US09022844B2

An air conditioning apparatus has, a first domed door comprising a first pivot and a first sealing surface, and a second domed door comprising a second pivot and a second sealing surface, wherein, said second pivot is positioned different from said second pivot. With the above structure, the radial gap between the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface is varied when at least one of the two domed doors is moved. Accordingly, the air conditioning apparatus described above does not have to set the constant small radial gap or constant wide radial gap for the sake of reducing unintentional air leaking or preventing said friction.
US09022843B2

An outflow valve (10) for an aircraft has a frame (12) for arrangement in an opening (14) of an outer shell (16) of the aircraft, a first flap (18) pivotably arranged in the frame (12) for controlling a flow cross-section of at least one first inflow opening (24) and at least one outflow opening (15). To achieve a simplified construction of the ventilation system of the aircraft, the outflow valve (10) has a second inflow opening (26) configured to be closable by means of a drivable adjustable member (28).
US09022839B2

A dart restoration tool includes a stator having a conical milling surface and a rotor mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the stator. The rotor includes a guide adapted to accept a tip end portion of a game dart such that the tip end portion engages the conical milling surface. Rotation of the rotor about the longitudinal axis produces an orbital motion of the game dart against the conical milling surface to sharpen the tip end portion of the game dart.
US09022838B2

A device for processing welding electrodes with a grinding surface driven by a driving motor with a shaft, which faces the motor and runs in a housing, wherein at least one opening is provided in the housing for guiding a welding electrode for grinding in a defined position relative to the grinding wheel. The housing is releasably fixed to a motor flange for bearing the shaft, and the grinding wheel is arranged on a side of the motor flange which is remote from the motor. The motor flange is formed by a sleeve, which is adapted to be stuck onto the housing in such a way, that at least one opening extends from the circumference of the housing towards the grinding surface facing the motor.
US09022834B2

The polishing solution for CMP according to the invention comprises abrasive grains, an additive and water, and the polishing solution comprises an organic compound satisfying specified conditions as the additive. The polishing method of the invention is for polishing of a substrate having a silicon oxide film on the surface, and the polishing method comprises a step of polishing the silicon oxide film with a polishing pad while supplying the polishing solution for CMP between the silicon oxide film and the polishing pad.
US09022831B2

A modular building set having a plurality of interlocking members comprising a plurality of planks and a plurality of posts. The planks each comprise a central plank member having two pairs of opposing recesses and four pairs of opposing parallel bars with two pairs of bars located equidistant one another on either the recesses. The posts each comprise a central post member with a pair of opposing central recesses depending from the upper and lower edges. The posts each have two pairs of opposing bar members with one set of bar members between the opposing central recesses and a first end a post, and another set of bar members between the opposing central recesses and a second end opposite said first end. The plank and/or post members interlockably engage one another by joining a recess of a first member with the recess of the second member.
US09022829B2

A toy construction kit has a plurality of magnetic modules, each with a housing having a plurality of sides, each side having an internal hollow. A magnet is contained within each of the hollows at a given polar orientation relative to the housing and the hollow. The hollow has dimensions that permit the magnet to move within the hollow, but substantially constrains the magnet to the given polar orientation relative to the housing. When a side of a module is placed near a side of another module, they are bound by magnetic attraction by the respective aligned magnets, either because the polar orientations are opposite when they are initially juxtaposed or due to shifting of one or both magnets in their respective hollows to achieve relative polar opposition.
US09022823B2

Exhaust gas from an engine passes through a lower unit, and passes through a propeller boss coupled to a propeller shaft to be discharged into water. A stopper is provided at a rear end portion of a gear case of the lower unit, and a bush is inserted into and attached to an inner surface of the stopper. An inside diameter of the bush is set to substantially the same diameter as an outside diameter of a front end portion of the propeller boss, and the bush and the propeller boss are disposed by being overlapped with each other in an axial direction.
US09022812B2

An electrical connector system having electrical contacts with reduced normal force is provided. The electrical contacts can define cantilevered beams of extended length, such that normal forces exerted by the electrical contacts on the electrical contacts of a complementary electrical connector are reduced. The beams of the electrical contacts can be coupled by a tie bar that can act to enhance the structural rigidity of the electrical contact.
US09022809B2

A card edge connector (100) for mounted on a PCB (200) includes a longitudinal insulative housing (1) and a plurality of contacts (2, 6) arranged two arrays opposite to each other in the width direction. Each of the contacts has a retaining portion (24, 64), a contacting portion extending from the retaining portion and a soldering tail (66) extending outwards for being soldered to the PCB (200). The retaining portion (24, 64) of each array contact are coplanar to each other and disposed at a vertical plane in the longitudinal direction, while the soldering tails (26, 66) of each array contact are arranged at least three tail lines (L1, L2, L3).
US09022808B2

An integrated radio frequency connector installed in a main board includes a built-in radio frequency part, a connecting element and conductive wire. The connecting element is installed and electrically coupled to the built-in radio frequency part, and the connecting element has a conductive terminal protruded from the built-in radio frequency part, and an end of the conductive wire is electrically coupled to the conductive terminal, and the other end of the conductive wire is electrically coupled to the main board to achieve a modular design, so as to facilitate the assembling procedure.
US09022803B2

The connector includes a pin contact, a housing, a sealing member, and a limitation member. The pin contact is rod-shaped and makes contact with a mating contact. The housing includes a through hole through which the pin contact extends from a top of the housing to a bottom of the housing, with parts of the pin contact protruding from both of the top of the housing and the bottom of the housing. The sealing member seals the space between through hole and the pin contact. The limitation member applies a reaction force against a force experienced by the pin contact through a contact of the mating contact, so as to limit inclination of the pin contact.
US09022796B2

The invention relates to an assembly of a plug connector and a circuit board (200; 500), the plug connector (100; 400; 800) being arranged on an edge of the circuit board (200; 500; 801), characterized by contact elements (110, 120; 410, 420, 430; 805) arranged in, below, and above the circuit board plane, wherein at least the contact elements (110, 120; 410, 420, 430; 805) arranged below and above the circuit board are bent on the side of the contact elements facing the circuit board (200; 500; 801) in such a way that the contact elements lead from both sides of the circuit board (200; 500; 801) into openings in the circuit board (200; 500; 801) adapted to the contact elements (110, 120; 410, 420, 430; 805) and can be soldered there.
US09022795B2

A connector arrangement for connecting the bare ends of a plurality of insulated conductors to a horizontal row of first contacts arranged on an electrical device, respectively, including a main housing having a side portion containing a chamber in which the electrical device is mounted, a connector housing pivotally connected with the main housing for pivotal movement about a vertical pivot axis between engaged and disengaged positions, the connector housing supporting a horizontal row of conductor contacts arranged to engage the first contacts when the contact housing is in the engaged position, and a manually-operable locking arrangement for locking the connector housing in the engaged position. The locking arrangement includes a locking projection fixed to the main housing, a catch member movably connected with the connector housing, and an actuating member for displacing the catch member between locked and unlocked positions relative to the locking projection.
US09022794B2

A waterproof shield connector includes an electric wire to which a terminal fitting is connected at an end portion of the electric wire, a resin housing, a rubber waterproof ring, and a shield shell. The resin housing has a terminal insertion hole that holds the electric wire and a rear opening through which the electric wire is inserted. The shield shell is integrally formed with a ring pressing part that closes the rear end opening to cover a rear end of a waterproof ring disposed in the terminal insertion hole and prevent the waterproof ring from a detachment. The shield shell is integrally formed with an electric wire pressing part that is fitted to an outer periphery of the electric wire inserted into the terminal insertion hole and restricts displacement of the electric wire in a radial direction of the electric wire.
US09022783B2

A surgical method and tool for expanding an initial osteotomy (42) to receive a dental implant (44). An osteotome (22) having a tapered working end (28) is inserted into the initial osteotomy (42). The initial osteotomy (42) is enlarged by simultaneously rotating and pushing the working end (28) of the tapered osteotome (22) into the osteotomy (42). One or more burnishing edges (40) concentrate the pushing and rotational force in outward normal and tangential component forces against the interior surface of the osteotomy (42) to incrementally expand the osteotomy (42) with little to no removal of bone material (46). The inserting and enlarging steps are repeated, as needed, with progressively larger tapered osteotomes (22) until an osteotomy (42) of predetermined size is achieved. Finally, a fixture portion of a dental implant (44) is installed into the expanded osteotomy (42).
US09022777B2

Disclosed herein is an injection molding apparatus. That apparatus includes an axially extending bar shaped support bar and an inner mold that has a plurality of internal parts surrounding the support bar and is axially divided into a plurality of parts in which one or more corresponding parts in the inner parts have an inner circumferential surface width the same or larger than an outer circumferential surface width. The apparatus further includes an outer mold that has a plurality of axially divided external parts surrounding the inner mold and has a space between the inner circumferential surface of the outer mold and the outer circumferential surface of the inner mold.
US09022773B2

A device and method for manufacturing integrated circuit packaging using a mold plunger with position compensation in a manufacturing setting. In an embodiment, a compensating mold plunger, which may be used during the manufacture of an integrated circuit package, engages a die set on a carrier and within a bushing. This may be done to inject a mold compound on top of the die/carrier. If the bushing that is housing the die/carrier tandem is misaligned with the plunger in any lateral direction, the amount of pressure may be compromised. A compensating mold plunger includes a flexible portion that allows for the head of the plunger to properly engage the die/carrier despite any possible misalignments. Further, different die/carrier combinations may also be used with a compensating mold plunger because the pressure and force applied may be uniform inside a bushing despite the contents of the bushing.
US09022770B2

Three-dimensional fabrication resources are improved by adding networking capabilities to three-dimensional printers and providing a variety of tools for networked use of three-dimensional printers. Web-based servers or the like can provide a single point of access for remote users to manage access to distributed content on one hand, and to manage use of distributed fabrication resources on the other.
US09022757B2

A compressor is provided that includes an accumulator formed in an internal space of a shell to reduce a size of the compressor. An accumulator space may be formed using the shell of the compressor, thereby simplifying an assembly process. A stationary shaft having a refrigerant suction passage may be directly connected to the accumulator to prevent leakage of refrigerant. A discharge passage may be formed in a rotating body to enhance a cooling effect of a drive motor, and an oil separating member may be installed in the discharge passage to prevent oil from being excessively leaked out. A center of gravity of the accumulator may correspond to a center of gravity of the compressor to reduce vibration noise of the compressor caused by the accumulator. An area for installing a compressor including the accumulator may be minimized to enhance design flexibility of an outdoor device.
US09022753B2

A fan (1) consisting of an electric external rotor motor (2) and of a fan wheel (4), the external rotor motor (2) consisting of a stator (6) encapsulated with an insulating material (14), and a rotor (8) carrying the fan wheel (4) enclosing the stator (6) in a pot-shaped manner. The rotor (8) having ventilation openings in a front wall (18). The stator (6) having projecting fins (24) on a front area (22) arranged and distributed over the circumference which is opposite the ventilation openings (20). A gap (34) between a circumferential rim (36) of the rotor (18) opposite the front wall (18) and a stator carrier (38) forms a passage for a cooling air current flowing around the stator (6) during operation. During operation, the cooling air is swirled intensively between the ventilation openings (20) and the projecting fins (24) for cooling the motor.
US09022750B2

A multichamber pressure-increasing device is comprised of a plurality of chambers disposed in series one inside the other, wherein the innermost chamber is configured so as to place objects or samples therein to subject them to ultra-high pressures. An external hydraulic pump pumps fluid into the outermost chamber while a plurality of elemental hydraulic motor pump systems (EHMPS) are mounted in each chamber for increasing the pressure from one chamber to the next one disposed more to the interior of the device through an iterative process, each EHMPS consisting of two cylinder-piston assemblies operatively joined together in such a way that both pistons extend or retract simultaneously within their respective cylinders, the motor part driving the pump part as pressurized fluid admitted into the motor cylinder is subsequently discharged so fluid admitted into the pumping part cylinder is compressed therein and impelled at a higher pressure into the succeeding chamber.
US09022748B2

A screw compressor including a driving machine having an output shaft coupled to an input shaft of a compressor main body; a clutch mechanism between the output shaft of the driving machine and the input shaft of the compressor main body; a pressure sensor installed in a discharge channel; and a controller that controls the switching of the clutch mechanism between an engaged state and a disengaged state based on a discharge pressure value detected by the pressure sensor is disclosed. When the discharge pressure value becomes higher than an unload set value that is predetermined, the controller controls the clutch mechanism to be switched to the disengaged state. According to the above screw compressor, power losses are reduced even when the supply of compressed gas is hardly required.
US09022745B2

The present invention provides a composite material panel structure and a manufacturing method thereof with which an anti-lightning function can be realized without adding a separate anti-lightning structure to the composite material panel structure. In a composite material panel structure formed from a composite material panel containing reinforcing fibers, the composite material panel includes: a fiber-reinforced base material impregnated with a matrix resin; a conductive mesh sheet disposed on one surface side of the fiber-reinforced base material; and a bag film disposed on the one surface side of the fiber-reinforced base material so as to sandwich the conductive mesh sheet. The conductive mesh sheets of a plurality of the composite material panels are electrically connected to each other.
US09022742B2

The disclosed fluid elements include radial blades extending to trailing edges and that are integral with front and rear shrouds to provide a fluid exit. Fillets adjoin the trailing edge and the front and rear shrouds at the exit. The front and rear shrouds respectively have first and second perimeter thicknesses at the impeller outer perimeter. The first perimeter thickness is greater than the second perimeter thickness at the trailing edge and adjacent to the exit, which provides greater high cycle fatigue in the area of the fillets.
US09022739B2

A more efficient and simple wind turbine generator with a lifting device and method of using the lifting device is disclosed. A wind turbine generator comprises a tower, a nacelle supported by the tower, the nacelle comprising a foundation supporting components of the nacelle, a yawing system comprising a yaw bearing enabling rotation of the nacelle relative to the tower, a lifting device internally in the wind turbine generator and capable of moving an item, a support supporting the lifting device, and wherein the lifting device is moveable in a horizontal direction from a first position to a second position, and at least one of the positions is, in a vertical direction, between a lowermost level of the foundation, such as just above the yaw bearing, and an uppermost level of the tower, such as just below the yaw bearing.
US09022736B2

A continuous serpentine cooling circuit forming a progression of radial passages (44, 45, 46, 47A, 48A) between pressure and suction side walls (52, 54) in a MID region of a turbine airfoil (24). The circuit progresses first axially, then tangentially, ending in a last radial passage (48A) adjacent to the suction side (54) and not adjacent to the pressure side (52). The passages of the axial progression (44, 45, 46) may be adjacent to both the pressure and suction side walls of the airfoil. The next to last radial passage (47A) may be adjacent to the pressure side wall and not adjacent to the suction side wall. The last two radial passages (47A, 48A) may be longer along the pressure and suction side walls respectively than they are in a width direction, providing increased direct cooling surface area on the interiors of these hot walls.
US09022732B2

A centrifugal pump is provided capable of pumping liquid volume flow rates of at least 20 m3/sec. The pump includes a centrifugal impeller rotatable about an axis and operable to direct a liquid towards a concrete volute arranged around the impeller. The pump further includes fixed fin-like elements arranged between the impeller and the volute. The elements form a discontinuous barrier around the impeller and are effective to reduce uneven radial thrusts exerted by the water on the centrifugal impeller, while limiting the water flow rate in a simple and economic manner.
US09022724B2

An anti-vibration serial fan structure includes a first frame having a first assembling side and a second frame having a second assembling for connecting to the first assembling side. The first assembling side is provided with at least one mounting post or mounting hole and at least one male or female connector. The second assembling side is correspondingly provided with at least one mounting hole or mounting post and at least one female or male connector. The male connector has a certain degree of elasticity, so that the engaged male and female connectors provide a vibration-absorbing effect to save additional cushioning elements, enabling the serial fan structure to have lowered assembling cost and minimized defects in assembling.
US09022710B2

Provided is a nut into which a bolt (10) including a male-threaded portion with a male-threaded external diameter d and a male-threaded core diameter d1 is screwed, wherein a bolt insertion side end of a female-threaded portion (21) formed in a nut body (20) is provided with an incompletely threaded female portion (22) that is formed by one to three pitches so that an internal diameter dimension D is larger than (d+d1)/2 and is smaller than the male-threaded external diameter d. Accordingly, even when the bolt is screwed into the nut in the inclination direction, the bolt may be rotated about a contact surface with respect to the incompletely threaded female portion (22), and hence seizing may be prevented.
US09022703B2

The present invention relates to a hole-saw assembly includes a hole-saw having at one end a plurality of cutting teeth and with a boss attached to the hole-saw at the other end two shafts. The assembly includes a mandrel coaxially aligned with said hole-saw and including a body having two bores there through coaxially aligned with said shafts. An annulus located on top of the body is coaxially aligned with said mandrel and hole saw and includes two holes, the annulus rotatable around its longitudinal axis from a first to a second position. In the first position the annulus holes are aligned with the bores and shafts allowing the shafts to be freely insertable and removable and in the second position the holes are misaligned to lock the shafts to the annulus. The mandrel further includes a pair of driving pins adapted to engage driving apertures found in hole-saws especially larger ones. Typically the driving pins may be biased to enable the assembly to be used even with those hole-saws that do not include driving apertures and that also enables easier assembly of the device. A compressible O-ring may further facilitate the operation of the assembly. This device avoids the problem of thread stripping. The invention further provides for a boss that can be used with larger hole-saws and includes notches that accommodate driving pains extending on the side of the boss and where appropriate into the driving apertures.
US09022701B2

Device for cooling a rotating tool mounted on a machine, including elements for generating a continually renewed first flow of air, external to the tool and around the tool, at a high flow rate, produced via a Coanda-effect flow amplifier device realized in a housing fixed on the machine around the tool holder connected to a source of pressurized air.
US09022692B2

A system and method for underwater compressed fluid energy storage include a compressed fluid storage system that comprises a fluid containment vessel positioned on a floor of a body of water, wherein the fluid containment vessel comprises sediment positioned therein to ballast the vessel on the floor.
US09022674B2

A tape feeding apparatus has a feeding roller that feeds a tape and a roller accommodation section that has a cylindrical accommodation section inner surface along with a roller outer circumferential surface of the feeding roller, accommodates the feeding roller having a gap with the roller outer circumferential surface, and has a roller opening aperture through which the accommodated feeding roller faces the tape. The feeding roller is rotatably supported at one end section side in a cantilever state and is opened at the other section side.
US09022673B2

A device support and trigger apparatus includes a handle, a frame member attached to the handle, a cage member, and a triggering assembly including a trigger section and an actuation section. The cage member rigidly or pivotally connected to the frame member accommodates a device. The cage member can be rigidly positioned in an upright position or can be pivotally rotated to position the device in an upright position or an inverted position. The trigger section is pulled using one hand to allow the actuation section to contact and actuate an activation button of the device positioned in the upright position in front of the handle. A push rod assembly of the device support and trigger apparatus is pushed using one hand to push the trigger section to allow the actuation section to contact and actuate the activation button of the device positioned in the inverted position above the handle.
US09022671B2

A fiber optic connector fiber stub remover and method for automated fiber stub removal. The device has a top plate with a platen opening, and a platen with a well that carries a polishing film over the well. An air pocket is formed between the polishing film and the well. The platen is positioned with a top surface of the polishing film accessible via the platen opening. A fixture holds connector ends of fiber optic cables with fiber stubs extending therefrom, and a weight biases the fiber stubs into contact with the polishing film. A motor is controlled by a motor control unit to control a ramp up time and final speed of movement of the platen over a timespan. Each connector ends moves independently relative to the polishing film. The air pocket provides shock absorption of the polishing film so that an ideal pressure is exerted on each fiber stub during stub removal.
US09022657B2

Embodiments of the invention are directed to bearing assemblies configured to effectively provide heat distribution from and/or heat dissipation for bearing element, bearing apparatuses including such bearing assemblies, and methods of operating such bearing assemblies and apparatuses. In an embodiment, a bearing assembly includes a plurality of superhard bearing elements distributed about an axis. Each superhard bearing element of the plurality of superhard bearing elements has a superhard material including a superhard surface. Additionally, a support ring structure that includes a support ring that supports the plurality of superhard bearing elements and a thermally-conductive structure in thermal communication with the superhard table of each of the plurality of superhard bearing elements. The thermally-conductive structure has a higher thermal conductivity than the support ring of the support ring structure.
US09022653B2

The present invention refers to a flexible multiple chamber bag comprising: a) three adjacent chambers, a first chamber partially separating a second upper chamber from a third lower chamber by first and second welded seams, b) said second chamber and said third chamber being partially connected by a third welded seam, c) said first welded seam being non-peelable and said second and third welded seams being peelable said second and third welded seams having the shape of an inverse letter “V” each second and third welded seam starting at the basic point of said “V” and terminating essentially in a right angle at the circumference weld of said bag, said bag comprising a hanger flap extending from the top end of said bag and a medical port welded to the lower end of said circumferential weld.
US09022652B2

The present invention relates to a test chamber that can be used to perform a variety of X-ray and neutron spectroscopy experiments including powder diffraction, small-angle scattering, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and pair distribution functions, such chamber comprising a first electrode with an X-ray transparent window; a second electrode with an X-ray transparent window; a plurality of insulating gaskets providing a hermetic seal around the sample and preventing contact between said first and second electrodes; and an insulating housing into which the first electrode is secured.
US09022640B2

This invention is directed to a stirring apparatus comprising: a plurality of blades having between a 5° to 180° twist along the length of their axis attached perpendicularly to a shaft so that a downward fluid flow is created when the shaft is rotated by a rotary drive; and, a plurality of standards attached to the plurality of blades separating the plurality of blades and arranged parallel to the shaft and rotated between 0° and 25° relative to a plane defined by the blades and the standards so that an inward fluid flow is created when the shaft is rotated and a bottom blade connected to the standards.
US09022619B2

An optical construction comprises an optically transmissive first layer having a first and second major surfaces, and an optically transmissive second layer adjacent the first major surface and defining an interface. The optically transmissive second layer comprises a binder and optical beads. The binder comprises from 55 to 99.9 percent by weight of polyethylene oxide segments. A weight ratio of the binder to the optical beads is in a range of from 44:56 to 50:50. A light source is disposed in a fixed orientation relative to the optically transmissive second layer. Methods of making optical constructions, and electronic devices containing them, are also disclosed.
US09022616B2

The disclosure relates to a lighting fixture having a base, a solid-state light source, and a lens assembly. The optic has a body with a cavity and a proximal opening. The lens assembly is coupled to the base at the proximal opening. The solid-state light source is mounted to the base and is configured to direct light into the cavity via the proximal opening. At least a portion of an interior surface of the body includes a number of elongated prisms. At least a portion of the exterior surface of the body includes a number of diffusers.
US09022610B2

The present invention is a lighting apparatus with adjustable light beam which includes an outer reflector, an inner optical element, a light source assembly, and a transparent mounting member. The light source assembly is movable between an upper position in which the light source is positioned close to the inner optical element lower end so that a majority of light from the light source exits the lighting apparatus directly via the inner optical element to attain a wide floodlight and a lower position in which the light source is positioned close to the outer reflector lower end so that in comparison with the upper position, a decreasing amount of light exits the lighting apparatus directly via the inner optical element, and an increasing amount of light exits the lighting apparatus via reflection from the outer reflector to attain a narrow beam.
US09022598B2

One embodiment of the invention is directed to a light mixing illuminator for illuminating an object, comprising an array of light emitting elements wherein at least some of the elements emit light of different wavelengths. An optical device is employed that focuses the light from the elements to a Fourier plane of the device, wherein the light emitting elements are arranged so that at least the zero spatial frequency components of light of the different wavelengths from the elements substantially overlap in a region at the Fourier plane. An objective is used to project the region onto the object. A mask is used that selectively blocks some of spatial frequency components of light from the elements without blocking the zero spatial frequency components of light from reaching the object.
US09022596B2

A lighting arrangement is provided on each corner of the housing of a ventilation arrangement. Each lighting arrangement comprises a profiled rod of acrylic material with a plurality of LED's shining downwardly into an upper end of the rod, with light being reflected outwardly, and particularly by bubbles within the rod. A reflective plate is provided at a lower end of the rod to reflect light back up the rod.
US09022588B2

A mirror surface angle adjusting device includes: a pivot plate (10) which supports a mirror (6) and is attached to a holder (9) pivotably three-dimensionally on a pivot shaft (76); a bracket (8) disposed on a vehicle body; a mirror tilting drive section (11) contained between the bracket (8) and the holder (9) attached to the bracket (8); an operation shaft (44A, 44B) of the mirror tilting drive section (11), the operation shaft penetrating through the holder (9) and being connected to the pivot plate (10); a detection rod (101A, 101B) which moves following the pivot plate (10); an angle detection section (100) which detects a tilt angle of the pivot plate (10); a pivot depressed portion (80) into which the pivot shaft can be press-fitted; and a gear positioning rib (69) provided on an inner wall of the holder (9) to position the mirror tilting drive section (42).
US09022585B2

The disclosure includes producing a plastic lens with an antireflection film at a lower cost. The plastic lens is configured to include a plastic base material; and an antireflection film having an electrically conductive layer that is formed in contact with a surface of the plastic base material and that has colorless transparency, and an antireflection film main body that contains a metal oxide, formed on the electrically conductive layer.
US09022582B2

Embodiments relate generally to computer-based image processing, and more particularly, to systems, computer-readable media, methods, integrated circuits, and apparatuses to facilitate operation of a projection system with relatively high dynamic range output by, among other things, providing subsets of light patterns along an optical path during respective first and second temporal fields associated with respective first and second illuminants. The projection system can synthesize color for projectable images by combining or otherwise using the subsets of light patterns with an array of color elements to produce projectable images with color in at least the visible spectrum.
US09022571B2

An optical device includes: a light transmissive first substrate; a light transmissive second substrate; a polarizing layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; a first bonding layer which bonds the first substrate to the polarizing layer; and a second bonding layer which bonds the second substrate to the polarizing layer, wherein the first bonding layer is an adhesive layer, and the second bonding layer contains a structure of siloxane (Si—O) and a leaving group. By forming the first bonding layer of an adhesive layer, a necessary strength can be ensured, and also the optical properties can be enhanced by absorbing the irregularities of the polarizing layer formed of a synthetic resin so as to prevent the contamination with air bubbles. Since the time of exposure of the polarizing layer to heat generated by a plasma can be decreased, the polarizing layer is not deteriorated.
US09022564B2

The present application relates to a display apparatus comprising: a display portion which displays a first image and a second image different from the first image to create a stereoscopic image; a separator which separates the first and second images from each other; and an adjuster which adjusts a shape of the separator. The separator includes a barrier portion which blocks image light emitted from the display portion. The barrier portion includes a contour portion which defines a shape of at least one opening that allows transmission of the image light. The contour portion includes a first contour and a second contour facing the first contour. The first and second contours define a continuous opening region inclined at a predetermined angle from a vertical line. At least one of the first and second contours forms protrusions which periodically protrude toward the opening region. Shapes of the protrusions are heterogeneous.
US09022560B2

A method for producing a series of base lenses, which cover a predetermined power range, wherein each base lens of the series has a base power different from the base powers of the other base lenses of the series, and has at least one diffractive base grating, the method comprising: specifying the base powers of each base lens of the series and calculating the base grating of each base lens of the series so as to minimize the color fringe of the respective base lens with the specified base power in a predetermined region of the spectacle lens.
US09022552B2

A liquid ejecting apparatus, comprising: a liquid ejecting unit which ejects a liquid onto a medium that is transported in a transport direction; a suction mechanism for sucking the medium; a medium supporting portion in which two or more suction pores for applying a suction force of the suction mechanism to the medium are provided so as to be lined up in a width direction; and a supporting member which is configured separately from the medium supporting portion, which includes rib forming portions which form ribs that can support the medium, and which is disposed on the medium supporting portion such that the rib forming portions extend in the transport direction between two of the suction pores which are lined up in the width direction.
US09022551B2

A transportation device includes a transportation unit that transports a transportation target material, a supporting surface that supports the transported transportation target material, a first suction hole that opens in the supporting surface in order to suck the transportation target material which is supported by the supporting surface, a light transmission portion that is exposed in the supporting surface and through which light is permitted to pass, a detector that has a light irradiator capable of irradiating the transportation target material which is supported by the supporting surface with light through the light transmission portion and detects a transportation amount of the transportation target material based on reflected light of the light with which the light irradiator has irradiated the transportation target material, and a second suction hole that opens in the supporting surface at least one of the positions adjacent to the light transmission portion.
US09022548B2

An inkjet printer and method therefore including a detector to monitor a quantity of release agent applied to a spreader drum. The inkjet printer includes a drum maintenance unit which applies the release agent to the spreader drum with a metering device, such as a metering blade, and determines a flow rate of unused or excess release agent returned to a release agent sump. The determined flow rate of release agent provides a determination of the quantity of release agent applied to the spreader drum. Upon the determination that too little release agent has been applied, at least one function of the inkjet printer is disabled to stop the flow of release agent and to facilitate maintenance if necessary.
US09022543B2

A print method, print apparatus and printed medium include forming a black portion of an image from two inks. The first ink (62) includes first carbon black pigment units (66) and a first binder (68). The first carbon black pigment units (66) have a median dibutylphthalate absortion (DBP) of at least 95 cc/100 g. The first ink (62) has a first ratio of the first carbon black pigment units to the first binder. The second ink (64) includes second carbon black pigment units and a second binder. The second ink has a second ratio of the second carbon black pigment units to the second binder less than the first ratio. The first ink and the second ink together have a median total weight per unit area of at least 70 percent of an absorptive capacity of the print medium and overlap one another, wherein the second ink is at least 54 percent of the total weight per unit area.
US09022541B2

A printing apparatus includes an ink container tray which is capable of holding an ink container, a guide portion which guides the ink container tray in a movable manner between an ink container mounting position when mounting the ink container onto the ink container tray and an ink supply position, and a locking mechanism which, when moving the ink container tray, which is positioned further at the ink container mounting position side than a predetermined position between the ink supply position and the ink container mounting position, further to the ink supply position side than the predetermined position, stops the ink container tray from moving further to the ink supply position side than the predetermined position.
US09022540B2

A cartridge configured to be mounted to a liquid ejection apparatus that has an electrical connection portion and an engagement portion, and having an engaging portion for engaging the engagement portion and a plurality of electrodes for connecting to the connection portion. The electrodes have contact portions for contacting the connection portion, with a first group of a plurality of the contact portions constituting a first array whose contact portions are aligned in an X-axis direction intersecting a mounting direction of the cartridge, and a second group of the plurality of the contact portions constituting a second array whose contact portions are aligned in the X-axis direction. The first and second arrays are aligned in a direction intersecting the X-axis direction, and the engaging portion and an area between the first array and the second array are aligned in the X-axis direction.
US09022537B2

