| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US07862387B2 |
Board connector module for mezzanine circuit board assemblies
The invention relates to a board connector module including a frame accommodating an array of substantially-parallel signal leads (S) and ground leads (G) extending in a longitudinal direction (L). The said frame includes edges extending substantially parallel to said leads and one or more transverse bars extending between said edges. The transverse bars of the frame may resist deflection or buckling of these leads and consequently allow for higher stack heights in mezzanine circuit board assemblies. |
| US07862371B1 |
Light socket adapter for a fan holding device
A system to facilitate installation of a small fan into a ceiling light fixture. A male electrical plug with electrical wire is installed upon the top of a rigid structure. An electrical adapter is inserted into the light fixture's socket in lieu of a light bulb. The conductive prongs of the plug are inserted into a receptacle of the adapter. A leverage arm is created at the bottom of the rigid structure and extends opposite and beyond the vertical centerline of the apparatus to a position where a higher percentage of the weight of the combined appliance and fan is distributed to the side of the centerline opposite the plug putting downward pressure on the outer end of the leverage arm configuration which, in turn, causes the top portion of the apparatus to rotate toward the centerline and to push the prongs inward. |
| US07862367B2 |
Releasably engaging high definition multimedia interface plug
A releasably engaging high definition multimedia plug comprises a plug body and an actuator operable with the plug body to move a locking tab of the plug and facilitate releasable engagement of the plug with a standard high definition multimedia receptacle. A corresponding method of releasably securing a high definition multimedia interface plug into standard high definition multimedia interface receptacle is also provided. |
| US07862363B2 |
IC socket with floatable pressing device for receiving testing IC packages of different sizes
An IC socket comprises an insulative housing adapted to accommodate an IC package and a pressing device pivotably attached to the insulative housing. The insulative housing defines some first pivoting holes at two opposite ends thereof and some second pivoting holes distant with the first pivoting holes. A pair of first shafts are assembled in the first pivoting hole of the insulative housing to pivotally latch the pressing device on the insulative housing and are movable in a vertical direction, so that the pressing device is floatable and can engage with different packages of different thickness. Two second shafts are assembled in the second pivoting holes. The IC socket further includes a plurality of spring members linking the first shafts and the second shafts to make the pressing device downwardly in a vertical direction. |
| US07862358B2 |
Electrical connector
An electrical connector for a flat conductive member includes a housing having a bottom wall, a top wall, a first receiving groove, and a second receiving groove. The first receiving groove and the second receiving groove extend from a first side toward a second side. The connector includes a first terminal disposed in the first receiving groove; a second terminal disposed in the second receiving groove; and a pressing member disposed to be movable between an open position and a closed position for pressing the first terminal and the second terminal. The first terminal includes a first fixing arm portion contacting with the bottom wall, a first movable arm portion contacting with the top wall, and a first connecting portion. The second terminal includes a second fixing arm portion contacting with the bottom wall, a second movable arm portion contacting with the top wall, and a second connecting portion. |
| US07862357B2 |
Fluorescent lampholder
A fluorescent lampholder with a top portion for supporting a fluorescent lamp and a base portion with a wire opening located on the bottom surface of the base that receives wires without exposing the wires to the exterior surface of a fixture. The lampholder is capable of supporting various types and/or sizes of fluorescent lamps such as “tall”, “medium” and “small” T-8 fluorescent lamps as well as other types and/or sizes of fluorescent lamps. |
| US07862350B2 |
Combination device including a guide light and an electrical component
There is disclosed a combination electrical device comprising a housing wherein there can be at least one light and at least one sensor disposed in the housing. The light serves as a guide light wherein the sensor is for determining the presence or absence of light. Inside the housing can be face terminals which extend up to a user accessible interface in the form of apertures for receiving prongs of a plug. The housing can include an additional housing for receiving a circuit board coupled to the light and the sensor. In addition, there can be a translucent cover for covering the light and the sensor. In at least one embodiment, the translucent cover can extend along at least one fourth of a length of a front face of the housing. In another embodiment, the translucent cover can extend along at least one third of a length of a front face of the housing. In still another embodiment, the translucent cover can extend along one half of a length of the housing. |
| US07862349B1 |
Connector
A connector has a conductive elastic member, an inner frame configured to hold the conductive elastic member so that the conductive elastic member is connectable with connection targets in a vertical direction, and an outer frame configured to hold the inner frame so that the inner frame is movable along a movable direction perpendicular to the vertical direction. An inner frame engagement portion is provided on an outside surface of the inner frame. An outer frame engagement portion is provided on an inside surface of the outer frame. The inner frame engagement portion and the outer frame engagement portion are engaged with each other so as to regulate a relative movement of the inner frame in the vertical direction and to permit a relative movement of the inner frame in the movable direction. |
| US07862346B1 |
Socket connector
A socket connector has an insulative housing, multiple first terminals, multiple second terminals, a positioning bracket and a shell. The first and second terminals are mounted through the insulative housing, and each of the first and second terminals has a mounting section, a soldering section and a contacting section. The soldering sections of all terminals are arranged in a transverse row relative to the insulative housing. The positioning bracket is mounted under the insulative housing and holds the soldering sections. The shell covers the insulative housing, first and second terminals and positioning bracket. The soldering sections arranged in one row makes the socket connector compact. |
| US07862345B2 |
Electrical connector
An electrical connector consists of a plug connector and a receptacle connector to be fitted. An insulator is supported only by plug contacts each provided between second and third fixed portions with an elastic portion having at least one snaked portion so as to be floating in a housing. The shape of the second contact portion of each of the plug contacts is substantially in the form of a plate-shaped piece so that the second contact portion of the plug contact and the first contact portion of a receptacle contact are caused to contact each other in line contact at one location, and the elastic portion is arranged within a range from a position below the second contact portion to a position below the insulator. The electrical connector thus constructed is superior in resistance to vibration, and achieves space-saving and floating of the insulator. |
| US07862338B2 |
Tripod grip training device
This invention provides a crayon of special external configuration arranged to facilitate the training and development of a tripod grip in the use of pencils, pens and the like. The crayon has a body which has convexly curved end portions and at least first, second and third surfaces which are defined intermediate the body end portions in such manner as to impart to the body a generally triangular transverse cross-sectional shape of a location substantially centrally between the body and portions. Those surfaces converge toward one of the body end portions. The intersections of at least two of the surfaces with each and with the body end portions are smoothly convexly curved. The body is sized in proportion to the size of a hand of an intended user so that it is best grasped between the thumb and adjacent forefinger, preferably also with the cooperation of the adjacent middle finger, for manipulation to make a mark, thereby training the user in the development and use of a tripod grip to grasp and manipulate a pencil, pen, or other more conventionally shaped writing implement. |
| US07862330B2 |
Angled fill ports and seal-off arrangement for patty-forming apparatus
A food patty molding machine has a reciprocating mold plate. A moldable food product is pumped through a fill passage into cavities of the mold plate when the mold plate is in its fill position. A fill plate, interposed in the fill passage immediately adjacent the mold plate, has a multiplicity of fill orifices distributed in a predetermined pattern throughout an area aligned with the mold cavity when the mold plate is in its fill position. The fill orifices define paths through the fill plate, wherein the paths each have an inlet portion that is perpendicular to a fill side face of the mold plate that is connected to an outlet portion that is obliquely angled to a fill side face of the mold plate. A seal-off stripper plate is interposed in the fill passage immediately adjacent the face of the fill plate opposite the mold plate. The stripper plate is movable along a path transverse to the mold plate path between a fill location and a discharge location. The stripper plate has a multiplicity of fill openings aligned one-for-one with the fill orifices as extensions thereof when the stripper plate is in its fill location. |
| US07862329B2 |
Easily removable valve pin bushing
The invention provides a replaceable bushing in the base of a nozzle of a hot runner assembly and provides access through a manifold and a rear plate for removal and replacement of the bushing without having to disassemble the hot runner assembly. According to one embodiment of the invention, an actuator access port is provided for removing the valve pin actuator and a bushing access port is provided for accessing the bushing upon removal of the valve pin actuator, both of which may be removed from a second or rear plate of the injection molding assembly. |
| US07862325B2 |
Apparatus for forming turbine blade with angled internal ribs
A die for forming a lost wax ceramic core allows the formation of non-parallel separating spaces between adjacent portions of the core. The core will eventually form cooling channels in an airfoil. The die for forming the core includes a plurality of moving parts having rib extensions. At least some rib extensions are non-parallel to form the non-parallel spaces. The die includes two main die halves that come together to form several of the spaces. Inserts move with those die components and come together to form other spaces. At least one of the inserts contacts surfaces on one of the die halves, such that the non-parallel spaces are formed. |
| US07862322B2 |
Resin infusion between double flexible tooling system
A resin infusion system uses a housing that has an upper flexible diaphragm and a lower flexible diaphragm such that the two diaphragms form a cavity. A fiber reinforcement mat is positioned within the cavity. A mold is positioned below the lower diaphragm. A flow plate has a series of V-shaped grooves and is positioned either underneath the lower diaphragm or overtop the upper diaphragm so that the grooves press into the respective diaphragm. A vacuum is created within the housing causing resin to be drawn into the cavity with the resin interacting with the grooves increasing the turbulence of the resin flow. Once the reinforcement mat is properly wetted, the mold is pressed into the lower diaphragm. |
| US07862308B1 |
Rotary reciprocating pump
A rotary reciprocating pump comprises: i) a pump housing having intake and discharge ports; a shaft driven rotary piston carder, rotatably carrying pistons circularly arranged therearound; ii) a driven rotary cylinder block having a plurality of cylinder bores therein, circularly arranged therearound for reception of the pistons, and having a flat outer side portion having an intake/discharge port therethrough communicating with the cylinder bores; iii) a stationary sloping inner control surface portion in sliding proximity with the outer side portion of the rotating cylinder block, the control surface portion configured so that the cylinder block moves outwardly for intake and inwardly for discharge, the control surface portion also having grooved openings therethrough to appropriately communicate with the ports to the bore through the cylinder block and with the intake and discharge ports in the pump housing; and, iv) a spring biasing the cylinder blocks towards the control surface portion. |
| US07862304B2 |
Compressor turbine blade airfoil profile
A single stage high pressure turbine blade includes an airfoil having a profile substantially in accordance with at least an intermediate portion of the Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth in Table 2. The X and Y values are distances, which when smoothly connected by an appropriate continuing curve, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z. The profile sections at each distance Z are joined smoothly to one another to form a complete airfoil shape. |
| US07862300B2 |
Turbomachinery blade having a platform relief hole
A turbomachinery blade having a relief hole in its platform and a method of limiting the formation and/or propagation of cracks in the trailing edge of the blade are provided. The relief hole may be formed in the concave side of the platform proximate the trailing edge along its mean camber line. The relief hole may be circular in cross-section and is blind, i.e., does not exit on any other face of the platform. The relief hole prevents the formation of cracks in the trailing edge of the blade and also slows the propagation of any cracks which may have formed in this region of the blade. |
| US07862298B2 |
Centrifugal compressor housing
A housing for a radial flow compressor, particularly for a turbocharger, comprises a first housing part and a second housing part joined together to form at least part of the housing, each of the housing parts comprising at least one cavity, said cavities in fluid communication, when the housing parts are juxtaposed, forming a cavity system into which a fluid joining compound, such as an adhesive, thermoplastic material, etc., is introduced to form a solid joint of said both housing parts, wherein the housing parts are dimensioned such that a gap for introducing the fluid joining compound extends from a free housing surface of the housing parts when juxtaposed, along facing joining surface sections of the housing parts, and ports into the cavity system. |
| US07862297B2 |
Holding device for holding cooling fan
A holding device for holding a cooling fan comprising: a duct having a hollow in which a cooling fan is to be fitted; a stopper portion which keeps one operative end of the cooling fan from further moving to hold the cooling fan at a fitting position; and a plurality of elastic wall segments formed in a cooling fan insertion end of a wall of the duct; wherein each of some of the plurality of elastic wall segments is formed with a locking claw for keeping the other operative end of the cooling fan from moving. With this construction, the cooling fan 31 can be more surely mounted in a duct. Consequently, vibration reduction effect and sound reduction effect with respect to the cooling fan is improved. |
| US07862295B2 |
Device for guiding a stream of air entering a combustion chamber of a turbomachine
A device for guiding a stream of air entering a combustion chamber of a turbomachine is disclosed. The device includes a flow straightener followed by a diffuser. One of the flow straightener shrouds is formed as one with one wall of revolution of the diffuser. The other flow straightener shroud is added and attached to the other wall of revolution of the diffuser. The vanes of the flow straightener are secured by one end to one shroud of the flow straightener and separated by a small clearance from the other shroud at their other end. |
| US07862292B2 |
Horizontal motion wave power generator
A paddle wheel-driven horizontal wave generator system which is situated on the ocean shore for converting shore waves to unidirectional rotational force for generating power. By the use of a pair of one-way clutches on a single power shaft the incoming and outgoing motion of ocean waves is converted into continuous unidirectional rotational force to drive an electric generator. The generator system is attached to a base having troughs. The lower portions of the paddle wheels are positioned in the troughs, and engage incoming and outgoing shore waves which rotate the axle of the paddle wheels in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction. The one-way clutches convert the bi-directional rotation of the paddle wheel axle to unidirectional rotation of the power shaft. |
| US07862288B2 |
Hay bale accumulating method and device
A bale accumulator and method in which a plurality of hay bales can be accumulated and arranged into a cluster of ten bales (a “ten stack”). The accumulator first collects a bale in each of two angled bale receivers at the rear of the accumulator. These remain in position as four columns having two bales each are collected in a more forward collection. The result is two angled bales being dragged to the rear of a conventional “eight stack.” As the device releases all ten bales, gate mechanisms rotate the two rear bales 90 degrees so that they lie transverse to the eight bales comprising the “eight stack.” The two rear bales are pressed against the rear of the eight stack in order to form a ten stack. |
| US07862286B2 |
Unloading system for an agricultural harvester
An unloading system for an agricultural harvester, includes a grain tank (16); a door (56) at the outlet of the grain tank (16) that is disposed to control the flow of grain out of the grain tank (16); a door actuator (84) coupled to the door (56) that is disposed to open and close the door; a first conveyor (30) disposed to receive grain passing through the door (56); a first conveyor drive motor (80) coupled to the first conveyor (30) to drive the first conveyor (30); a control circuit (72) coupled to both the door actuator (84) and the first conveyor drive motor (80), the control circuit (72) being configured to close the door (56) prior to shutting off the first conveyor (30) in response to an operator command to shut down the unloading system. |
| US07862279B2 |
Screw
A screw, in particular a self-tapping screw, has a screw thread which covers up to the front end of the screw formed as a drilling tip or cutting tip. In the front area, starting with a distance from the front end of the screw, there is an opposite thread showing the same pitch as the screw thread, however, its thread height is lower than the thread height of the screw thread. This second, opposite single-thread, double-thread or triple-thread/multi-thread forms a cutting edge with its thread edge which is used to cut fibers in order to reduce wedge effect during screwing in the screw. The screw is particularly suitable for wood or wood-like materials in the edge areas of structural elements. |
| US07862278B2 |
Anti-tamper device
An apparatus for preventing removal of, or tampering with, a construction fitting includes two construction element engaging components and a fastener for connecting the two construction element engaging components to one another. The fastener includes a bolt extending between the two construction element engaging components and a nut for tightening on the bolt rigidly connecting the two engaging components with a gap therebetween. A body portion, for at least partially covering a nut, prevents access thereto by an unfastening tool with the body portion extending from the nut to a position alongside the bolt within the gap. A locking device is able to be moved relative to the body portion between a first position, in which the apparatus is removable from the construction fitting, and a second position in which the apparatus is prevented from being removed from the construction fitting with the locking device extending, in the second position, from the body portion in a direction toward the bolt with the gap. |
| US07862276B2 |
Anti-unscrewing device for ring nuts in coupling systems for tubes
An anti-unscrewing device for coupling the tubular ends of two components in fluid conveying or delivery systems by means of a threaded ring nut that can be screwed to one of said tubular ends to connect said ends, wherein said anti-unscrewing device comprises a connecting portion to connect the device to one of the components and at least one counter element provided with an engaging portion suitable to engage a corresponding engaging surface formed at said ring nut, such that the engaging portion can be displaced by means of a movement of the ring nut. There are further provided guide means dictating a movement path for the counter element, such that an unscrewing movement of the ring nut will cause the engaging portion to move to a locking position relative to the ring nut thereby preventing the ring nut from unscrewing. |
| US07862257B2 |
Cable guide device for use in a manhole
A cable guide device for a manhole includes a wall supporting plate supported against a wall surface of an entrance part of the manhole, a cable guide body positioned at the bottom part of the wall supporting plate, a rotation shaft mounted vertically to the cable guide body and the wall supporting plate so that the cable guide body can be rotated from side to side with regard to the wall supporting plate, and at least one guide roller which rotates integrally with a roller shaft combined with the cable guide body so as to guide the cable into at least one underground pipe. |
| US07862250B2 |
Dust boot assemblies and apparatus for providing grease relief for a dust boot
Dust boot assemblies for providing grease relief while preventing or minimizing infiltration of contaminants into a cavity in the dust boot and between the surfaces of a greased joint coupled to the dust boot. Some such dust boot assemblies include two-piece grease relief inserts having a body and a shield, wherein the body includes grease relief route(s) and the shield prevents or minimizes infiltration of contaminants into the grease relief route(s). Other dust boot assemblies include one-piece grease relief inserts with integral body and shield components. Some grease relief routes include axial and radial channels. Grease relief inserts are inserted under an edge of a dust boot. A dust boot skirt covers grease relief ports through which excess grease is relieved to the external environment. The grease relief insert is located to in a portion of the dust boot experiencing limited or zero movement. |
| US07862249B2 |
Ball-point pen tip and ink refill
There is provided a ballpoint pen tip in which a shoulder of a bent portion does not touch a paper surface during writing and bleeding caused by deformation of an inner periphery of the bent portion can be prevented, and an ink refill using thereof. The ballpoint pen tip 20 comprises a first tapered surface 22 formed by tapering an outer periphery at a front end of a holder 21, a connecting surface 23 that is formed at a front end side of the first tapered surface 22 and has an outside angle larger than 180° with respect to the first tapered surface 22, a second tapered surface 24 that is formed at a front end side of the connecting surface 23 and has an outside angle smaller than 180° with respect to the connecting surface 23, and a bent portion 25 in which a front end portion of the second tapered surface 24 is bent inwardly so as to hold a writing ball 35 inserted into a ball house 29. A boundary between the first tapered surface 22 and the connecting surface 23 is referred to as a first shoulder portion 26, and a boundary between the second tapered surface 24 and the bent portion 25 a second shoulder portion 27. The second shoulder portion 27 is located inside a virtual tangent line 41 between the first shoulder portion 26 and the writing ball 35. |
| US07862244B2 |
Optical module providing a sleeve burying a tubular member
An optical module with a sleeve assembly is disclosed. The sleeve assembly, which receives a ferrule secured in an end of the optical connector and is primarily made of resin material, provides a buried member made of a material, typically meal, having a polygonal cross section, a linear thermal expansion coefficient less than that of the resin material and a Young's Modulus greater than that of the resin material. The bore of the sleeve assembly has a deformed circular shape with a first diameter less than the outer diameter of the ferrule. |
| US07862234B2 |
Linear motion guide unit
Lubrication points of lubricant around a rolling element are made in a turnaround passage to ensure proper and steady lubrication by the lubrication system simple in construction, with accompanying sustainable maintenance-free condition for lubrication. The end cap has a recess as large as permitted and a hole to communicate the recess with the turnaround passage. A porous compact is composed a thick block to fit into a deep cavity in the recess, a nose leading lubricant in the turnaround passage, and a conjunctive part between the thick block and the nose. The porous compact fits snugly into the recess in a fashion that the nose comes into rolling-touch at its tip with the rollers as they roll through the turnaround passage. |
| US07862230B2 |
Method and device for controlling an internal combustion engine
On the fulfillment of a specified condition, a temperature signal outside an actuating device is detected to which a piezoelectric actuator is assigned. A piezoelectric temperature value is determined by the temperature signal. A temperature-capacitance characteristic value of the piezoelectric actuator is determined by the piezoelectric temperature value through specified mapping. A measured capacitance characteristic value is determined by a detected piezoelectric actuator charge and voltage corresponding to the temperature signal. A first correction capacitance characteristic value is determined by the measured capacitance characteristic value and the temperature-capacitance characteristic value. Independently, the charge and the voltage of the piezoelectric actuator is detected and the measured capacitance characteristic value is determined on the basis of these. The piezoelectric temperature value is determined by the measured capacitance characteristic value and the first correction capacitance characteristic value through inverse mapping with respect to the temperature and the capacitance characteristic value. |
| US07862222B2 |
Backlight module and light guide plate
A backlight module includes a light guide plate and two light emitting elements for emitting light beams. The light guide plate includes first and second light guide portions and a connecting portion interconnecting the first and second light guide portions. The first light guide portion has two opposite first light incident surfaces at opposite sides thereof, and a first light output surface. The second light guide portion has a second light incident surface facing first light output surface of the first light guide portion. Each of the light emitting elements faces one of the first light incident surfaces of the first guide portion. The first guide portion receives the light beams via the first light incident surfaces and output them via the first light output surface. The second light guide portion receives the light beams from the first light output surface via the second light incident surface. |
| US07862217B2 |
Vehicle lamp unit and vehicle headlamp using the same
A vehicle lamp unit includes a reflective surface based on an ellipse; a semiconductor light source of which a light emitting portion is provided at a first focal point of the reflective surface or a vicinity of the first focal point; and a projection lens that projects a reflected light that is a light emitted from the semiconductor light source and reflected by the reflective surface to outside. An emission direction of a maximum light emission intensity from among light intensities of the semiconductor light source is inclined in a direction opposite to the projection lens with respect to an optical axis of the projection lens. |
| US07862216B2 |
Lighting device
A lighting device is disclosed, which is provided for the front region of a motor vehicle, for example in a motor vehicle headlight, and which emits electromagnetic radiation during operation. The lighting device comprises at least one first primary radiation source which emits infrared radiation, and at least one second primary radiation source which emits visible light, wherein the first primary radiation source and the second primary radiation source are arranged in such a way that the second primary radiation source outshines the first primary radiation source and thus generates a color impression of the lighting device which deviates from the color impression stemming from the infrared radiation source alone. |
| US07862206B2 |
Adjustable light-emitting diode display module
An adjustable LED display module is provided, including a plurality of light-emitting units, and at least a set of spacing adjusting mechanism. The spacing adjusting mechanism is of a retractable grid-like structure or a retractable mesh-structure. The plural light-emitting units are distributed on different locations of the components of the spacing adjusting mechanism. When the spacing adjusting mechanism operates to adjust the spacing, at least spacing between some neighboring light-emitting units will change so that the location after adjustment will vary. Hence, the display module will have different form factor and light dots arrangement to provide higher flexibility for various application environments and conditions as well as convenience for storage and transportation when contracted. |
| US07862202B2 |
Method and apparatus for installing a motion sensor in a luminaire
A method and apparatus for motion sensor installation includes an apparatus for installing a lighting accessory to a first luminaire having a luminaire housing. The bracket includes a coupling member operative to couple the bracket to one of the luminaire housings. A support member extends from the coupling member, and is operative to support the lighting accessory a first distance from the luminaire housing. An attachment member that is operative to attach the lighting accessory to the lighting accessory extends from the support member. The bracket couples the lighting accessory to the luminaire housing without extending the length of the luminaire or creating a substantial gap between two luminaires in a linear configuration. In one aspect, the lighting accessory can be a motion sensor that is operative to control the power to one or more of the luminaires. |
| US07862198B2 |
Lighting device having energy conversion module
The present invention provides a lighting device having an energy conversion module, comprising a lamp and at least one energy conversion module. The lamp includes a shade and a lamp tube. The lamp tube is disposed beneath the shade, and the inner wall surface of the shade can reflect light from the lamp tube. The energy conversion module is configured inside the shade or disposed on a lamp grid to receive light energy and convert it into electrical energy. As such, the lighting device can give light to photovoltaic cells in the environment so that electrical energy is generated. The object of converting part of the light energy into electrical energy for further utilization can thus be achieved. |
| US07862194B2 |
Baseball-style cap with amplified stereo speakers
An embodiment of a baseball style cap and stereo combination having a crown, a brim/bill, a sweatband, and two amplified stereo speakers concealed within the brim/bill is disclosed. The baseball-style cap combination further includes a battery holder/forehead cushion housing a battery holder concealed within an inner surface of the baseball-style cap combination by a flap. Also included are wires connecting the battery holder to an amplifier concealed within the sweatband and wires connecting the amplifier to the speakers. A stereophonic music generator sends a music signal which is provided to the amplifier by any suitable means of communication, like an audio cord or wireless by means of infrared or Bluetooth wireless technology. |
| US07862190B2 |
Surface light source for emitting light from two surfaces and double-sided display device using the same
A surface light source device includes a light-emitting element which generates light, and a light guide plate which causes light emitted from the light-emitting element to be incident from an end face, causes the light to be reflected between opposite plate surfaces to guide the light along the plate surfaces and make the light emerge from the plate surfaces, and transmits light incident from one plate surface toward the other plate surface. A first optical element is placed on one plate surface side of the light guide plate, transmits part of light emerging from one plate surface of the light guide plate toward a front side, and returns the remaining light to a rear side. A second optical element is placed on the other plate surface side and transmits at least part of light emerging from the other plate surface side. |
| US07862183B2 |
Speckle reduction using a tunable liquid lens
A representative embodiment of the invention provides a projection system having a laser source that incorporates a tunable liquid lens and a spatial light modulator adapted to modulate light generated by the laser source to project an image on a viewing screen. The tunable liquid lens is adapted to vary focal length, alignment or position with respect to an optical element that is external to the lens, ability to diffuse light, and/or polarization rotation angle. |
| US07862177B2 |
Image forming system
When it is determined that the host vehicle is stopped at the intersection in the right turn waiting state, the navigation ECU forms a right turn waiting mark representing the right turn waiting state on the road surface of the opposing lane at the intersection where the host vehicle is stopped with a visually identifiable laser beam with a predetermined color. When it is determined that the host vehicle is brought into the right turn start state from the right turn waiting state where the host vehicle is stopped at the intersection, the navigation ECU forms the right turn start mark representing the right turn start state instead of the right turn waiting mark on the road surface of the opposing lane at the intersection where the host vehicle enters with the visually identifiable laser beam with the color (for example, red) different from that of the right turn waiting mark, at substantially the same position thereof in accordance with the traveling state of the host vehicle. |
| US07862171B2 |
Ophthalmic lens element for myopia correction
An ophthalmic lens element (100) for correcting myopia in a wearer's eye is disclosed. The lens element (100) includes a central zone (102) and a peripheral zone (104). The central zone (102) provides a first optical correction for substantially correcting myopia associated with the foveal region of the wearer's eye. The peripheral zone (104) surrounds the central zone (102) and provides a second optical correction for substantially correcting myopia or hyperopia associated with a peripheral region of the retina of the wearer's eye. A system and method for dispensing or designing an ophthalmic lens element for correcting myopia in a wearer's eye is also disclosed. |
| US07862168B1 |
Eyeglass holding device
Left and right curved discs may be attached to distal end portions of the left and right temple frames of an eyeglass. The left and right curved discs are positionable at a slight depression covered by skin above a mastoid process of the wearer's head and behind the wearer's ears for securing the eyeglass to the wearer. When not in use, the left and right curved discs may be hooked onto the wearer's ears for temporarily storing the eyeglass. |
| US07862165B2 |
Detachable sideshade for spectacles
A sideshade for reducing peripheral glare that is removably attachable to a temple of spectacles such that the wearer of the spectacles is not required to remove the spectacles in order to attach the sideshade to or detach the sideshade from the temple of the spectacles. The detachable sideshade is optical or near-optical quality so as not to degrade the wearer's peripheral vision. The sideshade may be light in weight and easy to attach and remove. |
| US07862164B2 |
Ink jet recording apparatus and recording method therefor
An ink jet recording apparatus, which records a image on a recording medium using a recording head provided with a plurality of ink discharge ports, comprises a rotative platen having a plurality of supporting pieces arranged at predetermined intervals; rotation means for rotating the platen; conveyance means for conveying the recording medium; control means for controlling the rotation means to rotate the platen in the conveying direction of the recording medium in synchronism with the conveyance of the recording medium when recording is performed near the edge of the recording medium conveyed by the conveyance means. With the structure thus arrange, this ink jet recording apparatus is capable of performing the entire area recording (no margin recording) on a recording medium without staining the platen that supports the recording medium at the time of recording. |
| US07862157B2 |
Ink jet recording head
An ink jet recording head includes ejection resistors for generating thermal energy for ejecting ink; warming resistors for generating thermal energy for heating the ink; ejection outlets, provided correspondingly to the ejection resistors, for ejecting the ink; and a recording element substrate provided with ink flow paths provided correspondingly to and for supplying the ink to the ejection outlets, the ejection resistors, the warming resistors, a first ejection outlet array portion including the ejection outlets, and a second ejection outlet array portion including the ejection outlets. An amount of one ink droplet to be ejected from an ejection outlet of the first ejection outlet array portion is different from that from an ejection outlet of the second ejection outlet array portion. The warming resistors are formed above the recording element substrate through the ejection resistors and an insulating layer with respect to a lamination direction of the recording element substrate and are disposed between the ejection resistors and the ink flow paths. The warming resistors include a first warming resistor disposed at the first ejection outlet array portion with a larger ejection amount and a second warming heat generating resistor disposed at the second ejection outlet array portion with a smaller ejection amount. |
| US07862154B2 |
Liquid ejection method, liquid ejection head and liquid ejection apparatus
The liquid ejection method of ejecting liquid from a nozzle, includes the steps of: growing a column of the liquid from the nozzle; and injecting a bubble into a base of the column of the liquid during growth thereof from the nozzle, by using a bubble supply device which supplies a bubble. |
| US07862149B2 |
Ink jet printing apparatus and printing method
By suppressing deviation of dot-formation positions stemming from insufficient accuracy in conveying a printing medium due to eccentricity of a conveying roller, a printed image in which unevenness is less visible is obtained. An accumulated amount of conveyance errors is decreased by narrowing a nozzle-use range and reducing a conveyance amount over an entire printing region according to a mode used for printing an image in which the coverage of a printing medium is low due to a small number of ink colors to be used, for example, a mode used for printing a monochrome image by using a black ink dominantly in all of the density regions. |
| US07862148B2 |
Method of priming picolitre inkjet printhead
A method of priming an inkjet printhead having ink ejection nozzles. The method includes: providing an ink bag containing ink for distribution to the nozzles via a fluid path between the ink bag and the nozzles; applying inwardly directed force on at least one exterior wall of the ink bag so as to reduce an available fluid volume of the ink bag, thereby causing ink to flow from the ink bag to the nozzles along the fluid path; and arranging a biasing member in the ink bag so that the biasing member applies outwardly directed force on at least one interior wall of the ink bag to restrain the reduction of available fluid volume of the ink bag only once the available fluid volume has been reduced to a predetermined volume. Each nozzle is configured to eject an ink drop having a volume of about 1.2 picolitres. |
| US07862140B2 |
Printing method, printing apparatus, and storage medium having program stored thereon with ink ejection amount correction
A method including performing correction of an ink ejection amount for a certain area based on a correction value for a first type row region, and performing correction of an ink ejection amount for another area. The certain area includes a plurality of the first type row regions adjacent to each other in a transport direction. The other area is located on the upstream side in the transport direction from the certain area, and includes a plurality of second type row regions and a plurality of the first type row regions in the transport direction. The second type row region is a region in which a dot row is formed in the movement direction by performing the movement-and-ejection operation another predetermined number of times that is more than the predetermined number of times. A ratio of the second type row regions increases as the distance from the certain area increases. |
| US07862138B2 |
Flow control in an ink pen
In one embodiment a pressure regulator for an ink pen includes: a diaphragm between a lower pressure region and a higher pressure region, the diaphragm movable toward the lower pressure region in response to an increase in a pressure difference across the diaphragm; a valve operative between an open position in which ink may flow into the lower pressure region and a closed position in which ink may not flow into the lower pressure region; a first lever rotatable on a first fulcrum in response to movement of the diaphragm toward the lower pressure region; and a second lever connected to the valve, the second lever rotatable on a second fulcrum in response to rotation of the first lever to move the valve from the closed position to an open position. |
| US07862131B2 |
Dual mode undercarriage for tracked vehicle
A vehicle with a frame connecting a driver wheel, an idler wheel and mid-roller wheels, an endless track belt being tensioned around the driver wheel and the idler wheel and being in contact with the mid-roller wheels on a lower run thereof, the mid-roller wheels being arranged in bogies, including a front bogie having a first pivot axis, a middle bogie and a rear bogie arranged in tandem having a second pivot axis, wherein the first pivot axis and said second pivot axis act as load transfer pivots. |
| US07862127B2 |
Chrome-plated hubcap and a wheel assembly for a vehicle
A hubcap configured for attachment to a wheel of a vehicle via a plurality of nutcaps that are removably attachable to a plurality of lugnuts of the vehicle includes a chrome-plated body and a standoff. The chrome-plated body defines an inner surface having a sidewall. The standoff is configured to distribute a force, arising during attachment of the plurality of nutcaps to the plurality of lugnuts, through the hubcap to the wheel of the vehicle. The standoff includes a proximal portion spaced apart from the sidewall and a distal portion including a hollow tubular member defining a bore. A wheel assembly configured for attachment to an axle of the vehicle includes the plurality of nutcaps, the wheel, the hubcap, and an insulator configured to protect the hubcap from heat and disposed within the hollow tubular member of the standoff. |
| US07862124B2 |
Web adjuster and coupling
A web adjuster device for securing and varying a length of a web. The web adjuster device comprising a connector portion and an adjuster portion. The adjuster portion comprising a gripping bar having a pair of ears mounted near each of its ends, a housing including a web stop, and one or more springs to normally urge the bar toward the web stop and against the web. The connector portion comprises a hook portion integrally attached to the web adjuster portion, the hook portion rising generally upwardly and away from the bottom surface of the web adjuster portion. |
| US07862123B2 |
Articulated chair having universal reclining armrest system
A universal reclining armrest system for use with an articulated examination chair. The system includes an armrest adapter having a universal aperture for receiving a post portion of an armrest assembly. The armrest adapter further includes a splined peg for coupling to a pivoting mechanism of an articulated chair. The pivoting mechanism enables the chair to move throughout an operable range of motion while maintaining a fixed rotational position of an attached armrest adapter. The armrest assembly further includes an adjustable joint to provide 360° of rotational adjustment to the armrest relative to the fixed position of the armrest adapter. |
| US07862121B2 |
Seat
A seat may be obtained with improved operability of plural adjustable units.A vehicle seat 10 is provided with: a seat lifter 22 provided to a seat body that is for sitting on, and is adjusted by operation force transmitted from a first operating system; a reclining mechanism 20 provided to the seat body, that is adjusted by operation force transmitted from a second operating system; and an operation lever 30, imparting operation force for independently adjusting the reclining mechanism 20 and the seat lifter 22. The operation lever 30 imparts operation force to the seat lifter 22 when operated by rotation along the seat up-down direction in the direction of arrow D and arrow E, and imparts operation force to the reclining mechanism 20 when operated by rotation along the seat width direction in the direction of arrow F. |
| US07862118B2 |
Infant seat rocker
An infant seat rocker includes a base member having a pair of rails that protrude generally vertically from the base member and extend a length of the base member, a front wall that protrudes at an angle from the front of the base member, at least one rear wall that protrudes at an angle from the rear of the base member, a motor that is positioned on the base member and a spring that attaches the motor to the infant seat. The infant seat is positioned on the base member and the rails, the front wall and at least one rear wall are capable of locating the infant seat on the base member while the motor is energized to produce and maintain a rocking motion in the infant seat. |
| US07862114B2 |
Seat restraining device
The embodiments described herein provide a vehicle seat assembly that is coupled to a floor of a vehicle. The assembly comprises a seat back frame, a seat cushion frame, at least one leg and at least one blocking member. The seat cushion frame is pivotally coupled to the seat back frame. The leg is pivotally coupled to the seat cushion frame and pivotally coupled to the floor of the vehicle. The blocking member is coupled to the seat cushion frame and capable of moving into engagement with the leg as the assembly moves from the folded position to the upright seating position. The blocking member is adapted to block movement of the leg and to stabilize the seat assembly in the event of a vehicle collision. |
| US07862113B2 |
Modular comfort assembly diffuser bag having integral air mover support
A ventilation diffuser bag for disposition on a vehicle occupant support includes a perforated, occupant facing side and an opposite non-perforated, support surface facing side. The non-perforated side includes an opening to allow air flow into the diffuser bag. An air mover support integral with the non-perforated side includes an endless sidewall extending from the opening for providing support for an air mover. The endless sidewall includes a retaining edge spaced from the non-perforated side for suspendably retaining the air mover within the air mover support. The non-perforated side of the diffuser bag is supportable on an occupant facing surface of a vehicle occupant support, and the air mover support extends into the occupant support. |
| US07862107B2 |
Cover for vehicle
An intake system cover for a vehicle is mounted in an engine compartment to cover a reservoir tank that stores coolant for an engine. The intake system cover for the vehicle is formed with a light introduction opening for introducing light to be directed toward a liquid level gauge at a side of the reservoir tank. The visibility of the liquid level of the reservoir tank at the liquid level gauge is improved. |
| US07862103B2 |
Interlocking joint for a wall or door of a trailer
