Document Document Title
US08383062B2 Fluid processing device including size-changing barrier
A diagnostic device is provided that includes a plurality of retainment regions interconnected through at least one fluid processing passageway or separated by at least one barrier. A fluid flow modulator can be provided in the fluid processing passageway if a fluid processing passageway is provided. The barrier and/or fluid flow modulator can comprise a polysaccharide, a derivative of a polysaccharide, or a combination thereof. For example, the barrier can comprise a chitosan material.
US08383058B2 Quantitative analysis of a biological sample of unknown quantity
Disclosed is a method for testing a modified specimen such as a dried blood spot, plasma or serum specimen, for an analyte of interest, such as cholesterol. In accordance with the disclosed subject matter, the level of the analyte of interest in the medium from which the modified specimen was obtained (e.g., from a patient's blood) is determined based on the level of an analyte in a solution formed from the modified specimen and on the level of at least one normalizing analyte. The analyte and normalizing analyte each may be an ion, compound, biochemical entity, or property of the specimen. Also disclosed are a fluid collector and a fluid collection device.
US08383056B2 Blood glucose test instrument kit having modular component parts
A blood glucose test instrument kit having modular component parts capable of being assembled into a plurality of different handheld blood glucose test instruments is disclosed. The kit comprises the combination of an interconnection platform adapted to connect to a collection of interoperable modules. The collection of interoperable modules including: a plurality of different measurement engine modules, at least one user interface module, at least one power supply module. A handheld blood glucose test instrument is assembled by the interconnection to the interconnection platform of at least one measurement engine module, at least one user interface module, and at least one power supply module. The inter-module communication among the modules connected thereto to achieve enhanced glucose test instrument reliability by effecting at least one reliability protocol selected from a group of reliability protocols.
US08383052B2 System for a heat balanced FCC forlight hydrocarbon feeds
Catalyst regenerators and methods for using same. The regenerator can include a regenerator housing containing a dense phase catalyst bed for receiving a catalyst to be regenerated. A heater can be disposed in the regenerator and can have a fuel nozzle configured to eject a mixture of fuel and an oxygen-lean gas for combustion to supplement the heat to satisfy the reactor heat demand when a light feedstock cracked that may not provide sufficient coke formation on the catalyst to fully satisfy the reactor heat demand.
US08383049B2 System for making renewable fuels
Multiple catalytic processing stations couple with a system which produces volatile gas streams from biomass decomposition at discrete increasing temperatures. These catalytic processing stations can be programmed to maximize conversion of biomass to useful renewable fuel components based on input feedstock and desired outputs.
US08383045B2 Measuring unit for measuring characteristics of a sample liquid, in particular viscoelastic characteristics of a blood sample
The present invention is directed to a measuring unit, for measuring characteristics of a sample liquid, comprising a support member, having at least one upper bearing arm, with an upper bearing unit, at least one lower bearing arm, with a lower bearing unit, and a base, for being attachable to a respective measuring system; a shaft, having shaft toes and being rotatably supported about a rotation axis, by said upper bearing unit, and said lower bearing unit, wherein said upper bearing unit, said lower bearing unit, and said shaft toes form toe bearings, respectively; an interface member, having a detecting element, and a drive element, said interface member, being fixed on said shaft, and being connected to a coupling shaft, with a probe connector section, for measuring characteristics of said sample liquid; wherein said interface member, and the coupling shaft, are coaxially aligned with said shaft.
US08383039B2 Self-contained biological assay apparatus, methods, and applications
A self-contained, fully automated, biological assay-performing apparatus includes a housing; a dispensing platform including a controllably-movable reagent dispensing system, disposed in the housing; a reagent supply component disposed in the housing; a pneumatic manifold removably disposed in the housing in a space shared by the dispensing platform, removably coupled to a fluidic transport layer and a plurality of reservoirs, wherein the fluidic transport layer, the reservoirs, and a test sample to be introduced therein are disposed in the housing in the space separate from the dispensing platform; a pneumatic supply system removably coupled to the pneumatic manifold in the housing in a space separate from the dispensing platform; and a control system coupled to at least one of the dispensing platform and the pneumatic supply system, disposed in the housing.
