear to form a slurry; introducing the slurry to one or more beneficiation units for flocculation of titania (e.g., anatase) and titania-associated impurities (e.g., iron); introducing a sodium silicate composition, or precursors thereof, to the beneficiation units, wherein the sodium silicate composition is characterized by a Na2O/SiO2 ratio selected from about 0.25 to about 2.5; and recovering a suspension comprising at least 70% of the kaolin clay. The selected sodium silicate composition enhances flocculation of the titania while maintaining dispersion of the kaolin clay in the slurry. One or more chemical leaching reactions generate a treated kaolin that is characterized by a brightness of about 90 or higher.
US08967379B2
A tool storage and transport system including a tool bag body formed from a base, a first exterior wall perpendicular to the base, and a second exterior wall perpendicular to the base and opposite the first exterior wall; and a tool organizer slidably engagable with at least one of the first and second exterior walls. The tool organizer includes an organizer tray having a bottom wall, a plurality of sidewalls generally perpendicular to the bottom wall, a first end, and a second end opposite the first end. The first end is slidably engagable with the exterior wall.
US08967378B2
A handheld toothpaste dispensing system that dispenses single serving portions of toothpaste in preformed shapes includes an outer housing surrounding an interior chamber. To load the dispensing system, a replaceable or refillable disk containing single serving portions of toothpaste assembled in spaced arrangement is inserted into the interior chamber of the dispensing device and is supported on a disk advancing mechanism. In operation, a button on the dispensing device is pressed to operate the disk advancing mechanism, thereby advancing the disk through a partial rotational movement and exposing the subsequent compartment on the disk within a dispensing opening on the housing of the device. The preformed shapes of toothpaste are removed from the disk for brushing by inserting the bristles of the user's toothbrush into the preformed shape of toothpaste and subsequently pulling the toothbrush away from the disk with the single serving toothpaste shape clinging to the bristles.
US08967366B2
An aspect of the present invention provides a system for transferring a plurality of non-oriented items. The system includes a feeding area, a conveyor and a rail. The feeding area can accept the plurality of non-oriented items. The conveyor has a first end, a second end, a conveyor length disposed between the first end and the second end, a conveyor first side, a conveyor second side, a conveyor width disposed between the conveyor first side and the conveyor second side, and a conveyor ledge along the second side. The rail is disposed above the conveyor and from the conveyor ledge at a distance equal to one of the item height, the item width and the item length. A first portion of the plurality of non-oriented items will convey along the conveyor path. A second portion of the plurality of non-oriented items will fall off the conveyor ledge.
US08967358B2
A chute turning restriction mechanism includes: a rotary shaft on which a chute is disposed and which is provided to be capable of rotating relative to a vehicle body of a mixer truck; a bracket that is provided on the vehicle body and includes an insertion hole into which the rotary shaft is inserted and a cutaway portion formed by cutting away a part of the insertion hole; an inner diameter adjustment shaft provided across the cutaway portion to be capable of adjusting an inner diameter of the insertion hole, and configured to restrict rotation of the rotary shaft by reducing the inner diameter of the insertion hole; a rotary body that is provided to rotate together with the rotary shaft and includes an engagement groove; and a lock lever that is provided to be capable of rotating about the inner diameter adjustment shaft, and that restricts the rotation of the rotary shaft by engaging with the engagement groove.
US08967352B2
A clutch apparatus includes a clutch pack having a plurality of friction disks. The clutch pack will selectively transfer torque from a torque supplying member to a first torque receiving member. The apparatus also includes a first piston chamber positioned radially outward of the clutch pack. The first piston chamber is operably connected to the clutch pack for exerting a compressive force on at least a portion of the clutch pack as a first fluid is pressurized into the first piston chamber.
US08967350B2
A driving force transmission apparatus includes: a first cam mechanism that converts rotational force from a housing into first cam thrust force used as clutch force of a main clutch when the first cam mechanism is actuated through clutch action of a pilot clutch; and a second cam mechanism that is actuated prior to conversion of the rotational force into the first cam thrust force by the first cam mechanism, and that generates second cam thrust force for reducing an interval between clutch plates of the main clutch. The second cam mechanism includes an input cam member that rotates upon receiving rotational force used as actuating force of the input cam member from a cam actuating driving source, and an output cam member that generates the second cam thrust force between the output cam member and the input cam member and outputs the second cam thrust force.
US08967345B2
An adjustable rebound buffer includes: an outer perimeter, a central shaft hole and at least one adjustable hole. The outer perimeter is sized to fit inside a buffer cavity of the hydraulic damper. The central shaft hole is sized to fit around a damper shaft and position the adjustable rebound buffer on the damper shaft. The at least one adjustable hole provides an adjustable bleed path through the adjustable rebound buffer. A hydraulic damper with the adjustable rebound buffer includes the buffer cavity, wherein, the outer perimeter of the adjustable rebound buffer is adapted to fit inside the buffer cavity as the hydraulic damper approaches full extension.
US08967339B2
A brake disc arrangement for disc brakes, in particular for land vehicles, including a friction ring, an attachment adapter for attaching the brake disc arrangement to a wheel hub, and at least one connection element for connecting the friction ring and the attachment adapter, wherein the attachment adapter comprises a fastening area in which the connection element is stationarily fixed, and wherein the friction ring comprises a receptacle area in which the connection element is accommodated such that the friction ring can move radially relative to the connection element.
US08967334B2
A gear unit at least partially filled with oil,wherein a device is provided in the gear unit for lowering the oil level, especially of the oil pan of the gear unit, during operation, the device including at least one temporary storage.
US08967332B2
An adjuster adjusts a length of at least one strap of a safety harness. The at least one strap is selected from the group consisting of at least one shoulder strap, at least one chest strap, at least one waist strap, at least one seat strap, and at least one leg strap. The adjuster comprises a base, a shaft rotatably operatively connected to the shaft and defining a slot configured and arranged to receive the at least one strap, and a locking mechanism interconnecting the base and the shaft. The locking mechanism allows rotation of the shaft in a first direction and prevents rotation of the shaft in a second opposite direction.
US08967325B1
A firearm sound suppressor cooling system comprising a sound suppressor housing with means for reducing the pressure of gases exiting from a discharged firearm with a shroud that is attached to the exterior of the sound suppressor housing, an annular chamber formed between the sound suppressor housing and the shroud, and a nozzle positioned at the distal end of the sound suppressor and the shroud. The nozzle produces a suction effect upon discharge of the firearm and due to the suction effect, ambient air is aspirated through the annular chamber, and cools the firearm sound suppressor.
US08967315B1
A kit for converting a motorcycle into a police motorcycle includes right and left-side drop bars, a rear drop bar, and a front impact guard. The kit further includes right and left-side saddlebags that open in a clamshell position or in a side-opening position. A controller compartment positioned above and between the saddlebags contains a controller for operation of the various electrical components of the police motorcycle, including visual and audio effects. The kit also includes flashers integrated into the front headlight and front handlebar risers that raise the handlebars sufficiently to allow a rider to sit upright, instead of prone, for better observation of the surroundings.
US08967295B2
A data acquisition module comprising a base sized and configured for disposition within a shank of a drill bit bore and an extension protruding therefrom having electrical contacts on an exterior surface thereof for connection to electrical contacts on an interior surface of a sub secured to the bit shank. A drill bit equipped with a data acquisition module, a bottom hole assembly including a drill bit bearing a data acquisition module operably coupled to a sub secured to the drill bit, and a method of transferring data from a data acquisition module carrying a data acquisition module to a sub secured to the drill bit.
US08967276B2
A non-ballistic tubular perforating system includes a tubular having a wall with perforations therethrough, and plugs positioned within the perforations that are configured to dissolve in response to exposure to a first environment thereby creative of a second environment that can dissolve or increase porosity of cement.
US08967272B2
A modified casing coupling houses a pressure relief valve body having a through bore with opposing end openings. The through bore communicates with the interior of the modified casing coupling at one end opening thereof and with an area surrounding the modified casing coupling at an opposite end opening. The through bore includes a ball seat adjacent one end opening thereof which receives a sealing ball. The ball is urged in the direction of the ball seat by a tensioning element. The ball is exposed to annular pressure trapped between successive lengths of well casing located in the well borehole. The amount of tension exerted on the ball by the tensioning element is selected to allow the ball to move off the ball seat to release trapped annular pressure between the selected casing strings once a certain annulus pressure is reached.
US08967268B2
A circulation sub is provided that has a ball seat and a circulation port that is closed when a ball is landed on the seat. An axial passage directs the pressure surge created with the landing of the ball on the seat to the port with the actuation piston for the tool. The surge in pressure operates the actuation piston to set the tool, which is preferably a packer. Raising the circulation rate through a constriction in a circulation sub breaks a shear device and allows the restriction to shift to cover a circulation port. The pressure surge that ensues continues through the restriction to the actuating piston for the tool to set the tool.
US08967266B2
The lowside of a casing joint is protected from wear while milling a casing exit for a lateral borehole. The casing joint is coupled to a casing string and is made of a material that is softer than that of the casing string. A whipstock assembly is arranged within the casing joint and has a deflector surface operable to direct a drilling assembly into a sidewall of the casing joint to create the casing exit. A wear sleeve is coupled to and extends axially from the whipstock assembly, the wear sleeve defining a throat that extends axially along the axial length of the wear sleeve and transitions into the deflector surface. The axial length of the wear sleeve extends beyond a point of contact where the drilling assembly would otherwise engage the lowside of the casing joint.
US08967254B2
A composition for repairing voids or cracks in a cement sheath or plug comprises an aqueous epoxy resin, a hardener, an alkali-swellable material and an aqueous carrier fluid. The particle size of the alkali-swellable material is preferably smaller than 200 nanometers, thereby allowing the composition to penetrate cracks as small as 60 micrometers. A method for repairing voids or cracks in a cement sheath, thereby restoring zonal isolation, comprises preparing the composition, injecting the composition into voids or cracks in a cement sheath or plug and allowing the composition to viscosify and harden.
US08967240B2
A gravel packing assembly has first and second joints each including a sand control screen assembly having a filter medium positioned exteriorly of a base pipe and a slurry delivery subassembly positioned exteriorly of the sand control screen assembly. The slurry delivery subassembly includes at least one transport tube extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the sand control screen assembly. At least one jumper tube is coupled to and extends between the at least one transport tube of the first joint and the at least one transport tube of the second joint. A jumper tube protection assembly extends between the first and second joints and is positioned exteriorly about the at least one jumper tube.
US08967225B2
A leading end assembly for a movable partition may include a frame, an exterior skin coupled to the frame for covering a leading surface and two opposing side surfaces of the frame, the exterior skin including a leading member forming at least a portion of a leading surface of the leading end assembly and at least two side members, each side member being formed separately from the leading member and forming at least a portion of a lateral side portion of the leading end assembly. Movable partitions may include leading end assemblies and leading end assemblies may be formed by related methods.
US08967218B2
Disclosed herein is a method for manufacturing a wound dressing. The method includes the steps of: forming a alginate fiber by a wet spinning process; winding the alginate fiber around a board to form a plurality of first fibers on a surface of the board; spraying an aqueous solution containing sodium ions on the surface of the wound first fiber; rewinding the alginate fiber around the board to form a plurality of second fibers stacked on the first fibers, in which the second fibers are not parallel with the first fibers; and drying the first fibers and the second fibers.
US08967213B2
A pneumatic tire having a carcass and a belt reinforcing structure wherein the belt reinforcing structure is a composite belt structure having at least one radially inner spiral layer and at least one zigzag belt reinforcing structure located radially outward of said spiral layer. The zigzag belt width is preferably wider than the spiral layer.
US08967206B2
A process for producing a fluid conduit by forming a fluid delivery channel along the outer surface of a first elongate tubular body member. A second elongate tubular body having an inner circumference is fitted about the outer circumference of the first tubular body so as to seal the at least one fluid delivery channel on the outer surface of the first tubular body. A section of the fitted first and second tubular assembly is removed therefrom so as to define a fluid delivery channel in the form of a sealed fluid conduit.
US08967203B2
Foreign material exclusion devices especially adapted to be positioned in a construction, for example a tube or pipe to temporarily seal off a potentially sensitive area of the construction from foreign materials or debris. In one embodiment the device includes a specifically defined, fixed-size eyelet to assist with insertion and/or removal of the device from a construction. Still other embodiments of the device include cavities that retain a trackable coating applied to the device. Further embodiments include identification elements embedded and thus protected within the frame of the device.
US08967202B2
A device for plugging an axially-aligned bore in a shaft of a gas turbine engine comprises a plug. A sealing body of the plug is sealingly received in a bore of the shaft. Legs project from the sealing body and are displaceable between a normally contracted position in which the legs are radially inward relative to a periphery of the bore, and a deployed position in which the legs project radially outward and engage with shaft projections within the bore of the shaft. A wedge is operatively engaged to the plug for movement of the wedge relative to the plug. The wedge comprises a portion in operative contact with the legs of the plug unit to displace the legs between positions as a response to movement of the wedge. A gas turbine engine and a method for plugging a shaft are provided.
US08967198B2
An oil storing device includes a body portion. The body portion is formed at its one end with an engaging portion having an oil supply port for supplying engine oil and an oil return port for introducing the engine oil. The engaging portion is detachably connected to a connecting portion of a crankcase. Oil storing chambers for storing the engine oil are formed in the body portion so as to be connected to the oil supply port and the oil return port. When the engaging portion is engaged with the connecting portion of the crankcase, the oil supply port is connected to an inlet port leading to an oil pump, and the oil return port is connected to an outlet port to the crankcase.
US08967189B2
The hollow valve plate 1 of a piston compressor for liquid-cooled reed valves comprises a single half-shell 3 with cooling channels 4 which are open on the cylinder side, which said half-shell is covered by a reed plate 2 which is preferably welded or glued at least along the cooling channels 4 and has in the area of the suction openings 5 in each case one suction reed 6 which is machined out and is integrally connected on one side. Production and assembly are thereby simplified and the clearance is reduced.
US08967179B2
A pilot stage for a jet type servo-valve, the pilot stage including an ejector for ejecting a jet of fluid and that is movable facing a deflector suitable for generating a pressure difference that can be used for moving a spool of the servo-valve. The ejector extends radially projecting from a column to which the ejector is secured and is in fluid-flow communication with a central bore of the column through which the ejector is fed with fluid, the column having a first end that is embedded in the servo-valve and through which the fluid is introduced into the column, and the column has a second end that is subjected to drive from a torque motor for selectively twisting the column in one direction or the other about a rest position.
US08967175B2
Disclosed are a method and device for modulating the downstream pressure output of a pressure reducing hydraulic control valve in response to the flow demand fluctuation the method comprising. Included is an adjustable pressure pilot valve mechanism having a drive element extending from the control valve. The drive element is displaceable in response to a flow capacity through the hydraulic control valve. Also included is an adjustable pressure pilot valve deployed along a control tube connecting an upstream pressure port to a downstream pressure port, the adjustable pressure pilot valve associated with the drive element such that adjustable settings of the adjustable pressure pilot valve are responsive to displacement of the drive element.
US08967162B2
A compact, recyclable dental flossing device in the form of a multi-layered elongated filament or strip of a resin which has physical characteristics such that, when elongated or drawn to stop, possesses a substantially increased length and tensile strength and a reduced thickness suitable for flossing teeth.
US08967158B2
An artificial eyelash 100 for increasing a length of an eyelash 50 is disclosed. The artificial eyelash 100 disclosed herein includes an artificial eyelash main body 10 and an annular member 20 for coupling the artificial eyelash main body 10 and the eyelash 50. The annular member 20 is formed of a shrinkable material.
US08967156B1
A coloring comb for applying a coloring material to selected strands of hair on a head includes a number of teeth, each of which has a trough-shaped reservoir extending along its upper surface and a slot extending from its tip through the elongated reservoir. The reservoirs are filed through elongated slots in an applicator plate held on the coloring comb.
US08967155B2
A method for forming a filter rod may include providing a bale of crimped tow band having about 10 denier per filament or greater and about 20,000 total denier or less, the crimped tow band comprising a plurality of cellulose acetate filaments; and placing the crimped tow band in an apparatus so as to form a filter rod.
US08967153B2
A glass cigarette with an elongate hollow tubular borosilicate glass member. The glass member has a first open ended cylindrical smoking material retaining portion, a second cylindrical smoke cooling passage portion and a third tapered tubular mouthpiece portion. A restrictor portion joins the first portion to the second portion. The third tapered portion is contiguous with and fixed to the second portion. The mouthpiece is open ended at the tapered end. A preferred embodiment includes the overall length of the glass cigarette is approximately 106 mm.
US08967149B2
A mask assembly includes a mask with an inflatable bladder. The internal pressure of the inflatable bladder can be set to be higher than the delivered therapeutic pressure. The pressure offset may be constant, or it may vary over the range of therapeutic pressures. Thus, the force necessary to maintain a contact seal between the mask and the patient can be reduced, thereby providing a system that is more comfortable to the patient, which increases patient compliance.
US08967147B2
A filtering face-piece respirator 10 that has a harness 14 and a mask body 12. The mask body 12 includes a support structure 16 and a filtering structure 18. The support structure 16 contains an auxetic mesh 20 that has been molded into an intended cup-shape configuration, and the filtering structure 18 contains a filtration layer 42 for removing contaminants from the ambient air. The use of an auxetic mesh 20 in the support structure 16 provides more uniformly-sized openings 26 in the mesh 20 and reduces opportunities for mesh overlapping and mesh distortion.
US08967143B2
Acoustic pressure inducers and methods for treating obstructive sleep apnea are disclosed. In one embodiment, an acoustic pressure inducer includes an actuator housing having an orifice, a tube having a first end and a second end, and a nasal cannula fluidly coupled to the second end of the tube. The first end of the tube is fluidly coupled to the orifice of the actuator housing such that a gap is present between the first end of the tube and the orifice. The nasal cannula is configured to be positioned proximate to nostrils of a user. The acoustic pressure inducer further includes a vibrating element within the actuator housing and a signal generator. The signal generator component is electrically coupled to the vibrating element and configured to provide an electronic signal to the vibrating element to cause the vibrating element to oscillate within the actuator housing and produce an acoustic jet of air that exits the orifice and enters a nasal passageway of the user through the nasal cannula.
US08967142B2
The invention relates to a system for providing emergency oxygen and therapeutic oxygen in an aircraft, said system having an oxygen source, an oxygen conduction system comprising a second oxygen outlet, a device for providing emergency oxygen comprising a second oxygen inlet, a device for providing therapeutic oxygen, having a first oxygen inlet and a first oxygen outlet. According to the invention, the second oxygen outlet can be coupled to the first oxygen inlet, the first oxygen outlet can be coupled to the second oxygen inlet and the second oxygen outlet can be coupled to the second oxygen inlet.
US08967140B2
A drug package comprising a plurality of drug vials containing drugs for delivery to a patient in a drug delivery device; and a data carrier including drug treatment information for use by the drug delivery apparatus.
US08967139B2
A respiratory connector for connecting an inspiratory tube and an expiratory tube to a coupling point of a medical apparatus is disclosed here. The respiratory connector includes a base element and two channels inside the base element, one of the channels is for an inspiratory flow and another is for an expiratory flow. The respiratory connector also includes a first sealable zone for sealing the base element with the coupling point and a second sealable zone at a distance from the first sealable zone for sealing with the coupling point. Both channels at least partly extend inside the base element between the first sealable zone and the second sealable zone. An arrangement for connecting an inspiratory tube and an expiratory tube to a medical apparatus is also disclosed.