A wall or roof of a trailer are formed from a first panel and a second panel which are joined together by a cap and a strip which interengage. The cap includes a base wall and an interlock provided thereon. The base wall abuts the outer surfaces of the panels. The strip includes a base wall and an interlock provided thereon. The strip and cap are separate members. The base wall of the strip abuts the inner surfaces of the panels. The interlock of the strip and the interlock of the cap mate together to form a joint. The interlocks extend between the panels. The panels may be composite panels or may be from a single sheet or multiple sheets of metal. An adhesive may be provided between the base wall of the cap and the outer surfaces, and an adhesive may be provided between the base wall of the strip and the inner surfaces. |
| US07862101B2 |
Composite body for a vehicle
A vehicle primarily a mass transit vehicle is formed primarily of composite materials which define a roof section and a floor section of two fiber reinforced sheets connected by an integral core and two rigid side wall sections each formed from welded steel or optionally bolted aluminum defining a series of window openings in a row along the side wall section in a ladder shape. The separate sections are connected to a front end cap and a rear end cap. Mountings for the seats are defined as well as conduits through the floor and roof for electrical and fluid connections. Releasable joints of adhesive are provided between the metal rails and the edges of the composite panels. |
| US07862099B2 |
Roof opening/closing apparatus
A roof opening/closing apparatus for operating a roof of a vehicle to move between first and second positions includes a panel member for covering an upper portion of an accommodating space and a panel moving mechanism. The panel member includes a first panel and a second panel which are aligned in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The panel moving mechanism is provided under the panel member to movably support the first and second panels. The panel moving mechanism includes a sliding mechanism slidably moving the second panel relative to the first panel so that the first and second panels are overlapped when the roof is located in the first position and a length of the panel member in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle is reduced to be smaller than the length of the panel member when the roof is located in the second position. |
| US07862092B2 |
Door lock and method for manufacturing said door lock
A door lock for locking a door to an underlying structure. A machine element disposed in connection to a through opening in the underlying structure is arranged so as to engage a bolt that is insertable into a through opening in the door. The machine element is inserted through the opening in the underlying structure to a position at which the openings in the door and the underlying structure form, together with the part of the machine element that extends outside of the underlying structure, a length that is longer than the bolt length, while at the same time an internal thread on the machine element extends sufficiently far through the underlying structure that, with the joint mounted, it engages the bolt to create the joint. Also, a method for manufacturing the door lock. |
| US07862089B2 |
Piping joint assembly system and method
A pipe fitting assembly package and fastening ring removal tool allow re-use and repair of push-fit piping fittings and valves without damage to the fitting or valve elements or the pipe. The quick connection pipe fitting assembly package of the present invention employs a threaded retaining cap that when removed, exposes the clamping, sealing and fastening mechanism of the fitting or valve. In one embodiment, the present invention further includes a removable packing gland mounted on a body about an axis of an orifice. The fastening ring removal device provided as part of the present invention is manually pushed onto the cylindrical object and is capable of expanding to traverse over the installed fastening ring. The fastening ring removal device includes a parallel angular surface to lift the fastening ring off of the pipe member. In one embodiment of the present invention, the removal device has a plurality of cut areas or slits extending axially along its surface to allow for the expansion of the upper rim portion of the fastener removal tool as it slides over a remaining fastening ring. The present invention facilitates re-use of existing fittings and valves by allowing the internal components to be removed, repaired and/or replaced. |
| US07862072B2 |
Passenger air bag chute assembly
The present invention is directed to a seamless airbag door assembly for a motor vehicle. A panel having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface of the panel has predetermined breaking lines that are not visible when the panel is viewed from the outside surface. A scrim is connected to the inner surface of the panel and has a cut-line operable aligned with the predetermined breaking lines of the inner surface of the panel. An airbag chute is connected to the scrim and inner surface of the panel in order to connected the airbag chute to the panel. |
| US07862059B2 |
Torsion beam axle having connecting tube between torsion beam and trailing arm
A torsion beam axle includes a torsion beam, a plurality of trailing arms made of a material different from that of the torsion beam, and connecting tubes made of a material better than that of the trailing arms with respect to weldability with the torsion beam, and integrally coupled to the trailing arms at one end part thereof, and welded to the torsion beam at the other end part thereof. Thereby, the coupling force between the trailing arms and the torsion beam made of different materials can be improved. |
| US07862058B2 |
Fabricated vehicle axle
A fabricated vehicle axle is provided with a single piece main body having an inverted U-shaped configuration. The ends of the main body are curved upwardly to define a pair of gooseneck portions. A first king pin fixture having a king pin bore is secured to one of the gooseneck portions, while a second king pin fixture having a king pin bore is secured to the other gooseneck portion. A bottom plate is secured to the main body and has ends extending beyond the gooseneck portions to provide seats for the king pin fixtures. |
| US07862053B2 |
Golf bag cart foldable device
A golf bag cart foldable device includes a bottom cart stand having a link segment at its top, where both sides of the link segment each is in pinned connection with a rear wheel frame, which has its bottom end join the rear wheel, and the bottom cart stand is provided with a slider at the bottom of the link segment. An upper cart stand is in pinned connection with the link segment at its bottom, and has a bracket at its top, where the bracket couples to a mount at its one end. A handle bar is joined the mount at its bottom at which an angle adjustable joint is located, and has a score board at its top. A linkage set comprises a first linkage being set up between the upper cart stand and the slider, a second linkage being set up between the slider and the rear wheel frame, and a third linkage being set up between the mount and the first linkage. Through the linking of the linkage set, the angles between the upper cart stand and the handle bar and between the bottom cart stand and the rear wheel frame will change for the folding or fixing of the device. |
| US07862052B2 |
Vehicle roll control system
A roll control system comprising a front torsion bar; a front first hydraulic actuator attached to the front torsion bar; a rear torsion bar; a rear first hydraulic actuator attached to the rear torsion bar; and control means connected to the hydraulic actuators and controlling the operation thereof on detection of a predetermined vehicle condition; wherein each hydraulic actuator comprises a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber; wherein the control means comprises a source of fluid pressure, a fluid reservoir, a pressure control valve fluidly connected between the pressure source and the reservoir, two pressure relief valves each having two positions to selectively fluidly connect the fluid chambers of the hydraulic actuators either to the pressure source or to the fluid reservoir, and a directional valve fluidly connected between the pressure relief valves and the fluid chambers of the hydraulic actuators; wherein the pressure relief valves and the directional valve are positioned on detection of the predetermined vehicle condition to apply a fluid pressure to the first fluid chamber of the first front and rear hydraulic actuators, and/or to apply a fluid pressure to the second fluid chamber of the first front and rear hydraulic actuators. |
| US07862051B2 |
Diaphragm chuck
A diaphragm chuck assembly having clamping jaws disposed in a chuck body and in driven connection with a diaphragm deformable by an axially adjustable actuator, the clamping jaws having contact pieces, in which counterweights are disposed in recesses of the chuck body and the clamping jaws are clamped against the diaphragm by means of quick-clamping devices engaging in the contact pieces, the contact pieces being arranged in the diaphragm and in the counterweights with radial play. The clamping jaws are supported against a first surface extending axially in parallel to the chuck body in the clamping position and against a second reference surface extending at right angles to the first reference surface and into the diaphragm. The clamping jaws can be changed in a short time and the clamping jaws can be replaced without having to be reground. |
| US07862041B2 |
Sheet transport path switching mechanism
A sheet transport path switching mechanism includes a movable guide to be moved rotatably about a support shaft parallel to the width direction of a transport path so as to selectively take either a main posture where the movable guide directs a sheet to the downstream side of a main transport path relative to a branch point, and a branch posture where the movable guide directs a sheet to a branch transport path. An engagement hook is provided in an apparatus body and supports a central region in the longitudinal direction of the movable guide to prevent the movable guide from being deformed due to interference with a sheet fed toward the branch transport path. The mechanism prevents deformation of the movable guide while facilitating reduction in material and production costs and adequately meeting requirements of waste treatment. |
| US07862040B2 |
Item feeder with overthickness detection
An item feeder includes a deck for supporting items, a transport element for transporting the items along the deck on a transport path from an upstream loading area through a downstream receiving passage, a drive element for driving the transport element, and a cover element comprising a leading edge. The cover element may be movable between a closed position in which the leading edge is disposed at a first distance from the deck, and an open position in which the leading edge is disposed at a second greater distance from the deck. The leading edge may engage transported items having a thickness greater than the first distance to move the cover element out of the closed position. The item feeder further includes a controller for controlling the drive element, wherein the controller is configured to stop the drive element when the cover element is moved out of the closed position. |
| US07862035B2 |
Sheet feed devices and image recording apparatus comprising such sheet feed devices
The invention describes a sheet feed device having a sheet tray having a bottom plate defining a first portion of a storing portion that receives sheets therein, a feed roller, a separation plate, and a recessed portion formed in the separation surface. The feed roller moves to contact a sheet of the sheets, and to feed the sheet. The separation plate is disposed at a downstream end of the sheet tray and extends in a width direction. The separation plate has a separation surface which is inclined with respect to the bottom plate of the sheet tray, and defines at least a second portion of the storing portion. The recessed portion is formed in the separation surface and extends toward a downstream end of the separation surface. The separation plate is configured to separate the sheet from the sheets as the feed roller feeds the sheet. |
| US07862032B2 |
Feeding device and recording apparatus
A feeding device includes a feeding unit configured to be driven while being in contact with a recording sheet to feed the recording sheet, and a stacking unit configured to stack a plurality of the recording sheets and to press or release the stacked recording sheets to or from the feeding unit. Also, the feeding device includes a separating unit configured to separate the plurality of recording sheets fed by the feeding unit, one by one, a detecting unit configured to detect the recording sheet in an area downstream of the separating unit, and a control unit configured to control each of the units. The control unit switches a feeding operation between at least two feeding operations in accordance with a drive time of the feeding unit from when the feeding unit is started to be driven to when the detecting unit detects the recording sheet. |
| US07862031B2 |
Feeder and image forming apparatus including the same
A media feeder is provided, which includes: a raisable and lowerable hopper on which multiple media are stacked; an elevator moving the hopper to a raised or lowered position; a pick-up roller picking up an upper media stacked on the hopper by rotating while contacting the uppermost media when the hopper is at the raised position; a friction member disposed on the upper surface of the hopper, at a position facing the pick-up roller; and a projecting member disposed below the hopper. The hopper includes a window hole formed in the vicinity of the friction member. When the hopper is at the lowered position, the projecting member projects from the upper surface of the hoper through the window hole. Thus, when media are placed in the feeder, even the lowermost medium does not come into contact with the friction member, thereby facilitating the placement and positional adjustment of the media. |
| US07862027B2 |
Sheet loader, sheet folding apparatus, and sheet finishing system
A sheet loader for loading a folded sheet bundle provided from a sheet bundle provider with a folded edge of the folded sheet bundle in the lead, including: a folded edge support configured to support the folded edge of the folded sheet bundle provided from the sheet bundle provider, the folded edge support movable back and forth in a direction declined from a side near the sheet bundle provider, and an undersurface support configured to support an undersurface of the folded sheet bundle so that the folded edge is lower than a trailing edge of the folded sheet bundle. |
| US07862024B2 |
Sheet finisher, image forming apparatus, and sheet finishing method
According to the invention, a sheet finisher has a folding mechanism, a discharging mechanism, a stacking mechanism, and a slip amount calculator. The folding mechanism forms a folding line by folding a sheet which an image forming unit discharges. The discharging mechanism discharges the sheet including the folding line which the folding mechanism forms. The stacking mechanism stacks the sheet which the discharging mechanism discharges. The slip amount calculator outputs a fullness state of the stacking mechanism to the image forming unit, if a slip amount of the discharging mechanism exceeds a threshold. |
| US07862020B2 |
Method for forming stacks from upright positioned, successively lined up signatures and arrangement for realizing the method
Signatures are successively conveyed one after another by a conveying system from a printing press to a stack-forming device, in which the signatures are separated into stacks by a separating device. A remaining number of non-stacked signatures of a current production is counted with a counting device. The separating device separates the remaining number of signatures of the current production into standard stacks of a varying length between a minimum length and a maximum length based on the number of the counted remaining signatures. |
| US07862018B2 |
Apparatus for cutting into lengths and bringing together a spine strip with cover boards for the mechanized production of book cases
In an apparatus for cutting to length sections of a spine insert (1) that is unwound from a supply reel and for bringing together the spine inserts with infed cover boards (8) in a roller applicator (5, 6) for the mechanized production of book cases, the invention proposes that the pair of cut length transport rollers (3.1) for drawing forward a defined drawing-off length (L) of the spine insert (1) and for positioning the spine insert in the cutting device (9) and the pairs of feed rollers (4.1, 4.2, 4.3) for transporting the cut-to-length spine inserts (1) into the roller applicator (5, 6) through a transport channel (2) can be driven independently of one another, wherein the pairs of feed rollers (4.1, 4.2, 4.3) can be intermittently driven in a cyclic fashion with a constant stroke (HZ) while the pair of cut length transport rollers (3.1) carry out the transport stroke (HS), that is variable due to the drawing-off length (L) and features a first motion segment (20a) for synchronizing with the transport movement of the pairs of feed rollers (4.1, 4.2, 4.3) and a second motion segment (20c, b) in which the pair of cut length transport rollers is synchronized with the pairs of the feed rollers (4.1, 4.2, 4.3) and transports the spine insert (1) together with the pairs of feed rollers. |
| US07862009B2 |
Electric winch motor
A winch includes an electric motor having a fixed stator, and a cylindrical rotor which rotates about the stator. A drum is affixed to the rotor and carries the cable which is wound or unwound by the winch. The winch may be a drawworks for an oil and gas rig. |
| US07862008B2 |
Winch with tension indicator
A winch has a color area or other indicium that indicates whether an elongate member extending from winch spool is or is not tensioned. The winch includes a biasing member between a winch drive system and the spool that allows only limited rotation of the spool relative to the drive system. Movement of the drive system relative to the winch spool causes the indicium to signal that the elongate member is under tension. |
| US07862004B2 |
Gas eliminating control valve
A gas eliminating control valve assembly, system and method is disclosed. The valve system includes a valve casing coupled to a solenoid actuator assembly. The valve casing includes an inlet conduit, an outlet conduit and a fluid chamber communicating at least with one inlet conduit and one outlet conduit. The outlet conduit communicates with the fluid chamber at a position at least adjacent a portion of the fluid chamber to conduct gases, bubbles or separated gas out of the fluid chamber during operation of the valve open fluid flow, such that gas entrapment and bubble formation within the fluid chamber is reduced, avoided or eliminated. |
| US07862003B2 |
Position controller
Both improved protection against explosions and the possibility of performing diagnoses even when the I/P converter has been disconnected are to be provided by a position controller (5) for a pressure medium-operated actuating system, the controller being designed to be connected by a pneumatic line to a pneumatic drive (4)-equipped actuator (1) of an actuating element, especially an actuating element of a safety valve (2), where the actuator (1) has an electric power line (6) for controlling an I/P converter (7) according to the live-zero principle, and where the I/P converter (7) can be driven by an electrically controlled switch (10). The goal is achieved in that the switch (10) is designed to be driven by an additional circuit (11), which is connected to the power line (6) and installed in the position controller and which monitors the current in the power line (6). |
| US07861998B2 |
Adjustable supporting device for a display panel
An adjustable supporting device for a display panel includes: a coupling seat connected pivotally to a supporting seat mounted on a supporting surface; a mounting frame coupled to the display panel and connected pivotally to the coupling seat; a torsion spring having a first end engaging the mounting frame, and a second end opposite to the first end and engaging movably the coupling seat, and operable to provide a torsional force for supporting an assembly of the mounting frame and the display panel at a desired orientation relative to the coupling seat; and an adjusting member disposed movably in the coupling seat, abutting against the second end of the torsion spring, and operable so as to adjust the torsional force provided by the torsion spring. |
| US07861992B2 |
Wall-mount support
A wall-mount support includes: a wall bracket adapted to be mounted on a wall and having a vertical track; a carrier mounted slidably on the vertical track; a pair of supporting arms, each of which extends from the carrier in a transverse direction relative to the vertical track and each of which is pivoted to the carrier so as to permit angle adjustment therebetween; and a brake mechanism including a friction-providing member connected to the carrier and operable to abut against the vertical track so as to prevent sliding movement of the carrier on the vertical track. |
| US07861991B1 |
Attachment means for portable multimedia device
An attachment apparatus for securing a portable multimedia device to an infant stroller or perambulator that is fully adjustable. The apparatus is connected to the stroller's side support arms by frame clamp mechanisms. An adjustable support arm structure, comprised of a telescopic second arm assembly pivotally attached thereto a telescopic first arm assembly, is attached to the frame clamp mechanisms. A tray assembly removably affixed to a latitudinal adjustment plate is releasably attached to an upper portion of said adjustable support arm structure supports and secures the portable multimedia device. A tilting mechanism at the releasable attachment point adjusts the viewing angle, and latitudinal adjustment is accomplished by manually adjusting the tray assembly in an axial direction with respect to the latitudinal adjustment plate via an adjustment knob and guide. When not in use, the entire apparatus can be detached and stowed to the tray assembly via stowing clips. |
| US07861978B2 |
Drive and guide arrangement for a flap which is arranged on an aircraft mainplane
A drive and guidance apparatus for a trailing-edge/landing flap,-arranged on an aircraft mainplane, the apparatus comprising a six-element guide chain having seven rotating joints and one or more shafts; a first coupling element mounted via a crank connected to the mainplane wherein the crank can rotate, the coupling is connected to the flap and to a second coupling element wherein the first coupling can rotate, the second coupling mounted on the mainplane wherein the second coupling can rotate. The second coupling element is connected to the flap via an oscillating support. The crank is arranged wherein the rotation direction of the crank for extension of the flap corresponds to the rotation direction of the crank for the trailing-edge flap of the starboard wing of the mainplane, with the rotation direction of the crank for the trailing-edge flap of the starboard wing being counterclockwise when viewed from the aircraft fuselage. |
| US07861976B2 |
Latching separation system
Latching elements on a first structure are configured to securely engage corresponding bearings on a second structure, via a lateral member that drives all of the latching elements simultaneously. When engaged, or when disengaged, the system is in a stable state, requiring no active force by the controlling system to maintain the system in each state. Preferably, each latching element is coupled to the lateral member via a pinion that provides a mechanical advantage that substantially reduces the force required on the lateral member to effect the coupling or decoupling. Also preferably, the elements are formed from extruded aluminum forms, thereby providing for a relatively inexpensive and lightweight configuration that is particularly well suited for spacecraft applications. |
| US07861973B1 |
Wind responsive power generation system
A system and method for generating electricity using kites and controlling the kites in flight. A plurality of kites is provided that include a first kite and at least one subsequent kite. The kites form a string of kites that are connected by at least one tether to a reel or similar structure. Each tether has a first end that is coupled to the first kite and a second end that is coupled to the reel. Each tether passes through openings in each subsequent kite. An actuator is carried by the subsequent kite proximate each tether opening. The actuator operates between an engaged condition and a disengaged condition. Each actuator engages a tether when in its engaged condition, therein selectively holding the subsequent kite at a fixed point along each tether. The movability of the subsequent kite enables the string of kites to be deployed and retrieved in a simplified manner. |
| US07861970B2 |
Fuselage structure including an integrated fuselage stanchion
A fuselage structure for an aircraft or similar vehicle may include an upper fuselage portion and a lower fuselage portion. A floor may be disposed between the upper fuselage portion and the lower fuselage portion. At least one unitized stanchion may be disposed between the floor and the lower fuselage portion. The at least one unitized stanchion may form the only structural support between the floor and the lower fuselage portion without any vertical beams. |
| US07861968B2 |
Air inlet and method for a highspeed mobile platform
An inlet apparatus and method for use with a cabin air compressor on a high speed, airborne mobile platform, such as a commercial or military aircraft. The apparatus includes a Pitot inlet of a desired shape that is supported outside an exterior surface of a fuselage of the aircraft by a diverter structure. The diverter structure diverts a low energy portion of a boundary layer so that the low energy portion does not enter the Pitot inlet. The Pitot inlet receives the higher energy portion of the boundary layer and channels a ram airflow to an inlet of a cabin air compressor. The apparatus provides a recovery factor (RF) of at least about 0.8 at a cabin air compressor (CAC) inlet face, which keeps the electric power required to drive the CAC within available power limits, while minimizing the drag of the inlet apparatus. |
| US07861964B2 |
Apparatus for securing and dispensing sheet product
A spindle sleeve for a sheet product dispenser is disclosed having a body with a first end, a second end, an inner diameter, an outer diameter, and a central longitudinal axis. The body includes a first portion disposed proximate the first end, a second portion disposed proximate the second end, and a third portion disposed between the first and second portions. The third portion has a U-shaped cutout defining a cantilevered flexible finger oriented to align with the central longitudinal axis, and the first and second portions have unbroken surfaces of the body around the perimeter of the body at the first and second ends, respectively. The finger has a dorsal-type fin extending perpendicular to the outer surface of the finger. |
| US07861954B2 |
Electrostatic atomizer
An electrostatic atomizer including a discharge electrode, a counter electrode, a cooling source, a high voltage power supply and a voltage detector. The cooling source cools the discharge electrode to form thereon dew as water. The power supply applies high voltage for discharge across the electrodes. The detector detects voltage between the electrodes. The power supply includes a control device and a voltage stabilizing device that are opposite to each other in temperature characteristic. The control device operates to pick up the voltage detected with the detector via the voltage stabilizing device, and to adjust the high voltage applied across the electrodes through feedback control so that the voltage corresponds to specified discharge voltage. |
| US07861937B2 |
Method of manufacturing a security thread having an embedded microchip, security thread and document comprising the thread
The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a security thread (1) having a microchip (2), comprising the steps of providing a support material on a substrate; softening said support material, preferably by heating said support material; depositing a microchip (2) on or at least partly in the softened support material; and curing said support material, preferably by cooling said support material. The invention also relates to the security thread (1) manufactured by the method, and to a document, preferably a paper document, comprising that security thread. |
| US07861932B2 |
System for printing unique interactive document in response to print request
A system for printing and interacting with documents comprising: (a) a computer system configured for: receiving a print request; allocating a unique document identifier to the document in response to receiving the print request; and associating the document identifier with a description of the document; (b) a printer for printing the document containing human-readable content together with a coding pattern on a surface; and (c) an optically imaging pen for sensing a portion of the coding pattern during handwritten input on the document and for generating a signal indicative of the unique document identifier and a position of the pen relative to the document. The computer system is further configured for: receiving the signal from the pen; determining the document identifier and the position of the pen; retrieving the description associated with the document identifier; interpreting the positions as a path of handwritten input; and updating the description with information corresponding to the handwritten input. |
| US07861930B2 |
System and method for managing wireless point-of-sale transactions
A system that enables a wireless point-of-sale transaction. In one embodiment the system comprises an account module, an account selection module, a display, an input interface, and a wireless transmitter. The account module stores account information corresponding to a plurality of payment accounts. The account selection module selects a payment account from the plurality of payment accounts as a default payment account for a wireless point-of-sale transaction based on one or more predetermined criteria. The display displays the default payment account to a user. The input interface enables the user to accept the default payment account by the account selection module. The wireless transmitter that wirelessly transmits payment information to a point-of-sale device, wherein the payment information comprises account information associated with the default account when the default payment account is accepted via the input interface. |
| US07861929B2 |
Time delimited multiple admission method and system
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a provision of access to services. A time delimited, multiple use ticket/admissions card is provided that controls admission to services offered by participating service providers. The ticket/admissions card is issued to a ticket holder, and the card is valid for a certain amount of uses, where each use should be completed during a certain period of time. The first use of the card, for example, should be completed within a first time period, and if the first use is not completed during this first time period, then the first use expires; the second use of the card should be completed within a second time period, and if the second use is not completed during this second time period, then the second use expires. In this way, the ticket/admissions card provides a time delimited, multiple use scheme to control allowed admittance to authorized services. |
| US07861923B2 |
Negotiable instruments and systems and processing same
There is provided a check with additional data capture capability that in conjunction with a linked transaction card provides substantially complete coverage for card holders to conduct transactions with merchants for the payment of goods and services. The additional data capture capability enabling generation of a card statement with detailed information regarding purchases and expenditures of both check transactions and card transactions to thereby permit a card holder to accurately track, monitor, describe, and reconcile all transactions in a statement period. The check comprises first and second data entry location for identification and descriptive information about a financial transaction, account holder name adjacent to a drawer signature field and check limit adjacent to a written check amount field, as well as other check information and entry fields, including routing, account and check reference number, date, payee designation, numeric check amount and account holder and financial institution information. |
| US07861909B2 |
Replenished lead-free solder and a control method for copper density and nickel density in a solder dipping bath
Lead-free solder is replenished to a solder bath to receive a work having copper, the work to be processed subsequent to a soldering process using an air knife or a die. The replenished lead-free solder includes Sn as a major composition and at least 0.01 to 0.5 mass percent Ni. By replenishing the lead-free solder having the above composition, the density of the solder bath, being sharply changed for using one of a HASL device and a die, is quickly restored back to within an appropriate range. |
| US07861908B2 |
Component mounting method, component mounting apparatus, and ultrasonic bonding head
A component mounting apparatus includes a component feeder that feeds a component with its bump electrodes facing down, a mounting head that mounts the component onto a substrate, a supporting base that secures the substrate, and a positioning device that aligns the component with the substrate. The mounting head includes an ultrasonic vibration generator, an ultrasonic vibration propagation member that conveys the ultrasonic vibration provided by the ultrasonic vibration generator to a working face holding the component as vibration parallel thereto, a pressure loader that applies a pressure load to the working face from a position immediately thereabove in the direction perpendicular thereto, and a heater that heats the vicinity of the working face. Thereby, ultrasonic bonding is carried out with high reliability even if the component has a number of bump electrodes on its face. |
| US07861906B2 |
Surgical stapling apparatus with articulatable components
A surgical stapling apparatus for use with a disposable loading unit. Various embodiments include an elongated body assembly that comprises a distal body segment and a proximal body segment that are operably coupled together by an intermediate articulation joint such that the proximal body segment and the distal body segment define a longitudinal axis. The intermediate articulation joint may be configured to facilitate articulation of the distal body segment about an intermediate articulation axis that is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis. The elongated body assembly may be configured to transfer actuation motions from an actuation shaft housed in a handle assembly to the disposable loading unit. In various embodiments, the intermediate articulation joint may be adjacent to the handle assembly. |
| US07861899B2 |
Dispenser
A single-use dispenser using air pressure and includes an outer vessel in which air and content material are charged, a fixed body coupled to an open upper end of the outer vessel, a valve installed in the fixed body for selectively dispensing the content material using pressurized air, and a push button coupled to a top of the valve for pushing the valve, thereby spraying out the content material and air, wherein the valve includes a hollow body, a hollow valve body elastically supported to a top of the body and moving into and out of a hollow of the body, a packing member installed on the valve body for blocking an orifice pipe, and an air suction hole formed to penetrate the body for supplementing air pressure of the outer vessel. |
| US07861898B2 |
Piston carrying guide tube
A piston pump is provided in which the piston-chamber forming member has a chamber within which a piston of a piston forming element is coaxially slidable. A locating member is provided on the piston forming element for engagement of the piston-chamber forming member externally of the chamber to assist the piston-chamber forming member and the piston forming element while sliding axially maintaining the piston centered and coaxial relative to the chamber. |
| US07861893B2 |
Adhesive dispenser for surgery
A number of surgical devices for the mixing and dispensement of a dual component surgical adhesive onto tissue are described. The surgical devices can provide adhesive storage chambers for the adhesive components within the surgical device and can have removable cartridges that draw and mix and apply the adhesive onto tissue. The removable cartridges can be easily replaced when clogged with set adhesive. Alternately, an adhesive dispensing device can comprise an adhesive dispensing gun containing the dual components of the adhesive and a plurality of rotatable orifices that can dispense the adhesive. One orifice can be selected and aligned with the adhesive dispensing gun to mix and apply the adhesive onto tissue. A fresh orifice can be rotated into alignment with the gun should a prior orifice become blocked. |
| US07861883B2 |
Article baskets for a dishwasher
Article baskets are adapted to support articles within a dishwashing machine. The article baskets can include an article support wall with a plurality of openings defined by an edge extending along a path circumscribing substantially the entire opening. If provided, the edge of each of the openings can be concave in a direction facing the opening along substantially the entire path. In addition, or alternatively, the article basket can further include a divider. The divider can include a portion configured to be selectively inserted into a elongated slot of a sidewall to divide the interior area into a first interior area portion and a second interior area portion. In addition, or alternatively, the divider can include a plurality of article receiving openings with at least one protrusion extending partially across the article receiving opening to divide a plurality of articles. |
| US07861877B2 |
Foldable container
A foldable container comprises a box including a floor and sidewalls attached to one another to present a chamber. The box further includes foldable panels that shift from a retracted position within the chamber to an upright extended position. The extended panels serve to expand the chamber for containing a liquid or solid bulk material. The extended panels are interconnected by joints that resist tampering and that are tamper-evident. The container further includes a retaining assembly for securely holding the material in the chamber and a lid for covering the chamber. The lid cooperates with the panels to resist tampering and to be tamper-evident. The container also includes stanchions for selectively stacking at least two containers when the containers are storing the bulk material. |
| US07861870B2 |
Shoe rack
A shoe rack includes subassemblies comprising a lower support including an upward extending sleeve passing through a rear end and having a ridged section on its inner wall, an annular top projection extending inward, and an annular intermediate projection extending inward from the ridged section; and an upper support including a hollow cylinder passing through a rear end and having a ridged structure on its outer surface, an annular top groove on the ridged structure, and an annular intermediate groove on the ridged structure wherein the cylinder is dimensioned to insert into the sleeve to be pivotably frictionally secured thereto by engaging the top groove with the top projection and the intermediate groove with the intermediate projection or engaging the intermediate groove with the top projection; and a pole passing through the sleeve and the cylinder of each subassembly. Each subassembly is adapted to pivot about the pole. |
| US07861868B2 |
Chip sorting and stacking devices
Chip sorting devices include a rotatable disc having a plurality of wells for receiving chips therein, a plurality of channels for holding stacks of chips, at least one ejector for ejecting chips from the wells of the disc into the channels, and at least one removal lever associated with at least one of the channels. The removal lever has an arm configured to extend adjacent at least a portion of a stack of chips when the stack of chips is in a channel. Other chip sorting devices include a plurality of wells for receiving chips therein, a plurality of channels for holding stacks of chips, at least one ejector for ejecting chips from the wells of the disc into the channels, and at least one spring member configured to bias the ejector to a position. |
| US07861860B2 |
Modular container for the storage, organization, protection, sterilization and delivery of medical instruments and implants
A container system for organizing, protecting, sterilizing, storing and delivery of surgical instruments, implants and related devices. An optional cover is removably mounted to a tray and is held thereto by a pair of pivotally mounted handles. Post and button fasteners are removably mounted to the tray and hold rigid and flexible bracketry for securing devices within the assembly. |
| US07861859B2 |
Plunger storage and transportation device
A plunger storage and transportation device that is adapted to store, hold, and secure, and is capable of storing, holding, and securing, many different sizes, shapes, and styles of plungers. The plunger storage and transportation device includes structure that secures at least the plunger head within a housing. The device can be easily transported from one location to another while securing a plunger in a contained, clean, and easy manner. Accordingly, the plunger storage and transportation device may be used with, and can transport, a multitude of different plungers produced by a wide variety of plunger manufacturers, and therefore not be limited to one type or size of plunger. |
| US07861855B2 |
System and method for storing and mixing two or more substances
A container system for separately storing and mixing two or more substances. The container system is comprised of a main container for holding at least one first substance and a cup for holding at least one second substance, the cup being removably mounted on the neck of the main container such that at least a portion of the cup is suspended within the main container. The cup has an upper portion, a lower portion and one or more arms for connecting the upper and lower portions. Apertures are formed between the upper and lower portions of the cup such that the contents of the cup may mix with the contents of the main container following removal of an inner cap attached to the cup, and agitation of the main container. The cup and neck are sized to provide a void therebetween, thereby also permitting the substances to mix. |
| US07861848B2 |
Supply station of articles to a plurality of channels opening above a continuous blister strip
A supply station of articles to a plurality of channels opening above a continuous blister strip, of a type comprising supply organs for containing the articles and for dispensing the articles towards conveying means located downstream, which conveying means select and direct the articles in an ordered fashion in an advancement direction towards mouths afforded in the plurality of channels; collection and transfer means, functionally associated to the mouths and receiving and collecting excess articles which accumulate at the mouths, and transferring the excess articles upstream of the mouths, in proximity of a predetermined first zone of the conveying means. In particular the station comprises: directing organs interposed between the supply organs and the conveying organs to release the articles on the conveying organs, in proximity of the first zone; detecting and control organs for detecting a presence or absence of articles and/or excess articles on at least a second zone of the conveying means adjacent to the first zone and for at least temporarily inhibiting the directing organs with a consequent at least temporary interruption of release of the articles by the directing organs in relation to a quantity of articles and/or excess articles present in the second zone, in order to prevent an excess of the articles on the conveying means. |
| US07861843B2 |
Travelator and method for controlling the operation of a travelator
Travelator, the conveyor of which comprises a frame, which comprises a stationary first frame part and a second frame part that moves in relation to it. The drive wheel is mounted on a bearing allowing rotation onto the first frame part. The power unit rotates the drive wheel. The diverting wheel is mounted on a bearing allowing free rotation onto the second frame part. The transport surfaces are connected to a traction element which is formed as an endless loop, and which is led to pass over the drive wheel and the diverting wheel. The tightening device is arranged to act between the first frame part and the second frame part to move the diverting wheel linearly away from the drive wheel in order to exert tightening force on the traction element. The travelator comprises identification means for identifying the drive status of the conveyor, and adjustment means for adjusting the tightening force of the tightening device to different force levels based on the drive status identified. In the method the drive status of the conveyor is identified, and the tightening force of the endless traction element of the conveyor of the travelator is adjusted on the basis of the drive status identified. |
| US07861841B2 |
Coin depositing and dispensing machine
A coin depositing and dispensing machine automatically returning coins remaining on a passage in case an error-stop during depositing operation. The coins on the passage are transported by the transporting unit for depositing in a reverse transporting direction reverse to the depositing and transporting direction, one coin in a sorting passage is transported to the upstream side from a rejecting portion. Then, the coins on the passage are transported by the transporting unit for depositing in the depositing and transporting direction, and eliminated by the rejecting portion. While the coins on the passage are transported by the transporting unit for depositing alternately in the depositing and transporting direction and the reverse transporting direction, the coins in the sorting passage are eliminated by the rejecting portion one by one. |
| US07861826B2 |
Platform for a ladder
The present disclosure relates to platforms for ladders. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a platform configured to be coupled to rungs of the ladder. |
| US07861821B2 |
Acoustically transmissive blanket system
A blanket system, which can include a blanket, quilt, or similar bed-covering can include one or more localized sound-emitting areas, one or more separately-located sound-processing devices, and one or more acoustically transmissive communication channels coupled between the sound-processing devices and the sound-emitting areas. A control can be provided to adjust the sound characteristics provided at the sound-emitting areas. The system can be used to mask unwanted sounds. |
| US07861813B2 |
Vehicle ground connection comprising a wheel and a suspension integrated therein
A ground contact system for a vehicle. The ground contact system comprises a wheel, a hub carrier, means for driving the wheel using at least one rotary motor secured to the hub carrier, reduction means comprising at least one gearwheel connected to the wheel and at least one pinion connected to the rotary motor, a sliding-bar suspension suspending the wheel from a support connected to the vehicle, and braking means. The braking means comprises a brake disc connected by its periphery to the wheel, and a brake calliper positioned inside the brake disc. |
| US07861806B2 |
Shank structure for rotary drill bits
A shank configuration for rotary drill bits is disclosed for positioning of the shank in relation to a bit body. A tapered surface or feature of the shank may be configured and sized to matingly engage a complementarily shaped surface or feature of the drill bit body and thereby become centered or positioned in relation thereto. A deformable element may be disposed between the shank and bit body. Also, the shank may comprise a material having a carbon equivalent of less than about 0.35%. A multi-pass weld procedure may be employed to affix the shank and bit body to one another wherein welds may be formed so that one weld originates at a circumferential position that differs from the origination circumferential position of its immediately preceding weld by at least about 90°. Further, a stress state may be developed within the multi-pass weld. A method of manufacture is also disclosed. |
| US07861801B2 |
Method to detect coring point from resistivity measurements