US08383022B2 Method for manufacturing a light guide plate
Disclosed are a film-type light guide plate capable of readily securing mass-production and realizing low weight and slimness, a method for manufacturing the same and a backlight unit using the same. The method includes loading a base film on a movable first conveyor belt, coating a liquid ultraviolet curable resin on the first surface of the base film, rotating a surface-treated roll on the coated ultraviolet curable resin to form a prism pattern provided with a first protrusion pattern, and curing the prism pattern using an ultraviolet lamp.
US08383020B2 Dielectric fluid composition containing vegetable oils and free of antioxidants
A dielectric fluid composition containing of 60% to 63% in weight of mono-unsaturated fatty acid, of 20% to 23% in weight of di-unsaturated fatty acid, of 5% to 7% in weight of tri-unsaturated fatty acid, and of 6% to 8% in weight of saturated fatty acid, such that the dielectric fluid is free of antioxidants and/or external additives and has the following properties: a dielectric strength of 40 kV to 70 kV at a separation of 2 mm, a dielectric constant of 2.5 to 3.1 at 25° C., and a dissipation factor of 0.05% to 0.15% at 25° C. The dielectric fluid composition can be obtained by a combination of 95.5% to 99.25% in weight of at least one high oleic vegetable oil, of 0.25% to 1.5% in weight of grape seed oil, of 0.25% to 1.5% in weight of sesame seed oil, and of 0.25% to 1.5% in weight of rice bran oil.
US08383015B2 Copper powder for conductive paste and conductive paste
Copper powder is provided, which, while having fine granularity and resistance to oxidation, does not lose either resistance to oxidation or balance in conductivity, and furthermore, copper powder for conductive paste in which variations in shape and granularity are small and having a low concentration in oxygen content. The copper powder for conductive paste contains 0.05 to 10 atomic % Bi inside each particle.
US08383011B2 Conductive inks with metallo-organic modifiers
A conductive ink having a glass frit, an organic medium a conductive species and one or more metallo-organic components which form metal oxides upon firing and reduce series resistance to a same or greater degree a ink that do not include metallo-organic components, is provided. Embodiments of conductive ink include metallo-organic components that include a bismuth metallo-organic component and glass frits comprising one or more of bismuth oxide, silica, boron oxide, tellurium dioxide, and combinations thereof. Embodiments of photovoltaic cells with an anti-reflection coating, gridlines formed from conductive ink incorporating one or more metallo-organic components, are also provided.
US08383010B2 Active optical element, method of producing the same
An active element that is based on an electret emulsion and that comprises particles of pre-polarized electret material as emulsion in neutral liquid and both poles of the particles are colored with different colors. For producing a neutral carrier liquid for the active element liquid fluorine carbon is used. For producing electret material for the active element solid polymerised fluorine carbon or electret wax is used. The active element is used for producing visual matrix displays, indicators, surfaces and surface coatings that change color by the application of a control voltage.
US08382995B2 Piezoelectric devices and methods for manufacturing same
Methods are disclosed for manufacturing piezoelectric devices. In an exemplary method a base substrate is prepared that defines multiple device bases. Multiple cutting grooves are defined on a surface of the base substrate in a grid pattern to define therebetween the size of the devices. A frame substrate is also prepared from a piezoelectric material. The frame substrate defines multiple frames surrounding respective vibrating pieces and being alignable with respective bases in the base substrate. Also prepared is a lid substrate defining multiple lids being alignable with respective frames and bases. The three substrates are aligned and bonded together such that the frame substrate is between the lid and base substrates and the surface defining the cutting grooves faces outward. The base substrate is mounted on a dicing sheet such that cutting grooves face the dicing sheet. Cutting is performed, using a dicing blade, through the sandwich from the lid substrate to the cutting grooves.
US08382991B2 Method of sorbing discolored organic compounds from water
Discolored organic compounds (DOC) may be extracted from a medium using a sorbent composition derived by sulfidation of red mud, which contains hydrated ferric oxides derived from the Bayer processing of bauxitic ores. In some aspects, the sorbent composition is slurried with the medium. In other aspects, the sorbent composition is formed into pellets or the like, which are contacted with the medium. The red mud (along with adsorbed contaminants) is then separated from the water using any suitable technique, such as filtration, sedimentation, or centrifugation.