A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a liquid ejecting head that ejects liquid which is supplied from two or more liquid housing portions that house liquid; two or more housing portion side flow paths which are provided to correspond with each of the liquid housing portions and which supply liquid from an upstream side that is a side of the liquid housing portions to a downstream side; and a flow mechanism which is capable of causing liquid to flow in the housing portion flow paths, and the flow mechanism causes liquid to flow in a housing portion side flow path corresponding with a liquid housing portion that does not supply liquid for a predetermined time set in advance among the housing portion side flow paths.
US09022523B2

Among a plurality of recording heads in a non-recording area, a leading end of a second recording head closer to a recording area is situated further forward than the that of another recording head, and a second cover which is provided in a position close to the leading end of the second recording head houses a second cleaning unit which is in contact with the second recording head.
US09022521B2

Disclosed is a droplet discharge head including a nozzle substrate including a nozzle, an individual liquid chamber substrate including an individual liquid chamber, and a common liquid chamber substrate including a common liquid chamber, wherein the substrates are laminated, wherein a portion of a top surface of the common liquid chamber is flexible, wherein the top surface of the common liquid chamber is disposed at a side opposite to another side at which the nozzle plate is disposed, wherein the common liquid chamber has a shape such that one portion of the common liquid chamber is narrowed in a direction in which the substrates are laminated, wherein a height of a wall of the common liquid chamber in the direction in which the substrates are laminated is constant, and wherein the wall is substantially perpendicular to the top surface.
US09022518B2

There is provided a recording apparatus including a support stage which supports a recording medium, a recording processing section which includes a recording unit for performing recording on the supported recording medium and is bridged so as to cross over the support stage in an X-axis direction, a Y-axis moving section which moves the recording processing section in a Y-axis direction with respect to the support stage, and a collision detection section which detects collision between a foreign matter and the recording processing section, in which the recording processing section includes projecting sections projecting in the X-axis direction with respect to the support stage, and side collision detection sections are respectively arranged on front and rear sides of the respective projecting sections.
US09022516B2

A fluid ejecting apparatus includes a pair of guide rails that movably supports a carriage and an abnormal portion detecting sensor that has a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion for receiving a light beam emitted from the light emitting portion, in which the light emitting portion and the light receiving portion are mounted on the carriage via a sensor mounting member.
US09022496B2

An appliance is provided having one or more racks or shelves, the position of which may be adjusted vertically. Multiple different positions along the vertical direction can be made available for selection by a user of the appliance. One or more mechanisms allow for the selective adjustment and securing of the vertical position at which a shelf may be located.
US09022494B2

A bottom mount refrigerator is provided with refrigerator components housed in a space adjacent the top of the fresh food compartment between a false ceiling and the top wall of the compartment. The top wall includes a stepped portion formed in the liner forming the compartment. The stepped portion is positioned near the top and front of the compartment, and it includes a section that is lower than the remainder of the top wall. The stepped portion includes a rear facing face in the interior of the compartment, and the false ceiling is positioned between the rear facing face and the back wall. The ceiling extends horizontal from the rear wall before angling upward to abut the face of the stepped portion. The false ceiling may also contain apertures to provide access to the components housed between the ceiling and the top wall.
US09022492B2

An anesthesia workstation includes a sliding track system attached to the front of the anesthesia workstation for the mounting of one or more displays. The displays are horizontally slidable along the front of the anesthesia workstation along the sliding track. In addition, the sliding track system includes pivot points which enable outward pivoting of the displays up to 90 degrees. Sliding and pivoting of the displays is possible both independently and simultaneously. The sliding track system allows the anesthetist to slide and pivot the displays across the front of the workstation along the length of the track to the most preferable viewing position. Additional storage space is positioned within the anesthesia workstation behind the displays and becomes exposed and accessible when the displays are manipulated via the sliding track system.
US09022491B2

A table top dishwasher comprises (a) a tub (10) for accommodating articles to be cleaned; (b) a water-tight hood (12) arranged over said tub (10), said hood comprising a fixed hood portion (14), an access opening (42), and a rotatable door (16) which is connected to the fixed hood portion so as to be rotatable between a raised opened position in which it exposes the access opening to provide access to the tub and a lowered closed position in which it closes the access opening and forms part of the water-tight hood; and (c) a gasket (44) which is attached to the fixed hood portion (14) or to the rotatable door (16) along an edge region of the access opening, wherein the fixed hood portion (14)or the rotatable door (16), respectively, comprises a plurality of mounting projections (46), and wherein the gasket comprises a plurality of apertures (54) in which the mounting projections are held by snap-fit connection.
US09022487B2

A system and method for brake assisted turning are provided. One system includes a pedal operated braking system configured to apply hydraulic brake pressure to brakes of a vehicle when one or more brake pedals are pressed. The system also includes a steer assist braking system configured to apply hydraulic brake pressure to the brakes of the vehicle based at least partly on a steering angle. The system includes hydraulic shut-off circuitry configured to selectively enable and disable operation of the steer assist braking system.
US09022482B2

An engagement protrusion (20) extending in the front/back direction of a frame body (13) is provided on one of the opposing surfaces of a notch (16) in the frame body (13) and a fitting member (17) opposite said notch; similarly, an engagement recess (13h) in which the engagement protrusion (20) fits is provided on the other of said surfaces. By means of the moment of the fitting member (17) resulting from the tension of a tension member (14), the engagement protrusion (20) and the engagement recess (13h) are prevented from separating.
US09022480B2

A no-tools chair and chair arm assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes an armrest support configured and arranged to connect to a seat of a chair. The armrest support has mating formations thereon. A backrest support is configured and arranged to connect to a backrest of a chair. The backrest support is pivotally connected to the armrest support. A chair arm has an armrest portion and support member depends from the armrest portion. A connector extends from the support member and has reciprocal mating formations thereon configured and arranged to interlock with the mating formations on the armrest support. The chair arm locks the backrest support in position when coupled to the armrest portion.
US09022475B2

A vehicle seat includes a seat bottom and a seat back extending upwardly from the seat bottom. The seat back includes a backrest and a headrest.
US09022474B2

A seating unit that includes an adjustable foundation, a torque-inducing mechanism, and a base structure for interconnecting a backrest and a seat is provided. The adjustable foundation provides adjustable support for, and is controlled by, an occupant of the seating unit. The adjustable foundation includes extensible supports that each have a first and second end, and a frame assembly. The frame assembly includes a stationary member that is fixedly attached to the first ends and a drive bar that is configured to secure the second ends of the extensible supports such that longitudinal tension is generated upon rotating the drive bar with respect to the stationary member. The torque-inducing mechanism adjusts an angular position of the drive bar. In this capacity, the drive bar is configured to convert torque applied by the torque-inducing mechanism into a directional force that controls the longitudinal tension of the extensible supports.
US09022472B2

A child safety seat includes a seat shell including a backrest that has a lengthwise axis, a headrest assembled with the seat shell and movable along the lengthwise axis of the backrest, and a headrest adjustment mechanism. The headrest adjustment mechanism includes two tube segments affixed with the backrest, a mount frame affixed with the headrest, two latches and a driving part. The mount frame is movable with the headrest along the tube segments. The two latches are assembled with the mount frame, wherein the latches are operable to move transversally relative to the headrest to respectively engage with the two tube segments to lock the headrest in position, and to respectively disengage from the tube segments to allow adjustment of the headrest. The driving part is connected with the two latches, and is movable along the lengthwise axis to cause the latches to respectively disengage from the tube segments.
US09022464B2

A heatable seat includes a back and a bottom. At least one of the back and the bottom includes a heating pad. The heating pad includes a heating element, a number of first electrodes and a number of second electrodes. The heating element includes a flexible substrate and a carbon nanotube layer fixed on the flexible substrate. The heating element has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The first end is cut into a number of first strip structures. The second end is cut into a number of second strip structures. Each of the first electrodes clamps one of the first strip structures and is electrically connected with the first strip structure. Each of the second electrodes clamps one of the second strip structures and is electrically connected with the second strip structure.
US09022461B2

A high stiffness waterproof roof panel pad for a vehicle, which is configured by stacking and laminating a waterproof reinforcing layer coated with PE layers on both surfaces of a urethane foam pad, thereby reinforcing the stiffness of a vehicle body panel, preventing the pad from becoming wet due to dew condensation and thus increasing noise and vibration reduction effects and having a waterproof function. Additionally, a method of manufacturing the waterproof roof panel pad includes preparing a hard urethane foam pad, preparing a waterproof reinforcing layer of which both surfaces are coated with PE layers, stacking the waterproof reinforcing layer on both surfaces of the urethane foam pad, laminating the PE layer in contact with the urethane foam pad and integrally forming the urethane foam pad and the waterproof reinforcing layer, and performing a cutting operation according to a shape and a size of a roof panel.
US09022459B2

An assembly for attaching a steering column for a motor vehicle that is to be attached to a cross-member of a firewall and to a bottom cross-member of a window opening. The assembly includes a support member that extends substantially vertically, which is to be attached to the firewall cross-member and to the bottom cross-member of the window opening, and which supports a mechanism for attaching a plate of the steering column.
US09022455B2

A vehicle slide door for covering an opening in a vehicle body includes a door trim panel having a slot extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. A linkage arm operably connects the vehicle door to the vehicle body. The linkage arm slides within the slot of the door trim panel as the vehicle door is moved between a closed position and an opened position. A garnish panel is separate from the door trim panel and is engaged with the linkage arm. The garnish panel at least partially covers a section of the slot of the door trim panel in the closed position of the vehicle door. The garnish panel has a portion movable relative to the door trim panel in a lateral direction of the vehicle body due to an obstruction between the door trim panel and the garnish panel.
US09022452B2

A hinge assembly for a storage compartment includes a first component and a second component coupled to the first component. The second component is movable between a first position and a second position relative to the first component. A damper device includes a housing assembly supported by the first component and a finger attached to the second component such that the finger is movable with the second component between the first and second positions. The finger and the housing assembly are spaced from each other when the second component is in the first position, and the finger slidingly engages the housing assembly as the second component moves to the second position such that frictional engagement between the finger and the housing assembly dampens movement of the second component relative to the first component.
US09022449B2

A straddle-type vehicle seat includes: a saddle-type seat main body which is provided above a vehicle body in one of a three-wheel straddle-type vehicle and a four-wheel straddle-type vehicle and which is straddled by a driver; and an angle adjustment mechanism which adjusts an angle of the saddle-type seat main body with respect to the vehicle body in accordance with a signal from a detection unit that detects a traveling state of the straddle-type vehicle when the straddle-type vehicle is turning.
US09022446B2

A trim or weatherstrip assembly secured to an associated vehicle. The assembly includes a cover portion that overlies an associated vehicle adjacent an edge. A connection member is defined on the cover portion. A fastener portion includes a detent connection member having first and second portions for operatively and alternatively engaging the connection member in a shipping, first position and in an installed, second position.
US09022434B2

A latch selectively secures a compute node enclosure into a chassis bay. The latch comprises a frame securable to a proximal end of the compute node enclosure. A handle is pivotally secured to the frame intermediate a proximal end of the handle and a distal end of the handle so that the handle can be pivoted between a closed position and an open position. A proximal end of a pawl is pivotally coupled at to the distal end of the handle, wherein the pawl includes a landing at a distal end of the pawl and a latch key intermediate proximal and distal ends of the pawl. Movement of the handle positions the pawl into engagement with a slot in chassis bay to assist installation and removal of the compute node enclosure.
US09022427B2

A steering shaft bearing unit for rotatably mounting a steering shaft of a steering column for a motor vehicle includes an outer metal sheet having at least one circumferentially closed region for accommodating at least one bearing for rotatably mounting the steering shaft, and at least one securing region for securing the steering shaft bearing unit to a console part of the steering column. In the securing region, the outer metal sheet has an opening delimited by at least two opposite securing flanges which project freely from the outer metal sheet and which are part thereof.
US09022421B2

An inflatable restraint assembly includes a vehicle pillar and a pillar trim component that is attached to the vehicle pillar, with the pillar trim component having an upper end. A curtain airbag module having an inflatable curtain portion is disposed in a stowed configuration prior to deployment and moves to a deployed configuration subsequent to deployment. A guide ramp is disposed between the inflatable curtain portion of the curtain airbag module and the upper end of the pillar trim component. A headliner having an outboard portion is sandwiched between the guide ramp and the upper end of the pillar trim component prior to deployment of the inflatable curtain portion of the curtain airbag module. The outboard portion of the headliner defines a reduced thickness section.
US09022420B1

An curtain side airbag apparatus includes an airbag and an inflator. The airbag is stored in a housing adjacent to a side structure of a vehicle. The airbag includes a main body and an additional cushion portion. The housing includes an opening flange. The inflator provides a gas into the airbag for inflating the airbag. Upon deployment of the airbag, the main body of the airbag projects substantially downwardly from the housing and the additional cushion portion of the airbag projects substantially upwardly into the opening flange of the housing.
US09022418B2

The present invention relates to an interior trim component for a motor vehicle, in particular a dashboard, adapted for covering an airbag. The trim component is adapted to break along a main weakening line during deployment of the airbag, said trim component comprising an inside area relative to the main weakening line which defines a flap intended to extend over the airbag. The trim component comprises a notched element comprising a plurality of disjoint notches following one another along the main weakening line and having a generally concave shape relative to the inside area.
US09022414B2

A portable, collapsible vending cart which can be used to vend disparate items in a variety of environments. The cart is adaptable to accommodate vendors of a wide variety of products, and provides an apparatus which is in compliance with most state regulations for vending carts. The cart is adapted to fit within the “security space” of a storefront, the space between a pull down security gate and the display window/entry point of the storefront. A locking mechanism extending from the vending cart is designed for secure locking engagement within the security space using infrastructure associated with the standard security gate.
US09022411B2

The present disclosure relates to a single piece base portion (10) for a locking mechanism (30) for a ski binding (1), in particular a cross country or touring ski binding. The base portion (10) comprising: a planar resting portion (11); one or more, preferably two, support sections (12) extending out of the plane of the planar resting portion (11). In particular, each of the support sections (12) comprises an axle pin hole (13) for receiving an axle (21) of a part associated with the locking mechanism (30). Further, the lowest section (14) of the axle pin hole (13) is aligned with the upper surface (15) of the planar resting portion (11).
US09022401B1

A vehicle wheel suspension system that achieves increased width in the passenger and/or luggage compartment is provided. The suspension system utilizes a (i) a wheel support member that is positioned between the inner and outer tire planes; (ii) a plurality of linkage arms rotatably coupled to the wheel support member; (iii) a nonlinearly-shaped damper-spring support member that is attached to either an upper or lower linkage arm, where the support member includes a damper-spring mounting platform that is positioned above, and at least partially overlaps, the tire; and (iv) a damper-spring assembly mounted to the damper-spring mounting platform and coupled to a vehicle body structure.
US09022400B2

A wheelchair including a chassis, two front suspension arms connected by a pivot link to the chassis and by a pivot link to a support assembly of a front wheel, two rear suspension arms connected by a pivot link to the chassis and by a pivot link to a support assembly of a rear wheel, and connecting means arranged to connect one of the front suspension arms to one of the rear suspension arms and to convert each rotational movement of the front suspension arm with respect to the chassis into a reverse rotational movement with respect to the chassis of the rear suspension arm to which it is connected by the connecting means, and vice versa.
US09022396B2

A radiographic grid cabinet for holding x-ray grids and/or cassettes that can have a vertical structure attached to a flat base with wheels that engage when the device is tilted backward like a handcart so that the cabinet can be easily transported from place to place. Wheels can fold out when needed. The device also can have a support plate that can move vertically on a set of rails or other structure attached to the cart. A thumb controlled pin on a clamp or other locking device can select one of a number of holes in the rails to lock the cabinet into a fixed vertical position. The device can also have a rotating bearing that allows the grid holder to be rotated from a horizontal to a vertical position, or through a vertical position from either of two horizontal positions.
US09022392B2

An apparatus of semiconductor process including a chuck and a vacuum source is provided. The chuck has a plurality of holes for holding a semiconductor substrate, and the vacuum source is used for providing vacuum suction through the holes to make the semiconductor substrate be subjected to varied suction intensities according to a warpage level thereof.
US09022389B1

A grooved supporting member for assisting in the construction of a card structure is provided. Specifically, the grooved supporting member provides support for the beginning foundational planar stackable members. The grooved supporting member includes a planar base member, top surface, bottom surface, at least one edge, and at least one groove. Preferably, the groove is cut completely through the planar base member and provides lateral support for a planar stackable member. In the preferred embodiment, the grooved supporting member has four edges and four grooves, thus providing support for four planar stackable members to create the cell of a card structure. The user may employ one or more of the grooved supporting members of the present invention in a card structure. Further disclosed is a kit including a grooved supporting member of the present invention and a plurality of stackable planar members.
US09022388B2

The sheet stacking system discharges a sheet to one of a first stacking apparatus including a first stacking tray and a second stacking tray, and a second stacking apparatus including a third stacking tray, executes one of a first discharging method and a second discharging method, the first discharging method for moving, after a sheet is discharged to the first stacking tray by executing a job, the sheet which has been discharged to the first stacking tray to the second sheet stacking tray and discharging a sheet to the first stacking tray of the first stacking apparatus by executing the job, and the second discharging method for, after a sheet is discharged to the first stacking tray by executing the job, discharging a sheet to the third stacking tray of the second stacking apparatus by executing the job.
US09022386B2

A medium conveying apparatus includes a conveying status detecting unit configured to determine a conveyance status of a medium based on a driving torque of a driving unit, wherein the conveying unit is configured to convey the medium at a reference speed, the reference speed being faster than the upstream conveying unit at least when the medium is conveyed from the upstream conveying unit, and the reference speed being slower than the downstream conveying unit at least when the medium is conveyed to the downstream conveying unit, and wherein the conveyance status of the medium is detected by the comparison of a prescribed reference torque to the driving torque of the driving unit at least when the medium is conveyed between the upstream conveying unit and the conveying unit or when the medium is conveyed between the conveying unit and the downstream conveying unit.
US09022385B2

A sheet ejection apparatus includes an ejection unit, a thickness detection unit, a thickness storage unit, a sheet detection unit, an acquisition unit, a setting unit, and an adjustment unit. The ejection unit ejects a sheet. The thickness detection unit measures a thickness of the sheet. The thickness storage unit stores thickness information. The acquisition unit acquires a thickness of a preceding sheet. The setting unit sets a gap between the preceding sheet and the sheet in accordance with the thickness of the preceding sheet. The adjustment unit adjusts timing for supplying the sheet to a conveyance path in accordance with the gap.
US09022384B2

A recording-material transport apparatus includes a transport unit that transports a recording material, a detector that detects a position of the recording material in intersecting directions intersecting a transport direction in which the recording material is transported by the transport unit, and a moving member that moves the recording material transported by the transport unit to a predetermined position in a predetermined one of the intersecting directions on the basis of a detection result of the detector.
US09022378B2

In a sheet conveyance device, if a sheet has not been detected at a second position when a predetermined time has elapsed since the sheet has been detected at a first position, a separating portion switches operation thereof from a separating operation to a non-separating operation of conveying the sheet from upstream to downstream in a sheet conveyance path, and a sheet feed portion continues a feeding operation. If the sheet has not been detected at the second position by the time a predetermined time has elapsed since the separating portion has started the non-separating operation, the separating portion and the sheet feed portion stop driving, and if the sheet has been detected at the second position by the time, the separating portion switches operation thereof from the non-separating operation to the separating operation, and the sheet feed portion continues the feeding operation.
US09022375B2

A c-shaped clamp tool system preferably includes slider arms, one or more slider arm supports, pads, one or more threaded rods, and turning knobs. The clamping system preferably includes multiple slider arms and slider arm supports of different lengths. In a preferred embodiment, the slider arms are made of unidirectional pultruded carbon fiber and the slider arm support is made of woven carbon fiber.
US09022370B2

A workpiece support, including: first and second arms pivotably connected to first and second support members respectively, the first and second support members being spaced apart, each arm including first and second receiving members for receiving the workpiece, the first and second receiving members being provided at first and second ends of each arm respectively, wherein each arm is pivotably connected to the respective first and second support members at a point between the first and second ends of each arm, such that a workpiece may be supported by the first and second receiving members of the first arm and the first and second receiving members of the second arm.
US09022367B2

In a curved spring configured to generate, based on a relative approaching displacement of the one-side bearing section and the other-side bearing section in an approach/separation direction, an urging force in a separation direction in which a one-side bearing section and an other-side bearing section are separated from each other, a linear elastic body is provided to extend on a closed curve, which includes a one-side portion arranged along a circumferential direction of the one-side bearing section and an other-side portion arranged along a circumferential direction of the other-side bearing section, and to constitute elastic sections of two lines between the one-side portion and the other-side portion.
US09022366B2

A liquid vaporizer includes a first housing having a liquid-supplied surface to which a chemical solution is supplied, a heater, a mesh, a first holder and a second holder attached to the outer edge portions of the mesh, the outer edge portions opposing each other in a direction of spreading of the mesh, first cover bolts, stems supported by the first housing so as to be movable along a specific direction inclined with respect to the liquid-supplied surface, second cover bolts, coil springs biasing the stems along the specific direction and bring the mesh into intimate contact with the liquid-supplied surface, and a lid member covering the mesh from a side of the liquid-supplied surface to seal a space around the liquid-supplied surface with the first housing.
US09022361B2

A system to control drips from rotary atomizers without the use of recirculation pumps or drain tubes. The drips are collected in a catch basin suspended under the atomizer and reintroduced to the rotary atomizer by one of three methods; a mechanical pumping action from a cone or impeller extending from the rotating part of the atomizer, a suction from a Venturi section built into the fluid delivery tube, or by aspirating the fluid back into the atomizer by using the exhaust air from an air motor. Additionally, to prevent bacterial growth and to completely eliminate any moisture after shutdown, a heating element can be incorporated into the catch basin to sterilize and evaporate any excess fluid.
US09022360B2

There is disclosed a non-electric portable manually operated misting fan assembly which is formed by a handle for allowing the user to grasp and manipulate the fan assembly, the handle formed by a container adapted to function as a reservoir for a supply of fluid and having an upper end which includes a pump assembly including a pump head extending upwardly therefrom for pumping fluid from the handle container through a fluid nozzle located in the pump head. The fan means are fixedly mounted on the handle and positioned above the pump head, the fan means bounded by an upper end and a lower end, the lower end being accurately formed over the pump head in order to allow the user to position his finger on the pump head to manipulate the pump in order to eject a fluid from the fluid reservoir incident to the fanning procedure.
US09022357B2

An aerial roller spacer apparatus and related methods thereto are provided. The aerial roller spacer apparatus includes a spacer body. At least one saddle is formed on the spacer body. A spacer arm is connected to the spacer body at a first end, wherein the spacer arm extends away from the spacer body. A roller assembly is positioned proximate to a second end of the spacer arm, wherein the roller assembly has two rotatable roller halves that are removably engagable with one another with at least one fastener. A messenger groove is formed between the two rotatable roller halves.
US09022354B2

The invention provides a switching valve having a valve element which is movable in a housing, an actuating apparatus acting on the valve element in a first direction and a spring apparatus charging the valve element in a second direction. According to the invention, the first and second directions are in opposition and the spring apparatus has a progressive spring characteristic.
US09022353B2

A ball valve which can suppress the increasing of processing labor time and reliably prevent simultaneous rotation of a ball seat and a ball when the ball is rotated by handle manipulation is provided. The valve body 2 is formed of a hard material such as stainless steel, the ball seat is formed of a relatively soft material such as a fluorine resin, and a protrusion 18 is formed on a ball seat support surface 13 of the valve body 2 made of a hard material so as to bite into the ball seat 4.
US09022349B2

A solenoid valve includes a plunger, an actuating device, and an air tap assembly. The plunger is connected to the actuating device. The air tap assembly is secured to the actuating device and has a cavity. The air tap assembly includes a main body, and first and second tubes. The first tube protrudes from the main body and defines a first through hole. The main body defines a second through hole communicated with the first through hole and the cavity. The second tube defines a third through hole. The main body defines a fourth through hole extended from the third through hole and a fifth through hole extended from the fourth through hole to the cavity. The fifth and second through holes are parallel. The plunger head is used to seal the second and fifth through holes.
US09022342B2

A jack plate for easily and effectively mounting a secondary motor to a pontoon boat. The mount comprises a horizontal supporting member affixable to a pontoon decking and a downward member rigidly and operably coupled to the horizontal supporting member and extending from the horizontal member downwardly, wherein the motor is operably coupled to the downward member. Optionally, the mount further comprises a supporting member operably coupled on a first end at an intermediate position to the downward member, wherein a second end of the supporting member is affixable to a pontoon hull extension.
US09022340B2

A method performed and apparatus formed to fabricate an Isofix latch wire arrangement bends an elongated strip about an open profile to form an elongated tubular member, radially penetrating the member with wires across the open profile, and forming enlarged portions on the legs. The enlargements engage opposite sides of the tube to complete abutment of the strip edges to close the profile and join the wires as rivets to the tubular member formed.
US09022337B2

Apparatus for securing products are provided. Each of a pair of elongate retaining members is pivotally secured at a first end of a base. Each of a pair of carriages is movable along a corresponding one of the retaining members and fixable to the corresponding one of the retaining members at a plurality of locations. Each carriage has a clip for capturing a projecting portion of the product. A stop member engages a portion of the product spaced apart from the projecting portions captured by the clips. The stop member is movable toward the clips in a single degree of freedom and is fixable to the base at a plurality of locations along the degree of freedom. Methods of securing a product using the apparatus are provided.
US09022323B2

For capturing satellites and other orbital objects, one or more independent capturing units are releasably arranged on a spacecraft serving as a steerable carrier vehicle. Each capturing unit has a propellant charge and at least one braking thrust nozzle of its own, and a closeable capture net releasably connected to the capturing unit via a tether line. The net is deployed from the capturing unit to capture the orbital object. Position or attitude control engines of the carrier vehicle are operated for orienting the combination including the capturing unit and the orbital object captured in the net. The capturing unit is then released from the carrier vehicle, and applies a braking thrust to the captured object so as to deorbit the captured object together with the capturing unit.
US09022322B2

Devices, systems and methods for utilizing a remotely-controlled aerial vehicle for emergency situations are disclosed. In an aspect of the present disclosure, a remotely-controlled aerial vehicle consisting of a rotor with interchangeably attached blades, a camera, an antenna for transmitting data, and rescue equipment which may be used to assist an endangered person on location is disclosed. In another aspect, the aerial vehicle further comprises a light source to assist in the use of the device at night, a pressure gun to assist in the delivery of rope or other materials in mountain side situations, an explosive device dropping mechanism, and a cable hoist.
US09022318B2

A hydraulic drive for an aircraft includes: a gear, a first hydraulic pump and a second hydraulic pump, wherein the gear is installed in a gear housing and wherein the first hydraulic pump and the second hydraulic pump in each case are installed in a pump housing that is affixed to the gear housing, or the two together are installed in a pump housing that is affixed to the gear housing; a hydraulic supply device including a first and a second hydraulic system for operating actuators of the aircraft; and a monitoring and drive device, with the hydraulic supply device including a first hydraulic drive for coupling the latter to a first engine, and a second hydraulic drive for coupling the latter to a second engine, wherein each hydraulic drive includes: a gear drive shaft for coupling the respective hydraulic drive to an engine output shaft of the respective associated engine; two hydraulic pumps that are coupled to a gear output shaft, in each case with a connection device for connecting the hydraulic pump to the pressure line and to the suction line of a hydraulic system; an aircraft comprising such a hydraulic supply device; as well as a method for configuring a hydraulic supply device.
US09022317B2

A towbarless airplane tug comprising: a chassis mounted on a plurality of tug wheels, at least some of said plurality of tug wheels being steerable tug wheels; an airplane wheel support assembly, mounted on said chassis, for supporting rotatable wheels of a nose landing gear of an airplane; at least one tug wheel driver operative to drive said plurality of tug wheels in rotation to provide displacement of said chassis; and at least one tug controller operative to control speed of said tug, said at least one tug controller employing at least one feedback loop utilizing a mapping of speed limits along a travel path traversed by said tug and said airplane at said airport as well as an indication of the instantaneous location of said tug and said airplane along a travel path.
US09022304B2

A fuel injection device of a direct injection engine is provided. The device includes an engine body, a fuel injection valve, and a controller for controlling a fuel injection by the fuel injection valve. The fuel injection valve has a nozzle hole, a valve body for opening and closing the nozzle hole, and first and solenoid coils for stroking the valve body by first and second stroke amounts, respectively. The controller performs the fuel injection by the first solenoid coil in an intake stroke period within an engine operating range with an engine load below a predetermined load. The controller performs the fuel injection with a fuel pressure of 40 MPa or above by the second solenoid coil in a period between a compression stroke late stage and an expansion stroke early stage within a low-engine-speed range with an engine speed below a predetermined speed and within a high-engine-load range.
US09022302B2

A system includes a gasification feed injector. The gasification feed injector includes a tip portion disposed at a fluid exit region of the gasification feed injector, and a tip cap coupled to the tip portion of the gasification feed injector and configured to serve as a thermal barrier for the tip portion during gasification reactions.
US09022296B2

An identification tag, comprising a rigid carrier comprising a cavity therein, a bead arranged within the cavity, wherein the bead includes an electronics module configured to receive and transmit signals, a protective fluid-like fill material disposed in the cavity such that it surrounds the bead, and one or more openings extending into the identification tag that can be used to couple the tag to a downhole tool or provide pressure equalization across the tag.
US09022292B1

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and system for sharing information between a first computing device and a second computing device. In the described embodiments, an optical label, such as, for example a QR code, is generated on the first computing device. In embodiments, the optical label is color encoded and displayed in such a way that the optical label is not perceptible to a user. The second computing device may capture the encoded optical label and subject the captured images to a processing technique that decodes the encoded optical label.
US09022291B1

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and system for sharing information between a first computing device and a second computing device. In the described embodiments, an optical label, such as, for example a QR code, is generated on the first computing device. In embodiments, the optical label is color encoded and displayed in such a way that the optical label is not perceptible to a user. The second computing device may capture the encoded optical label and subject the captured images to a processing technique that decodes the encoded optical label.
US09022287B1

A shopping system for tracking and tabulating costs during a shopping experience features a shopping cart with a handle having a handle diameter and a horizontal support bar having a horizontal support bar diameter. The system features a computing unit with a power supply and a microprocessor located inside. The computing unit features input keys located on a computing unit top that are in communication with the microprocessor for data input. The computing unit features a first display and a second display located on the computing unit top. Data input from the input keys is displayed on the first display. The computing unit features a scanner located on a computing unit front. Data read by the scanner is displayed on the second display. The system features a first clip and a second clip located on a computing unit bottom.
US09022279B2