Methods are described using resistivity ahead of a drill bit measurements obtained while drilling a subterranean well using a drilling mud. Resistivity data ahead of the bit is gathered during drilling and prior to penetrating a region of interest of a target subterranean formation using the drill bit and the drilling mud. The drill string progresses at target dip and azimuth angles toward the region on interest. The resistivity data is used to determine the top of the region of interest while the drill bit advances toward but does not penetrate the region. A core bit is then installed and a whole core of the region of interest obtained. Resistivity ahead of a drill bit measurements obtained while drilling a subterranean well may also be compared with conventional resistivity measurements obtained from one or more offset wells. |
| US07861798B2 |
Needle gun
A hammer device in the form of a needle gun. The gun includes a cylinder housing containing a cylinder, in which a flying piston is displaced and an anvil, against which the piston strikes. A needle carrier is located on the anvil, and the needles of the gun are held in the carrier so that the needles can be longitudinally displaced. To reduce the wear on the needle carrier and to preserve the needle heads of the needles, the needle carrier is configured from several layers, at least in the vicinity of the guide plate. The layers are of alternating hard and soft material. |
| US07861797B2 |
Hand-held machine tool with slip clutch
An at least partially rotating and axially percussive hand-held machine tool (4) has an impact mechanism (5) with a guide tube (6) in which a percussion piston (7) is driven in an axially percussive manner by a pneumatic spring (8) and with a slip clutch (10) which is driven in rotation, encloses the guide tube (6), is provided axially with cams (9), and has a driving sleeve (11) and driven sleeve (12) which are biased axially relative to one another under pressure by a spring (13). The driving sleeve (11) is connected by positive engagement to a control sleeve (14) coaxial to the driving sleeve by balls (18) which partially engage, respectively, in two control contours (19a, 19b) of the driving sleeve (11) and of the control sleeve (14), which control contours (19a, 19b) are arranged partially opposite one another, and the driving sleeve (11) is positively guided in such a way that the driving sleeve (11), which is axially biased under pressure by the spring (13), is displaced axially and rotated relative to the control sleeve (14) when a limiting torque is exceeded. |
| US07861794B2 |
Three-point implement mounting for an agricultural or industrial utility vehicle
A three-point implement mounting for an agricultural or industrial utility vehicle includes an upper member and two lower members. A working implement is coupled to the three-point implement mounting in order to couple the working implement to the utility vehicle. In order to provide an interface between the utility vehicle and the working implement which is versatile and can adapted to the physical application, the three-point implement mounting is of modular design and has a coupling interface for coupling the three-point implement mounting to the utility vehicle. |
| US07861793B2 |
Stabilising and release system for and boom holding and positioning system for an agricultural apparatus
A stabilising and release system, for an agricultural apparatus having a mounting portion for mounting the apparatus to a tractor, a pendulum mounted on the mounting portion, and a boom for spraying or cutting, which is pivotally mounted to the pendulum at a pivot point so as to allow pivoting of the boom relative to the pendulum. The system stabilises the boom against movement imparted to it by disruptive forces which disturb the natural position of the boom by proving a rigid damper arranged between the support frame and the boom and arranged to damp relative movement of the boom and the mounting frame caused by disruptive forces, the damper has an articulated coupling which allows the damper to articulate so that the damper can follow the motion of the boom thus damping any undesired swaying action caused by bumps and ruts over which the tractor passes. |
| US07861792B2 |
Fire suppression system
A system for discharging inert gas for extinguishing or suppressing a fire is disclosed. A fluid discharge control arrangement is positioned in a fluid flow path between a pressurised gas supply 10A,10B,10C and the target fire suppression zone 20. The fluid discharge control arrangement reduces the pressure in the fluid flow path downstream thereof. This may allow the downstream pipework to be selected to withstand a lower pressure than in a conventional system in which the fluid discharge control device was not provided, thereby reducing costs. The fluid discharge control device may comprise a first valve 30 and first restrictor 26 in the first flow path 22 and a second valve 32 and a second restrictor 28 provided in the second flow path 24. Fluid from the containers 10A,10B,10C flows initially through flow path 24 and restrictor 26. Subsequently flow path 22 may be closed by optional valve 30, and flow path 24 is opened by valve 32. Fluid flow then passes through restrictor 28. This reduces the peak pressure in the downstream pipework 34. In another embodiment the discharge of inert gas from the containers 10A,10B and 10C is staggered to reduce the peak pressure in pipeline 34. A further embodiment provides a restrictor in the inlet 14A,14B,14C from each of the containers 10A,10B,10C to the manifold 16, thereby also reducing the peak pressure in the pipeline 34. |
| US07861784B2 |
System and method of controlling surge during wellbore completion
A downhole oilfield completion method comprises determining a surge profile for a wellbore and assembling a downhole completion tool having an interior surge volume and comprising a surge attenuation system operable to reduce a surge of the downhole completion tool based at least in part on the surge profile. The method also comprises running the downhole completion tool into the wellbore and surging the wellbore by admitting wellbore fluid into the interior surge volume, the surge reduced at least in part by the surge attenuation system. |
| US07861781B2 |
Pump down cement retaining device
A wall casing cement plug assembly includes a receptacle with an axial passage. The receptacle is pumped to a lower end of the casing string and locked in place. The receptacle has a casing seal that engages the string of casing and a retainer mechanism on its exterior that engages a profile in the string of casing. Cement is pumped through the receptacle by rupturing a blocking device in the axial passage of the receptacle. A wiper plug is pumped down the string casing. The wiper plug has a prong on its lower end that stabs into the axial passage of the receptacle. A latch located in the lower portion of the receptacle locks the wiper plug to the body. |
| US07861780B2 |
Method of treating subterranean formations with porous particulate materials
Methods and compositions useful for subterranean formation treatments, such as hydraulic fracturing treatments and sand control that include porous materials. Such porous materials may be selectively configured porous material particles manufactured and/or treated with selected glazing materials, coating materials and/or penetrating materials to have desired strength and/or apparent density to fit particular downhole conditions for well treating such as hydraulic fracturing treatments and sand control treatments. Porous materials may also be employed in selected combinations to optimize fracture or sand control performance, and/or may be employed as relatively lightweight materials in liquid carbon dioxide-based well treatment systems. |
| US07861777B2 |
Viscometer for downhole pumping
A submersible pumping system for use downhole, wherein the system includes a pump, an inlet section for receiving fluid, a pump motor, and a viscometer. Pumping system operating parameters are adjusted based on wellbore fluid viscosity measured by the viscometer. The viscometer can be disposed deep in the wellbore, adjacent the pump, seal, motor, at the pump intake or anywhere on the pumping system. The viscometer may be connected to a control system for controlling the pumping system in response to viscosity measurement and may include a sonic viscometer. A method of operating a downhole submersible pumping system is included that measures fluid viscosity in the wellbore during production operations. Pumping parameters can be adjusted based on the measured viscosity. |
| US07861764B1 |
System for suspending quilts and the like
A sleeve is provided which is attachable to a back of a quilt or other object to be suspended from a rod or other elongate object. The sleeve is of generally tubular form including a front panel extending from a bottom up to a top pleat. The forward panel is coupled to the back of the quilt through top stitching adjacent the top pleat and bottom stitching adjacent the bottom. Preferably, a rear panel similar in form to the forward panel extends up from the bottom to an upper pleat. A gusset is also preferably provided between the forward panel and the rear panel with the gusset itself formed of a first panel and second panel spaced from each other by a center pleat. The forward panel has a length between the top pleat and the bottom which is less than half of an entire circumferential length of the sleeve. |
| US07861755B2 |
Pneumatic tire with tread having middle rib, middle lateral grooves, assistant grooves and lateral narrow grooves
A pneumatic tire includes a tread surface having a middle rib defined by a first circumferential groove and a second circumferential groove in its center region. Middle lateral grooves, that obliquely extend in the widthwise direction of the tire, are disposed at predetermined intervals in the tire circumferential direction in the middle rib; only one terminal end of each middle lateral groove communicates with one circumferential groove of the first and second circumferential grooves. An assistant groove is provided between each of adjacent middle lateral grooves; the assistant groove extends in such an inclined manner that the inclination direction thereof with respect to the tire circumferential direction is opposite to that of the middle lateral grooves; a block is defined by the assistant groove, middle lateral grooves and one circumferential groove. The middle lateral grooves each include a first inclined groove portion having an inclination angle a ranging from 35 degrees to 60 degrees and a second inclined groove portion having an inclination angle β ranging from 0 degree to 30 degrees. |
| US07861748B2 |
Refueling facility, refueling device, and refueling method
A refueling facility (200) according to the present invention comprises a refueling source (210) for refueling a fuel cell vehicle with fuel, a power supply source (220) for supplying power to the fuel cell vehicle, and a controller (230) for controlling refueling and power supply from the refueling facility (200) to the fuel cell vehicle. The forward end of a refueling path (211) and that of a power supply path (221) are integrated into a supply connector (240). The refueling and the power supply are achieved by connecting the supply connector (240) to a fuel receptacle (110) of the fuel cell vehicle. |
| US07861743B1 |
Sacrificial conduit lining system
A sacrificial lining system for a conduit is disclosed and comprises a liner portion having a proximal end and a distal end, with the proximal end defining a proximal opening and the distal end defining a distal opening. The lining system further comprises a flange portion positioned at and being united to the proximal end of the liner portion. The flange portion surrounds the proximal opening. The distal end of the liner portion is free of any flange structure to permit the distal end to be freely insertable into and through the lumen of the conduit. |
| US07861740B2 |
Digital flow control
A digital flow control assembly for controlling the volumetric flow rate of fluids includes a fluid flow conduit, a plurality of serially-arranged flow nodes positioned along a length of the fluid flow conduit, and a device for generating a signal. The device for generating a signal is used to adjust one or more of the plurality of serially-arranged flow nodes to maintain a desired volumetric flow rate of fluid in the fluid flow conduit. A method for controlling the volumetric flow rate of fluids includes providing a fluid flow conduit, providing a plurality of serially-arranged flow nodes positioned along a length of the fluid flow conduit, and providing a feedback signal to adjust one or more of the plurality of serially-arranged flow nodes to maintain a desired volumetric flow rate of fluid in the fluid flow conduit. |
| US07861737B2 |
Method of optimizing heavy crude transportation by incorporation under pressure of dimethyl ether
Heavy crude transportation optimization method wherein at least one solvent is added to said crude. According to the method, a predetermined amount of dimethyl ether (DME) is added under pressure so as to adjust the viscosity of the crude. |
| US07861731B2 |
Cleaning/drying apparatus and cleaning/drying method
A cleaning/drying apparatus including a vapor area where vapor of an organic solvent inside the cleaning/drying apparatus is generated, an ejecting part configured to eject the organic solvent onto a cleaning/drying target, a first detecting part configured to determine whether the temperature of the cleaning/drying target is a first temperature equivalent to a temperature of the vapor in the vapor area, a second detecting part configured to determine whether the temperature of the cleaning/drying target is a second temperature enabling the organic solvent to condense on a surface of the cleaning/drying target, and a cleaning/drying control part configured to drive the ejecting part to eject the organic solvent when the first detecting part detects that the temperature of the cleaning/drying target is the first temperature and stop the ejection when the second detecting part detects that the temperature of the cleaning/drying target is the second temperature. |
| US07861719B1 |
High surface area chemical/biological air-purifying filter
Airflow is improved for multi-agent chemical biological air-purifying apparatus by providing a filter module that has multiple filter elements contained within a substantially sealed housing. The housing secures the filter elements in a spaced relation such that the top and bottom faces of each filter element are exposed to the flow of air and provides an air path within the housing adapted to channel air through the multiple filter elements in a parallel flow. The filter module may be made from a flexible and resilient plastic material and may be contoured to conform to the shape of a helmet liner or similar headgear. |
| US07861715B2 |
Mask system
A mask system for treating sleep disordered breathing, comprising headgear, a shell/cushion including a channel adjacent a front aperture, a frame, an elbow including at least one undercut on a proximal end, a retaining ring including a rear flange adapted to be retainably insertable in the channel of the shell/cushion, and a front flange adapted to retainably engage with the at least one undercut of the elbow. |
| US07861707B2 |
Gravity feed natural draft pellet stove
A pellet stove utilizing gravity feed and natural draft more effectively and efficiently burns pellet fuel while producing less air pollution and ash. In one embodiment, the pellet stove has a primary combustion area comprising a burn unit removably disposed in the vent tube, a feed tube defining a fuel chamber above the burn unit and a secondary combustion area, comprising a burn box defining a secondary burn chamber, below the burn unit. The burn unit has a removable receptacle which defines a primary burn chamber that receives pellet fuel from the fuel chamber and discharges substantially burned fuel to the secondary burn chamber for additional burning. Openings in the burn box, pellet receptacle and vent tube draw air into the burn chambers. A control mechanism controls the air flow to regulate the heat generated by the pellet stove. The pellet stove can be manufactured in various aesthetically pleasing designs. |
| US07861692B2 |
Coupling arrangement
A coupling arrangement has a fuel injector cup with a central longitudinal axis coupled to a fuel rail at a first axial end area and to a ring element at a second axial end area by a circlip. The cup has at least two slots arranged at the second end area and at least two grooves arranged at least partly circumferentially the cup and axially overlapping with the slots. The ring element is arranged at the central longitudinal axis facing the second end area and coupled to a housing. The ring element has at least two protrusions facing the cup having at least two grooves arranged at least partly circumferentially the ring element in a common plane with the grooves. The circlip is arranged at least partly circumferentially the cup at least partly in the grooves and arranged at least partly circumferentially the ring element at least partly in the grooves. |
| US07861690B2 |
Device and method for controlling internal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine has a valve driving mechanism (VM) capable of changing the valve-opening characteristic of at least one of an intake valve (Vi) and an exhaust valve (Ve), an in-cylinder pressure sensor for detecting the in-cylinder pressure in a combustion chamber and ECU. ECU calculates the variation amount of the in-cylinder pressure caused by the valve-overlap of the intake valve (Vi) and the exhaust valve (Ve), and based on this variation amount of the in-cylinder pressure and the in-cylinder pressure detected at a predetermined timing in the compression stroke, calculates an amount of air sucked in the combustion chamber, as well as, based on this calculated intake air amount, determines the ignition timing. The amount of air sucked in the combustion chamber is accurately and costlessly calculated, and the ignition timing is optimally determined by using the calculated air amount. |
| US07861684B2 |
Compression ignition engine and method for controlling same
An engine having improved combustion characteristics is provided. The engine includes a fuel injection system that is variable between two operational states. In the first operating state, the fuel injectors provide a fuel spray having first spray pattern characteristics. When the system detects that an operation characteristic exceeds a threshold, the fuel injectors are displaced into a second operating state. In the second operating state, the fuel injectors provide a spray pattern having first spray pattern characteristics. The combustion cycle may be characterized by timing the fuel injection so that the fuel is sprayed into the cylinder early in the compression stroke. Further still, the combustion cycle may be characterized by controlling the fuel pressure so that the fuel pressure is inversely related to the load on the engine. |
| US07861675B2 |
Containment apparatus for containing gestating sows
Gestating sows are housed in a series of gestation stalls arranged in a row and backing onto an open alley along a rear of the row of stalls into which the sow can enter by backing out of the stall. A common trough extends along the front of the stalls and is fastened to the floor by fasteners which connect trough sections end to end. The common trough provides a support for the front end of the side walls defining the stalls. A rear gate closes the rear of each stall and connects to a front gate of the stall operable to close the rear gate by the sow as it moves in the stall toward the front. The rear gate latches closed to prevent entry of another sow but is releasable by rear pressure on the rear gate from the sow backing out. |
| US07861670B2 |
Bird feeder
A bird feeder including an enclosure, heat shield and clinging element especially suited for clinging birds. A suspension element allows the bird feeder to hang from an overhead structure and supports a basket within the enclosure. The basket contains bird feed suspended under the protection of the enclosure and heat shield. |
| US07861666B2 |
Width adjustable multi slot gun
Apparatus for applying fluids such as adhesive, in particular hot-melt glue, onto a substrate that is movable relative to the apparatus. The apparatus includes a basic body (12) and an applicator valve (22) for selective interruption or release of the stream of fluid. The basic body (12) is connectable to a fluid source and includes a slit-shaped nozzle opening (54) that communicates with a distribution channel (14), and a piston (16) that is movably situated in the distribution channel (14), by means of which the length of the distribution channel (14) which may be supplied with fluid is variable. The nozzle opening (54) communicates with the distribution channel (14) by means of a plurality of output channels (18) spaced at a distance from each other. |
| US07861663B2 |
Boarding ladder for inflatable watercraft
A portable boarding ladder is attached to a rubberized portion of an inflatable boat without the use of piercing fasteners and does not require a hard point mounting structure. A base ladder section and a climbing ladder section are pivotally coupled together and supported in an operative, stand-off boarding position along a curved hull surface of a pontoon boat by a pair of hook support brackets and a pair of latch retainer brackets. The support brackets are bonded to the pontoon by adhesive deposits. A lateral cross bar tubing segment of the base ladder section is supported by hanging engagement on the hook brackets. A pair of side rail tubing segments of the climbing ladder section are retained and secured against lateral shifting displacement and rotation relative to the pontoon by snap-fit engagement against resilient arm portions of the latch retainer brackets. |
| US07861660B2 |
Adjustable row cleaner
An adjustable row cleaner includes a row cleaner assembly that functions to clear material from the ground surface. The adjustable row cleaner includes, in one embodiment, a connector that is in mechanical communication with both a row cleaner frame, to which row cleaner wheels may be pivotally mounted, and a first end of a translator member. The translator member may pivot with respect to the row unit frame and/or row unit sub-frame about a translator member pivot. The position of a translator member second end may be manipulated, thereby adjusting the maximum depth to which the row cleaner wheels penetrate the ground surface. The adjustable row cleaner may be powered or manually adjusted, and the position of the row cleaner wheels may be monitored and automatically adjusted via a control system. |
| US07861653B2 |
Rolls and cylinders with a steel core for offset presses
A cylinder for an offset printing press comprising a steel core and a heat-conducting layer arranged on the steel core in order to uniformly distribute localized steel core heating. The heat can consist of copper and can be arranged in or underneath a functional layer on the cylinder. |
| US07861652B2 |
Packing sleeve for a printing unit cylinder of an offset printing press
A packing sleeve including an outer lateral surface for a printing unit cylinder of an offset printing press is disclosed, wherein the outer lateral surface has at least one region with an area containing a number of incisions, which increase the elasticity of the packing sleeve in the peripheral direction. The packing sleeve according to the invention can advantageously be used to enlarge the effective outer diameter of a printing unit cylinder in an offset printing press by drawing the packing sleeve over the printing unit cylinder in the offset printing press. |
| US07861639B1 |
Artillery projectile extractor
A hand operated projectile extractor to remove unspent projectiles from 155 mm howitzers, which extractor is generally cylindrical, about 18 inches in length, with a handle extending from the rear thereof and with an overall weight of at least about 30 pounds, to provide enough momentum to eject the projectile. When rammed into the muzzle of a howitzer and down the barrel thereof, the ogive of the projectile enters the open front of the extractor's cylindrical body and will be impacted by a compression ring along the extractor's front edge, which compression ring has a minimum internal diameter of 4.75 inches and is formed of particular flat and curved surfaces which will not bind to either the projectile or the barrel. |
| US07861637B2 |
Pressure impulse mitigation
This invention concerns the use of water gels, i.e. mixtures of gels and water in pressure impulse mitigation, e.g. blast mitigation or to prevent damage caused by projectiles. Such water gels have been found to resist over pressures and being aqueous also have applications in the prevention of fire. |
| US07861623B2 |
Screw fastening machine
It is an object of the invention to provide an effective technique for preventing loss of a screw fastening depth regulating member removed from a machine body in a screw fastening machine. A representative screw fastening machine includes a machine body, a motor, an input shaft, an output shaft, a first clutch element, a second clutch element, a biasing member for first and second clutch elements, a screw fastening depth regulating member. The machine body has a holding part formed in an area other than the tip end region of the machine body to removably hold the screw fastening depth regulating member. The holding part is provided such that the screw fastening depth regulating member can be attached to and removed from the holding part by utilizing elastic deformation of the holding part. |
| US07861620B2 |
Ratchet wrench
A ratchet wrench has a through cavity in which a reversing lever is disposed. The reversing lever has a pair of protruding lips formed thereon opposite from one another. A cooperating ledge is formed on the head in the cavity and on the pawl which is adjacent to the reversing lever. A spring-loaded pusher is disposed longitudinally in a blind bore in the reversing lever and the pusher engages a pocket in the pawl. A cover plate is disposed on a shelf recessed on the bottom of the wrench and spaced apart from the reversing lever. |
| US07861618B2 |
Wrenching tong
A method of coupling a tool to a length of tubular comprises securing the tool in a basket; lowering a tong arrangement having a rotary part and a stationary part, relative to the basket to engage respective locking members of the tong arrangement and the basket, thereby fixing the basket and the tool relative to the stationary part of the tong arrangement; and rotating the length of tubular using the rotary part of the tong arrangement so as to couple the tool to the length of tubular. A torque measuring flange may be associated with the tong arrangement. The torque measuring flange comprises a top plate and a bottom plate and one or more cylinders disposed between one or more wedges, whereby rotating the top plate causes the wedges to compress a piston in the cylinder. |
| US07861615B2 |
Adjustable steering column assembly
A steering column assembly having a column jacket defining a longitudinal axis and moveable in a telescoping direction and a tilting direction is disclosed. A first bracket defines a telescoping slot having a first tooth rack extending parallel to the longitudinal axis. A second bracket defines a tilting slot having a second tooth rack extending transverse to the telescoping slot. A first locking member and a second locking member are moveable along a pivot axis transverse the longitudinal axis between a locked position and an unlocked position. The locking members have a first locking surface parallel to the longitudinal axis and a second locking surface transverse to the longitudinal and pivot axes. The locking surfaces are disposed in the telescoping and tilting slots, respectively when in the locked position such that the locking surfaces engage the first and second tooth racks, respectively for preventing movement of the column jacket. |
| US07861614B2 |
Apparatus for operating a distribution chute for changing ores and coals into a furnace
A driving apparatus for a blast furnace charging distribution chute includes: a driving unit comprising a crankshaft connected to a motor to rotate with a variable rotational radius; a power transmission unit comprising a plurality of connection rods connected to the driving unit to linearly transmit power; and a working unit connected to the power transmission unit and fixed to circumference of a distribution chute to rotate or tilt the distribution chute. |
| US07861613B2 |
Selector mechanism for dual-clutch transmissions
An embodiment provides a method shifting a multispeed transmission. The multispeed transmission includes multiple gear paths having alternating speed ratios and a plurality of shift members. Each shift member is selectively moveable to engage a speed ratio of the transmission. The method includes directing a shift finger to contact a first shift member, moving the first shift member generally in a first generally orthogonal direction to engage a first gear, and moving the shift finger in a second generally orthogonal direction to an intermediate configuration. The shift finger will not contact a selector rail when moved in the first direction when the shift finger is in the intermediate configuration. The method also includes moving the shift finger generally in the second generally orthogonal direction to a second engaged configuration. The shift finger will contact a second shift member when moved in the first direction when the shift finger is in the second engaged configuration. |
| US07861597B2 |
High temperature transducer using SOI electronics
There is disclosed a high temperature pressure sensing system which includes a SOI Wheatstone bridge including piezoresistors. The bridge provides an output which is applied to an analog to digital converter also fabricated using SOI technology. The output of the analog to digital converter is applied to microprocessor, which microprocessor processes the data or output of the bridge to produce a digital output indicative of bridge value. The microprocessor also receives an output from another analog to digital converter indicative of the temperature of the bridge as monitored by a span resistor coupled to the bridge. The microprocessor has a separate memory coupled thereto which is also fabricated from SOI technology and which memory stores various data indicative of the microprocessor also enabling the microprocessor test and system test to be performed. |
| US07861591B2 |
Device for the ultrasonic inspection of the weld seam of longitudinally welded pipes for defects
The present invention pertains to a device for ultrasonic inspection of a weld seam of a longitudinally welded pipe for longitudinal defects with an inspection unit, which is relatively displaceable on a pipe surface on at least one side of the weld seam. The device also has two inspection heads in a tandem and spatially-variable arrangement, such that they can be positioned relative to the pipe surface to correspond to an intended acoustic irradiation angle independent of the diameter of the pipe. According to the invention, one inspection head acts as a transmitter and the other inspection head acts as a receiver. The device also has a pick-up connected to each of the two inspection heads, a coupling means connection connected to each pick-up, and a replaceable connecting element connected each pick-up via the coupling means connection. |
| US07861590B2 |
Method of determining sublimate in thermoset film with QCM sensor
A method for measuring an amount of a sublimate in real time with respect to a lapse of heating time, comprising: adhering the sublimate from a thermoset film during heating to a surface of a crystal oscillator using a nozzle inserted into a detection part; and measuring the amount of the sublimate from a change in a resonance frequency corresponding to the amount of the sublimate adhered to the crystal oscillator. In the method, the thermoset film may be formed on a silicon wafer and the measurement is performed while the thermoset film is heated by a heat source disposed under the silicon wafer; or the sublimate may be set so as to flow together with an airstream ascending toward an upper part of an enclosure covering the thermoset film, and the airstream directly contacts the crystal oscillator through the nozzle inserted into the detection part disposed in the path of the airstream. |
| US07861588B2 |
Force rebalance control system and method using automatic gain control loop
The present invention relates to a force rebalance control system and method using an automatic gain control loop, which are configured to perform the force rebalance feedback control of a vibratory gyroscope using the automatic gain control loop for controlling the velocity signal of a mass body. Accordingly, the present invention is advantageous in that a conventional digital circuit, which is complicated and sensitive to noise, can be implemented using a simple analog circuit, and the present invention can be extended and applied to general- purpose vibratory gyroscopes or various sensor fields, such as those of an inertial sensor, a pressure sensor, and a temperature sensor, as well as micro-gyroscopes. Further, a force rebalance control system using an automatic gain control loop according to the present invention is applied to various sensors, thus improving performance, such as the dynamic range, bandwidth, and linearity of the sensors. |
| US07861575B2 |
Micro gas sensor and manufacturing method thereof
A micro gas sensor is disclosed including a substrate; an open cavity formed in the substrate; an electrode pad separation groove formed on the substrate; a first and a second electrode pads formed over the substrate and electrically insulated from each other by the electrode pad separation groove; a micro heater connected to the first electrode pad and configured of a bridge structure suspended over the open cavity; a first sensing electrode extending from the first electrode pad and suspended over the open cavity; a second sensing electrode extending from the first electrode pad and suspended over the open cavity; and a gas sensing film electrically coupled to the micro heater and filling a gap between the first and the second sensing electrodes. |
| US07861572B2 |
Method and device for making at least partly profiled tubes
A method and device are disclosed for producing tubes that are at least partially profiled on their interior and preferably on their exterior from a hollow cylindrical blank (3), using a mechanical cold forming method, wherein the end of the blank (3) that is not to be machined (3′) is fed to a clamping device (10). The blank (3) is then secured in the clamping device (10) and a mandrel (2) is subsequently inserted into the end of region (3) of the blank (3) that is to be machined. A lance (8) is guided in the mandrel so that it can be coaxially displaced in a longitudinal direction and the free end of the lance (8′) can be introduced into the clamping device (10). The tip (8′) of the lance (8) is then brought into a positive fit with the clamping device (10) in the axial direction of the blank (3) and the mandrel (2), together with the clamping device (10) and the blank (3) is guided axially through a fixed machining point (6). Radial exterior machining of the surface of the blank (3) along the section that is to be machined (3′) takes place at the machining point (6), to create the interior and exterior profiling of the blank (3). During the process, the mandrel (2) is preferably rotated about its axis in an intermittent manner. |
| US07861570B2 |
Stent with improved drug loading capacity
The present invention provides a method of forming a drug eluting stent, the method comprising coupling a stent framework to a mandrel, inserting the mandrel with stent framework into an open die, the die including a forming surface including a plurality of raised indentation forming portions; closing the die against the stent framework; pressing the raised indentation portions into the stent framework to form indentation in the stent framework; and inserting at least one drug polymer into the indentation formed in the stent framework. |
| US07861559B2 |
Yarn feeding device for knitting machines, particularly for circular knitting machines
A device for feeding yarns for knitting machines comprising a supporting element arranged on the inner side of the machine bed which supports a set of yarn guides arranged side-by-side. Each of the yarn guides has a passage for at least one yarn to be fed to the needles of the machine arranged in the bed and the supporting element, for each of the yarn guides, supports an element for clamping and cutting the yarn dispensed by the corresponding yarn guide. A first actuator for the yarn guides is provided for the passage of the yarn guides from an inactive position to an active position, and a second actuator is provided for actuating the clamping and cutting elements. The first actuator comprises individual actuators actuated to produce passage of each of the yarn guides from the inactive position to the active position or vice versa. |
| US07861552B1 |
Insulated food carrier and organizer
An insulated carrier having an interior lip for supporting a planar organizer having a plurality of spaced apart apertures for receiving user provided containers and organizer aperture covers for covering said containers. The carrier having a lid for covering said carrier and having segregated storage compartments for utilitarian use, such as cutlery storage. The storage compartments having a latch door providing access therein. |
| US07861548B2 |
Heat pump system and heat pump operation method
A compact heat pump system and a heat pump operation method, which can avoid the occurrence of surging in a compressor at startup of a heat pump and can directly supply vapor of a working medium produced by the compressor to an external heat-utilizing facility. The heat pump system includes an evaporator for recovering heat of an external heat source to a working medium supplied as liquid water from the exterior via a water feed channel, thereby evaporating the working medium, a compressor for compressing the working medium evaporated in the evaporator and increasing temperature of the evaporated working medium, and a driving unit for giving motive power to drive the compressor. The heat pump system further includes a supply channel for supplying, as a heat source, vapor of the working medium having temperature increased by the compressor to an external heat-utilizing facility, and a return channel branched from the supply channel and introducing the working medium discharged from the compressor to the evaporator. |
| US07861544B2 |
Apparatus and methods for creating sparkling water from the atmosphere
What is disclosed is a system designed to extract water moisture from the atmosphere, highly purify and condition the extracted water, and provide optional carbonation of the extracted water for human consumption. In one embodiment, the device collects water-vapor condensation from filtered intake air, then subjects the condensate to a series of purification filters and to a sterilization process in order to produce drinking water, while also providing a means to combine the purified water with CO2 gas to facilitate dispensing carbonated water and/or carbonated drinks. |
| US07861539B2 |
Cooling fan with thermostatic air output
A cooling fan with thermostatic air output has a water cistern and a water reservoir respectively disposed on the top portion and the bottom portion of the fan body, wherein an electric fan and two pipes of recycling pipe and water outlet pipe for water circulation are disposed therein; Wherein a Thermoelectric Cooling Modules (TECM) is secured in said water cistern, and a water absorbing curtain is hung downwards between the wind inlet of said fan body and said electric fan such that the top end of said water absorbing curtain being immersed in the water cistern; Then, by means of the sucking function of said electric fan in front of said water absorbing curtain, the air of normal temperature from wind inlet is sucked and blown out of the wind outlet via said water absorbing curtain, where the inlet air mixing with moisture of lower temperature; Thus, the cooling effect in breeze of lower temperature by blowing action is achieved so as to let us enjoy such cooling breeze. |
| US07861534B2 |
Method of starting turbine engine from low engine speed
A method of starting a turbine engine at a first engine speed value which is lower than a second engine speed value designed for a normal engine starting operation, comprises varying a fuel flow into a combustor of the engine to start the engine in repeatedly alternating speed acceleration and deceleration cycles in order to create an engine speed augmentation in each of the speed acceleration and deceleration cycles, thereby achieving the second engine speed value while preventing the engine from being overheated, and then beginning the normal engine starting operation. |
| US07861528B2 |
Fuel nozzle and diffusion tip therefor
A fuel nozzle having a dedicated circuit to cool the diffusion tip with lower part count and reduced complexity. More specifically, the proposed design uses an independent circuit to cool the tip with diffusion fuel or purge air. An impingement plate may be provided to augment the cooling effect. |
| US07861527B2 |
Reheater temperature control
A thermal power generation apparatus comprises a boiler (15) and multiple turbine sets for high, intermediate and lower steam pressure operation. Steam exhausted from the high pressure turbine (HP), and reduced in both pressure and temperature, is returned to a reheater (19) for reheating. The reheated steam is then passed to a intermediate pressure turbine (IP). It is desirable to control the temperature of steam entering the intermediate pressure turbine (IP). The invention provides a system for effecting temperature control of the reheater stream in a thermal power plant. The system includes a reheater conduit (10, 21) adapted to define at least a part of a reheat flow path for steam between an exhaust of a high pressure turbine system (HP) and an inlet of a reheater system (19). The system further includes an indirect water/steam heat exchanger (B) having a heat exchange portion within the reheat flow path and defining a water flow path means adapted to receive and circulate feed water. The feed water may be taken from take off points (A, D) in the primary feed water stream. |
| US07861523B2 |
Vehicular brake system
In a vehicular brake system, an input piston and a pressure piston are coaxially and axially movably supported in a cylinder, and a brake pedal is coupled to the input piston. Pressure chambers formed on the axially opposite sides of the input piston communicate with each other via a communication passage. A control oil pressure can be supplied to a first supply port of the communication passage, and a reaction-force oil pressure can be supplied to a second supply port of a reaction-force chamber of the input piston, while braking oil pressures can be delivered from delivery ports of the respective pressure chambers. |
| US07861517B2 |
Method and system for controlling catalyst temperature
A method for controlling temperature of a catalyst. The method includes monitoring temperature of the catalyst and determining that the catalyst is outside of a catalyst operating temperature window. If the catalyst temperature is high enough for exothermic reaction to occur, reformate is injected into the catalyst. If the catalyst not high enough for exothermic reaction to occur, reformate is injected upstream of the catalyst and ignited. |
| US07861515B2 |
Monitoring of exhaust gas oxygen sensor performance
A method of monitoring a performance of an oxygen sensor is disclosed. One embodiment comprises determining a first air/fuel ratio from a signal from an exhaust oxygen sensor; determining a second air/fuel ratio from a temperature upstream of the particulate filter, a pressure differential across the particulate filter and one or more of an airflow into the engine and a fuel flow into the engine; comparing the first air/fuel ratio and the second air/fuel ratio; and diagnosing an error condition of the oxygen sensor if the first air/fuel ratio does not meet a predetermined condition relative to the second air/fuel ratio. |
| US07861510B1 |
Ceramic regenerator for a gas turbine engine
A high temperature heat exchanger for use with a small gas turbine engine to produce a combined cycle power plant, where the heat exchanger includes ceramic heat exchange tubes of SiC that are tightly fitted to the heat exchanger so that no welds or brazing is used and prevent any thermal stresses between the tubes and the heat exchanger end plates or baffle plates. The heat exchanger includes an inner casing and an outer casing with the heat exchange tubes extending through the heat exchanger between the two casings, and the gas turbine engine operating in the space within the inner casing. The tubes are tightly fitted in holes within the end plates and baffle plates, and a molybdenum disulfide coating is used to form a seal. |
| US07861508B2 |
Cable supporting device
A device for supporting a cable between a vehicle body and a movable member movably connected to the vehicle body is provided with a guide member including a first opening communicating with a hollow portion of a frame body and used for the insertion of the cable, a second opening spaced apart by a specified angle from the first opening, communicating with the hollow portion and used for the insertion of the cable, and a three-dimensional arcuate surface on the outer surface of the frame body; and a supporting member for rotatably holding the arcuate surface of the guide member. The supporting member is fixed to the vehicle body and/or movable member. The cable is inserted from the first opening of the guide member to the second opening through the hollow portion, so that the guide member can follow angular changes of the cable in vertical, transverse and oblique directions. |
| US07861507B2 |
High-strength prestressing strand, method for manufacturing the same, and concrete construction using the same
In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a high-strength prestressing strand having a seven-wire structure in which one core wire and six outer wires are stranded. An external diameter of the strand is from 15.0 mm to 16.1 mm, a total cross-sectional area of the strand is 135 mm2 or more, and a load at 0.2% permanent elongation is 266 kN or more. A relaxation value measured after a 1000-hour relaxation test is 2.5% or lower and a diameter of the core wire is 5.35±0.3 mm and a diameter of the outer wires is 5.15±0.25 mm. The core wire and the outer wires each have a composition of at least 0.90% carbon. The prestressing strand is manufactured by stranding the core wire and outer wires, giving a stretching treatment, and giving a bluing treatment at a temperature of 380° C. or more and 430° C. or less after or at the same time with the stretching treatment. |
| US07861506B2 |
Arrangement for the adjustment of the position of a take up drum and a hold-down of an agricultural harvesting machine
An arrangement is provided for the adjustment of the position of a take-up drum and a hold-down of an agricultural harvesting machine. A first actuator is arranged for the movement of the take-up drum relative to the harvesting machine between an operating position and a non-operating position, a second actuator arranged for the adjustment in height of the hold-down relative to the take-up drum and a control arrangement connected with the actuators. The control arrangement is designed to control the second actuator in the sense of a downward movement of the hold-down when it controls the first actuator to bring the take-up drum into the non-operating position. |
| US07861499B2 |
Filling machine for open, sealable sacks
A filling machine for open, sealable sacks includes a fill pipe for filling the attached sacks with contents having a tendency to develop dust, and a cleaning device which includes a blow rail for cleaning the inner faces of the sack mouth rim and side folds of a sack by an air flow which emerges from the blow rail. The blow rail is fastened to two-armed levers which can be pivoted about a stationary axis by means of a drive. As a result, the air jets are directed onto the surfaces to be cleaned from different directions during the cleaning process and the layers of the side folds are also separated from one another and cleaned. The filling machine is suitable, in particular, for filling powdery contents. |
| US07861497B2 |
Box wrapping assembly and method
A box wrapping assembly and method incorporates a framework having a special top hold-down platen that functions with a cooperating fixture that is affixed to a rotatable turntable. Using this assembly and method, the operator can place four sidewall panels in a self-positioning fixture and panel-capturing platen prior to wrapping. Stretch film is connected to the fixture by a hook device and the stretch film is automatically pre-stretched to a rope of stretched film for particular application where the box contents are intended to be contained within the box under pressure. |
| US07861492B2 |
Tablet filling device
Provided is a tablet filling device capable of continuing an operation without stopping the supply of the tablet container, filling with tablets, etc. even when the prescribed operations cannot be performed at the operating positions. The tablet filling device includes: a tablet supply unit (3) that fills a tablet container (12) with tablets; a carrying member (41) which carries the tablet cassette (12) from the tablet supply unit (3) to a standby position; a container holding member (65) provided at a delivery position and having a plurality of holding parts (67, 68) capable of holding the tablet container (12) according to a difference in outer diameter dimension; and another carrying member (52) which carries the tablet container (12) held by a container holding member (65) to an operating position. |