US08382985B1 Apparatus, system and process for wastewater purification
An apparatus, system, and process for wastewater treatment. The apparatus can include a basin for receiving a liquid to be treated, the liquid having a direction of flow, and a plurality of pendant sheets for supporting the growth of microorganisms, disposed within the basin and in contact with the liquid, wherein the pendant sheets are oriented parallel to the direction of flow of the liquid.
US08382982B2 Apparatus merging wetland plants with a floating substrate to treat pollution in any river, lake or body of water
Apparatus to treat pollution in rivers, streams, lakes, bays, ports and all bodies of water, employing as methodology wetland plants or macrophytes growing atop a wire or rigid frame basket filled with polygons or other irregular shaped objects of various configurations. The root system of the macrophytes are merged with and grow down amid the substrate composed of small polygons, other irregular shaped hollow, plastic, ceramic objects or other materials. The substrate provides nutrients, oxygen and sanctuary to bacteria, thereby reducing and eliminating pollutants in all bodies of water.
US08382981B2 Frame system for membrane filtration modules
A module arrangement (5) according to an embodiment of the invention consists of a plurality of membrane modules (6) arranged in a two dimensional array (7) and extending between upper and lower block-type manifolds (8) and (9), respectively. The array of modules is further divided into sub-groups of modules (10) separated from each other by space (11) extending transversely across the membrane array (7). An integrated support frame (12) is positioned in the space (11) between the sub-groups (10) and is fixed to the upper and lower manifold blocks (8) and (9) to form an integrated support structure within the module array (7).
US08382980B2 Household water filter
Apparatus for water purification and used in drinking water supply systems and individual filters. The apparatus allows an increase in quality of the water purification by means of a helical arrangement of a granular filter and an increase of the number of passages in which the water is purified. A household filter comprises a housing with distribution grids at the water inlet and outlet, two and more helical partitions having the form of a flat band or rod twisted around the longitudinal axis and having three or more beam profiles, and, optionally, comprise one or more flat partitions dividing the water inlet and outlet.
US08382974B2 Sensor to measure a concentration of alkali alcoholate
A sodium sensor to measure a concentration of sodium methylate in methanol. The sensor assembly includes a solid alkali ion conducting membrane, a reference electrode, and a measurement electrode. The solid alkali ion conducting membrane transports ions between two alkali-containing solutions, including an aqueous solution and a non-aqueous solution. The reference electrode is at least partially within an alkali halide solution of a known alkali concentration on a first side of the solid alkali ion conducting membrane. The measurement electrode is on a second side of the solid alkali ion conducting membrane. The measurement electrode exhibits a measurable electrical characteristic corresponding to a measured alkali concentration within the non-aqueous solution, to which the measurement electrode is exposed.
US08382965B2 Tools and methods for mounting transport rails in a substrate processing system
Devices and methods for mounting and aligning transport rails to a processing chamber of a substrate processing system are described. An alignment feature is built-in to the transport rail and a corresponding alignment feature is added to the valves separating processing chambers. The alignment feature may be a pin-groove arrangement.
US08382951B2 Wet-end manufacturing process for bitumen-impregnated fiberboard
A process for manufacturing fiberboard by preparing a fiber slurry mixture including containing cellulose fibers and water then atomizing a liquid bituminous material, such as asphalt. The liquid bituminous material is atomized by mixing it with a pressurized gas, such as compressed air, forming a mist comprising droplets of bituminous material having a diameter between 20 microns and 50 microns. A water spray solidifies the bituminous material droplets thereby forming bituminous particles which fall into the fiber slurry within the spray chamber. From there the slurry is sheared, dewatered, and dried, forming a finished fiberboard.
US08382946B2 Paper sizing composition, sized paper, and method for sizing paper
Embodiments of the present invention provide a paper surface sizing composition, a paper web coated on one or more sides or surfaces with a paper surface sizing composition, and a method for treating one or more sides of the paper web with a paper surface sizing composition to impart benefits relating to one or more of the following properties: (1) brightness; (2) opacity; (3) paper smoothness; (4) print quality; (5) optionally ink dry time (e.g., for ink jet printing where the sizing composition has option); and (6) optionally minimizing or eliminating edge welding (e.g., for paper webs used in, for example, form printing).