US08967134B1
A liquid-fuel fired tilting skillet system including a tilting skillet having a support frame and a tilting skillet pan, a liquid-fuel fired burner having a flame tube, a burner bracket on the frame for mounting the liquid-fuel fired burner, a firebox mounted beneath the pan with a burner insertion hole for receiving the burner flame tube, and a diffuser plate mounted to the bottom of the pan in the firebox targeted by the flame tube for distributing the heat across the pan bottom.
US08967127B2
An intake apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a plurality of branch pipes connected at downstream ends thereof to an engine main body, an intake chamber to which upstream ends of the branch pipes are connected, and a common intake air introducing part connected to the center of the intake chamber in a cylinder arrangement direction. The intake chamber includes a projecting part projecting toward the engine main body relative to the common intake air introducing part. An EGR introducing passage is connected to the center of the projecting part in the cylinder arrangement direction. A downstream end of the EGR introducing passage is directed toward a wall of the projecting part on the common intake air introducing part side.
US08967122B2
When fuel tank internal pressure is at a first predetermined pressure P1 or above over a first predetermined time length t1, a fuel tank shutoff valve is opened and a vapor solenoid valve is closed to make piping internal pressure equal to the fuel tank internal pressure. Then, a purge control valve is opened to emit fuel evaporative gas from the fuel tank into an intake passage. When the fuel tank internal pressure is continuously at a second predetermined pressure P2 or below over the first predetermined time length t1, the fuel tank shutoff valve is closed, and when accumulated volume in high-pressure purge finishing phase reaches a second predetermined volume iv2 or above, the vapor solenoid valve is opened. When the accumulated volume in high-pressure purge finishing phase reaches a first predetermined volume iv1 or above, the purge control valve is opened and the engine is stopped.
US08967118B2
A method includes: retarding spark timing relative to a predetermined spark timing when an engine torque output reduction is requested for a gear shift; estimating a first torque output of an engine based on N cylinders of the engine being fueled, an engine speed, an air per cylinder (APC), and the predetermined spark timing; estimating a second torque output of the engine based on M cylinders being fueled, the engine speed, the APC, and the spark timing. determining an initial pressure ratio across a turbocharger compressor; determining an adjustment based on M and the first and second torque outputs; generating a desired pressure ratio across the turbocharger compressor based on the adjustment and the initial pressure ratio; and controlling opening of a turbocharger wastegate based on the desired pressure ratio. N is a total number of cylinders of the engine and M is less than or equal to N.
US08967106B2
A valve insert (8a, 8b) for a valve, in particular for a control valve (2) for controlling pressure-medium streams of a camshaft adjuster, includes an insert housing (10), in which a filter (12) and a non-return valve (14) with a closing element (24) and a seat element (20) are integrated. A configuration of the valve insert which is easy to install is ensured by at least the insert housing (10), the filter (12) and the seat element (20) being connected non-detachably to one another and forming one preassembled structural unit (40).
US08967093B2
A piston cooling system includes: a nozzle pipe portion which communicates with an oil passage which is provided in an internal combustion engine and which extends towards an interior of a cylinder bore; and a flow path forming member which is fixed to a distal end portion of the nozzle pipe portion and in which a plurality of oil jetting paths are formed, wherein: the distal end portion comprises an expanded pipe portion where the nozzle pipe portion is expanded and the flow path forming member is fittingly inserted into the expanded pipe portion; the flow path forming member has a distal end face which is exposed to an exterior portion at a distal end side of the expanded pipe portion; and the flow path forming member is locked in the expanded pipe portion by deforming a distal end edge of the expanded pipe portion.
US08967092B1
An inline fan reverser (100) and related method for clearing away debris from a radiator (20) by programmatically reversing a vehicle's radiator fan (30). The fan reverser (100) electrically connects, inline, with the conductors that normally drive the electric motor (32) that turns the fan (31) in order to pull cooling air through the radiator (20) The fan reverser (100) includes a microcontroller that initially clears the radiator (20) of debris by pushing or blowing for a short period of time (e.g. 10 seconds) and then enters a main loop where the fan reverser repeatedly transitions between a cooling phase and a cleaning phase. In the cooling phase, the reverser pulls air through the radiator for a long period of time (e.g. 10 minutes). In the cleaning phase, the reverser periodically clears the radiator (20) of debris by pushing or blowing for a short period of time (e.g. 10 seconds). The reverser also provides for short OFF periods (e.g. 5 seconds) after each forward or reverse phase where power is removed from the fan (30) in order to allow the fan to slow down, or stop, before reversing direction.
US08967088B2
A steam generation boiler having a reaction chamber formed by a bottom portion in a lower portion, a roof portion at an upper portion, and walls extending vertically between the bottom portion and the roof portion. The walls include vertical end walls having a tapering wall section that tapers symmetrically with respect to its middle axis towards the bottom portion, in which (i) a first group of steam pipes in the tapering wall section including steam pipes on both sides of the middle axis, pass at an angle with respect to the middle axis in a wall plane of the tapering wall section, and from the wall plane into the reaction chamber, and (ii) a second group of steam pipes arranged to pass to the bottom portion along the wall plane.
US08967085B2
An electronic pet gate. The electronic pet gate includes a gate transmitter generating a barrier field and a gate receiver generating a deterrent stimulus in the presence of the barrier field. The gate transmitter includes a loop antenna in a low profile elongated sill and a barrier signal generator. The loop antenna transmits the barrier signal and has an elongated geometric shape configured to shape the radiated electromagnetic field into a truncated ellipsoid. The truncated ellipsoidal barrier field has significant field strength along the length of the low profile sill and minimal field strength along the sides of the low profile sill. The low profile sill is designed to securely rest on the floor to block access to an area restricted to a pet without being a substantial physical impediment or hazard to people passing over low profile sill.
US08967084B2
A motorless reactor may include a base member, a tubular container, an inlet and an outlet, a pipe, and a head member. The tubular container may define a longitudinal axis extending between an upper end and a lower end, the lower end of the tubular container being coupled to the base member. The inlet and the outlet may be disposed proximate the upper end of the tubular container. The inlet may be configured to receive a pressurized flow of water from a reservoir, and the outlet may be configured to output a mixture of water and a predetermined substance. The pipe may be coupled to the inlet and may extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis from a first end proximate the upper end of the tubular container toward a second end proximate the base member.
US08967075B2
When the coating object area is positioned on the suction table, the film is stopped and is mounted on the suction table, and is further provided with tension in the longitudinal direction to eliminate slacks or the like, but, curl is caused in the both side end regions in the coating object area. Therefore, the coating object area is mounted on the suction table, and at the same time, the curl correction bars disposed on the both sides of the suction table are moved to the curled portions of the coating object area, and then the curled portions are pressed against the suction surface of the suction table to thereby perform the curl correction. Further, in the coating process with the UV-curing coating material, the UV light from the UV light source formed integrally with the coating head is applied to cure the material. In the vacuum suction section, as the destination, the bubbles or the like in the coating head are sucked. When the suction of the coating head is not performed, the UV shutter is moved by the suction section air cylinder to block the suction port of the vacuum suction section. Thus, the inside of the vacuum suction section is shielded from the UV light.
US08967070B2
A boat hull configured to create a desired wake shape through a combination of two distinct hull types that interact with the water flow at specified moments. Controlled shaping of the wake shape is achieved through redirection of water flowing across the transom of the main hull, onto a secondary transom of a secondary “diffuser” suction hull that creates a negative pressure that sucks the aft portion of the boat hull into the water, thereby immersing the secondary transom into the water where it can effectively interact with the water and “carve” the desired wake shape desirable for wake surfing.
US08967069B2
The present invention is a water wings device used in combination with a watercraft that includes a plurality of water wings attached to the sides of the watercraft with attachment arms and directing fins that are placed into the water that the watercraft is traveling in. There is also an embodiment of the water wings device that includes a boat tail with a tapering protrusion that is placed into the water the watercraft is traveling in. Another embodiment is the water tail device that includes a plurality of water tails that attach to the rear of portion of a watercraft used in conjunction with water wings on the side of the watercraft that are all placed into the water the watercraft is traveling in.
US08967061B2
An apparatus for thread-stitching a book block includes a thread tensioning device configured to store and tension a binding thread. A single actuator, including a servo drive, drives the thread tensioning device. The method includes storing a length of binding thread; in a separate step, tensioning the binding thread; and thread-stitching the book block.
US08967047B2
Igniter base for a pyrotechnic initiator has a glass base together with fused-in contact pins that function as a pole carrier and thus fixes the contact pins in secure correlation to one another. The end side of the glass base and the contact pins form a level plane, so that an ignition bridge resting flush on the glass base can be attached to the poles. The contact pins project beyond the glass base on the opposite side and a part of the glass base and a part of the contact pins projecting beyond the glass base are equipped with a plastic jacketing.
US08967043B2
Ablation-type lithographic printing members having improved exposure sensitivity and related methods
Ablation-type printing plates having improved exposure sensitivity are produced using an imaging layer—i.e., the plate layer that absorbs and ablates in response to imaging radiation—whose composition includes a large proportion of crosslinker.
US08967029B1
A device for the aerial release of mosquitoes includes an unmanned aerial vehicle operable by remote control. It carries a container holding a central processing unit and a mosquito breeding bin, which is a self-contained volume housing mosquitoes and a mosquito food having a toxin suitable to be transmitted by mosquito bite after the mosquito consumes the mosquito food. A release tube is connected to the mosquito breeding bin and sized to release mosquitoes from the mosquito breeding bin. A valve is connected to the release tube and is operable by remote control so that when opened, the mosquitoes have an open pathway out of the container through the release tube.
US08967024B2
Apparatuses and methods for handling a portion of a tissue sample when sectioned by a microtome. The apparatuses include a container, a tissue sample holder in the container, and one or more outlets configured to allow flow of a fluid from the container. The flow through the outlet causes a portion of the tissue sample sectioned by a microtome to move into the outlet. The methods include sectioning one or more portions of a tissue sample, and flowing a fluid past the tissue sample to cause the one or more portions of the tissue sample to move away from the tissue sample and toward at least one fluid outlet.
US08967022B2
A drive mechanism (20) including a first shaft (324) having a first fixed gear (328) and a second shaft (322) having second fixed gear (330) that engages the first fixed gear to cause the first shaft to rotate in an opposite direction than the second shaft. A first linkage (368) connecting the first shaft and the third shaft and includes a first one-way gear (336). A second linkage (366) connecting the second shaft and the third shaft and includes a second one-way gear (338). The third shaft outputs a unidirectional rotational motion.
US08967021B2
An operating device includes a dial that has a first engagement portion, a rotational body that is formed in an annular shape, and has a second engagement portion so as to be engaged with the first engagement portion of the dial. Rotation of the dial is transmitted to the rotational body through an engagement of the first and second engagement portions. The operating device also includes gear teeth that are provided on an inner circumferential portion of the rotational body, a gear that is meshed with the gear teeth and is rotated in an inner space of the rotational body, and a rotation response member that is directly coupled to a rotation shaft of the gear and varies in accordance with a rotation angle of the dial.
US08967018B2
The present invention relates to a device for the automatic adjustment of the pretension of a pulling element (10, 11) in particular a cable, comprising an elasticity element (50) acting on a first mounting means (20) for a first section (10) of the pulling element for increasing the pre-tension, a second mounting means (30) for a second section (11) of the pulling element, threads (70, 70′, 71) arranged at the first mounting means which interact with a spindle (40, 40′) so that a change of the distance between the first mounting means (20) and the second mounting means (30) causes a rotation of the spindle (40) or the threads (70), and blocking elements (36, 45; 236, 245), which are arranged such that they block a rotation of the spindle or the threads (70), respectively, when the pulling element is under pulling load.
US08967010B2
An actuation mechanism including a motor having a first motor output gear and a second motor output gear is provided, the motor defining a common axis of rotation for the first and second motor output gears. The actuation mechanism also includes a pair of gearboxes positioned on opposed ends of the motor. The actuation mechanism further includes a first arm adapted to mechanically cooperate with the first gearbox and a second arm adapted to mechanically cooperate with the second gearbox. The rotor of the motor slides along the common axis of rotation. The rotor is configured to be axially movable between a first position where the rotor engages the first gearbox to rotatably actuate the first arm and a second position where the rotor engages the second gearbox to rotatably actuate the second arm.
US08967007B2
A transmission utilizing oscillating torque to vary the mechanical power transmitted to a load was previously patented by this inventor (U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,062,096, 6,044,718, and 7,481,127). The transmission has a rotatable input member and a rotatable mass. The transmission also has a member with an eccentric offset, with the rotatable mass rotatably coupled to the offset and being eccentric with respect to the offset. The present invention provides several improvements to the previous patents including belt or chain for the rotating masses to improve load carrying capacity and improvements to the control system using inertia control. FIG. 1 shows the fully assembled transmission.
US08967005B2
Provided is an interlocking chain forward and backward actuating device type device, the device being configured so that the space within the device is effectively utilized and that a device configuration most suitable for driving interlocking chains is selected to enable the interlocking chains to be smoothly driven. An interlocking chain type forward and backward actuating device (100) is configured in such a manner that a pair of flat face-shaped chain support faces (132AS, 132AS) which sandwich and support a rigid chain portion (110G) from both sides thereof each form a portion of each of the guide groove faces (132, 132) of chain guide grooves (131, 131) while being continuously connected to each of a pair of curved guide faces (132BS, 132BS) which respectively guide disengaged portions (110H, 110H) of a pair of interlocking chains (110, 110), the disengaged portions (110H, 110H) having been disengaged from each other.
US08967003B2
An engine starter includes a motor that comprises a drive shaft; and a unidirectional rotation clutch system that is helical-splined to the drive shaft. The clutch system includes a clutch inner; a clutch outer; a clutch roller that is interposed between the clutch outer and the clutch inner; and a spring that urges the clutch roller, wherein a compound film is formed on a surface of the clutch roller or surfaces of the clutch outer and the clutch inner.
US08966998B2
In order to improve a support unit for motor vehicles comprising a supporting structure mounted on a rear end portion of the motor vehicle a sensor unit is provided for detecting forces acting on the supporting structure and elastically deforming the same. The sensor unit is provided with a sensor base, comprising two fixation regions which are spaced apart and can be fixed to mounting regions of an elastically deformable supporting structure portion. A transformation region disposed between the fixation regions mechanically converts the movements of the mounting regions, and thus also of the fixation regions relative to one another. Movements are generated by the elastic deformation of the supporting structure portion, into a movement of measuring points of the transformation region relative to one another. The movement of the measuring points can be detected by the sensor unit.
US08966993B2
Method and apparatus for a piezoelectric apparatus are provided. In some embodiments, a method for fabricating a piezoelectric device may include etching a series of vertical trenches in a top substrate portion, depositing a first continuous conductive layer over the trenches and substrate, depositing a continuous piezoelectric layer over the first continuous conductive layer such that the piezoelectric material has trenches and sidewalls, depositing a second continuous conductive layer over the continuous piezoelectric layer, etching through the vertical trenches of the first continuous conductive layer, continuous piezoelectric layer, second continuous conductive layer, and top substrate portion into a bottom substrate portion, etching a series of horizontal trenches in the bottom substrate portion such that the horizontal trenches and vertical trenches occupy a continuous free space and allow movement of a piezoelectric MEMS device created by the above method in three dimensions.
US08966991B2
An apparatus for sensing strain or stress includes a body including magnetic shape-memory alloy (MSMA) material, having a first axis. A first drive coil and first sensor coil are wound around the body about the first axis. The drive coil is coupled to a power source and configured to generate an alternating magnetic field on the body. The first sensor coil is configured to detect changes in inductance of the body due to changes in magnetic permeability of the body with deformation thereof.
US08966989B2
A capacitive pressure measuring cell, including a ceramic platform and a ceramic measuring membrane, which are connected pressure tightly along a joint to form a reference pressure chamber between them. The measuring membrane has a first electrode facing the platform, and the platform has at least a second electrode facing the measuring membrane. The capacitance between the first and second electrodes depends on the difference between a pressure externally acting on the measuring membrane and a pressure reigning in the reference pressure chamber, wherein the joint has a thickness d, which defines an equilibrium distance between the measuring membrane and the front side of the platform. On the front side of the platform, a support layer is arranged, which comprises an inorganic insulator, wherein the support layer has a thickness of at least 0.2, and wherein the second electrode is arranged on the support layer.
US08966983B2
The invention relates to a method and a device for the contactless detection of laminated, flat objects, particularly sheet-like recording media. There is a galvanic separation and mechanical decoupling between the transmitter and receiver to improve detection. These measures can be further improved with correction characteristic methods.
US08966976B2
An inertial force sensor includes a detecting device which detects an inertial force, the detecting device having a first orthogonal arm and a supporting portion, the first orthogonal arm having a first arm and a second arm fixed in a substantially orthogonal direction, and the supporting portion supporting the first arm. The second arm has a folding portion. In this configuration, there is provided a small inertial force sensor which realizes detection of a plurality of different inertial forces and detection of inertial forces of a plurality of detection axes.
US08966972B2
A flexible fuel sensor for measuring the fuel level in a tank in which the sensor is installed. The flexible fuel sensor comprises a fitting arranged to be mounted to a mated fitting on a fuel tank associated with a hole in the fuel tank, a flexible down member extending from the fitting in a first direction and including a fuel level sensing mechanism, the down member configured to be mounted to extend through the hole into the fuel tank, and a sensor head extending from the fitting in a second direction and including sensor electronics coupled to the fuel level sensing mechanism. The flexible down member may comprise a coil made of steel wire.
US08966966B2
In a method and a device for identifying the fuel quality in a fuel tank of an internal combustion engine, a reference volume with fuel is provided, which does not intermix with the fuel in the fuel tank when the fuel tank is refilled. After startup of the internal combustion engine, fuel from the fuel tank and from the reference volume is sequentially sucked into the internal combustion engine and parameters which depend from the fuel quality of the sucked-in fuel are measured and evaluated for both the fuel tank and the reference volume. If the parameter differ from one another, it can be concluded that the fuel quality of the fuel in the fuel tank before startup of the internal combustion engine has changed. A quantity (fuel factor) can then be taken into consideration in the mixture pre-control.
US08966964B2
A method for detecting pinching of a coupling hose between a tank and a gasoline vapor filter for a vehicle internal combustion engine, with the vapor filter being connected to the engine via a duct including a controllable bleed valve, includes at least one sequence of a step consisting in opening a bleed valve; a step consisting in acquiring a series of measurements of richness of a mixture entering the internal combustion engine over a period greater than a predetermined value, representative of a bleed period of the gasoline vapor filter; and a step consisting in comparing successive measured values and determining if a variation in richness from one measurement to the next remains below a pre-determined threshold for a group of measurements spread over a period greater than a pre-determined value.
US08966956B2
A PM amount detecting apparatus having a PM sensor installed in a sensor case into which a part of exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine allowed to flow through an exhaust gas passage is intaken. The sensor case has a structure which lowers a flow rate of the exhaust gas therein to such an extent that PM is capable of performing thermal phoresis, and a structure which generates therein such a temperature difference that PM is guided to the PM sensor in accordance with the thermal phoresis.
US08966955B2
A degassing system includes a vessel. A liquid inlet lets liquid into the vessel. A liquid outlet lets liquid out of the vessel. A liquid receiving chamber receives the liquid that enters the vessel through the liquid inlet. The liquid receiving chamber is open on one side. The degassing system further includes a motor having a shaft and a pump coupled to the shaft. The pump has the shape of a cone. The cone has an axis, a narrow end and a wide end. The pump is positioned so that its narrow end is inserted into the open side of the liquid receiving chamber and so that its wide end is close enough to a wall of the vessel so that fluid ejected from the wide end when the pump is spinning will strike the wall. The degassing system includes a gas outlet for releasing gas from the vessel.