A method for identifying an application usable with an accessory is provided. The method includes receiving an accessory identifier associated with the accessory, identifying an application protocol associated with the accessory identifier, identifying an application that supports the application protocol, and providing information about the application to a user device. A method for identifying an accessory usable with an application is also provided. The method includes receiving information about an application, determining an application protocol associated with the application, determining an accessory that supports the application protocol, and providing information about the accessory to a user device.
US09022273B1

A surgical fastening instrument is provided. The surgical fastening instrument includes a handle portion and an elongate portion extending distally from the handle portion and defining a longitudinal axis along a length thereof. The surgical fastening instrument also includes an end effector assembly that includes an anvil and a cartridge supported adjacent a distal end of the elongate portion. Each of the anvil and the cartridge includes a tissue contacting surface oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. One or more independently movable pushers is configured to support one or more surgical fasteners. A thrust bar is operatively coupled to the elongate portion, wherein the thrust bar is movable over a predetermined stroke to effect sequential ejection of at least two surgical fasteners of the plurality of surgical fasteners from the cartridge.
US09022267B2

A holder apparatus is provided for a portable electronic device, in particular in a motor vehicle. The portable electronic device is designed for bidirectional data transfer with the motor vehicle, wherein the holder apparatus has a base element which can be fixed in the motor vehicle and which has a plurality of holder elements, and at least one wall and/or cover element which is coupled to the holder elements such that it can be reversibly plug-connected. The portable electronic device can be secured in the holder apparatus in an interlocking and/or force-fitting manner by the base element and the at least one wall and/or cover element.
US09022262B2

The present invention refers to an improved holster for handguns provided with a spent casing ejection port, adapted to prevent the accidental drop or an unauthorized extraction of the handgun, thanks to a safety device embodied in the same holster and engaging with the ejection port.
US09022252B2

An insulating holder for holding a beverage in a bottle or a can having a lower cylindrical enclosure which receives an upper cylindrical enclosure having a dome-shaped upper end. The upper cylindrical enclosure is adapted to cover the top portion of a bottle inserted into the lower cylindrical enclosure and to snuggly receive a can when inverted and inserted into the lower cylindrical enclosure. At least a portion of the lower cylindrical enclosure or upper cylindrical enclosure is made of a polyolefin elastomer foam. The insulating holder may be structured to retain various sizes of wine bottles.
US09022249B2

A thermally insulated sandwich polyurethane (PUR) shipper for a temperature sensitive payload is provided. The sandwich PUR shipper comprises an outer corrugated box, an inner corrugated box, vacuum insulated panels (such as VIP panels) and PUR foam. The inner box is nested within the outer box and has a bottom, sides and a top. The inner box defines a payload compartment. The VIP panels are adhered to the outer facing surfaces of the inner box. Preferably the VIP panels are wedged against each other so that a side edge of one VIP panel abuts an adjacent VIP panel. The PUR foam fills the space between the VIP panels and the outer box. The PUR foam may cover the top edges of the VIP panels.
US09022245B2

Embodiments of the invention relate to support arrangements for semi-membrane tank walls and, more particularly, to a universal support assembly for tanks that experience thermal expansion and contraction. One embodiment of the invention may include a tank assembly having at least one tank wall, a support structure at least partially adjacent to the wall, and a link member coupling the tank to the support structure. The link member may be configured to accommodate relative movement between the tank and the support structure through rotation. The link member may be coupled to the tank wall by a ball and socket joint and coupled to the support structure with another ball and socket joint, allowing substantially unlimited in-plane movement of the tank wall relative to the support structure.
US09022240B2

Described is a process for producing poliovirus, the process comprising: a) providing a serum-free suspension culture of cells, which are primary human retina (HER) cells that have been immortalized by expression of adenovirus E1 sequences, b) infecting the cells with poliovirus, at a cell density of between 2×106 cells/ml and 150×106 cells/ml, and c) harvesting poliovirus at a time of between 12 and 48 hours after infection.
US09022234B2

Various aspects include a rack module comprising a side including one or more receptacles. A receptacle may include a contact surface shaped to receive a container. A rack module may include one or more engagement features operable to removably attach the rack module to another rack module having complementary engagement features. The other rack module may also have a side including one or more receptacles, and the attached rack modules may commonly orient their respective receptacles such that the containers received therein may be used.
US09022225B2

Provided is a filtration filer with which a stable opening size during filtration is obtained, and which can be easily regenerated when clogged and used repeatedly. The filtration filter (10) comprises: a substrate stack wherein substrates (11) that have a through hole that penetrates from front to back are stacked; stoppers (15) that define the spacing between the substrates (11); and pillars (16) with a larger thermal expansion coefficient than the stoppers (15). The spacing between the substrates (11) at normal temperature is defined at least by the stoppers (15), and the spacing when heated is defined by the thermally expanded pillars (16). The gaps between the substrates (11) form the filtration surface that traps contaminants contained in the liquid that is being treated A.
US09022223B1

A compact, piston-driven water filtration system with annular cleaning device/brush. The filter apparatus operates based on a piston-driven pressure system where the piston is threadably mated to a water reservoir. Threading of the piston forces a sleeve connected thereto within the reservoir to force water through any suitable water filter (e.g. carbon-based, ceramic, micro- and/or nano-membrane materials) on the opposite side of the reservoir from the threadably-mated piston within the reservoir. The sleeve connected to the piston within the interior of the reservoir includes a cleaning device (e.g., brush, scraper, pad, etc.) on a distal end of the sleeve inside the water reservoir. The annular brush has an inner diameter smaller than that of the sleeve, such that as the piston is threaded into and out of the reservoir, the sleeve moves toward, over, and away from the filter, and the brush scrapes/scrubs/cleans the exterior of the filter for cleansing.
US09022219B2

A suspension magnet assembly (10) having a magnet (24) with an arcuate lower surface, and a collector (27) movable from adjacent the magnet (24) to a position spaced from the magnet (24) to provide for the removal of collected material (14) from the assembly (10).
US09022201B1

A conveyor process and system for sorting objects having a plurality of inbound conveyors in a vertically stacked configuration and a plurality of diversion conveyors connected to the inbound conveyors for diverting objects transported on the inbound conveyors to a particular outbound conveyor.
US09022200B2

A line accumulation conveyor includes a secondary belt rotatably mounted to a frame so as to define upper and lower surfaces caused to move in opposite directions by rotation of the secondary belt. The conveyor further includes a product conveying belt that is rotatably engaged with the secondary belt at a first position on the first surface and at a second position on the second surface therebetween in an endless manner. The product conveying belt has an upper portion that extends from the first surface in an upper plane between the first position and a looping portion of the product conveying belt and a lower portion that extends from the second surface in a lower plane between the looping portion and the second position. The upper portion of the product conveying belt defines a product accumulation path that can be elongate or shorten by rotating the secondary belt.
US09022194B2

The present disclosure provides an actuation assembly for applying a mechanical diode clutch. The clutch includes an outer member, an inner member, and a strut. The actuation assembly includes a plate having an apply portion and a plurality of legs, where each of the plurality of legs has a first end coupled to the apply portion and a second end adapted to couple to a shift sleeve. A mechanism is coupled to the apply portion of the plate. The mechanism includes at least one biasing member. The plate is moveable between an unapply position and an apply position such that a movement from the unapply position to the apply position induces contact between the mechanism and the strut.
US09022191B2

A hydraulic pressure control device including a pump driven to generate hydraulic pressure; a first pressure regulation valve that regulates hydraulic pressure in a first passage coupled to a pump along with discharge of oil; a second pressure regulation valve that receives the hydraulic pressure in the first passage and regulates the hydraulic pressure to an engagement pressure to engage a lock-up clutch according to a first signal pressure to output the engagement pressure to a second passage that supplies the oil to an engagement chamber; and a third pressure regulation valve that receives the hydraulic pressure in the first passage or the engagement pressure output to the second passage and regulates the received pressure according to the first signal pressure or a second signal pressure that synchronizes with the first signal pressure to output the resulting pressure to a third passage that supplies the oil to the disengagement chamber.
US09022190B2

A system for transferring energy to a vehicle, in particular a track bound vehicle, such as a light rail vehicle, wherein the system includes an electric conductor arrangement adapted to produce an electromagnetic field which can be received by the vehicle thereby transferring the energy to the vehicle the system further includes electric and/or electronic devices which are adapted to operate the electric conductor arrangement. The devices produce heat while operating the conductor arrangement and—therefore—are to be cooled. A cooling arrangement of the system includes a structure having a cavity in which at least one of the devices to be cooled is located. The structure includes a cover limiting the cavity at the top, wherein the device(s) to be cooled is/are located at a distance to the cover. The structure is integrated in the ground at the path of travel of the vehicle in such a manner that the cover forms a part of the surface of the ground.
US09022189B2

A cask cushioning body includes an end-surface side member (2) in which a plurality of plates (21, 22) made of steel are formed at a distance between plate surfaces of the plates (21, 22) that face each other, and in which the plate surfaces of the plates (21, 22) are arranged along an end surface (100a) of a cask (100), and a circumferential-surface side member (3) that forms a cylindrical body (31) made of steel, one end of which is connected to a periphery of the end-surface side member (2), and that is arranged along an end-portion outer-circumferential surface (100b), wherein an impact absorber (4) that absorbs an impact by deforming is provided outside of the end-surface side member (2) and the circumferential-surface side member (3).
US09022186B2

A damping force generator for a hydraulic shock absorber featuring an increased deflection (bending) characteristic of a damping valve to widen the adjustable range of a damping force. In a damping force generator (70) for a hydraulic shock absorber, the damping valve (80) undergoes deflections with boundaries (71C) between secured portions (71A) and recessed portions (71B) of the valve seat (71) as supporting points K, and inner and outer peripheries of the damping valve (80) are disposed on an outside of line segments L each connecting two circumferentially adjacent supporting points K, K of the valve seat (71).
US09022170B2

A muffler is capable of stably supporting the catalytic converter in a muffler box with a pair of partitions. The muffler box includes first and second box halves joined together with open surfaces thereof abutting each other, and first and second partition plates interposed between the first and second box halves and overlapping each other to separate inside of the muffler box into first and second silencing chambers and define a third silencing chamber between the first and second partition plates, one end opening of a cylindrical holding tube housing and holding the catalytic converter is connected to the exhaust inlet pipe, the pair of partition plates support the holding tube in such a way as to wrap an outer peripheral surface thereof, and another end opening of the holding tube is communicated with the exhaust outlet pipe through the first, second, and third silencing chambers in this order.
US09022169B2

An electrical power steering system is configured to assist steering by transmitting, through a belt, a rotational force of a driving pulley coaxially coupled to a rotational shaft of an electrical motor to a driven pulley coaxially coupled to a rotational member of a steering apparatus. The electrical power steering system includes a belt tension adjustment mechanism for adjusting a tension of the belt. The belt tension adjustment mechanism includes: a guide surface and an engagement surface, which are formed as mating surfaces of a housing of the steering apparatus and a casing of the electrical motor so as to engage with each other; and a connector capable of relatively moving the engagement surface along the guide surface due to a connection force for connecting the housing and the casing under a state in which the guide surface and the engagement surface engage with each other. The guide surface is inclined by a predetermined amount with respect to an axial line direction of the rotational shaft.
US09022166B2

The invention concerns a hydraulic steering arrangement with a hydraulically actuated steering valve arrangement, steering motor connections (CL, CR), which are connected to supply connections (HP, T) via the steering valve arrangement, and a steering unit. It is endeavored to equalize in a simple manner the steering behavior in both directions. For this purpose, it is ensured that the steering valve arrangement has a directional valve and a flow control valve.
US09022158B2

A four-wheel-drive vehicle includes a dog clutch provided between a propeller shaft and an engine, a torque coupling provided between a rear differential and rear wheels, and an ECU that controls the dog clutch and the torque coupling. When a drive mode is switched from a two-wheel-drive mode where the transmissions of torque by the dog clutch and the torque coupling are both interrupted, to a four-wheel-drive mode, the ECU sets the amount of torque that is transmitted by the torque coupling to a first torque value (T1) to increase the speed of rotation of the propeller shaft, and then sets the amount of torque that is transmitted by the torque coupling to a second torque value (T2) that is lower than the first torque value (T1), and engages the dog clutch when the rotations of first and second rotary members of the dog clutch are synchronized with each other.
US09022154B2

A one-man riding mobile apparatus includes a plurality of wheels, a board-shaped boarding base to which the wheels are attached, a motor that drives at least a part of the wheels and provided on the boarding base, a plurality of load sensors provided on the boarding base, a plurality of vibrators provided on the boarding base, and a control circuit that performs driving control of the motor and driving control of the vibrators. The control circuit is provided on the boarding base and includes a center-of-gravity position detecting section that detects presence of weighting and a center-of-gravity position based on signals output from the load sensors, a motor driving control section that controls a driving operation of the motor depending on the presence of the weighting and the center-of-gravity position detected by the center-of-gravity position detecting section, and a vibrator driving control section.
US09022151B2

A multi-legged apparatus enables a multi-legged robot to provide a natural motion, and includes a body portion comprising a body, a front leg portion comprising a front fixing portion fixed to the body, and a front rotating portion rotatably connected to the front fixing portion, a rear leg portion connected to the body and a rear leg portion comprising a rear rotating portion rotatably connected to the rear fixing portion, and a first link rotatably connected, at both ends, to the front and rear rotating portions, respectively. The body portion additionally includes a driving portion which rotates one of the front and rear rotating portions. By employing the first link and the driving portion, the body of the multi-legged robot is moved to and fro and left and right naturally in accordance with the movement of the legs, in a similar pattern as that generally shown in actual multi-legged animals.
US09022147B2

According to an embodiment, a drilling fluid comprises: water and a set accelerator, wherein the drilling fluid has a 10 minute gel strength of less than 20 lb*ft/100 sq ft, wherein the drilling fluid has a density in the range of about 9 to about 14 pounds per gallon, wherein the drilling fluid remains pourable for at least 5 days, and wherein when at least one part of the drilling fluid mixes with three parts of a cement composition consisting of water and cement, the drilling fluid cement composition mixture develops a compressive strength of at least 1,200 psi. According to another embodiment, a method of using the drilling fluid comprises the steps of: introducing the drilling fluid into at least a portion of a subterranean formation, wherein at least a portion of the drilling fluid is capable of mixing with a cement composition.
US09022138B2

The invention relates to an impact device, having an internal combustion engine and an impact mechanism driven by the internal combustion engine. An engine lubricating device supplies lubricant to the internal combustion engine. An impact mechanism lubricating device lubricates the impact mechanism accordingly. For this purpose, the engine lubricating device and the impact mechanism device partially comprise the same components.
US09022126B2

A system and method for replacing equipment at a wellsite is provided. The wellsite has a subsea stripper installed proximate a subsea borehole. The system has a conveyance for delivering a BHA into the subsea borehole. The system has a subsea stripper having a central bore for passing the conveyance and the BHA therethrough, and at least one actuator connected to the subsea stripper for actuating a packer whereby the wellbore is sealed. The system has at least one replaceable seal assembly for installation within the stripper. The replaceable seal assembly has at least one packer extendable within the subsea stripper to form a seal thereabout and at least one locator sleeve for positioning the seal assembly in an install position within the subsea stripper. The replaceable seal assembly has a frangible member for connecting the seal assembly to the conveyance prior to deployment in the subsea stripper.
US09022124B2

A method of well intervention in a subsea well having a wellhead on the sea floor includes extending an intervention hose downwardly through the sea from a hose drum installed on a vessel on the sea surface into the well through a subsea intervention stack installed on the wellhead. The intervention hose is exposed directly to the ambient sea between the vessel and the top of the subsea intervention stack. In a method of well intervention, an intervention hose extends from a hose drum and into a well. The hose is driven out of the well without the use of an injector by pulling the hose out of the well with the hose drum. In a method of well intervention, an intervention hose extends from a hose drum towards a wellhead, with the hose being guided downward from the drum towards the wellhead by a guiding sheave.
US09022123B2

The present invention relates to an apparatus for inspecting and monitoring flexible collection and production lines in real time, rendering possible constant tracking of the condition of the internal structures of a flexible riser, specifically of the tensile armor thereof.The device may be provided at any point along the riser ensuring the establishment of an area of physical and visual contact directly over the surface of the tensile armor of the riser for the installation of equipment for analysis, which area permits further accesses without destroying the sealing of the chamber there formed.
US09022122B2

A cap for protecting a sealing surface of a hub of a subsea device includes an equalization valve and a fluid conduit. The equalization valve includes a valve body having a pressure equalization conduit, a sleeve disposed about the valve body and having a port allowing fluid communication across the sleeve, and a valve spring configured to bias the sleeve to a closed position. The sleeve is configured to move to an open position in response to a force that depresses the sleeve and causes the valve spring to compress and the port is fluidly isolated from the pressure equalization conduit in the closed position and is in fluid communication with the pressure equalization conduit in the open position. In the open position, an interior environment of the subsea device is in fluid communication with the environment outside the cap through the equalization valve.
US09022119B2

Methods and apparatus for enhanced and improved viscous oil recovery are disclosed. A horizontal well is drilled through the viscous oil formation. A specially designed tubing string includes outlets that deliver steam more uniformly into the entire horizontal extent of the well borehole. Heat from the steam mobilizes and lowers the viscosity of the heavy crude wherein the crude is then produced to the surface via conventional lift arrangements.
US09022117B2

A method for milling a tubular cemented in a wellbore includes deploying a bottomhole assembly (BHA) into the wellbore through the tubular, the BHA comprising a window mill; and extending arms of the window mill and radially cutting through the tubular, thereby forming a window through the tubular, wherein a body portion of each window mill arm engages and stabilizes from an inner surface of the tubular after a blade portion of each window mill arm cuts through the tubular.
US09022115B2

A method for wellbore perforation in which a section of the wellbore to be perforated is isolated and purged of wellbore fluid to provide a clear path for laser beam transmittal. A laser beam emitter in the purged wellbore section transmits a laser beam pulse from the laser beam emitter to a target area of a sidewall and formation lithology of the purged wellbore section, thereby altering a mechanical property of a material of the sidewall and formation lithology and producing material debris. A liquid jet pulse of a liquid is transmitted immediately following termination of the laser beam pulse to the target area, thereby removing the material debris from the target area. This cycle is then repeated until the desired perforation depth has been achieved.
US09022113B2

A tubular string is advanced with a bottom hole assembly as the hole is drilled and reamed in a desired direction with the aid of directional drilling equipment adjacent the bit. When the advanced tubular forms the desired lap to the existing tubular, the assembly can be configured to cement the tubular and expansion can then be accomplished to fill the annular space and enhance the cement bonding. The expansion equipment can create a bottom bell on the expanded tubular and expand the top end into a bell of the existing tubular so that a monobore is created as the process is repeated with each added string. Numerous variations are contemplated for each single trip including but not limited to the direction of expansion, whether cementing or expansion occurs first, reforming folded tubing in the hole as well as the nature of the expansion tool and pressure control when drilling.
US09022109B2

A method of treating a subsurface formation includes circulating at least one molten salt through at least one conduit of a conduit-in-conduit heater located in the formation to heat hydrocarbons in the formation to at least a mobilization temperature of the hydrocarbons. At least some of the hydrocarbons are produced from the formation. An electrical resistance of at least one of the conduits of the conduit-in-conduit heater is assessed to assess a presence of a leak in at least one of the conduits.
US09022104B2

Techniques for shearing a tubular of a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation with a blowout preventer are provided. The blowout preventer has a housing with a hole therethrough for receiving the tubular. The techniques relate to a blade assembly including a ram block movable between a non-engagement position and an engagement position about the tubular, a blade carried by the ram block for cuttingly engaging the tubular, and a retractable guide carried by the ram block and slidably movable therealong. The restractable guide has a guide surface for urging the tubular into a desired location in the blowout preventer as the ram block moves to the engagement position.
US09022099B2

A heat transport fluid passage device for a heat transport circuit has a wall defining a passage through which a heat transport fluid flows. The heat transport fluid contains a solvent made of water or an organic substance and fine particles dispersed in the solvent. A hydrophobic membrane is formed on a surface of the wall.
US09022089B1

A retractable flexible screen is attached to a retractable barrier assembly fitted into a bottom edge portion of a window sash portion of a window unit. The retractable barrier assembly is provided with a weather seal and a moisture draining means. A weather strip is provided along a bottom edge of the screen. The screen is maintained in a retracted position within the retractable barrier assembly until it is desired to employ the screen. To deploy the screen, it is extracted from the retractable barrier assembly and a bottom edge is anchored against a sill portion of the window unit, thereby causing the screen to be automatically extended each time the sash is raised.
US09022086B2

A pneumatic tire that is provided with a first fastener of a separatable pair of mechanical fasteners on a tire inner surface, wherein, even in cases where a desired object is engaged/fixed using only one fastener, the object does not rotate having the fastener as a central axis when the tire is in use. A first fastener of the pair of mechanical fasteners is provided on a tire inner surface, and the mechanical fasteners are provided with a rotation preventing mechanism for preventing the fasteners from mutually rotating when the pair of mechanical fasteners are engaged.
US09022073B2

Provided is a device for use in a shower system and a related method. The device may include an appliance for adding a medium to shower water. The appliance may be designed such that it works according to the principle of a water jet pump. Advantageously, the medium added to the shower water may contain one or more fragrance media.
US09022072B2

A valve array includes a reservoir containing a pressurized fluid, a non-return valve and a seat valve that is actuatable so as to allow the fluid to flow out of the reservoir. The seat valve is configured as a pilot control valve connected to the reservoir such that, in an open condition of the seat valve, a smaller amount of the fluid flows out of the reservoir via the seat valve and a larger amount of the fluid flows out of the reservoir via the non-return valve.
US09022071B2

A control valve which includes a uniquely configured seat ring outfitted with flow passages adapted to operatively interact with a valve plug in a manner providing prescribed pressure reduction characteristics in a fluid flowing through the flow passages. The seat ring of the control valve of the present invention is preferably fabricated through the use of a direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) process. The use of the DMLS process to facilitate the fabrication of the seat ring in the control valve allows for the creation of more intricate and complex flow passages therein. Such increased intricacy/complexity provides better flow range/rangeability within the control valve.
US09022066B2

The point of the invention is to evenly distribute water or effluent over an irrigation area or a drain field. Typically the fluid comes from a reservoir or a septic tank and is fed, by gravity, into a number of discharge pipes that would be located underground.The device related to this invention is characterized by a container with an inlet at the top and a number of outlets at the bottom. Inside the container the fluid is directed to the center of a flow splitter surface underneath, via a specifically configured spout. To make the fluid spread radian and uniformly towards the surface's perimeter this surface has hydrophilic properties and is convex shaped. The fluid eventually flows uniformly over the surface's edge and is evenly distributed over the outlets at the bottom.
US09022065B1

The present invention includes pressure event indicators that identify specific pressurized vessels or pipes from which a pressurized fluid has been exhausted, closed pressurized systems that implement such pressure event indicators, and methods of using such pressure event indicators. Embodiments of such pressure event indicators may include a housing having a substantially horizontal elongate passage, a rotatable axle orthogonally passing through the passage, a paddle fixedly attached to the axle having a closed position, an open position, and a shape that is complementary to a portion of the passage and that occludes a portion of the passage when the paddle is in the closed position, and at least one visual indicator outside of the housing and fixedly attached to the axle, where the purpose of the visual indicator is to identify a position of the paddle to an observer.
US09022059B2

An apparatus is supplied for a self adjusting regulator suited for an irrigation emitter. A curved flow channel is integrated into a concave dome shaped surface. A deformable member deforms to approach the surface to adjust the resistance to flow. The concave dome shaped surface may match a deformed shape of the membrane. Irregularities in the interface between the surface and the deformable member are configured to achieve a desired discharge under varying flow conditions. The deformable member may activate an inlet filter cleaner by pushing a ram and thereby unclogging the filter.
US09022058B2

According to an embodiment, a valve comprises: a valve member, wherein the valve member is made from a non-deformable material; a seat, wherein the seat: (A) is made from a non-deformable material; and (B) is positioned adjacent to the valve member; a seal, wherein the seal is created by the interaction between at least a portion of the seat and at least a portion of the valve member and a sealant; and at least one recess, wherein the at least one recess: (A) is located on the inside of the seat or the outside of the valve member; and (B) is capable of containing at least one particulate, wherein the valve is capable of being opened or closed via relative movement of the valve member and the seat.
US09022057B2

A flow path switching valve is disclosed that can be operated remotely simply by turning flow on and off. A mid portion of the body has at least one passage therein leading from a central axial bore to one or more external ports each having a tractor nozzle. The valve outlet connects the axial bore to a cleaning nozzle. A poppet member is received in the central axial bore. In a first position, the poppet member directs fluid flow through the outlet to the cleaning nozzle connected to the outlet. The poppet member, when in a second position, closes the central axial bore through the outlet end of the valve body and permits fluid flow through the tractor nozzles. Selection of the different flow paths is made by simply reducing flow through the valve below a predetermined fluid flow threshold and then increasing the flow rate above the threshold.
US09022051B2

A valve for an inflatable device includes a first region configured to seal to a fluid impermeable wall of a bladder of the inflatable device, a cap including a rim, and a seal. The base includes a second region that defines an orifice for exhausting fluid from an interior of the inflatable device, the second region configured to provide a sealing surface. Further, the rim can include a generally circular peripheral region including at least one rib located about an underside of the peripheral region and a cavity defined in part by at least one wall located radially inward of the rib. The seal can include a first end region secured to the cap within the cavity between the at least one wall and the at least one rib and a second end region configured to freely move with the at least one first end region secured to the cap.
US09022049B1

An improved umbrella top notch and runner are provided for an umbrella including a shaft, plural ribs, and plural stretchers, in addition to the top notch and the runner. The top notch, structurally the same as the runner, includes a main body and plural building blocks. Each building block has a threaded hole through which a screw rod can pass to fasten the building block to the periphery of the main body. Each building block has a projecting pin on one lateral side and a recess on the opposite lateral side. When the building blocks are fastened to the periphery of the main body, the front end of the projecting pin on one lateral side of each building block is fittingly received in the recess of the adjacent building block. Each building block can be detached from the main body to facilitate replacement of the ribs and stretchers.
US09022043B1

A hair holder system featuring an outer component having a slot disposed therein and an insertion component that can slideably insert snugly into the slot of the outer component. When the insertion component is within the slot, the slot surface and the outer surface of the insertion component can clamp and hold hair therein between, thereby creating a bun or puff effect for hair inserted therethrough. The bun or puff effect is shaped according to the shape of the insertion component.
US09022041B2

A method of converting tea leaves into a smoking product suitable for use with a smoking device such as, but not limited to, a hookah. In one embodiment the method comprises the steps of heating a batch of sundried tea leaves in water to provide a batch of wetted tea leaves; fermenting the wetted tea leaves to provide a batch of fermented tea leaves; rinsing the fermented tea leaves with water to provide rinsed fermented tea leaves; drying the rinsed fermented tea leaves to provide dried fermented tea; and adding glycerine to the dried fermented tea leaves to provide a tea leaf based smoking product. In another embodiment a nicotine free smoking product is provided comprising of glycerin treated dried fermented tea leaves.
US09022038B2

The various embodiments herein provide an air suction device for a smoking apparatus. The air suction device comprises a cylindrical housing, an impeller, an impeller cover, a motor assembled inside the housing to drive the impeller, a plurality of batteries provided in the housing, a battery cover to enclose the plurality of batteries and a switch provided externally to the cylindrical housing. When the switch is in ON condition, the plurality of batteries supply an electrical power to the motor and the motor converts the electrical power into a mechanical power which in turn causes propulsion of the impeller thereby sucking out the air from a water bowl of the smoking apparatus. The propulsive motion of the impeller sucks out the air from the water bowl until the air inside the water bowl is replaced by condensed smoke.
US09022035B2

There is provided a portable intake air sterilizing apparatus which allows prevention of a worker's infection with virus/bacteria and which allows, at the same time, the worker to work comfortably. The apparatus includes a cover member C for covering one or both of the nose and the mouth, an air intake portion K for the inner space of the cover member C, and a chlorine dioxide slow-release portion J capable of releasing chlorine dioxide gas into an intake air in association with introduction of this intake air from the air intake portion K.
US09022030B2

Methods, systems and devices are provided for monitoring respiratory disorders based on monitored factors of a photoplethysmography (PPG) signal that is representative of peripheral blood volume. The monitored factors can be respiratory effort as well as respiratory rate and/or blood oxygen saturation level. The systems and devices may or may not be implanted in a patient.
US09022021B2

Racking assemblies for solar panel installations are provided. The racking assemblies may include a series of posts arranged in two parallel rows and anchored to the ground or other suitable surface. Purlins may be coupled to and may span the posts of each row. Specialized clamps may be used to attach the purlins to a series of mounting rails. The mounting rails, in turn, may support an array of solar modules.
US09021997B2

A cam shaft phase setter including a control valve for controlling the feeding and draining of a hydraulic fluid into and out of a pressure chamber which serves to adjust the rotational angular position of a cam shaft relative to a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine. The control valve includes a valve housing with an operating port to the pressure chamber and a reservoir port to a reservoir for the fluid. A valve piston is axially adjustable back and forth in the valve housing between a first position and a second position and includes an axial hollow space, a piston inlet for introducing the fluid into the hollow space, and a piston outlet which leads out of the hollow space and is connected to the operating port in the first position of the valve piston and separated from the operating port in the second position of the valve piston. An actuating unit is coupled to the valve piston for axially adjusting the valve piston. A coupling member protrudes through an axially facing closure wall which closes off the valve housing and couples the actuating unit to the valve piston. The valve piston includes a radial widening which is surrounded by a complementarily widened housing portion of the valve housing and to which the fluid can be applied in an axial direction pointing away from the axially facing closure wall in order to generate an axial pressure force. The widening is dimensioned such that the fluid acts on the valve piston with a pressure force of at least substantially equal size in both axial directions, despite the coupling member.
US09021995B2

The invention relates to an electromagnetic actuating device (1) for a camshaft adjustment device of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, with an elongated actuating element (2) forming an engagement region on the end side and movable by the force of a coil device (29) provided in a stationary manner, which actuating element preferably has in parts a cylindrical covering contour and penetrates a cut-out (8) in permanent magnet means (6) arranged on the shell side, which are constructed for cooperating with a stationary core region (5) comprising a core body (15), and which actuating element lies in a switching position with a contact surface (11), on the end side on the actuating element side, against a contact surface (10) on the core region side. Provision is made that the contact surface (11) on the core region side is formed at least in part by a contact element (16) fixed in the core body (15), which contact element is constructed from a material which has a greater hardness than the material of the core body (15).
US09021994B2

A variable compression ratio apparatus includes: a piston defining a combustion chamber, a connecting rod connected to the piston; an eccentric link eccentrically connected to the piston, a swing link connected to the eccentric link so as to rotate the eccentric link, a crankpin to which the connecting rod is connected, and a crank web disposed at both sides of the crankpin and provided with a guide portion for guiding downward motions of the eccentric link and the swing link when the eccentric link and the swing link move downward. Thereby, the downward motions of the eccentric link and the swing link are stabilized.
US09021993B2