| US07861491B2 |
Medicine dispensing/packaging apparatus
A powder medicine dispensing/packaging apparatus includes: a divisional container composed of a first divisional container and a second divisional container connectable to each other and each including a plurality of powder medicine accommodation parts accommodating powder medicine in equal amounts corresponding to one package, each powder medicine accommodation part being equipped with a bottom plate that can be opened and closed; a carrying device for horizontally carrying the divisional container between an initial position and a first movement terminal position; a dispensing/packaging device for recovering powder medicine dropped from the divisional container carried by the carrying device by successively opening the bottom plates and dispensing/packaging the powder medicine package by package; and a swinging device for canceling the connection between the first divisional container and the second divisional container at the first movement terminal position to enable the first divisional container to move to a second movement terminal position and swinging the second divisional container to a retracted position. |
| US07861489B2 |
Preform, hydroforming method, and hydroformed product
A preform having edges overlapped and jointed, two outer members for forming outer surfaces of a hydroformed product, and reinforcement members for forming reinforcement ribs that divide a hollow cross section of the hydroformed product, including a joint formed by, when more than three sheet materials for forming the outer members and the reinforcement members are overlapped together, welding a first sheet material on a surface of the overlapped sheet materials to a second sheet material positioned inside the first sheet material, and a space disposed and aligned with a joint plane between the second sheet material and a third sheet material located inside the second sheet material during the welding process. |
| US07861478B2 |
Roof membrane and roof system using the membrane to simulate a standing seam metal roof
A roof membrane is disclosed, for use in simulating a standing seam metal roof when applied to a roof surface and a roof system is also provided, that employs the roof membrane, disposed between longitudinal, but spaced-apart, generally parallel roof battens. Underlayments of various constructions are also provided, beneath the membrane, as an option. Caps are provided for upstanding legs of the roof battens. |
| US07861454B2 |
Fishing system with remote monitoring capablity
The invention is a fishing system comprising a fishing pole with a force measuring device coupled to a transmitter. The transmitter broadcasts a signal including a representation of the force measured by the force measuring device. The fishing system includes a receiver configured to receive the transmitted force data generated by the fishing pole or poles. The receiver may be configured to display, store, or process force data received from said fishing pole or multiple fishing poles. |
| US07861452B2 |
Vertical foregrip leg extender
Devices, and methods of extending legs from vertical fore grip handles on firearms, such as rifles, to different height positions. The vertical fore grip can include expandable bipod legs. The legs can be individually extended to different lengths by moving telescoping rod members in leg housings from retracted positions to extended positions. A lever switch can allow for the legs to be locked into the different extended positions, and depressing the switch can allow for the legs to go back to the retracted positions. Anti-rotation pins and slots can prevent the telescoping members from rotating relative to the legs. |
| US07861446B2 |
Signcase system and method for manufacturing same
The present invention comprises a simple, inventive sign bracket for use in the creation of signs of surprising structural integrity in a range of dimensions, said bracket characterized by a profile comprising a sign body, a C-bracket, and optionally an interlocking sign hanger and/or an angle retainer. |
| US07861427B2 |
Grade indicating device and method
The application relates to indicating a grade for example in constructions applications using a laser beam. A laser beam is emitted from a laser unit to a desired direction having a grade angle with regard to a level angle. The level sensor is provided for adjusting the level angle and a grade sensor is provided for indicating a grade angle on the basis of the level angle from the level sensor. |
| US07861418B2 |
Reciprocatory saw
A reciprocatory saw, in particular, a jigsaw, is made up of a pitman with a chuck arranged for the releasable clamping of a saw blade. The chuck contains a movably mounted chuck jaw arrangement able to be clamped laterally against the saw blade shank, a wedge element arrangement adjacent to and for cooperation with the chuck means, a first spring acting downwardly on the inserted saw blade and a second spring acting on the wedge element arrangement downwardly. The wedge element arrangement is connected with the chuck jaw arrangement in a manner for the transmission of rotary movement and from the outside and is able to be shifted between a bottom clamping position clamping the chuck jaw arrangement against the saw blade shank and a top release position freeing the chuck jaw arrangement. The wedge element arrangement assumes an angular position turned in relation to the clamping position and is seated on a stationary holding face. |
| US07861417B2 |
Portable electric cutting apparatus
A portable electric cutting apparatus includes a housing for housing an electric motor rotating a saw blade, a saw cover attached to the housing, the saw cover having a shape to cover an upper half of an outer periphery, the saw cover including a saw blade housing portion at least partially housing the saw blade and a cylindrical portion having a substantially cylindrical shape, the cylindrical portion connecting to the housing at an end face of the cylindrical portion a base being joined to at least one of the saw cover and the housing, the base having an opening to allow the saw blade to project downwardly from a bottom face which is slidable on a cut material and a fan being driven by the electric motor, wherein a discharge passage forming member is provided with the saw cover so as to form a discharge passage by cooperating with a wall face of the saw cover. |
| US07861413B2 |
Method of making a dozer maintenance repair for a dozer equalizer link using an elastomeric bearing assembly
A moving tracks dozer equalizer link elastomeric bearing assembly including a concentric outer member operable for securely engaging a equalizer link bore structure associated with a first end portion of an equalizer link structural member, wherein the concentric outer member is disposed substantially within the equalizer link bore structure. The dozer equalizer link elastomeric bearing assembly also including a concentric inner member operable for securely engaging a pin structure associated with a second moving track roller frame assembly structural member, wherein the concentric inner member is disposed substantially within the concentric outer member. The dozer equalizer link elastomeric bearing assembly further including an elastomeric section disposed between the concentric inner member and the concentric outer member, wherein the elastomeric section is bonded to an outer surface of the inner member and an inner surface of the outer member, and wherein the elastomeric section is operable for accommodating axial, cocking, and torsion motions of the second moving track roller frame assembly structural member pin structure relative to the first equalizer link structural member. |
| US07861411B2 |
Composite gear and method of forming same
A composite gear and method of making same. In one embodiment the gear includes a body portion having a plurality of teeth. The gear is formed by placing it in a suitable tool such that a compressive stress is exerted on the teeth adjacent the root portion of each tooth. A portion of the gear adjacent the teeth is wrapped with a resin fibrous material that is allowed to cure while the compressive stress is maintained on the gear. When the resin fibrous material has at least substantially cured and the gear is removed from the tool, a permanent compressive stress is formed at the root portion adjacent each tooth. The compressive stress counteracts the tension stress that is experienced at the root portions of the teeth when the gear is in use, thus significantly strengthening (i.e., toughening) the gear and increasing its fatigue life. |
| US07861409B2 |
Method of preparing orifice counterbore surface
A method of preparing a surface of a counterbore surrounding an orifice in an orifice layer includes determining a property of a fluid to be ejected through the orifice, and controlling a surface characteristic of the counterbore surface based on the property of the fluid. |
| US07861408B2 |
Heat transfer surface for electronic cooling
A cooling surface for cooling an electronic component, the surface having two sets of fins, each set of fins defining a set of channels, and a number of passageways connecting the sets of channels. The cooling surface can be attached to an electronic component, such as a chip, and refrigerant supplied to at least one of the sets of channels. When the temperature of the electronic component rises, the heat is transferred to the refrigerant in the cooling surface, at least some of which vaporizes to carry heat away from, and facilitate cooling of, the component. |
| US07861405B2 |
System for forming a micro-assembler
A xerographic micro-assembler system, method and apparatus that includes a sorting unit that is adapted to receive a plurality of micro-objects. The micro-objects can also be sorted and oriented on the sorting unit and then transferred to a substrate. The system, method and apparatus can also include a device for detecting errors in at least one of the micro-objects on the sorting unit and a protection means for preventing an improper micro-object from being transferred to the substrate. The system, method and apparatus can also include an organized micro-object feeder assembly that can transfer at least one of a plurality of micro-objects to the sorting unit or directly to the substrate. |
| US07861401B2 |
Method of forming a high performance tunneling magnetoresistive (TMR) element
A high performance TMR element is fabricated by inserting an oxygen surfactant layer (OSL) between a pinned layer and AlOx tunnel barrier layer in a bottom spin valve configuration. The pinned layer preferably has a SyAP configuration with an outer pinned layer, a Ru coupling layer, and an inner pinned layer comprised of CoFeXBY/CoFeZ wherein x=0 to 70 atomic %, y=0 to 30 atomic %, and z=0 to 100 atomic %. The OSL is formed by treating the CoFeZ layer with oxygen plasma. The AlOx tunnel barrier has improved uniformity of about 2% across a 6 inch wafer and can be formed from an Al layer as thin as 5 Angstroms. As a result, the Hin value can be decreased by ⅓ to about 32 Oe. A dR/R of 25% and a RA of 3 ohm-cm2 have been achieved for TMR read head applications. |
| US07861394B2 |
Method for making a tubular composite structure
A method for making a composite tubular structure, such as the inner skin of an acoustic liner, includes providing a tool that is adjustable between a molding position and a non-molding position. The tool has a base on which are mounted a plurality of sectors, each sector having an outer panel provided with a predetermined shaped surface. The predetermined shaped surface corresponds to a portion of the contour of the tubular structure to be formed. At least one of the sectors is fixed relative to the base while the remaining sectors are movable in a radial direction and separable from all the other sectors. The method includes adjusting the movable sectors until the tool is in the molding position, applying composite material on an outer surface of each sector, curing the composite material to form an inner skin, and removing the inner skin from the outer surface. The thus-formed composite tubular structure may be remounted on the tool for bonding to additional exterior layers. |
| US07861391B2 |
Method of and device for mounting and functional verification of roll fittings
A method of and a device for mounting and functional verification of roll fittings (4) in rolling mill stands (1), wherein at least a partial number of the roll fittings (4) forms a respective module (5), with savings of mounting and verification time, and wherein the modules (5) are arranged, for pre-assembly with functional verification, on a mounting plate outside of the roll stand (1), is adjusted and/or verified, and at least one adjusted and/or verified module (5) is operatively arranged between two rolling mill stands (1), primarily, in the stand gap (9) and is arranged on a base frame (8) at constructively fixable support points (10). |
| US07861390B2 |
Method of attaching rail pulls to existing kitchen or bathroom cabinets having previously installed knobs or pulls
European-style long rail pulls are installed on cabinet doors to replace previously installed knobs or short handles on such cabinet doors. Standoff devices are used to rigidly secure the European-style rail pulls while covering unsightly holes left exposed after removal of the knobs from the cabinet doors. The standoff device is a generally cylindrical body have a flat bottom surface and a bore aligned with the exposed holes on the cabinet doors, and an upper surface shaped and sized to securely grip the long rail about its circumference. |
| US07861386B2 |
Method for producing piezoelectric actuator and method for producing ink-jet head
In the annealing step of the method for manufacturing a piezoelectric actuator, the annealing in conducted in two steps: a first annealing step; and a second annealing step conducted at a temperature lower and for a time longer than those of the first annealing step. With such treatment, first, grain growth inside the piezoelectric film can be sufficiently induced, while minimizing the diffusion layer growth, by the first annealing step conducted at a high temperature within a short interval, and then lattice defects in the particles can be sufficiently corrected, while preventing the diffusion layer growth, by the second annealing step conducted at a temperature lower and for a time longer than those of the first annealing step. Accordingly, the piezoelectric characteristic can be improved by sufficiently conducting annealing, while restricting the thickness of the diffusion layer to a range where the piezoelectric characteristic is not affected. |
| US07861384B2 |
Airbag arrangement and tools
A fixing element fixes a part to a support wall. When the fixing element is inserted into an opening in the support wall and reaches a predetermined end position, the fixing element locks to the support wall. The fixing element includes a stop element, a snap-on element, and an unlocking element. The stop element bears against a side of the support wall when the fixing element is locked to the support wall. The snap-on element is positioned on an inner side of the support wall when the fixing element is locked to the support wall. The unlocking element is connected to the snap-on element. The unlocking element is configured to permit the snap-on element to be unlocked and the fixing element to be removed from the opening. An installation tool and a testing tool may be used in conjunction with the fixing element. |
| US07861377B2 |
Abrasion-enhanced hinge
An abrasion-enhanced hinge has a pintle, a washer assembly and a stationary leaf. The pintle is connected securely to a cover of an electronic device. The washer assembly has multiple stationary washers and multiple rotating washers. The stationary and rotating washers are mounted interlacedly around the pintle. The stationary washers are connected securely to each other. The rotating washers are connected securely to the pintle. The stationary leaf is connected securely to a base of the electronic device and is connected securely to the nearest stationary washer. When the cover is pivoted to the base, the pintle is rotated relative to the stationary leaf. Thus, the rotating washers are rotated relative to the stationary washers. Because the stationary and rotating washers are mounted interlacedly, the rotations between the stationary and rotating washers provide a lot of abrasions. Therefore, the hinge provides enhanced abrasion. |
| US07861371B2 |
Door damper
Disclosed is a door damper, in which a safety check valve is installed in consideration of the case in which an impact exceeding a design pressure will be applied, thereby absorbing the impact to enable a door to be closed safely and smoothly. In the door damper, a safety check valve is installed in a piston, and thus is opened in cooperation with another check valve installed between a spring holder and the piston when the pressure exceeding a design pressure is applied. Thereby, when the impact exceeding the design pressure occurs, the safety check valve can absorb the impact to prevent damage. A channel can be adjusted by only ridges formed on an outer circumference of the check valve, so that productivity can be improved thanks to easy tolerance management. Further, an oil seal is not contracted or deformed in spite of long-term use. |
| US07861368B2 |
Vacuum cleaning head
A vacuum cleaning head includes a rotatable brush bar and an air turbine driving the brush bar. An air inlet admits air to drive the turbine. A button is movable between an open position, in which it admits air to the turbine, and a closed position in which it closes the inlet and prevents air from reaching the turbine. The button is movable in response to the speed of rotation of the turbine or to the flow of air to or through the turbine exceeding a predetermined limit. |
| US07861366B2 |
Robot cleaner system having robot cleaner and docking station
A robot cleaner system having an improved docking structure between a robot cleaner and a docking station, which is capable of an easy docking operation of the robot cleaner and preventing loss of a suction force generated in the docking station. The robot cleaner includes a docking portion to be inserted into a dust suction hole of the docking station upon a docking operation. The docking portion may be a protrusion, which protrudes out of a robot body to be inserted into a dust suction path defined in the docking station, the protrusion communicates a dust discharge hole of the robot cleaner with the dust suction path of the docking station. The robot cleaner system includes a coupling device to keep the robot cleaner and the docking station in their docked state. The coupling device is configured to have a variety of shapes. |
| US07861358B2 |
Hand towel with attached scrubber
The disclosure provides a cleaning device and a method of manufacturing the same. The cleaning device is configured to be effectively used for cleaning, polishing, drying, scrubbing, and scouring. The cleaning device is constructed of a combination of materials wherein the different component materials are inherently better suited for different functions. The component materials are sized, arranged, and combined to provide a highly effective and versatile cleaning tool. |
| US07861356B2 |
Brush head for electric and/or manual toothbrushes
A brush head of compact design, which includes a bristle carrier having secured to it bristles, and an elastic element for holding an oral, dental and/or gingival cleaning and/or care substance. The elastic element is joined to the bristle carrier by means of a support element. The bristle carrier is made of a first plastic, the support element of a second plastic, and the elastic element of a third plastic. |
| US07861351B2 |
Electric cleaning sweeper
An electric cleaning sweeper comprises a housing, including a detachable dirt tray placed inside the housing; and at least one openable wall located on the dirt tray wherein the openable wall is responsive to movement of a device located on the handle which can pick up the dirt tray and remove it off the housing to discharge the dust and debris while direct contact of the dirt tray by a human hand is avoided. |
| US07861349B2 |
Method and device for cleaning teeth
The invention is directed to a method and a device for cleaning teeth wherein a variety of cleaning tools are coupled to a common handle section for the individual cleaning of teeth. It relates in particular to a handle section of an electric dental cleaning device, with a coupling section for coupling various cleaning tools thereto, as well as said cleaning tools. According to the invention the handle section detects a coding provided on the respective cleaning tool attached. In dependence upon the respective coding detected, various functions of the dental cleaning device are controlled. |
| US07861344B2 |
Washing machine and method for controlling the same
A washing machine which prevents wrinkling of laundry in washing, rinsing, and dehydrating operations, and a method for controlling the same. The method includes determining whether a wrinkle preventing course is selected, performing a washing operation by supplying washing water to a water level designated according to an amount of the laundry disposed in the washing machine, when it is determined that the wrinkle preventing course is selected, and measuring a time of the washing operation, and additionally supplying the washing water at a designated time before the washing of the laundry is completed. |
| US07861340B2 |
Treatment bed with balancing circuit
A treatment bed has two lifting motors connected in parallel mechanically in the height-adjustable lifter. In order to load the lifting motors evenly and avoid torsions in the lifter, a balancing circuit that measures the supply currents of the lifting motors is provided. If a difference is determined, then the respective current is briefly interrupted several times until the magnitudes of the currents approach one another. |
| US07861338B2 |
Portable and foldable bed
A portable and foldable bed is disclosed, in which a support strength of a rotation support leg is enhanced by installing a triangle support plate at an engaged portion between a rotation pole of a rotation support leg and a connection bar, and a fixing plate with a width twice the width of a bed frame is provided in a bed frame engagement unit of a fixing support leg, and a closer contact unit is provided between the fixing plate and the fixing support leg for thereby obtaining a stable engagement of the same, and a foldable spring is disposed between a lower horizontal bar of a center support par and an outer frame of a bed frame, so a folding operation can be easily performed during a folding operation of a bed. |
| US07861336B2 |
Table assembly for patient transfer device
A table assembly for a patient transfer device has upper and lower tables surrounded by belts which counter-rotate as the table assembly moves between a patient and a supporting surface such as a bed. The table assembly includes integrated means for laterally retracting side plates of the upper table while adjusting incident angles of the side plates and vertically separating the upper table from the lower table. Guide slots in end plates fixed to a slide assembly retain positioning posts attached to ends of the side plates. The slots are inclined upwardly toward a centerline of the table assembly at different angles. A crank moves the side plates using a rotating disk attached to a central frame of the upper table and linkage arms with one end pivotally attached to a peripheral region of the disk and another end pivotally attached to one of the positioning posts. |
| US07861328B1 |
Toilet seat tilting device
A toilet seat tilting device includes a base, a seat tilting device that lifts or lowers a seat and a seat cover tilting device that lifts or lowers the seat cover. First and second pedals are used to operate link mechanisms. When the first pedal is pressed, the parts of the seat tilting device are rotated clockwise so that the seat is lifted. When the second pedal is pressed, the parts are rotated counterclockwise so that the seat is lowered. The seat cover is lowered when the second pedal is further pressed. The height of the tilting devices is adjustable and they are provided in left-handed and right-handed structures to be adapted various toilets. |
| US07861327B2 |
Water conservation apparatus
A water conservation system is provided public and domestic lavatories. The system includes a distinctive flush mechanism of two features. One of these features entails a “treatment button” which, upon depression, will cause to emit a fluid compound into urinated wastewater decolorizing and sanitizing it and bringing it back to its original, colorless, odorless condition. Accordingly, potable water is not used for flushing. The urinated wastewater is “treated” and, so, remains through subsequent “treatments” until such time when solid waste is deposited necessitating a conventional flush utilizing the flush lever and usual water use. The savings in volume of water is realized upon considering the number of times the “treatment button” is executed and potable water is “not withdrawn.” The system is revolutionary in that it dispenses with a “necessary flush” each time the toilet is used. Moreover, this novel system addresses the recurring local, and national, drought emergency situations. |
| US07861324B2 |
Anti-creep waist-clothing
A pre-assembled anti-creep waist-clothing stay device including a patch having front and back surfaces and sized for application to a crotch-adjacent inner-seam area of the waist-clothing and a stay strip affixed to the back surface of the patch, the stay strip being positioned and sized such that the patch extends beyond edges of the stay strip. In important embodiments, the patch includes a heat-activated adhesive such that, when the patch is applied to the waist-clothing with iron-on heat and pressure, the patch adheres at its back surface to the waist-clothing, thereby securing the stay strip in position to prevent the waist-clothing from riding up and bunching in the crotch area. In certain key embodiments, the anti-creep waist-clothing stay device is a stay strip having first and second sides each of which is coated with an adhesive. Such stay device is affixed within a seam-allowance in the crotch-adjacent area. |
| US07861320B1 |
Tie form system
A tie form system includes a necktie that is elongated and has a first end and a second end. A housing has a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall, a rear wall, a first lateral wall and a second lateral wall. The front wall is angled toward the rear wall from the top wall to the bottom wall and the top wall has a greater width than the bottom wall. The first and second lateral walls taper toward each other from the top wall to the bottom wall and the top wall has a greater length than the bottom wall. A loop is coupled to the rear wall of the housing. The first end of the necktie is extended through loop and the necktie tied around the housing so that the necktie conforms to a shape of the housing. |
| US07865962B2 |
Multi-level sequence number based lazy invalidation
A multi-level sequence number is associated with a data provider supplying data for an object. The multi-level sequence number includes a portion that is unique to the data provider, and one or more portions that are shared by other data providers for the object. A per-object table is used to cache data supplied by each data provider for the object and the corresponding multi-level sequence number. A global table associates each data provider with the current value of its multi-level sequence number. Whenever data supplied by a data provider changes, the sequence number in the global table is updated. Cached data of the data provider is updated with current data of the data provider only if the cached value of the sequence number is found to be different from the current value of the sequence number. |
| US07865957B1 |
Apparatus and methods for updating mobile device virus pattern data
What is disclosed includes a method for updating virus pattern data in at least a mobile device for one or more anti-virus purposes. The method may include processing a virus pattern to generate one or more images. The method may also include providing the one or more images such that the one or more images are acquired by the mobile device. The mobile device may perform at least one of parsing and decoding of the one or more images to obtain the virus pattern. The mobile device may then update the virus pattern data utilizing the virus pattern. |
| US07865956B1 |
Method and apparatus for predicting the incidence of a virus
Methods and apparatus for predicting the incidence of a new virus a within a system based upon previous infections recorded within the system. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for responding to a virus alert that provides information pertaining to a new virus includes obtaining the virus alert and assessing a risk level associated with the new virus. The risk level indicates the predicted likelihood that the first virus will cause significant damage in the event that the new virus infects the computer system. Finally, the method includes obtaining computer code such as a driver and/or a dat when the risk level indicates that the new virus may pose a significant risk to the computer system. |
| US07865954B1 |
Method to detect SYN flood attack
The invention is a method of predicting a SYN flooding attack on a server. The method tracks the number of SYN signals received (or SYN+ACK signals sent) over the communications port of the server in a specified time interval, the arrival estimation window. The invention then predicts the number of anticipated ACK signals to be received over the communication port within a predetermined time length prediction window. The prediction may be made at multiple points within the prediction window. The prediction window is offset in time from the arrival estimation window. The prediction of ACK signals to be received is based upon the number of SYN signals received or SYN+ACK signals sent in the arrival estimation window. In one embodiment, a polynomial is fit to the data in the Arrival estimation window and extrapolated to the prediction window. The predicted number of ACK signals is compared to the actual number received in the prediction window, and if the difference is in excess of a threshold value, and attack is indicated. |
| US07865946B2 |
Data transmission controlling method and data transmission system
Disclosed herein is a data transmission system permitting secure and more reliable transmission of data from a data transmitter to a data receiver or receivers. The system comprises: a data transmitter for encrypting data and transmitting the encrypted data; data receivers for receiving the encrypted data from the data transmitter; satellite links used for data transmission from the data transmitter to the data receivers; and bidirectional communication channels which are also used for transmitting data from the data receivers to the data transmitter and which have a smaller capacity of data transmission than the satellite links. The satellite links are used to transmit encrypted data from the data transmitter to the data receivers. At least the bidirectional communication channels are used to communicate restrictive data transmission control information between the data transmitter and the data receivers. |
| US07865934B2 |
Access-control permissions with inter-process message-based communications
Described herein are one or more implementations that facilitate message-passing over a communication conduit between software processes in a computing environment. More particularly, the implementations described restrict access of one process to another via messages passed over a particular conduit connecting the processes and the access-control restrictions are defined by a contract associated with that particular conduit. |
| US07865927B2 |
Enhancing media system metadata
Systems and methods for providing enhanced metadata to a user. Systems and methods can include extraction of data from metadata and searching for related metadata based upon the the extracted data. |
| US07865922B2 |
Low-power broadcast receiver
Broadcast receivers operate in a power-saving standby mode while retaining the ability to receive broadcast program, software, and firmware updates. The most power hungry circuits are deprived of power in the standby mode using a wake-up switch controlled by an update sensor that actively monitors the broadcast channel in the standby mode. If the receiver receives an update-pending indication while in the standby mode, then the wake-up switch provides power to those components needed to receive the update without indicating a power-on condition to the user. |
| US07865916B2 |
Audience determination for monetizing displayable content
The present disclosure relates to the measurement of the audience characteristics or demographics which is or can be exposed to displayed interactive content depicted on a screen. The audience can include persons who are engaged in interacting with the interactive content as well as persons who are observers of the interactive content and/or the active participants. The content can include one or more targeted advertisements contained in or associated with interactive content, and can be varied based on the audience characteristics or demographics. The audience characteristics or demographics can be used to accurately charge advertisers for the impressions created by the content displayed and can also or alternatively be used to determine and/or trigger what content is actually displayed. |
| US07865915B1 |
Content discovery and differential advertising in video distribution networks
A method and apparatus for monitoring use patterns or services available information in video distribution networks. A network termination unit receives the video content through a port, demodulates and decodes the signals to produce display signals. The display signals are displayed on a viewing device connected to the network termination unit and the network termination unit monitors the use patterns and/or services available information of the viewing device. The unit then formats the use patterns or services available information into use pattern network packets and transmits them. A content analyzer receives use pattern packet from a network termination unit and decode them to access the data. The content analyzer then analyzes the use patterns and/or services available information and characterizes the unit. The characterization of the unit is then used to target content to that unit. |
| US07865913B2 |
Systems and methods for collaboration between computers
A collaboration system and method via computer is provided. The collaboration system comprises a computing platform for storing an identifier, address and other information associated with at least one object; at least one service connector for communicating with a service using the identifier, address of the at least one object to interact with the service for the information associated with the object and transfer the information to the computing platform; and at least one tool for communicating with the computing platform to exchange the information associated with the object. According to the present invention, a tool may display the current information of a remote object. The tool does not necessarily have the capability to communicate with different remote services. Therefore, user might concentrate on the collaboration object and tools. |
| US07865898B2 |
Repartitioning parallel SVM computations using dynamic timeout
A system that reduces execution time of a parallel SVM application. During operation, the system partitions an input data set into chunks of data. Next, the system distributes the partitioned chunks of data across a plurality of available computing nodes and executes the parallel SVM application on the chunks of data in parallel across the plurality of available computing nodes. The system then determines if a first timeout period has been exceeded before all of the plurality of available computing nodes have finished processing their respective chunks of data. If so, the system (1) repartitions the input data set into different chunks of data; (2) redistributes the repartitioned chunks of data across some or all of the plurality of available computing nodes; and (3) executes the parallel SVM application on the repartitioned chunks of data in parallel across some or all of the available computing nodes. |
| US07865885B2 |
Using transactional memory for precise exception handling in aggressive dynamic binary optimizations
Dynamic optimization of application code is performed by selecting a portion of the application code as a possible transaction. A transaction has a property that when it is executed, it is either atomically committed or atomically aborted. Determining whether to convert the selected portion of the application code to a transaction includes determining whether to apply at least one of a group of code optimizations to the portion of the application code. If it is determined to apply at least one of the code optimizations of the group of optimizations to the portion of application code, then the optimization is applied to the portion of the code and the portion of the code is converted to a transaction. |
| US07865882B2 |
Fast correctly rounding floating point conversion and identifying exceptional conversion
A system and method for converting bases of floating point numbers with improved rounding over an entire exponent range includes identifying exceptional conversions for a given source precision to target precision. A representation of the exceptions is stored in a bit vector for use during conversion execution. |
| US07865876B2 |
Multiple trusted computing environments
A computing platform 20 provides multiple computing environments 24 each containing a guest operating system 25 provided by a virtual machine application 26. Optionally, each computing environment 24 is formed in a compartment 220 of a compartmented host operating system 22. A trusted device 213 verifies that the host operating system 22 and each guest operating system 25 operates in a secure and trusted manner by forming integrity metrics which can be interrogated by a user 10. Each computing environment is isolated and secure, and can be verified as trustworthy independent of any other computing environment. |
| US07865873B1 |
Browser-based system and method for defining and manipulating expressions
Embodiments of the invention provide methods and systems for defining classes of objects which entails defining and manipulating expressions. A two-tiered classification editor operates to enable a user to define and manipulate expression in real time through a browser-based user interface. The first tier comprises a group editor for enabling a user to define groups. The second tier comprises an expression editor for enabling a user to define and manipulate an expression comprising a set of groups and one or more relationships between the groups. Each group may comprise a set of conditions, each of which may be based on a possible attribute of an object. Via the expression editor, a user can drag and drop to create and modify these expressions on-the-fly. When a user is done manipulating an expression on the second tier, the user is returned to the first tier, which may present the expression as modified. |
| US07865857B1 |
System and method for improved visualization and debugging of constraint circuit objects
Features are provided for graphically representing constraints on design objects in an Electronic Design Automation tool. A particular constraint on one or more circuit objects is displayed as a highlighted region that extends to each visible circuit object to which the constraint applies. Attributes of the highlighted region, such as density and thickness, may proportionally represent attributes of the constraint, such as a strength or distance specified by the constraint. The highlighted region is superimposed on or around circuit objects. The highlighted region may be a halo, which is a partially transparent region filled with a color. Multiple regions that represent the same type of constraint or relationship are connected by line segments, providing the ability to visualize groups of constrained objects, including groups that span levels of a hierarchical design. Intersecting highlighted regions are blended together using techniques such as alpha blending. |
| US07865855B2 |
Method and system for generating a layout for an integrated electronic circuit
A method for generating a layout for an integrated circuit having a plurality of sinks and at least one source is disclosed. The source supplies a plurality of signals to the respective plurality of sinks. The method includes: identifying the source which supplies at least one of the respective sinks and having a negative slack; finding all sinks having a negative slack driven by the source; clustering the sinks according to timing and placement information read from a database, yielding a plurality of clusters of sinks, in which each cluster includes only a predetermined portion of the plurality of sinks; generating a plurality of clones associated with a respective one of the clusters of sinks; and coupling the clones to respective ones of the clusters of sinks yielding a second layout. |
| US07865851B2 |
Capacitance extraction of intergrated circuits with floating fill
The present invention improves the accuracy of parasitic capacitance extraction of IC designs with floating fill. One embodiment of the present invention approximates the coupling capacitances of fill nets beyond an exact-approximation level by a fill net elimination method whereby actual capacitances of the fill net to the variable level are fully extracted and remaining capacitances are approximated. |
| US07865850B1 |
Method and apparatus for substrate noise aware floor planning for integrated circuit design
A methodology is provided to perform noise analysis in the implementation stage of the design of an integrated circuit, and based upon analysis results, a floorplan may be adjusted or guard rings may be inserted to reduce the impact of digital switching noise upon noise sensitive circuits. |
| US07865844B2 |
Method and system for modifying properties of graphical user interface components
A method, computer program product, and data processing system for modifying attributes of GUI components without invasive code modification are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a set of attributes for GUI components is loaded into memory from persistent storage, such as a file. A root container component forming the root of a hierarchy of components defined by a containment relation is identified and passed as a parameter to a routine that traverses the hierarchy so as to visit each GUI component. As each GUI component is visited, if one or more attributes from the aforementioned set of attributes are found to be applicable to the visited GUI component, the GUI component's attributes are modified to comport with the set of attributes. |
| US07865833B2 |
Data processing apparatus, data processing server, data processing system, method of controlling data processing apparatus, method of controlling data processing server, computer program, and computer readable storage medium
This invention provides a data processing apparatus, data processing server, and data processing system, which can easily edit data by utilizing features of object-based coding, and can easily generate object-based encoded multimedia data. A multimedia edit & playback terminal (201) issues an edit instruction of multimedia data to a multimedia edit server (202) that edits multimedia data consisting of a plurality of object data. A communication client (214) receives layout information of multimedia data. A playback unit (212) displays the acquired layout information, and an edit designation unit (211) designates desired one of the displayed layout information. The designated layout information is output via the communication client (214). |
| US07865826B2 |
System and method for creating and presenting mathematical documents
A system and method of creating and presenting mathematical documents are provided. The system comprises an input/output component for receiving user input and for displaying a mathematical document on a display device, a document repository 104 for storing the mathematical document and a mathematical engine for performing computations. The document includes markup that specifies display options. The method comprises the steps of receiving input data that represent characters, symbols and mathematical operations as well as manipulations and presentation control of the mathematical document, displaying mathematical expressions or a combination of mathematical expressions and text in an electronic document, performing computations on the mathematical expressions contained in the document, and controlling the formatting and display of the document. |
| US07865809B1 |
Data error detection and correction in non-volatile memory devices
Data error detection and correction in non-volatile memory devices are disclosed. Data error detection and correction can be performed with software, hardware or a combination of both. Generally an error corrector is referred to as an ECC (error correction code). One of the most relevant codes using in non-volatile memory devices is based on BCH (Bose, Ray-Chaudhuri, Hocquenghem) code. In order to correct reasonable number (e.g., up to 8-bit (eight-bit)) of random errors in a chunk of data (e.g., a codeword of 4200-bit with 4096-bit information data), a BCH(4200,4096,8) is used in GF(213). ECC comprises encoder and decoder. The decoder further comprises a plurality of error detectors and one error corrector. The plurality of error decoders is configured for calculating odd terms of syndrome polynomial for multiple channels in parallel, while the error corrector is configured for sequentially calculating even terms of syndrome polynomial, key solver and error location. |
| US07865808B2 |
Fast error detection system and related methods
A system apparatus and method generates a communications signal having an error detection mechanism. A circuit generates a data packet. An encoder multiplies and accumulates data words with values in a distance table containing non-repeated n-bit multipliers having “m” number of one bits that are set to obtain accumulated sum bits and appends the accumulated sum bits to the data packet as an error detection code to form a communications signal to be transmitted. |
| US07865807B2 |
Multi-valued check symbol calculation in error detection and correction
Methods and systems for error detection and error correction in n-valued with n>2 data symbols are disclosed. N-valued check symbols are generated from data symbols in n-valued logic expressions using n-valued logic functions. N-valued Hamming codes are disclosed. Also disclosed is the generation of check symbols from data symbols in an n-valued expression wherein at least one check symbol is multiplied by a factor not equal to 0 or 1 in GF(n). Identifying n-valued symbols in error by check symbols and error correction by solving sets of independent n-valued equations are also disclosed. A method for introducing and removing annoyance errors is provided. Systems for error corrections in communication and data storage are also provided. |
| US07865806B2 |
Methods and apparatus in finite field polynomial implementations
Methods and apparatus reducing the number of multipliers in Galois Field arithmetic are disclosed. Methods and apparatus for implementing n-valued Linear Feedback Shift Register (LFSR) based applications with a reduced number of multipliers are also disclosed. N-valued LFSRs with reduced numbers of multipliers in Fibonacci and in Galois configuration are demonstrated. Multiplier reduction methods are extended to n-valued functions with more than 2 inputs. Methods to create multiplier reduced multi-input n-valued function truth tables are disclosed. Methods and apparatus to implement these truth tables with a limited number of n-valued inverters are also disclosed. Scrambler/descrambler combinations with adders and multipliers over GF(2p) are provided. Communication, data storage and digital rights management systems using multiplier reduction methods and apparatus or the disclosed scrambler/descrambler combination are also provided. |
| US07865801B2 |
Application of a Meta-Viterbi algorithm for communication systems without intersymbol interference
Herein described is a system and a method of detecting and correcting data bit errors using a sequence of one or more codewords transmitted through a communication channel without intersymbol interference. Each of the one or more codewords incorporates or encodes one or more parity bits. The codewords are processed by a Non-ISI Meta-Viterbi detector that utilizes a Meta-Viterbi algorithm. The Non-ISI Meta-Viterbi detector comprises an event weight processor, a computational circuitry, a parity syndrome calculator, and an error correction circuitry. The Non-ISI Meta-Viterbi detector receives an output generated from a symbol detector and processes the received output using a trellis having 2t states. In a representative embodiment, the overall implementation complexity of the Non-ISI Meta-Viterbi detector is bounded by no more than χ+(⅔)2t2t operations, wherein t represents the number of parity bits used in a codeword and χ represents codeword length in bits. |