US08966939B2
Disclosed is a method of producing a glass substrate for an information recording medium including a rough polishing step of performing a rough polishing on a glass material containing 0.01 to 2 mass % of cerium oxide; a washing step of washing the glass material after the rough polishing step, so that the cerium content of the glass material surface becomes 0.125 ng/cm2 or less; and a precision polishing step of performing precision polishing on the glass material after the washing step by cyclically using a polishing material containing colloidal silica.
US08966938B2
A ring with a composite Diamond Head setting is described that includes a head portion and a base portion. The head portion includes at least one channel structure that defines a marquise-cut diamond shaped indentation adapted to be positioned with a plurality of multiple shaped diamonds in a juxtaposition arrangement to form a clustered Diamond Head that creates an illusion of a big marquise-cut shaped diamond over the head portion. The head portion can include a circular or pear shaped indentation adapted to be positioned with multiple shaped diamonds in a juxtaposition arrangement to form a clustered Diamond Head that creates an illusion of a big a circular or pear shape shaped diamond over the head portion.
US08966935B2
A heat exchanger is described and which includes a heat exchanger portion defining a multiplicity of internal passageways, and wherein at least one of the passageways is defined in part by a wicking structure; a refrigerant distributor coupled in fluid flowing relation relative to the defined passageways of the heat exchanger portion; and a source of ammonia refrigerant which is supplied to the internal passageways of the heat exchanger portion, and wherein substantial equal amounts of liquid refrigerant are supplied to each of the passageways defined by the heat exchanger portion.
US08966930B2
A container data center system includes a container, a plurality of servers, at least a regulation device, a first refrigeration device and a second refrigeration device. The container defines a first receiving room and a second receiving room isolated from the first receiving room. The servers are received in the first receiving room. The at least a regulation device is received in second receiving room. The at least regulation device is electrically connected to the servers for regulating the servers. The first refrigeration device is installed outside the container for cooling the first receiving room. The second refrigeration device is installed outside the container for cooling the second receiving room.
US08966924B2
An apparatus and method for cooling a fluid are disclosed. The apparatus includes a pre-cooling chamber and a main tower in a generally side-by-side configuration. A cooling fluid flows generally transversely through the pre-cooling chamber and the main tower in order to cool the fluid to be cooled.
US08966923B2
The invention relates to a coupling unit (16) for connecting refrigerant lines (11) of a refrigerant circuit (10), in particular for cooling a vehicle drive module, said coupling unit including an expansion valve (20) accommodated in the coupling unit (16), said expansion valve (20) separating the refrigerant circuit (10) into a first and a second sub-areas (30, 32), said coupling unit (16) being connected directly to a refrigerant feed and a refrigerant return for an evaporator (26), said coupling unit (16) respectively comprising a coupling connection (36, 38) of the refrigerant feed and the refrigerant return, which are detachably connected to the expansion valve (20) via a common fastening device (44), and with the common fastening device (44) having at least one fastening element (48) that is accessible for connecting and disconnecting from a side of the expansion valve (20) that faces away from the coupling connections (36, 38).
US08966921B2
The present invention relates to a compact air conditioning system (1) for a vehicle cabin, comprising a compressor (14), a condenser (15), an evaporator (16), a control unit (19) and a ventilation assembly (18) with a single motor (24) capable of promoting easy installation and autonomous functioning for both cooling and heating the inside of a cabin.
US08966912B2
A heat exchanging system is provided for conditioning indoor temperature of a building. The heat exchanging system includes a magnetic refrigerator, an indoor heat exchanger and an outdoor heat exchanger. The indoor heat exchanger is thermally connected to the magnetic refrigerator. The outdoor heat exchanger is thermally connected to the magnetic refrigerator. The outdoor heat exchanger includes a geothermal heat exchanging unit, wherein the geothermal heat exchanging unit is embedded under the ground of a building.
US08966909B2
A system and method for reducing combustion dynamics includes first and second combustors arranged about an axis, and each combustor includes a plurality of tubes that extend axially through at least a portion of the combustor and a combustion chamber downstream from the plurality of tubes. A fuel injector extends through each tube to provide fluid communication into each tube at a fourth axial distance from the combustion chamber. The fourth axial distance in the first combustor is different than the fourth axial distance in the second combustor.
US08966890B2
A hydraulic system having an actuator having a piston and associated rod forming head and rod chambers and being adapted to move between retracted and extended positions within a cylinder, and first and second sources of fluid. A first pump provides fluid from the first source to the head chamber at a first pressure. At least one valve provides fluid from the second source at a second pressure to supplement fluid provided to the head chamber from the first pump when the second pressure is greater than the first pressure.
US08966888B2
Pneumatic actuator apparatuses with expandable chambers, and methods of using same. In some embodiments, the apparatuses are self-contained and/or self-inflating.
US08966880B2
Exhaust after treatment systems for internal combustion engine powered vehicles are provided. One system includes logic in the form of one or more routines implemented by one or more of the system's components for determining the quantity of NO2 present in the exhaust that exits an oxidation catalyst, such as a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), without the use of an NO2 sensor. Results from such a determination may then be used to estimate the amount of soot present in the particulate filter. This estimated value of soot present in the particulate filter can then be subsequently used to determine when the particulate filter should be actively regenerated.
US08966876B2
A gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a fan section including a fan, a geared architecture, a spool which drives the fan through the geared architecture, and at least one component geared to the spool and being operable to control a speed of the spool during a “windmilling” condition. A method of gas turbine engine operations during a “windmilling” condition is also disclosed.
US08966849B1
A system for mounting wall panels to an existing wall structure, each wall panel including a main wall panel section, bent end sections extending at an angle from edges of the main wall panel section; main fastening extrusions, each including a base, and first and second spaced apart bent end securing walls extending from the base with the spacing therebetween greater than the wall thickness of two bent end sections; a plug member inserted in the spacing between adjacent bent end securing walls and held thereat by either a tape or lower wings; and a recess at a first surface of each bent end section which faces a second surface of a respective bent end securing wall, and a projection at the second surface of each bent end securing wall which is adapted to be received in a respective recess.
US08966848B2
A sun louvre formed by a structure supporting an interweave of metal sheets is provided. The sun louvre includes a plurality of structural profiles and a plurality of supporting plates. The supporting plates have two perforations which are passed through by an outer tube and an inner tube. The sheets pass by a front portion of the outer tube and by a rear portion of the inner tube immediately precedent or previous with respect to the outer tube. Adjacent sheets are interwoven in an alternate manner with respect to the outer and inner tubes. Ends of the sheets have reinforcement plates from which a hook is gripped. The hook has a stud fixed thereto that is enclosed by a spring that tensions the sheets.
US08966837B2
A post sleeve provides a substantially permanent base for supporting a post for a fence or sign, and from which one post can be removed and replaced with another post. The sleeve includes a concrete body that is poured on site, using a sleeve core prepositioned in the post hole, and around which wet concrete is poured. After the concrete is cured, the core is removed, leaving a post sleeve cavity configured to receive a post. The core can be rigid, or can include a flexible shell and stiffener. A preformed post sleeve top can be attached to the sleeve core and positioned therewith in the post hole, to become a permanent part of the post sleeve, once the concrete cures. A drain is attached to the core, and remains in the sleeve when the core is removed, and can be a percolation chamber, or passage extending below the sleeve.
US08966805B2
An optical sight is provided and may include a housing and a wedged, doublet objective lens supported by the housing. The wedged, doublet objective lens may include a first lens having a first amount of wedge and a second lens having a second amount of wedge different than the first amount of wedge.
US08966793B1
A date indicating device attachable to food storage containers is selectably set to indicate the date that the food product inside of the container. The device can be attached to the upper rim of the lid or handle of the container. The device includes a plurality of adjustable knobs which enable the date to be set and includes the month, day, and year.
US08966792B2
An actuator system for a machine includes a linear hydraulic actuator connected to a dipper of the machine, and a hydraulic system fluidly connected to the actuator and configured to selectively direct fluid to the actuator. A component of the hydraulic system is mounted on the dipper. The system also includes an overcenter link coupled to a door of the dipper and biased to maintain the door in a closed position. A piston assembly of the actuator is configured to move the overcenter link in a first direction, via contact between the piston assembly and the overcenter link, thereby transitioning the door from the closed position to an open position.
US08966790B2
An excavator (1) includes a frame (2) provided with suspension elements (3) for connecting to a mobile carrier, such as a tracked vehicle, as well as cutting members (8) supported on the frame (2) for digging a trench in the ground. The cutting members (8) have at least two endless series (9, 10) of cutting elements; at the same time, the cutting elements (9, 10) define a front side (11) to be turned towards a digging front and a return side (12) turned away from the digging front. Lateral guides (14) are provided on either side of the cutting members (8) for supporting the side walls of the trench.
US08966779B2
An ambidextrous vernier caliper includes a main ruler and a vernier having a slide channel in which the main ruler is inserted. As each of the front and back sides of the main ruler has a graduated layer, and each of the front and back sides of the vernier has a scaled layer, the vernier caliper is convenient to use by left-handed as well as right-handed people.
US08966777B2
Embodiments of the present invention include levels, level assemblies and/or apparatus for leveling. Certain embodiments of the present invention are advantageous for the adjustment and leveling of cutting instruments, such as the blades of a mower.
US08966762B2
The present invention relates to a process to produce hollow jewelry article and hollow jewelry articles produced in accordance with the said process. The process comprises a joining least two predetermined wax portions into a wax model and casting the said wax model into a partially or fully hollow jewelry article.
US08966759B1
A method of making a fluid cooled assembly that incorporates a base that forms a partial enclosure defining an interior void space and having a top wall that has a top surface and that defines at least one opening through the top wall to the void space, the base further defining fluid entrance and exit ports into the void space, the top wall being made of material that can be friction stir welded. A lid having a size and shape substantially conformal to the opening, having a top surface and a bottom surface that defines a set of downwardly extending pins, and that is formed of a material that can be friction stir welded to the base is placed into the opening so that the lid top surface is flush with the top surface of the base top wall and friction welding the lid to the base.
US08966758B1
A system for producing heat-sink assemblies in which a series of extruded members possess mating faces, each face having an alternating series of troughs and bulbous-shaped ridges which are formed from the sides of the troughs. Mating ridges of one face of each extruded member are dipped with a thermally conductive compound prior to press-fitting and at least some of the ridges and troughs possess a groove that when mated to an opposing region of an adjacent extruded member produces a reservoir that serves as a feeder source for thermally conductive compound. Once the extruded members are press fitted, portions of the bulbous-shaped ridges on one face are forced past portions of the bulbous-shaped ridges of the opposing face and into the troughs. Deformation of the bulbous-shaped ridges is uniformly expansive so as to reduce shearing relative to the surfaces of the troughs, and the formed reservoirs are further compressed and feed thermal compound into the interstices between mating members.
US08966757B2
Disclosed is a plastic heat exchanger in which, when a heat exchanger tube of the plastic heat exchanger is coupled to a header, the heat exchanger tube and a junction portion of the header are melted and pressed simultaneously through a heat fusion jig including a fusion portion and a fusion valley so as to secure reliability against leakage of refrigerant, and a method of manufacturing the same, by which the plastic heat exchanger can be mass-produced at low fabricating cost through simple processes. The present invention provides a method of fabricating a plastic heat exchanger, comprising a step of melting and pressing a plastic heat exchanger tube and a junction of a header by using a heat fusion jig, and a plastic heat exchanger fabricated by the method, thereby securing reliability against leakage of refrigerant, having heat exchange performance more excellent than or equal to a metallic heat exchanger and also mass-producing the plastic heat exchanger at low fabricating cost through simple processes.
US08966748B2
The invention relates to a method for manufacturing an arrangement with a component on a carrier substrate, wherein the method encompasses the following steps: Manufacturing spacer elements on the rear side of a cover substrate, arranging a component on a cover surface of a carrier substrate, and arranging the spacer elements formed on the carrier substrate so as to situate the component in the at least one hollow space and close the latter. In addition, the invention relates to an arrangement, a method for manufacturing a semi-finished product for a component arrangement, as well as a semi-finished product for a component arrangement.
US08966746B2
A method of fabricating a cavity capacitor embedded in a printed circuit board including two conductive layers to be used as a power layer and a ground layer, respectively, and a first dielectric layer, placed between the two conductive layers, the method including: removing an upper conductive layer and the first dielectric layer excluding a lower conductive layer of the two conductive layers to allow a cavity to be formed between the two conductive layers, the lower conductive layer being supposed to be used as any one of electrodes of the cavity capacitor; stacking a dielectric material on the cavity to allow a second dielectric layer having a lower stepped portion than the first dielectric layer to be formed in the cavity; and stacking a conductive material on an upper part of the second dielectric layer and side parts of the cavity to allow the upper conductive layer to be used as the other electrode of the cavity capacitor.
US08966744B2
A method of manufacturing vehicles, comprising at least the steps of: providing a first shaped panel made of plastic material; providing a second shaped panel; coupling the first shaped panel to the second shaped panel so as to define a structural element of the vehicle, in which a hollow space is confined between the first shaped panel and the second shaped panel; before or during coupling, arranging conductive tracks in the hollow space, which conductive tracks define at least part of an electric equipment of the vehicle; filling the hollow space with polyurethane.
US08966737B2
Method and arrangement in arranging an aluminium ferrule (2) to an eye (5) of a high strength steel wire rope (6) for fixation purposes, the ferrule (2) is pressed to securely fix said eye (5) and supposed to keep its diameter within a certain standard limit up to a minimum breaking load, dependant on the dimension of said wire rope (6). A ring (1) made from steel having an internally congruent shape but a smaller cross section than that of the ferrule (2) is arranged most close to said eye (5) before said ferrule (2) are together with the steel ring (1) is pressed in a conventional ferrule pressing tool to obtain a eye that is more stable with regard to its dimensions within said standard limit values.
US08966736B2
A mandrel for supporting a stent and rollers for pressing a radiopaque marker into a stent are disclosed. The mandrel can have a forward portion for carrying the stent and a rear portion for urging the stent forward portion into a gap between the rollers. The mandrel may be pushed or pulled into the gap, which is sized to allow the rollers to press the marker into engagement with the stent. Prior to moving the mandrel into the gap, the marker may be placed on a surface of the stent or partially inside a recess in the stent. Several markers can be efficiently and uniformly pressed onto the stent by moving the mandrel into the gap in one continuous movement in an axial or lateral direction. Markers can also be pressed onto the stent by placing the stent in the gap and rotating the stent about its central axis.
US08966733B2
A woven, self-expanding stent device has one or more strands and is configured for insertion into an anatomical structure. The device includes a coupling structure secured to two different strand end portions that are substantially aligned with each other. The two different strand end portions include nickel and titanium. The coupling structure is not a strand of the device.
US08966732B2
A method of manufacturing a custom sized plastic tote lighter in weight than heretofore known custom sized plastic totes is provided. The method comprises separating an injection molded tote into upper and lower portions by cutting the injection molded tote. A sleeve or middle portion of plastic material is secured to the upper and lower portions of the injection molded tote to create a custom sized plastic tote of a desired height. Alternatively, portions of different injection molded totes may be used to create a custom sized plastic tote. The sleeve may be made from different materials and may be made of multiple pieces.
US08966730B1
A method of manufacturing a sensor network is described which includes stretching a silicon substrate over a desired area, and generating a plurality of nodes fabricated on the stretchable silicon substrate. The nodes include at least one of an energy harvesting and storage element, a communication device, a sensing device, and a processor. The nodes are interconnected via interconnecting conductors formed in the substrate.
US08966726B2
A body bag (900) can be assembled by a stitching process while providing increased fluid retention capabilities. An upper outer layer (101) and a lower outer layer (102), each of which can be non-woven materials, form the outer surfaces of the body bag (900). An absorbent layer (103) is disposed between the upper outer layer (101) and the lower outer layer (102). One or more edges (303,403,503,603) can be folded into a periphery (332) of the body bag (900). Stitching (802) can then be applied along the periphery (332) such that the stitching (802) passes through the upper outer layer (101), the lower outer layer (102), an upper edge (994) of the fold in the absorbent layer (103), and a complementary bottom edge (995) of the fold in the absorbent layer (103). Handles (1001,1002,1003,1004) can be included as well.
US08966725B2
A funeral urn system comprising: a funeral urn defining an urn proximal attachment and a substantially opposed urn distal attachment, the funeral urn including an urn body defining an ashes receiving cavity and an urn aperture leading into the ashes receiving cavity, the funeral urn also including an urn cap selectively securable to the urn body in register with the urn aperture to seal the ashes receiving cavity; and a spear head cap, the spear head cap defining a cap proximal attachment and a substantially opposed cap distal end section tapering in a direction leading away from the cap proximal attachment. The urn proximal and distal attachments are configured and sized to be selectively attachable respectively to the urn distal and proximal attachments of another urn similar to the funeral urn. The urn distal attachment is configured and sized to be selectively attachable to the cap proximal attachment.
US08966721B2
One aspect provides a fastening strip, including: a central portion comprised of a flexible material and having a first side and a second side, the first side including a first complementary material and the second side including a second complementary material, complementary to the complementary material of the first side; and a grip area disposed on at least the first side of the central portion; wherein the grip area extends substantially an entire length of fastening strip and includes a grip material. Other aspects are described.
US08966718B2
A coupler for a load-bearing, non-signal-transmitting cable includes a body portion having integral first and second ends and an integral gate having a key entry region, wherein the body portion has a free space at least partially enclosed by an inner surface of the body portion and the gate. A complimentary coupling ring includes an integral perimetal body having a head section, a foot section, and two arm sections therebetween, wherein at least one of the arm sections has a key region, further wherein the key region consists of a solid, integral portion of the at least one arm section. A coupler/coupling ring assembly includes a coupler and a coupling ring that is removeably engageable with the coupler. The coupler/coupling ring assembly is particularly suited for interconnecting lengths of load-bearing, non-signal-transmitting cable, particularly suited for, but not limited to, undersea applications such as attaching a seismic data recording device to the coupler via the coupling ring.
US08966716B1
Exemplary embodiments will provide an apparatus for restraining a portion of a distal portion of a neck-worn clothing accessory, such as a neck tie, scarf, or other such clothing accessory, by connecting a rear, or underneath, portion of the clothing accessory to an underlying garment. Exemplary embodiments could restrain a portion of the distal portion of such a neck-worn clothing accessory without piercing or creasing any part of the exposed front surface of the neck-worn clothing accessory. An exemplary embodiment will include an underneath-portion engaging element, a connective element, and an exemplary garment-engaging element.
US08966713B1
An adjustable hinge includes a hinge housing rotatably mounted relative to a body, a spring located within the hinge housing, and a spring adjustment system. The spring adjustment system includes a pin having a head including a plurality of projections about a circumference of the head and an opposite end of the pin spaced from the head.
US08966707B2
An autonomous floor cleaning robot includes a transport drive and control system arranged for autonomous movement of the robot over a floor for performing cleaning operations. The robot chassis carries a first cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arranged to suction loose particulates up from the cleaning surface and a second cleaning zone comprising cleaning elements arraigned to apply a cleaning fluid onto the surface and to thereafter collect the cleaning fluid up from the surface after it has been used to clean the surface. The robot chassis carries a supply of cleaning fluid and a waste container for storing waste materials collected up from the cleaning surface.
US08966706B2
A windshield wiper device having a frame; a first lever, provided in a pair, each being hinge-coupled to either end of the frame and including an inside arm extending toward a hinge and an outside arm extending away from the hinge. A pair of second levers, are provided, each being hinge-coupled to an end portion of the outside arm of the first lever. A contact member, forms a blade in close contact with the windshield to wipe out the foreign substances and is supported by an end portion of the inside arm of the first lever and both end portions of the second lever; and a cover member. The cover member covers the frame, the first lever and the second lever.