US08382945B2 Expandable microspheres and methods of making and using the same
Expandable microspheres formed by suspension polymerization using a shot growth method are provided. The microspheres are formed of a continuous, gas impermeable shell surrounding a blowing agent. The shell includes a first polymer layer formed from primary monomers and a second layer that includes a chemically reactive monomer or a high Tg monomer. To form the microspheres, the primary monomers are polymerized in a reaction vessel to an approximate 90% polymerization, at which time a secondary monomer that is either a monomer having a Tg of at least 85° C. or a chemically reactive monomer, is added to the reaction vessel to drive the polymerization reaction to completion. The outer layer thus contains either a larger amount of the high Tg monomer or a chemically reactive monomer that possesses the ability to covalently bond a cationic species. The microspheres may be used in papermaking processes to increase the paper bulk.
US08382944B2 Method for slitting a label
A method for assisting in the removal of a pressure sensitive label from a slender glass vessel wherein said label is wrapped around the circumference of the vessel and extends along the length of the vessel includes positioning a planar cutting blade at two angles relative to the label, drawing the blade down along the length of the label, cutting the label into two opposite cut edges with one edge adhering to the vessel and the other cut edge being raised slightly away from the circumference of the vessel and forming a space between the two cut edges.
US08382934B2 Method for manufacturing electronic component
A triaxial acceleration sensor which has a structure including a cover joined to a substrate including a mechanically operable functional unit to be sealed, is adapted in such a way that the joined state can be reliably obtained so as to not interfere with a displacement of the functional unit. A sealing frame is made of a heated polyimide on a periphery of an upper main surface of a substrate provided with a functional unit, and a sealing layer made of a polyimide is formed over an entire lower main surface of a cover. For integrating the substrate and the cover so as to seal the functional unit, the sealing frame and the sealing layer are joined to each other by heating and pressurizing the sealing frame and the sealing layer at a temperature that is about 50° C. to about 150° C. higher than a glass transition temperature of the polyimide while bringing the sealing frame and the sealing layer into contact with each other. In this case, a recess is formed in the vicinity of a portion of the sealing layer to be brought into contact with the sealing frame so that a bump, generated from the sealing layer which is deformed in the joining step, is prevented from protruding toward the functional unit.
US08382928B2 Method for manufacturing pants-type diaper
A method for manufacturing a pants-type diaper of the present invention includes: a step of carrying a diaper body in a longitudinal direction X; a first folding step of folding a side panel 3 along a first line L1 extending in the longitudinal direction; a first attachment step of attaching first end portions 31 of a pair of side panels 3 to end portions 20a (21a), opposing each other in a girth direction Y, of the front portion 20 or the back portion 21; a second folding step of folding the diaper body 2 along a second line L2 extending along the girth direction Y so that the front portion 20 and the back portion 21 lie on each other; and a second attachment step of attaching second end portions 32 of the pair of side panels 3 to end portions, opposing each other in the girth direction Y, of the back portion 21 or the front portion 20, to which the side panel 3 has not been attached in the first attachment step.
US08382922B2 High performance, low toxicity hypergolic fuel
A group of tertiary amine azides are useful as hypergolic fuels for hypergolic bipropellant mixtures. The fuels provide higher density impulses than monomethyl hydrazine (MMH) but are less toxic and have lower vapor pressures that MMH. In addition, the fuels have shorter ignition delay times than dimethylaminoethylazide (DMAZ) and other potential reduced toxicity replacements for MMH.
US08382911B2 Stage device and stage cleaning method
A method for a stage device of an electron beam exposure system which conducts a cleaning operation and an electron beam (EB) exposure operation is disclosed. The method includes the steps of moving a movable stage within a predetermined range and regulating pressure of gas supplied to an air bearing; and setting a floating height of the movable stage in the cleaning operation lower than that in the EB exposure operation and setting the pressure in a differential pumping portion in the cleaning operation equal to that in the EB exposure operation, or setting the floating height of the movable stage in the cleaning operation equal to that in the EB exposure operation and setting the pressure in the differential pumping portion in the cleaning operation higher than that in the EB exposure operation.
US08382907B2 System and method for cleaning a grinding machine
A grinding machine cleaning system and method provides a range of human safe products that can easily be introduced into the grinding chamber and cycled through the equipment. Some of the products include corn cobs, walnut shells, pecan shells, nuts, rice, dried corn kernels, corn meal, barley, wheat, bulgur, and other grain, fiber, legume, nut, bark, and shell products in varying shapes and sizes. Organic products have largely been considered ideal. However, inorganic materials also may be used with equal effect.