A water heater in which by applying pulsation of a liquid to be heated which circulates between a tank and a heat exchanger, scale that has been deposited on the inner wall (heat-transfer surface) of a to-be-heated liquid flow channel in a heat exchanger is detached, and the number of times of circulation of the liquid to be heated which circulates between the tank and the heat exchanger is controlled to be three times or less. The number of times of circulation is determined, based on the entire volume of the to-be-heated liquid stored in the tank, a boiling time to be taken for the entire volume of the to-be-heated liquid in the tank to reach a predetermined temperature, and the flow rate of the to-be-heated liquid which passes through the to-be-heated liquid flow channel.
US09021990B2

A multi-material pet toy includes a first member having an attractant for making the multi-material pet toy interesting to a pet and a second member for protecting the first member to lengthen a serviceable life of the first member. The toy may be configured so that the first member includes a sound-producing member for making a noise without air movement passing through the sound-producing member, and the second member includes a protective member for protecting the sound-producing member. The toy may also be configured so that the first member includes a mouth-feel member for providing attraction for the pet with the noise of air movement passing through the mouth-feel member, and the second member includes a protective member for protecting the mouth-feel member.
US09021987B1

A Vertically Integrated Aquaculture System for producing high quality consumer seafood products at a significantly reduced cost. The Vertically Integrated Aquaculture System includes at least one aquaculture grow-out module for containing an aquaculture species, a feed handling system for distributing feed to the aquaculture species located in the aquaculture grow-out module(s), an aquaculture species moving system for routing the aquaculture species at least out of the aquaculture grow-out module(s), and a processing system for processing the aquaculture species after harvesting from the aquaculture grow-out module(s).
US09021985B2

Embodiments related to hardware and methods for processing a semiconductor substrate are disclosed. One example film deposition reactor includes a process gas distributor including a plasma gas-feed inlet located to supply plasma gas to a plasma generation region within the film deposition reactor and a precursor gas-feed inlet located to supply film precursor gas downstream of the plasma generation region; an insulating confinement vessel configured to maintain a plasma generation region at a reduced pressure within the film deposition reactor and an inductively-coupled plasma (ICP) coil arranged around a portion of a sidewall of the insulating confinement vessel and positioned so that the sidewall separates the plasma generation region from the ICP coil; and a susceptor configured to support the semiconductor substrate so that a film deposition surface of the semiconductor substrate is exposed to a reaction region formed downstream of the process gas distributor.
US09021982B2

Provided is a gas wiping device having a box-shaped body which encloses a steel band and gas wiping nozzles, wherein it is possible to prevent splash on the steel band. A gas wiping device provided with a plating bath for storing molten metal, and a box-shaped body placed above the plating bath. The box-shaped body is provided, in the interior, with tubular members disposed along the width direction of a band-shaped body, gas wiping nozzles disposed facing one another on the respective tubular members so as to sandwich the band-shaped body, extending members disposed on both ends of gas wiping nozzle so as to extend towards the direction of gas wiping nozzle, and extending members disposed on both ends of gas wiping nozzle so as to extend towards the direction of gas wiping nozzle.
US09021971B2

A catamaran type vessel for use in a wastewater facility for servicing submerged air diffusers is disclosed. The vessel has spaced apart pontoon having an A-frame spanning between the upper decks of the pontoon and connecting the pontoons. A hook connected to a winch is secured to a cross header above the space between the pontoons. The hook is lowered into water and lifts an air header, to which the air diffusers are connected. An air diffuser is then pulled on the pontoons and serviced. The vessel is then propelled to a position to service other air diffusers in the pontoon.
US09021969B1

A spool of thread holder and threading device for holding a plurality of spools of thread, made up of a frame and a plurality of spool thread holders, said spool thread holders further comprising a rod, a base and a wing. The wing attaches to the rod along the axial length of said rod and the rod extends from the base. Each of the individual spool thread holders comprising the multiple spool thread holder, allows receipt of a spool of thread and the wing maintains the spool of thread adjacent the base. The frame is configured for attachment to a quilting machine to allow thread to unspool from each non-rotating spool of thread during operation under substantially equal tension.
US09021966B2

A burner system for consumption of waste fuel comprises a screw conveyor having a longitudinal hollow interior for air distribution and radially disposed air intake orifices connecting the hollow interior to a plurality of combustion chambers, which includes a first combustion chamber disposed centrally around the screw conveyor and at least one orifice; a second combustion chamber disposed concentrically around the first combustion chamber, receiving burning waste fuel from the first combustion chamber, and in fluid communication with the air intake orifice to provide air from an air blower through the orifice; and a third combustion chamber disposed concentrically around the second combustion chamber, receiving waste fuel from the second combustion chamber, and in fluid communication with the air intake orifice to provide air from the air blower.
US09021959B2

A less than lethal cartridge for a projectile which when fired has a velocity which will not kill an individual struck by the projectile. The less than lethal cartridge has a rim which is deeper or thicker than a rim on a conventional lethal cartridge. The caliber of the cartridge is also selected so that regular lethal ammunition is not available in this caliber. The preferred caliber of the less than lethal cartridge is .490. The less than lethal cartridge contains a polymeric projectile or alternatively, a sealed filled polymeric pouch containing shot therein.
US09021947B2

A method for preparing a lenticular guide roll for use in a lenticular printing run. The method comprises providing a printing roll of a printing press and a first piece of lenticular media. The first piece of lenticular printing substrate has a pitch which is substantially identical to a second lenticular printing substrate to be used in the lenticular printing run. The, method further comprises attaching the first piece of lenticular printing substrate to the printing roll to allow the maneuvering of the second lenticular printing substrate by the printing roll in the printing press.
US09021945B2

A shell cracking and retaining device for cracking shelled food products, wherein the device entirely or substantially retains food, shell portions and other debris during the cracking process, and therefore prevents said food, shell portions and other debris from being sent airborne from the device.
US09021941B2

A fryer unit includes a vat and heat exchange system with multiple passes within the fryer vat. Additional heat exchange passes may be provided in ductwork along the exterior surface of the lateral vat sidewalls.
US09021940B2

A method of converting a conventional atmospheric frying device to a vacuum frying device is provided. The method includes positioning a hood on top of a conventional frying device to provide an enclosure for drawing a vacuum within the modified devices. In addition, the method can include strengthening the existing vat so that it is capable of withstanding the forces associated with vacuum frying.
US09021927B2

A subassembly is provided for a pipe lathe. The pipe lathe includes a segmented base ring and a drive gear assembly. The segmented base ring is structured to be removably coupled to a work piece having a perimeter. The subassembly includes a gear ring, a separate ring member, at least one tool mounting portion disposed on the separate ring member. The separate ring member is fastenable to the gear ring, in order that the separate ring member rotates with the gear ring but not independently with respect thereto. A number of tool assemblies mount to the tool mounting portion to machine the work piece. The gear ring includes a plurality of teeth, which cooperate with the drive gear assembly of the pipe lathe to rotate the subassembly about the perimeter of the work piece.
US09021923B2

An adaptor tool comprises a locking pin removably engaged with a main body defining a hook portion. The main body is configured to pivot about a pivot pin. The adaptor tool further includes a first link having first and second ends, and a first contact face. The first link is configured to receive the locking pin. A second link includes first and second ends, and a second contact face. The second link is pivotally coupled to the main body via the pivot pin. At least a third link includes first and second ends, and a third contact face. The first, second, and at least third links are pivotally coupled end-to-end such that the first, second, and third contact faces define a circular opening. The circular opening is configured to receive a workpiece such that rotational force applied to the main body rotates the adaptor tool and the workpiece.
US09021921B2

A torque wrench equipped with a cam-type torque detection mechanism is provided which is capable of detecting a torque with high accuracy, providing a non-unusual-feeling of handle operation after torque has been detected, and enabling tightening of fastened members such as bolts with safety. In a torque wrench equipped with the cam-type torque detection mechanism, a cam portion 27 formed on the outer circumference of a tubular cam 22 includes: a static engagement cam surface 27a with which a roller member 18 in a static status engages in a non-operated status; a gradually increasing torque peak cam surface 27b which is connected to the static engagement cam surface 27a and with which the roller member 18 is brought into contact while moving to thereby gradually increase the torque peak value; a cam top surface 27c forming the cam top portion continued to the gradually increasing torque peak cam surface 27b; a gradually decreasing torque cam surface 27d for gradually decreasing a plus torque to the roller member 18 to zero; and a minus torque cam surface 27e for imparting a minus torque to the roller member 18 having passed over the gradually decreasing torque cam surface 27d.
US09021916B2

A robotic arm includes a driving unit, a first arm assembly connected to the driving unit, and a second arm assembly. The first arm includes two balls. The second arm assembly includes two arms and two intermediate members. Each intermediate member is secured to an end of one of the two arms. Each intermediate member defines a receiving recess. Each receiving recess has a spherical inner circumferential surface. Each ball is partially received in one of the two receiving recesses and abuts against the spherical inner circumferential surface. The two arms and the two intermediate members are capable of rotating about the balls. The driving unit drives the balls to move. The balls force the arms to move in a direction as a moving orientation of the balls, at the same time the arms rotating about the balls.
US09021913B2

In a shift by wire transmission, a control unit limits the shift position (P, R, N, D, L) to be changed beyond a prescribed shift position depending on an initial shift position and an amount of the movement of the shift member in a single shifting operation. Thereby, even when the shift member is excessively advanced or otherwise improperly advanced, the actually selected shift position can be suitably selected so that an undesired change of the shift position can be avoided. The control unit may also limit the selected shift position to be changed beyond a prescribed shift position depending on a traveling speed of the vehicle so that an improper change in the shift position due to vehicle speed constraints can be avoided by using a simple structure.
US09021899B2

A control device controls driving of a pulse motor to cause liquid that is sucked into a syringe in a single suction process to be discharged over a plurality of discharge processes. The control method of the control device is a method that controls driving of the pulse motor so that rotation of a ball screw for executing each discharge process starts from an identical rotational angle position relative to a slit of a coupling.
US09021894B2

Generally, the subject matter herein relates to detecting the presence of weak BEOL sites in a metallization system. One disclosed method includes performing a lateral force test on a pillar bump formed above a metallization system of a semiconductor chip, which includes contacting the pillar bump with a test probe while moving the test probe at a substantially constant speed that is less than approximately 1 μm/sec along a path that is oriented at a substantially non-zero angle relative to a plane of the metallization system. Furthermore, the test probe is moving substantially away from the metallization system so that a force imposed on the pillar bump by the test probe has an upward component that induces a tensile load on the metallization system. The disclosed method also includes determining a behavioral interaction between the pillar bump and the metallization system during the lateral force test.
US09021884B2

A pressure sensor device and its use for confirming achievement of a selected pressure in a high pressure process (HPP) for sanitizing food is disclosed. The device includes at least a base and a sheet, each of which is substantially impermeable to the working fluid of the HPP and is deformable at the selected pressure. Microcapsules interposed between flat overlapping portions of the base and sheet contain a color former and burst upon pressurization of the environment surrounding the device. Release of the color former is detected to confirm that the pressurization occurred. The device can be associated with one or more foodstuffs (e.g., a packaged food product or a group of such packages) and remain associated therewith to continuously indicate that the foodstuff(s) have been subjected to the selected pressure and are therefore sanitized.
US09021878B2

The present invention is flow rate meters which are able to accurately measure the volumetric rate of flow of a liquid through a conduit without requiring foreknowledge of the physicochemical characteristics of the liquid, e.g., for the purpose of calibration of the thermal mass flow rate. One application of the flow meters of the invention is to incorporate them in a system for measuring the flow rate of urine excreted by a catheterized patient. The invention also provides methods for using the flow rate meters.
US09021877B2

A method and a device determines an air mass flow flowing through a ram air channel having disposed therein a feed device adapted in a first operating state of the ram air channel to feed air through the ram air channel and further adapted in a second operating state of the ram air channel to be set in rotation by an air mass flow flowing through the ram air channel. The method includes the step of detecting an actual operational characteristic of the feed device that is characteristic of the air mass flow flowing through the ram air channel in the second operating state of the ram air channel as well as the step of determining the air mass flow flowing through the ram air channel on the basis of the detected actual operational characteristic of the feed device.
US09021875B2

A method of determining characteristics of fluids flowed between a wellbore and multiple zones intersected by the wellbore can include measuring a first distributed temperature profile of the fluids along the wellbore while the fluids flow in one direction through the wellbore, and measuring a second distributed temperature profile of the fluids along the wellbore while the fluids flow in an opposite direction through the wellbore. Another method can include flowing the fluids in a first direction through an annulus formed between tubular strings in the wellbore, measuring a first distributed temperature profile of the fluids while flowing the fluids in the first direction, flowing the fluids in a second, opposite direction through the annulus, and measuring a second distributed temperature profile of the fluids along the wellbore while flowing the fluids flow in the second direction.
US09021872B2

A system for measuring suspension sag in a vehicle, such as a motorcycle, is disclosed. The system includes a measuring device that attaches to a wheel hub, axle, or other component. The system includes a clamp that attaches to a fender or other vehicle component. The device is connected to the clamp by a cord, which extends from and retracts into the device. When a load is placed on the vehicle, the fender may move closer to the hub or axle. Any slack in the cord may be taken up by a spool shaft in the device. A rotary encoder may measure the rotation of the spool shaft, and the measuring device may calculate a change in a linear distance between, for example, the fender and the axle based on the rotation of the spool shaft.
US09021863B1

A system for measuring back pressure in open ended chemical reactor tubes is provided. The system can include automatic test heads or manual test head connected to a continuous real-time monitor and display device, a controller, a multiport manifold, and a plurality of umbilicals. Each umbilical can carry compressed air, sensor signals, and power to the test heads.
US09021859B2

A heating system can include certain pressure sensitive features. These features can be configured to change from a first position to a second position based on a pressure of a fuel flowing into the feature. These features can include, fuel selector valves, pressure regulators, burner nozzles, and oxygen depletion sensor nozzles, among other features.
US09021855B2

A flow sensor with h no moving parts and which is suitable for miniaturization into a probe for fluid measurements in remote, hostile environments. It comprises an isolation torque tube to isolate a high pressure media from an instrument environment. and a highly sensitive disc torque sensor to measure the values of torque generated by flow across a static impeller. A proportionalized electric property signal is transmitted to a value reading station.
US09021849B2

The present invention is a shrinker stretcher machine that uses four distinct and separate tool cartridges to perform both shrinking and stretching operations by simply removing, rotating each tool cartridge 180 degrees, and reattaching it in its designated position. Each tool cartridge removably carries a jaw that can be removed and securely replaced with either a shrinker or stretcher jaw to accommodate the operation being performed. Each tool cartridges and jaw is firmly held in place by magnets and interlocking keyed surfaces to properly align and hold the tool cartridges and jaws.
US09021844B2

Methods and apparatus to monitor conditioning machines are disclosed herein. An example system includes a plurality of work rolls to process a strip material. A first sensor detects a first distance between an upper surface of the strip material and a first reference location and a second sensor detects a second distance between an upper surface of the strip material and a second reference location. A controller determines a difference value between the first distance and the second distance to detect material curvature of the strip material.
US09021838B2

Submerged combustion systems and methods of use to produce glass. One system includes a submerged combustion melter having a roof, a floor, a wall structure connecting the roof and floor, and an outlet, the melter producing an initial foamy molten glass. One or more non-submerged auxiliary burners are positioned in the roof and/or wall structure and configured to deliver combustion products to impact at least a portion of the bubbles with sufficient force and/or heat to burst at least some of the bubbles and form a reduced foam molten glass.
US09021836B2

When melting a glass layer 3 by irradiation with laser light L1 along a region to be fused R, the glass layer 3 is irradiated with the laser light L1 having a first heat input along the region to be fused R, so as to gasify a binder and melt a glass frit 2, and the heat input is switched when the melting ratio of the glass layer 3 in a direction intersecting an advancing direction of the laser light L1 exceeds a predetermined value, so as to irradiate the glass layer 3 with the laser light L1 having a second heat input smaller than the first heat input along the region to be fused R, thereby gasifying the binder and melting the glass fit 2, thus fixing the glass layer 3 to a glass member 4.
US09021834B2

Flexible retaining structures for body jewelry and method for their use.
US09021832B2

A process and an apparatus are disclosed for recovering ethane, ethylene, and heavier hydrocarbon components from a hydrocarbon gas stream. The stream is cooled, expanded to lower pressure, and supplied to a first fractionation tower at a mid-column feed position. A distillation liquid stream is withdrawn from the first fractionation tower below the feed position of the expanded stream, heated, and directed into a second fractionation tower that produces an overhead vapor stream and a bottom liquid stream. The overhead vapor stream is cooled to condense it, with a portion of the condensed stream directed to the second fractionation tower as its top feed and the remainder directed to the first fractionation tower at a lower column feed position. The bottom liquid stream from the second fractionation tower is cooled and directed to the first fractionation tower as its top feed.
US09021830B2

A compressor (10, 200) for compressing refrigerant, having a power unit arranged in a power unit space (14) which is delimited at least partially by a power unit housing (12), having a suction gas volume (46) and having a high-pressure volume (48) is in fluid communication with the power unit space (14) via a second fluid connection (74), wherein the compressor furthermore has a first fluid connection (54, 254) which can be placed in or is in fluid communication with an oil-conducting volume (205) of a refrigeration plant or of the compressor (10, 200), wherein an oil separator (56) is arranged in the first fluid connection (54, 254).
US09021829B2

An outdoor unit for an air conditioner according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, comprising: a case forming shape and having a suction port suctioning outside air and a discharge port discharging the suctioned air; a heat exchanger accommodated inside the case; a fan that is accommodated inside the case and forcibly circulate air; and a louver assembly revolvably mounted in the case so as to selectively open and close the discharge port.
US09021825B2

An apparatus for maintaining the temperature of a fluid in a container includes a body having a cavity and a seal assembly adapted to engage and temporarily seal the container; a second fluid located and sealed in the cavity and having a freezing point below 0° C.; and the body and the seal assembly have no apertures through which the fluid or the second fluid flows.
US09021820B2

The invention relates to a control process for an air conditioning system. The air conditioning system comprises a thermal loop (1) used as a heat pump and an electrical heating device (2). The process calculates a global heating capacity (HCglo) in function of the temperature chosen by the passenger, the speed of the blower and the temperature of the exterior air. Then, the process calculates a heating capacity (HC1) of the thermal loop (1) and compares this heating capacity (HC1) of the thermal loop to the global heating capacity (HCglo). If the global heating capacity (HCglo) is superior to the heating capacity (HC1) of the thermal loop, the process determines a heating capacity (HC2) of the electrical heating device (2). This heating capacity (HC2) of the electrical heating device (2) added to the heating capacity (HC1) of the thermal loop (1) allows to obtain the global heating capacity (HCglo) required in function of the temperature selected by the passenger.
US09021811B2

A swirler for mixing fuel and air is provided. The swirler includes a plurality of vanes positioned radially around a central axis of the swirler and a plurality of mixing channels for mixing the fuel and the air. At least one mixing channel of the plurality of mixing channels is defined by opposite walls of two adjacent vanes of the plurality of vanes and is comprising at least one fuel injection opening and is further comprising at least one dimple for generating a vortex of the air. Further, a combustion chamber incorporating such a swirler and a gas turbine incorporating such a combustion chamber are provided.
US09021806B2

Embodiments for a supercharged engine are presented. In one example, a supercharged engine includes a cylinder head having at least two cylinders, each cylinder having at least one outlet opening for discharging exhaust gases and each outlet opening being adjoined by an exhaust line, with exhaust lines of at least two cylinders merging to form an overall exhaust line within the cylinder head so as to form an integrated exhaust manifold, at least two turbines arranged in series, the two turbines being of different size and arranged downstream of the exhaust manifold in the overall exhaust line, a distributor housing in which the overall exhaust line downstream of the manifold enters into and leads through to a small turbine of the two turbines, and a first turbine housing which accommodates the small turbine including at least one coolant jacket in order to form a liquid cooling arrangement.
US09021805B2

Methods and systems are disclosed for controlling an exhaust gas recirculation valve in an engine by determining errors in exhaust backpressure estimates and adapting EGR flow estimations based on these errors to meet target EGR dilutions in the engine. In one example approach, a method comprises adjusting valve position based on desired EGR flow and estimated EGR flow, where the estimated flow is based on estimated exhaust backpressure, and the estimated exhaust backpressure is updated based on errors between actual and desired intake oxygen concentration.
US09021803B2

In a turbine for an exhaust gas turbocharger having a turbine housing with a turbine rotor rotatable supported therein and including spiral channels for directing exhaust gas onto the turbine wheel, at least one annular blocking element is supported between the spiral channels and the turbine wheel so as to be rotatable in the peripheral direction of the turbine wheel and additionally movable in the axial direction of the turbine wheel for a controlling the exhaust gas flow to the turbine wheel between impulse turbine mode when extended into the space between the turbine wheel and the spiral chamber and an accumulation made when retracted, with the gas flow through the turbine wheel or by-passing the turbine wheel being adjustable by rotation of the blocking element.
US09021799B1

A hydraulic motor assembly capable of precise control having a housing, a hydraulic mounting surface located in the housing, a cylinder block rotatably disposed on the hydraulic mounting surface, a motor shaft engaged to the cylinder block and supported proximate to a first end, a plurality of cooperating gears located in the housing and rotationally engaged to a second end of the motor shaft, an output shaft rotationally engaged to the plurality of cooperating gears, a speed sensor located proximate to one of the plurality of cooperating gears, wherein the speed sensor transmits a signal indicative of the rotational speed of the one of the plurality of cooperating gears.
US09021791B2

A method for diagnosing a metering valve for metering a reagent into the exhaust gas region of an internal combustion engine. The metering valve is actuated by a pulse-width-modulated metering valve actuation signal with a certain duty factor for setting the metering rate. A reagent pump places the reagent at a reagent pressure, and the reagent pump is operated with a pulse-width-modulated pump actuation signal with a certain duty factor. Diagnosis of the metering valve is carried out on the basis of an evaluation of the increase in the metering valve actuation signal pulse duty factor after a predefined increase in the metering rate. The reagent filling level of an SCR catalytic converter arranged in the exhaust gas region is taken into account. At the start of the diagnosis, the reagent storage capacity of the SCR catalytic converter is checked.
US09021788B2

In an internal combustion engine, inside of an engine exhaust passage, a hydrocarbon feed valve (15) and an exhaust purification catalyst (13) are arranged. At the time of engine operation, the amplitude of change of the concentration of hydrocarbons which flow into the exhaust purification catalyst (13) is made to become within a predetermined range of amplitude by control of the injection amount of hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon feed valve (15), the concentration of hydrocarbons flowing into the exhaust purification catalyst (13) is made to vibrate by a predetermined range of period by control of the injection period of hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon feed valve (15), and thereby the NOx contained in the exhaust gas and the NOx stored in the exhaust purification catalyst (13) are reduced.
US09021787B2

A fluid delivery apparatus with a flow sensing means for delivering a first fluid into a second fluid. In a fluid delivery apparatus using a common rail method, which produces a pulsated flow, the flow sensing means generates sensing signals indicative of the flow rate and the temperature of the second fluid, the delivery rate of the first fluid, and the evaporating rate of the first fluid, while in a fluid delivery apparatus using a pump metering method, the flow sensing means is able to provide a sensing signal indicative of the delivery rate of the first fluid. The sensing signals can be used in a feedback control for controlling delivery rate, in limiting delivery rate according to the evaporation capability of the first fluid, and in a diagnostic system detecting failures and abnormalities in the fluid delivery apparatus.
US09021783B2

The engine (10) includes at least one firing tube (12) wherein an exhaust stream (32) from the firing tube (12) drives a turbine (30). A scroll ejector attenuator (40) is secured between and in fluid communication with an outlet end (28) of the firing tube (12) and an inlet (76) of the turbine (30). The attenuator (40) defines a turning, narrowing passageway (72) that extends a distance the exhaust stream (32) travels before entering the turbine (30) to attenuate shockwaves and mix the pulsed exhaust stream (32) into an even stream with minimal temperature differences to thereby enhance efficient operation of the turbine (30) without any significant pressure decline of exhaust stream (32) pressure and without any backpressure from the attenuator (40) on the firing tube (12).
US09021767B1

A kit for securing stone veneer panels to a structure, the kit comprising a plurality of stone veneer panels with upper and lower flanges, a plurality of brackets for securing the panels to the structure and a filler panel for placement between adjacent vertically disposed stone veneer panels to fill the gap between the panels. The brackets are secured to the structure through a bracket center mount and also utilize upper and lower wing walls to form a channel for receipt of the flange of the panels.
US09021766B1

A baseboard for repair of a flood-damaged building and for construction of buildings located in areas prone to flooding, and a method of use of such a baseboard in repairing a flood-damaged building or in construction of buildings located in areas prone to flooding. The baseboard has one or more rearwardly-extending standoffs. A rear surface portion of the baseboard defines a plane, and a distal surface of the standoff(s) is spaced rearwardly from the plane by the standard thickness of wallboard mounted to studs on the building's wall. The bottom edge of the wallboard is above the “high-water” line, and the rear surface portion of the baseboard extends above the bottom edge of the wallboard and rests adjacent the outer surface of the wallboard with the distal surface of the standoff(s) supported by and resting adjacent the studs below the bottom edge of the wallboard.
US09021748B2

A gutter protecting apparatus includes a plurality of substantially parallel rods extending in a downward slope from near a roof edge to and beyond the far side of the gutter. The rods extend substantially perpendicular to the gutter's length and to a frame to which the rods connect at the upper edge. Preferably, the lower rod ends are spaced above and slightly beyond the far edge of the gutter to allow debris to pass the gutter without catching. Legs can extend down from some rods to the gutter's far edge to provide support. The apparatus can be pivotably mounted to the roof, the fascia or the gutter, permitting access beneath. The apparatus forms a cage-like covering over the gutter to exclude matter and small creatures, while allowing the liquid to flow past. Sunlight bypassing the rods and movement of air through the gutter make the water exiting the downspout cleaner.
US09021742B2

An opening and closing apparatus includes: a drive unit provided in an opening and closing body which is openably and closeably attached to a main body, and opening and closing the opening and closing body with respect to the main body by driving the opening and closing body using electric power; a secondary energy storage device provided in the opening and closing body and electrically connected to the drive unit in such a manner that the secondary energy storage device can be inductively charged and can supply electric power to the drive unit; and an electric power receiving coil provided in the opening and closing body so as to be capable of facing an electric power transmitting coil which is provided on the main body, and is electrically connected to a primary energy storage device installed on the main body, and electrically connected to the secondary energy storage device.
US09021731B2

A double-magazine (“Dmag”) able to house projectile ammunition for a projectile launcher having a first ammunition channel, a second ammunition channel, and a flexible projectile control bar (“FPCB”) is disclosed. In one embodiment, the first ammunition channel contains a first set or column of projectiles and the second ammunition channel which is situated in parallel to the first ammunition channel is configured to house a second set of projectiles. Dmag also includes a follower with a follower lock capable of moving along the first ammunition channel. The follower is configured to push the first set of projectiles toward a first ammunition supply port of the first ammunition channel. The FPCB has a first flexible flap which keeps the first set of projectiles from reaching the loading port of the launcher until the follower lock is released.
US09021730B2

A firearm (1) comprising a stock (2) and a slide (3) and a bolt (50) suitable to reciprocally lock them.Firearm wherein the slide (3) comprises a barrel (31), a spring and a spring-holder (35) suitable to act on the bolt (50).The bolt (50) comprises a spring-holder seat (500) which acts in conjunction with an engagement end (350) of the spring-holder (35).The spring-holder seat (500) comprises a support surface (501), a translation surface (502) which permits the translation of the bolt (50) acting in conjunction with said engagement end (350).
US09021712B2

The invention relates to an autonomous system for determining items of information representative of the movement of an articulated chain (CA—1, CA—2, CA—3) comprising at least two solid elements (ES1—1, ES2—1, ES1—2, ES2—2, ES3—2, ES1—3, ES2—3, ES3—3, ES4—3) and at least one articulation (ART1—1, ART1—2, ART2—2, ART1—3, ART2—3, ART3—3) connecting said two elements. The system comprises at least two devices (DISP1—1, DISP2—1, DISP1—2, DISP2—2, DISP3—2, DISP1—3, DISP2—3, DISP3—3, DISP4—3) for measuring inter-device distances, mounted fixedly on two distinct elements of said articulated chain and suitable for transmitting the measurements made. Moreover, the system comprises means for determining at least one distance separating two measuring devices based on at least one measurement supplied by a measuring device, and calculation means (CALC), mounted on said articulated chain, suitable for calculating items of information representative of the movement of said articulated chain based on the measurements transmitted by said devices for measuring inter-device distances.
US09021702B2

When forming a toothed portion on the outer section of a blank by contacting a tooth profile-forming portion of a forming die with a curved portion of the blank, the first projection of the blank is accommodated in a first depression, and a load is applied axially to a center section of the blank so a material of the blank flows radially outward. The material of the blank at the first projection flows in the axial direction to inside the first depression, and the material of the blank at an intermediate section between the center and the outer section flows in axially to inside a second depression to form a second projection. When the load is maximized, a space is provided between a toothed portion and the tooth profile-forming portion, between the first projection and the forming die, and between the second projection and the forming die.
US09021694B2

A method of making a hermetically-sealed feed-through device includes inserting an elongate conductor or conductors within a hollow portion or portions of a plastic insulator body and inserting the plastic insulator body within a hollow outer jacket to form an assembly. At least one of the conductor or conductors, insulator body, or jacket of the assembly has a plurality of circumferential grooves. Thereafter, the assembly is crimped and/or is swage-crimped at ambient temperature to cause the materials of the conductor or conductors, insulator body, and outer jacket to be displaced or extrude into the grooves thereby creating mechanical interlocks between the conductor or conductors, insulator body, and outer jacket. Additional methods and feed-through devices made by the methods are also disclosed.
US09021685B2

An annealing process for a TMR or GMR sensor having an amorphous free layer is disclosed and employs at least two annealing steps. A first anneal at a temperature T1 of 200° C. to 270° C. and for a t1 of 0.5 to 15 hours is employed to develop the pinning in the AFM and pinned layers. A second anneal at a temperature T2 of 260° C. to 400° C. where T2>T1 and t1>t2 is used to crystallize the amorphous free layer and complete the pinning. An applied magnetic field of about 8000 Oe is used during both anneal steps. The mechanism for forming a sensor with high MR and robust pinning may involve structural change in the tunnel barrier or at an interface between two of the layers in the spin valve stack. A MgO tunnel barrier and a CoFe/CoB free layer are preferred.
US09021681B2