US08966697B2
The present disclosure relates to an electric toothbrush, and more particularly, to an electric toothbrush, which has excellent vibration efficiency since vibrations of the vibration motor are directly transferred to the bristle holder, saves the battery power, reduces a size of the toothbrush, decreases the thickness of the head portion, allows the vibration motor to be stably fixed in a fixing groove formed at the upper surface of the head portion, and reduces noise.
US08966696B2
The power toothbrush includes a handle (12) and a brushhead (18) having a conductive electrode sensing element (25) therein. The toothbrush includes a driver assembly (14) for the brushhead and a sensor system (28) for measuring the capacitance between the sensing element on/in the brushhead and an electronics ground (27) in the handle of the toothbrush. A microprocessor/controller (26) is programmed to determine whether the measured capacitance is above a threshold value, which indicates that the toothbrush is near or within the mouth of the user. The microprocessor actuates the driver assembly for operation of the toothbrush when the capacitance value is above the threshold value.
US08966692B2
A composite structural panel is provided. The panel comprises a top reinforced fiber layer, a top infusion medium layer, a core, a bottom infusion medium layer, and a bottom reinforced fiber layer. The composite structural panel is infused with a potting material, preferably an epoxy resin, that extends throughout the composite structural panel to provide composite action. The wood core comprises wood beam elements aligned in the longitudinal direction relative to the steel beams or girders of a supporting frame. Mechanical and chemical means are utilized to connect the composite structural panel to the supporting frame.
US08966691B2
A compact, folding tool permitting the exchange of implement sets, including one or more quick release mechanisms that are easily removed from a handle to release interchangeable implements; the tool further accommodating implement sets including different types and quantities of implements which are inhibited from rotating by an adjustable clamping force produced by the quick release mechanisms and optionally including over travel stops to obstruct implement rotation, or may rely solely on the clamping force provided by the quick release mechanisms to stabilize implements for use.
US08966689B2
A support surface assembly comprises a support surface and a multi-zone chamber comprising two or more inflatable bladders forming the support surface. In an example, first and second bladders of the multi-zone chamber are arranged in a head to toe configuration and are substantially free to move with respect to one another. In another example, a flexible joint is included between first and second bladders, the flexible joint including one or more releasable fasteners. In another example, a fluid communication conduit between first and second bladders couples the first and second bladders in a series fluid communication. In another example, the bladders form an array of bladders arranged in series from a head to a foot of the support surface, wherein each of the bladders has substantially the same dimensions.
US08966682B1
A horizontally expandable bed rail having a guard rail frame that confronts a first side of a bed to prevent a child from falling out of the bed. The guard rail frame includes a pair of vertical support members interconnected by upper, lower and intermediate horizontal support members that slide horizontally in and out such that the vertical support members have an extended position where the vertical support members are spaced apart by a first distance and a drawn in position where the vertical support members are spaced apart by a second distance that is less than the first distance.
US08966679B2
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a locking mechanism for a collapsible play yard frame. In various embodiments, the locking mechanism is configured to be adjusted between a locked position, in which the play yard frame is restricted from collapsing, and an unlocked position, in which the play yard frame is permitted to collapse. In particular embodiments, the locking mechanism is operatively connected to the play yard frame's lower frame members and includes a rotatable member configured for being rotated to adjust the locking mechanism between the locked position and the unlocked position. The locking mechanism's rotatable member enables the locking mechanism to be secured in the locked position when the play yard is in use and is easily adjusted by a user to the unlocked position when the play yard is to be collapsed for storage.
US08966677B1
The baby bath station is a mobile bath and changing station for an infant. The station includes a wheel-supported housing having a bathtub therein. The tub has a downwardly sloping floor having a drain at the bottom. The drain empties into a wastewater holding receptacle. The receptacle is provided with converging funnel-shaped walls. The bottom of the holding receptacle is designed to be positioned over a conventional toilet for emptying. A bath water holding tank is positioned above the tub for containing warm bath water therein. A thermometer is mounted on the bath water tank to monitor the temperature of the bath water. A dispenser in the form of a shower head is attached to the bath water tank. The baby bath station is adapted for secure attachment to a kitchen sink for convenience and stability.
US08966671B2
A sports helmet includes recessed insert surfaces on its exterior to accommodate shock absorbing inserts disposed therein. The helmet may include, for example, five recessed insert surfaces, a front recessed surface, a top recessed surface, a rear recessed surface, and two side recessed surfaces. The inserts may be disposed into the recessed surfaces to create a substantially uniform outer helmet shape. A uniform finish may cover the exterior of the helmet. The shock absorbing inserts, when used on a person receiving a force to the helmet's insert, will absorb at least a portion of the force, limiting the force's impact on the wearer's brain. The helmet may, for example, help prevent concussions and other brain injuries in sport participants.
US08966667B2
A compound garment is provided, such as athletic shorts having an inner and outer short. The shorts can comprise a suspension system to interconnect the inner short and the outer short. The suspension system can allow the outer short to move relative to the inner short in any of or any combination of circumferential, radial, horizontal and/or vertical directions. The suspension system can provide a bias between the inner short and the outer short to a resting or neutral position, and the inner short may be a compression short.
US08973160B2
A system and method for sharing electronic content. A sending user can specify one or more criteria that a recipient memory device must have to store the content. The sending user can also specify a digital rights management control that can be associated with the content. The content can be transferred to the recipient if the recipient memory device has the specified properties. Software at the recipient can ensure that the content is handled in accordance with the digital rights management controls specified by the sender.
US08973145B2
An antivirus computing system includes: a storage device having an operating partition that has stored therein a to-be-scanned file, and a hidden partition that has stored therein a virus code; and an antivirus device operatively associated with the storage device, and configured to perform a virus scan on the to-be-scanned file in the operating partition based on the virus code in the hidden partition.
US08973143B2
Software, systems and methods for defeating DoS and DDoS attacks according to certain embodiments include detecting a DoS/DDoS attack, connecting to attacking node(s) by allowing a network handshake to complete between a network connected device and the attacking nodes. Then the network connected device under attack drops the traffic from the attacking node(s) rather that rejecting it. The acceptance and dropping is repeated until the attack is defeated.
US08973136B2
The malware protection system provides a virtual logon session which runs in the background invisible to the user. The virtual logon session is created on a computer system with the help of the operating system using a separate/partitioned kernel resources such as a desktop, that provides a limited access environment under the context of a logged-on user. The system is configured to run applications inside virtual logon sessions under the logged-on user's credentials with limited access. The system also includes an interceptor module that launches the web browser or web application inside the virtual logon session. The interceptor module intercepts every URL passing through the web browser or web application being run in the virtual logon session. The module checks if the primary web URL is infected by malware and adds the malicious URL to a malicious URL database and a non-malicious URL to a non-malicious URL database.
US08973127B2
A method, apparatus, and computer-readable media are presented that provide a configuration for communications through network address translation. The configuration includes receiving, by a computer device, a packet comprising a predetermined value indicating support by a node for an extension of a communications protocol, wherein the communications protocol is used for communications across a network translator device and the extension is capable of traversing network address translation, and in response to said receiving, determining that the node sending the packet supports the extension of the communications protocol.
US08973123B2
Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to identity technology. In aspects, a user device requests access to a service provided by a relying party. In response, the relying party indicates required claims and may also indicate claims providers from which the required claims may be obtained. The user device may obtain the required claims from different claims providers, and send the claims obtained from the different claims providers in one or more messages to the relying party. The relying party may verify the claims or employ a validating service to verify that the claims are valid prior to providing access to the requested service.
US08973112B2
A system and method for providing a normalized security list including a first module configured to generate a first normalized security list of user identifications within a network and a second module configured to generate a second normalized security list of user identifications within the network. The system and method may also include an equalizer module configured to compare the first normalized security list with the second normalized security list, equalize the first normalized security list based on the second normalized security list, and equalize the second normalized security list based on the first security list. The system and method may also include a processing module configured to perform an audit of user identifications within the network by processing the first equalized normalized security list and the second equalized normalized security list and generating audit results based on the processing.
US08973108B1
Systems and methods for controlling access to one or more computing resources relate to generating session credentials that can be used to access the one or more computing resources. Access to the computing resources may be governed by a set of policies and requests for access made using the session credentials may be fulfilled depending on whether they are allowed by the set of policies. The session credentials themselves may include metadata that may be used in determining whether to fulfill requests to access the one or more computing resources. The metadata may include permissions for a user of the session credential, claims related to one or more users, and other information.
US08973107B2
The invention described herein provides a method and system for foiling a keylogger by creating a custom keyboard driver and passing the keystrokes directly to the browser in an encrypted format. The browser (which is used to access the Internet) has a component that decrypts the keystroke before it is sent to the website. Thus the present invention enables the user to go to any website and enter sensitive information (passwords, credit card numbers, etc.) without the keystrokes being intercepted by Keyloggers.In general terms, the invention described herein provides a method and system for (1) modifying the keyboard driver, (2) encrypting the keystrokes between the keyboard driver and the browser, and (3) notifying the user if the invention has been compromised.
US08973106B2
Disclosed are methods, devices, and computer readable storage media for providing permissions to users in an on-demand service environment. A server receives criteria indicating characteristics of users and/or permission sets. Selected permission sets can be assigned to identified users. Data indicating the assignment of the permission sets can also be stored.
US08973103B2
An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes: a communication interface which receives an application file containing an activation key, an installation unit which installs the received application file in the image forming apparatus, an authentication unit which authenticates a license of application corresponding to the application file using the activation key contained in the application file and apparatus information of the image forming apparatus, and a controller which, if the license is authenticated, activates the installed application, wherein the activation key is an encryption key that is generated using the apparatus information of the image forming apparatus.
US08973099B2
Described is using a client-side account selector in a passive authentication protocol environment (such as OpenID) in which a relying party website trusts the authentication response from an identity provider website. The account selector may access and maintain historical information so as to provide user-specific identity provider selection options (rather than only general identity provider selection options). The account selector is invoked based upon an object tag in the page, e.g., as invoked by a browser extension associated with that particular object tag. The account selector may communicate with a reputation service to obtain reputation information corresponding to the identity providers, and vary its operation based upon the reputation information.
US08973091B2
Representative embodiments of secure authentication include receiving, by a server, information from a mobile device identifying (i) the mobile device and (ii) an identifying tag read by the mobile device; accessing, by the server, a database to identify (i) a user associated with the mobile device, (ii) a secure device associated with the identifying tag, and (iii) a security policy associated with the secure device; and if the policy permits access by the identified user to the identified secure device, causing access to the secure device to be accorded to the user.
US08973088B1
Embodiments of the present application relate to a method for policy enforcement, a system for policy enforcement, and a computer program product for policy enforcement. A method for policy enforcement is provided. The method includes receiving a host information profile report from a client device, and enforcing a security policy for network access based on the host information profile report. The host information profile report includes device profile information associated with the client device.
US08973081B2
In a receiver for downloading video content including 3D video and outputting the downloaded video content to a removable medium, information concerning 3D video is made usable also by the removable medium.A content receiver includes a download control unit for receiving, via a network, video content and reproduction control information for use in reproducing and outputting, to outside, the video content and an output control unit for exporting the received video content to an external medium. In the content receiver, when outputting the video content to an external medium, the output control unit records, based on first 3D video information delivered being included in the reproduction control information and indicating a state of 3D video existence in the video content, second 3D video information indicating whether the video content includes 3D video in management information of the external medium for recording the video content.
US08973068B2
Video content may be delivered in a wireless network based on network load information relating to radio interfaces for the wireless network. A method may include receiving a request, from a set-top box, for video content from the set-top box to the wireless network and determining, based on the load information, whether a portion of the wireless network corresponding to the set-top box is in a first state or a second state. The network may further include transmitting the video content when the portion of the network corresponding to the set-top box is in the first state and delaying transmission of the video content when the portion of the network corresponding to the set-top box is in the second state, until the portion of the network corresponding to the set-top box enters the first state.
US08973067B2
Some embodiments are directed to a method performed by a pipe control node for managing network resources that are used to transport network traffic. The method includes allocating network resources to a virtual pipe for transporting a plurality of multimedia streams through the network. Utilization of the network resources by the plurality of multimedia streams transported through the virtual pipe is monitored relative to the network resources allocated to the virtual pipe. The network resources that are used by the plurality of multimedia streams transported through the virtual pipe are managed in response to the monitored utilization. Some other embodiments are directed to a corresponding pipe control node that manages network resources which are used to transport network traffic.
US08973066B2
A server can receive information identifying media content to be offered to users at a discount or at a particular time of release. The offer can also include information identifying a minimum number of acceptances by users needed for the offer to be valid. During a predetermined period, if the number of acceptances has reached or exceeded the minimum number needed, the server may transmit a media stream containing the media content to the users. Furthermore, the offer may include multiple tiers of discounts and/or times of release.
US08973061B2
A data distribution unit for a vehicle includes a wireless receiver configured to receive coded data wirelessly via a cellular network, a signal processor configured to decode the coded data into video data and audio data, and a wireless transmitter configured to transmit the video data wirelessly to a display and transmit the audio data wirelessly to a speaker.
US08973057B2
A method for providing switching of a media session transmitted from a content server to a user equipment from a multicast to a unicast bearer. A preparation trigger recognised by the user equipment triggers a preparation phase wherein an application server prepares for an upcoming switch by re-configuring the media session and by providing the re-configuration data to the user equipment. Subsequent to the preparation phase, a second trigger triggers a release phase, wherein the multicast bearer is released, and the media session is resumed by the unicast bearer.
US08973051B2
A communication device includes a memory storing computer instructions and a processor coupled to the memory to execute the computer instructions to provide a graphical user interface at a display coupled to the communication device. The graphical user interface includes a visual navigation trail having a selectable category. The memory also includes instructions executable by the processor to receive a signal at the communication device indicating a selection of the selectable category. Further, the memory includes instructions executable by the processor to cause the graphical user interface to display, in response to the signal, a menu including the selectable category and a peer category related to the selectable category. The menu automatically becomes navigable via directional keys at a remote control device when the menu is displayed.
US08973045B2
A hierarchical indexing system, which includes a plurality of indexing servers and a search agent. The plurality of indexing servers are configured to index electronic programming guide data. The search agent is in communication with the plurality of indexing servers. The search agent is configured to receive a request to display multimedia programs associated with multimedia programs frequently being accessed by a device, to search the indexed electronic programming guide data for multimedia programs associated with the frequently accessed multimedia programs, and to output a favorites list of multimedia programs based on the indexed electronic programming guide data and the frequently accessed multimedia programs.
US08973044B2
According to an aspect, there is provided a digital television (DTV) data stream including program and system information protocol (PSIP) data associated with content of the DTV data stream, the PSIP data including a virtual channel table (VCT) and an event information table (EIT), the EIT comprising: a source identification field identifying a source of an associated event in a DTV data stream; an event identification field indicating an identification of the event; a start time field indicating a star time of the event; a title field indicating a title of the event; and a descriptor comprising: a descriptor tag identifying the descriptor as a genre descriptor, a descriptor length indicating a total length of the descriptor; and at least one category code for an associated event in a DTV data stream, each category code specifying genre, program type, or category information of the associated event, wherein the at least one category code specifies at least one of a set of basic categories.
US08973037B2
A control device such as a tablet computer presents a scrollable image-based program guide (IBPG) on a display that a user can swipe to cause the device to command a display device to present an audio video (AV) program represented by the image. The IBPG is a subset of an electronic program guide (EPG) from a TV signal provider. Social networking information (SNI) related to a video program is presented on or adjacent an image in the IBPG representing the program.
US08973036B2
A user computing device, such as mobile device, is provided with an electronic program guide (EPG). The EPG lists video content that is available or being broadcast on one or more websites. The video content may be considered to be premium content or user content. Premium content may be video content that is available from the website of a commercial broadcaster. Premium content may be generated by the commercial broadcaster. User content may be video content that has been generated and provided to websites for viewing and sharing by users such as members of the websites. An EPG may display listings of both user content and premium content.
US08973032B1
Methods and systems for advertisement insertion into streaming media content are described. In one method, an advertisement insertion tool receives advertisement insertion input that identifies a start time in media content to insert an advertisement. In response to receiving the advertisement insertion input, the advertisement insertion tool inspects an original slice of the media content that contains the media content at the start time to locate a preceding key frame at or prior to the start time and a last frame before the start time. The advertisement insertion tool creates a first new slice comprising the media content of the original slice up to the start time. The first new slice comprises the preceding key frame, the last frame and any intervening delta frames between the preceding key frame and the last frame. The advertisement insertion tool creates a second new slice comprising the media content of the original slice at the start time, including creating a subsequent key frame of the media content at the start time. The advertisement insertion tool stores the first new slice and second new slice at a content server for streaming the media content with the advertisement inserted to a media player executing on a client computing system.
US08973025B2
Two or more set-top boxes are installed in a household. A communications link, preferably a physical link, is provided between or among the set-top boxes. One of the boxes is designated as a “master” box while the other box or boxes are “slaves.” The slave box will use the communications link to communicate in a secured and encrypted manner with the master box. If that communication is severed, e.g., if an attempt is made to move the slave box to another household to provide unauthorized service in that household, the slave box will stop working when it can no longer communicate with the master box.
US08973007B1
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method and technique for adaptive lock list searching of waiting threads includes determining an average service time for a lock associated with a shared computing resource; determining an average search time for selecting a thread to next receive the lock from a plurality of threads waiting for the lock; summing the average service time and the average search time; applying a search factor to the summed average service time and average search time to obtain a target search time for searching the waiting threads for selecting the next thread for obtaining the lock; determining a quantity of waiting threads to consider for next obtaining the lock based on the target search time and the average search time, the quantity being less than a total quantity of waiting threads; and identifying the next thread to obtain the lock from the quantity.
US08973005B2
There is provided an information processing apparatus including a receiver configured to receive a request to perform processing related to a task, from a first information processing apparatus which functions as a client on a network; a scheduler configured to, when a rank of a priority of the scheduler of the information processing apparatus among information processing apparatuses on the network is a first predetermined rank or higher, assign the task to one or a plurality of second information processing apparatuses which function as nodes on the network; and a transmitter configured to transmit a request to execute processing related to the task assigned to the one or the plurality of second information processing apparatuses.
US08972998B2
A system for handling client/server traffic and communications pertaining to the delivery of hypertext information to a client. The system includes a central server which processes a request for a web page from a client. The system operates by receiving a request for a web page from a client. Relevant information is then processed by an annotator to generate additional relevant computer information that can be incorporated to create an annotated version of the requested web page which includes additional displayable hypertext information. The central server then relays the additional relevant computer information to the client so as to allow the annotated version of the requested web page to be displayed. The central server can also interact with different servers to collect and maintain statistical usage information.
US08972996B2
A processing function determination section included in an information processing apparatus determines a differential processing function which is a processing function that is realized by a first program and that is not realized by a second program. A control information determination section reads out relation information which associates a plurality of processing functions with one or more pieces of control information related to each of the plurality of processing functions from a storage section and determines a piece of control information related to the differential processing function on the basis of the relation information.
US08972995B2
A method, apparatus, and system in which an integrated circuit comprises an initiator Intellectual Property (IP) core, a target IP core, an interconnect, and a tag and thread logic. The target IP core may include a memory coupled to the initiator IP core. Additionally, the interconnect can allow the integrated circuit to communicate transactions between one or more initiator Intellectual Property (IP) cores and one or more target IP cores coupled to the interconnect. A tag and thread logic can be configured to concurrently perform per-thread and per-tag memory access scheduling within a thread and across multiple threads such that the tag and thread logic manages tags and threads to allow for per-tag and per-thread scheduling of memory accesses requests from the initiator IP core out of order from an initial issue order of the memory accesses requests from the initiator IP core.