| US07865798B2 |
Redundant storage of computer data
Redundant storage of computer data including encoding N data values through M linear expressions into M encoded data values and storing each encoded data value separately on one of M redundant storage devices where M is greater than N and none of the linear expressions is linearly dependent upon any group of N−1 of the M linear expression. |
| US07865796B2 |
Method and system for memory partitioning
Systems and methods for interleaver and deinterleaver memory partitioning optimize data rate and error correction. Optimized memory allocation is important in systems that support bi-directional communication over multiple data paths. By using path-specific information such as impulse noise protection and data rate, memory may be dynamically partitioned to optimize the capacity in individual data paths. |
| US07865792B2 |
Test generation methods for reducing power dissipation and supply currents
Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems used for generating test patterns as may be used as part of a test pattern generation process (for example, for use with an automatic test pattern generator (ATPG) software tool). In one exemplary embodiment, hold probabilities are determined for state elements (for example, scan cells) of a circuit design. A test cube is generated targeting one or more faults in the circuit design. In one particular implementation, the test cube initially comprises specified values that target the one or more faults and further comprises unspecified values. The test cube is modified by specifying at least a portion of the unspecified values with values determined at least in part from the hold probabilities and stored. |
| US07865790B1 |
On-chip stuck-at fault detector and detection method
An on-chip stuck-at fault detector in an integrated circuit using a test circuit for critical path testing can include a sequence circuit having a first sequential circuit and a second sequential circuit to sensitize the critical path between a source sequential circuit and a destination sequential circuit, an analyzer circuit for capturing an output from the destination sequential circuit and comparing a signal between the destination sequential circuit and the analyzer circuit at predetermined clock cycles, and a controller for strobing the analyzer circuit at the predetermined clock cycles. The first sequence and second circuits can both be initialized to a zero mode (e.g., x=0 and y=0). Thus, no stuck-at faults are determined if the destination sequential circuit and an analyzer sequential circuit in the analyzer circuit have different values and a zero result is captured at a sticky-bit flip flop. |
| US07865784B1 |
Write validation
A write validation system that includes a first address signature collector module that generates a first address signature that is indicative of a write address of data when the data is received at a memory control module. A second address signature collector module generates a second address signature that is indicative of the write address of the data when the data is transferred from the memory control module. An address signature validation module receives the first address signature from the first address signature collector module, receives the second address signature from the second address signature collector module, and compares the first address signature to the second address signature. |
| US07865779B2 |
Server side logic unit testing
A method for server side logic unit testing in an application server environment is provided. The method includes reading a plurality of input parameters from an XML input repository, where the input parameters define an initial state of a test environment, and configuring the test environment to the initial state using the input parameters. The method further includes executing a unit test case using a command test manager to interface between the unit test case and the test environment, where the command test manager translates a command from the unit test case into a test command. The method also includes passing the test command to controller command logic, and accessing test data stored in a database through an access bean using a bean simulator. The method additionally includes receiving test results, including catching an exception on an error condition, and outputting the test results to an XML output repository. |
| US07865777B2 |
Thread interception and analysis
Apparatus and methods for intercepting and analyzing threads are disclosed. In one embodiment, a thread data recorder is configured to instrument one or more existing functions by modifying computer executable instructions in the functions to intercept threads calling the functions. In one possible implementation, the number of existing functions instrumented can be reduced by instrumenting choke point functions. The instrumented functions can also capture data associated with the threads as the threads execute at the function. This data can be saved to memory and compressed into logs. In one aspect, the data can be saved and/or compressed at a time when processor resources are being used at or below predetermined level. The captured data can be used to analyze a functioning of a computer system in which the threads were produced. |
| US07865774B2 |
Multiprocessor core dump retrieval
In particular embodiments, a monitoring processor may receive an interrupt from status monitoring logic associated with a monitored processor that has experienced an error. Interrupt logic at the monitoring processor may interrupt the monitored processor to initiate a standby mode of operation in the monitored processor. Core dump logic at the monitoring processor may retrieve a core dump from a memory associated with the monitored processor via a communication channel connecting the monitoring processor to the monitored processor or to the memory. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed. |
| US07865772B2 |
Management device and management method
A management device stores configuration history information indicating a history of system configuration changes, from this information, specifies a system configuration of a recovery time, which is a certain point in time in the past, specifies a system configuration of the current time, and compares the system configuration of the recovery time with the system configuration of the current time, and based on the results of this comparison, specifies whether or not there is a system configuration part in the system configuration of the current time for which, if data of the recovery time is recovered, a setting change is required in order to access this recovered data. When this system configuration part is specified, the management device constructs a system configuration for enabling a data utilization unit to access the recovered data by issuing an indication related to a required setting change to an element capable of carrying out the setting change for this system configuration part. |
| US07865765B2 |
Grid licensing server and fault tolerant grid system and method of use
A system and method for managing licensed and non-licensed resources in a grid network is provided. A license server receives and processes requests for a license and determines whether a license is available and, if necessary, causes a new configuration to be created on a server for satisfying the request. A new grid node may also be created and configured to be added to the grid for creating additional capacity for grid processing. The configuration may be performed at a time prior to an actual need by the grid, perhaps due to a faulted node, and quickly brought on-line with a simple configuration update. The new grid node may also have a virtual IP address reassigned to quickly redirect processing from the faulted node to the newly configured node. Also, an external resource dispatcher may add new resources such as storage or processing capacity to the grid and may coordinate the new resources with the license server. |
| US07865761B1 |
Accessing multiple non-volatile semiconductor memory modules in an uneven manner
A data storage apparatus (e.g., a flash memory appliance) includes a set of memory modules, an interface and a main controller coupled to the each memory module and to the interface. Each memory module has non-volatile semiconductor memory (e.g., flash memory). The interface is arranged to communicate with a set of external devices. The main controller is arranged to (i) store data within and (ii) retrieve data from the non-volatile semiconductor memory of the set of memory modules in an uneven manner on behalf of the set of external devices to unevenly wear out the memory modules over time. Due to the ability of the data storage apparatus to utilize each memory module through its maximum life and to stagger the failures of the modules, such a data storage apparatus is well-suited as a high availability storage device, e.g., a semiconductor cache for a fault tolerant data storage system. |
| US07865747B2 |
Adaptive issue queue for reduced power at high performance
A method and structure of reducing power consumption in a microprocessor includes at least one storage structure in which the activity of the storage structure is dynamically measured and the size of the structure is controlled based on the activity. The storage structure includes a plurality of blocks, and the size of the structure is controlled in units of block size, based on activity measured in the blocks. An exemplary embodiment is an adaptive out-of-order queue. |
| US07865746B2 |
Power state control for a desktop blade in a blade server system
A method for controlling the different power states of a ClientBlade™ from a remote desktop environment is described. The remote user's (device) connects his computer device (laptop or desktop) to the ClientBlade™ (at the Blade Center) via a Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), which performs minimal video compression and provides an Ethernet connection back to the Blade Center. The user inputs a pre-defined key sequence, which initiates a power state interface (or input screen). The power state interface allows the user to select one of several power states. Once the power state is selected, a TCP/IP packet is generated and transmitted from the computer device to the ClientBlade™. The packet invokes the selected power state at the ClientBlade™. Once the power state is activated, a completion message verifying the power state change is sent back to the end user's computer device. |
| US07865740B2 |
Logging changes to blocks in a non-volatile memory
Provided are a method and device for logging changes to blocks in a non-volatile memory. Security bits are maintained for blocks of cells in a non-volatile memory device indicating whether data in the blocks has been modified. The security bit for one block is set to indicate modification in response to detecting that at least one cell in the block was modified. |
| US07865730B2 |
Bcencryption (BCE)—a public-key based method to encrypt a data stream
A system and method for a web browser to convert an unencrypted character string into a cipher-text string combines a public-key encryption algorithm with a unique and constantly changing salt key. A private “server-key”, a public “client-key” and a server session ID are generated by the server, and the client-key and the session ID are sent to the browser with the code used to encrypt the message. The session-based string can be a randomly generated set of characters which changes between established user sessions and the salt key can be formed from the server session ID string. The server contains the matching code necessary to decrypt the stream using the private key. |
| US07865724B2 |
Telecommunication terminal comprising two execution spaces
The invention relates to a user interface-equipped computing device comprising means for implementing a series of applications, said means including two execution spaces. According to the invention, the applications of the second execution space (100, P1, 200, P2) have a level of security specifically higher than that of the applications of the first execution space (100, P1, 200, P2), said two execution spaces being hosted by a physical processing means which is designed such that it cannot be separated into two parts without destroying the physical processing means. |
| US07865716B2 |
Encryption device, key distribution device and key distribution system
A key distribution system distributes key data for using content to a second encryption device that has been legitimately outsourced processing by a first encryption device. The first encryption device acquires permission information indicating that the first encryption device has permission to use the content, generates certification information by making an irreversible alteration the to permission information, and transmits the permission information and the certification information to the second encryption device. The second encryption device receives the permission information and the certification information, sends them to a key distribution device, and acquires the key data from the key distribution device. The key distribution device receives the permission information and the certification information, judges whether or not the certification information was generated by the by the first encryption device, and if judging in the affirmative, transmits the key data to the second encryption device. |
| US07865713B2 |
Application-aware wireless network system and method
A technique for dynamically responding to threats in a wireless network involves deploying a single network including APs capable of booting from a plurality of software images. Individual APs can switch (or be switched) between multiple sets of software so that network managers can select the AP software most appropriate for a given instance. For example, if a threat is detected, multiple APs can be switched to sensor mode to deal with the threat. As another example, all of the APs can be switched to sensor mode after hours. Alternatively, a server can provide the software image(s) needed for an AP to operate in accordance with a desired functionality. |
| US07865712B2 |
Method and apparatus for booting a processing system
Machine-readable media, methods, apparatus and system for booting a processing system are described. In an embodiment, whether an encrypted version of a closed operating system is authentic may be determined. The encrypted version of the closed operating system may be decrypted with a key retrieved from a processor register to provide the closed operating system, based at least in part on a determination that the encrypted version of the closed operating system is authentic. Then, whether the closed operating system is authentic may be determined and a virtual machine may be created so that the closed operating system may be launched in the virtual machine, if the closed operating system is authentic. |
| US07865711B2 |
Efficient method for operating system deployment
Method and computer storage media for efficiently deploying an operating system are provided. A virtual hard drive file is received by a computing device. Upon receipt of the virtual hard drive file, the computing device is enhanced to expose and mount the virtual hard drive as a drive and boot option for the computing device. Thereafter, an initial boot sequence may be commenced utilizing the virtual hard drive file as the boot source. In some embodiments, a boot manager enhancer and a translator are utilized to do one or more of expose, mount and translate the virtual hard drive file. In some embodiments, a virtual SCSI miniport driver is utilized to do one or more of expose, mount, and translate the virtual hard drive file. |
| US07865686B2 |
Virtual computer system, and physical resource reconfiguration method and program thereof
Provided is a virtual computer system capable of finding a configuration whose total sum of memory access delays is smaller than that of a current configuration. In a virtual computer system in which with memory access times within a node and between nodes differing from each other, a hypervisor controls a plurality of virtual processors which execute a process on a plurality of nodes, the hypervisor includes a unit which obtains a total sum of memory access delay time on the virtual machine based on affinity information indicative of a latency or a band of communication between the virtual processors and traffic between the virtual processors, and a unit which reconfigures physical resources based on the total sum of delay time. |
| US07865674B2 |
System for enhancing the memory bandwidth available through a memory module
A memory system is provided that enhances the memory bandwidth available through a memory module. The memory system includes a memory hub device integrated in a memory module. The memory system includes a first memory device data interface integrated in the memory hub device that communicates with a first set of memory devices integrated in the memory module. The memory system also includes a second memory device data interface integrated in the memory hub device that communicates with a second set of memory devices integrated in the memory module. In the memory system, the first set of memory devices are separate from the second set of memory devices. In the memory system, the first and second set of memory devices are communicated with by the memory hub device via the separate first and second memory device data interfaces. |
| US07865669B2 |
System and method for dynamically selecting the fetch path of data for improving processor performance
A system and method for dynamically selecting the data fetch path for improving the performance of the system improves data access latency by dynamically adjusting data fetch paths based on application data fetch characteristics. The application data fetch characteristics are determined through the use of a hit/miss tracker. It reduces data access latency for applications that have a low data reuse rate (streaming audio, video, multimedia, games, etc.) which will improve overall application performance. It is dynamic in a sense that at any point in time when the cache hit rate becomes reasonable (defined parameter), the normal cache lookup operations will resume. The system utilizes a hit/miss tracker which tracks the hits/misses against a cache and, if the miss rate surpasses a prespecified rate or matches an application profile, the hit/miss tracker causes the cache to be bypassed and the data is pulled from main memory or another cache thereby improving overall application performance. |
| US07865668B2 |
Two-sided, dynamic cache injection control
A method, system, and computer program product for two-sided, dynamic cache injection control are provided. An I/O adapter generates an I/O transaction in response to receiving a request for the transaction. The transaction includes an ID field and a requested address. The adapter looks up the address in a cache translation table stored thereon, which includes mappings between addresses and corresponding address space identifiers (ASIDs). The adapter enters an ASID in the ID field when the requested address is present in the cache translation table. IDs corresponding to device identifiers, address ranges and pattern strings may also be entered. The adapter sends the transaction to one of an I/O hub and system chipset, which in turn, looks up the ASID in a table stored thereon and injects the requested address and corresponding data in a processor complex when the ASID is present in the table, indicating that the address space corresponding to the ASID is actively running on a processor in the complex. The ASIDs are dynamically determined and set in the adapter during execution of an application in the processor complex. |
| US07865667B2 |
Multi-core multi-thread processor
In one embodiment, a processor is provided. The processor includes at least two cores, where each of the cores include a first level cache memory. Each of the cores are multi-threaded. In another embodiment, each of the cores includes four threads. In another embodiment a crossbar is included. A plurality of cache bank memories in communication with the at cores through the crossbar is provided. Each of the plurality of cache bank memories are in communication with a main memory interface. In another embodiment a buffer switch core in communication with each of the plurality of cache bank memories is also included. A server and a method for optimizing the utilization of a multithreaded processor core are also provided. |
| US07865666B2 |
Cache memory systems and methods thereof
Cache memory systems and methods thereof are provided. A first example cache memory system may include a central processing unit (CPU) and a first memory, a second memory positioned between the CPU and the first memory and storing at least one block of the first memory and a block quantity determination unit which determines a block quantity indicating a number of blocks of the first memory to be stored in the second memory. A second example cache memory system, including a cache memory receiving a request to provide data associated with an input address, determining whether the input address is included in the cache memory, loading a plurality of adjacent data blocks, associated with the input address, from the main memory if the input address is not included within the cache memory. |
| US07865662B2 |
Scalable processing network for searching and adding in a content addressable memory
An alternation network for use with a content addressable memory for implementing a divide and conquer algorithm is described. The alternation network comprises: a plurality of alternation modules connected in series together, each module comprising: a plurality of cascaded logic gates arranged to propagate a match parity signal via the gates along at least part of a matching result vector, the matching result vector being generated by execution of a matching instruction on the content addressable memory, and the logic gates being configured to change the parity of the match parity signal in accordance with the matching result vector; and a vector output arranged to output a parity level vector of the propagated match parity signal present at the each gate of the plurality of logic gates; a logic network for dividing the matching result vector into an odd match vector and an even match vector representing respectively odd and even numbered elements of the matching result vector, by use of the parity level vector, and means for writing a selected one of the odd and even match vectors to the content addressable memory. |
| US07865657B2 |
Multi-chip flash memory device and copy-back method thereof
A method and device for copying-back data in a multi-chip flash memory device having first and second memory chips. The method may include reading first source data from a first source region of one of the memory chips; programming the first source data into a target region included in one of the memory chips and reading second source data from second source region of the other memory chip different from the memory chip including the target region. Reading the second source data may be carried out while programming the first source data. |
| US07865648B2 |
Modular data transmission system with separate energy supply for each connected module
The invention pertains to a modular data transmission system with several modules or bus nodes that can be arranged adjacent to one another in a row. The data transmission system comprises a first bus node that features a first transmitter for the wireless transmission of data and an electrical connector, as well as a second bus node that features a first receiver for the wireless reception of data and an electrical connector. Both bus nodes are detachably fixed on a mounting rail such that they are arranged adjacent to one another in a row. The first and second bus nodes are respectively detachably connected to a bus receptacle, wherein each bus receptacle features an electrical mating connector that is coupled to the electrical connector of the respective bus node in the connected state in order to transmit energy, as well as a positioning device for positioning the respective bus node. |
| US07865641B2 |
Synchronization and scheduling of a dual master serial channel
One embodiment provides a system including a communications channel, a first channel master, and a second channel master. The first channel master is configured to obtain latency values and maintain a first schedule of data traffic on the communications channel based on the latency values. The second channel master is configured to obtain the latency values and maintain a second schedule of data traffic on the communications channel based on the latency values. The first channel master manages data on the communications channel via the first schedule and the second channel master manages data on the communications channel via the second schedule. |
| US07865637B2 |
System of hardware objects
Elements of the inventive development system include hardware and software objects. These objects can be instanced, ordered, parameterized, and connected in a software environment to implement different functions. Once in software, the description defines the topology and the properties of a set of objects and hence the overall function. These objects are hierarchically composed from a set of primitive objects. By using a piece of hardware that can model any primitive object set as pre-established encapsulated hardware objects, the topology and properties define a piece of hardware that can perform the desired, implemented, functions. Using embodiments of the invention, circuit designers can design hardware systems with little or no knowledge of hardware or hardware design, requiring only a high-level software description. |
| US07865618B2 |
Defeating cache resistant domain name systems
Domain name caching mechanisms are provided to address cache-defeating approaches. Domain name lookup requests are processed and cached information associated with a non-identical domain name returned in response. Cache-defeating behavior including nonce injection can be detected or inferred and employed to map domain name requests to previously cached information thereby exposing the benefits of caching. |
| US07865608B1 |
Method and apparatus for fast and scalable matching of structured data streams
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that classifies elements in a structured data stream. Upon receiving an element from the structured data stream, the system applies a hash function to the element to generate a single hash value. Next, the system divides the single hash value into multiple sections, and uses the multiple sections as inputs to a Bloom filter to determine if a node for the element exists in an associated lookup structure. If so, the system looks up the node for the element in the associated lookup structure. Note that using the Bloom filter in this way prevents unnecessary lookups. Furthermore, using multiple sections of a single hash value as inputs to the Bloom filter eliminates the need to compute multiple hash values. |
| US07865607B2 |
Servlet model for media rich applications
A media rich SIP servlet is enabled using a media control layer and a conventional SIP Servlet container. The media rich SIP servlet provides a media control API that can be used by SIP-based application developers to incorporate media rich functions into SIP-based applications. The media rich SIP servlet includes an advanced call control API, which enhances the basic call control functions provided by a SIP servlet. The media rich SIP servlet provides call and media control primitives for use by SIP servlet based applications, thereby enabling media rich SIP servlet based applications. |
| US07865605B2 |
Customer access solutions architecture
The present invention provides systems and methods for electronically delivering banking services to end clients and, more particularly, using Internet based technologies as a means of exposing those services. The solution to this problem set forth in this invention is the creation of a common electronic delivery infrastructure and application deployment environment, exposing an institution's entire portfolio of corporate banking services to its clients at a number of different locations at any time. |
| US07865604B2 |
System and program for access control
A system and program for a proxy server that forwards an access request from a client to a data server and forwards response data from the data server to the client. The proxy server includes a means for storing a first address location and an encoding format of the response data. The proxy server also includes a means for receiving a subsequent access request from the client, which includes a second address location encoded by the encoding format. A means is present in the proxy server for comparing the second address location to the first address location to determine if the second address location is related to the first address location. The proxy server also includes a means for decoding the second address location based on the encoding format in response to a determination that the second address location is related to the first address location. |
| US07865603B2 |
Method and apparatus for assigning access control levels in providing access to networked content files
A method and apparatus for assigning access control levels when providing access to networked content files includes a client node, a collection agent, and a policy engine. The client node requests access to a resource. The collection agent gathers information about the client node. The policy engine receives the gathered information and assigns one of a plurality of levels of access responsive to application of a policy to the received information. |
| US07865601B2 |
Connection setting program method and apparatus
A plurality of devices connected to a network each includes at least either one or more output plugs for transmitting one or more data streams, or one or more input plugs for receiving one or more data streams, and each of the devices is capable of packeting a plurality of data streams and isochronously transferring the packet to another device in the network. Connection setting program, designed to set connection between a transmission source device and a transmission destination device in the network, includes a step of detecting a predetermined condition for performing automatic setting of logical connection, and a setting step of, in response to detection of the predetermined condition, automatically setting logical connection between the one or more input plugs and the one or more output plugs of the devices. Such arrangements facilitate setting of logical connection between the devices interconnected via the network. |
| US07865586B2 |
Configuring communications between computing nodes
Techniques are described for configuring communications between multiple computing nodes, such as computing nodes that are separated by one or more physical networks. In some situations, the techniques may be used to provide a virtual network between multiple computing nodes that are separated by one or more intermediate physical networks, such as from the edge of the one or more intermediate physical networks by modifying communications that enter and/or leave the intermediate physical networks so as to provide an overlay network without encapsulation of the communications. In some situations, the computing nodes may include virtual machine nodes hosted on one or more physical computing machines or systems, such as by or on behalf of one or more users (e.g., users of a program execution service). |
| US07865583B2 |
Aggregating network activity using software provenance data
A method and system are described for receiving, at a first node, provenance data including at least a handle relating to a first software program active on a second node and executing one or more instructions received from the second node, on the first node. |
| US07865571B2 |
Method and apparatus for transferring digital content from a personal computer to a mobile handset
A system for synchronizing digital content stored on a user's mobile handset with digital content stored on the user's personal computer is disclosed. |
| US07865564B2 |
Method and system for publishing an electronic file attached to an electronic mail message
Publishing content associated with an electronic file attached to an electronic mail message by executing instructions contained in the electronic mail attachment and accessing the content at a remote computer server identified by the attached file. The attached file includes computer-executable instructions, such as a computer program or script, which include an identifier for a remote server connected to a distributed computer network. This identified remote server typically hosts a web site containing content intended for viewing by the recipient of the electronic mail message. In response to launching the attached file of the electronic mail message with a viewer program, a browser program can be opened to enable the recipient to view the content of the identified remote server, typically a web site on an intranet or the global Internet. This supports the communication of electronic content by using an electronic mail message to transport an electronic file attachment having instructions that, when executed by the recipient's computer, enable the recipient to view the electronic content by accessing a server computer connected to distributed computer network. |
| US07865563B2 |
Persisting a group in an instant messaging application
A system described herein includes a receiver component that receives a request to create a persistent messaging group for an instant messaging application, wherein the request includes an indication of one or more entities that are desired to be members of the persistent messaging group. The system further includes a group creator component that creates the persistent messaging group based at least in part upon the received group creation request, wherein the persistent messaging group is persisted over multiple instant messaging sessions. |
| US07865561B2 |
Increasing spam scanning accuracy by rescanning with updated detection rules
A method, system, and computer program product for processing email messages rescans emails messages that have already been scanned for spam and delivered to user inboxes with updated spam detection rules. This increases the accuracy of spam scanning and reduces the need for users to submit missed spam in emails that was not detected at the time the emails were received, but would subsequently be detected with newer anti-spam rules. A method of processing email messages comprises receiving email messages in a local inbox or in an inbox on an email server, or both, the received email messages having been scanned using spam detection rules to determine whether or not they include spam, obtaining updated spam detection rules, and rescanning at least some of the received email messages using the updated spam detection rules to determine whether or not they include spam. |
| US07865553B1 |
Chat system without topic-specific rooms
A method, system and graphical user interface for a chat system is disclosed. One aspect of certain embodiments includes sending target messages to users based on the respective selection and filtering criteria selected by the respective users instead of having users enter topic specific rooms. |
| US07865547B2 |
System and method for accessing busy IP network resources
An Accessing Busy Resources service is adapted to receive subscription requests from clients for notification of when a busy resource is free, and to monitor network resources to determine if they are free. Upon notification, the Accessing Busy Resources service de-subscribes the client. The network client devices include Access Request units which make requests to access services and receive notification when the services are available. |
| US07865541B1 |
Configuring floating point operations in a programmable logic device
A programmable logic device is programmed to perform arithmetic operations in an internal format that, unlike known standard formats that store numbers in normalized form and require normalization after each computational step, stores numbers in unnormalized form and does not require normalization after each step. Numbers are converted into unnormalized form at the beginning of an operation and converted back to normalized form at the end of the operation. If necessary to avoid data loss, a number may be normalized after an intermediate step. |
| US07865538B2 |
Desktop, stream-based, information management system
A steam-based document storage and retrieval system accepts documents that are in diverse formats and come from diverse application, automatically creates document model objects describing these documents in a consistent format and associating time stamps with the documents to automatically create a main stream in chronological order. The stream, or sub-streams meeting selected search criteria, are displayed in a variety of forms, including a receding, partly overlapping stack with aids that facilitate user interaction. |
| US07865525B1 |
High efficiency binary encoding
A method and a system are provided for encoding and processing digital information. The digital information is encoded according to binary encoding formats corresponding to primitive data types. The primitive data types comprise scalar data types including Boolean, integer, float, decimal, time stamp, string, symbol, binary large object, and character large object data types. The primitive data types also comprise composite data types including structure, list, and S-expression data types. The binary-encoded digital information is stored in a message with a predetermined format for transmission. No metadata is included in the message. |
| US07865523B2 |
Data structure for a complex order processing system
A data structure for a complex order processing system is implemented in a set of tables for assets, quotes, and orders. The asset table includes information regarding products currently installed and services being delivered to a customer's premises. The aggregate asset tables for a customer represent the customer's service profile. The quote table represents an offer to change the products and services provided to a customer; and the order table represents instructions to change the products and services provided to a customer. The assets can represent a product with a hierarchy of instances of sub-products, and one or more of the sub-products can itself be a complex product. The asset, quote and order tables comprise several fields. Some of the fields are the same across the tables so than information can be readily transferred from the quote table to an order table when a quote is approved by a customer and converted to an order. Information is also transferred from an order table to an asset table when an order is successfully completed and the asset configuration is applied to the service profile of the customer. When a customer requests a quote to change their service profile, the information from an asset table is transferred to a quote table. Multiple assets, quotes, and orders can be associated with a customer, and the tables provide information regarding the status of each asset, quote, and order. The data structure also includes information regarding whether a price type of a product or service item is a one-time charge, recurring, or usage-based. |
| US07865517B2 |
Managing copies of data
A method in a computer system for retrieving data from one of multiple copies of the data is provided, referred to as the data management system. The data management system receives a request identifying at least one data object to be accessed. Then, the data management system queries a metabase to locate data copies that contain the identified at least one data object, wherein the data copies are created from similar source data, and wherein for each data copy the metabase contains an indication of the availability of the copy relative to other copies. Next, the data management system determines one of the located data copies to use to access the identified at least one data object, wherein the determination is made based on the indicated availability contained in the metabase for each of the located data copies. Then, the data management system accesses the identified at least one data object using the determined one of the located data copies. |
| US07865516B2 |
Associative temporal search of electronic files
A method, system, and computer program product are provided for identifying data objects related to temporal characteristics. A first data object that has been previously stored is identified. The first data object has one or more associated temporal characteristics. At least one associated temporal characteristic is extracted from the first data object, thus, forming at least one extracted temporal characteristic. The at least one associated temporal characteristic is extracted in order to perform a search for at least one second data object. A search is performed for at least one second data object based on the at least one extracted temporal characteristic. The results of the search are presented in a graphical user interface. |
| US07865515B2 |
Server side bucketization of parameterized queries
Efficient server-side query statement parameter bucketization is provided for a query language, such as the structured query language (SQL). A process is applied for replacing the parameters of a parameterized query with new parameters, whose types are normalized to enable more query execution plan sharing. In one embodiment, in response to receiving a parameterized query expression of a query language, the bucketization process operates to bucketize parameter(s) of the parameterized expression based on the type(s) of the parameter(s) by replacing the type(s) with new broader, or more specific, type(s). An existing server-side parameterization framework that includes a mechanism for determining when parameterization is “safe,” is extended, and is applied to bucketize parameters by using the mechanism to determine when replacing a parameter(s) of parameterized expressions with new parameter(s) of different type(s) is safe. |
| US07865509B2 |
Creating profiling indices
A database engine and optimizer framework support creation of a series of profiling indices over a column having character string data, such as a traditional “varchar” data type. The profiling indices result in a reduction of the number of records that are searched when searching for a sub-string match within that column. In some embodiments, the series of indices are created over a column that is typically searched using the LIKE predicate or some similar technique; these indices indicate for each record whether certain sub-strings may exist in that record's value in the column. Thus, the indices are used to find the rows that may match one or more portions of the particular term being queried or, in other words, eliminate those records that do not have at least a portion of the term to be matched. The number of records actually retrieved and searched for the query sub-string is thereby reduced. |
| US07865508B2 |
Data structures and methods adapted for heterogeneous clients in an information distribution system
A method includes processing data associated with event and service information to create a base data block and an index table. The base data block has an array of objects, and each object in the array may have at least one attribute. The index table also has an array of objects, and each object in the index table relates to an object in the base data block. The method of processing data may be performed by a server located at a cable headend. In one embodiment, the present invention also comprises a storage medium having a representation of a data structure produced by the data processing. In one embodiment, a STB may receive and utilize the processed data. |
| US07865507B2 |
Data quality analyzer
A method of and system for evaluating contacts stored in data source. In one embodiment the method allows a user to define a data format; allows a user to define a plurality of rules intended to operate on and assess a quality of data formatted according to the data format; map data identifying a plurality of contacts from the data source to the data format; and execute the plurality of rules on the mapped data to produce a set of analyzed data that allows evaluation of potential contacts according to an assessed quality of the data. |
| US07865506B1 |
Method and system for fetching content from a server in a cellular communication system
A system, a method, and a cellular communication terminal for fetching content from at least one server. The cellular communication terminal is arranged with a receiver and a transmitter, to receive and transmit data packets from at least one server through links. The link is arranged to transmit the data packets between the terminal and the server arranged with a first memory comprising an identifier and at least one item. The item is provided with an access point, which indicates the location of the server to be accessed. The server is accessed by sending the access point and the identified to the link to identify a first content to be accessed. The first content is associated with link content, which is provided at different locations in the server or on other servers. A browser application is arranged in the terminal, to establish a session to link, by reading an item from the first memory. |
| US07865496B1 |
Systems, device, and methods for searching
Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a method comprising, for a plurality of predetermined topics: reviewing a content of each of a plurality of electronic communications; and based on matches between a list of relevancy factors and the content of each of the reviewed electronic communications, automatically ranking the plurality of predetermined topics. |
| US07865495B1 |
Word deletion for searches
A searcher can be configured to improve search results through the use of intelligent word deletion. A search auto categorizer (SAC) operates on the original query and returns a list of leaf categories and a distribution of probabilities among the leaf categories. The original query is parsed into word pairs and each word pair is run through the search engine. The search results for each word pair are weighted by the leaf category probabilities. A word pair is selected from the results and one of the two words is deleted from the original query. The searcher can perform exhaustive deletion where multiple truncated queries are generated from the original query and the results list from one truncated query is returned as the results list. The searcher can build up a truncated query from the original query by iteratively appending a word selected from the original query to the truncated query. |
| US07865486B2 |
Providing storage control in a network of storage controllers
An apparatus for providing storage control in a network of storage controllers is disclosed. The apparatus includes an owner storage controller; an I/O performing component, an ownership assignment component, a lock manager and a messaging component. The ownership assignment component assigns ownership of metadata for data to an owner storage controller. The lock manager controls the locking of metadata during I/O. The messaging component passes messages among storage controllers to request metadata state, to grant locks, to request release of locks, and to signal lock release. The I/O is performed on data whose metadata is owned by an owner storage controller, subject to compliance with metadata lock protocols controlled by the owner storage controller, and any copy of the data held from time to time is maintained in a coherency relation with the data. |
| US07865481B2 |
Changing documents to include changes made to schemas
In an embodiment, an upgrade rule associated with a configuration set is found, and a document associated with the upgrade rule is found. The configuration set includes a schema and an upgrade transformation, and the upgrade transformation specifies a change that was made to the schema. The document includes a lifecycle state and an element. If the upgrade rule indicates an automatic upgrade, then a mutability rule associated with the lifecycle state of the document is found and a decision is made whether the mutability rule allows the document to be changed. If the mutability rule allows the document to be changed, the element in the document is changed to include the change specified by the upgrade transformation at a time specified by the upgrade rule. If the mutability rule prevents the document from being changed, a new document is created with an initial lifecycle state, the document is copied to new document, and the element is changed in the new document to include the change specified by the upgrade transformation. |
| US07865480B2 |
Systems and methods for validating objects models
A metadata validation process that allows for deferring object model validation until after the objects are created. The process also allows for multi-threaded processing of the validation rules, thus increasing overall performance. Validation is performed by enforcing a series of validation rules on an appropriate subject. Rules are specified according to the subject that they are validating (i.e., attribute level, association level, object level or collection level). The metadata driven validation process implements several validation types on different validation units. Correctness validation rule types ensure that a validation unit satisfies all semantic rules defined for it. Completeness validation rule types ensure that a validation unit contains all the necessary data and is ready for further use. At design time, only correctness type validation is performed. Thus, the present invention advantageously allows for incomplete objects to be created at design time. The developer, however, in this case may opt to perform completeness validation at any time. In general, a developer may opt to perform completeness and/or correctness validation at any time independent of deployment processing. In another aspect, full validation (e.g., completeness and correctness) is automatically performed on the objects during the process of creating a configuration prior to deployment. |