A mountable cable tie with fine adjustment with an elongated strap having a first strap end and a second strap end, the elongated strap having one or more rows of teeth or cross-bars formed crosswise on the elongated strap, and a plurality of holes positioned linear along the median between the one or more rows of teeth, at least one locking buckle positioned proximate the second strap end, the at least one locking buckle having at least one channel and at least one locking tang or pawl positioned within the locking buckle, wherein increased insertion of the first strap end into the locking head decreases the size of the loop of the elongated strap to secure the bundle.
US09021677B1

An automatic riveting apparatus is improved by providing at least one sensor on a pressure foot plate or at an interface between the pressure foot plate and a pressure foot bushing of the apparatus for generating a signal indicative of force transmitted between the pressure foot plate and the pressure foot bushing. For example, the at least one sensor may include a strain gauge or other type of sensor for measuring deflection of the pressure foot plate, or it may include load cell(s) for measuring force at the interface between the pressure foot plate and the pressure foot bushing. A control system of the apparatus may be configured to execute one or more control functions based on a value of the sensor signal or signals. The control functions may adjust machine operation commands or trigger a safety mode based at least in part on the sensor signal.
US09021673B2

A bayonet-connection-undoing device includes a projection configured for attachment to a hand so as to extend therefrom for depressing a pin to undo a bayonet connection. The device may have a finger ring to which the projection is attached, in which case the attachment to the hand can be made by wearing the ring on the hand, optionally the ring being disposed inside a hand glove, with the projection emerging from the glove. Alternatively or in addition, the device may further include sections of a pipe cleaner, the connection, and the pin which is configured for mutually fixing one of the sections to another. In this case, the depressing is down into a position at which the pin is retracted out of the connection and maintained, without need for the depressing, in a contracted state by relative movement of the sections.
US09021672B2

An apparatus for removal of fasteners. The apparatus comprises a motor, a rotary drive shaft, a striker mechanism operable to convert rotary motion into reciprocating linear motion and a reciprocating shear blade shaped and sized to shear off fasteners or split materials.
US09021659B2

A hinge structure includes a first shaft, a second shaft, a pivot base and a position-limiting mechanism. The first and second shafts are pivoted on the pivot base. The position-limiting mechanism includes a first position-limiting portion, a second position-limiting portion and a position-limiting component. The first position-limiting portion is fixed to the first shaft. The second position-limiting portion is fixed to the second shaft. The position-limiting component is slidably disposed on the pivot base and has first and second ends opposite to each other. When the position-limiting component moves to a first position, the first end and the first position-limiting portion interfere with each other to stop the first shaft and the pivot base from rotating relatively. When the position-limiting component moves to a second position, the second end and the second position-limiting portion interfere with each other to stop the second shaft and the pivot base from rotating relatively.
US09021653B2

A cleaning device includes at least: a holder, a lance having a fluid distribution device, a drive unit for a translational motion of the lance in the holder, and a fluid conducting system having a feed, a return, and flow paths starting from the feed to the return and to the fluid distribution device. At least one actuating means (or actuator) is provided in order to connect the feed to the return or to the fluid distribution device as needed. Furthermore, a method involves cleaning heating surfaces of a convection section of a thermal power plant that includes spaced heat exchanger pipes using such a cleaning device.
US09021650B2

A lint and fuzz ball removing device is disclosed comprising at least one blade attached to an easily grasped and maneuvered body allowing for the quick removal and or detangling of lint, hair and pill balls. The blade surface is entirely covered with particle removing hooks or finger-like projections, including a plurality of flat surfaces, and edges of the blade, allowing for the quick and easy removal of lint, hair, fuzz and pill balls of any shape and size, across broad surfaces or hard to reach areas of clothing and fabric.
US09021645B2

A pool cleaning robot for cleaning a surface of a swimming pool, said robot comprising: a main housing; main wheels being configured for propelling the robot; an auxiliary brushwheel disposed between said main wheels and configured for being rotated by the robot about an axis of rotation; and at least one inlet being formed in a bottom panel of the housing between said main wheels and being configured for intake of water and debris, wherein said main wheels are configured for being rotated by the robot at a first angular velocity, and said auxiliary brushwheel is configured for being rotated by the robot at a second angular velocity which is greater than the first angular velocity.
US09021640B2

A vacuum mattress for an operation table has plural foam strips oriented longitudinally with respect to a patient, the foam strips being laterally spaced apart, wherein the gaps are free from granulate of the vacuum mattress at least in their upper parts and the plural foam strips are separated from the granulate by a gas-impermeable layer.
US09021633B2

A movable lift device including a rotatable bed which can be lifted or rotated by a user, with laying a user thereon. The movable lift device having a rotatable bed includes a base frame comprising a plurality of wheels installed therein; a post rotatably coupled to the base frame, the post upwardly extended from the base frame a predetermined length in an “L” shape; and a bed comprising a bed part that is able to ascend along the post, the bed part allowing a user to lie thereon. The post rotatably supporting the bed has an “L” shape and the supporting point of the post rotatably supporting the bed is formed in the center of the base frame, such that the structure may be stably maintained even when the bed having the patient lying thereon is rotated, only to prevent an accident of overturning the movable lift device.
US09021630B2

Levitation devices are disclosed for use with beds. In one embodiment, the levitation device is configured to facilitate rotation of a mattress with respect to a box spring. In another embodiment, the levitation device is configured to facilitate making a bed which allows sheets and blankets to be tucked between the mattress and the box spring without the need to lift the mattress. In a third embodiment, the levitation device functions as a hybrid device and can be used for making a bed or rotating a mattress.
US09021628B2

The invention relates to a drain (1′), in particular for floor level showers, the drain comprising a pot shaped drain housing (1.1) including a shell or pot shaped base component (1.2) without a pipe connection, a laterally disposed pipe connection (1.5) and an inlet opening (1.3) at a top side of the base component, and an immersion pipe (2) which is insertable into the drain housing through the inlet opening (1.3) and defines a stench trap with the drain housing. In order to be able to adapt such a drain to various installation conditions in a flexible manner, so that the installation height, water lock height and drain output of the drain is variable, the invention provides a solution wherein the base component (1.2) is connected in an elevation-adjustable and liquid-tight manner with the drain housing (1.1).
US09021621B2

The drain strainer and filter is removably placed within a sink, tub, or other drain to prevent solid particles from passing through the drain and building up to block the drain at some inaccessible location. The device includes a perforated basket having a removable perforated lid. The basket and lid enclose a removable and disposable filter element therein. The drain strainer may have a retractable stopper extending therebelow, the stopper being actuated by a lift rod that extends through the basket, filter, and lid. The handle of the lift rod may be removed to allow the lid and the filter to be removed from the basket. Alternatively, the drain strainer does not include the stopper. The drain strainer includes a folding handle. The lid includes a recess to allow the handle to fold flush with the top of the lid to avoid interference with articles in the sink during use.
US09021614B2

An embodiment of a leg protector of the present disclosure includes an upper thigh pad that is structurally attached to an upper bracing shell including lateral and medial uprights. The upper shell and thigh pad can be held to the player via a strap and/or garment. The uprights extend to uni- or polycentric hinges arranged on, and in one embodiment biased against, either side of the player's knee. A connecting member extends in a frontward direction from each hinge and attaches to a patella pad held in place over the player's knee. The patella pad may additionally be connected to the thigh pad via one or more connecting strip. Each hinge is also connected to a lower bracing shell, which includes lateral and medial uprights that extend down and around the player's lower leg, anteriorly or posteriorly. The lower shell can also be fitted via a strap or garment.
US09027155B2

Described is a system, whereby a creator of an asset at an asset management system selects an identifier corresponding to information related to the asset. The information is stored at a target repository. The asset creator is authenticated with the target repository. An authorization token is output to the asset management system for authorizing one or more users to access the information related to the asset.
US09027145B2

A method and apparatus for detecting a leak of an information resource of a device. Source code is obtained from an application and is analyzed to determine whether at least one information resource from among information resources of a device is transmittable to outside the device by tracking a task performed on the at least one information resource, thereby detecting whether the application is externally leaking an information resource from the device.
US09027144B1

Semantic-based processing techniques are disclosed. Semantic processing of content data comprising a content item is performed. A semantic processing-triggered event is triggered based at least in part on the semantic processing. A responsive action is performed in response to the event. The responsive action may include launching a business process, providing a result of semantic processing as an input, or augmenting a content item metadata set with a result of semantic processing.
US09027143B1

Various embodiments of a system and method for multipronged authentication are described. Embodiments may include a client system that implements a runtime component configured to consume content. The client system may be configured to implement a digital rights management component configured to perform one or more cryptographic operations and also authenticate the runtime component. The client system may receive encrypted content from a remote computer system and receive a given authentication component from a remote computer system; that authentication component may be configured to authenticate the runtime component. The client system may, based on authentication of the runtime component by both the digital rights management component and the given authentication component, decrypt at least a portion of the encrypted content. In this way, the client system may ensure that decryption of the encrypted content may occur only if multiple components authenticate the runtime component, according to some embodiments.
US09027140B1

Application malware filtering for advertising networks is disclosed. For example, techniques for providing a system and process for detecting malicious ad content (e.g., or other undesirable ad content) distributed by advertising (ad) networks are disclosed. In some embodiments, application (“app”) malware filtering for advertising networks includes receiving ad content; processing the ad content; and automatically determining whether the ad content is associated with a malicious app.
US09027139B2

A method monitors data affected by malware in a communication network. The malware detecting entity acts as a data retention source. The method includes receiving at a data retention system a query request specifying data affected by malware to be accessed. Retained data which matches the query request and received from the malware detecting entity is identified in the data retention system. The identified data is forwarded from the data retention system to an authorized organization.
US09027138B2

Novel solutions for detecting and/or treating malware on a subscriber's premise network. Such solutions can include, but are not limited to, tools and techniques that can detect, and/or enable the detection of, malware infections on individual subscriber devices within the subscriber's network. In a particular embodiment, for example, a premise gateway, or other device on the subscriber's premise network, is configured to analyze packets traveling through the premise gateway and, based on that analysis, identify one or more subscriber devices that are infected with malware.
US09027135B1

Systems and methods for prospective client identification using malware attack detection are provided. A malware device is identified. The entity with the responsibility for the malware device or a potentially compromised device in communication with the malware device is determined. A message is communicated to the entity based on the determination. In various embodiments, the message comprises an offer for security related products and/or services.
US09027130B1

A computer worm defense system comprises multiple containment systems tied together by a management system. Each containment system is deployed on a separate communication network and contains a worm sensor and a blocking system. In various embodiments, the computer worm may be transported from a production network, where the computer worm is not readily identifiable, to an alternate network in the worm sensor where the computer worm may be readily identifiable. Computer worm identifiers generated by a worm sensor of one containment system can be provided not only to the blocking system of the same containment system, but can also be distributed by the management system to blocking systems of other containment systems.
US09027123B2

A data dependence analyzer includes: inter-process communication detection means which, on the basis of a processing content of inter-process communication performed for transferring data to be copied between resources, detects the inter-process communication; access detection means which successively detects an access event to the data in the resource due to the process; recording means which, for each of the access events detected by the access detection means, records the access target data in the access event; and analysis means which, among the access target data recorded by the recording means, searches data respectively corresponding to the copy source and the copy destination of the data transferred through the inter-process communication detected by the inter-process communication detection means and imparts a dependence relationship between the searched data.
US09027119B2

An apparatus and method are disclosed for determining authentication frequency (i.e., the length of time between authenticating and re-authenticating a user) and challenge type (e.g., username/password, fingerprint recognition, voice recognition, etc.) based on what software applications a user is running on a data-processing system, and how those applications are being used (e.g., what functions are used, what data is input to or output by the application, how often and for how long applications are used, what input devices and output devices are used, etc.) Advantageously, the illustrative embodiment enables authentication frequency and challenge type to be adjusted based on the likelihood of malicious activity and/or the potential cost of malicious activity, as inferred from current and past application usage. In addition, the illustrative embodiment enables selection of an authentication challenge type that is less intrusive to a user based on current application usage.
US09027115B2

A method for connecting a first network device to a second network device includes receiving a request to resolve a network address of the second network device. The request includes a name associated with the second network device that corresponds to the network address. The request is evaluated to confirm that the name is registered with a name service that facilitates resolving the name and facilitates establishing communication links, which use encryption, between the first network device and the second network device over the network. It is determined whether the second network device is available to establish the communication link. If so, the communication link is automatically established, including sending a signal to a provisioning server to provision the first network device or the second network device with a resource for the communication link.
US09027114B2

In an embodiment, a method comprises obtaining a second network address at a computer node, which has been already associated with a first network address and provided first keying information; sending, to a key server computer, an update message that comprises both the first network address and the second network address; using the first keying information to encrypt messages that the computer node sends from the second network address to one or more other members of a group.
US09027112B2

Methods and apparatuses that enroll a wireless device into an enterprise service with a management server addressed in a management profile are described. The enrollment may grant a control of configurations of the wireless device to the management server via the management profile. In response to receiving a notification from the management server, a trust of the notification may be verified against the management profile. If the trust is verified, a network session may be established with the management server. The network session may be secured via a certificate in the management profile. Management operations may be performed for management commands received over the secure network session to manage the configurations transparently to a user of the wireless device according to the control.
US09027107B2

A method for realizing Single Sign-On (SSO) includes verifying, using prior information, whether authorization information issued by a first information processing system in response to successfully authenticating a user satisfies security requirements, providing, in a case where the authorization information is verified as satisfying the security requirements, a service without performing the user authentication, and performing, if an instruction to register a first information processing system that performs user authentication is received from the user, the registration by a method different from a method according to a management method of the prior information in the first information processing system.
US09027104B2

A method of an aspect includes receiving an instruction. The instruction indicates a first source of a first packed data including state data elements ai, bi, ei, and fi for a current round (i) of a secure hash algorithm 2 (SHA2) hash algorithm. The instruction indicates a second source of a second packed data. The first packed data has a width in bits that is less than a combined width in bits of eight state data elements ai, bi, ci, di, ei, fi, gi, hi of the SHA2 hash algorithm. The method also includes storing a result in a destination indicated by the instruction in response to the instruction. The result includes updated state data elements ai+, bi+, ei+, and fi+ that have been updated from the corresponding state data elements ai, bi, ei, and fi by at least one round of the SHA2 hash algorithm.
US09027103B2

The invention provides a method for securely accessing to protected resource and a system thereof, which belongs to information security field. A first terminal sends a request for accessing to the protected resource to a second terminal, and sends a user name and first data to the second terminal; the second terminal generates second data, and searches for a secret on a third terminal; the second terminal processes the first data, the second data, and the secret, so as to obtain a first characteristic value; the third terminal processes the first data, the second data, and the secret so as to obtain a second characteristic value, and upon receiving a confirmation message, processes the first data, the second data, and a secret pre-stored at/on the third terminal so as to obtain a third characteristic value; the first terminal sends the third characteristic value to the second terminal; the second terminal processes the first data, the second data, and the secret to generate a fourth characteristic value, and determines whether the fourth characteristic value is identical to the third characteristic value by comparison, if they are identical, accessing is permitted; otherwise, accessing is refused.
US09027102B2

A mobile access terminal providing access to data in a secure element of the mobile access terminal is provided. The mobile access terminal comprises the secure element; a web browser; a near field communications system; an over-the-air proxy; an application programming interface layer; and a web server residing on a secure storage area of the mobile access terminal, wherein the web browser is provided with exclusive access to the web server.
US09027101B2

A method and system for providing a record of consent in scenarios in which the user and a device may have to perform a function that involves two entities that don't trust each other or are not necessary interested in cooperating. In one such example, a user wants to switch services from an “old” operator to a “new” operator. An operator switch without explicit user consent may have legal or business ramifications for both the “old” and “new” operators. The ramifications are even more severe if the switch is the result of actions of, for example, a hacker maliciously causing this switches in order to cause monetary or other damage to either operators or denial of service to the users. In such cases it is useful for both operators to be on record and have an archive of proof of user consent should future disputes arise.
US09027099B1

Obtaining and/or validating user credentials at client devices is described.
US09027096B2

The disclosure discloses a method and system for enhancing the security of a user security model. In the solution of the disclosure, after a Simple Network Managing Protocol (SNMP) server acquires a multi-byte original password of a user, detects whether the original password is composed of a specific byte string repeated multiple times; and if so, the user is prompted to reconfigure a password. In accordance with the solution provided by the disclosure, the disclosure greatly enhances the security of version V3 for the SNMP server side, solves the problem that the vulnerability exists in the security defined in version V3 in the prior art, and avoids the security hidden danger caused by the fact that illegal users can use the password different from the password of the authorized user to log on the SNMP server.
US09027095B2

A network device and method may provide secure fallback operations. The device includes a port allowing the device to communicate with a network and a processor to generate a security credential, provide the security credential to a call manager during initialization, and provide the security credential to a secondary device during fallback operations. The network device may include a memory to store the security credential and routing information for fallback operations.
US09027090B2

A network system includes first information processing apparatus and a second information processing apparatus that are connected through a network. The first information processing apparatus includes a transmitter that transmits a setting for an application to the second information processing apparatus. The setting includes an attribute indicating whether any change in the setting in the second information processing apparatus is permitted. The second information processing apparatus includes a receiver that receives the setting; and a function executing unit that executes a function of the application in accordance with the setting.
US09027089B2

A service integration platform system for providing Internet services includes: an interface configured to receive a service request message that is initiated by a user of an application provided by an Independent Software Vendor (ISV), the service request message being implemented according to an Application Programming Interface (API) type and including a plurality of platform-level parameters that conform to the API type. The system further includes one or more processors coupled to the interface, configured to: locate a set of authentication checks that are appropriate for the API type, based at least in part on the plurality of platform-level parameters included in the service request message and a mapping of predefined combinations of platform-level parameters and corresponding sets of authentication checks; perform authentication of the service request according to the set of authentication checks; and route the service request to a service address of the Internet Service Provider (ISP) in the event that the service request is authenticated.
US09027088B2

Systems and methods are provided for authenticating Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) applications in a User Equipment (UE). A method includes: receiving a first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) REGISTER message from an IMS application operating on the UE; transmitting a response message to the IMS application based on the received first SIP REGISTER message; receiving a second SIP REGISTER message from the IMS application operating on the UE; determining authentication for the IMS application based on the received second SIP REGISTER message from the IMS application operating on the UE; and based on the step of determining authentication for the IMS application, if the IMS application is authorized, then transmitting information associated with the first and second SIP REGISTER messages toward a SIP node or if the IMS application is unauthorized, then discarding data associated with the first and second SIP REGISTER messages.
US09027087B2

A cloud computing system configured to run virtual machine instances is disclosed. The cloud computing system assigns an identity to each virtual machine instance. When the virtual machine instance accesses initial configuration resources, it provides this identity to the resources to authenticate itself. This allows for flexible and extensible initial configuration of virtual machine instances.
US09027085B2

A method, system and program product comprises establishing a communication with a computing system using a first device for communicating with the computing system over a first communication channel. The computing system is in communication with a second device configured for communicating with the computing system over a second communication channel separate from the first communication channel. The first device is paired with the computer system in which the first device and the computer system are mutually authenticated. A code presented by the second device is captured using the first device. The code is communicated to the computing system over the first communication channel in which the computer system uses the code in authorizing the second device to perform a function. The computer system communicates an authorization to the second device using the second communication channel.
US09027082B2

The invention relates to a subscriber data entity, method and a computer program product for defining a first record including a wildcarded public user identity covering plurality of public user identities of users, defining a second record including a public user identity of a user, wherein the public user identity belongs to the plurality of public user identities which the wildcarded public user identity covers and assigning the first record and the second record to the same registration set, wherein the registration set includes public user identities to be registered together.
US09027075B2

Various arrangements for implementing a security policy at runtime are presented. A plurality of calls in a syntax tree may be identified. Each call of the plurality of calls may be substituted with a corresponding security-modified call to create a plurality of security-modified methods calls. Each security-modified call may be linked with a security class. Following modification of each call of the plurality of calls, the plurality of security-modified calls may be compiled into bytecode.
US09027071B2

An apparatus for combining a broadcasting channel may include a channel detector to detect a vacant Radio Frequency (RF) broadcasting channel used by a photoelectric converter that converts a first broadcast program as an optical signal to a first RF signal, a broadcast receiving interface to receive at least one second broadcast program, a broadcast modulator to generate a second RF signal by modulating the second broadcast program using the vacant RF broadcasting channel, and a channel combiner to combine a broadcasting channel used for the first RF signal and the vacant RF broadcasting channel.
US09027060B1

A personal video on-demand system and method which permits a user to receive available content using a single tuner and perform one of a plurality of operations on the available content. These operations include recording two or more signals, where one or both may be simultaneously viewed, recording one or more signals and playing back one or more signals, playing back two or more signals, watching one or more signals while recording one or more other signals, viewing two or more signals live, or viewing at least one signal live, while viewing one or more signals in a playback mode.
US09027052B2

This invention discloses a system for in-stream advertising on an internet connected device comprising: at least a media streaming server adapted to stream media content in relation to a request from said internet connected device, said media streaming server further adapted to read and stream a concatenated file containing said media content and in-stream advertisement, on said internet connected device, in a single request from said internet connected device; at least an adinsert module adapted to concatenate said fetched advertisement and said media content; and at least a file writer configured to write said concatenated file containing fetched said media content and said in-stream advertisement in a single file in order to enable said media streaming server to read and stream said concatenated file on said internet connected device in a seamless manner.
US09027043B2

Methods and apparatus to detect an operating state of a display are disclosed. An example device to detect an operating state of a display includes an optical fiber, an optical-to-electrical converter, and a logic circuit. The optical fiber is optically coupled to a light source of the display. The light energy source is configured to emit light. The optical-to-electrical converter is coupled to the light source via the optical fiber and configured to convert light from the light source into an electrical signal. The logic circuit is coupled to the optical-to-electrical converter and configured to generate an output signal indicative of the operating state of the display based on the electrical signal.
US09027035B2

The techniques described herein implement an operating system that can reliably process time sensitive information in non real-time manner. Thus, the operating system described herein is capable of processing an instance of time sensitive input during a time period after the instance of time sensitive input is received (e.g., at a future point in time). To accomplish this, the techniques timestamp each instance of time sensitive input when it is received at a device. The techniques then store the timestamped instance of time sensitive input in a temporary queue, and make the timestamped instance available to the operating system at a time period after the time period when it is received, as indicated by the timestamp. Additional techniques described herein prioritize the activation of a driver configured to receive the time sensitive information during a boot sequence or a reboot sequence.
US09027034B2

A method of communication in at least one electronic device is presented. In the method, a first execution thread and a second execution thread are created in the at least one electronic device. Also created is a message service for receiving messages for the first thread. A message to be transferred from the second thread to the message service of the first thread is generated. One of multiple data transfer mechanisms is selected for transferring the message from the second thread to the message service of the first thread based on a relationship between the first and second threads. This relationship may be one in which the first and second threads are executing within a single process, within different processes of the same device, or within different devices. The message is transferred to the message service of the first thread using the selected data transfer mechanism and processed in the first thread.
US09027028B2

A method and apparatus controls use of a computing resource by multiple tenants in DBaaS service. The method includes intercepting a task that is to access a computer resource, the task being an operating system process or thread; identifying a tenant that is in association with the task from the multiple tenants; determining other tasks of the tenant that access the computing resource; and controlling the use of the computing resource by the task, so that the total amount of usage of the computing resource by the task and the other tasks does not exceed the limit of usage of the computing resource for the tenant.
US09027027B2

Managing threads for executing on a computing device based on a power state of the computing device. A power priority value corresponding to each of the threads is compared to a threshold value associated with the power state. The threads having an assigned power priority value that violates the threshold value are suspended from executing, while the remaining threads are scheduled for execution. When the power state of the computing device changes, the threads are re-evaluated for suspension or execution. In an embodiment, the threads on a mobile computing device are managed to maintain the processor in a low power state to reduce power consumption.
US09027025B2

Techniques for monitoring resources of a computer system are provided. A monitoring process collects and reports utilization data for one or more resources of a computer system, such as CPU, memory, disk I/O, and network I/O. Instead of reporting just an average of the collected data over a period of time (e.g., 10 seconds), the monitoring process at least reports individually collected resource utilization values. If one or more of the utilization values exceed specified thresholds for the respective resources, then an alert may be generated. In one approach, the monitoring process is made a real-time priority process in the computer system to ensure that the memory used by the monitoring process is not swapped out of memory. Also, being a real-time priority process ensures that the monitoring process obtains a CPU in order collect resource utilization data even when the computer system is in a starvation mode.
US09027021B2

A mechanism is provided in a logically partitioned data processing system for controlling depth and latency of exit of a virtual processor's idle state. A virtualization layer generates a cede latency setting information (CLSI) data. Responsive to booting a logical partition, the virtualization layer communicates the CLSI data to an operating system (OS) of the logical partition. The OS determines, based on the CLSI data, a particular idle state of a virtual processor under a control of the OS. Responsive to the OS calling the virtualization layer, the OS communicates the particular idle state of the virtual processor to the virtualization layer for assigning the particular idle state and wake-up characteristics to the virtual processor.
US09027019B2

In one embodiment, a method includes defining a plurality of virtual drives in a physical drive in communication with a plurality of servers, assigning virtualization parameters to each of the virtual drives, and communicating the virtualization parameters to a drive manager located at the physical drive and operable to configure the virtual drives on the physical drive. An apparatus is also disclosed.
US09027018B2

A master selecting unit selects master software from pieces of software that perform a computing process. A screen control unit displays an operation screen for the master software that is selected by the master selecting unit on a screen. A software search unit searches, when an instruction operation is detected on the operation screen for the master software, for any piece of software that displays an operation screen that receives the same instruction operation that the operation screen for the master software receives. An operation-content instructing unit instructs the master software and each piece of software that is found by the software search unit about operation content corresponding to the instruction operation that has been detected on the operation screen for the master software.
US09027017B2

In one embodiment, an apparatus can include a monitoring module configured to send an indicator representing that performance of a virtual resource satisfies a threshold condition. The apparatus can also include a management module configured to move a set of virtual resources including the virtual resource from a first portion of data center hardware resources to a second portion of data center hardware resources mutually exclusive from the first portion of data center hardware resources in response to the indicator. The management module can be configured to define the set of virtual resources based on an operational relationship between the virtual resource and the remaining virtual resources included in the set of virtual resources.
US09027015B2

A device and method of connecting an interactive communication system to a processing device. The device is a cable system that includes first and second ends. The first end of the cable system has a leg connector, while the second end of the connector system has first and second arm connectors. The method implements the cable system to load or run software onto the processing device, and includes connecting the leg connector to an interactive communication system; connecting the first arm connector having a memory device to the processing device, wherein the memory device includes predetermined software; loading/running the software on the processing device; disconnecting the first arm connector having the memory device from the processing device; and connecting a second arm connector to the processing device.
US09027011B1

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that profiles software code to dynamically tune a virtual machine for responsiveness and/or throughput. First, the system profiles software code to track a need for a higher level of responsiveness and/or throughput. The system then gathers statistics for system behavior through the profiling techniques while executing the profiled software code, and uses these statistics to dynamically tune a virtual machine.
US09027010B2

A method and an apparatus that optimize operations for a key among a collection of key indexed data structures using meta data describing properties of the key with respect to the collection of data structures are described. The meta data may correspond to a cache dynamically updated to indicate invariants which are true for the key in a current state of the collection of data structures. Expensive calculations to search through the collection of data structures for the key may be avoided. For example, costly lookup operations over a collection of data structures may not be required at all if a key is known to always (or to never) reference certain specific values, or for these values to have certain meta-properties, in any of the collection of data structure globally throughout a system at a current state.
US09027000B2

A method to measure the performance of an Application Programming Interface (API) includes selecting a target API and tracking memory allocation for the functional calls of the selected API to generate a list of functions called by the API. The individual functions are then called within the API in isolation and timing and memory allocation data for each are collected and recorded. The recorded results are then bucketized according to a log base 2 method and made accessible by API users to indicate the performance of specific APIs.
US09026990B2

Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to filtering technical documentation and provide a method, system and computer program product for rapid filtering technical documentation. In one embodiment, a data processing system for dynamically filtering technical documentation can include a rapid filter coupled to a viewer configured for rendering technical documentation in a window. The rapid filter can include program code enabled to concurrently render a summarized form of the technical documentation in a separate window.
US09026986B2

A process for creation of an equipment health monitoring (EHM) tool, including defining functional requirements for a proposed EHM tool in a structured hierarchical format. The functional requirements definition is used to generate an outline model for a plurality of functions of the proposed EHM tool according to a model template, wherein the outline model is captured as one or more graphical representations. Each graphical representation includes at least one component representative of a defined EHM functional requirement. Source code for the proposed EHM tool is automatically generated based upon the graphically represented model and then compiled to create a deployable EHM tool from the source code by applying a compilation strategy dependent on an intended mode of operation for said EHM tool. An EHM generation tool and associated data carrier are also recited.
US09026984B2

Embodiments of the claimed subject matter provide a process and system for designing composite application systems. One embodiment of the claimed subject matter is a process of designing a composite application system to meet an application requirement. The process includes defining a use case scenario performed by a composite application system to meet the application requirement, integrating the use case scenario with an execution tool, and specifying an underlying infrastructure for the system design, wherein, the entire process is performed within an integrated software application.
US09026982B2

An object of the present invention is to provide wiring board design system and wiring board design method to determine a component and a wiring pattern in real-time when designing a wiring on a circuit board. The wiring board design system provides a cloud service for a terminal which is used by users via a network. When to arrange components on the circuit board, while pushing out automatically wirings which are overlapped with the components on the arranging position, the wiring board design system secures a space on that can arrange the component. The wiring processing is performed automatically and the fine adjustment such as rotation, movement of arranged components is performed automatically if necessary. The processing for equalization is performed so as to be the equal wiring density on the circuit board.
US09026976B2

In congestion aware point-to-point routing using a random point in an integrated circuit (IC) design, the random point is selected in a bounding area defined in a layout of the IC design. A set of pattern routes is constructed between a source pin and a sink pin in the bounding area, a pattern route in the set of pattern routes passing through the random point. A set of congestion cost corresponding to the set of pattern routes is computed. A congestion cost in the set of congestion costs corresponds to a pattern route in the set of pattern routes. A preferred pattern route is selected from the set of pattern routes, the preferred pattern route having the smallest congestion cost in the set of congestion costs. The preferred pattern route is output as a point-to-point route between the source pin and the sink pin.
US09026971B1

The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for forming a multiple patterning lithograph (MPL) compliant integrated circuit layout by operating a construction validation check on unassembled IC cells to enforce design restrictions that prevent MPL conflicts after assembly. In some embodiments, the method is performed by generating a plurality of unassembled integrated circuit (IC) cells having a multiple patterning design layer. A construction validation check is performed on the unassembled IC cells to identify violating IC cells having shapes disposed in patterns comprising potential multiple patterning coloring conflicts. Design shapes within a violating IC cell are adjusted to achieve a plurality of violation free IC cells. The plurality of violation free IC cells are then assembled to form an MPL compliant IC layout. Since the MPL compliant IC layout is free of coloring conflicts, a decomposition algorithm can be operated without performing a post assembly color conflict check.
US09026969B2