US08972993B2
According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for use in scheduling execution of a computer process includes registering a plurality of scheduling engines available to schedule execution of the computer process. The method also includes receiving a request to schedule execution of a particular computer process, and, in response, selecting one of the plurality of scheduling engines to schedule execution of the particular computer process.
US08972989B2
A virtualization mechanism in a first computer of the plurality of computers generates at least one virtual computer on the first computer. The virtualization mechanism in the first computer executes at least one of a first judgment and a second judgment when a request for activating a first virtual computer of the at least one virtual computer is received, the first judgment being for judging whether or not the activation of the first virtual computer is prohibited based on first information stored in a memory of the virtualization mechanism, and the second judgment being for judging whether or not an identifier included in a logic I/O adapter device assigned to the first virtual computer is invalid based on second information stored in the memory of the virtualization mechanism. The activation of the first virtual computer is permitted or prohibited based on the executed judgment.
US08972981B2
A virtualization framework provides security between multiple virtual machines with respect to network communications between the virtual machines and between the virtual machines and a physical network coupled to the underlying physical computer platform. The virtualization framework includes a network interface controller driver that provides an interface to the platform network interface controller and supports execution of a plurality of virtual machines. Each virtual machine includes a virtual network interface controller that provides a network communications path between the virtual machines and to the network interface controller driver. Each virtual network interface controller further contains a programmable network packet filter that controls the selective transfer of network packets with respect to a corresponding virtual machine.
US08972978B2
A multi-tenant virtual machine infrastructure (MTVMI) allows multiple tenants to independently access and use a plurality of virtual computing resources via the Internet. Within the MTVMI, different tenants may define unique configurations of virtual computing resources and unique rules to govern the use of the virtual computing resources. The MTVMI may be configured to provide valuable services for tenants and users associated with the tenants.
US08972975B1
A disclosed method may include, in a computing device including at least one processor, a memory, and an operating system with a plurality of modes of execution, accessing instructions received by the computing device for installation and optimization use at least one of the plurality of modes of execution. The instructions may include a plurality of subroutines. A fingerprint for each of the subroutines may be generated. Each fingerprint may be associated with a number of instructions in a corresponding subroutine. The subroutine may also include determining, for each of the plurality of subroutines and based on the fingerprint, performance score and estimated compilation time associated with each of the plurality of modes of execution, for compiling the corresponding subroutine. One of the plurality of modes of execution may be selected based on maximizing a total performance score for the plurality of subroutines, and limiting total compilation and installation time.
US08972970B2
A firmware overwriting method for paired use wireless microphone and receiver is disclosed. The firmware update method comprises building a wireless connection between the at least one wireless microphone and the at least one receiver; and executing the determining program by the receiver processing module to determine if the installed wireless microphone compatible backup firmware is the same as the wireless microphone firmware. If yes, the overwriting program is not executed. If no, the receiver processing module sends a command to the wireless microphone processing module to download the installed wireless microphone compatible backup firmware from the receiver storage module, and the overwriting program is executed by the wireless microphone processing module to overwrite the wireless microphone firmware with the installed wireless microphone compatible backup firmware.
US08972969B2
Out of band component updating may include receiving a data structure that includes information regarding a component of an application. It may further include determining, from the data structure, that an updated version of the component is available. Out of band component updating may also include storing the updated component in a local data store. It may additionally include, during execution of the application and without shutting down the application, updating the component with the stored updated version of the component. Updating the component may include loading the updated version of the component in a time that is substantially similar to that of a time to load a previous version of the component.
US08972968B1
Disclosed are various embodiments to accommodate incompatibilities between differing versions of client and server applications. The client application establishes, via a network of a client computing device, data communication with a interface of a primary server application in a server computing device, the interface including a server version identifier. The client application obtains, via the interface, the server version identifier. Based upon the server version identifier, the client application establishes, via the network of the client computing device, data communication with an alternate server application.
US08972967B2
Deploying applications to a device often involves generating an application package for installing the application anew, and application patches for updating the application from a specific first version to a specific second version. Presented herein are alternative techniques for deploying the application to devices using a block map indicating hashcodes for respective blocks of respective resources of the application. A device may install the application by installing the application package, or may update a deployed application from an earlier version to a later version by retrieving the block map, identifying updated blocks having a different hashcode than the current hashcode of the block in the currently deployed application, and retrieving only the updated blocks. The block map also enables concurrent deployment of multiple application versions, and resource sharing among deployed versions and variants by sharing commonly used blocks and retaining alternatives of blocks differing between such versions and variants.
US08972962B2
A mechanism is disclosed for operating local version-independent service program code for infrastructure services, wherein the mechanism is automatically and optionally linked to a central, remote service infrastructure, and wherein both an online and an offline processing mode is included and automatically supported, and wherein the mechanism is embedded in a generic runtime environment. In at least one embodiment, it contains service program code implemented in the runtime environment for calling by way of the application program code with standardized interfaces, wherein the service program code is intended for the provision of functionalities for predetermined services that an application program code can use.
US08972961B2
A processor instruction scheduler comprising an optimization engine which uses an optimization model for a processor architecture with: means to generate an optimization model for the optimization engine from a design of a processor and data representing optimization goals and constraints and a code stream, wherein the processor has at least two execution pipes and at least two registers, and wherein the design comprises data for processor instruction latency and execution pipes, and wherein the code stream comprises processor instructions with corresponding register selections; and reordering means to generate an optimized code stream from the code stream with the optimal solution provided by the optimization engine for the optimization model by reordering the code stream, such that optimum values for the optimization goals under the given constraints are achieved without affecting the operation results of the code stream.
US08972959B2
A method of converting a program code of a program running in multi-thread to a program code which causes fewer lock collisions. The method includes reading the program code into a memory and searching the program code for a first conditional statement making a branch to a path, which is in a synchronized block and has no side effect on the synchronized block; duplicating the path having no side effect to which the branch is made by the searched first conditional statement into the outside of the synchronized block; and adding a second conditional statement into the program code in response to the duplication, wherein the second conditional statement is a conditional statement making a branch to the duplicated path having no side effect. Also provided is a system and an article of manufacture which causes a computer to carry out the steps of the above method.
US08972949B2
A method includes, by computing devices, analyzing numeric and string constraints associated with a software module that includes numeric and string variables and operations applying to specific variables for numeric or string results. The numeric constraints apply to specific numeric variables. The string constraints apply to specific string variables. The method further includes determining an over-approximated constraint from the numeric constraints or operations, representing the over-approximated constraint and string constraints with finite state machines, representing the numeric constraints with an equation, determining whether a solution does not exist for the combination of the variables that satisfies the over-approximated constraint, the numeric constraints, and the string constraints using operations, and terminating attempts to solve for the variables based on the determination whether the solution does not exist. The over-approximated constraint includes a superset of the numeric constraints or operations and applies to specific string variables.
US08972948B2
A method for execution by a processing module begins by receiving inputted requirements and parameters. The method continues by generating application requirements based on the inputted requirements, the parameters, and verification feedback. For one or more application requirements, the method continues by determining whether the generating of the one or more application requirements is consistent with valid system states and correctness criteria to produce one or more verification results. For the one or more application requirements, the method continues by comparing the one or more verification results with one or more verification thresholds to produce the verification feedback.
US08972941B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to an integrated development environment (IDE)-based approach for testing development projects (e.g., comprising one or more intended workloads). In a typical embodiment, a designation of a project (e.g. having a set of workloads) for testing on a network resource group is received via a user interface associated with an IDE. A current server instance in the network resource group having a highest availability for testing the project may then be identified (e.g., based on an analysis of various computing/cost characteristics). The project may then be deployed to the current server instance, and a network address corresponding to the current server instance may be associated with the project in a computer storage device. The project may then be tested by processing the set of intended workloads using the current server instance.
US08972940B2
Described are a system and method for identifying variables which impact performance of software under development. Data is collected that is related to performance characteristics of the software under development. Performance change gradients are determined between previous builds of the software under development. A set of performance change factors are generated from the collected data that corresponds to each performance change gradient. Performance characteristic data corresponding to a current build of the software under development are compared to the performance change gradients. At least one fault component from the set of performance change factors that influences performance of the current build is output in response to the comparison between the performance characteristic data corresponding to the current build and the plurality of performance change gradients.
US08972936B2
Version labeling of an artifact in a version control system. An embodiment can include accepting at least one change set into a configuration for the artifact. Based on the change set, a new version of the artifact can be selected by the configuration. Via a processor, an identifier can be generated for the newly selected version of the artifact. The identifier can include at least a branch name for a branch in which the newly selected version of the artifact is contained and a sequence number for the newly selected version of the artifact. The newly selected version of the artifact can be labeled with the generated identifier.
US08972935B2
An application server (102) along with various other devices and method are described herein for managing a service (e.g., communication service) which is provided to a user. As described herein, the application server with the help of aspect oriented programming is capable of automatically adding functionality to an original service without directly modifying the target application code of the original service. In particular, the application server when automatically adding functionality to a certain application can automatically detect which features are still missing within the certain application, and which are already supported.
US08972919B2
A method for analyzing an IC design, comprises: using a computer implemented electronic design automation tool to perform a parasitic RC extraction for a layout of the IC design, the parasitic RC extraction outputting for each of a plurality of routing paths, a nominal capacitive coupling, a minimum capacitive coupling and a maximum capacitive coupling, where the minimum and maximum capacitive couplings correspond to circuit patterning in the presence of double patterning mask misalignments; and performing one of a setup time analysis or a hold time analysis of the IC design using a computer implemented static timing analysis tool. For a given flip-flop having a launch path and a capture path, the setup or hold time analyses is performed using the minimum capacitive coupling for one of the launch and capture paths and the maximum capacitive coupling for the other of the launch and capture paths.
US08972911B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing device for allowing an actual-image-closer pattern to be formed based on the design data, or its simulation image. In order to accomplish the above-described object, the proposal is made concerning an image processing device which includes an image processing unit which sets the operation condition of a charged-particle beam device on the basis of the design data on a semiconductor element. Here, the image processing device accesses a library for storing device-condition information on the charged-particle beam device, pattern types, and a plurality of combinations of pattern information on each pattern-region basis. Moreover, the image processing device forms a composite image of each pattern region, using the pattern information on each pattern-region basis, and based on the device-condition information and the selection of a pattern type from the pattern types.
US08972891B2
An interactive input system, method and computer readable medium for handling objects representing annotations on an interactive input system are disclosed. The method includes creating an annotation on the interactive input system, associating the annotation with a temporary grouping region, and in the event that a threshold amount of time passes before a further annotation is created within a threshold distance of the temporary grouping region, disabling the temporary grouping region to thereafter prevent automatic grouping with the annotation of any further annotation.
US08972890B2
The present invention provides a transition between two or more menu bars. The transition provided is both useful and aesthetic in that is enhances the aesthetic transition between the menu bars and serves to notify a user of such a transition. The transition is animated with one of a number of different animation techniques, such as rotation, scrolling, shading, virtual lighting, and the like. Three-dimensional graphics mapping may be provided to enhance the animation of the menu bar.
US08972888B2
Graphical user interface for filtering a population of items. The graphical user interface may be implemented as a method on a system comprising a computer server or other computing device. The system defines a library of available criteria to be used in filtering a population of items to identify items of interest. Each criterion has a graphical representation. The system receives an indication of at least one of the criterion to be applied to the population as a filter and also accepts an indication of a tier of the filter to which the selected criterion is to be associated. The system identifies a list of items of interest satisfying a current set of criteria defining the filter. A graphical representation of the filter is displayed by the system while it is being constructed by the user. In one embodiment, the items are securities such as stocks.
US08972885B2
This document discusses, among other things, a system and methods for a networked contact center user interface. In an example embodiment, a user interface associated with a networked contact center includes a frame to present information in a selectable format. Based on a selection associated with the information, the frame is to present further information in an un-selectable format.
US08972883B2
A portable electronic device including a calendar application operable to display a calendar application at a first time and first timescale as well as a second time and second timescale different from the first time and first timescale, a memory operable to store a sequence of user inputs associated with a first time and first timescale, and an input unit operable to detect the sequence of user inputs, wherein the calendar application returns from the second time and second timescale to the first time and first timescale upon detection of the sequence of user inputs.
US08972876B2
A software-based customer relationship management system and method.
US08972874B2
A graphical user interface (GUI) type model helps application designers create error free graphical user interface applications (GAPs). The GUI type model provides a reference set of GUI element types. The application designer assigns a selected GUI element type to each GUI element in a GAP design. The GUI element types help ensure consistent and proper treatment of the GUI element types at every stage in the development of the application, from initial planning and design, to compilation and execution.
US08972867B1
A method for editing media objects in a capture device having a display is provided. The method displays a representation of each media object, where each media object has a plurality of media types associated therewith. The plurality of media types includes at least two of a still image, a sequential image, and a video clip. The method enables selection of a media object to edit and invokes a plurality of edit screens for editing the plurality of media types. In each one of the plurality of edit screens, a representation of the media object's content and items to be applied to the media object are displayed. Each one of the plurality of the edit screens invokes soft keys to ease use and operation of the capture device and facilitate creation of multimedia presentations on the capture device.
US08972864B2
Embodiments are disclosed that relate to facilitating navigation through a predefined list of websites, such as a list of favorite websites. One embodiment provides a method of operating a web browser. The method comprises receiving a user input corresponding to a web address list navigation command, and sending to the display device a representation of a navigational overlay that illustrates a change of a current location within a predefined list of web addresses responsive to the user input. The method further comprises, after sending the representation of the navigational overlay, ceasing sending of the representation of the navigational overlay to the display device, and sending to the display device a representation of website content obtained from a web address at the current location within the predefined list of web addresses.
US08972862B2
An approach provides for remote digital media ingest with centralized editorial. A remote ingest process is initiated over a data network to create a media file from a feed (such as a live broadcast feed). The media file is stored at a central repository. A device is configured to edit the media file by using a proxy file of the media file, wherein the proxy file represents a reduced file size of the media file.
US08972861B2
The present invention provides electronic methods and apparatus for interactively authoring, sharing and analyzing digital video content. Methods for authoring include displaying visual data, defining each traversal as a time-based sequence of frames and annotating and storing a record of the traversal and its associated audio records. Defining the traversal Includes interactively panning the visual data by positioning an overlay window relative to the visual data and zooming in or out by resizing the overlay window. In alternative embodiments, the visual data may be displayed in a rectangular layout or a cylindrical layout. The methods are practiced using an integrated graphical interface, including an overview region displaying the visual data, a detail region displaying current data within the overlay window, and a worksheet region displaying a list of previously stored annotated traversal records. In a further aspect, the worksheet region list of annotated traversal records is published in a web document accessible via network using a standard HTML browser, and further annotations may be added by a community of network users. Analytical methods are also provided in which data markers corresponding to traversal records are plotted against an interactive abstract map enabling users to shift between levels of abstraction in exploring the video record.
US08972860B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for media player instance management. In one aspect, a method includes receiving one or more requests from an application to load a plurality of media players referenced in a document to be presented by the application, in which each media player is configured to present respective content in a respective presentation area of the document presentation and determining an order for loading the media players based on a visibility and dimensions of each respective presentation area.
US08972858B2
In one embodiment, a user selects a primary component of a multimedia system to be configured in a configuration user interface of a mobile device. The configuration user interface of the mobile device displays a photo-realistic depiction of a back panel of the primary component. The photo-realistic depiction of a back panel includes photo-realistic depictions of connection ports located thereon. The user selects another component to be connected to the primary component. One or more classes of potential connections are determined between the another component and the primary component, and for each class of potential connection, the configuration user interface on the mobile device graphically guides the user to select a particular connection port on the photo-realistic depiction of the back panel of the primary component for the class of potential connection. Based on selections of particular connection ports from the user, a set of configuration data is generated.
US08972857B2
A method for generating user help information for a customized user interface, the customized user interface including one or more user interface components from a library of user interface components, the method comprising the steps of: associating library component help information with each user interface component in the library of user interface components; identifying component help information from the library component help information for each component in the customized user interface; aggregating the identified component help information into user help information for presentation to a user of the customized user interface.
US08972819B2
An example integrated circuit includes a first memory array including a first plurality of data groups, each such data group including a respective plurality of data bits. The integrated circuit also includes a first error detection and correction (EDAC) circuit configured to detect and correct an error in a data group read from the first memory array. The integrated circuit also includes a first scrub circuit configured to access in a sequence each of the first plurality of data groups to correct any detected errors therein. Both the first EDAC circuit and the first scrub circuit include spatially redundant circuitry. The first EDAC circuit and the first scrub circuit may include buried guard ring (BGR) structures, and may include parasitic isolation device (PID) structures. The spatially redundant circuitry may include dual interlocked storage cell (DICE) circuits, and may include temporal filtering circuitry.
US08972818B2
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for optimally tuning a memory card in a host device are provided. The apparatus determines at least one tuning parameter associated with the memory card, initiates a reading operation with the memory card, and sends a tuning command to the memory card based on the at least one tuning parameter. The at least one tuning parameter includes a temperature of the memory card, a time elapsed since a last tuning sequence was performed, a number of data blocks sent from the memory card to the host device, and/or a number of transactions between the memory card and the host device. The apparatus also reads data from the memory card, detects a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) error associated with the read data, and sends the tuning command to the memory card upon detecting the CRC error.
US08972810B2
The present disclosure describes using the JTAG Tap's TMS and/or TCK terminals as general purpose serial Input/Output (I/O) Manchester coded communication terminals. The Tap's TMS and/or TCK terminal can be used as a serial I/O communication channel between; (1) an IC and an external controller, (2) between a first and second IC, or (3) between a first and second core circuit within an IC. The use of the TMS and/or TCK terminal as serial I/O channels, as described, does not effect the standardized operation of the JTAG Tap, since the TMS and/or TCK I/O operations occur while the Tap is placed in a non-active steady state.
US08972792B2
Methods, apparatus, and systems for electronic device recovery are disclosed. An example method includes determining that a software request received from a computing device includes an indication of a repair mode of an electronic device, determining a characteristic of the electronic device, determining software to be provided to the electronic device based on the characteristic, and in response to determining that the software request includes the indication of the repair mode, transmitting location information for the software to the computing device.
US08972788B2
A method of ticket consolidation in computing environment may in one aspect analyze problem reports, determine whether problems reported by machines are caused by the same or substantially the same run-time configuration error or are occurring on the same physical server, and are within the given sensitivity time window, consolidate the problem tickets and increase the priority of the consolidated ticket.
US08972787B2
A flexible system for collecting and reporting instrumentation metrics relating to performance of a software product. Computing devices that execute the software product receive a manifest that specifies the manner in which instrumentation metrics are collected and reported, including what instrumentation metrics are collected. Based on the manifest, an instrumentation metrics client associated with a software product may retrieve instrumentation data from a software product or other sources. The metrics client may then generate one or more instrumentation metrics, based on the instrumentation data, in accordance with instructions in the manifest. The metrics client may then take one or more actions based on the instrumentation metrics and the manifest, such as reporting the information to an instrumentation metrics server for aggregation and analysis by the metrics server or performing escalation actions that can modify the metrics collected and reported.
US08972786B2
During starting of a field device for pressure measurement, flow measurement and/or fill level measurement, which field device including a memory that includes a boot memory region in which a boot function is stored, and an operating memory region in which an operating function is stored, the following steps are carried out: carrying out the boot function; determining whether a memory check of the operating memory region is to be carried out; carrying out a memory check of the operating memory region when it has been determined that a memory check is to be carried out; and carrying out the operating function.