| US07865478B2 |
Based on repeated experience, system for modification of expression and negating overload from media and optimizing referential efficiency
Content items are revealed to a user based on whether they have been previously reviewed by the user. A number of content items are thus received over time. The content items may be discrete content items, or may be portions of a content stream, and may be received over different media. For each content item, it is determined whether the content item was previously reviewed by a user. Where the content item was not previously reviewed, the item is revealed to the user, such as by being displayed or announced to the user. Where the content item was previously reviewed, the item is hidden from the user, such as by being deleted, by being replaced with an alternative content item, and so on. |
| US07865477B2 |
System and method for real-time validation of structured data files
Validating data of and/or indicating errors of a structured data file using eXtensible Markup Language (XML) elements and/or XML Path (XPATH) expression are described. |
| US07865472B1 |
Methods and systems for restoring file systems
Systems and methods for restoring data in a file system are disclosed. In one method, a backup copy of a first file to be restored may be identified, the location of the backup copy may be determined, the original location of the first file within the file system may be determined, and the first file may be restored by copying the backup copy of the first file to the original location of the first file within the file system. The backup copy of the first file may comprise a copy of contents of the first file and a file header comprising file-location information that identifies the original location of at least a portion of the first file within the file system. Exemplary computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions for restoring data are also disclosed. |
| US07865464B2 |
Systems and methods for notifying multiple systems and applications of changes to data attributes
A system for managing changes to identity data is described. A first spoke managing system is described which includes a first database, a first application in communication with the first database, and a first spoke manager in communication with the first application. A first message is generated including a plurality of common data attributes. The first message is sent to a hub managing system. The hub managing system includes a hub manager. The first message including the plurality of common data attributes is received from the first spoke managing system. A plurality of common data attributes are updated. A determination is made if a unique data attribute that uniquely identifies a reference object is being updated. A second message is generated based on the determination. A third message is generated based on the updates of the plurality of common data attributes. The second message and third message are sent. |
| US07865462B2 |
Apparatus and method for replicating data in file system
A data replication system comprises a NAS controller and a storage system. In a first embodiment, after a NAS system takes a snapshot of a volume, the NAS system changes the referral information within the volume. Also, as an additional way to ensure the consistency after taking a snapshot, the NAS System returns the changed referral information based on a referral management table when clients access a referral within the snapshot volume so that clients can access an appropriate volume. In a second embodiment, after a volume on a NAS system is replicated by remote copy to a remotely deployed NAS system, the remotely deployed NAS system returns the changed referral information based on a referral management table when clients access a referral within the replicated volume so that clients can access an appropriate volume. |
| US07865457B2 |
Knowledge management system automatically allocating expert resources
A knowledge management system allocating expert resources, method of allocating expert resources and program product therefor. Information requests are provided over networked devices, e.g., over voice and data networks. Data on experts may be stored in an expert database and data on requesters stored in a requestor database. A pairing unit identifies an appropriate expert matched to each request and requestor. The pairing unit includes a request/requestor characterization unit collecting request/requestor attributes, a matching unit matching request/requestor attributes with an expert, and a routing unit routing each incoming request to a selected matching expert. |
| US07865456B2 |
Methods and apparatus for outlier detection for high dimensional data sets
Methods and apparatus are provided for outlier detection in databases by determining sparse low dimensional projections. These sparse projections are used for the purpose of determining which points are outliers. The methodologies of the invention are very relevant in providing a novel definition of exceptions or outliers for the high dimensional domain of data. |
| US07865455B2 |
System and method for providing intelligent support
According to one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for providing intelligent support includes using at least one computer system to access information associated with a user experience for a particular user of a web page, the accessed information including user feedback collected from the particular user using feedback collection software; accessing intervention trigger logic; identify at least one intervention trigger by applying the intervention trigger logic to at least a portion of the accessed information; and generate one or more intervention elements for presentation to the particular user, in response to the identification of at least one intervention trigger, to improve the user experience for the particular user. |
| US07865445B2 |
Information processing method, information processing apparatus, computer program and storage medium
An information processing method for managing issuance of a license that controls an operation of a device and a function of an application to be installed in the device determines whether issuance of a unified license that unifies licenses for making the application operable in a plurality of devices is requested. The unified license is issued based on a combination of the devices identified by the device serial information and the application identified by the license access information, if determined that issuance of the unified license is requested. |
| US07865444B1 |
License tracking and management
Example embodiments herein include a license manager process that receives a license query from a server device. The license query requests usage data associated with a permanent license on a client device. In response to receiving the license query, the license manager procures the usage data associated with the permanent license on the client device. The license manager then transmits the usage data associated with the permanent license to the server device. Furthermore, the license manager receives a revocation request from the server device. In this manner, the revocation request is received in response to transmitting the usage data associated with the permanent license to the server device. In turn, the license manager revokes the permanent license that was indicated in the revocation request to disable use of the respective application on the client device. |
| US07865443B1 |
Method and system for electronic data sales and distribution over wide area networks
An Improved Method and System for Electronic Data Sales and Distribution over Wide Area Networks is disclosed. The preferred system and method divides the software or other data to be distributed into a separate licensing module and a program module, with each module being distributed separately. The preferred licensing module can be distributed by an e-commerce server over a wide-area network, while the program module is distributed by a separate server computer over the wide-area network (or other method). Furthermore, the software or other electronic data can be updated easily by simply updating the single repository of the program module, while leaving the licensing module(s) at each e-commerce server unchanged. |
| US07865438B2 |
Electronic value exchange method, user device, and third-party device
A user device uses, instead of agreement information, only second session information contained in the agreement information, to generate an electronic signature for information containing the session information and information indicating an abort request, and outputs abort request information containing the session information, the information indicating the abort request, and the electronic signature, whereby transmission/reception can be performed without unnecessary information. Similarly, it may be configured to use only the second session information to generate an electronic signature for information containing the session information and information indicating a commitment request, and to output commitment request information containing the electronic signature. Since a third-party device defines a third session state as abort in correspondence to the second session information, it is able to manage states while appropriately discriminating a plurality of concurrent electronic value exchanges. |
| US07865421B2 |
Automated trading system
An anonymous trading system is configured to receive a price stream from a bank or other institution. The price stream is converted into a quote stream and input into the trading system via an automated trading interface. The quote stream has its own deal code. The deal code credit limits are set so that the only parties that have credit with the deal code are other deal codes of the same institution. At least one of these deal codes represents a prime broker bank and prime broker customers therefore have access to the institution's price stream to the exclusion of other parties trading on the system. A distributor distributes the quotes from the trading system to the prime broker customers' traders, to prime broker customer automated trading interfaces, and to prime broker customer deal feed systems for logging of deal tickets and communication of those deal tickets to back office systems. |
| US07865410B1 |
Aggregation of user usage data for accounting systems in dynamically configured networks
A method and apparatus for providing an aggregated account metering system to a computer network service provider resulting in comprehensive detailed subscriber accounting records. Accounting start-stop event data is retrieved from accounting servers. The accounting records are parsed to a first adapter where they are then published on an active information bus. Network flow data is collected from routers throughout the packet switch network environment by network flow collectors. The collectors serve to aggregate and, optionally, filter the flow data. The network flow data is parsed to a second adapter where it is then published on an active information bus. An integrating accounting adapter subscribes to and collects accounting event data and network flow data and correlates this data into a detailed call record that is formatted as desired. |
| US07865405B2 |
Electronic book having electronic commerce features
A viewer for displaying an electronic book and providing for electronic commerce. In conjunction with viewing an electronic book, a user can view information about products and services, view an on-line electronic catalog, and receive samples of products available for purchase. By entering a purchase request, the user can purchase products or services. In the case of a digital product, the user can download the purchased product directly into the viewer. The viewer also records statistics concerning purchase and information requests in order to recommend related products or services, or for directing particular types of advertisements to the user. |
| US07865402B2 |
Inexpensive method for providing vendors with their unique brand of medicaments for resale
A method that allows manufactures of medicaments to provide vendors with vendor's uniquely branded OTC medicaments for resale, the method comprising the steps of providing a manufacture's website, allowing vendor's to access the website, then having vendors choose a medicament from the website, then allowing vendors to review an FDA approved description of the medicament, then having the vendor choose a certain template for the labeling of the medicament and allowing vendor to fill certain fields so that vendor's contact information and branding can be incorporated within the template, then having the vendor preview the labeling created by the website and providing vendor with an option to order a certain quantity of medicament or to go back to the previous screen of website, then if an order was made in the previous step, providing the vendor with a secured page for paying, then delivering the medicaments to the vendor. |
| US07865396B1 |
Managing storage in a networked environment
A system and method for managing the storage of items in conjunction with a networked environment. A client computing device generates requests for the storage of items. A storage service processes the requests for the storage of items and associates a unique user ID corresponding to a user with a unique storage ID corresponding to an item to be stored. Upon receipt of the item, a user is presented with an identification of all items stored at a secured storage location and a list of selectable services corresponding to items stored at the secured storage location. |
| US07865395B2 |
Media content notification via communications network
The notification system identifies media content based on personal preferences of individual users and provides notification of identified media content to the users. In one embodiment, the system (100) includes a number of user nodes (102, 104, and 106) that communicate with a registration site (110) and a notification site (112) via the internet (108). The notification site (112) includes a media content database (120) and a processor (118) running contents election logic. The processor (118) accesses the media content database (120) in order to identify content that may be of interest to particular users of the user nodes (102,104 and 106). In this regard, content for a particular user may be identified by matching interest information obtained from the registration site (110) with the content information of the media content database (120). |
| US07865393B2 |
Promotional campaign award validation methods through a distributed computer network
Code processing for promotional games and the like. In a preferred application, a lottery ticket holder who has purchased a lottery ticket is encouraged to access a designated Internet site by rewarding access thereat on the condition that information visibly supported on the lottery ticket from a given drawing is input at an Internet site and a test indicates that the information so-input matches lottery numbers that were picked for that drawing. Access to predetermined Internet-based services or sites can also be had as an award to an individual for inputting an iconic code at a machine connected to the Internet if the input code tests as valid, with the code being marked so as to be usable only once. Preferably, the iconic code is input by click-selecting displayed icons one after another in an order that corresponds to that of a code provided to the individual. POS methods for code processing are also described. |
| US07865392B2 |
Ben-suming business system
A method of operating a ben-suming timeshare organization, which is (compared to a traditional timeshare environment) by offering business property (condominium) ownership opportunity, getting a priceless access (i) to a huge market of potential consumers of their products, and (ii) to a valuable source of business development financing. |
| US07865391B2 |
Automatic road charging system based only on satellite navigation with guaranteed performance and method for its analysis and design
An automatic charging system for charging a vehicle for using an infrastructure delimited by a boundary during a charging period Tc based on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) location with guaranteed performance. The system includes an onboard receiver with integrity guarantee which, in addition to providing position information, provides additional information relating to the error that can be expected in the position consisting of a health flag (denoting a Healthy/Unhealthy status), and a Radial Protection Level (RPL) relating to the amount limiting the horizontal position error according to one direction and with a probability equal to a known value IRx. |
| US07865387B2 |
Method and system for scheduling a meeting for a set of attendees via a special attendee
A group scheduling solution offers an organized and formalized solution to the time management problem in which the desired meeting includes one person who is difficult to schedule. In the inventive approach, a scheduling system is provided in which a hard-to-schedule attendee takes over responsibility for setting the start time of an event. In the invention, a workflow is provided, in which the organizer sends a request to the hard-to-schedule person. The request preferably contains the desired duration of the meeting. The request may contain a list of attendees, location, and other details. These requests are maintained in a queue for the hard-to-schedule person. Batching requests in a queue is a key feature of the invention. The hard-to-schedule person, or their proxy, can then review these requests and select a suitable time for the meeting, set this time in a meeting request, thereby causing an update to be sent back to the organizer and the other attendees, thus indicating the appointed time for the meeting. The organizer of the meeting can still update the meeting details, etc. However, any changes in the start time or the duration of the meeting must be made by the hard-to-schedule person or their proxy. The hard-to-schedule person can also decline the meeting entirely. |
| US07865383B2 |
System and method for examining, describing, analyzing and/or predicting organization performance in response to events
A system and method for examining, describing, analyzing and/or predicting an organization's emerging levels of performance during routine, special and unexpected events are presented. The tools include a methodology and processes for systematically building, collecting and archiving profiles of the performance capacity within specific organizations or across wider industry or cultural groups. The use of various unique and precise ways to observe, classify, measure and, analyze organizations and the events they are expected to manage allows for discussions of an organization's current ability to perform and the development and testing of projections or forecasts of future performance. Finally, having the option to speculate or to develop what-if scenarios extends the overall usefulness of the device described herein beyond reviews of how an organization is currently, to broader discussions of the organization's general capacity to withstand threats, challenges or attacks emerging from within or outside. In this last analysis, particular emphasis is placed on identifying, monitoring and measuring potential threats, challenges or attacks arising from intentional, constructed efforts of others (i.e., other individuals or organizations) versus those threats, challenges or attacks associated with factors beyond the organization's control, for example, economic or weather-related conditions. |
| US07865381B2 |
Method and system for objectively optimizing manufacturing sourcing
A scientific complexity quantification system calculates a specific percent complexity index rating for each manufactured product that can be graphed and compared to other products and that is based on mathematical quantifications of each product's key attributes. The complexity index takes into consideration differences in design and manufacturing complexity, financial considerations, product solution complexity and customer experience. The attribute scoring of individual products are then sorted into potential sourcing categories, such as “outsource,” “in house fulfillment,” or “further evaluation needed.” |
| US07865380B2 |
Automated information technology management system
System and process for managing an IT infrastructure which collects transaction information on a component basis. The transaction data is used to evaluate the contribution of each component of the system as well as the business value of the service, and for the infrastructure as a whole. The usage data is prepared as reports and used in an IT management workflow model to make decisions about such things as the timing of system upgrades, strategic architectural decisions, timing of sunsetting of service components, both hardware and software, and the return-on-investment (ROI) valuation of IT investments. Component values may be assessed on either a volume (number of transactions) basis, or on the discrete dollar value of the transactions supported by the component. |
| US07865378B2 |
System and method for the assessment, pricing, and provisioning of distance-based vehicle insurance
A system and method for assessing, pricing, and provisioning distance-based vehicle insurance are provided. In one example, the method receives identification information of a customer and an associated vehicle, and a current odometer reading. Multiple coverage types are provided to the customer, as is at least one quote when the customer selects one of the coverage types. The quote includes a policy rate identifying a cost per distance unit based on the identification information. The customer is provided with multiple items based on the quote, where each item includes a total number of distance units for purchase at the policy rate. An insurance policy may be purchased in response to the customer selecting one of the items. The insurance policy's coverage is based on an expiration odometer value defined as the sum of the current odometer reading and the total number of distance units included in the selected item. |
| US07865376B2 |
System and method for generating de-identified health care data
A system and method for creating a unique alias associated with an individual identified in a health care database such that health care data, and particularly pharmaceutical-related data, can be efficiently gathered and analyzed. The system has a first data store for storing at least one record where each record includes a plurality of identification fields which when concatenated uniquely identify an individual, and at least one health care field corresponding to health care data associated with the individual. The system also has a second data store, and a processor. The processor selects a record of the first data store, then selects a subset of the plurality of identification fields within the selected record, and concatenates the selected subset of identification fields. Then the processor stores the concatenated identification fields in a record in the second data store with the at least one health care field from the selected record of the first data store. |
| US07865372B2 |
Health management system and health management method
A health care system includes a sampling device for sampling body fluid of a test subject, an analysis device for analyzing the sampled body fluid, and a transmission device for transmitting analytical data obtained from the analysis to a diagnosis unit, where the diagnosis unit is for diagnosing a health status of the test subject from the transmitted analytical data. Moreover, the system includes a server for storing and accumulating analytical data and/or diagnostic results, and a health-care-information display device for receiving and displaying diagnostic results. |
| US07865365B2 |
Personalized voice playback for screen reader
A method, system, and computer program product is disclosed for customizing a synthesized voice based upon audible input voice data. The input voice data is typically in the form of one or more predetermined paragraphs being read into a voice recorder. The input voice data is then analyzed for adjustable voice characteristics to determine basic voice qualities (e.g., pitch, breathiness, tone, speed; variability of any of these qualities, etc.) and to identify any “specialized speech patterns”. Based upon this analysis, the characteristics of the voice utilized to read text appearing on the screen are modified to resemble the input voice data. This allows a user of the system to easily and automatically create a voice that is familiar to the user. |
| US07865364B2 |
Avoiding repeated misunderstandings in spoken dialog system
A method for improving speech recognition accuracy includes utilizing skiplists or lists of values that cannot occur because of improbability or impossibility. A table or list is stored in a dialog manager module. The table includes a plurality of information items and a corresponding list of improbable values for each of the plurality of information items. A plurality of recognized ordered interpretations is received from an automatic speech recognition (ASR) engine. Each of the plurality of recognized ordered interpretations each includes a number of information items. A value of one or more of the received information items for a first recognized ordered interpretation is compared to a table to determine if the value of the one of the received information items matches any of the list of improbable values for the corresponding information item. |
| US07865362B2 |
Method and system for considering information about an expected response when performing speech recognition
A speech recognition system receives and analyzes speech input from a user in order to recognize and accept a response from the user. Under certain conditions, information about the response expected from the user may be available. In these situations, the available information about the expected response is used to modify the behavior of the speech recognition system by taking this information into account. The modified behavior of the speech recognition system comprises adjusting the rejection threshold when speech input matches the predetermined expected response. |
| US07865358B2 |
Multi-user functionality for converting data from a first form to a second form
In connection with a machine-based system for transforming data from a source form to a target form, a tool is provided for sharing information established in developing a transformation model. The shared information may relate to rules for mapping source collection terms to standardized terms, rules for ordering or syntax, rules for classifying terms or other transformation rules. Such information defines a knowledge base for the project. The knowledge base is divided into domains and subdomains that define a hierarchy that includes dependencies and references. These dependencies and references are used for domain management such that any conflicts and inconsistencies can be identified and arbitrated. In this manner, information sharing is accommodated, for example, for efficient knowledge base creation and multi-user functionality. |
| US07865351B2 |
Device and method for automatically launching applications residing on USB flash drives
A USB peripheral device may automatically launch an application residing in its memory after it is connected to a host or after restarting the host if the USB flash drive has already been connected. Alternatively, the USB peripheral \device can automatically launch an application residing on the host or on a network, which is accessible by the host. The USB peripheral device has a USB interface and a controller, which is operative to execute instructions for sending and receiving messages through the USB interface. The controller is further operative, when executing the instructions, to send to a host a stream of emulated keystrokes, which emulated keystrokes cause the host to generate and execute a startup script. Embodiments of the invention include a USB peripheral device able to control a host and a method of using a USB peripheral device to control a host. |
| US07865348B1 |
Performance of circuit simulation with multiple combinations of input stimuli
This invention provides techniques and tools for reducing circuit simulation time when an electronic circuit with multiple input vectors is simulated. Instead of running the simulation for each input vector one at a time, the circuit-simulation application runs the simulation of the circuit for all input vectors simultaneously. Efficiencies in the simulation are obtained during each iteration of a transient analysis by grouping circuit instances with different input vectors based on a predetermined criteria, and producing a combined solution for circuit instances within each group. |
| US07865341B2 |
Computer-assisted modelling method for the behavior of a steel volume having a volumetric surface
A computer determines a subsequent state of a steel volume, based on an instantaneous initial state of said steel volume and at least one volumetric surface, the temporary influence quantities acting on said steel volume, by resolution of an equation of thermal condition and phase change. The states include for at least one volumetric element of the steel volume, a local distribution in concentration of a alloy element mobile in the steel, the local proportions of the modeled phases of the steel and a quantity describing a local energy content of the steel. The phases include austenite and another phase, generally, ferrite or cementite. In the context of the change equation, the concentration levels of the mobile alloy element, which are located on either side of the phase boundary, between the austenite and the other phase are determined by resolution of a Stephan problem. |
| US07865331B2 |
Estimating a time offset between stationary clocks
Time synchronization of two clocks is disclosed herein, such as two stationary clocks. A global time signal from a global time reference or common time source can be used to calculate a common view based clock offset between the two clocks. In parallel, a network based clock offset between the two clocks can be calculated based on messages exchanged over a communication network interconnecting the two clocks, without reverting to the global time reference. Two recent values (e.g., the two most recent values) of the common view clock offset and the network based clock offset can be combined or superposed in a seamless way to produce a final time offset estimate. The combination of independently calculated common view and network based clock offsets can be a weighted average of the two values, involving respective weights based on quality estimates of the latter. The time synchronization schemes based on a Global Positioning System (GPS) and a wide area communication network can be combined to synchronize the stationary clocks of phasor measurement units (PMUs) of a wide area monitoring system to a central server clock at a Network Control Center (NCC) of the system. |
| US07865315B2 |
Methods and apparatus for calibrating striation density models for materials
A method for generating a calibration for a striation density model with respect to a material includes the steps of generating a first relationship between a striation density and a depth of a crack in a specimen comprising the material, generating a second relationship between the striation density and the depth of the crack in the specimen, and calculating an adjustment, based on a comparison between the first relationship and the second relationship. |
| US07865300B2 |
System and method for providing turn-by-turn directions to a moving waypoint
A system and method are disclosed for providing turn-by-turn directions to a moving waypoint where the present position of the moving waypoint is known and its future movement is constrained by a road network. The most likely future route of the moving waypoint is predicted, a rendezvous point is determined, an intercept route through the road network is computed and turn-by-turn direction to follow this intercept route are generated. |
| US07865283B2 |
Vehicle steering system
There is provided a vehicle steering system which includes an electric motor for imparting a steering force to a steering mechanism of a vehicle and an automatic parking controller for executing an automatic parking control by controlling the electric motor, wherein the automatic parking controller controls an energizing voltage of the electric motor by imparting a square wave to the electric motor and increasing/decreasing a neutral point voltage of a winding of the electric motor. |
| US07865282B2 |
Methods of managing communications for an in-vehicle telematics system
A method of managing communications for an in-vehicle telematics system includes substantially simultaneously receiving requests for communicating first and second audio signals via a vehicle audio system. The signals respectively correspond to interactive voice services (provided via a menu dialogue) from a first in-vehicle system and to a first audio messaging from a second in-vehicle system. An arbitration control selects one of the signals as a priority output and the other as a subordinate output. The priority output is provided over the audio system. A queue manager maintains the subordinate output in a queue for outputting over the audio system after priority output completion. If the first signal is the subordinate output, then the queue manager maintains a state of the menu dialogue, as of a time the priority output is selected, for continuation of the menu dialogue from the maintained state after priority output completion. |
| US07865277B1 |
Obstacle avoidance system and method
A method includes the steps of receiving a present route for a vehicle based on a present vehicle location and a vehicle destination, receiving obstacle information from a sensor of a sensor array, the received obstacle information including information about at least one moving obstacle, and determining if the received present route is valid based upon the received obstacle information. If the received present route is invalid, the method determines a revised route based upon the received present route, the received obstacle information, and/or the vehicle destination. A system incorporating the method may include a sensor array, a communication link, a processing module, and a navigation module. The system and method may be used to control the route of a vehicle such as an unmanned surface vehicle that may be land-based, water-based, or air-based. |
| US07865273B2 |
Method for operating a fuel supply system of a motor vehicle
In a method for operating an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, a driver type is ascertained. A criterion for performing a diagnosis or a regeneration of a component of the fuel supply system is a function of the ascertained driver type. |
| US07865272B2 |
Method and apparatus for preventing overloads of power distribution networks
At least one aspect of the invention is directed to a method of monitoring operation of devices in a facility. The method includes controlling a plurality of computing devices in the facility to operate at a controlled power level, where the controlled power level is a predetermined percentage of a maximum power level, measuring air temperature at one or more locations in the facility, and controlling at least one air conditioning unit in the facility based on the air temperature at the one or more locations in the facility. |
| US07865266B2 |
Cooperative minimally invasive telesurgical system
Improved robotic surgical systems, devices, and methods include selectably associatable master/slave pairs, often having more manipulator arms than will be moved simultaneously by the two hands of a surgeon. Four manipulator arms can support an image capture device, a left hand tissue manipulation tool, a right hand tissue manipulation tool, and a fourth surgical instrument, particularly for stabilizing, retracting, tool change, or other functions benefiting from intermittent movement. The four or more arms may sequentially be controlled by left and right master input control devices. The fourth arm may be used to support another image capture device, and control of some or all of the arms may be transferred back-and-forth between the operator and an assistant. Two or more robotic systems each having master controls and slave manipulators may be coupled to enable cooperative surgery between two or more operators. |
| US07865264B2 |
Method and apparatus for matching amount and type of paint component in a paint manufacturing system
A paint manufacturing system, having a paint component storage system with a dispenser positioned below and a computer system which controls a flow of paint components. The paint component storage system having a plurality of paint component cartridges containing paint components; wherein at least two of the paint component cartridges contain the same paint component. A method for adding a component to a container involving: recognizing a volume of component in a container; generating a bar code that corresponds to the amount and type of component to be added; requesting the component; filling a tote with the component; relating the bar code with the filled tote; transporting the tote and related bar code to said container; scanning the tote bar code to verify the amount and type of component in the tote matches the amount and type of component requested; and filling the container when the tote bar code matches. |
| US07865254B2 |
Modeling of control systems with open-loop representations and factorization of components
A method of manipulating a block diagram model with a plurality of graphical modeling components by defining an open loop anywhere on the block diagram model is provided. Graphical modeling components in series with the open loop may be automatically recognized and a plurality of parameters of the graphical modeling components in series with the open loop may be displayed on a display device. A user may simultaneously tune the parameters of the graphical modeling components in series with the open loop. Factorization points breaking the block diagram model in two disconnected parts may be identified in the block diagram model. A virtual graphical model may be generated by replacing a pattern of the graphical modeling components between two factorization points with a single graphical modeling component representing the pattern. |
| US07865251B2 |
Method for intercontroller communications in a safety instrumented system or a process control system
The claimed system provides an I/O card that is used to interface two process controllers over a communication line that is separate from a primary communication line connecting the two process controllers to a workstation. The process controllers can access the I/O cards in a similar manner to I/O cards used to connect to field devices. In this manner, the physical hardware and software architecture does not need to be modified for inter-controller communications. Inter-controller communications can be programmed as general I/O communication. |
| US07865238B2 |
High-voltage module for an external defibrillator
A defibrillator includes a module having a portion of the high-voltage components of the defibrillator attached to a substrate and encased in a dielectric material. In one embodiment the defibrillating shock is delivered by a high voltage H-bridge circuit which utilizes four controllably switched semiconductor devices such as IGBTs. |
| US07865234B1 |
Quantitative method for the therapeutic treatment of sleep disorders
The present invention relates to a method of analyzing a subject for excessive daytime sleepiness, and more particularly to a quick (short duration), quantitative method of sleep disorder analysis. The present invention additionally relates to a method, which can be used to quantitatively measure the treatment endpoints for the subject, i.e., appropriate levels of stimulants. Additionally, the present invention relates to a device for sleep disorder analysis. |
| US07865232B1 |
Method and system for automatically calibrating ischemia detection parameters
A method and system for automatically determining ischemia detection parameters are provided. The method includes obtaining a baseline trace indicative of a cardiac behavior, determining an ischemia detection window based on at least one physiologic state indicator within the baseline trace, and automatically identifying a fiducial point based on the baseline segment trace. The baseline trace includes a baseline segment within the ischemia detection window; where the ischemia detection window and the fiducial point may constitute ischemia detection parameters. |
| US07865231B2 |
Method and apparatus for determination of atherosclerotic plaque type by measurement of tissue optical properties
Methods for diagnosing vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque using optical coherence tomography to measure tissue optical properties, including backreflectance of heterogeneous layers, such as plaque cap, lipid pool composition and macrophage presence. Methods also include measurement of spatially and temporally dependent reflectance, measurement of multiple wavelength reflectance, low coherence interferometry, polarization and quantification of macrophage content. |
| US07865229B2 |
System and method for determining path lengths through a body lumen
A system and method for determining the path length through a body lumen, for example to a specified location, is described. A location detection system may identify the location in space of an in-vivo device over time. A path-length detection unit may use data from the location detection system to determine a path traveled by an in-vivo device. A site of interest along that path may be identified. The distance of the site of interest from at least one end point of a body lumen may be determined. |
| US07865224B2 |
Method and apparatus for estimating a physiological parameter
In a physiological monitor, a method and an apparatus for determining a patient's pulse rate using data corresponding to a plurality of wavelengths of electromagnetic energy transmitted through the tissue of the patient. The method includes tracking the pulse rate in the data using an adaptive comb filter, the data having signal portions corresponding to the pulse rate and signal portions corresponding to noise, periodically calculating a frequency power spectrum of one of the wavelengths, and using the frequency power spectrum in a pulse rate calculator to determine the pulse rate or to verify the pulse rate calculated by the pulse rate calculator. |
| US07865223B1 |
In vivo blood spectrometry
A process and apparatus for determining the arterial and venous oxygenation of blood in vivo with improved precision. The optical properties of tissue are measured by determination of differential and total attenuations of light at a set of wavelengths. By choosing distinct wavelengths and using the measured attenuations, the influence of variables such as light scattering, absorption and other optical tissue properties is canceled out or minimized. |
| US07865209B2 |
Method for controlling transmission power of a physical random access channel
A method for controlling transmission power of a physical random access channel in a mobile communication terminal. The mobile communication terminal sets initial transmission power according to received signal code power when a preamble of the physical random access channel is transmitted to a mobile communication network. A wireless channel environment is identified on the basis of a value of the received signal code power when the preamble must be retransmitted. According to the identified wireless channel environment, transmission power used in a previous preamble is variably increased and retransmission power is set. |
| US07865202B2 |
Method and system for I/Q branch equalization in OFDM systems
Aspects of a method and system for I/Q branch equalization in OFDM systems may include determining a transfer function mismatch between an in-phase processing branch, and/or a quadrature processing branch in an OFDM receiver. The determined transfer function mismatch may be compensated for, by applying equalization after a fast Fourier transform (FFT) in an in-phase processing branch and/or a quadrature processing branch. The OFDM system may be compliant with, for example, UMTS LTE (EUTRA), WiMAX (IEEE 802.16), DVB-H, and WLAN (IEEE 802.11). A transfer function may be measured for an in-phase branch filter and/or quadrature branch filter to determine the transfer function mismatch. The transfer function mismatch may be compensated for, in frequency domain by the equalizer. The transfer function mismatch may comprise magnitude and/or phase response mismatch, wherein the magnitude and/or phase response mismatch may be a function of frequency. |
| US07865197B2 |
Message handling in portable electronic device
The present invention is directed towards a method and a device for preparing a message in a portable electronic device such as a cellular phone. The device comprises a message type selection unit (14) providing a set of items of message types (20, 22, 24, 26, 28) that can be selected by a user, a first user input unit (32), for allowing message type selection by the user, and a control unit (40) arranged to: provide the set of items of message types (20, 22, 24, 26) that can be selected by a user, detect a message selection by a user via said user input unit (32), change transmission format in dependence of the selections made by the user. In this way for instance a message can be prepared and saved in advance of deciding final message type for transmission. |
| US07865185B1 |
System and method for multiple access communications
A system and method use multiple access technologies at an access device to increase capacity and throughput. The system comprises an access device configured to communicate with a wireline switch and a wireless switch. The access device may use one or more access technologies, including digital subscriber line protocols (xDSL), multipoint multichannel distribution system (MMDS), hybrid fiber coax (HFC), satellite, and other access technologies. Preferably the access device uses inverse multiplex asynchronous transfer mode (IMA) to inversely multiplex and multiplex wireline communications and wireless communications. The wireline switch is configured to communicate with the access device using wireline communications. The wireless switch is configured to communicate with the access device using wireless communications. |
| US07865180B2 |
Automated telephone conferencing method and system
A computer implemented method of conducting a teleconference is disclosed. The method includes selecting a group of potential conferees using a graphical user interface tool displayed on a display screen, automatically setting up the teleconference by accessing telephone numbers for each conferee of the group of potential conferees and individually attempting to make contact with the group of potential conferees over a telephone system. The method further includes updating contact status information for the group of potential conferees during the automatic set up of the teleconference. A teleconference is established between the available conferees of the group of potential conferees. |
| US07865175B2 |
Apparatus, system and method for forwarding data sent to a wireless device to another address
An apparatus for forwarding data sent to a wireless device having a first address to a second address. The apparatus includes a server in communication with a wireless network and an external network. The server includes a processor. The processor includes a data forwarding module for forwarding the data to the second address via the external network when the wireless device is not in communication with the wireless network. |
| US07865168B2 |
Apparatus for controlling power consumption in PDA phone
An apparatus for controlling power consumption in a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) phone is provided. The apparatus includes a PDA controller for applying a first signal or a second signal to a PDA voltage module, for sensing a voltage of a first capacitor changed according to the first or second signal, and for operating at the voltage of the first capacitor, and the PDA voltage module in which a first resistor is in a shorted or open condition according to the first or second signal, and a voltage applied to the first capacitor is changed according to the shorted or open condition of the first resistor. |
| US07865165B2 |
Scalable radio receiver architecture providing three-dimensional packaging of multiple receivers