A method of designing arrangement of through silicon vias (TSVs) in a stacked semiconductor device is provided The method includes: determining a plurality of TSV candidate grids representing positions, into which the TSVs are insertable, in each of a plurality of semiconductor dies stacked mutually and included in a stacked semiconductor device; creating a plurality of path graphs representing linkable signal paths for a plurality of signals transmitted through the stacked semiconductor device, respectively, based on the TSV candidate grids; determining initial TSV insertion positions corresponding to shortest signal paths for the signals based on the path graphs; and determining final TSV insertion positions by verifying the initial TSV insertion positions so that a plurality of signal networks corresponding to the shortest signal paths for the signals have routability.
US09026968B2

To assist verification of a digital circuit design, a data processing system presents, within a graphical user interface of a display device, a presentation including a plurality of verification notifications arising from verification of a digital circuit design. The data processing system detects one or more user operations by which a user interacts with the plurality of verification notifications utilizing one or more user input devices and stores, in a memory, user operation information regarding the one or more user operations detected by the data processing system. The data processing system determines, based on said user operation information, a recommended subsequent user operation and presents, within the graphical user interface, an indication of the recommended subsequent user operation.
US09026965B2

A logic design is analyzed using static timing analysis and timing edge tracking for various nets within the logic design. Crosstalk analysis is performed on the logic design to evaluate timing impacts. To reduce pessimism of crosstalk analysis for a victim net, arrival edges are tracked for the victim net. The switching times of the aggressor net are compared to the edges of the victim net during crosstalk analysis.
US09026961B2

Techniques for performing race logic synthesis on an integrated circuit (IC) are described herein. According to one aspect of the invention, ESL (electronic system level) and any HDL (hardware description language) design source files of an IC design are compiled into a design database. Race logic analysis is performed on the IC design to detect race logic, including race logic for IPC (inter-process communication) and IPS (inter-process synchronization) objects in the IC design, by a third-party tool and/or by the same host EDA (electronic design automation) tool that will be performing race logic synthesis on the IC design, if the latter has built-in race logic audit functions. Based on the race logic audit results, race logic synthesis is performed on the design database, and getting rid of all identified race logic in the IC design, including IPC- and IPS-related race logic. This renders the EDA tool can perform concurrent analysis of the IC design, via the race-free IC design database, using multi-CPU/core computers and the results will be the same as if the EDA tool had performed serial analysis of the IC design using a single-CPU/core computer. Another aspect of the invention is outputting the re-synthesized logic in the design database to new ESL/HDL source files. User may use these revised source files to analyze the IC design using any other third-party EDA tools.
US09026954B2

A design or lithographic enhancement process, a method for forming a device based on the lithographic enhancement process and a system for pattern enhancement are presented. The process includes processing a design data file. The design data file includes information of design layers in an integrated circuit (IC). Processing the design data file includes analyzing the design data file and patterns in the design data file are enhanced taken into consideration topography information of design layers corresponding to masks of the IC.
US09026951B2

An electronic device displays a first map view of a map that includes one or more map objects on a touch-sensitive display. While displaying the first map view, the device detects a first gesture of a first gesture type at a first location on the touch-sensitive display. The first location corresponds to a respective map object. In response to detecting the first gesture at the first location, the device enters a map view selection mode. While in the map view selection mode, the device detects a second gesture of a second gesture type at a second location on the touch-sensitive display. The second location corresponds to a respective location on the map. In response to detecting the second gesture at the second location, the device replaces the first map view with a second map view that includes a view of the respective map object from the respective location.
US09026941B1

A method includes receiving inputs indicative of a user state of a user. The inputs include sensor inputs from one or more sensors and/or user inputs received from a graphical user interface displayed. The method includes determining a collective user state based on the received inputs and determining one or more possible activities for the user and one or more predicted outcomes for each activity based on the collective user state. The method includes executing one or more behaviors that evaluate the one or more possible activities and/or the corresponding one or more predicted outcomes. Each behavior models a human behavior and/or a goal oriented task. The method further includes selecting one or more activities based on the evaluations of the one or more possible activities and/or the corresponding one or more predicted outcomes and sending results including the selected one or more activities to a screen.
US09026937B2

Embodiments are described for handling the launching of applications in a multi-screen device. In embodiments, a first touch sensitive display of a first screen receives input to launch an application. In response, the application is launched. A determination is made as to whether the first touch sensitive display already has windows in its stack. If there are no windows in the stack of the first touch sensitive display, a new window of the first application is displayed on the first touch sensitive display. If there are windows in the stack, a determination is made whether a second display has windows in its stack. If not, the new window is displayed on the second display. If the second display also has windows in its stack, the new window will be displayed on the first touch sensitive display.
US09026934B1

A dynamic biography module in a user device receives a request for supplemental information corresponding to an electronic media item being consumed by a user. The dynamic biography module determines the user's reading location in the electronic media item and determines a version of the supplemental information corresponding to the reading location. In response, the dynamic biography module provides the corresponding version of the supplemental information to the user.
US09026928B2

Exemplary methods, apparatuses, and systems receive user input to move, resize, or add a first user interface object to a first location in a user interface window. The user interface window includes a second user interface object in a second location. In response to the user input, constraints are generated based upon the first location and the second location. The constraints define a size or a position of the first user interface object relative to the second user interface object. The first user interface object is displayed within the user interface according to the determined constraints.
US09026925B2

A method to create an aspect oriented, color coding algorithm for a graphical user interface, wherein a graphical user interface (“GUI”) is generated when a code base is executed, and wherein the GUI comprises a plurality of interactable graphical objects, wherein the method compiles the code base, identifies in the compiled code base a first object join point, wherein the compiled code base at the first object join point creates and displays a first interactable graphical object, and determines a first address in the code base for the first object join point. The method further creates a mapping table, writes the first interactable graphical object and the first address to that mapping table, and encodes the mapping table in an aspect oriented, color coding algorithm written to a computer readable medium.
US09026923B2

The disclosed method and device are directed to navigation, by a dual display communication device, through display objects.
US09026916B2

A method for managing user-generated questions and answers across multiple social media data sources can begin with the receiving of query parameters, including a user-entered question, via the user interface of a social media Q&A manage. Social media data sources can be queried for knowledge related to the user-entered question. When knowledge related to the user-entered question exists, the existing related knowledge can be organized and presented in the user interface according to a determined answer quality. When knowledge related to the user-entered question does not exist or is deemed unsatisfactory by a user, the user-entered question can be automatically submitted to applicable social media data sources by the social media Q&A manager on behalf of the user. A status of the submitted user-entered question can be monitored. When the status of the submitted user-entered question changes, the method can be re-executed at the querying step.
US09026914B1

A computing device includes at least one processor; and at least one module, operable by the at least one processor to associate, for an audio interface, a first sound with first information, and associate, for the audio interface, a second sound with second information, wherein the second sound shares at least one perceptual property with a first plurality of perceptual properties based at least in part on a relationship between the first information and the second information. The at least one module may be operable to output in parallel, using an audio output device, the first and second sounds in the audio interface; receive an indication of user input that selects at least one of the first or second information; and perform, based at least in part on the indication of user input, at least one operation corresponding to the at least one of the first or second information.
US09026913B2

A computer-implemented method that includes receiving a request to generate an interface within a software application that is configured to play back one or more media files; for a first media file, generating an image representing a frame of the first media file; and causing the image to be displayed within the interface on a display device, where the image is configured to detect an event that causes a media player to be loaded into the software application behind the image.
US09026904B2

Cascading style sheet rules are managed by identifying a markup page of content items and designating a plurality of super-themes using markup elements. Super-themes associate at least one content item of the markup page with a corresponding cascading style sheet class. Cascading style sheet rules are further managed by loading a common cascading style sheet and automatically modifying the common cascading style sheet to use each super-theme as a parent selector for at least one cascading style sheet rule applied to at least one content item within the markup element associated with the super-theme.
US09026902B2

Handling unexpected response messages at a client-side application such as a web browser, where those responses require the client-side application to issue an unexpected prompt and are triggered by request messages sent from script executing in the client-side application. A widget is dynamically constructed to provide the prompt to a user. Display and processing of the widgets and prompts is handled in a non-disruptive manner in an environment where a gateway function requesting the prompt may be interposed between a browser and a server in a network, and where the browser script may adhere to the Ajax methodology.
US09026894B1

A channel decoder includes a demodulator, a filter, a detector module, and first and second circuits. The demodulator receives an input signal based on data read from a storage medium, and demodulates the input signal to generate a data signal. The filter generates equalized data based on the data signal. The detector module executes a Viterbi algorithm based on the equalized data to generate estimates of data originally stored in the storage medium, and based on the execution of the Viterbi algorithm, generates a first and second sets of depths. The first set of depths includes depths larger than depths in the second set of depths. The first circuit generates a first error signal based on the first set of depths. The second circuit generates a second error signal based on the second set of depths. The filter generates the equalized data based on the first and second error signals.
US09026890B2

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, systems, and apparatuses related to calculating an error correction code for a program page dependent on guard values that correspond to words of the program page. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US09026886B1

The present disclosure includes systems and methods for acquiring a first set of information for a plurality of low density parity check (LDPC)-encoded data symbols, acquiring a second set of information for the plurality of LDPC-encoded data symbols, and selecting a window including a subset of the plurality of LDPC-encoded data symbols. The present disclosure includes acquiring a decoder schedule having information for controlling the decoder, wherein the information in the decoder schedule includes decoding instructions based on a configuration of at least one of the first set of information and the second set of information. The present disclosure further includes determining a likelihood of an error in the window using the decoding instructions in the decoder schedule, and updating the second set of information for selected data symbols of the subset based on the likelihood of an error in the window.
US09026885B2

Embodiments include a method and apparatus for processing a downlink shared channel. In one embodiment, a Node-B includes circuitry configured to process control information for a user equipment (UE) and to produce an N bit cyclic redundancy check (CRC) associated with the control information. The Node-B includes circuitry configured to modulo 2 add the N bit CRC with an N bit UE identity to produce an N bit field, wherein the UE identity is any one of a plurality of UE identities associated with the UE. The Node-B includes circuitry configured to transmit a wireless signal of a control channel, wherein the wireless signal comprises the N bit field and the control information.
US09026883B2

A decoding apparatus has an on-chip buffer, an external buffer interface, and a turbo decoder. The on-chip buffer is arranged for buffering each code block to be decoded. The external buffer interface is arranged for accessing an off-chip buffer. The turbo decoder is arranged for decoding a specific code block read from the on-chip buffer. The specific code block is not transmitted from the on-chip buffer to the off-chip buffer via the external buffer interface unless decoding fail of the specific code block is identified.
US09026877B2

In a communication system in which propagation path error tolerance is improved by switching the modulation method or error correction method adaptively according to the state of the propagation path, signals MX, MY, CX, and CY indicating the modulation method and error correction method used by the transmitting side are transmitted arranged at discrete locations within the same frame. By this means, the possibility of discretely arranged signals MX and MY, or CX and CY, both degrading is made low even if the transmit signal experiences fading or propagation path fluctuations. As a result, it is possible for the modulation method information signal and/or error correction method information signal to be restored correctly on the receiving side.
US09026876B2

Systems and methods for computing sign disagreement between signals may implement one or more operations including, but not limited to: receiving an extrinsic log likelihood ratio (LLR) value; incrementing a sign-disagreement counter according to a sign disagreement between the extrinsic LLR value and an a priori LLR value; providing a value of the sign-disagreement counter to a binary short media defect (SMD) detector; and detecting one or more consecutive sign disagreements between an extrinsic output of a detector and an extrinsic output of a decoder.
US09026866B2

The present disclosure relates to some aspects relate to a method for detecting stack memory corruption. In some embodiments, the method comprises determining an expected memory range of a data element that is to be written to a stack memory by tracking changes to a stack pointer. The determined memory range is stored in a stack object database. Upon receiving a stack memory access related instruction (e.g., LOAD/STORE instruction or arithmetic instruction operating on memory addresses) to write data to the stack memory, an address of the memory location to be accessed is determined. If the address falls within the expected memory range, no stack corruption is present. However, if the address falls outside of the expected memory range, stack corruption is present. Therefore, the present method provides for real time detection of corruption (e.g., overrun and underrun errors) in stack memory.
US09026864B2

Methods and systems for offloading health-checking policy in a distributed management environment are provided. A failure policy is received at a node of a cloud from a cloud health monitor. The node transmits a notification to a health monitor of the node that the node has failed when the failure policy is satisfied. The node reports at least one fault based on the satisfied failure policy to the cloud health monitor.
US09026861B2

A method of correlating the timing of multiple interleaved trace data streams. A Time Stamp Trace stream logic monitors the event trace stream for a synchronization point. When a synchronization point is detected a time stamp value is inserted into the trace stream along with any relevant identification markers available in the detected synchronization point.
US09026841B1

Techniques for coordinated and device-distributed detection of abnormal network device operation are provided. In some embodiments, a method may include identifying a suspicious activity condition associated with a suspect network device. The suspicious activity condition may also be associated with the device itself. Activity of the network device may be detected and analyzed, including additional data corresponding to the activity from one or more other network devices in the same network. In response to determining that the suspicious activity condition is satisfied, an alert communication can be transmitted that identifies the suspect network device. When the activity is associated with the device itself, a local operation at the network device may be changed.
US09026837B2

Placing an application on a node in a cluster. A method includes detecting an unexpected event indicating that an application should be placed on a node in the cluster. Real time information about resource utilization on one or more nodes in the cluster is received. Based on the real time information, a determination of a node to place the application is made. The application is placed on the determined node.
US09026834B2

An embodiment of the invention provides a communication device (100) for processing data samples and comprises a communication entity (102) and a further communication entity (104) communicatively coupled to the communication entity (102) with a digital interface. The communication entity (102) comprises a timing generation unit (106) adapted for generating real-time related timing information for operating hardware components of the communication entity (102) when processing data samples. The further communication entity (104) is adapted for operating hardware components of the further communication entity (104) in a sample-driven way when processing data samples.
US09026831B2

The present invention relates to a method of synchronous control for a synchronous control system provided with a master device and at least one slave device connected via a communications network. The master device transmits first time data to the master device and the at least one slave device upon detection of generation of a synchronization signal, the first time data indicating a time at which the synchronization signal is generated. The master device transmits second time data to the at least one slave device upon reception of the first time data, the second time data indicating a time at which the first time data is received. Each of the at least one slave device calculates, upon reception of the first time data and the second time data, an estimated generation time at which the synchronization signal is estimated to be generated by subtracting time elapsed between the time indicated by the first time data and the time indicated by the second time data from time at which the first time data was received. Each of the at least one slave device controls synchronization with the master device based on the estimated generation time.
US09026830B2

One embodiment provides an information processing apparatus including a processor; memory blocks; an internal voltage generator connected to the memory blocks; an input/output circuit connected to the memory blocks; switches each installed corresponding to the internal voltage generator, the input/output circuit, and the memory blocks, and configured to switch ON/OFF of the connection with a power source; a data register configured to store a data set that controls the ON/OFF of the switches; and a data management circuit configured to set the data set in the data register, wherein when a clock signal input to the processor is turned to OFF, the data management circuit generates a first type of the data set, which switches ON the switch connected to the internal voltage generator and switches OFF the switches connected to the memory blocks, and sets the first type of the data set in the data register.
US09026819B2

A method of affecting power used by an electronic device is provided for an electronic device having storage media and running at least one application. Each application interfaces with the storage media through an input/output (I/O) path executing I/O activities that access the storage media in accordance with configurable parameters of the I/O path. A run-time I/O pattern defined by the I/O activities is determined during a run-time period of the electronic device. At least one of the I/O path's configurable parameters is then modified based on the run-time I/O pattern. The method is readily adapted for power conservation by providing selections for the configurable parameters with each of the selections optimizing power usage for a hypothetical I/O pattern. Then, one or more configurable parameters are modified in accordance with one of the selections for which the hypothetical I/O pattern associated therewith is closest to the run-time I/O pattern.
US09026818B2

A mechanism is provided for priority-based power capping. A power management controller identifies a set of priorities for a set of partitions of the data processing system. The power management controller determines whether a measured power of the data processing system exceeds a power cap for the data processing system. Responsive to the measured power exceeding the power cap, the power management controller sends a set of commands to a set of component actuators to adjust one or more of a set of operation parameters for a set of components associated with the set of partitions using the set of priorities. The set of component actuators adjust the one or more of the set of operational parameters associated with the set of component in order to reduce a power consumption of the data processing system.
US09026813B2

Associating service agents in communication over a network to one or more respective clients coupled to the network at respective ports of the network is described. At a first service agent, a first signal is received from a first client coupled to the network at a first port. The first signal propagates over a first signal propagation path between the first service agent and the first port. An association between the first service agent and the first client is established based at least in part on a difference between: the first signal propagation path between the first service agent and the first port, and a second signal propagation path between the first service agent and a second port or between a second service agent and the first port.
US09026810B2

Adaptive control of operating and body bias voltages. In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, a desirable operating frequency for the microprocessor is determined. Information stored within and specific to the microprocessor is accessed. The information can comprise coefficients of a quadratic approximation of a frequency-voltage characteristic of the microprocessor for a set of body biasing conditions. An efficient voltage for operating the microprocessor at the desirable operating frequency is computed. The microprocessor is operated at the efficient voltage and the set of body biasing conditions.
US09026806B2

A security device and a method provide a cryptographic key for a field device. The security device is connected to at least one tamper sensor which is associated with the field device and which, when a physical manipulation carried out on the field device is detected, a manipulation message is emitted. The cryptographic key is only provided to the field device by the security device if the security device does not receive a manipulation message from the tamper sensors associated with the field device.
US09026787B2

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, computer program product, and system for location-based authorization to access a resource. A first computer receives a request to access a resource from a second computer. The request to access the resource includes location information of the second computer. The first computer responds by sending a request to a third computer, requesting location information of the third computer. In response to receiving from the third computer, the location information of the third computer, the first computer determines a distance between the second computer and the third computer. If the distance between the second computer and the third computer fulfills a proximity condition, the first computer authorizes the resource request.
US09026772B2

A display device is provided that may include a memory to store a boot screen data to be provided when booting the display device, an interface unit to receive the stored boot screen data and another boot screen data, and a processor to change the stored boot screen data into the other boot screen data that is received in the interface unit, and to control to outputting the boot screen data when booting according to a boot code that includes a command for outputting the boot screen data. A display unit may output the boot screen data according to control of the processor.
US09026769B1

A processor for processing loop instructions can include an instruction reorder structure and a loop processing controller. The instruction reorder structure is configured to store decoded instructions according to program order and issue the decoded instructions for execution out of program order. The loop processing controller is configured to detect a loop in the decoded instructions stored in the instruction reorder structure and cause the instruction reorder structure to reissue the decoded instructions that form the loop for re-execution.
US09026766B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide a memory management method, a memory management apparatus and a NUMA system. The memory management method includes: determining, according to a memory demand information which includes memory demand information sent by a processor, whether a memory controller meeting the memory demand information exists in a local processing node which the processor; and if exists, determining, in the memory controller meeting the memory demand information, a memory management area meeting the memory demand information, and allocating the memory management area meeting the memory demand information to the processor. Therefore, the memory controller and the memory management area do not need to be determined in a processing node that does not meet the requirements, which can rapidly find a storing area meeting the requirements, and improve the memory allocation efficiency.
US09026764B2

A memory system of a embodiments includes a first storing area having physical blocks and a second storing area recording a logical to physical translation table and an erasure count table keeping data erasure count in physical blocks. The memory system of the embodiments includes a controller which, when a logical address for deletion is notified, obtains data erasure count of a deletion physical block including a deletion area specified by the physical address corresponding to the logical address, and when a physical block having a small erasure count not more than a predetermined rate of the data erasure count exists in the erasure count table, reads out valid data for the memory system in the physical block having a small erasure count onto the second storing area, writes the above data into the deletion area, and invalidates the valid data in the physical block having a small erasure count.
US09026762B2

A semiconductor system includes three or more memory chips and a controller with first and second memory buffers configured to communicate with the three or more memory chips. The first and second memory buffers alternately transmit data to sequentially communicate with the three or more memory chips.
US09026759B2

The present invention is provided to make effective use of a storage area, and to enhance user usability. A management apparatus determines a reallocation destination of each logical storage area on the basis of an access load on each logical storage area by a host computer and an allocation status of each logical storage area in a storage-destination storage tier. A monitoring mode selection part for selecting any one of multiple monitoring modes selects a prescribed monitoring mode from the multiple monitoring modes on the basis of allocation time information related to a time at which each logical storage area is allocated to an allocation-destination storage tier.
US09026757B2

A system and methods for programming a set of data onto non-volatile memory elements, maintaining copies of the data pages to be programmed, as well as surrounding data pages, internally or externally to the memory circuit, verifying programming correctness after programming, and upon discovering programming error, recovering the safe copies of the corrupted data to be reprogrammed in alternative non-volatile memory elements. Additionally, a system and methods for programming one or more sets of data across multiple die of a non-volatile memory system, combining data pages across the multiple die by means such as the XOR operation prior to programming the one or more sets of data, employing various methods to determine the correctness of programming, and upon identifying data corruption, recovering safe copies of data pages by means such as XOR operation to reprogram the pages in an alternate location on the non-volatile memory system.
US09026753B2

A snapshot volume is migrated by using a primary volume of a migration destination storage apparatus. The management server comprises a controller for generational management, by means of the snapshot volumes, of differential data for the logical volume which is the parent volume of the snapshot volume, and, if an instruction to copy a snapshot volume of a designated generation is received and a snapshot volume prior to the designated generation of the copy instruction-target snapshot volume exists, the controller copies the differential data between the designated-generation snapshot volume and the existing snapshot volume, and associates the copied differential data with the existing snapshot volume.
US09026751B2

According to the present invention, it is possible to construct a backup configuration of a particular application data, without influencing data of another application. A management computer is coupled to a host computer on which an application operates, and to a storage apparatus that includes a plurality of volume groups each having one or more logical volumes. At least one of the logical volumes is allocated to the application. The management computer includes a volume group overlapping use determination part and a backup policy determination part. When the backup of the volume group to which one logical volume belongs is configured, the volume group overlapping use determination part determines whether there is another application that uses the volume group. The backup policy determination part determines whether there is set, for another volume group, backup policy information same as that set for the application.
US09026749B2

Disclosed is an on-chip buffer program method for a data storage device which comprises a multi-bit memory device and a memory controller. The on-chip buffer program method includes measuring a performance of the data storage device, judging whether the measured performance satisfies a target performance of the data storage device, and selecting one of a plurality of scheduling manners as an on-chip buffer program scheduling manner of the data storage device according to the judgment result.
US09026747B2

A memory device with a logical-to-physical (LTP) bank mapping cache that supports multiple read and write accesses is described herein. The memory device allows for at least one read operation and one write operation to be received during the same clock cycle. In the event that the incoming write operation is not blocked by the at least one read operation, data for that incoming write operation may be stored in the physical memory bank corresponding to a logical memory bank that is associated with the incoming write operation. In the event that the incoming write operation is blocked by the at least one read operation, then data for that incoming write operation may be stored in an unmapped physical bank that is not associated with any logical memory bank.
US09026741B1

A method, computer program product, and computing system for receiving an indication of a cold cache event within a storage system. The storage system includes a multi-tiered data array including at least a faster data tier and a slower data tier. A data list that identifies at least a portion of the data included within the faster data tier of the multi-tiered data array is obtained from the multi-tiered data array. At least a portion of the data identified within the data list is requested from the multi-tiered data array, thus defining the requested data. The requested data is received from the multi-tiered data array.
US09026736B1

Described herein is a system and method for maintaining cache coherency. The system and method may maintain coherency for a cache memory that is coupled to a plurality of primary storage devices. The system and method may write data to the cache memory and associate the data with a cache generation identification (ID). A different cache generation ID may be associated with each new set of data that is written to the cache memory. The cache generation ID may be written to the primary storage devices. A backup restore operation may be performed on one of the primary storage devices and a backup restore notification may be received. In response to the notification, the system and method may compare the cache generation ID with the generation ID stored on the restored primary storage device and invalidate data stored on the cache memory for the restored primary storage device.
US09026735B1

Systems and methods are provided for a hardware-implemented multi-buffer. A system includes a buffer memory comprising a shared memory space, where the memory space is shared between a first buffer and a second buffer, and where a dynamic delineation of the memory space between the first buffer and the second buffer is identified by a divider address. A dynamic buffer control circuit includes a control memory that is configured to store the divider address, a first memory utilization metric associated with the first buffer, and a second memory utilization metric associated with the second buffer. A system further includes one or more comparator circuits configured to compare the first memory utilization metric and the second memory utilization metric, where the dynamic buffer control circuit changes the divider address based on the comparison.
US09026733B1

Described are techniques for data processing and caching. In response to a client failing to retrieve contents of a data element from a cache location specified by a first data element identifier including a first content-based identifier, the contents of the data element are obtained and stored at a cache location specified by the first data element identifier. The contents of the data element are updated at a second point in time and stored as second contents in the data element source. The data element at the second point in time has a second content-based identifier. In response to the client failing to retrieve the second contents of the data element from a cache location specified by a second data element identifier including the second content-based identifier, the second contents of the data element are obtained and stored at a cache location specified by the second data element identifier.
US09026732B2

A determination is made of a track to demote from the first cache to the second cache, wherein the track in the first cache corresponds to a track in the storage system and is comprised of a plurality of sectors. In response to determining that the second cache includes a the stale version of the track being demoted from the first cache, a determination is made as to whether the stale version of the track includes track sectors not included in the track being demoted from the first cache. The sectors from the track demoted from the first cache are combined with sectors from the stale version of the track not included in the track being demoted from the first cache into a new version of the track. The new version of the track is written to the second cache.
US09026730B2

Embodiments relate to a method for data management. An aspect includes a method for assigning storage types to data based on access frequency. Past or historical data associated with current data usage is also considered prior to assignment. Once data frequency access is determined, the current data is assigned to a first tier of a plurality of hierarchical ordered tiers, each tier corresponding to at least one class of storage. In one embodiment, there may be a condition that overrides the assignment with option to override it. The tier assignment may also be preserved the tier so that the current data can be appropriately assigned in the future.
US09026724B2

A memory system includes a nonvolatile memory including a plurality of blocks as data erase units, a measuring unit which measures an erase time at which data of each block is erased, and a block controller which writes data supplied from at least an exterior into a first block which is set in a free state and whose erase time is oldest.
US09026719B2

A memory device can include a non-volatile memory array and control logic integrated with and distributed over the non-volatile memory array. The control logic can be operable to selectively distribute functionality across the non-volatile memory array.
US09026717B2

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for persistently storing data objects. An object store index module maintains an object store. The object store associates each data object of a plurality of data objects with a unique key value. A storage module persists object store data defining the object store to a logical block address of the solid-state storage device in response to an update event. The logical block address is a member of a restricted set of logical block addresses. The logical block address is mapped to a location of the object store data on the solid-state storage device. A read module provides a requested data object from the plurality of data objects to a requesting client in response to receiving a read request for the requested data object from the requesting client. The read request comprises the key value associated with the requested data object.
US09026715B2

An information recording device comprises a memory component configured to hold data, a first file system controller configured to manage data held in the memory component on the basis of a first file name formed by a first code, and a wireless component configured to send and receive wireless signals. The first file system controller receives, from an access device connected to the information recording device, the first file name and a second file name that corresponds to the first file name and is formed by a second code that is different from the first code, identifies specific data having the first file name out of the data held in the memory component, and sends the second file name and the specific data to another information recording device connected via the wireless component.
US09026713B2

An expander for a device architecture, such as a SAS-compatible expander for a SAS architecture, is configured to follow a set of discovery rules that are applied following detection of a discovery-triggering event, such as system power up or reset. According to one of the discovery rules, the expander waits until after a specified duration following the detected discovery-triggering event before passing on, to any other expanders, any requests to check the status of their discovery processing. Using appropriate values for the specified durations for different expanders, the discovery procedure will be performed without any infinite-messaging problems, even when the device architecture has a loop.
US09026711B2

A control system includes a gateway controller and a remote controller. The gateway controller is configured to embed an HTTP request in a CAN bus-compatible message and transmit the CAN bus-compatible message onto a CAN bus. The remote controller is configured to receive the CAN bus-compatible message from the CAN bus, extract the HTTP request from the CAN bus-compatible message, and create an HTTP response to the HTTP request.
US09026708B1

A field serviceable IT system includes an IT enclosure. A first connector assembly is positioned within the IT enclosure. At least one I/O module is releasably coupled to the first connector assembly and positioned within the IT enclosure. A disk subsystem is releasably coupled to the at least one I/O module and positioned within the IT enclosure. At least one disk drive assembly is releasably coupled to the disk subsystem and positioned within the IT enclosure. A system board is releasably coupled to the first connector assembly and positioned within the IT enclosure. The system board is configured to be removable from the IT enclosure without first removing the at least one I/O module or the at least one disk drive assembly from the IT enclosure.
US09026702B2

Methods and apparatus for enabling Fast Context Switching (FCS) operation of an enhanced Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) expander and initiator for switching between one or more concurrently established connections including at least one Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) target device connection. Features and aspects hereof provide for enhanced logic within a SAS expander and/or initiator to detect the completion of an exchange over a first connection between an initiator device and a SATA target device and to allow switching to another (a second) connection without closing the first connection.
US09026698B2

Techniques and mechanisms for providing access to a function with an input/output (I/O) device. In an embodiment, a main memory of a computer system including the I/O device stores a function-context data structure associating a function with a context for an access to the function. The I/O device stores a configuration for the I/O device to provide the function. In another embodiment, the software process exchanges information with the function-context data structure for the access to the function. The I/O device performs a synchronization of the function-context data structure and the configuration data structure with respect to one another, wherein the function-context data structure operates as a register level interface which interfaces the I/O device and the software process with one another.
US09026695B2

An asymmetrical processing multi-core system used in a network device is provided. A sub processing core within the asymmetrical processing multi-core system facilitates a main processing core of the asymmetrical processing multi-core system in processing tasks, thereby improving an overall performance of the entire network device and causing the network device to operate more facilely. Different from a conventional processing method, the asymmetrical processing multi-core system does not require moving or copying a large amount of processed packet data, and thus a large amount of memory bandwidth is saved and the power consumption is reduced.
US09026690B2

A display device as in one aspect of the present disclosure includes a display panel, a case, a connection receiving portion, a connection determination portion, and a display processing portion. The display panel displays an image. The case supports a display surface of the display panel so as to be viewable from the exterior. The connection receiving portion is provided to a side surface of the case, and electrically connects to an external storage device. The connection determination portion determines whether or not the external storage device has been connected to the connection receiving portion. The display processing portion displays, on the display panel, a connection portion image indicative of a connection portion of the connected external storage device in a case where the external storage device has been determined by the connection determination portion to have been connected.
US09026686B2