US08972785B2
Embodiments of a testcase checker system are disclosed herein. Embodiments of a testcase checker system may include an instruction set simulator configured to simulate execution of instructions of a testcase on a microprocessor using a reference model associated with an architecture of the microprocessor. The instruction set simulator may generate logging data associated with the each instruction based on the simulated execution of that instruction. The testcase checker system may also include checker module comprising a set of rules. Each of these rules may be associated with a boundedly undefined condition. The checker module is configured to receive the logging data associated with an instruction from the instruction set simulator and process the logging data based on the rules to determine if any of the rules are violated.
US08972781B2
Disclosed is a method to enable wireless remote session recovery for a wireless device. Should a wireless device encounter a broken communication link during a virtual mobile management (VMM) operation, a method of automatic session recovery is disclosed which executes from a management console through a communication end-point gateway server in order to reconnect the mobile device. Under control of the session reconnection method, the device client listener and tools of wireless device re-establishes the signal and bearer links with a management console, over the air through the communication end-point gateway server (CEG). The communication utilizing the session recovery algorithm enables the wireless device to receive session information from the communication end-point gateway server, including the respective tools.
US08972777B2
Multiple storage apparatuses are provided, at least part of which are individually incorporated into one of storage groups. Each of multiple control apparatuses is configured to, when assigned one or more of the storage groups each including one or more of the storage apparatuses, control data storage by storing data designating each assigned storage group redundantly in the storage apparatuses of the assigned storage group. An information processing apparatus is configured to, when a storage group with data redundancy being lost is detected, make a change in control apparatus assignment for the storage groups in such a manner that a storage group different from the detected storage group is not assigned to a control apparatus with the detected storage group assigned thereto. Subsequently, the information processing apparatus causes the control apparatus to execute a process of restoring the data redundancy of the detected storage group.
US08972773B2
Processing cache data includes sending a cache processing request to a master cache service node in a cache cluster that includes a plurality of cache service nodes, the cache cluster being configurable in an active cluster configuration mode wherein the plurality of cache service nodes are all in working state and a master cache service node is selected among the plurality of cache service nodes, or in a standby cluster configuration mode, wherein the master cache service node is the only node among the plurality of cache service nodes that is in working state. It further includes waiting for a response from the master cache service node, determining whether the master cache service node has failed; and in the event that the master cache service node has failed, selecting a backup cache service node.
US08972771B2
A connection control apparatus includes an active control unit that performs routing of data to a first device connected to a port of the connection control apparatus by using an address of the first device, and a standby control unit that, when the active control unit causes a failure, performs routing of data to the first device by using the address of the first device and by using route information indicating a connection route to a second device connected to a port of an adjacent connection control apparatus connected to the connection control apparatus, the standby control unit performing routing of data to the second device by using the route information upon the adjacent connection control apparatus being unable to perform routing.
US08972766B2
A method for managing power to an information handling system (IHS) is disclosed wherein the method includes providing a battery and an external power supply operable to supply power to the IHS. The method also includes providing an application programming interface (API) to the IHS, wherein the API is configured to monitor a first parameter and a second parameter. The method further includes supplying power to the IHS via the external power supply if the first parameter reaches a first threshold level and supplying power to the IHS via the battery if the second parameter reaches a second threshold level. An information handling system (IHS) is further disclosed including an external power supply, a battery, and a controller operable to select between the external power supply and the battery to supply power to the IHS. The IHS further includes an application programmable interface (API) operable to monitor a first parameter and direct the controller to select the external power supply to supply power to the IHS if the first parameter reaches a first threshold level, and wherein the API is further operable to monitor a second parameter and direct the controller to select the battery to supply power to the IHS if the second parameter reaches a second threshold level.
US08972765B1
The present disclosure is directed to a system including a power source connected to at least two electrical buses, and a battery connected to each one of the electrical buses. Each battery is charged by the power source and is connected to a load via one of the electrical buses. A battery error signal generator generates a battery error signal for each battery by finding a difference between a sensed battery voltage and a reference voltage. A reference control signal generator generates a reference control signal for each battery based on the battery error signals for each battery. A power sensor produces a sensed power signal between the power source and each battery connected to each of the two electrical buses. The reference control signal and the sensed power signal for each battery controls a power output value from the power source to each battery.
US08972763B2
A processor may determine the actual residency time of a non-core domain residing in a power saving state and based on the actual residency time the processor may determine an optimal power saving state (P-state) for the processor. In response to the non-core domain entering a power saving state, an interrupt generator (IG) may generate a first interrupt and the device drivers or an operating system may use the first interrupt to start a timer (first value). In response to the non-core domain exiting the power saving state, the IG may generate a second interrupt and the device drivers or an operating system may use the second interrupt to stop the timer (final value). The power management unit may use the final and the first value to determine the actual residency time.
US08972755B1
An integrated circuit includes an operational circuit module receiving a supply voltage from a voltage regulator external to the integrated circuit, and an adaptive voltage scaling module to adjust the supply voltage based on performance characteristics of the operational circuit module. The adaptive voltage scaling module can include a performance monitoring module disposed on the integrated circuit and configured to generate at least an indicator corresponding to at least one performance characteristic of the operational circuit module. The adaptive scaling module can include a voltage requirement determination and voltage feedback generator module disposed on the integrated circuit and coupled to the performance monitoring module. The voltage requirement determination and voltage feedback generator module is configured to output a feedback voltage signal having a voltage level as a function of at least the indicator. The voltage regulator can regulate the supply voltage as a function of the feedback voltage signal.
US08972753B2
A programmable logic circuit assigns a value to an outlet of a power distribution unit (PDU) that comprises a power source at an input of the PDU and at least one light-emitting diode (LED) associated with the outlet. The programmable logic circuit sends the value to a program on a hardware device that comprises one or more power supplies. The programmable logic circuit receives information from the program. Subsequently, an illumination state of the LED is modified based on the information.
US08972750B2
A computer implemented method and apparatus for securing transfer of secure content to a destination. The method comprises receiving a request to copy selected content from a secure source document; extracting one or more security settings associated with at least one of the selected content or the source document; encrypting the selected content with the one or more extracted security settings; and storing the encrypted content and the one or more extracted security settings.
US08972745B2
A computer system includes a first storage area accessible by an operating system and a second storage area accessible by authorized functions only. According to some embodiments of the invention at least one protected storage area is implemented into the second storage area, wherein the operating system installs at least one secret key and/or at least one customized processing function into regions of the at least one protected storage area, wherein the operating system transfers data and/or parameters to process into regions of the at least one protected storage area, wherein the operating system selects one of the customized processing functions to execute, wherein the selected customized processing function is executed and accesses storage regions of the at least one protected storage area to process the data and/or parameters, and wherein resulting process data is read from the at least one protected storage area.
US08972738B2
During generation of a signature on a message to create a signed message, a signer determines one of the signature components such that particular information can be extracted from the signature component. The particular information may be related to one or more of the signer and the message to be signed. After receiving a signed message purported to be signed by the signer, a verifier can extract the particular information from the signature component.
US08972732B2
A cryptographically-secure component provides access-undeniability and verifiable revocation for clients with respect to downloaded content items from a server. A cryptographically-secure component is implemented in a client. When the client wants to purchase and download a content item from the server, the server requests an encryption key from the client. The client generates an encryption key that is bound to a state of the client that is associated with decrypting the content item. The server encrypts the content item using the encryption key and sends the encrypted content item to the client. Because the encryption key used to encrypt the content item is bound to the state associated with the client decrypting the content item, if the client desires to view the content item the client may first advance its state to the bound state to retrieve the decryption key.
US08972727B2
Method of identification or of authorization using a system comprising at least one sensor for acquiring biometric data and one secure module storing a set of digital data obtained starting from a set of respective biometric data by means of a digitization algorithm. According to this method, a biometric data value is obtained, acquired by the sensor; a digital value is obtained by application of the digitization algorithm to the acquired biometric data value; within the secure module, at least some of the digital data from said set of digital data are ranked according to their proximity to the digital value obtained; and a biometric data value is obtained from said set of biometric data by taking into account a position of the corresponding digital data within the ranking.
US08972722B2
A computing device can receive an indication of a change in the proximity state of a first structure of an attachment mechanism and a second structure of the attachment mechanism. Responsive to receiving the indication, the computing device can be operable to change, based at least in part on the indication, a current access mode provided by the computing device. In some examples, both the computing device and the attachment mechanism may be part of a wearable computing device. In other examples, the computing device may be or be part of a physically separate device from the attachment mechanism.
US08972718B2
A system and method for providing load balanced secure media content and data delivery (10) in a distributed computing environment is disclosed. Media content is segmented and encrypted into a set of individual encrypted segments on a centralized control center (15). Each individual encrypted segment has the same fixed size. The complete set of individual encrypted segments is staged to a plurality of intermediate control nodes (17, 19). Individual encrypted segments are mirrored from the staged complete set to a plurality of intermediate servers (21a-b, 23a-b). Requests are received from clients (11) for the media content at the centralized control center. Each individual encrypted segment in the set is received from one of an intermediate control node and an intermediate server optimally sited from the requesting client. The individual encrypted segments are reassembled into the media content for media playback.
US08972716B2
A communication method for a host and a wireless Internet access module, and a data card, are provided so that the host implements wireless Internet access with the wireless Internet access module of a secure digital interface. The method includes simulating each port on a wireless Internet access processing function unit in a wireless Internet access module into a secure digital card partition and reporting the secure digital card partition to a host side; receiving downlink interaction information from the host side encapsulated in a secure digital card interface format, decapsulating the downlink interaction information, and delivering the decapsulated downlink interaction information to a corresponding port; and receiving uplink interaction information reported to the host side from each port, encapsulating the received uplink interaction information in the secure digital card interface format.
US08972715B2
A first module divides a string into blocks. A second module associates the blocks with monoid elements in a list of first monoid elements to produce second monoid elements. A third module applies a first function to an initial monoid element and a first of the second monoid elements producing a first calculated monoid element and evaluates an action of the initial monoid element on the first function producing a second function. A fourth module applies the second function to the first calculated monoid element and to a second of the second monoid elements producing a second calculated monoid element and evaluates the action of the first calculated monoid element on the first function producing a third function. Further modules iteratively, corresponding to the number of blocks, apply the produced function to calculated monoid elements and the second monoid elements to produce a hash of the string
US08972705B2
A constant data accessing system having a constant pool comprises a computer processor having a constant pool base register, a compiler having a constant pool handler, and an instruction set module having a constant pool instruction set unit. The constant pool base register is configured to store a value of constant pool base address of one or a plurality of subroutines which have constants to be accessed.
US08972689B1
A storage processor identifies latency of memory drives for different numbers of concurrent storage operations. The identified latency is used to identify debt limits for the number of concurrent storage operations issued to the memory drives. The storage processor may issue additional storage operations to the memory devices when the number of storage operations is within the debt limit. Storage operations may be deferred when the number of storage operations is outside the debt limit.
US08972688B2
A memory controller converts controller output signals output from a controller into memory input signals according to the operation specifications of memory chips to operate, and outputs the resultant to the memory chips through a common bus. The memory controller also receives memory output signals output from the memory chips through the common bus, and converts the received signals into controller input signals receivable to the controller. This allows the single memory controller to access the plurality of types of memory chips. As a result, the memory controller can be reduced in chip size, lowering the cost of the memory system.
US08972675B2
Data that is stored in a higher error rate format in a 3-D nonvolatile memory is backed up in a lower error rate format. Later, the higher error rate copy is sampled to determine if it is acceptable. A sampling pattern samples all word lines of a string and at least one word line of each string of the block.
US08972674B2
A method and system for storing and retrieving data using flash memory devices. One example system includes an apparatus within a flash memory configuration. The flash memory configuration includes a plurality of memory cells, where each memory cell has a charge storage capacity for use in implementing digital storage. The apparatus includes a processing arrangement configured to access each of the memory cells in a write operation and a read operation. The apparatus also includes an instruction set for instructing the processor to impose target charge levels for defining a plurality of data values for each of the memory cells. The target charge levels are programmably movable with respect to the charge storage capacity.
US08972672B1
A computer-implemented method and system for performing garbage collection in a delta compressed data storage system selects a file recipe to traverse to identify live data chunks and selects a chunk identifier from the file recipe. The chunk identifier is added to a set of live data chunks. Delta references in the file metadata corresponding to the chunk identifier are added to the set of live data chunks. Data chunks in a data storage system not identified by the set of live data chunks are then discarded.
US08972670B2
Management of storage used by pageable guests of a computing environment is facilitated. A query instruction is provided that details information regarding the storage location indicated in the query. It specifies whether the storage location, if protected, is protected by host-level protection or guest-level protection.
US08972668B2
A transactional memory (TM) receives a lookup command across a bus from a processor. The command includes a memory address, a starting bit position, and a mask size. In response to the command, the TM pulls an input value (IV). The memory address is used to read a word containing multiple result values (RVs) and multiple key values from memory. Each key value indicates a single RV to be output by the TM. A selecting circuit within the TM uses the starting bit position and mask size to select a portion of the IV. The portion of the IV is a key selector value. A key value is selected based upon the key selector value. A RV is selected based upon the key value. The key value is selected by a key selection circuit. The RV is selected by a result value selection circuit.
US08972664B2
Embodiments relate to accessing a cache line on a multi-level cache system having a system memory. Based on a request for exclusive ownership of a specific cache line at the local node, requests are concurrently sent to the system memory and remote nodes of the plurality of nodes for the specific cache line by the local node. The specific cache line is found in a specific remote node. The specific remote node is one of the remote nodes. The specific cache line is removed from the specific remote node for exclusive ownership by another node. Based on the specified node having the specified cache line in ghost state, any subsequent fetch request is initiated for the specific cache line from the specific node encounters the ghost state. When the ghost state is encountered, the subsequent fetch request is directed only to nodes of the plurality of nodes.
US08972663B2
A method for cache coherence, including: broadcasting, by a requester cache (RC) over a partially-ordered request network (RN), a peer-to-peer (P2P) request for a cacheline to a plurality of slave caches; receiving, by the RC and over the RN while the P2P request is pending, a forwarded request for the cacheline from a gateway; receiving, by the RC and after receiving the forwarded request, a plurality of responses to the P2P request from the plurality of slave caches; setting an intra-processor state of the cacheline in the RC, wherein the intra-processor state also specifies an inter-processor state of the cacheline; and issuing, by the RC, a response to the forwarded request after setting the intra-processor state and after the P2P request is complete; and modifying, by the RC, the intra-processor state in response to issuing the response to the forwarded request.
US08972658B2
An example portable, handheld game console includes a main body incorporating a first display screen, and a cover body incorporating a second display screen. The main body is hingedly connected to the cover body along adjacent forward and rearward edges, respectively, such that the cover body is movable between closed and open positions. The main body is provided with a plurality of control buttons and a pair of game card slots for receiving game cards of different dimensions. One of the game cards is substantially square and comprises a substantially flat card body having a plurality of electrically conductive terminal strips adjacent the forward edge. One of the side edges of the card has a single continuous step configuration along substantially the entire length dimension of the card. A first notch is formed in a first forward corner of the card where the forward edge meets the other of the pair of side edges and a second notch is formed along the other of the pair of side edges, between the forward and rearward edges.
US08972656B1
A method is used in managing accesses to active-active mapped logical volumes. A portion of a mapped logical volume associated with an I/O request is determined. Based on the determination, a set of storage processor paths for accessing the mapped logical volume is determined. The I/O request is sent using a storage processor path from the set of storage processor paths for accessing the mapped logical volume.
US08972647B2
Provided are techniques for allocating logical memory corresponding to a logical partition in a computing system; generating a S/W PFT data structure corresponding to a first page of the logical memory, wherein the S/W PFT data structure comprises a field indicating that the corresponding first page of logical memory is a klock page; transmitting a request for a page of physical memory and the corresponding S/W PFT data structure to a hypervisor; allocating physical memory corresponding to the request; and, in response to a pageout request, paging out available logical memory corresponding to the logical partition that does not indicate that the corresponding page is a klock page prior to paging out the first page.
US08972629B2
A method for queuing thread update buffers to enhance garbage collection. The method includes providing a global update buffer queue and a global array with slots for storing pointers to filled update buffers. The method includes with an application thread writing to the update buffer and, when filled, attempting to write the pointer for the update buffer to the global array. The array slot may be selected randomly or by use of a hash function. When the writing fails due to a non-null slot, the method includes operating the application thread to add the filled update buffer to the global update buffer queue. The method includes, with a garbage collector thread, inspecting the global array for non-null entries and, upon locating a pointer, claiming the filled update buffer. The method includes using the garbage collector thread to claim and process buffers added to the global update buffer queue.
US08972627B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for managing operations for data storage media. An adjustment module interrupts or otherwise adjusts execution of an executing operation on the data storage media. A schedule module executes a pending operation on the data storage media in response to adjusting execution of the executing operation. The pending operation comprises a higher execution priority than the executing operation. The schedule module finishes execution of the executing operation in response to completing execution of the pending operation.
US08972623B2
A network appliance includes a first processor, a second processor, a first storage device, and a second storage device. A first status information is stored in the first storage device. The first processor is coupled to the first storage device. A queue of data is stored in the second storage device. The first status information indicates if traffic data stored in the queue of data is permitted to be transmitted. The second processor is coupled to the second storage device. The first processor communicates with the second processor. The traffic data includes packet information. The first storage device is a high speed memory only accessible to the first processor. The second storage device is a high capacity memory accessible to multiple processors. The first status information is a permitted bit that indicates if the traffic data within the queue of data is permitted to be transmitted.
US08972620B2
Systems and methods to simplify population of modular components in an information handling system are disclosed. A method of populating modular components in an information handling system comprises a first step of initializing a populating sequence. A first socket corresponding to a first modular component is then identified. The first socket is flagged if it does not contain the first modular component. The first modular component is then installed in the first socket which is flagged.
US08972615B2
A computer program product is provided for performing: obtaining, by a channel subsystem, a transport command word (TCW) specified by an operating system, the TCW comprising an address of a transport services request block (TSRQB) and an address of a transport services response block (TSRSB); obtaining the TSRQB; building at least one command request based on the TSRQB, and sending the at least one command request from the channel subsystem to at least one network entity, the at least one command request including at least one of a fiber-channel generic services (FC-GS) request, a fiber-channel link services (FC-LS) request, and a fiber-channel link-level function (FC-SB) request; receiving a response to the at least one command request from the at least one network entity; and storing the response to the TSRSB based on the address of the TSRSB obtained from the TCW.
US08972612B2
A system, method, and apparatus for collecting data streams, such as data packets, on a network, such as the Internet, are disclosed. A metadata portion of at least one of the data streams is analyzed on the network and evaluated using a metadata processing engine to identify a relationship between at least two of the plurality of data streams, e.g., a relationship between multiple users of interest, a new user of interest, etc. Evaluation of the metadata and the relationships can be performed algorithmically, as predetermined by an analyst or as provided as preset options by the network monitoring system (NMS). An interface manager can receive the new user of interest, evaluate the new user of interest for redundancy against existing users of interest of the NMS; then communicate the new user of interest to at least one access device to collect data streams associated with the new user of interest.
US08972611B2
An input/output (IO) device for connecting multiple servers to one or more network interfaces. The device includes a network connection module comprising one or more network interfaces, and a virtual host interface configured to enable communication with a plurality of host servers. The device includes IO controller configured to connect each of the host servers to one or more of the network interfaces such that the connections between each host server and corresponding one or more network interfaces are operationally isolated and independent from one another.