Methods of forming scalable systems and scalable systems on an integrated circuit (SoC) are provided. First and second radio frequency (RF) systems are disposed on first and second substrates, respectively. A first processor that is configured to process the first RF system is disposed on a substrate separate from the first substrate and a second processor that is configured to process the second RF system is disposed on a substrate separate from the second substrate. The first processor and the first RF system are stacked one on top of the other to configure a first RFSoC and the second processor and the second RF system are stacked one on top of the other to configure a second RFSoC. The first and second RFSoCs are disposed either in a horizontal plane, laterally spaced from each other, or in vertically stacked planes, one above the other. |
| US07865147B2 |
System for testing an embedded wireless transceiver
A test equipment for testing a wireless communication device includes a wireless transceiver and a controller. The wireless transceiver transmits a first series of packets while operating in a first mode. The wireless transceiver transmits a second series of packets while operating in a second mode. The wireless transceiver receives acknowledgment packets. The controller controls the transceiver to transmit the first series of packets. The controller counts the acknowledgment packets received by the transceiver in response to transmitting each of the first series of packets. The controller controls the transceiver to transmit the second series of packets when the count exceeds a predetermined count. |
| US07865146B2 |
Transmission power balancing in multi-hop communication systems
The present application relates to a wireless communication system and related methods and apparatuses for transmitting a signal from a source apparatus to a destination apparatus, via at least one intermediate apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to techniques which seek to improve the throughput of data in multi-hop communication systems. |
| US07865138B2 |
Method and system for a low-complexity multi-beam repeater
Aspects of a method and system for a low-complexity multi-beam repeater may include receiving one or more information signals at one or more receiver antennas, and receiving one or more local oscillator control signals via an out-of-band link. The one or more received information signals may be demodulated to one or more intermediate-frequency signals via one or more frequency carrier signals, wherein the frequency carrier signals may be controlled by the one or more received local oscillator control signals. One or more intermediate-frequency signals and/or one or more signals generated from the one or more intermediate-frequency signals may be modulated to one or more radio-frequency signals via the one or more frequency carrier signals. One or more transmit signals comprising at least one of the one or more radio-frequency signals may be transmitted via one or more transmit antennas. |
| US07865129B2 |
Early learning book system with internal, electronic media activity, such as lighting and sound activity
An electronic early recognition and confirmation system generally in learner-useable book-form structure including (a) pages, each including at least one lesson-specific question, and for each such question an associated field containing a plurality of nominally undistinguished, learner-selectable, image-based answers among which there is at least one best answer, (b) with respect to each such question, an invitation to a learner to respond to that question by interacting in a defined way with any selected one of the relevant field-associated answers, and (c) power-ready, electronic, interaction-response structure embedded in the book-form structure, operable, when a learner interacts with a selected answer in the relevant field, to produce a light and/or sound correctness-confirming response of one style when the selected answer is the best answer, and a light and/or sound noncorrectness-announcing response of another style when the selected answer is another, incorrect answer. |
| US07865128B2 |
Discharging unit and image forming apparatus having the same
A discharging unit for discharging a printing medium from an image forming apparatus includes an elastic roller and a curl preventing roller to oppose each other in a pressing relationship forming a nip therebetween to reduce curling of a print medium passing through the nip. At least one of the elastic roller and the curl preventing roller is allowed to move towards or away from the other roller so that the nip can be adjusted to accommodate different thicknesses of varying types of printing medium. |
| US07865120B2 |
Image forming apparatus with power supply for charging nip forming member and rotary fixing member
The image forming apparatus includes a fixing apparatus capable of restraining offset of a toner in multifarious types of sheets and in a variety of environments at low costs. The fixing apparatus has a rotary fixing member and a nip forming member which forms a fixing nip portion by coming into contact with the rotary member. A recording material bearing an unfixed toner image is conveyed while being pinched by the nip portion. The fixing apparatus fixes a toner image onto the recording material. The fixing apparatus further has a bias applying means which applies a bias to the nip forming member. The bias applying means, before the recording material reaches the nip portion, applies a first bias to the nip forming member so that a surface of a rotary member is charged with electricity, and applies a second bias to the nip forming member while the recording material is conveyed by the nip portion. |
| US07865115B2 |
Process cartridge, electrophotographic image forming apparatus, method of manufacturing a process cartridge, and method of remanufacturing a process cartridge
A process cartridge has an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, a charging roller for charging the drum, a spacer movable between a separation position for separating the roller from the drum and a contact position for contacting the roller to the drum, a rotatable receiving gear for receiving a driving force produced by rotation of the drum to move the spacer from the separation position to the contact position, and a rotatable transmission gear engaged with the receiving gear and the spacer to transmit the force from the receiving gear to the spacer to move the spacer from the separation position to the contact position, wherein play is provide in the engagement portion between the receiving gear and the transmission gear so that they can be freely rotated relative to each other by a predetermined angle, whereby the drum is not reversely rotated when the roller is separated from the drum. |
| US07865112B2 |
Electrophotographic printer
An electrophotographic printer capable of easily attaching and detaching a retaining means to retain the inside of a photoconductive drum to and from the photoconductive drum. A flange located on the extraction side of a photoconductive drum is provided with: a retaining means to support the photoconductive drum from the side of the inner circumferential face of the photoconductive drum. And an advance and retreat mechanism to advance and retreat the retaining means to and from the inner face of the photoconductive drum. The retaining means can be easily dismantled from the photoconductive drum by operating the advance and retreat mechanism, and thereafter extracting the flange from the photoconductive drum. |
| US07865111B2 |
Image forming unit and image forming apparatus
An image forming unit includes a first image forming member; a second image forming member; a first unit for supporting the first image forming member to be freely rotatable; a second unit for supporting the second image forming member to be freely rotatable; and an image forming member urging member attached to one of the first unit and the second unit for urging the second image forming member toward the first image forming member when the first unit is connected to the second unit. |
| US07865109B2 |
Developing apparatus and image forming apparatus
A developing apparatus is provided that can reliably prevent a developer from leaking even where the developing apparatus is continuously used, and an image forming apparatus having the developing apparatus is provided. The developing apparatus has a developer container for containing a developer, a developing portion for generating a developer image by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on an electrostatic latent image holder using the developer contained in the developer container, a seal member formed along a surface of an end portion of the developing portion for sealing between the developer container and the developing portion, and a supporting member for supporting the seal member so as to allow displacement. |
| US07865105B2 |
Printing control apparatus, printing control method, and program
A duplex printing instruction is accepted. When duplex printing is performed in accordance with the single-side printing and duplex printing is performed for a job of one page is decided in accordance with a condition. |
| US07865104B2 |
System and method for generating a user customizable default user interface for a document processing device
The subject application is directed to a system and method for generating a user customizable default user interface for a document processing device. First, screen data representing each of a plurality of different user interfaces is stored. Each user interface includes visual representations of a unique subset of controls associated with operation of the associated document processing device. Identification data is then acquired from an associated user. A display is generated representing each of the different user interfaces. Selection data representing a selected user interface as a default user interface is then received. Data associating the default user interface with the identification data is stored. Thereafter, a display is generated of the default user interface upon login of the associated user on the document processing device. |
| US07865101B2 |
Fusing system and control method thereof
A fusing system includes: a fusing unit which comprises a fusing belt which rotates around outer surfaces of at least two rollers which are distanced from each other, and a pressing roller which presses a printing medium together with the fusing belts and fuses an image which is transferred to the printing medium; a heat source which receives power to generate heat, and is mounted inside at least one of the two rollers; a driving source which drives at least one of the two rollers; a sensing unit which senses a surface temperature of the fusing belt; and a control unit which controls the heat source and the driving source so that the fusing belt can be driven when the temperature of the fusing unit increases if a printing order is applied. |
| US07865097B2 |
Image forming apparatus and control method
The present invention provides an image forming apparatus comprising an image forming unit configured to form an image on an image carrier, a transfer unit configured to transfer the image formed on the image carrier onto a transfer medium, a voltage applying unit configured to apply a voltage to the transfer unit, a current detection unit configured to detect a current that flows through the transfer unit when the voltage applying unit applies the voltage, and a control unit configured to control the voltage applying unit based on a detection result of the current detection unit. |
| US07865096B2 |
Image forming apparatus and method of performing density correction
An image forming apparatus includes an image supporting member; an exposure device for forming a static latent image on the image supporting member; a developing device for developing the static latent image formed on the image supporting member; an image control unit for controlling a condition for forming an image; and a density sensor for detecting a developer density. In the image forming apparatus, a first pattern for detecting the developer density is formed to determine whether the developer density is proper. When the developer density thus detected is greater than a threshold value, a second pattern for discarding developer is formed to discard the developer. A third pattern for density correction is formed to perform the density correction. |
| US07865089B2 |
Soft failure detection in a network of devices
In a method for monitoring hardware devices of the hardware devices network to detect failures, past logged jobs are analyzed to determine a pattern of past usage of hardware devices by users of the hardware devices network. A failure of a hardware device is inferred based on a deviation in usage of the hardware devices from the pattern of past usage. In some embodiments, a state model is constructed that assigns one of two or more available operational states to each hardware device of the hardware devices network based on a recent load of jobs logged to the hardware device and a stored history of logged jobs indicative of typical loading of the hardware devices. One or more failing hardware devices are identified based on the assigned operational states. |
| US07865088B2 |
Burst mode optical receiver
A system, method, and computer readable medium for burst mode optical receiver that enables an optical receiver to receive signals from a plurality of optical network units at different optical power levels comprising, collecting received signal strength indication information from a previous data stream of an optical network unit, and adjusting an optical receiver to optimize reception of subsequent incoming data streams of the optical network unit based upon received signal strength indication information received from the previous data stream. The signal strength indication may be collected from an upcoming data stream and a signal control voltage asserted during the guard time of the upcoming data stream to optimize reception of the incoming data stream. |
| US07865086B2 |
Optical transponder for secure optical communications and optical quadrature-measuring instrument
Regardless of a transmission basis, a phase of a signal light with reference to a phase of local light is measured, and an output light from an antisqueezed light source in a transponder device is modulated in accordance with the measured phase. Since information obtainable in the transponder device is only the relative phase of the signal light with reference to the phase of the local light, and includes fluctuations corresponding to an antisqueezed component of the signal light, even if the information in the transponder device is eavesdropped on, the information cannot be decoded easily. |
| US07865078B2 |
Processing of optical performance data in an optical wavelength division multiplexed communication system
Optical performance measurements are taken in an optical network and displayed in a form that allows an operator to enter fault information related to the measurements, or to automatically generate fault alarms to the operator, based on processing of the measurements. The optical measurements may be individual power measurements taken for each light-path at various points in each node it traverses, such as amplifiers, multiplexers/demultiplexers or at an interface with another node. |
| US07865067B2 |
Recording apparatus and method, reproduction apparatus and method, and recording medium
A recording apparatus for recording an input signal on a data unit basis and management information of data units of the input signal onto a recording medium, the recording apparatus includes a recording mode determination unit for determining a recording mode representing a recording time of the input signal onto the recording medium; and a time length determination unit for determining a time length of each data unit, wherein a minimum time length of each data unit is determined by the recording mode. |
| US07865066B2 |
Video camera and video camera information recording method for managing a scene as a chapter
Disclosed are: an information recording technology capable of shortening the termination process time when the recording ends; and an information recording technology capable of recording independently of limitations due to the maximum number of video title sets and titles, wherein information is recorded on a recording medium according to recording instructions such as a recording start instruction and a recording stop instruction. During a finalization process, management information is generated and is recorded on the recording medium. Based on this management information, the information generated by a single recording instruction is managed as one chapter. At least one chapter is managed as one title. At least one title is managed as one video title set. |
| US07865065B2 |
Apparatus and method of recording information on a recording medium
A semiconductor device having a plurality of data recording areas is provided. The semiconductor device includes an input port that receives basic information; an additive data recording area on which additive data serving as information additive to the basic information is recorded; a processing unit which encodes the basic information based on the basic information and the additive data; and a calculation data recording area on which calculation data encoded by the processing unit is recorded such that the calculation data encoded by the processing unit is at a quality level higher than that of the basic information. The processing unit controls the additive data recording area in response to classifying the received basic information on the basis of a class classification adaptive processes. |
| US07865059B2 |
Device and method for recording information including realtime data in accordance with a predefined recording format
A device for recording information records a real-time data stream (51) in blocks having contiguous logical addresses (LA0-LA5) on a record carrier at corresponding physical addresses (PA0-PA8). The device has allocation means for allocating physical addresses to logical addresses, the allocation including at least one logically contiguous range of blocks allocated to at least a part of the real-time data stream. During recording, auxiliary data means (34,33) process auxiliary data related to the real-time data and record the auxiliary data as auxiliary blocks on the record carrier. The auxiliary data means assign physical addresses to the auxiliary blocks (61), which physical addresses are excluded from allocation to logical addresses and are within or near a physical address range (PA0-PA8) corresponding to the at least one logically contiguous range of blocks (LA0-LA5) allocated to the said part of the real-time data stream. |
| US07865048B2 |
Nested waveguides
A radiation source or detector including a nested waveguide structure is provided. A smaller waveguide provides wave guiding for radiation of shorter wavelength. The smaller waveguide is embedded within a larger waveguide that provides wave guiding for radiation of longer wavelength. Wavelength conversion between the shorter wavelength and the longer wavelength can be realized through a nonlinear process. |
| US07865039B2 |
Method of ortho-rectification for high-resolution remote sensing image
A high-resolution remote sensing image is processed through a true ortho-rectification. A totally new idea of H-buffer is provided to store heights of objects on the ground. The ortho-rectification includes a hidden analysis, a hidden detection and a hidden compensation. The process uses polygon patch of a building or a roadway as process unit. In the end, seam lines after hidden compensation are smoothed. The whole process time is reduced in calculations, assures quality of the orthoimage, and meets a requirement of a high-accuracy and high-resolution digital mapping. |
| US07865035B2 |
Video quality adaptive coding artifact reduction
A video quality adaptive coding artifact reduction system has a video quality analyzer, an artifact reducer, and a filter strength controller. The video quality analyzer employs input video quality analysis to control artifact reduction. The video quality analyzer accesses the video quality of the decoded video sequence to estimate the input video quality. The filter strength controller globally controls the filter strength of the artifact reducer based on the video quality estimate by the video quality analyzer. For low quality input video, the filter strength controller increases the artifact reduction filter strength to more efficiently reduce the artifact. For high quality input video, the filter strength controller decreases the artifact reduction filter strength to avoid blurring image detail. |
| US07865031B2 |
Method and system for automatic correction of chromatic aberration
In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for an automatic chromatic aberration correction. The method comprises the steps of setting a range of test correction factors, applying the test correction factors of the range, incrementally, to a test block of the image, measuring chromatic aberration error at the test block after application of each of the test correction factors, and selecting a test correction factor having a lowest chromatic aberration error. |
| US07865028B2 |
Code processing apparatus and code processing method
A code processing apparatus for generating a file including a JPEG 2000 codestream or a JPEG 2000 family format including the JPEG 2000 codestream is disclosed that includes a packet arranging part for arranging the order of a plurality of packets included in the JPEG 2000 codestream according to an extended progression order selected from a group of extended progression orders including “xTxxx”, “xxTxx”, “xxxTx”, and “xxxxT”. Each “x” in the extended progression orders represents one of a resolution level characteristic, a layer characteristic, a component characteristic, and a precinct characteristic. The leftmost “x” of each extended progression order corresponds to an outermost characteristic of the extended progression order. “T” represents a tile characteristic. |
| US07865027B2 |
Method and apparatus for encoding and decoding image data
A method of encoding image data, and an apparatus to perform the method, the method including repeating a process of dividing a block into sub-blocks based on an average value of pixels of the sub-blocks; creating map information of the sub-blocks; determining a mode for generating bit streams according to a number of the sub-blocks; and generating bit streams of the determined mode, map information, and representative pixel values of the block or the sub-blocks. |
| US07865022B2 |
Information processing apparatus, image processing apparatus, control method, and computer readable storage medium
An image processing apparatus includes a decision unit configured to determine whether or not print image data includes copy-forgery-inhibited-pattern image data. Based on a decision result of the decision unit regarding whether or not the print image data includes the copy-forgery-inhibited-pattern image data, a processing unit of the image processing apparatus is configured to determine whether first compression processing is to be performed or second compression processing is to be performed and apply the decided compression processing to the print image data. |
| US07865005B2 |
Iterative reconstruction of multiple-peak isotope images
In an imaging method, estimated data is iteratively projected and backprojected. The iterative projecting and backprojecting includes projecting or backprojecting the estimated data along parallel paths each employing energy-dependent parameters appropriate for a different energy. During each iteration, the estimated data is adjusted based on comparison of the estimated data with measured data. |
| US07865001B2 |
System and method for predicting physical properties of an aneurysm from a three-dimensional model thereof
A three-dimensional rotational angiography (3DRA) system, in which a finite element method (FEM) package is incorporated which can read in surface meshes (20b) of a reconstructed 3DRA image of an aneurysm to generate FEM meshes (20a) which are closely approximated to the observed aneurysm (20b) in an iterative process by changing the material properties of the aneurysm used in generating the simulated representations (20a) thereof. Thus, the material properties of the closely approximated simulated representation (20a) can be used in subsequent analysis of the physical properties of the aneurysm under consideration. |
| US07865000B2 |
Medical image processing apparatus for analyzing properties of living body based on image data thereof
A medical image processing apparatus for analyzing properties of living body based on image data of the living body is provided. The medical image processing apparatus executes a predetermined image analysis processing on the image data of the living body, to obtain shape image data obtained by extracting a profile of the living body, and pattern image data obtained by extracting the pattern on the interior of the profile of the living body. A fractal dimension DA of the shape image data is calculated and a fractal dimension DB of the pattern image data is calculated based on the obtained shape image data and the pattern image data, and then, the index value CI is calculated which substantially excludes information of the shape image data and substantially includes information of the pattern of the pattern image data to judge the properties of the living body. |
| US07864992B2 |
Fingerprint sensor element
The present invention relates to a fingerprint sensor element, comprising a sensor electrode formed in an upper conducting layer, a lower electrode formed in a lower conducting layer and at least one insulating layer between the upper conducting layer and the lower conducting layer. It further comprises a charge amplifier having a negative and a positive input terminal and an output terminal. An upper side of the fingerprint sensor electrode is arranged for facing a finger and a lower side is arranged for facing the lower electrode, and the fingerprint sensor electrode and the lower electrode are arranged in such a way that a capacitance is formed between them. The sensor electrode is arranged for being connected to the negative input terminal of the charge amplifier, and the lower electrode is arranged for being connected to the output terminal of the charge amplifier. |
| US07864991B2 |
System and method for assisting a visually impaired individual
A system and method for assisting a visually impaired individual are disclosed. In one embodiment, when the visually impaired individual encounters a situation with an obstacle, the visually impaired individual employs a first wireless device to transfer audiovisual information about the situation to an assistant with a second wireless device. The assistant analyzes the rendered audiovisual information and provides audio information to the visually impaired individual which presents a solution to the obstacle. |
| US07864975B2 |
Active crossover for use with multi-driver in-ear monitors
A headset with an active crossover network is provided. The headset is coupled to an audio source using either a wired connection or a wireless connection. The active crossover network, utilizing either analog or digital filtering, divides each channel of the incoming audio signal from the audio source into multiple frequency regions sufficient for the number of drivers contained within each in-ear monitor of the headset. The output from the network's filters is amplified using either single channel or multi-channel amplifies. Preferably, gain control circuitry is used to control the gain of the amplifier(s) and thus the volume produced by the drivers. More preferably, the gain of the gain control circuitry is adjustable. The headset includes a power source that is coupled to the amplifier(s) and, if necessary, the network's filters. The power source can be included within some portion of the headset or included within the wireless interface. Alternately, an external power source can be used, for example one associated with the audio source. |
| US07864969B1 |
Adaptive amplifier circuitry for microphone array
Adaptive amplifier circuitry for a microphone array with alternative operating modes. In one mode, background noise is reduced when the speaker is in a near field position and a relatively quiet environment. In another mode, the microphone signals are amplified, with speech being boosted more than background noise, when the speaker moves from a near field position to a far field position. |
| US07864966B2 |
Multichannel spectral mapping audio apparatus and method
A method and circuit for deriving a set of multichannel audio signals from a conventional monaural or stereo audio signal uses an auxiliary multichannel spectral mapping data stream. Audio can be played back in stereo and multichannel formats from a conventional stereo signal on compact discs, FM radio, or other stereo or monaural delivery systems. The invention reduces the data rate needed for the transmission of multichannel digital audio. |
| US07864964B2 |
Multichannel spectral mapping audio apparatus and method
A method and circuit for deriving a set of multichannel audio signals from a conventional monaural or stereo audio signal uses an auxiliary multichannel spectral mapping data stream. Audio can be played back in stereo and multichannel formats from a conventional stereo signal on compact discs, FM radio, or other stereo or monaural delivery systems. The invention reduces the data rate needed for the transmission of multichannel digital audio. |
| US07864953B2 |
Adding an additional level of indirection to title key encryption
Systems, methods and media for encrypting and decrypting content files are disclosed. More particularly, hardware and/or software for adding an additional level of indirection to a title key encryption scheme are disclosed. Embodiments may include generating by a cryptographic system a binding key based on binding information. Embodiments may also include encrypting by the cryptographic system a secret key with the binding key and generating a title key associated with at least one content file. Embodiments may also include encrypting by the cryptographic system the title key with the secret key and the at least one content file with the title key. Further embodiments may include receiving an indication that the binding information has changed, generating a new binding key based on the new changed binding information, and re-encrypting the secret key with the new binding key. |
| US07864949B2 |
Keyboard arrangement and mobile communication device incorporating the same
The array of keys constituting a numeric phone keypad on a mobile communication device only partially overlaps the array of keys that make up the text input keypad creating an offset so that only subsets of the keys constituting the two keypads are common to both. With this configuration, the numeric phone keypad can be more easily distinguished from the text input keypad while still reaping the benefits of having some shared keys. |
| US07864948B2 |
Systems and methods for an electronic hook switch for customer premises equipment
Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for an electronic hook switch for customer premises equipment. In an embodiment, a system includes a first lead configured to be coupled to a tip wire and a second lead and the second lead to a ring wire. A diode bridge is coupled to the first lead and the second lead had a positive output. A low side switch is coupled to the positive output of the diode bridge without a high side switch between the low side switch and the positive output of the diode bridge. |
| US07864942B2 |
System and method for routing calls
A method and system of routing calls. In a particular embodiment, the method includes prompting a caller of a call for caller information with a first system. The first system has a first interface characteristic. The method further includes selecting a destination for the call based on the caller information. The destination has a second interface characteristic. The method also includes identifying a call interface characteristic change based on a difference between the first characteristic and the second characteristic, and advising the caller of the call interface characteristic change prior to routing the call. |
| US07864939B1 |
Call arrangement and connection using messaging
A method and a system allows an Instant Message (IM) user or an E-mail user to arrange and to place a present or a future telephone call by way of a respective IM or E-mail, without dialing a telephone. |
| US07864934B2 |
Telephone used in a telephone system for transmitting data from an authorized telephone with speech authority to an unauthorized telephone without speech authority
An object is to provide a telephone enabling a user of a telephone to readily recognize which telephone user is a source of voice under transmission. This telephone 10 has a receiver 102 for receiving telephone information to specify each of an authorized telephone and unauthorized telephones, a display surface 100 for displaying predetermined information based on the received telephone information, and a display control part 105 for specifying a content of the predetermined information, based on the telephone information received by the receiver 102, and for displaying the content on the display surface 100. The display control part 105 fixedly displays user information to specify a user of the authorized telephone, in a partial region of the display surface 100, and displays at least part of user information to specify users of telephones except for the concerned telephone 10 among the authorized telephone and unauthorized telephones, in a remaining region except for the partial region of the display surface 100. |
| US07864933B2 |
System and method for managing prepaid card
A prepaid card management method and system which can comprehensively manage an issuance of personal identification numbers (PINs) of various affiliated prepaid card companies and even when each generation system of each PIN is different for each affiliated prepaid card company, can adaptably issue the PIN. A prepaid card management method and system according to the present invention can adaptably issue PINs of prepaid cards of various affiliated prepaid card companies by including an operation system to comprehensively manage a plurality of PIN issue systems. |
| US07864923B2 |
Radiation detecting cassette and radiation image capturing system
A radiation detecting cassette includes an IC card detector which detects insertion of an IC card in a slot, outputs a detection signal representing that the IC card is inserted in the slot, and reads ID information stored in the IC card. An ID checker of the radiation detecting cassette checks the ID information against ID information stored in a card ID memory. A power unit controller controls supply of electric power from a power unit to a radiation detector and/or components of the radiation detecting cassette based on a checking result from the ID checker. |
| US07864916B2 |
X-ray computer tomography apparatus
An X-ray computer tomography apparatus includes a cone beam X-ray tube X-rays, a two-dimensional array type X-ray detector, a rotating mechanism which supports the X-ray tube, together with the X-ray detector, so as to be rotatable around the object, a reconstruction processing unit which reconstructs a full scan image based on projection data, of the projection data, which corresponds to a view count corresponding to one rotation and also reconstructs a short scan image based on projection data corresponding to a view count smaller than the view count corresponding to one rotation, a CT value shift distribution generating unit which generates a spatial distribution of CT value shifts originating from the smaller view count based on the full scan image and the short scan image, and a correcting unit which corrects the short scan image based on the spatial distribution of the CT value shifts. |
| US07864914B2 |
Method of stress corrosion cracking mitigation for nuclear power plant structural materials
The object of this invention is to provide a method for mitigating a stress corrosion cracking of reactor structural material which makes it possible to suppress the rise in the main steam line dose rate without secondary effects such as a rise in the concentration of radioactive cobalt-60, etc. in the reactor water. Hydrogen and a reductive nitrogen compound containing nitrogen having a negative oxidation number (for example, hydrazine) are injected into the core water of boiling water nuclear power plant. By injecting the reductive nitrogen compound containing nitrogen having a negative oxidation number into the core water, the stress corrosion cracking of structural material of reactor can be mitigated without side reactions such as a rise in the concentration of cobalt-60, etc. |
| US07864911B2 |
System and method for implementing a phase detector to support a data transmission procedure
A system and method for effectively supporting a data transmission procedure includes a phase-locked loop with a phase detector that compares a clock signal and input data to generate a phase error signal for adjusting the clock signal that is generated from a voltage-controlled oscillator. The phase detector includes a positive-edge detector circuit that generates an edge detection signal P to indicate whether data transitions are present in the input data. The phase detector also includes a lead/lag indicator circuit that generates a lead/lag indicator signal T to indicate whether the clock signal is early or late with respect to the input data. |
| US07864901B2 |
System, apparatus, and method for cancelling interferences of received signals
An apparatus and a method for cancelling an interference of each of a plurality of received signals are provided. The apparatus comprises an estimation module, an ordering module, a selection module, an equalizer, and a cancellation module. The estimation module estimates a plurality of estimated channels according to a first predetermined number of pilot-tones. The ordering module decides a decision order for processing. The selection module selects a second predetermined number of the received signals as the second predetermined number of processing signals. The equalizer estimates the estimated values, wherein each of the estimated values corresponds to a processing signal. The decision module decides a decided value for each of the estimated values. The cancellation module cancels the interference for each of the processing signals according to the corresponding decided value and the corresponding channel. Then, the estimation module further estimates the estimated channels according to the pilot-tones and a plurality of estimated values. |
| US07864900B2 |
Communication system for sending and receiving digital data
A system and method for constructing a transmitter and a receiver that communicate using multiple orthogonal frequencies which are locked to each other. The set of available frequencies can range from 7, 32 frequencies to a much larger set of frequencies. The transmitted frequencies are separated by a small limited bandwidth (B.W). multiple frequencies are selected from a set of available frequencies and transmitted simultaneously to the receiver. The data transmission is preceded by a calibration sequence where the shift between the transmitted frequency and the frequency measured by fast Fourier transform at the receiver system contain encoders and decoders that convert binary numbers to frequency combinations and the reverse. This transceiver system is capable of transmitting large data rate per unit of a bandwidth e.g. 6 Mbps/3.2 MHZ. |
| US07864890B2 |
Signal processing apparatus, signal processing method and storage system
A signal processing apparatus has a plurality of baseline wander correcting units, provided in a processing path in which a predetermined processing is performed on an input signal. At least one of the plurality of baseline wander correcting units includes a correction permission control unit that controls permission or rejection of correction, and baseline wander in the input signal is corrected sequentially by each of the plurality of baseline wander correcting units, based on a control of the correction permission control unit. The baseline wander correcting unit corrects the baseline wander by determining whether or not the baseline correction is to be effected or not, so that the wander of baseline can be efficiently corrected. |
| US07864887B2 |
Noncoherent symbol clock recovery subsystem
A symbol clock recovery subsystem uses a tap delay line having a set of delays, uses a clock bank of samplers providing time-staggered sampled noncoherently received signals, and uses a set of mean magnitude generators, in channelized form, for providing a set of mean magnitudes to a maximum selector for selecting a maximum one of the time-staggered sampled received signals having the greatest signal to noise ratio so as to provide a signal effectively occurring at symbol epoch time for demodulating a symbol stream in a digital communication system receiver. |
| US07864885B2 |
Multiple input multiple output (MIMO) transceiver with pooled adaptive digital filtering
A multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) transceiver includes a reconfigurable pooled digital filter. A processor sets parameters of the filter to minimize the number of instructions per second and the amount of power required by the filter to perform, while matching the filter to at least one of: a transmitter filter and a receiver filter. The processor uses an algorithm or a lookup table stored in memory to select the combination of filter parameters. The parameters may be selected from at least one of: a number of taps, a filter length, a word length, a coefficient quantization, a sampling rate, bits per sample, a sampling bit, a tap delay and a coefficient length. After selecting a combination of filter parameters, the processor sends a control signal to the adaptive filter. The pooled adaptive filter reconfigures itself in accordance with the selected filter parameters. |
| US07864879B2 |
System having a signal processor for detection of a signal type
A system having a signal processor for detection of a signal type of a signal is disclosed. One embodiment includes a processor designed to determine a first variable which is characteristic of a first spectrum element of the signal spectrum, and to determine a second variable which is characteristic of a second spectrum element of the signal spectrum. A system is provided for determination of a ratio between the first variable and the second variable, and a detector which is designed to detect the signal type on the basis of the ratio. |
| US07864877B2 |
Data transmission in communication system by disabling radiation patterns
A transmitter for a communication system, the transmitter being configured to transmit a signal including symbols to a receiver using at least two transmit radiation patterns so that information content of a symbol of temporal length T is transmitted using at least two transmit radiation patterns, realize that the receiver, using Nr receive radiation patterns, disables N receive radiation patterns, wherein 1<=N |
| US07864876B2 |
Differential space-time block coding apparatus using eight or less transmit antennas
A differential STBC transmitting/receiving apparatus in a multiple antenna system using eight or less transmit antennas is provided. In the differential STBC transmitting apparatus, a symbol mapper receives binary data and generates a number of symbols from the binary data, each symbol having a number of bits. A space-time block encoder generates an STBC by encoding the symbols. A differential processor differentially encodes the STBC through feedback and delay. A distribution matrix processor substitutes the differentially coded STBC into a distribution matrix preset according to the number of transmit antennas, and outputs the differential STBC code of the distribution matrix to the transmit antennas. |
| US07864870B2 |
Ultra wideband waveform generator circuit
The invention relates to a novel ultra wideband (UWB) waveform generator circuit (1) placed on a substrate, with transmission lines, loads and ports; wherein the circuit takes as input a waveform and generates as output the derivative of said waveform, characterised in that it has two microstrip transmission lines (2,3) and that these lines (2,3) are coupled. |
| US07864867B2 |
Video coder employing pixel transposition
A video encoding method and apparatus is shown wherein image information is represented as a plurality of pixels, the pixels are organized into blocks, pixels transposition is performed on image information at the boundaries of the blocks, the blocks are transform coded and quantized. Pixel transposition involves transposition of alternate pixels at the boundaries of blocks with pixels of neighboring blocks found in a pre-determined direction. The pre-determined direction may be fixed by a system or may be applied on an image by image basis. In the event that the pre-determined direction is not established by a system, a pixel transposition circuit includes a transposition keyword in the output bit stream which is used by a decoded to determine the direction of pixel transposition. |
| US07864865B2 |
Line address computer for calculating the line addresses of decoded video data
The present invention is directed to a line address computer for calculating the starting line addresses for lines of a decoded frame. The starting addresses for a display frame are provided to the line address computer by a host processor. The line address computer determines the starting line addresses for subsequent lines by appropriately incrementing the line addresses of previous lines. |
| US07864856B2 |
Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus for motion compensation prediction
A video encoding method and apparatus includes selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations. Each combination includes a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture. A prediction picture signal is generated in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination. A predictive error signal is generated representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal. Encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination is included. |
| US07864855B2 |
Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus for motion compensation prediction
A video encoding method includes selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations. Each combination includes a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture. A prediction picture signal is generated in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination. A predictive error signal is generated representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal. Encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination is included. |
| US07864854B2 |
Video encoding/decoding method and apparatus for motion compensation prediction
A video encoding apparatus includes selecting one combination, for each block of an input video signal, from a plurality of combinations. Each combination includes a predictive parameter and at least one reference picture number determined in advance for the reference picture. A prediction picture signal is generated in accordance with the reference picture number and predictive parameter of the selected combination. A predictive error signal is generated representing an error between the input video signal and the prediction picture signal. Encoding the predictive error signal, information of the motion vector, and index information indicating the selected combination is included. |
| US07864843B2 |
Method and apparatus to encode and/or decode signal using bandwidth extension technology
A method and apparatus to perform bandwidth extension encoding and decoding encodes and/or decodes a high frequency signal using an excitation signal for a low frequency signal encoded in a time domain or a frequency domain or using an excitation spectrum for the low frequency signal. Accordingly, although an audio signal is encoded or decoded using a small number of bits, the quality of sound corresponding to a signal in a high frequency band does not degrade. Therefore, a coding efficiency of the audio signal can be maximized. |
| US07864841B2 |
Method for scalably encoding and decoding video signal
In one embodiment, decoding of a video signal includes predicting at least a portion of a current image in a current layer based on at least a portion of a base image in a base layer and shift information for samples in the predicted current image. |
| US07864840B2 |
Scene-by-scene digital video processing
A scene-by-scene (S×S) compression process enables improved visual quality within applicable compression constraints to be obtained. A compressed video signal is analyzed, generating compression statistics. A scene of the video signal is identified for re-compression and a maximum target bit rate for re-compressing the identified scene is determined based on the compression statistics and applicable compression constraints. A target bit rate for re-compressing the scene is selected based on the maximum target bit rate, and compression parameters for the scene are determined based on the scene's compression statistics and the selected target bit rate. |
| US07864832B2 |
Multi-code correlation architecture for use in software-defined radio systems