A system and method for remotely-identifying the components and/or software revisions within an electronic display. An electronic storage device may be placed within an electronic display assembly and placed in electrical communication with a network connection. The electronic storage device may contain identification numbers for one or more components or software revisions within the display. A computing device may be in electrical communication with the network connection so that the identification numbers on the electronic storage device may be accessed remotely. If a particular component or software revision is desired, the computing device may be used to search the contents of each electronic storage device at each display to determine which displays contain the desired component or software revision.
US09026678B2

Systems, methods, computer-readable storage mediums including computer-readable instructions and/or circuitry for detecting masking of deceptive indicia in communications content may implement operations including, but not limited to: receiving one or more signals associated with communications content provided by a first participant in a communications interaction; and detecting at least one indicia of a modification of the communications content associated with at least one indicia of deception by the first participant.
US09026677B2

A session border controller includes a first port to communicate with a user using a first signaling protocol, a second port to communicate with a content provider using a second signaling protocol, and a processor coupled to the first and second ports. The session border controller may send a PLAY message to the content provider to begin delivery of a content destined for the user. The session border controller may further receive a first media stream including the content and content provider information from the content provider. The session border controller may further create a second media stream that includes the content without the content provider information, and deliver the second media stream to the user.
US09026673B2

The system and method for streaming media to a viewer and managing the media comprises an enhanced service routing processor (ESRP), a real time switch management system (RTSMS), a name routing processor (NRP), and a managed media switch (MMS). The RTSMS has a reservation system. The ESRP receives media from an owner, manages the media according to media rules and order rules defined by the owner, and distributes the media to one or more switches, such as the MMS, according to the media rules and the order rules. The RTSMS is configured to receive the media rules and to receive a viewer's media request via the reservation server. The reservation system of the RTSMS processes the media request according to the media rules and builds a reservation for the requested media. The RTSMS generates the reservation to the viewer and to the NRP. The NRP receives the reservation data from the viewer and from the RTSMS. The NRP processes the reservation data and locates an MMS that can stream the media to the viewer. The NRP transmits the IP address of the MMS to the viewer and transmits the reservation data to the MMS. The viewer initiates a session or connection with the MMS using the reservation number. If the reservation data from the viewer matches the reservation data from the NRP, the MMS streams the media to the viewer.
US09026671B2

In one example, a device includes one or more processing units configured to send, via a network, a request to retrieve at least a portion of media content, wherein the media content conforms to dynamic adaptive streaming over HTTP (DASH), and wherein the request comprises a request that the at least portion be delivered according to a file delivery service, and, in response to the request, to receive streaming data for the at least portion of the media content in accordance with the file delivery service over the network. The device may prepopulate a browser cache with the received data, such that a browser can, in effect, stream data using the file delivery service. The device may initially retrieve data of the media content using unicast, until a switch point of the data received via the file delivery service is reached.
US09026666B2

Method to clone a communication session from a first device to a second device, including: receiving a request to identify the communication session; rendering an information message comprising an identification of the communication session, wherein the information message is configured to be transmitted from the first device; acquiring the information message from the second device to clone the communication session onto the second device; bridging the second device to the communication session without dropping the first device from the communication session, to produce a cloned communication session; and sending a confirmation message, wherein no prior association between the first device and the second device is used during the cloning.
US09026665B2

Technology is disclosed herein for executing multiple gaming applications on a computing device. According to at least one embodiment, a computing device receives requests for network connections with remote servers from multiple gaming applications running on the computing device. The computing device further establishes a network connection with a proxy server. The proxy server initiates and maintains proxy network connections with the remote servers. The proxy server batches network messages received from the remote servers, where the network messages includes gaming content. The proxy server aggregates network messages received in a time period into a single batch, where a time length of the time period is determined based on one or more game events of the games being played on the computing device. Further, the proxy server batches network messages such that the computing device stays at a high power consumption state for a shorter time period than an overall time period required without batching.
US09026657B2

The delay in provisioning telecommunication services and equipment via a network is reduced significantly by performing substantially all of the provisioning processes sequentially on a single server. That is, through the counterintuitive approach of using sequential processing on a single server rather than parallel processing on a plurality of servers, the time required to provision telecommunication services and equipment is reduced. Preferably, telecommunication services and equipment are provisioned through a network by classifying the orders to be provisioned as two types. When the order is of a first type, the provisioning processes are performed on a set of servers (shared), and when the order is of a second type, substantially all of the provisioning processes are performed on a single server.
US09026654B2

Systems and methods for constructing and maintaining a peer-to-peer overlay graph are disclosed herein. The systems and methods include adding a node to the overlay graph. Adding the node includes choosing an edge that is not connected to the node, breaking the edge and connecting the node to broken edge nodes previously connected to the edge. The process is repeating if additional connections are need and node addition data is stored for the node.
US09026652B1

Described herein are methods and systems for management of web services, including relationship mapping, searching, data mapping, importing web service information to and exporting web service information from a web services repository, and discovering web services at run-time.
US09026651B2

Measuring performance and capacity of a networked server coupled to a cluster of client machines, including: initializing each client machine of the cluster of client machines with a number of client applications; performing a first feedback process of configuring the number of client applications for the each client machine such that each client application adjusts its own operation to achieve a first balance point of a client application count for the each client machine; and performing a second feedback process in which the networked server and the cluster of client machines achieve a second balance point of a client machine count for the networked server.
US09026648B1

Techniques are described for providing network device management. In some implementations, a native mobile device application enables use of a mobile device to add new devices to a network, remove devices from a network, change network and device profile settings, troubleshoot a network, provide an interface into network devices, communications, diagnostics, etc., and provide remote access to the network for installation, programming, troubleshooting, and inclusion.
US09026642B2

A processing apparatus capable of making it easy to set a selection condition under which desired packets are acquired. When a desired print job log is selected from a displayed print job history or when a desired transmission job log is selected from a displayed transmission job history, a file creation unit automatically creates, based on address information in the selected print job log or in the selected transmission job log, a filtering condition expression for acquiring desired packets and sets the created expression to a filtering unit.
US09026638B2

In a computing system environment, methods and apparatus include tapping a plurality of connected computing devices and distilling small amounts of entropy from each, concentrating the entropy so collected, and performing all in a stealth or surreptitious fashion relative to the providers of the entropy. In this manner: the potential supply of entropy on a networked computing device is greatly expanded; the potential for entropy-related denial-of-service attacks in Linux systems is reduced; no significant extra processing burden on participating computing devices is required; and enlisting entropy-providing computing devices (including or not naïve applications) in entropy exchanges occurs unobtrusively. Representative particular environments include web servers, including servlet filters, and clients engaged in http sessions; Java virtual machines; network interface cards in promiscuous mode analyzing packets; and other. Computer program products for devices to realize the foregoing are also intended.
US09026635B2

Certain aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a method of performing a virtual media redirection. The method includes: (a) establishing a Web Socket connection between a web server of a baseboard management controller (BMC) and a browser program of a computing device in a network, the BMC performing a management function of a host computer; (b) emulating, at the BMC, virtual media to the host computer; (c) receiving, at the BMC, a read command from the host computer and directed to the emulated virtual media, the read command specifying a first file; (d) in response to the read command, sending, at the BMC, a request for the first file according to the read command to the browser program through the Web Socket connection; and (e) receiving, at the web server, the first file from the browser program through the Web Socket connection.
US09026629B2

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for remote management of a computer system using graceful power control commands. A management controller is able to receive commands from a remote management console to perform a graceful power control command (e.g., power-down, hibernate). The management controller stores the graceful power control command in a shared memory and notified (e.g., via interrupt) a management agent that the graceful power control command is present. The management agent retrieves the graceful power control command and invokes an appropriate operating system command. The management agent can also provide result information to the management controller.
US09026614B2

A system and methods are provided for remotely recovering and purging data from a wireless device in a communications network. The system includes a wireless device capable of executing a data recovery/purge application program for receiving a message from a communications device in the network. The application program retrieves the data in the wireless device, purges the data from the wireless device, and sends a return message, including the data retrieved from the wireless device, to the communications device.
US09026610B2

Methods are provided for communication in a broadcast group and for collecting real time data in a broadcast group. The broadcast group includes a set of sources that send real time data, the set being made up of at least two sources and a server. A data-sending source of the group sends first time information relating to a first exchange of control data of the first source with the server by broadcasting to the members of the group. The first exchange is the one and only exchange of control data of the first source with the members of the broadcast group. The data-sending source receives second time information sent by the server and relating to the first exchange of control data between the first source and the server and to a second exchange of control data between the second source and the server. The source also receives second time data from other sources of the group and determines a transmission time between itself and another source of the group from the first and second received time information.
US09026604B2

The disclosure recites a system and method for identifying an access point for a network. The method comprises: upon a trigger condition for the network assessing intents of members of the network to be an administrator for the network to replace a current administrator for the network; identifying a replacement administrator from the members from the intents of the members; and transferring network management functions from the current administrator to the replacement administrator.
US09026596B2

Embodiments are disclosed that relate to sharing media streams capturing different perspectives of an event. For example, one embodiment provides, on a computing device, a method including storing an event definition for an event, receiving from each capture device of a plurality of capture devices a request to share a media stream provided by the capture device, receiving a media stream from each capture device of the plurality of capture devices, and associating a subset of media streams from the plurality of capture devices with the event based upon the event definition. The method further includes receiving a request for transmission of a selected media stream associated with the event, and sending the selected media stream associated with the event to the requesting capture device.
US09026593B2

Present invention provides a method and system for providing an extended social network service (SNS), the method and system enabling a user logged in an SNS to receive information in the form of newsfeed not only from users who have a friend relationship with the logged-in user in the SNS but also from users who have an acquaintance relationship with the logged-in user through the friend relationship. Present invention also provide a method and system for providing an extended SNS, the method and system adding information about a friend relationship-based connection path between a user logged in an SNS and each user who has an acquaintance relationship with the logged-in user to content shared between them, so that the reliability of the shared content can be determined.
US09026592B1

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, including actions of, for each user of a plurality of users of a social networking service, determining a user activity score, the user activity score being based on activity of each user within the social networking service, determining that a first user activity score of a first user is greater than or equal to a first threshold user activity score and that a second user activity score of a second user is less than a second threshold user activity score, and, in response to the first user activity score being greater than or equal to the first threshold user activity score and the second user activity score being less than the second threshold user activity score, transmitting instructions to display a prompt to the first user to encourage the first user to interact with the second user.
US09026591B2

Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for forming communication threads. A system configured to practice the method receives a first log of first communications in a first modality and receives a second log of second communications in a second modality. Then, the system analyzes the first log and the second log to determine relationships between the first communications and the second communications. The system identifies, based on the relationships, sets of communications having a relationship strength above a threshold, and can form communication threads based on the sets of communications. The system can form communication threads by adding a meta-data tag to a communication unit. Example modalities include short message service (SMS), text, instant messages, phone calls, video calls, emails, events, social networking, and voicemail. The system can further rank the importance of communications threads based on user actions, to yield an importance value.
US09026588B2

A storage device including a software development kit that includes a Web service interface includes a communication unit, a conversion table, a reverse conversion unit, and a conversion unit. The communication unit transmits a request message to a Web service and receives a response message from the Web service. The conversion table stores a pre-conversion side service method name of the Web service that is corresponded with a post-conversion side service method name. The reverse conversion unit, when data regarding the request message includes the post-conversion side service method name stored in the conversion table, converts the post-conversion side service method name into the corresponding pre-conversion side service method name. The conversion unit, when data regarding the response message includes the pre-conversion side service method name stored in the conversion table, converts the pre-conversion side service method name into the corresponding post-conversion side service method name.
US09026575B2

An automatically provisioned network element (26) has the ability to detect a heartbeat message interval used by a remote network element (22, 24) and to automatically adjust a heartbeat interval timer value that it uses for sending subsequent heartbeat messages. The adjustment is responsive to the interval used by the remote network element 50 that they correspond to each other. By automatically configuring the heartbeat timer interval value so that there is correspondence between the intervals used by the end points on a link over which Cisco HDLC SLARP communications occur, for example, the chance of a link being considered to have failed is decreased. In a disclosed example, the heartbeat interval timer value is initially set to a value that is expected to be higher than that used by the remote network element and only automatic reductions in the heartbeat message interval timer value are permitted.
US09026567B2

A publish-subscribe system publishes events associated with one or more objects represented by files within a file system. The files may be accessed using a file system application programming interface by both publishers and subscribers. Each file may contain an identifier and a plurality of attributes and each attribute may have a name and a value. The files and the associated objects may be persisted to compensate for restarts and failures of a computing platform hosting the system for publish-subscribe.
US09026565B2

A method for providing access to a file by a requestor including creating an empty file in a format understood by the requestor, intercepting one or more reads by the requestor of the empty file, determining if a portion of the empty file being read by the requestor should contain expected content, if the portion of the empty file should contain expected content then, before fulfill ling the read, adding the expected content to the empty file to transform the empty file into a requested file, and fulfilling a read of the requested file.
US09026560B2

A method for summarizing capabilities in a hierarchically arranged data center includes receiving capabilities information, wherein the capabilities information is representative of capabilities of respective nodes at a first hierarchical level in the hierarchically arranged data center, clustering nodes based on groups of capabilities information, generating a histogram that represents individual node clusters, and sending the histogram to a next higher level in the hierarchically arranged data center. Relative rankings of capabilities may be used to order a sequence of clustering operations.
US09026559B2

A method for maintaining a data storage system is disclosed. The method may include monitoring a first data storage node. The method may also include detecting a condition regarding the first data storage node, and the condition may indicate that at least one file stored on the first data storage node is to be replicated. The method may also include updating a replication list based on detecting the condition, and the replication list may include an identification of the at least one file and priority information for replication of the at least one file. The method may include performing a data replication procedure based on the replication list, where the data replication procedure may include sending a first multicast message to a plurality of other data storage nodes requesting identification of a second data storage node that maintains a copy of the at least one file.
US09026557B2

Schema mapping is provided at several levels of granularity to generate views from a data model. The schema mapping allows for the database tables referenced among the data views contained in the data model to come from a collection of several physical schemas, even though the data model may comprise a single authoring schema.
US09026549B2

An image tile server importantly includes an image tile cache, to support a tiled map display in a user device. Instead of the conventional user device client (e.g., an Ajax client) making image requests directly to a mapping server (MS), a display device initiates an image request of a tile server (TS), and the tile server returns the requested image. However, importantly, the tile server (TS) also retains a cached copy of the returned image for faster retrieval at a later time relating to another image request by the same or different user device.
US09026546B2

Methods and apparatus for a radio station to communicate station identification and song metadata and audio for songs as they are played to an acoustic analysis system for song recognition to users of the acoustic analysis system.
US09026545B1

A request including a domain name is received. Content associated with the domain name is identified in a cache. A language preference is determined based on the identified content. A content item is selected based on the identified content and the determined language preference. The selected content item is relevant to the identified content.
US09026539B2

Aspects of the present invention provide a tool for hash-based indexing. In an embodiment, a ranked dataset having a plurality of data items is obtained. Every data item in the ranked dataset has a ranking with respect to every other data item in the ranked dataset. A ranking triplet matrix is created based on the ranked dataset. The ranking triplet matrix has a set of ranking triplets, each of which indicates the relative ranking for a pair of the data items in the ranked dataset. This ranking triplet can be merged with a hash table obtained using a standard hash function and the data items can be indexed based on the results.
US09026537B1

Users in a social network are represented by nodes on a network graph. A similarity processor generates a similarity matrix of nodes and neighbors. A clustering processor groups select nodes based on similarity. Nodes initially assigned to one cluster are selectively added to other clusters based on similarity. A social network processor provides features and processing based on the clusters of nodes thus produced.
US09026535B2

A method includes accessing text, identifying a plurality of terms from the text, determining a plurality of term vectors associated with the identified plurality of terms, and clustering the determined plurality of term vectors into a plurality of clusters, the plurality of clusters comprising a first and a second cluster, the first and second clusters each comprising two or more of the determined term vectors. The method further includes creating a first pseudo-document according to the first cluster, creating a second pseudo-document according to the second cluster, identifying a first set of terms associated with the first cluster using latent semantic analysis (LSA) of the first pseudo-document, identifying a second set of terms associated with the second cluster using LSA of the second pseudo-document, and combining the first and second sets of terms into a list of output terms.
US09026528B2

A computer-implemented method and system for managing keyword bidding prices are disclosed. An example system embodiment includes an automatic keyword bidding module, operably coupled with a processor and a memory, operable to determine a revenue per click value associated with a keyword, obtain bidding information associated with the keyword, obtain automatic bid controls associated with the keyword, and automatically generate a bid value for the keyword based on the revenue per click value, the bidding information, and the automatic bid controls.
US09026525B2

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for providing for processing calculation plans. In one aspect, there is provided a computer-implemented method. The method may include generating a calculation plan including a plurality of nodes; determining whether at least one of the nodes includes a function node; and compiling the function node into executable code to enable execution of the plurality of nodes including the function node at the database. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.
US09026520B2

An enhanced metadata structure and associated process is provided which captures and stores metadata gathered about the source and usage of a media asset or file. The source and usage metadata is integrated, such as by encoding within the enhanced media file, as the media asset is transferred and used. The integrated metadata accumulates, as a trail of source information and usage information in the enhanced media asset, and can be extracted upon arrival at a target computer system.
US09026517B2

Methods and systems for searching a path for a vertex include determining, for each of two endpoints in a path, a lower bound for a shortest path distance from each respective endpoint to a target vertex; determining whether the lower bounds cover all points in the path and, if so, determining that the vertex is not in the path; determining whether a number of uncovered points is below a path size threshold and, if so, performing a search of the uncovered points to determine whether the vertex is in the path; and if the number of uncovered points is above the path size threshold, repeating the steps of determining a lower bound, determining whether the lower bounds cover all points, and determining whether a number of points is below a path size threshold using the uncovered points as a new path.
US09026514B2

A method, article and apparatus for calculating a measure of similarity between names is disclosed. Generally, name elements from an inbound name may be matched to name elements in a candidate matching name. A measure of similarity for the inbound name and candidate matching name may be calculated based on the number of matching name elements, an inbound name word count, a candidate name word count, and the number of transpositions that occur in matching name elements with one another.
US09026511B1

A system receives an indication of a document selected from a corpus of documents and determines a telephone number associated with the selected document. The system facilitates a voice call to the telephone number.
US09026506B2

A method for encoding data comprising generating a table having N moduli, where N is a positive integer equal to two or more, where each of a plurality of integers has a unique set of residue values associated with the moduli. Storing or transmitting the first data field value of a sequence of L data fields values, where L is an integer equal to or greater than 2. Storing or transmitting a set of K residue values, where K
US09026503B2

The techniques introduced here provide for enabling deduplication operations for a file system without significantly affecting read performance of the file system due to fragmentation of the data sets in the file system. The techniques include determining, by a storage server that hosts the file system, a level of fragmentation that would be introduced to a data set stored in the file system as a result of performing a deduplication operation on the data set. The storage server then compares the level of fragmentation with a threshold value and determines whether to perform the deduplication operation based on a result of comparing the level of fragmentation with the threshold value. The threshold value represents an acceptable level of fragmentation in the data sets of the file system.
US09026500B1

A system for restoring a backup data comprises a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to: 1) receive an indication to restore a backup data to a virtual storage device location; 2) determine a map between a virtual storage device volume name and a virtual storage device backup serial number; and 3) retrieve backup data from the virtual storage device backup. The memory is coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.
US09026497B2

In certain embodiments, a tiered storage system is disclosed that provides for failover protection during data backup operations. The system can provide for an index, or catalog, for identifying and enabling restoration of backup data located on a storage device. The system further maintains a set of transaction logs generated by media agent modules that identify metadata with respect to individual data chunks of a backup file on the storage device. A copy of the catalog and transaction logs can be stored at a location accessible by each of the media agent modules. In this manner, in case of a failure of one media agent module during backup, the transaction logs and existing catalog can be used by a second media agent module to resume the backup operation without requiring a restart of the backup process.
US09026491B2

A parallel-processing apparatus and method provide for synchronous replication in a database management system (DBMS). During synchronous replication into the active node and the standby node in the DBMS, replications of transactions are parallelized in units of transactions, thereby improving a performance of the DBMS, guaranteeing atomicity and consistency of the transaction, and solving the deadlock state which may occur in parallel-processing.
US09026484B2

A personal taste assessment and prediction system implements a method of predicting a person's preference for an item. The system may receive identifying information about an item of interest, and it may use the identifying information to access a database of characteristic values for various items and identify one or more characteristics of the item of interest. The system will access a user profile and process the retrieved characteristics with a user profile for a person to generate a predicted rating for the item of interest for the person.
US09026481B2

A portable device for remote chemical assay classification, comprising a computer processor, and an apparatus implemented on the computer processor, the apparatus comprising: an out-of-sample data receiver, configured to receive data defining an out-of-sample extension extracted on a remote computer from classifying test assays of a chemical reaction on the remote computer into at least two groups, and an assay classifier, in communication with the out-of-sample data receiver, configured to classify a new assay of the chemical reaction into one of the groups, using the data defining the out-of-sample extension.
US09026479B1

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for predicting user interests. In one aspect, a method includes training a prediction model to generate a category prediction of a next query from a set of queries, the category prediction specifying categories to which a next query belongs, the prediction model comprising a plurality of prediction functions that each generate a category prediction of a next query, wherein the prediction functions include two or more of a time-based prediction functions that generate a category prediction based on the category data and a difference of submission times of the queries, a rank-based prediction functions that generate a category prediction based on the category data and a rank order by which the queries were received, and a category-based prediction function that generates a category prediction based on the category data.
US09026477B2

A classification method including first classifying an event of any kind by first rules, and then second classifying events, not identified by the first classification, by a learning base reinforced with all the events identified by the first classification. The method is adaptive if the second classification rules are amended according to new examples that were able to be determined by the first rules.
US09026473B2

Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for distributing a resource (such as electricity) using a resource allocation system. In one exemplary embodiment, a plurality of requests for electricity are received from a plurality of end-use consumers. The requests indicate a requested quantity of electricity and a consumer-requested index value indicative of a maximum price a respective end-use consumer will pay for the requested quantity of electricity. A plurality of offers for supplying electricity are received from a plurality of resource suppliers. The offers indicate an offered quantity of electricity and a supplier-requested index value indicative of a minimum price for which a respective supplier will produce the offered quantity of electricity. A dispatched index value is computed at which electricity is to be supplied based at least in part on the consumer-requested index values and the supplier-requested index values.
US09026462B2

Systems, methods, and devices for conducting sales transactions are provided. Embodiments include handheld, portable, electronic, point of purchase devices configured to acquire identification information from articles to be purchased, to determine a purchase price, and to acquire payment information for the purchase price. The point of purchase devices may include one or more input devices such as a near field communication device, a camera, a scanner, and a biometric sensor for acquiring the identification information and/or the payment information. In some embodiments, the near field communication device may be detachable from the point of purchase device. The point of purchase devices also may contain communication interfaces, such as a near field communication interface, a local area network interface, a short message service interface, and a personal area network interface, for transmitting the information to an external server.
US09026461B2

Embodiments of the invention include systems, methods, and computer-program products that provide for an enhanced mobile application for assisting users at a point-of-transaction (POT). In one embodiment of the invention the POT assistance application program may determines that a user is conducting a transaction with a merchant. The user may utilize a user device to assist in the transaction. First, the user device may be paired with a POT system, such as a cash register. Once the devices are paired a communication link is created that allows the user to audibly and/or visually monitor the transaction using the user device. Furthermore, the user may flag an item for review during the transaction, silence the transaction, receive a subtotal for the transaction, select a payment method, or complete the transaction using the POT assistance application program.
US09026460B2

Systems, methods, and computer program products are provided for automatic activation of mobile payment mechanisms (e.g., software applications, devices/hardware and the like) on a mobile communication device in response to automated determination of the mobile payment types accepted by a merchant at which the user/consumer is located. As such, the present invention serves to automatically make the user/consumer aware of an option for mobile payment. In addition, the mobile payment transaction is made more efficient, in that, the user/consumer does not have to manually configure and/or activate the software or hardware associated with the mobile payment type.
US09026457B2

Consumer, merchant, and transactional data from a closed loop network and external sources may be leveraged to increase demand of a merchant's inventory during normally low-demand periods. Extensive data mining is used to determine the excess merchant inventory and demand patterns at different times and different locations for merchants and groups of merchants. Similar data mining is used to analyze cardmember demand patterns to identify the cardmember preferences regarding when and where they which to purchase goods and/or services. Cardmembers may also be grouped based on their demand patterns. Using pricing as a lever, cardholders with specific preferences are targeted to shift the demand from peak periods and locations to non-peak periods and locations, and to increase the non-peak demand by location as well as time period. Higher precision may be obtained using product level transaction data from point-of-sale terminals used by merchants wherever applicable.
US09026435B2

The invention provides a method for estimating a fundamental frequency of a speech signal comprising the steps of receiving a signal spectrum of the speech signal, filtering the signal spectrum to obtain a refined signal spectrum, determining a cross-power spectral density using the refined signal spectrum and the signal spectrum, transforming the cross-power spectral density into the time domain to obtain a cross-correlation function, and estimating the fundamental frequency of the speech signal based on the cross-correlation function.
US09026432B2

A computer-assisted language generation system including sentence retrieval functionality, operative on the basis of an input text containing words, to retrieve from an internet corpus a plurality of sentences containing words which correspond to the words in the input text and sentence generation functionality operative using a plurality of sentences retrieved by the sentence retrieval functionality from the internet corpus to generate at least one correct sentence giving expression to the input text.
US09026428B2

A system and method for receiving character input from a user includes a programmed processor that receives inputs from the user and disambiguates the inputs to present character sequence choices corresponding to the input characters. In one embodiment, a first character input is received and a corresponding first recognized character is stored in a temporary storage buffer and displayed to the user for editing. After a predetermined number of subsequent input characters and/or predetermined amount of time without being edited, the system determines that the first recognized character is the intended character input by the user and removes the first recognized character from the buffer, thereby inhibiting future editing.
US09026427B2

A computer-implemented method for generating side information for grammar-based data compression systems, such as YK compression systems, is described. An admissible grammar (G) for an input sequence (A(S0)) having a finite set of terminal symbols is obtained. A graph representation of the admissible grammar (G) is then constructed. An edge having a lowest weight (expansion frequency), or one not possessing the shortest distance and or shortest expanded sequence length, is then pruned from the graph representation to generate a pruned graph representation. A pruned grammar (G′) is then derived by removing the occurrence corresponding to the pruned edge from the grammar G and the starting variable (S0,i) of the pruned grammar (Gi) is then expanded to generate the side information.
US09026423B2

An emulator is disclosed that allows for diagnoses of failures or defects within the emulator. A map of faulty resources is generated to identify which resources should be avoided during compilation. Thus, in a transparent and automated manner, defects found during diagnostics are stored in a database of unusable emulator resources. A compiler has access to the database and compiles the design taking into account unusable resources. In another embodiment, the defects of an emulator board are stored on the emulator board itself. This allows each board to store its own maintenance information that can be used at the manufacturing site for changing defective chips. Defects stored on the board itself allow the defects to be obtained independent of a position of a board within the emulator to simplify identification of the faulty resource.
US09026420B2

Updating a geocellular model. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: modifying a geocellular model of an earth formation based on an actual datum from an actual borehole, the modifying by: selecting a plurality of cells to be removed from the geocellular model; interpolating to determine a new surface using data associated with cells to be removed, data associated with cells not selected for removal, and the actual datum from the actual borehole; and calculating data associated with new cells that replace the cells to be removed, the new cells with locations relative to the new surface.
US09026418B2

Distinct paths (40), e.g., locally optimal, are determined in a heterogeneous velocity field (32) between a source object and a target object (33) using gradients (35) of a two-way total arrival time field (34). The foregoing technique may be used to assess hydrocarbon reservoir connectivity.
US09026416B2

Computer-implemented systems and methods are provided for generating accurate grids that can be used for simulation of highly complex subsurface reservoirs, such as fractured subsurface reservoirs. A representation of a fractured subsurface reservoir and an explicit discrete fracture represented within the fractured subsurface reservoir are provided. The representation of the fractured subsurface reservoir is decomposed into polyhedral cells. Interfaces between the polyhedral cells are selected to approximate the discrete fracture explicitly represented within the fractured subsurface reservoir. The selected interfaces are used to produce a grid that can be used for constructing a simulation model of the fractured subsurface reservoir.
US09026395B2

A specific gravity measuring tool comprises a portable handheld housing supporting a plurality of electrodes at a fixed known spacing thereon and a display for displaying a determined specific gravity thereon. The electrodes are arranged to be penetrated into the object to be measured, for example a potato. The electrodes include a first pair across which an electrical potential is arranged to be generated, and a second pair across which an electrical potential is arranged to be sensed. A processor of the tool is arranged to calculate electrical impedance using the electrical potential generated across said first pair of the electrodes, the electrical potential sensed at said second pair of electrodes, and the known spacing between the electrodes so that the specific gravity can be determined using a predetermined relationship between electrical impedance and specific gravity.
US09026393B2

A High Voltage Interlock Strategy (HVIS) uses feedback current to detect cable connectivity status for a high-voltage cable configured to connect a power conversion circuit with a remote permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM). One or more feedback factors are calculated based on detected feedback current. Various algorithms for calculating a feedback factor, and for determining connectivity status based on calculated feedback factors, can be practiced, according to the PMSM operational mode. Fault detection action can be performed in response to detecting a cable disconnect. The HVIS can be implemented by software, making it a safe, economical solution for cable connectivity detection.
US09026385B2

Embodiments for providing Doppler sounds are disclosed. In one embodiment, provided is an ultrasound system which may include: an ultrasound data acquiring unit configured to transmit ultrasound signals to a target object and receive ultrasound echo signals reflected therefrom, to acquire a plurality of ultrasound data associated with the target object, each of which having a synchronization (Sync) number uniquely assigned thereto; a storing unit to store the plurality of ultrasound data therein; an user input unit configured to allow a user to input a user instruction; and a processing unit coupled to the ultrasound data acquiring unit, the storing unit and the user input unit and configured to form a Doppler mode image having the Sync number based on the plurality of ultrasound data, the processing unit being further configured to extract ultrasound data with a Sync number corresponding to the user instruction from the storing unit, thereby forming the Doppler sound based on the extracted ultrasound data.
US09026383B2

A flow rate sensor is disclosed, comprising a flow rate calculation part that calculates a flow rate of a fluid based on an expression using Xd/Xu that satisfies an expression at least in a certain range of the flow rate when an output of a constant temperature control circuit corresponding to an upstream resistor is defined as Vu, an output of a constant temperature control circuit corresponding to a downstream resistor is defined as Vd, and the flow rate is defined as and the flow rate calculation part corrects the zero point output as being an output when the flow rate is zero by using a zero offset function (OFS) defined as a function of Vu+VdXd/Xu.
US09026382B2