US08972610B2
A portable USB device that enables mobile Internet accessing service is disclosed. The portable USB can be plugged into an external USB port of a computing device for enabling the Internet accessing service. Subsequent to receiving the Internet accessing service by the computing device via the portable USB device, the computing device may further share the Internet with other wireless devices over a local area network (e.g., network compatible, at least partly, with IEEE 802 standards). The portable USB device may include a wireless component and may further include wireless communication software or data for running at the computing device. The Internet accessing service may employ security data stored in a memory area of the portable USB device for enabling service verification or for security. The portable USB device may also be a non-wireless device connectable to a USB port for enabling phone calling.
US08972608B2
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method performed by a first network element, the method including: receiving first user inputs for mapping IEEE 1588 clock class into ITU-T G.781 quality levels; producing a first table that maps clock class to quality level; providing the first table to a second network element; receiving second user inputs for mapping ITU-T G.781 quality level into IEEE 1588 clock class; producing a second table that maps quality level to clock class; and providing the second table to the second network element.
US08972607B2
An operating system or other software resident on an electronic processing device employs aggregated timestamps. In this way timestamps can be generated and compared to one another without the need for a real-time clock with a power backup. Aggregated time includes the last known time that the device synchronized its clock with a reference time available over a network. Aggregated time also includes a relative time value which in part accumulates using a session clock whenever the device is powered-up. When network time becomes available the operating system or other software will use this information to fix up the already generated aggregated timestamps. A comparison of timestamps will most of the time be resolved for stamps generated on the same device and will generally be resolved by comparing time frames when the timestamps being compared are generated by different devices.
US08972598B2
An approach to facilitating in-vehicle services for user-provided devices is provided. One or more communication sessions with one or more user-provided devices may be facilitated by an in-vehicle computer system. One or more content items available to the one or more user-provided devices may be stored by the in-vehicle computer system. A list of the one or more content items may be provided by the in-vehicle computer system to the one or more user-provided devices. A selection of at least one content item from at least one user-provided device may be received by the in-vehicle computer system. Access to the at least one content item may be provided, by the in-vehicle computer system via the one or more communication sessions, to the at least user-provided device based on the selection.
US08972586B2
The system and method allow enhanced capabilities for Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) dialogs (communication sessions) between SIP devices. The SIP dialogs have applications that are inserted into the SIP dialog such as a Back-to-Back User Agent (B2BUA) or a proxy application. After the initial dialog is established and these applications fail or become unavailable, the system and method allow the applications to be bypassed or have the SIP dialog redirected to an alternative application. This provides a better user experience because the SIP dialog (e.g., a SIP telephone call) will not be dropped if the application fails mid-dialog.
US08972584B2
Computing devices for providing a web service interface to a communication layer of the smartcard reader.
US08972580B2
This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus to protect users of the Internet from DNS outages. In particular, an outage avoidance system is provided that includes query processing, outage avoidance processing, and a local cache, all configured to extend the TTL of expired answers to DNS queries or to ignore the expiration of an answer's TTL value, and thereby provide the expired answer in response to a client request when a DNS server is unable to obtain an answer from a remote DNS server.
US08972575B2
There is provided a server-side web analytics computer implemented system and method. In an embodiment the system has at least one computer server for receiving an electronic request from a web enabled source. The computer server has a web application for creating a log message from the electronic request. The computer server further has an automated server-side web analytics system for processing the log message into an action message and for processing the action message into a reporting message. The server-side web analytics computer implemented system generates asynchronously and in near real-time web analytics data from the reporting message.
US08972573B2
The described embodiments provide a system for performing an action based on a change in a status of a wired or wireless network connection for the system. During operation, the system detects the change in the status of the network connection. In response to detecting the change, the system determines a state of the system. The system then performs one or more actions using the determined state.
US08972570B1
In one embodiment, one or more computing systems receive a request for a location prediction for a user from a service. The computing systems access one or more real-time location signals and one or more aggregated location signals, generate one or more location predictions from the one or more real-time location signals and the one or more aggregated location signals, and calculate a single location prediction for the user from the one or more location predictions. The computing systems then transmit, in response to the request, the single location prediction for the user to the requesting service.
US08972569B1
In real-time network transaction monitoring, a mobile device receives instruction sets for executing and monitoring business transactions over networks. The instruction sets define steps of business transactions and transport protocol events to record. Each transport protocol event includes an incident marking a start, a change, or a completion of a state according to a transport protocol during the execution of the business transaction. During the execution of the business transactions, the transport protocol events are recorded, associated with location and network connectivity data for the mobile device, and stored as historical data. When a web system receives a request for a real-time predictive end-user satisfaction indicator, the web system retrieves the historical data matching the input parameters in the request and predetermined parameters, calculates an Apdex and a real-time mobile performance index using the retrieved historical data, and returns both indexes as the real-time predictive end-user satisfaction indicator.
US08972567B2
Rule-based triggering of execution of services is provided. An advisor program identifies an application attribute(s) about which data is to be obtained, based on the presence of the application attribute(s) in one or more logical expressions of one or more rules. The one or more rules are developed and managed separate from the program code of the application and use at least one identifier employed by the application in identifying application attributes. Data about the application attribute(s), for instance user behavior with respect to the application attribute(s), is obtained, and the logical expression(s) of the rule(s) are evaluated based on the obtained data to determine whether to trigger execution of one or more services specified in the rule(s).
US08972563B2
A method and system for optimizing network bandwidth usage in a remote desktop system. A client generates a stream of input events that contain position information of a cursor shown on a display of the client. The client estimates characteristics of a network that couples the client to a server. Based on estimation of the characteristics, the client adjusts the number of input events batched into a packet to be sent from the client to the server over the network.
US08972562B2
According to the invention a core network management device (32) in a core network section (CN) of the wireless network (WN) receives a request for a tracing regarding a wireless terminal (16). The request includes an address of a destination device (26) that is to receive trace log data or data enabling the locating of the address. The core network management device (32) then automatically orders, based on the request, network elements (10, 12, 14, 20, 22, 24) of an access network section (AN) of the wireless network (WN) to perform tracing regarding the wireless terminal (16) and ensures that the trace log data is sent to the destination trace log data handling device (26). The request with the address may be sent from an access network management device (26) in the access network section (AN).
US08972561B1
An apparatus and method for transferring information in bulk between network devices employing File Transfer Protocol (“FTP”) are disclosed. During a network discovery process, an Element Management System (“EMS”) initiates a file generation command formatted with Simple Network Management Protocol (“SNMP”) to one or more network element (“NE”). After obtaining configuration information from one or more network devices, an NE, in one embodiment, establishes a file containing the configuration information and subsequently stores the file in a storage location. The file formatted in SNMP format is forwarded to EMS suing FTP/SFTP (secure file transfer protocol)/TFTP (trivial file transport protocol).
US08972549B2
Methods, apparatus and computer program products allow a user of DSL or the like to implement user preferences to the extent feasible in light of operational limits and conditions. In some embodiments, an operational profile is imposed on the user. User preference data is evaluated to determine the extent to which one or more user preferences can be implemented in light of the operational profile. One or more controllers can assist in collecting user preference data, evaluating the user preference data, operational data and other data and information, and implementing user preferences as feasible. Evaluation of the user preference data and operational profile and/or data can include considering the compatibility of the user's preferences and the operational profile and/or data. Controllers assisting users can include a local controller at the user's location, one or more upstream-end local controllers, one or more remote location controllers, and/or one or more other downstream-end device controllers at locations other than the user's location. Data and information can be shared among the various controllers, either using the DSL system itself or using a proprietary or other alternative data system.
US08972548B2
Systems and methods of the present invention for maintaining network data distribution are provided. Network data may be distributed in such as manner as to allow a network session to weather interrupted communications between host and clients without significant loss of data. Embodiments of the present invention provide for one or more clients to serve as backup host(s) for the network session. When the other clients transmit data to the host, they may also transmit the data to one or more backup hosts if there are any indications of interrupted communication.
US08972547B2
A host node connected to a network using an Internet Protocol automatically identifies multiple adapters connected to the same network, preferably by broadcasting a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) request for assignment of an IP address on a first adapter, and listening to the request on a second adapter, thereby determining that both adapters are on the same network. The host preferably causes an IP address to be generated for one of the adapters, and automatically configures the adapters to share the IP address thus generated as a virtual IP address, assigning one of the adapters as a primary adapter. Preferably, the host automatically detects deactivation of the primary adapter and switches the virtual address assignment to a different adapter.
US08972546B2
An apparatus, system, and computer readable medium are disclosed for booting a server from a shared storage system. The present invention teaches at least one server having at least one processor, a storage system having a plurality of storage drives and at least one boot volume corresponding to the at least one server, and a switch fabric having at least one switch; the switch fabric isolates boot traffic form storage traffic and enables communication between the server and the boot volume of the storage system. In some embodiments the switch fabric includes one or more partitionable switches that isolate boot traffic from storage traffic. The boot volumes may be a redundant array of storage devices. In certain embodiments, the present invention also includes devices external to the server, switch fabric, and storage system.
US08972545B2
A system and method for information handling system manufacture analyzes an image to determine a traits definition that identifies the operating system, applications and unique information of the image, such as in a XML file. The image traits definition may be communicated to a manufacture site over a network and used to re-create the image for copying to a manufactured information handling system. Communication of the image traits definition consumes less network and storage resources than communication of the image, thus reducing the time and expense of image transfers to manufacture information handling systems.
US08972544B2
A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may use, for example, a method for sending a set-top box an identification of the media player, receiving operational instructions from the set-top box according to the emulator executed by the set-top box that emulates a user interface of the media player by presenting a representation of the media player in a graphical user interface, and transmitting media content to the set-top box according to the operational instructions. The emulator can be supplied to the set-top box by way of a multimedia system communicatively coupled to the set-top box. The user interface presented by the set-top box by way of the emulator substantially mimics functions of the media player. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US08972533B1
One or more media for performing a method of activating a set of user-input elements (e.g., touch-sensitive keys) accommodated by a mobile device according to configuration settings is provided. Initially, a message sent from a transmitting device having a data file includes an address to identify the mobile device. Upon the identified mobile device sending a request to access the data file, a communications-network server performs a configuration-preparation process that includes the following steps: retrieving the appropriate data file, determining the capabilities of mobile device based on a user-agent profile, selecting configuration settings specific to the mobile device capabilities, and dynamically appending the configuration settings to the data file, which are then transmitted to the mobile device. Upon receipt, the mobile device applies the configuration settings to activate at least a portion of the user-input elements, where activation enables activated user-input element(s) to trigger a command on the mobile device.
US08972528B2
A ring design machine receives one or more selections of gemstones and one or more selections of settings and allows a user to “mix and match” gemstones and settings and view a selected gemstone in a compatible setting for that gemstone. To present the gemstone in the setting, the ring design machine presents a combination image that depicts the gemstone in the setting. The ring design machine, which may be implemented using a computer programmed by software, may present the combination image to the user in response to receiving a selection of the gemstone and a selection of the setting from the user via a network.
US08972522B2
According to one embodiment, an information distribution apparatus stores a characteristic information extracted arbitrary time-series data and relevant information in association of an information providing site on a communication line with each other, fetches characteristic information presented with a request for distribution through the line from a terminal, collates the fetched characteristic information with each characteristic information item of the stored associated information, determines the closest characteristic information, fetches relevant information associated with the characteristic information, and distributes the fetched relevant information to the terminal through the line.
US08972521B2
A method and apparatus for the operation of a wind farm grid system. Methods and apparatus are provided for networking between the farm management system (farm master) and individual wind turbines (WKA) of a wind farm via a central network for the purpose of data transmission in both directions. The central network may be configured as a ring, star, line, or tree having a physical layer which communicates with a data link layer which is in communication with a wind farm protocol (WPP) application layer through a WPP real-time driver.
US08972520B2
According to some embodiments, mapping definition information may be transmitted from a business process engine to a business process client. Subsequent to said transmitting, it may be arranged for the business process client to receive business data formatted in accordance with the mapping definition information. The business data may, for example, include a series of values, and the mapping definition information may be used by the business process client to map the series of values to a plurality of data fields.
US08972517B2
In general, methods and apparatus according to the invention mitigate these and other issues by implementing caching techniques described herein. So when one device in a home network downloads and plays a particular content (e.g., a video, song) from a given site, the content is cached within the network such that the same content is available to be re-played on another device without re-downloading the same content from the Internet.
US08972515B2
Shared storage architectures are provided. A particular shared storage architecture includes an Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) system. The ESB system includes shared storage including data and file system metadata separated from the data. The file system metadata includes location data specifying storage location information related to the data. An infrastructure function of the ESB system is provided to enable messaging between providers and consumers through the shared storage.
US08972514B2
In a data transmitting and receiving method of a demand assignment type, a master device schedules an occupancy band of a fixed size for requesting a band to the master device by slave devices, with respect to a specific number of slave devices for each cycle, and the slave device waits for assignment of the occupancy band of the fixed size based on the schedule and performs message transmission of requesting a band for data transmission to the master device, thereby suppressing an influence of pressure on the data transmission band and preventing line utilization efficiency from decreasing while avoiding signal collision on a Random Channel.
US08972509B2
Various embodiments include systems, methods, and software for automated rich-content messaging. Some such embodiments generating messages to be sent via email, MMS, social media, or other electronic mechanisms from a business application based on message templates authored within a content management program. Messages may be generated and sent based on event occurrences, monitored data conditions, and the like.
US08972502B2
A computer-implemented method of managing a chat experience of a user desiring to chat with a selected one of a plurality of businesses utilizes in various aspects a chat management server running computer processes for communicating with user devices. In another aspect, a computer-implemented method of providing a chat experience to a user having a user device and desiring to chat with a selected one of a plurality of businesses utilizes computer processes running on the user device. Corresponding embodiments similarly provide an apparatus performing any of the foregoing methods. Other corresponding embodiments similarly provide a computer readable medium storing instructions, which when loaded into a computer, perform processes corresponding to any of the foregoing methods.
US08972496B2
Content can be shared between devices by transmitting an encoded signal that indicates, to each capable device within range, instructions for accessing the content. For example, a first device can emit an encoded audio signal that can be received by any capable device within audio range of the device. Any device receiving the signal can decode the information included in the signal and obtain a location to access the content from that information. Using such an approach, a first user can quickly and easily share content with several users at the same time without any of the receiving users having to determine or navigate to the content being shared. Further, using signals, such as audio signals, provides the ability for most existing devices to easily share content without significant hardware modification or additional expense.
US08972495B1
A communication system includes a communication server configured to receive a request to generate a communication and receive a request to associate the communication with one or more classifications from a plurality of classifications. The system further includes a store coupled to the communication server and configured to store the communications and/or store the classification received in the association request. The classifications are associated with a request for information from a recipient of the communication. The classifications are associated with a request for information from a recipient of the communication, a request for sharing information with the recipient of the communication, and a request for action from the recipient of the communication.
US08972484B2
A method of generating analytics to provide an analysis of data from distinct data domains includes collecting sensor data from at least two distinct data domains, deriving parameters from the collected data, wherein at least one of the parameters is a first domain parameter derived from one of the data domains and at least another one of the parameters is a second domain parameter derived from the other data domain, providing a data model that enables a user to specify at least one of the first parameters and at least one of the second domain parameters and generate at least one rule based on the selected parameters, and generating analytics that analyze the collected data against the rules to determinate whether the rules have been satisfied and provide results of the analysis to a user of the analytics.
US08972479B2
An information processing system includes a first server and a second server. The first server includes a first executing unit configured to execute an application at a first speed, using input information items sequentially obtained, and a first transmission unit configured to send a result of execution of the application to a terminal. The second server includes a reproduction data obtaining unit configured to obtain reproduction data containing the input information items sequentially obtained, for reproducing a state of the first executing unit, an input information obtaining unit configured to obtain input information items sequentially sent from the terminal in response to an input information transmission instruction to the second server, a second executing unit configured to execute the application, and a second transmission unit configured to send a result of execution of the application by the second executing unit to the terminal.
US08972478B1
Techniques for a data storage cluster and a method for maintaining and updating reliability data and reducing data communication between nodes, are disclosed herein. Each data object is written to a single data zone on a data node within the data storage cluster. Each data object includes one or more data chunks, and the data chunks of a data object are written to a data node in an append-only log format. When parity is determined for a reliability group including the data zone, there is no need to transmit data from other data nodes where the rest of data zones of the reliability group reside. Thus, inter-node data communication for determining reliability data is reduced.
US08972472B2
A system and method for unbiased rounding away from, or toward, zero by truncating N bits from a M bit input number to provide a M−N bit number, and adding the equivalent value of ‘½’ to the M−N bit number unless the input number is negative, or positive, respectively, and the N truncated bits represent exactly ½. The method for rounding away from zero may include outputting a (M−N) bit truncated number if the M-bit input number is negative and the sequence of N truncated bits comprises a most significant bit of 1, followed by zeros; and otherwise, computing and outputting a sum of (a) a number that has an equivalent value of one followed by (N−1) replicas of zero, the one provided by applying a logical operation on the most significant bit of the sequence of truncated bits and (b) the (M−N) bit truncated number.
US08972459B2
The described implementations relate to updating views in a database system. One implementation can identify an active view that retrieves records from a database and determine one or more physical tables in the database that are referenced by the active view. The implementation can track one or more columns in the physical tables that are used by the active view and identify a change to the physical tables in a transaction log of the database. If the change does not affect the one or more columns, the change can be treated as an ignorable change for the active view.
US08972449B2
To prevent conflicts of interest, an information management system is used to make sure two or more groups are kept apart so that information does not circulate freely between these groups. The system has policies to implement an “ethical wall” to separate users or groups of users. The user or groups of user may be organized in any arbitrary way, and may be in the same organization or different organizations. The two groups (or two or more users) will not be able to access information belonging to the other, and users in one group may not be able to pass information to the other group. The system may manage access to documents, e-mail, files, and other forms of information.
US08972439B2
Mechanisms and methods for exploring objects in a data dictionary may enable embodiments to provide a simple and efficient tool for understanding dependencies between entities. The ability to provide a visual format for representing dependency information of entities may enable database developers to efficiently explore objects in a data dictionary and better understand the dependencies of entities in the database. In an embodiment, methods for exploring objects in a database can be applied to multi-tenant database systems.
US08972432B2
Systems, methods, and apparatuses, including computer program products, are provided for machine translation using information retrieval techniques. In general, in one implementation, a method is provided. The method includes providing a received input segment as a query to a search engine, the search engine searching an index of one or more collections of documents, receiving one or more candidate segments in response to the query, determining a similarity of each candidate segment to the received input segment, and for one or more candidate segments having a determined similarity that exceeds a threshold similarity, providing a translated target segment corresponding to the respective candidate segment.
US08972429B2
Calendar-based suggestion of travel options involves suggesting a travel option based on events stored in a calendar of a user. For example, a user in San Francisco may be scheduled for a business trip to New York, and the user's calendar may show a dinner reservation in San Francisco on Saturday, September 3 and business meeting in New York on Monday, September 5. A suggestion machine accesses calendar data of the user and travel data for several available travel options (e.g., flights from San Francisco to New York). Based on the accessed calendar data and travel data, the suggestion machine determines that one or more travel options (e.g., a flight on Sunday, September 4) are compatible with the dinner reservation and the business meeting on the user's calendar. The suggestion machine presents these compatible travel options to the user.