A reconfigurable multi-code correlation unit for correlating a sequence of chip samples comprising 1) a memory for storing the chip samples; 2) a plurality of add-subtract cells, each add-subtract cell receiving a plurality of real bits, a, and a plurality of imaginary bits, b, from a first chip sample and storing each real bit, a, and each imaginary bit, b, in a data store; and 3) a plurality of sign select units. Each sign select units receives from one add-subtract cell a plurality of first inputs equal to a sum (a+b) of the real bits, a, and the imaginary bits, b, and a plurality of second inputs equal to a difference (a−b) of the real bits, a, and the imaginary bits, b. Each sign select unit generates a plurality of real outputs and a plurality of imaginary outputs, wherein each of the real and imaginary outputs is equal to one of 1) the sum (a+b) multiplied by one of +1 and −1 and 2) the difference (a−b) multiplied by one of +1 and −1. |
| US07864828B2 |
Laser device
A cascade laser device, including a multilayer film structure with a multiple quantum well including a potential barrier and a quantum well; and an electric field applying portion for applying an electric field to the multilayer film structure. The multilayer film structure includes at least two first regions and a second region. The second region is sandwiched between the two first regions; each of the first regions includes multiple sub-bands. When the electric field is applied, carriers are transported from a sub-band in the higher energy quantum well to a sub-band in the lower energy quantum well via the potential barrier in the first regions by tunneling permitted by interaction with light. The second region is thinner than twice a skin depth of the light and includes at least a film having an energy band. The carriers are subjected to energy relaxation in the energy band. |
| US07864826B2 |
Optical transmitter applicable to burst signal and method for controlling the same
An optical transmitter and a method to control the transmitter are disclosed, in which the optical output may be substantially maintained even in the inactive state of the input burst signal. The optical transmitter includes the APC feedback control and the detector that senses the active and inactive states of the input burst signal. When the transition to the inactive state is detected, the controller enters the second APC mode in which only the bias current is adjusted so as to maintain the optical output to be a preset value. The normal APC feedback control may be recovered after a preset period from the practical transition of the input burst signal from the inactive state to the active state. |
| US07864824B2 |
Multiple distributed feedback laser devices
Provided is a multiple distributed feedback laser device. The laser device includes an active layer, a first diffraction grating, and a second diffraction grating. The substrate includes a first distributed feedback region, a modulation region, and a second distributed feedback region. The first diffraction grating is coupled to the active layer in the first distributed feedback region. The second diffraction grating is coupled to the active layer in the second distributed feedback region. In addition, the laser device includes a first micro heater and a second micro heater. The first micro heater supplies heat to the first diffraction grating. The second micro heater supplies heat to the second diffraction grating. The first micro heater and the second micro heater are controlled independently from each other. |
| US07864819B2 |
Method and apparatus for bit demultiplexing in a wireless communication systems
A method and apparatus of bit demultiplexing for a rate 1/3 convolutional encoder in a wireless communication system, the method comprising, receiving bits from the rate-1/3 convolutional encoder, demultiplexing the received bits by distributing the bits sequentially into 3 sequences denoted as V0, V1 and V2 such that the first bit is going to the V0 sequence, the second bit is going to the V1 sequence and the third bit is going to the V2 sequence and ordering the sequences such that V0 is the first sequence, V1 is the second sequence and V2 is the third sequence. |
| US07864816B1 |
Integrated circuit for network delay and jitter testing
An integrated circuit having a corresponding method comprises one or more ports to transmit and receive packets of first data; and a forwarding engine to transfer the packets of the first data between the ports; wherein at least one of the ports comprises a packet generator to originate a first packet of the first data comprising second data representing a time of transmission of the first packet of the first data, a network transmit interface to transmit the first packet of the first data, and a network receive interface to receive a second packet of the first data transmitted in reply to the first packet of the first data; and a controller to calculate a network delay based on the second data representing the time of transmission of the first packet of the first data and the second packet of the first data. |
| US07864811B2 |
Telecommunications control device autonomously determining transmission timing and a method therefor
A network node constituting a telecommunications system together with one or more neighboring nodes includes a telecommunications control device, which includes a timing control signal receiver for receiving timing control signals transmitted from the neighboring nodes, and a transmission timing calculator for determining data transmission timing of the network node, based on reception timing of the timing controls signal of the neighboring nodes. The device further includes a timing control signal transmitter for transmitting a timing control signal with a phase indicative of data transmission timing of the network node reflected, a data communicator for transmitting and receiving a data signal to and from the neighboring nodes, and a phase state manager for controlling transmission of the timing control signal and data signal in accordance with the phase state of the network node. |
| US07864808B2 |
Advanced, self-balancing video multiplexer system
An advanced video multiplexer system designed and optimized for next generation on-demand video distribution is described. The system optimizes identifies a multi-program transport stream best able to accommodate new sessions based upon Quality of Service (QoS) and QAM utilization ratios. MPTS channels are rebalanced via re-grouping and transrating as necessary to optimize bandwidth utilization. Multiple video formats are supported via built-in transcoding. The multiplexer manages encryption resources and supports new sessions using previously allocated encryption resources where possible. Sessions can be grouped into encryption channels either by using a single authorization tier per channel policy, or by requiring all clients of the group to be in physically separated service groups. Encryption channels can be released when a channel no longer serves any clients or when one or more other channels that have been assigned the same entitlement can accommodate any remaining clients. |
| US07864806B2 |
Method and system for transmission control packet (TCP) segmentation offload
Certain aspects of the invention for packet segmentation and offload may comprise determining whether an identified packet is a large send offload packet (LSOP). If the identified packet is a LSOP, a selection may be made between a hardware process and a firmware process for handling the LSOP. The LSOP may then be processed by the selected hardware process or firmware process. At least a portion of protocol header information for a first segment of the LSOP may be stored and subsequently utilized for at least a header portion of a second segment of the LSOP. A payload corresponding to the second segment of the LSOP may be placed at a determined offset within a transmit buffer for the second segment. A header portion of the second segment may be updated based on at least a header portion of a previous segment. |
| US07864798B2 |
Method and apparatus for supporting voice over IP services over a cellular wireless communication network
A method and system for supporting voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) services over a wireless communication network are disclosed. Data is encoded at a coding rate specified by a controller for generating a VoIP packet. Among the encoded data, bits sensitive to errors and bits not sensitive to errors are identified and error protection is performed separately by a medium access control layer and/or physical layer. A header of the VoIP packet may be selectively compressed in accordance with an indication from the controller. A user datagram protocol (UDP)-Lite may be used for partial coverage of the sensitive bits. A comfort noise may be generated by a receiving end during a silence period without receiving a comfort noise packet from a transmitting end. If the VoIP packet is not fit into a currently assigned radio resource, the VoIP packet may be fragmented. |
| US07864793B2 |
Packet transmitting method and device
A packet transmission device of a physical layer receives a plurality of packets from a media access control layer that is an upper layer of the physical layer, and detects a packet including a sync message from the packets. The packet transmission device receives first time information for synchronization from the media access control layer, inserts first time information into the sync message, and transmits packets at a predetermined data rate. |
| US07864791B2 |
Pipelined packet switching and queuing architecture
An architecture for a line card in a network routing device is provided. The line card architecture provides a bi-directional interface between the routing device and a network, both receiving packets from the network and transmitting the packets to the network through one or more connecting ports. In both the receive and transmit path, packets processing and routing in a multi-stage, parallel pipeline that can operate on several packets at the same time to determine each packet's routing destination is provided. Once a routing destination determination is made, the line card architecture provides for each received packet to be modified to contain new routing information and additional header data to facilitate packet transmission through the switching fabric. The line card architecture further provides for the use of bandwidth management techniques in order to buffer and enqueue each packet for transmission through the switching fabric to a corresponding destination port. The transmit path of the line card architecture further incorporates additional features for treatment and replication of multicast packets. |
| US07864781B2 |
Information processing apparatus, method and program utilizing a communication adapter
One aspect of the embodiments utilizes an information processing apparatus connected to another information processing apparatus via a transmitting path. An embodiment includes a communication request generation unit generating a communication request to the other information processing apparatus, a network management unit outputting a first data having an address of a first form to the other information processing apparatus based on the communication request, and a sending unit sending the second data to the transmitting path. The address converting unit converts the first data that the network management unit has output to second data including an address of a second form and outputs the second data when the address converting unit has received a sending request of the first data from the network management unit or when designated time has elapsed before receiving the sending request of the first data from the network management unit. |
| US07864779B2 |
Internet service synchronization method for mobile communication terminal
A synchronization method between an application and Internet protocol included in a mobile terminal including determining whether or not an Internet Function can be performed by the Internet protocol and issuing a wait command from the Internet protocol to the application when it is determined the Internet function can not be performed so as to inform the application to wait a predetermined period of time before closing communication with the Internet protocol. |
| US07864769B1 |
Multicast packet replication
Techniques are described to replicate multicast packets in accordance with a hierarchical data structure. For example, upon receiving a multicast packet, a packet-forwarding engine may communicate the packet to packet-forwarding engines corresponding to starting nodes of the hierarchical data structure. The packet-forwarding engines corresponding to starting nodes of the hierarchical data structure may replicate the multicast packet for local interface cards, and forward the replicated packets to the network. Furthermore, the packet-forwarding engines may replicate the packet for packet-forwarding engines corresponding to downstream nodes. In this manner, the packet replication process is distributed throughout the router decreasing the complexity of necessary replication hardware. Furthermore, the packet replication process is highly scalable resulting in a latency of one fabric hop when the number of packet-forwarding engines doubles. Also, when the hierarchical data structure has more than one starting node, the packet replication process is less susceptible to a single point failure. |
| US07864765B2 |
Anycast-based internet protocol redirection to alleviate partial routing tables
Systems and methods are described that instruct routers having constrained hardware/memory to redirect all outbound traffic to a helper router. The helper router contains a full routing table that can forward any packet to its destination. In a large service provider network, helper routers may be distributed at multiple locations across the network. Since packets must detour through the helper router, the distributed helper routers minimize latency. |
| US07864763B2 |
Method and device for implementing layer 1 virtual private network
A method for implementing Layer 1 Virtual Private Network (L1 VPN) includes creating on a Provider Edge (PE) at least one Virtual PE which performs signaling exchange and routing exchange with a Customer Edge (CE) to support at least one L1 VPN service mode. A device corresponding to the method is also provided. With the inventive solution, appropriate service modes may be selected according to different demands of a user for L1 VPN services required, and VPEs and VCEs may be created dynamically on a PE and a CE to support various service modes, so as to satisfy the demands of the user. Information security and effective resource usage can also be ensured in supporting the various service modes. |
| US07864756B2 |
Systems and methods for providing a network conversion interface
Systems and methods are provided wherein an incoming plain old telephone systems (PSTN) signal is input into a network conversion interface. The network conversion interface first determines the data type of the incoming signal. Next, the network conversion interface creates a routing sequence of the incoming signal based on the determined data type. Finally, the network conversion interface converts the incoming signal into an 802.X format and sends the signal to an appropriate IP device based on the determined signal type. Should the network conversion interface lose electrical power, a drop contactor routes the incoming signal directly to an analog device without creating a routing sequence or performing an 802.X conversion. |
| US07864754B2 |
Method and telecommunication system for transmission of a message
A method and telecommunication system is disclosed for transmission of a message from a first telecommunication terminal to a second telecommunication terminal, of which at least one is connected to a line-connected telephone network. The message is converted as a short message into the short message format, a connection setup is realized and the short message is transmitted in the short message format to a short message service center and from the latter to the second telecommunication terminal, where the transmission of the short message to the short message center and/or to the second telecommunication terminal is carried out by means of DTMF or FSK off-hook signaling in the voice band. |
| US07864753B1 |
Electronic loop provisioning methods and systems
Certain exemplary embodiments provide a method, comprising: receiving, at a subscriber interface line card, an analog signal from a POTS subscriber loop circuit; quantizing the analog signal into a plurality of digital samples; encoding, via high-quality audio codec instructions running on a digital signal processor installed on the subscriber interface line card, the plurality of digital samples; and converting, via conversion instructions running on the digital signal processor, the encoded plurality of digital samples into a plurality of VoATM packets. |
| US07864736B2 |
Packet communication roaming method and system
A method of roaming in a packet communication system during a call is disclosed. The method of roaming has a scanning process and a connection process. During the scanning process, one or more available access points (AP's) are scanned-for. The one or more available AP's are prioritized into a prioritized AP list based on at least one criterion in addition to a received signal strength indicator (RSSI). During the connection process, a decision is made to roam from an existing AP to a new AP. A connection is made to the new AP, wherein the new AP is selected from the prioritized AP list. Associated methods, systems, and data signals are also disclosed. |
| US07864735B2 |
Soft handoff for OFDM
The present invention relates to soft handoffs in an OFDM system. Each mobile terminal measures pilot signal strengths of transmissions from adjacent base stations. If the pilot signal strength for a base station exceeds the defined threshold, that base station is added to an active set list. Each mobile terminal notifies the base stations of their active set lists. By providing the set list to the base station controller and the servicing base station, the mobile terminal identifies the sole servicing base station or triggers a soft handoff mode when multiple base stations appear on the active set list. The soft handoff mode uses a combination of scheduling and space-time coding to affect efficient and reliable handoffs. |
| US07864734B2 |
Communication system and method to be performed in a communication system
The invention relates to a communication method and system wherein a network element of a roaming user is attachable to a visited first network and may still be served by a serving means of the home network. The network element of the roaming user is able to indicate a preference, e.g. home or local control, when registering or initiating a connection. A network element of the visited network such as proxy means adds information on the indicated preference when sending a message to the home network. The message is preferably sent as a protocol message, in particular a message of the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). |
| US07864731B2 |
Secure distributed handover signaling
Provided are apparatuses and methods for providing security measures for a handover execution procedure in a communication network. In one example, the handover procedure is initiated by more than one base station. In another example, a base station may not launch a Denial or Service (DoS) attack towards other base stations or towards a core network using handover signaling messages. For example, a user device may send at least one encryption parameter, such as a Nonce associated with the user device to a source base station. Handover of the user device from the source base station to a target base station may be accomplished based on the at least one encryption parameter to avoid the DoS attack. |
| US07864727B2 |
Congestion control method for wireless communication system and base station control apparatus
If a wireless resource congestion occurs, the wireless resources of the entire system are used efficiently to reduce a disconnection of communication with a congested sector and a state in which a new call cannot be originated nor terminated. A base station control apparatus compares the wireless resource usage amount of each sector of each base station with values stored in a wireless resource threshold table. If a sector of a base station is in the light congestion state, the neighbor search window size of a sector specifying the congested sector as a neighbor is changed to restrict a soft hand-over to the congested sector. If a sector of a base station is in the heavy congestion state, a mobile station which is communicating in the congested sector and receiving radio waves of another sector with stability is subjected to a forced soft hand-over. |
| US07864724B2 |
Enhanced UE out-of-sync behavior with gated uplink DPCCH or gated downlink F-DPCH or DPCCH transmission
A method and corresponding equipment by which a wireless terminal communicatively coupled to a radio access network adapts to gating in respect to a downlink signal from a radio access network carrying power control commands (e.g. the F-DPCH of UTRAN with WCDMA), including gating by the radio access network of either just the power control commands or the channel itself, or gating of reception of the power control commands by the user equipment. The adaptation can include changing values of parameters used in determining when the wireless terminal declares a radio link failure, or instead only changing the procedures used to determine whether a parameter value has been achieved and thus only effectively changing the parameter values (or one or more of the parameters can be actually and effectively changed). |
| US07864718B2 |
Echo cancellation device for full duplex communication systems
An apparatus for echo cancellation in a transceiver of a full duplex communication system, where the transceiver includes a transmitter for transmitting a transmit signal and a receiver for receiving a receive signal, includes: an echo cancellation signal generator, coupled to the transmitter, for receiving the transmit signal and for generating an echo cancellation signal according to the transmit signal, wherein the echo cancellation signal reflects an effect of an impedance of a channel and a parasitic capacitor of the transceiver; and a calculation module coupled to the transmitter, the receiver, and the echo cancellation signal generator for receiving the receive signal and for canceling the echo of the receive signal according to the echo cancellation signal to generate an echo-cancelled signal, wherein the effect of the impedance of the channel and the parasitic capacitor of the transceiver in the echo-cancelled signal is reduced. |
| US07864707B2 |
Determination of network topology using flow-based traffic information
A method for determination of a network topology includes generating a list of device sets for a destination; removing any duplicate device sets from the list; creating a tree for the destination by introducing a root node into the tree; sorting the list of device sets for the destination by length; removing the shortest device set from the list; introducing a new node representing the shortest device set into the tree; determining whether a node in the tree represents a maximum length subset of the shortest device set, and in the event that a node is determined, connecting the new node to the determined node, or else connecting the new node to the root node; setting the identifier of the introduced node to a list of members of the shortest device set that are not included in the maximum length subset of the determined node. |
| US07864706B1 |
Border gateway protocol peer dampening
A method is disclosed for preventing an unstable BGP Peer from repeatedly initializing unstable BGP connections. In one embodiment, BGP speakers are penalized for causing errors that result in BGP restarts. When a speaker accumulates enough penalty points, its peer notifies it that it has been dampened (prevented from establishing a BGP connection). A memory decay function allows the speaker to automatically attempt a new connection once a given amount of time has passed. The method allows at least two, and possibly more, BGP speakers to avoid network and processor costs from servicing unstable BGP peerings. |
| US07864699B2 |
Method and device for information transfer
A method for information transfer includes: determining, by a source Mobility Management Network Element (MMNE) of a source Access Network (AN), version number of GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP) used between the source MMNE and a destination MMNE of a destination AN; and transmitting, by the source MMNE, user information corresponding to the version number of the GTP used between the source MMNE and the destination MMNE to the destination MMNE. The embodiment of the invention also provides a device for information transfer. With the embodiment of present invention, corresponding user information transfer may be realized. |
| US07864698B2 |
Radio communication device and CQI generation method
It is possible to provide a radio communication device and a CQI generation method capable of reducing the total number of CQI when reporting CQI for each level in a hierarchized RB. In the device and the method, the RB hierarchy is made as follows: a plurality of groups each consisting of the same number of RB are made to be one level, a group consisting of a plenty of RB is made to be a lower level, and a group consisting of a small number of RB is made to be a higher level. UE reports CQI for each level to Node B according to the RB reception quality at a longer cycle for lower level and at a shorter cycle for a higher level. |
| US07864688B2 |
Communication system, method of providing information therein and communication device
A communication system for a plurality of devices performing communications through a network is provided. The communication system includes a transmitter/receiver, a reception status detector, and a recorder. The transmitter/receiver is included in each of the plurality of devices and configured to alternately transmit a data packet with ID information indicating time to another device and receive the data packet from the device periodically in the plurality of devices. The reception status detector is included in each of the plurality of devices and configured to detect whether the data packet is periodically received based on the ID information added to the data packet received from another device. The recorder is configured to record a result detected by the reception status detector in each of the plurality of devices. |
| US07864680B2 |
Communication apparatus and method
This invention relates to a communication apparatus and method for a code division multiple access communication system transmitting a transport channel composite including data of transport channels between a base station and a communication terminal via a physical channel, the physical channel having a maximum physical rate and rate matching is performed on data of each of the transport channels to change a transmission rate. |
| US07864678B1 |
Rate adaptation in wireless systems
A transceiver in an ad hoc network may use a rate adaptation module to select an optimal data rate for a given wireless environment. The rate adaptation module may use a measured RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) from a receive section and a retry count from a transmit section to determine the optimal data rate. |
| US07864672B1 |
Method for tracking source and destination internet protocol data
In an IP network, tabulating the number of data packets received from and/or sent to a particular IP address over time can provide a mechanism by which it is possible to determine or predict overloading of a node or nodes in an IP data network. By selectively deleting data packets received from a suspect source address or inhibiting the transmission of data packets to a suspect destination address, network management and control can be readily accomplished. |
| US07864671B2 |
Connection control apparatus, connection control method, and program
A connection control apparatus includes a monitoring unit, a determining unit, a transferring unit, and a notifying unit. The monitoring unit monitors a status of a communication terminal. The determining unit determines, on a basis of a monitoring result, whether or not the communication terminal is able to respond to a connection request therefor. The transferring unit transfers the connection request to the communication terminal when the transferring unit has received a connection request for the communication terminal and the determining unit determines that the communication terminal is able to respond to the connection request. The notifying unit calls attention around the connection control apparatus when the determining unit determines that the communication terminal is unable to respond to the connection request after the transferring unit has received the connection request. |
| US07864661B2 |
Time-switched preamble generator, method of generating and multiple-input, multiple-output communication system employing the generator and method
The present invention is directed to a time-switched preamble generator and method of generating a time-switched preamble for use with a multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) transmitter employing first and second transmit antennas. In one embodiment, the time-switched preamble generator includes an initial preamble formatter configured to provide a first preamble to the first transmit antenna and a second preamble to the second transmit antenna during an initial time interval. The time-switched preamble generator also includes a subsequent preamble formatter coupled to the initial preamble formatter and configured to provide the second preamble to the first transmit antenna and the first preamble to the second transmit antenna during a subsequent time interval. |
| US07864658B2 |
Multicarrier communication method and system, and communication apparatus incorporated therein
A multicarrier communication method selects carriers on the basis of an SN-ratio and the balancing of a transmission line. Available carriers are selected in accordance with the balancing of the balanced transmission line, in which the balancing is measured at either a sending terminal or a receiving terminal or alternatively at both, and the SN-ratio is measured between the sending terminal and the receiving terminal. Additionally, a modulation method having the greatest permissible multivalue is selected for each of the carriers, wherein the carriers are selected in light of the SN-ratio and balancing, or alternatively in a highest-to-lowest order of frequency. Transmission power is controlled for each of the carriers to suppress radiated emission, and the SN-ratio and balancing are measured at predetermined time intervals to renew the selection of the carriers and the selection of the modulation methods. |
| US07864652B2 |
Gain control circuit and optical recording and reproducing device using thereof
A gain control circuit to determine gain by a current ratio of mutual conductance. The gain control circuit includes a first gain control circuit in which positive and negative phase input signals are supplied, gain is changed based on a first control signal, and positive and negative phase output signals are outputted, a second gain control circuit in which the positive and negative phase input signals are supplied, gain is changed based on a second control signal, and the positive and negative phase output signals are outputted, and a load circuit in which the positive phase output signal of the first gain control circuit and the negative phase output signal of the second gain control circuit are synthesized and supplied to a first input terminal, and the negative phase output signal of the first gain control circuit and the positive phase output signal of the second gain control circuit are synthesized and supplied to a second input terminal, and the synthesized signals are lead out through mutual conductance. |
| US07864650B2 |
Optical element, optical head, optical information recording and reproduction apparatus, computer, image recording device, image reproduction device, server and car navigation system
The present invention provides a first light source (21) that emits light of a first wavelength, that at least either records onto or reproduces information from an information recording medium (30), a light source (22) that emits light of a second wavelength that records onto or reproduces information from an information recording medium (33), a light source (23) that emits light of a third wavelength that records onto or reproduces information from an information recording medium (23), focusing means, an optical element (28) that passes light of the first wavelength and diffracts light of the second and third wavelengths, wherein the optical element (28) is an optical element in which grooves are formed in a substrate, wherein the expression: 380 nm≦(n−1)×d≦420 nm is satisfied, where n is a refractive index of the substrate at a wavelength of 400 nm, and d (nm) is a depth per step of the grooves, and wherein the grooves are formed in two steps of depth d and depth 2d. |
| US07864649B2 |
Information storage medium having additional data areas and method of recording/reproducing the same
An information storage medium has user data areas and additional data areas, and sync patterns to distinguish the additional data areas from the user data areas. The information storage medium includes a user data area in which user data is recorded and an additional data area located in at least one of areas before and after the user data area. Second sync patterns used in the additional data area are different from first sync patterns used in the user data area. |
| US07864647B2 |
Method and apparatus for optimization of data pulse detection slice level
A method and apparatus for calibrating the slice level of a pulse detector monitors the quality of the detected pulse signal to determine and optimize slice level. The method practiced may include two parts, including a coarse stage and a fine stage. The method practiced may further include a continuous adjustment mode of operation. |
| US07864641B2 |
Optical disk having divided write strategy tuning areas, optical recording/reproducing apparatus and method using the same
An optical recording/reproducing apparatus includes an optical pickup unit configured to scan an optical disk with an optical signal to record and reproduce data. A power tuning unit is configured to scan a first track with the optical signal to record a first test data to the first track, while changing a power level of the optical signal within a predetermined range in sequence. A scanning time tuning unit is configured to scan a second track with an optical signal to record a second test data to the second track, while changing a scanning time within a predetermined range in sequence. A state detection unit is configured to detect a reproduction state of the first test data and second test data. A controller is configured to check the reproductions state of the first test data and second test data and determine an optimal power level and optimal scanning time. Accordingly, a write strategy is rapidly and optically tuned. |
| US07864628B2 |
Flexural wave attenuation
A seismic information processing method and apparatus includes attenuating flexural wave noise information from seismic information. Flexural wave information removal includes receiving the seismic information using an information processing device interface, the seismic information having a plurality of directional components acquired using a multi-axis motion sensor coupled to ice floating on a body of water, the seismic information including desired seismic information and the flexural wave information. A noise model of the flexural wave information may be generated using at least one of the plurality of seismic information directional components using an information processing device. The noise model is improved using an adaptive correction filter, and the improved noise model is applied to at least one directional component of the received seismic information to attenuate the flexural wave information wave in the seismic information. |
| US07864627B2 |
Memory module decoder
A circuit is configured to be mounted on a memory module connectable to a computer system so as to be electrically coupled to a plurality of memory devices on the memory module. The plurality of memory devices has a first number of memory devices. The circuit comprises a logic element configurable to receive a set of input signals from the computer system. The circuit further comprising a register and a phase-lock loop circuit, the phase-lock loop circuit configurable to be operatively coupled to the plurality of memory devices, the logic element, and the register. The set of input signals corresponds to a second number of memory devices smaller than the first number of memory devices. |
| US07864625B2 |
Optimizing SRAM performance over extended voltage or process range using self-timed calibration of local clock generator
A delay circuit has a fixed delay path at a lower voltage level, a level converter, and an adjustable delay path at a higher voltage level. The fixed delay path includes an inverter chain, and the adjustable delay path includes serially-connected delay elements selectively connected to the circuit output. In an application for a local clock buffer of a static, random-access memory (SRAM), the lower voltage level is that of the local clock buffer, and the higher voltage level is that of the SRAM. These voltages may vary in response to dynamic voltage scaling, requiring re-calibration of the adjustable delay path. The adjustable delay path may be calibrated by progressively increasing the read access time of the SRAM array until a contemporaneous read operation returns the correct output, or by using a replica SRAM path to simulate variations in delay with changes in voltage supply. |
| US07864623B2 |
Semiconductor device having latency counter
A semiconductor device includes a latency setting circuit setting the latency, an input command circuit outputting a normal-phase (reverse-phase) command signal obtained by capturing an input command signal using a normal-phase (reverse-phase) clock, first and second counter circuits each including latch circuits sequentially shifting the normal-phase (reverse-phase) command signal based on the normal-phase (reverse-phase) clock, a selector circuit controlling a signal path so that the normal-phase (reverse-phase) command signal is transmitted through the first (second) counter circuit when an even latency is set and the normal-phase (reverse-phase) command signal is transmitted so as to be shifted from the first (second) counter circuit to the second (first) counter circuit when an odd latency is set, and a control circuit controlling so that the latch circuits of the first (second) counter circuit are activated in response to the input command signal and stopped after an operation period is elapsed. |
| US07864622B2 |
Low power multi-chip semiconductor memory device and chip enable method thereof
A multi-chip semiconductor device capable of selectively activating and deactivating the individual semiconductor chips of the device and a chip enable method thereof are included. The individual semiconductor chips of the device are activated and deactivated in accordance with internal chip enable signals. |
| US07864620B1 |
Partially reconfigurable memory cell arrays
Partial reconfiguration techniques and reconfiguration circuitry are provided that allow portions of a memory cell array to be reconfigured with new reconfiguration data without disturbing other portions of the memory cell array. The memory cells may be loaded with configuration data on an integrated circuit such as a programmable logic device. Memory cell outputs may configure programmable logic. To avoid disturbing programmable logic operations for programmable logic that is unaffected by the reconfigured cells during reconfiguration, unaffected memory cells are not unnecessarily cleared. Only those memory cells that need to be cleared to conform to the new configuration data that is being loaded into the array need to be loaded with logic zero values during reconfiguration operations. After these clearing operations are complete, set operations may be performed to convert appropriate memory cells to logic one values to match the new configuration data. |
| US07864612B2 |
Reading array cell with matched reference cell
A method for reading a bit of a memory cell in a non-volatile memory (NVM) cell array, the method comprising providing a memory cell comprising a bit to be read and at least one other bit not to be read, and reading the bit to be read with respect to a multi-bit reference cell, the reference cell comprising a first bit at a first non-ground programmed state and a second bit at a second non-ground programmed state. Compared with the prior art, the present invention may enable achieving an improved sensing accuracy together with improved read disturb immunity. |
| US07864608B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a DRAM cell configured to store a data; and a sense amplifier activated in response to supply of power supply voltages and configured to sense the data stored in the DRAM cell. A power supply circuit supplies the power supply voltages to the sense amplifier. A sense amplifier dummy circuit provides a replica of a state of the sense amplifier immediately after the activation of the sense amplifier; and a power supply control circuit controls the power supply circuit based on the replica such that the power supply voltages are varied with time. |
| US07864606B2 |
Method, device and system for regulating access to an integrated circuit (IC) device
A circuit block access module (ICAM) residing on an integrated circuit and adapted to access a circuit block on the integrated circuit, the module comprising control logic adapted to extract data from a serial data line into two or more parallel data lines, wherein at least one of the parallel data lines is associated with a circuit block address line; and the control logic is further adapted to override or bypass at least a portion of a primary control circuit of said integrated circuit. |
| US07864599B2 |
Device and method generating internal voltage in semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device and a method of generating an internal voltage in the semiconductor memory device are provided. The semiconductor memory device includes a controller configured to activate a sensing enable signal when an active command is applied from outside, inactivate the sensing enable signal when a precharge command is applied, and output the sensing enable signal, and an array internal voltage generator configured to output an active array power supply voltage as an array power supply voltage when the sensing enable signal is activated, output an external array power supply voltage and a standby array power supply voltage as the array power supply voltage when the sensing enable signal is inactivated, and output the standby array power supply voltage alone as the array power supply voltage when the sensing enable signal is inactivated for at least a specific period. |
| US07864594B2 |
Memory apparatus and method thereof for operating memory
A memory apparatus, a controller, and a method thereof for programming non-volatile memory cells are provided. The memory apparatus includes a plurality of memory cells, wherein each memory cell shares a source/drain region with a neighboring memory cell. The method utilizes a compensation electron flow applied into a source/drain region between two memory cells to provide enough electron flow to program one of the two memory cells, even under the circumstances that the other memory cell has a greater threshold voltage, such that the dispersion of the programming speed of the memory cells is reduced. |
| US07864592B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory having plural data storage portions for a bit line connected to memory cells
Data having three values or more is stored in a memory cell in a nonvolatile manner. A data circuit has a plurality of storage circuits. One of the plurality of storage circuits is a latch circuit. Another one of the plurality of storage circuits is a capacitor. The latch circuit and the capacitor function to temporarily store program/read data having two bits or more. Data held by the capacitor is refreshed using the latch circuit if data variation due to leakage causes a program. As a result, the data circuit does not become large in size even if multi-level data is used. |
| US07864580B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor storage device, nonvolatile semiconductor storage system and method of managing of defective column in nonvolatile semiconductor storage system
A nonvolatile semiconductor storage device is disclosed, which includes a memory cell array in which nonvolatile memory cells are arranged, a first data holding circuit which temporarily holds a collective processing unit of read or write data to be simultaneously read from or written to the memory cells, a circuit which takes out the data held in the first data holding circuit from the device, and a second data holding circuit in which data is automatically set at a time when power supply is turned on and in which the data is changeable based on a command input to the device, wherein the collective processing unit is equal to a sum of the number of units used within the device and the maximum number of units continuously output from the device to outside or input to the device from outside. |
| US07864576B2 |
Nonvolatile memory cell array architecture for high speed reading
When different word lines are accessed sequentially, to perform access operations in parallel, a word decoder overlaps a part of activation periods of those word lines. That is, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory is capable of pipeline processing for performing access operations in parallel. All the combinations of bit lines and source lines that are connected to the drains and the sources of nonvolatile memory cells are different from each other. Therefore, even when plural word lines are activated to perform plural read operations in parallel, a memory cell current is allowed to flow only between the drain and the source of a nonvolatile memory cell concerned. As a result, random access in which desired nonvolatile memory cells are accessed sequentially is enabled in a nonvolatile semiconductor memory having a pipeline function for performing plural read operations in parallel. |
| US07864571B2 |
Memory cell programming method and semiconductor memory device
A memory cell programming method and related semiconductor memory device are disclosed. The method involves receiving and latching first through nth bits of write data in a corresponding plurality of first through nth latches, and programming a kth bit of write data in the memory cell, where k ranges from 2 to n, in relation to first through k−1th bits of write data previously stored in the memory cell. |
| US07864568B2 |
Semiconductor storage device
In a semiconductor storage device such as a phase change memory, a technique which can realize high integration is provided. The semiconductor storage device includes a phase change thin film 101 having two stable phases of a crystal state with low electric resistance and an amorphous state with high electric resistance, upper plug electrodes 102 and 103 provided on one side of the phase change thin film 101, a lower electrode 104 provided on the other side of the phase change thin film 101, a selecting transistor 114 whose drain/source terminals are connected to the upper plug electrode 102 and the lower electrode 104, and a selecting transistor 115 whose drain/source terminals are connected to the upper plug electrode 103 and the lower electrode 104, and a first memory cell is configured with the selecting transistor 114 and a phase change region 111 in the phase change thin film 101 sandwiched between the upper plug electrode 102 and the lower electrode 104, and a second memory cell is configured with the selecting transistor 115 and a phase change region 112 in the phase change thin film 101 sandwiched between the upper plug electrode 103 and the lower electrode 104. |
| US07864562B2 |
Integrated circuit memory access mechanisms
A memory cell 36 within an integrated circuit memory is provided with an access controller 32 coupled to a first pass gate 38 and a second pass gate 40. During a write access to the memory cell 38 both the first pass gate 38 and the second pass gate 40 are opened. During a read access, the first pass gate 38 is opened and the second pass gate 40 is closed. This asymmetry in the read and write operations permits an asymmetry in the gates forming the memory cell 36 thereby permitting changes to increase both read robustness and write robustness. The asymmetry in the design parameters of different gates can take the form of varying the gate length, the gate width and the threshold voltage so as to vary the conductance of different gates to suit their individual role within the memory cell 36 which is operating in the asymmetric manner provided by the separate word line signals driving read operations and write operations. |
| US07864559B2 |
Dram memory device with improved refresh characteristic
A semiconductor memory device and a method for operating the same can improve a refresh characteristic of the semiconductor memory device by physically writing only logic low data in memory cells, irrespective of logic level of input data, either high or low. The semiconductor memory device includes a positive word line configured to control a first memory cell connected to a positive bit line, a negative word line configured to control a second memory cell connected to a negative bit line, and a word line control circuit configured to enable one of the positive word line and the negative word line according to a logic level of data in a write operation. |