A problem of the present invention is to provide a flow rate measurement device which is capable of simplifying calculation, reducing the amount of memory necessary for calculation, absorbing variations resulting from manual operation or ignition state when appliances are used alone or in combination, and improving appliance identification precision with a configuration which extracts characteristics of appliances. The flow rate measurement device monitors and determines the change in a flow rate measured by a flow rate measurement unit, monitors and determines the code obtained by differential conversion unit, extracts appliance characteristic flow rates representing the characteristics of the gas appliances, and compares them with the appliance-specific characteristics, thereby identifying the gas appliances.
US09026380B2

Disclosed is an air gap measuring apparatus, for measuring width of an air gap formed between a rotator and a stator. An insertion section has a first flat plate section and a second flat plate section. Gap adjusting means drives the second flat plate section such that the second flat plate section moves away from the first flat plate section, until the first flat plate section and the second flat plate section abuts on the rotator and the stator. An operating section extends to outside of the insertion section, and operates the gap adjusting means. An elastic body has an end that follows the first flat plate section, and other end that follows the second flat plate section. A strain gage outputs electrical signals corresponding to the strain of the elastic body, the strain being formed due to the movement of the second flat plate section.
US09026378B2

A device for detecting a twist angle and/or a torque of a shaft occurring on the shaft and methods for operating the device uses at least one first encoder and at least one second encoder at a predefined spacing therefrom. Each encoder influences at least one coil parameter, is associated with at least a part of the circumference of the shaft, and has at least one track having at least one period per revolution of the shaft. At least first and second inductive sensors scan the first and second encoders, respectively. Each inductive sensor provides a respective sensor signal reflecting at least one measure for the rotational angle of the shaft within the period, and a difference ascertainment unit ascertains and provides the twist angle of the shaft as an angle difference of the two rotational angles detected by the inductive sensors.
US09026377B2

A method for sensing a force applied to an aircraft includes receiving a derivative of the acceleration of a motion of a portion of the aircraft, determining whether the derivative of the acceleration of the motion of the portion of the aircraft exceeds a threshold, and outputting an indication that a force has been applied to the portion of the aircraft responsive to determining that the derivative of the acceleration of motion of the portion of the aircraft exceeds the threshold.
US09026375B1

A closed and open contact method to predict a usable life of vacuum interrupters in the field can include using computer instructions in the data storage to instruct the processor to position a calculated amp or calculated pressure on an ionic or current versus pressure calibration curve for the installed vacuum interrupter and identify trend data from a library of trend data corresponding to the installed vacuum interrupter and to the calculated pressure or calculated amp of the installed vacuum interrupter; thereby determining the anticipated life expectancy.
US09026374B2

A method for determining the relative humidity of an insulating liquid filled electric apparatus including a container containing insulating liquid and gas, a communication unit providing communication between the gas of the container and gas of an external environment, and providing dehydration of gas passing through the communication unit, wherein the method includes: continuously measuring and storing the relative humidity of the gas in the container, calculating an average value of the relative humidity in the gas based on the stored humidity measurements during a certain time period, and determining the relative humidity of the insulating liquid based on the average value of the relative humidity in the gas and a relationship between the relative humidity of the gas and the relative humidity of the insulating liquid at equilibrium.
US09026364B2

A system and method for estimating a place affinity for a user is disclosed. The system comprises a gathering module, a communication module and a scoring module. The gathering module receives a place and retrieves rich place data associated with the place. The communication module retrieves user profile data associated with a user and a place affinity model associated with the user. The scoring module estimates an affinity score for the place using the place affinity model based at least in part on the rich place data and the user profile data.
US09026358B2

A system for improving the operation of a GPS based navigator. Statistical and/or time of day information is used to select the best route between a current location and a desired location. The statistical information may take into account anomalies, and a user can select the amount of risk they which take. The system can be updated with more updated information. In addition, the selection of the desired location can be carried out by downloading information from a PDA.
US09026357B2

Provided is an electric bus and an electric bus battery exchange system. The electric bus according to the present invention includes: a battery exchange hole disposed on top of the electric bus for exchanging a discharged battery for a charged battery; a front camera unit taking front images in the process of entering the battery exchange station for battery exchange; a communication unit for receiving position information of the battery exchange unit from the battery exchange station; a route output unit outputting a predicted driving route for reaching a swapping point below the battery exchange unit based on the front images taken by the front camera unit and the position information of the battery exchange unit; and a display unit displaying the predicted driving route outputted by the route output unit, superimposed on the front images taken by the front camera unit.
US09026349B2

A system to optimize performance of a powered system, the system including a data device configured to provide current information about current operating conditions of the powered system and/or prior information about the powered system, a controller configured to control operation of the powered system, and a processor configured to provide at least one control command to the controller for use in operating the powered system and/or user information with at least one recommended command to a user to control the powered system, wherein the at least one control command and/or user information are based at least in part on the current information and/or the prior information. A system and computer software code, stored on a computer readable media and executable with a processor, are also disclosed.
US09026342B2

In a method for operating an internal combustion engine in which fuel arrives in at least one combustion chamber via at least one injector configured as an electromagnetic actuating device, an opening delay time of the injector (18) is ascertained by varying a control duration of the injector and analyzing a characteristic curve of an electrical operating variable of the injector that characterizes a movement of a valve element of the injector.
US09026339B1

A compression ignition engine includes a high pressure injector for injecting a liquid fuel into a first combustion cylinder and a low pressure injector for injecting a gaseous fuel into a second combustion cylinder. A controller is coupled to the high pressure injector and the low pressure injector. The controller selects one of a liquid fuel mode and a gaseous fuel mode. If the liquid fuel mode is selected, air is compressed in a first cylinder, the compressed air is transferred to a second cylinder, and the liquid fuel is injected into the second cylinder. If the gaseous fuel mode is selected, air is compressed in the second cylinder, the compressed air is transferred to the first cylinder, and the gaseous fuel is injected into the first cylinder.
US09026335B2

A motor vehicle speed control system having a distance sensor operates in a first mode when the vehicle is traveling on a clear stretch of road in which a predetermined desired vehicle speed is set. In a second mode when the vehicle is following another vehicle, a predetermined minimum distance from a selected target object is set. The target object is selected by a first selection process that screens out stationary objects. When a defined condition prevails, the first mode switches into a third mode in the form of deceleration, wherein a second selection process is started which also evaluates stationary target objects. Until a target object is selected, the vehicle travels on a clear road with deceleration initiated which is reduced relative to following another vehicle. If a target object is selected by the second selection process, the system switches over without delay from the third mode into the second mode.
US09026331B2

A system, computer-implemented method, and computer program product are provided for a monotonic coupling assembly engagement. A coupling assembly actuation force output is increased to a coupling assembly associated with a rotary power source and a piece of driven equipment. A determination is made whether a power source process variable associated with the rotary power source drops below a pause threshold. A current coupling assembly actuation force output is maintained to the coupling assembly in response to a determination that the power source process variable drops below the pause threshold. A determination is made whether the power source process variable rises above a resume threshold. The coupling assembly actuation force output is increased to the coupling assembly in response to a determination that the power source process variable rises above the resume threshold.
US09026321B2

An agricultural implement system is provided that includes a row unit configured to deposit agricultural material into soil along a direction of travel. The agricultural implement system also includes a sensor configured to output a signal indicative of soil displaced by the row unit, and an implement controller communicatively coupled to the sensor. The implement controller is configured to determine a smoothness of a soil finish behind the row unit along the direction of travel based on the signal. The controller is also configured to adjust a parameter affecting the soil finish while the smoothness is outside of a desired range.
US09026315B2

A method and system that facilitates operation of autonomous equipment by providing a mission planner to maintain line-of-sight contact between a plurality of coordinated machines, including a method for maintaining line-of-sight (LoS) communication between a plurality of machines that creates a mission plan for a work site that includes a path plan for each of the plurality of machines that maintains the line-of-sight communication between the plurality of machines by taking into account a topography for the work site; and loads the path plan for each respective one of the plurality of machines into each respective one of the plurality of machines, wherein the path plan specifies a machine travel path for each respective one of the plurality of machines.
US09026308B2

A system for controlling driving modes of a vehicle having a driver, where each of the driving modes is adapted to control a behavior of the vehicle during operation of the vehicle in the driving mode, each of the driving modes being associated with a set of driving sub-modes. Each driving sub-mode is adapted to be activated by the vehicle in response to ambient circumstances. One of the driving modes is associated with a first and a second driving sub-mode, the first and second driving sub-modes being accompanied with a first and a second driver controlled setting respectively. The system also includes an input device for selection between the driving modes and for controlling the driver controlled settings. The first and second driver controlled settings are adapted to be manually set by the driver through the input device only upon activation of the accompanying driving sub-mode by the vehicle.
US09026307B2

A vehicle control system including: a first vehicle control unit configured to include a first vehicle control unit configured to include a first processor installed with a real-time OS; and a second vehicle control unit configured to include a second processor installed with a real-time OS and a third processor installed with a multimedia OS, wherein the first processor and the second processor are configured to perform communication between the first vehicle control unit and the second vehicle control unit, and a communication function of the second processor and a communication function of the third processor are configured to perform communication between the second processor and the third processor.
US09026306B2

A data acquisition device for a vehicle includes a first body and a second body. A first body includes a first casing, an antenna member, and two cushion pads. A terminal of the first casing forms a recession and two lateral walls of the recession have two pivot members. The antenna member is disposed in the first casing. The two cushion pads are respectively located on the two lateral walls of the recession and circumferentially disposed around the two pivot members. Each of the cushion pads has a core hole and the pivot members are respectively passing through the core holes. The second body includes a second casing and a process device. A terminal of the second casing has a plug part, and the second casing respectively have two pivot holes pivoted on the two pivot members. The processing device is disposed in the second casing.
US09026300B2

Methods and devices for controlling a vehicle in an autonomous mode are disclosed. In one aspect, an example method is disclosed that includes obtaining, by a computer system, lane information that provides an estimated location of a lane of a road on which a vehicle is travelling, where the computer system is configured to control the vehicle in an autonomous mode. The example method further includes determining, by the computer system, that the lane information has become unavailable or unreliable and, in response to determining that the lane information has become unavailable or unreliable, the computer system analyzing trajectories of other vehicles to locate a potential merge point on the road and creating a new trajectory that follows the lane at the potential merge point.
US09026298B2

A control apparatus for a hybrid vehicle is provided with an engine, an electric motor, a clutch disposed in a power transmitting path between the engine and the electric motor, and a transmission of a step-variable type disposed in a power transmitting path between said electric motor and drive wheels, a shift position of said transmission to be established after a shift-down action thereof performed in a vehicle drive mode using said electric motor as a drive power source being selected on the basis of an output-related value after starting of said engine, and according to a predetermined relationship, when the starting of said engine is required together with said shift-down action.
US09026293B2

A drive control device of a hybrid vehicle in which an electric power loss predictor and a target electric power calculator are arranged, a target engine power calculator calculates a target engine power based on a target driving power, target charging/discharging power, and estimated power that is an electric power loss, and a motor torque instruction value calculator calculates the torque instruction values of a plurality of motor generators using a torque balance equation including the target engine torque and an electric power balance equation including the target electric power. In the electric power balance equation, the electric power generated or consumed by the plurality of motor generators, the estimated power that is the electric power loss, and input/output electric power of the battery are included.
US09026288B2

A method for automatically controlling the gear of a gearshift of an electric bicycle. At least one actual operating parameter of a drive component of the electric bicycle is recorded by recording an operating variable of the drive component. The at least one actual operating parameter is compared to a setpoint default, which reflects an operating point of the electric drive, which is linked to a higher efficiency, a greater reliability or a greater durability of components of the electric drive or of the drive component than in response to an operation according to the at least one actual operating parameter. The at least one actual operating parameter is approximated to the setpoint default by changing the gear. A corresponding device for automatically controlling the gear is also described.
US09026287B2

Methods are provided for holding an engine steady during a drive cycle to complete one or more diagnostic routines. The engine may be held steady while an operator torque demand varies if a sufficient number of diagnostic routines need to be completed and are enabled for completion. By holding the engine steady, an accuracy and completion of the diagnostic routines is improved.
US09026282B2

The present disclosure is directed to a distributed control system for a locomotive. The distributed system may include a network and a plurality of electronic modules spatially distributed within the locomotive and communicatively coupled to the network in a standardized scalable architecture. A first electronic module of the plurality of electronic modules includes a first configurable controller and a programmable controller, and a second electronic module of the plurality of electronic modules includes a second configurable controller and does not include a programmable controller.
US09026259B2

A microgrid including a renewable power source is optimized by treating the renewable source as operating in an isochronous mode, and by decomposing the optimization process. A renewable capability is defined for the renewable source to enable treatment of the renewable source as operating in an isochronous mode. The renewable capability may be based on a power rating of the renewable source. An objective function of the microgrid optimization problem may then be optimized while treating the renewable source as operating in an isochronous mode. A penalty factor may be applied to avoid power shortage.
US09026257B2

Operation of a hydropower generation facility may be optimized by consideration and analysis of multiple factors influencing function of the facility. Aspects of the facility and surrounding hydraulic system are represented in a model that may include efficiency curves for hydropower turbines. Efficiency curves for one or more turbines are approximated by piecewise linear functions. The use of piecewise linear representations allows for calculation of recommended operational settings as well as predicted outputs in real time. An optimization system may consider input data such as weather and market prices for electricity. The input data may also include desired operational outputs of the hydropower generation facility. A user interface may present recommendations for specific operational settings to achieve the desired operational outputs.
US09026255B2

An apparatus comprises a fluid circuit comprising a fluid actuator and a valve operable to control an operational parameter associated with the fluid actuator, a sensor positioned to sense the operational parameter and to generate a parameter signal indicative of the operational parameter, and an electronic control system coupled electrically to the valve and the sensor. The control system is configured to override a setpoint control signal by outputting a dislodgement control signal to oscillate the valve to attempt to dislodge contamination that may have collected in the valve. An associated method is disclosed.
US09026249B2

A robot calibration method which aligns the coordinate system of a gantry module with the coordinate system of a camera system is disclosed. The method includes using an alignment tool, which allows the operator to place workpieces in locations known by the gantry module. An image is then captured of these workpieces by the camera system. A controller uses the information from the gantry module and the camera system to determine the relationship between the two coordinate systems. It then determines a transformation equation to convert from one coordinate system to the other.
US09026248B1

Multirobotic management can involve communications between a command or leader robot and one or more client or follower robots through a cloud computing system. In an example implementation, a leader robot can receive first sensory data captured by a first follower robot and second sensory data captured by a second follower robot, determine a command function based on at least one of the first sensory data and the second sensory data, and communicate with at least one of the first follower robot and the second follower robot based on the command function.
US09026235B2

An automation and motion control system for theatrical objects, such as theatrical props, cameras, stunt persons, lighting, scenery, drapery or other similar types of devices or items, is provided to coordinate the movement of the objects on a large scale and/or to control the operation of the objects.
US09026221B2

A medical system including an implantable medical device having at least first and second bores, the first bore configured to receive a first lead, the first lead configured to deliver a first therapy, the second bore configured to receive a second lead, the second lead configured to deliver a second therapy, and a lead reversal detection circuit connected to the at least first and second bores, for detecting insertion of the first or second leads into the wrong bore.
US09026218B2

The present application involves a method and a system for using electrical stimulation and/or chemical stimulation to treat depression. More particularly, the method comprises surgically implanting an electrical stimulation lead and/or catheter that is in communication with a predetermined site which is coupled to a signal generator and/or infusion pump that release either an electrical signal and/or a pharmaceutical resulting in stimulation of the predetermined site thereby treating the mood and/or anxiety.
US09026217B2

A system and method for selection of stimulation parameters for Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) may include a processor that displays in a display device and in relation to a displayed model of a leadwire including model electrodes, a current field corresponding to a first stimulation parameter set, provides a user interface for receipt of user input representing a shift of the current field, in response to the user input, moves, in the display device, the current field with respect to the displayed model, determines a second stimulation parameter set that results in the moved current field, and outputs the second stimulation parameter set and/or sets a stimulation device with the second stimulation parameter set, where the stimulation device is configured for performing a stimulation using the leadwire in accordance with the second stimulation parameter set.
US09026216B2

The invention proposes a system and a method for controlling the process of prescription and administration of direct current stimulation treatments in humans. In the proposed system, the stimulation parameters are all set by a specialist whose credentials are verified through a specific control device different from the device that delivers electrical stimulation. The stimulating device can deliver the stimulation only if the credentials of the specialized subject making the prescription are verified and if the prescription is made according to safety criteria. The system is composed by at least one device for the administration of electrical current connected to two electrodes applied over the skin and by a control device. The control device is connected to one or more devices for the administration of the direct current through a communication channel. The specialist gives his own credentials and is authorized at making the prescription and, accordingly, programming the stimulating device. The prescription defines the stimulus intensity, waveform, polarity, duration, the minimum interval between two consecutive stimulations and the maximum number of stimulations allowed. The stimulating device delivers the stimulation only if the credentials of the specialist are verified and only according to the prescription.
US09026214B2

Some embodiments provide a method comprising delivering neural stimulation for a neural stimulation therapy according to a programmed schedule, detecting a swallow event, and responding to the detected swallow event by overriding the programmed schedule.
US09026207B2

In a device and a method for providing correlated measures for predicting potential occurrence of atrial fibrillation, an impedance of the patient is measured to obtain impedance information; cardiogenic data is determined from the information; respiratory data is determined from the information; at least one hemodynamic measure is calculated from the cardiogenic data and at least one apnea measure is calculated from the respiratory data; the hemodynamic and apnea measures are correlated such that the correlated measures can be utilized for predicting potential occurrence of atrial fibrillation.
US09026200B2

The present invention provides a garment for measuring biological information, a biological information measurement system, a biological information measurement device and a method of controlling thereof capable of measuring biological information with accuracy regardless of variations of the constitution of each examinee. When an examinee wears a biological information measurement shirt 301, four limb electrodes 351 and 352 are arranged at positions so that the electrodes cover the body surface other than around the clavicle of the examinee. At that time, four limb electrodes 362 and 363 are assigned to positions so that they cover about the pelvis of the examinee. Also, during the use of the shirt, chest electrodes 353˜358 cover from the body surface (around lower part of left side of the body) of a presternal region around the left thorax of an examinee for a perpendicular direction of the body axis (a direction perpendicular to the length of the shirt) and the electrodes are assigned so as to cover from the body surface around the fourth rib to that around the sixth rib.
US09026188B2

A measurement apparatus comprises a probe system (100) operably coupled, when in use, to a processing resource (134). The probe system (100) and the processing resource (134) are arranged, when in use, to measure an apparent thickness change of a volume of the medium (108) to be measured and to determine a physiological parameter using the measurement of the apparent thickness change.
US09026183B2

A system and method for making a call in a speakerphone mode in a mobile device including a number of loudspeakers are provided. The system includes a sensor for detecting an orientation of the mobile device, and a controller for activating part or all of the number of loudspeakers, according to a signal sensed by the sensor, when making a call in the speakerphone mode. The system and method can activate all of the number of loudspeakers in a case where the call is made in the speakerphone mode at a higher volume level or only one loudspeaker in a case where a high quality of audio sound is desired despite the volume level being low. The system and method can automatically activate part or all of the number of loudspeakers according to the orientation of the mobile device, sensed by a sensor, thereby enhancing user convenience.
US09026180B2

A portable electronic apparatus has a display, keypad, sensor and controller. Keys of the keypad are distributed within a keypad area in at least a first plane and are arranged for user actuation transversally to the first plane to provide a first type of user input. The sensor is positioned to sense navigating user actuation at the keypad area in or coincident with the first plane to provide a second type of user input. The controller is configured to control a focus position on the display in response to the second type of user input; associate a plurality of display subareas of the display with respective keys of the keypad; and accept, for user input of the second type, user actuation of an actuated key among the keys as a selection of a selectable item presented at the focus position in a particular display subarea associated with the actuated key.
US09026174B2

In a scanner system comprising a portable terminal and a scanner device, the scanner device has a mounting portion on which the portable terminal is mounted and electrically connected to the scanner device. The scanner device acquires identification information of the portable terminal when the scanner device detects mounting of the portable terminal on the mounting portion, and transmits a connection request to the portable terminal having the identification information. The portable terminal activates an application for establishing communication with the scanner device in response to the connection request from the scanner device when the mounting of the portable terminal on the mounting portion is detected. Thus, the communication between the portable terminal and the scanner device can be established without operation of a user.
US09026167B2

An apparatus, system, and method for a communication network that includes a picocell range expansion configuration on authorized shared access. A method may include determining, in a controller, at least one allowable maximal range expansion bias value for at least one picocell within a coverage area of a macrocell. The method may also include sending the determined allowable maximal range expansion bias value for the at least one picocell from the controller to the macrocell. A further method may include receiving at least one allowable maximal range expansion bias value for at least one picocell from a controller. The method may also include updating, by a macrocell, a range expansion bias value for each picocell within a macrocell based on the received allowable maximal range expansion bias value.
US09026165B2

Provided are a wireless power transmission control method and wireless power transmission control apparatuses. The wireless power transmission control method may include transmitting a wake-up request signal used to wake up a target device, and receiving a response message from the target device activated by the wake-up request signal. A source device may set a demand power based on the response message, and may transmit a resonance power to the target device based on the demand power.
US09026162B2

Apparatus configured to be implemented in a first wireless communication device, having corresponding non-transitory computer-readable media, comprise a memory configured to store a coexistence schedule, wherein the coexistence schedule defines WLAN intervals and non-WLAN intervals; a WLAN transceiver configured to transmit WLAN signals in an IBSS network; a non-WLAN transceiver configured to transmit wireless non-WLAN signals; and a coexistence circuit configured to allow the WLAN transceiver to transmit the WLAN signals in the IBSS network only during the WLAN intervals, wherein the coexistence circuit is further configured to allow the non-WLAN transceiver to transmit the wireless non-WLAN signals only during the non-WLAN intervals; and wherein the coexistence circuit is further configured to cause the WLAN transceiver to transmit one or more coexistence request messages, each indicating a duration of at least one of a respective one of the WLAN intervals, and a respective one of the non-WLAN intervals.
US09026158B1

Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with scheduling of measurement gaps and on-duration intervals for a wireless station are described. According to one embodiment, a controller for controlling a station that wirelessly communicates with a base station is disclosed. The station is within a wireless range of the base station and one or more neighboring stations. The controller includes a scheduling logic configured to control the station, while the station is in an idle mode, to receive control information from the base station by scheduling a period of time for an on-duration interval. The scheduling logic is configured to control the station to listen to the one or more neighboring stations by scheduling a period of time for a measurement gap. The measurement gap is scheduled to avoid overlapping with the on-duration interval.
US09026155B2

A logging system includes a plurality of receiving wireless devices, and a logging device. Each receiving wireless device receives a communication content of a target wireless device by using a corresponding channel. Each receiving wireless device outputs a log that shows a communication status of the corresponding channel. A logging device collects the log that is output from each of the plurality of receiving wireless devices.
US09026151B2

Methods, devices, and systems are described for using multiple measurements including Doppler measurements from a mobile device to identify the position of the base station. Repeated Doppler and velocity measurements from different locations, with measurement groups taken at the same time or within a certain time frame, may be used to identify the location of a base station with which the mobile device is communicating.
US09026149B2

A method and apparatus for determining a location of a User Equipment (UE) in a communication system. A Base Station (BS) connected to a plurality of antennas by cable receives from each of the antennas reception signal information related to an uplink signal transmitted from the UE, identifies an antenna having a partial service area in which the UE is located, using the reception signal information, and determines the partial service area of the identified antenna to be the location of the UE.
US09026147B2

A defibrillator is disclosed for communication with a transmitter associated with a location. The defibrillator is configured to generate an electronic signature for determining a position of the defibrillator within the location. The electronic signature includes electronic data correlating the position of the defibrillator to the transmitter. The electronic data may include GPS data. The defibrillator is configured to generate the electronic signature during a first and a second window of time to define a first and a second electronic signature. A differential between the first and the second electronic signatures corresponds to a positional state of the defibrillator, indicating movement within or between two locations. In a disclosed system, the first electronic signature is stored in a database and a server is configured to generate the differential and to communicate the positional state of the defibrillator to a stakeholder. Methods of use are also disclosed.
US09026144B2

A method and system for verifying an indoor position using Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN), access points (AP), and Assisted Global Positioning System (A-GPS). The goal of this method is to determine if a user is in the place where he claims to be by using a mobile device. When a user wants his location to be verified he activates a scanning process on his mobile device that reads all the requested signals (WLAN, A-GPS). When the recording process is complete the information is sent to a server where it is processed and the user location is either confirmed to be true or false.
US09026142B2

An apparatus for reporting location information reports location information to a base station when there is a reporting request for location information necessary for wireless location measurement from the base station and reports the location information necessary for the wireless location measurement to the base station according to a reporting period. In addition, the apparatus for reporting location information reports the location information to the base station when events are generated within the reporting period.
US09026141B2

A controlling device such as a remote control has programming for transmitting a signal response to a plurality of control environments, each environment including a signaling device. Each signaling device in receipt of the signal request sends a signal response having a unique ID which is chosen to be characteristically attenuated by the surroundings of the environment. Because the controlling device can only be in one environment at a given time, and given the attenuation characteristics of the signal response from each signaling device, only one signal response will be received by the controlling device in each environment. Location definitions associated with the received unique ID may be used by programming in the controlling device to recall saved devices states, commands sets, macros, and even to dynamically generate commands based on the location information.
US09026138B2

Disclosed are systems, methods and techniques for obtaining round trip time (RTT) measurements from acquisition of signals at one or more mobile devices, the signals being transmitted by one or more transmitters; approximating locations of the one or more mobile devices while obtaining the RTT measurements; and combining the measurements to determine expected RTT signature values at discrete positions in the area based, at least in part, on the obtained RTT measurements and the approximated locations.
US09026137B2

A method, computer readable medium and apparatus for determining a location of a user endpoint device in a wireless network are disclosed. For example, the method receives from each of a plurality of base stations a plurality of signals and a plurality of times of arrival, wherein each of the plurality of times of arrival is associated with a particular signal of the plurality of signals, and determines the location of the wireless endpoint device from the plurality of signals and the plurality of times of arrival.
US09026132B2

Methods and apparatus for providing time zone information to a mobile station are described. An example method disclosed herein includes accepting at a generic access network controller a registration request from a mobile station, encoding in a generic access network information element a first offset from a first time, and transmitting the generic access network information element to the mobile station.
US09026130B2

Aspects of a method and system for registering femtocells to provide service are provided. In this regard, a communication device may be operable to determine a plurality of femtocells within a vicinity of its location. The communication device may be operable to receive information communicated from one or more of the plurality of femtocells, which are managed by a femtocell management entity. One or more of the plurality of femtocells may be selected for transmitting and/or receiving cellular data based on the communicated information. The communicated information may comprise one or more of global navigation system satellite (GNSS) coordinates, an identification number, potential interference, power levels, location, associated communication devices, and/or directionality of antennas of the one or more femtocells.
US09026124B2

A system and method for interference mitigation in a wireless communications system are provided. A method for interference mitigation in a controller includes coordinating with other controllers to establish a cooperative agreement, receiving information from a communications device served by the controller, scheduling a transmission opportunity for the communications device based on an indicator and the cooperative agreement, and receiving a transmission from the communications device at the scheduled transmission opportunity.
US09026122B2

It is described a relay node for providing wireless access for a user equipment to a telecommunication network. The relay node includes an antenna, which is adapted to operate with different spatial characteristic antenna patterns, and a transceiver unit, which is coupled to the antenna and which is adapted to activate at least one of the different spatial characteristic antenna patterns. It is further described a corresponding method for providing wireless access for a user equipment to a telecommunication network via a relay node.
US09026120B2

Disclosed is a large cell base station (100) that, in cases in which the interference from small cell base stations (300) experienced by a radio terminal (200) connected to said large cell base station (100) is at or above a prescribed value, estimates a non-interference PF evaluation value for assessing whether or not the allocation of resource blocks to the radio terminal (200) is suitable when said interference is assumed to not be present. Additionally, the large cell base station (100) transmits band-use restriction information, which indicates use restrictions for the frequency bands corresponding to the resource blocks, to the small cell base stations (300) in cases in which the non-interference PF evaluation value is at or above a prescribed value.
US09026113B2

Techniques presented herein disclose handover using increased probability of the fast ranging success. Propagation delay of the RF signal transmitted from an MS to a target BS may be estimated based on a known propagation delay to a current serving BS and a relative difference in propagation delays to the current serving BS and the target BS, for example, as indicated by different receive times of preamble sequences transmitted from the current serving BS and the target BS.
US09026110B1

Methods and systems for using coverage or capacity classifications regarding a macro RF network to manage registration of femtocells with a service provider network (SPN) so as to avoid signaling overload are described herein. After a wide-scale power outage within an area where multiple femtocells are located, the femtocells can power on and attempt to register with the SPN at about the same time. The femtocells can scan RF signals received from the macro network and classify the received RF signals with respect to capacity or coverage of the macro network at the time of transmitting the RF signals. A device within the SPN can determine whether classification of the received RF signals is associated with dropping or accepting a registration request associated with the classified RF signals. The SPN device can accept the registration request or drop the registration request and request the femtocell to transmit another registration request.
US09026104B2

Methods, apparatus, and systems to control remote devices or equipment via existing cellular telephone networks wherein information from a customer concerning a specific function is communicated and performed at the remote equipment. To achieve this, a Central Control receives information from the customer and correlates it to a specific cellular telephone MIN number which has been pre-programmed. The MIN number is then sent to a cellular provider. The cellular provider then transmits the MIN number to an antenna, which transmits the MIN number to a remote equipment controller at the remotely located equipment. The remote equipment controller then takes a part of the MIN and gives these numbers to a PLC at the remote equipment controller. The PLC then memory maps part of the MIN to a specific function to be carried out by the remote equipment controller, and the specific function is carried out.
US09026089B2

Multicast/broadcast messaging service (MBMS) arrangement, in which a broadcast/multicast service center delivers multimedia messages to a plurality of users via a gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) and via a serving GPRS support node (SGSN) and a radio access network (RAN), in association with a given temporary mobile group identity (TMGI) and using a single radio access bearer (RAB). Responsive to a given event, the SGSN sends to the RAN a data volume report query identifying said RAB by the TMGI or another unique parameter. The RAN responds with a data volume report that indicates the amount of unsent MBMS data. If so agreed, the SGSN will pass said amount to a charging gateway for compensation in charging for the MBMS service.
US09026085B2

A user can select to automatically delete sent and received text messages from a phone, to avoid complications of another person having access to the phone reading stored messages.
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