US08972426B2
A method includes defining a host capability; creating for a storage device a second directory tree from a first directory tree of the storage device that is included in a file system within the storage device; and, for a data file that is stored in the storage device and is selectable for consumption by a host through the first directory tree that is included in the storage device's file system, determining whether the data file requires for consumption a host having the defined host capability. If the data file requires a host having the defined host capability, an entry is created in the second directory tree in which the data file is not selectable for consumption by the host. Otherwise, an entry is created in the second directory tree in which the data file is selectable for consumption by the host.
US08972425B2
A method is provided for parsing a document having a plurality of lines on which items are listed spanning one or more lines. It includes: obtaining a plurality of candidates, representing hypothetical items within the document, each candidate spanning one or more lines and having a local cost representing a confidence in a quality of the candidate compared to a model; determining labeling costs for intervals of the document defined between pairs of lines, each interval containing candidates therein, each labeling cost reflecting a configuration of the candidates within the interval; identifying a best labeling for each interval based on the labeling costs determined for that interval, the best labeling corresponding to one of the configurations of the candidates within the interval; defining a global objective function; and selecting a subset of the candidates such that the global objective function is optimized, based on the identified best labelings.
US08972420B1
Systems and methods are provided for enabling a user to associate a story with one or more referents. In some embodiments, information representing a first version of a story may be caused to be displayed, and in the display of information representing the first version of the story, a user may be enabled to associate a referent with a first point in the first version of the story, where the referent is at least one of an event, a character, an object, a subject, a time, a place and a person. In some embodiments, the referent may be automatically associated with a second point in a second version of the story based at least in part on a point map associated with the first version of the story and the second version of the story.
US08972411B1
Multiple sets of words and phrases can be used as query terms for accessing sponsored content. Sponsored content is associated with item terms. The query terms are matched with the item terms. The result of the matching operation is a numerical score for each item of sponsored content that can be used to select sponsored content. Conditions present across the set of matched terms are detected. Such conditions can include the occurrence of a matched query term in multiple sets of query terms. This condition can be addressed by determining a number of unique matching query terms across all sets of query terms. The score given to an item of sponsored content can be adjusted if such a condition occurs. For example, the score could be adjusted according to a function of the number of unique matching query terms across all sets of query terms. If the number of matching query terms across all sets of query terms is low, such as one or two, then the function can define a penalty to be applied to the score given to the item of sponsored content. If the number of matching query terms across all sets of query terms is higher, such as three or more, then the function can define an adjustment to be applied to the score given to the item of sponsored content.
US08972402B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for receiving, from computer-readable memory, a particular item of digital content distributed by a user through a computer-implemented social networking service; identifying, using the one or more processors, a set of items of digital content distributed by the user through the computer-implemented social networking service; receiving interaction data from the computer-readable memory; determining, based on the received interaction data, at least one of a user ranking score associated with the user and an item ranking score associated with the particular item of digital content; and storing the at least one of the user ranking score and the item ranking score in the computer-readable memory.
US08972400B1
In an embodiment, a profile data management system provides a central repository for data and information associated with a user. The information may be presented through an electronic user interface as a profile of the user. In an embodiment, the profile data management system maintains profiles for many users and enables users and/or secondary users to submit information and to modify the user profiles. Modifications are made to user profiles when the submitted information is sufficiently reliable. In general, the method of building and modifying profiles in the profile data management system based on the contributions of many users may be referred to as crowdsourcing profiles. Crowdsourcing profiles may advantageously enable the generation and verification of large amounts of data related to many individuals. The crowdsourcing profiles model allows secondary users to provide updates, modifications, comments, ratings, preferences, and/or other inputs to the profile data management system. Crowdsourcing profiles may advantageously reduce redundant profile management efforts by generating and/or updating profile data based on data that is reported as reliable by one or more users.
US08972396B1
The present application discloses a computer-assisted method for determining relevance between a first text content and a second text content, and displaying relevant contents.
US08972381B2
Techniques for processing joins on column partitioned tables are provided. A query includes a first-Column Partition (CP) table joined with a second-CP table. The query is decomposed into a three-step process and rewritten and processed.
US08972379B1
A system and method for modifying a parameter of a website in order to optimize an organic listing of the website at one or more search engines is described. Several embodiments include methods and systems for generating scored representations based upon different portions of data associated with a website, and then combining the scored representations to achieve a result. The result indicates a feature of the website that may be modified in order to optimize the organic ranking of the website at one or more search engines.
US08972377B2
A system and method is provided for query processing comprises: creating an index of a database and ordering a set of index candidates from the index into a list based on a set of heuristic rules. A query defining a query path is then reduced into a list of single path expressions. Each index candidate is matched against the list of single path expressions according to the ordering of the index candidates. The matched candidate nodes are also verified to insure that they satisfy the query path.
US08972370B2
Provided in the present invention is a repetitive fusion search method for a search system, in which: a search interface 20 displays parameter numerical value setting fields 25 for setting a numerical value for each of multiple instinct based feature parameters in order to input instinct based rating information, and a text input field 24 and a keyword selection field 26 for inputting keywords; and a search engine 13 searches, in response to search inputs input by a searcher using the search interface, a search target database 11 based on the keywords and extracts relevant targets, determines priority for the relevant targets based on the instinct based rating information, and transmits the relevant targets to the search interface 20.
US08972362B2
A computing device categorizes data items as a corporate data items when a first criterion is satisfied and as personal data items when a second criterion is satisfied. The computing device provides identified corporate data items to a first backup system that stores the corporate data items to a corporate data store. The computing device further provides identified personal data items to a second backup system that stores the personal data items to a personal data store.
US08972360B2
An aggregated file is generated, by storing a plurality of initially provided files in a sequence. A computational device executes a first set of compression operations on each of the plurality of initially provided files to generate a plurality of compressed files that replace the plurality of initially provided files, wherein starting locations of the plurality of compressed files and the plurality of initially provided files are identical, and wherein predetermined bit patterns are stored in empty spaces that follow each of the plurality of compressed files. The computational device sends the aggregated file to a linear storage device configured to perform a second set of compression operations on the aggregated file.
US08972357B2
A data collection system that provides the means to collect, store and make data available for a location analytics inference pipeline. The system incorporates a feedback mechanism enabling algorithms produced from the inference pipeline to drive the collection strategy to yield higher data quality and to produce reference data for model validation.
US08972356B2
A data integration processing device configured to integrate a plurality of graphs includes: an integration processing method selecting means 4 for selecting an integration processing method used for integration of inputted graphs; and an integration process executing means 6, having a plurality of integration processing methods, for integrating a plurality of graphs by executing an integration process in accordance with an integration processing method selected by the integration processing method selecting means 4 from among the plurality of integration processing methods. The integration processing method selecting means 4, with respect to each of nodes in inputted graphs, selects an integration processing method used for integrating lower nodes in accordance with frequency that the lower nodes are consistent, when upper nodes are consistent.
US08972346B2
Operating a parallel database server system, where the database server system comprises at least two database servers and one data source. A client identifier is received from a client requesting services from one of said database servers. Information associated with said client is retrieved. The client is allocated to one of said database servers based on the retrieved information.
US08972341B2
Data migration using communications and collaboration platform provides an efficient and flexible method for migrating data from an existing system to a new system. In particular, the method includes extracting data, cleansing the extracted data based on a master record, receiving approval for the cleansed data, and migrating the approved data into the new system.
US08972327B2
An aspect of the invention includes transforming a source model to a target model. A source model is received and a transformation specification that includes a set of rules is accessed. Each rule includes a pattern description and a production component. The pattern description includes a pattern in the source model and the production component includes an algorithm for generating an output in the target model from the pattern. For each expression in the source model, the expression is decomposed into sub-expressions, matching rules in the transformation specification for the expression and the sub-expressions are detected, one of the matching rules having the most specific pattern description is selected, and the production component of the selected rule is executed to generate the output in the target model. The target model is created from the generated output.
US08972322B2
Provided are an apparatus and method for adding a variety of concepts to a default model by combining a linked model with the default model and linked data that is to be matched with the linked model. The apparatus may generate first relationship information about a relationship between a concept included in the default model and a concept included in the linked model and second relationship information about a relationship between a concept included in the linked model and a concept included in the linked data. The apparatus may combine the default model, the linked model, and the linked data, based on the first and second relationship information.
US08972319B2
A method and a system for evaluating the class of a test datum in an original metric space, each datum belonging to at least one class grouping a plurality of data, includes a step of graphical representation of the spatial organization of a set of learning data of the original space in a representation metric space, a conjoint membership level indicating if any two data from the learning set belong to the same class. The method also includes a step of relating the test datum to the projections of the data from the learning set, the most probable class of the test datum being the class of the projections of the data from the learning set related to the test datum. Application: assistance with decision-making in discrimination, shape recognition.
US08972310B2
A method and apparatus for identifying deformation of a structure. Training deformation data is identified for each training case in a plurality of training cases. Training strain data is identified for each training case in the plurality of training cases. The training deformation data and the training strain data are configured for use by a heuristic model to increase an accuracy of output data generated by the heuristic model. A group of parameters for the heuristic model is adjusted using the training deformation data and the training strain data for the each training case in the plurality of training cases such that the heuristic model is trained to generate estimated deformation data for the structure based on input strain data. The estimated deformation data has a desired level of accuracy.
US08972307B1
A computationally efficient method and apparatus is disclosed for machine learning an unknown, n-dimensional γ-margin halfspace to accuracy 1−ε in the presence of malicious noise, when the noise rate is allowed to be as high as Θ ( ɛγ log ( 1 / γ ) ) . A smooth boosting module repeatedly calls a weak learner module that generates candidate classifiers based on a majority vote of randomly-generated classifiers.
US08972306B2
A system for sensor tasking includes a plurality of sensors operable to perform one or more tasks and a processor. The processor may receive a mission, wherein the mission comprises one or more tasks to be performed by one or more of the plurality of sensors. The processor may also receive one or more environmental conditions associated with the mission and generate a fuzzy cognitive map. The fuzzy cognitive map includes a plurality of nodes and weighted links, wherein one or more of the plurality of nodes are associated with one or more of the environmental conditions. The processor may be further operable to select one or more of the plurality of sensors to perform each of the one or more tasks based at least on a state of the fuzzy cognitive map and schedule each of the one or more tasks to be performed by the respective selected one or more sensors.
US08972295B2
Embodiments include methods for distributing visual display information related to a plurality of items to one or more display devices, and methods for rendering visual display information related to a plurality of items by a display device. Embodiments also comprise display devices, servers, and computer-readable media embodying one or more of these methods. Embodiments display of large data sets and associated statistics, such as trading activity of securities or other business statistics, on devices with limited-size display screen, e.g. smartphone or tablet. Embodiments enable visual navigation of large dynamic data sets via relative and absolute contextual statistics. Embodiments combine dynamic visual displays with a multi-tiered navigation structure, supporting more effective information gathering and processing across a variety of users with different objectives. Embodiments provide more relevant, individualized user experience through flexibility to observe patterns, correlation, and contextuality, and to explore subsections of the data quickly via unique navigation paths.
US08972291B2
A system and method can monitor inventory of product within storage bins of a storage facility by mounting cameras to the storage bins. The cameras and a user processing device may be operably connected to a network such that the user processing device is in communication with the cameras. Further, the user processing device may search records of a database that correspond to product stored in the storage facility. Once a product of interest is identified, a location of the relevant storage bin may be provided to the user processing device, along with an image and/or video captured by the camera to show contents of the storage bin.
US08972290B2
Managing rental items using hierarchical storage locations without putting away returned items. One method comprises receiving units of a rental item at a processing facility. Each of two or more local storage locations is associated with a different successively longer time period of subsequent processing for that storage location. The rental item is associated with a net average shipping quantity and a buffer inventory quantity for each time period. An excess number of the units is determined as the rental item units that are not needed for current orders. A first quantity of the excess units is placed in a first local storage location. The first quantity is based on the net average shipping quantity for the first location; in a second location, a second quantity of the excess units is placed. The second quantity is based on the buffer inventory quantity for the second location and a growth factor.
US08972286B2
Embodiments of the invention include apparatuses and methods that allow a user to wirelessly transmit payment information from a mobile device to a point-of-sale terminal by the user performing only a single action or supplying only a single input to the mobile device. For example, some embodiments of the invention allow a user to assign a default payment vehicle to a particular key or “pay now” icon of the mobile device so that activation of the particular key or icon, alone, causes the mobile device to wirelessly transmit information about the default payment vehicle. In some embodiments of the invention, a user using the single action option of the mobile device does not need to go through an authentication procedure before the mobile device transmits the default payment information. In some embodiments of the invention, if a user uses the single action option, the mobile device is configured to transmit the payment information without needing to first launch an electronic wallet software application installed on the device.
US08972285B2
A system and method for determining a specific location in a brick and mortar retail store from which an item purchased by a customer in the store was likely obtained, so as to enable maintenance of inventory at the location level within the store is provided. The system includes a central database in which information regarding product inventory for a brick and mortar store location is maintained, a point of sale client capable of obtaining a product identifier from items being purchased by a customer, and a product location mechanism that utilizes the product identifier obtained by the point of sale client for the items being purchased by the customer, and other information from the point of sale client and/or from within the database to determine the most likely location from which an item was obtained by the customer and decrement the inventory unit amount stored in the database for the location by the number of such items purchased.
US08972282B2
A method for websites to be transformed and repurposed into other forms of design, use, and functions for other purposes, to benefit the original websites, website purposes, and owners of websites. A user would first speak or type into a computer. The GUI is a website campaign manager located on/at a website URL. A user creates a campaign and submits their website URL. The system then information form the website or uses that entered by a user. A data processor module, running on a computer or equivalent machine, assembles the extracted information. The system provides a language selection option where the final product can be created using one or more languages and then published, publically or privately, printed, and submitted for creation. A website campaign or advertisement is created along with a complementary website search software application, which can later be edited.
US08972281B2
A system and process is provided for distributing branding and content messages to wireless mobile devices such as mobile handsets. The system has a mobile media portal process that enables a content owner and one or more sponsors to cooperate in negotiating, planning, and executing a branding or content campaign. For a campaign, a set of consumers has indicated a desire to receive particular content information on their mobile handset, and may have used a web interface or their phone to provide demographic information and content choices. A media center interface, either automatically or under human control, associates a particular marketing message from a sponsor with the content information, and distributes the marketing message and information to the user's handset. Since the marketing message has been selected and adapted to the demographics and preferences of the user, it is likely that the user will positively respond to receiving the marketing message.
US08972278B2
Systems, methods, and computer-readable and executable instructions are provided for recommending print locations. Recommending print locations can include receiving recommendation, user, and geographic information for a first mobile print location (MPL) and a second MPL. Recommending print locations can also include indexing the recommendation, user, and geographic information for each of the first MPL and the second MPL as an automatically created uniform resource indicator (URI) on an MPL system. Furthermore, recommending print locations can include ranking the first MPL and the second MPL based on the recommendation, user, and geographic information and presenting a list, via a user interface, of the ranked first MPL and the second MPL.
US08972276B2
Methods and apparatuses enable generation of an executed workload electronic record. The executed workload record indicates data related to one or more performance metrics by which performance of a work task is evaluated. One such performance metric is an expected time for completion of the task. Performance of the task can be monitored to determine an actual completion time for the task to compare against an expected completion time. The executed workload record can be used for evaluation of workers. Executed workload records provide centralized, aggregatable information for evaluation purposes.
US08972271B2
A comprehensive platform for merchandising intellectual property (IP) and conducting IP transactions is disclosed. A standardized data collection method enables IP assets to be characterized, rated and valuated in a consistent manner. Project management, workflow and data security functionality enable consistent, efficient and secure interactions between the IP Marketplace participants throughout the IP transaction process. Business rules, workflows, valuation models and rating methods may be user defined or based upon marketplace, industry or technology standards.
US08972256B2
A speech processing method and arrangement are described. A dynamic noise adaptation (DNA) model characterizes a speech input reflecting effects of background noise. A null noise DNA model characterizes the speech input based on reflecting a null noise mismatch condition. A DNA interaction model performs Bayesian model selection and re-weighting of the DNA model and the null noise DNA model to realize a modified DNA model characterizing the speech input for automatic speech recognition and compensating for noise to a varying degree depending on relative probabilities of the DNA model and the null noise DNA model.
US08972252B2
A signal processing apparatus includes a speech recognition system and a voice activity detection unit. The voice activity detection unit is coupled to the speech recognition system, and arranged for detecting whether an audio signal is a voice signal and accordingly generating a voice activity detection result to the speech recognition system to control whether the speech recognition system should perform speech recognition upon the audio signal.
US08972251B2
An electronic device for generating a masking signal is described. The electronic device includes a plurality of microphones and a speaker. The electronic device also includes a processor and executable instructions stored in memory that is in electronic communication with the processor. The electronic device obtains a plurality of audio signals from the plurality of microphones. The electronic device also obtains an ambience signal based on the plurality of audio signals. The electronic device further determines an ambience feature based on the ambience signal. Additionally, the electronic device obtains a voice signal based on the plurality of audio signals. The electronic device also determines a voice feature based on the voice signal. The electronic device additionally generates a masking signal based on the voice feature and the ambience feature. The electronic device further outputs the masking signal using the speaker.
US08972250B2
The invention relates to audio signal processing. More specifically, the invention relates to enhancing multichannel audio, such as television audio, by applying a gain to the audio that has been smoothed between portions of the audio. The invention relates to methods, apparatus for performing such methods, and to software stored on a computer-readable medium for causing a computer to perform such methods.
US08972248B2
A band broadening apparatus includes a processor configured to analyze a fundamental frequency based on an input signal bandlimited to a first band, generate a signal that includes a second band different from the first band based on the input signal, control a frequency response of the second band based on the fundamental frequency, reflect the frequency response of the second band on the signal that includes the second band and generate a frequency-response-adjusted signal that includes the second band, and synthesize the input signal and the frequency-response-adjusted signal.
US08972247B2
A method for communication includes receiving modulated signals, which convey encoded speech. A measure of information entropy associated with the received signals is estimated. A speech encoding scheme is selected responsively to the estimated measure of the information entropy. A request to encode subsequent speech using the selected speech encoding scheme is sent to a transmitter.
US08972241B2
A system and method provide bidirectional context-based text disambiguation. In one implementation, a processor receives an input text comprising a set of string objects, which may include ambiguous objects such as incomplete or unrecognizable words of a selected language. The processor identifies a set of candidate word objects corresponding to at least a first one of the string objects and a second one of the string objects. Each candidate word object represents, for example, a complete or recognizable word of the selected language. The processor outputs a selected word object in place of a first one of the string objects, as a function of a contextual comparison between one or more candidate word objects corresponding to the first string object and one or more candidate word objects corresponding to the second string object.
US08972239B2
A syntax analysis information generation apparatus includes an information generation unit. The information generation unit extracts grammatical information corresponding to a word candidate for an analysis target from first syntax analysis information (for example, syntax analysis information for translation) that represents grammatical constraint conditions, and generates second syntax analysis information (for example, syntax analysis information for character recognition) that represents the grammatical constraint conditions corresponding to the word candidate based on the extracted grammatical information.
US08972232B2
A computer-implemented reservoir prediction system, method, and software are provided for updating simulation models of a subterranean reservoir. An ensemble of reservoir models representing a subterranean reservoir having non-Gaussian characteristics is provided, along with reservoir data from the subterranean reservoir used to condition the ensemble of reservoir models. For each of the reservoir models in the ensemble of reservoir models, a constrained optimization with equality constraints and inequality constraints are solved using a constrained Kernel Ensemble Kalman Filter to obtain a constrained optimal solution. The constrained optimal solutions are assembled to update the ensemble of reservoir models. The updated ensemble of reservoir models are consistent with the reservoir data provided from the subterranean reservoir and the non-Gaussian characteristics of the subterranean reservoir are preserved.