US08382891B2 Preparation of coating dispersions
The invention relates to a process for the preparation of coating dispersions for use in the paper industry by co-grinding natural calcium carbonate (GCC) and precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC), characterized in that powdery GCC is co-ground with a slurry containing from 5 to 70% by weight of PCC to obtain a particle size distribution of the calcium carbonate with at least 90% by weight of smaller than 5 μm, at least 70% by weight of smaller than 2 μm, and at least 20% by weight of smaller than 1 μm, with a weight average particle size within a range of from 0.7 to 3 μm.
US08382875B2 Air cleaner arrangements; serviceable filter elements; and, methods
An air cleaner arrangement or assembly is provided. The air cleaner arrangement includes a serviceable filter cartridge. The air cleaner assembly also includes an arrangement for positioning the filter cartridge into a preferred, sealing, orientation and for securing the filter cartridge in that location. Preferred serviceable filter cartridges are provided, as well as methods of assembly and use.
US08382866B2 Reaction apparatus, fuel cell system and electronic device
The invention relates to a reaction apparatus that efficiently heats a reaction portion, and a fuel cell system and an electronic device that include such a reaction apparatus. A reaction apparatus (1) includes a reformer (4) in which formed are a reforming reaction chamber (31) and a reformer combustion chamber (30) that generates heat to be supplied to the reforming reaction chamber (31), which (30, 31) are adjacent to each other with a partition interposed therebetween; a CO remover (5) in which formed are a removing reaction chamber (35) where a chemical reaction is performed at a temperature lower than that in the reforming reaction chamber (31) and a remover combustion chamber (34) that generates heat to be supplied to the removing reaction chamber (35), which (34, 35) are adjacent to each other with a partition interposed therebetween; and a connecting portion (6) that connects the reformer (4) and the remover (5). At least one of the reformer (4) and the CO remover (5) is configured by combining ceramic parts (11, 12) and metal components (15, 16), and the ceramic parts (11, 12) and the metal components (15, 16) are connected with second members (18, 20) interposed therebetween.
US08382864B2 Hydrogen-generating apparatus and fuel cell system
The present invention provides a hydrogen-generating apparatus in which the reduction in reforming efficiency associated with an increase in switching frequency to the regeneration reaction can be suppressed, and generation of hydrogen by reforming can stably be performed. In the reforming reaction, a cathode offgas discharged from a hydrogen-separation-membrane fuel cell 30 having a hydrogen-permeating film is supplied to PSR reformers 10 and 20, in which the reforming reaction and the regeneration reaction are performed alternately.
US08382861B2 Method of producing a gel polymer Li-ion battery
The invention relates to a composite gel polymer Li-ion battery and its producing method. The Li-ion battery cell includes a three-layer composite layer of positive electrode current collector, positive electrode active material and gel polymer electrolyte obtained by a two-layer one-step coating process; a two-layer composite layer of negative electrode current collector and negative electrode active material obtained by a single-layer coating process or a negative electrode two-layer composite layer coated with a little polyurethane adhesive(s) on the surface. The gel polymer Li-ion battery cell is obtained by laminating the resultant two composite layers. The gel polymer Li-ion battery cell has a small thickness and a compact structure, and is laminated closely and easy for preparation and industrial automatic production. The Li battery prepared by the method has a uniform structure, a low internal resistance, a high uniformity, a good unity, and a high safety.
US08382860B2 Process for producing lithium secondary battery
A process for producing a lithium secondary battery employs a charging method where a positive electrode upon charging has a maximum achieved potential of 4.3 V (vs. Li/Li+) or lower. The process includes charging the lithium secondary battery to reach at least a region with relatively flat fluctuation of potential appearing in a positive electrode potential region exceeding 4.3 V (vs. Li/Li+) and 4.8V (vs. Li/Li+) or lower. The lithium secondary battery includes an active material having a solid solution of a lithium transition metal composite oxide having an α-NaFeO2 type crystal structure. The composition ratio of Li, Co, Ni, and Mn contained in the solid solution satisfies Li1+1/3xCo1−x−yNiy/2Mn2x/3+y/2(x+y≦1, 0≦y and 1−x−y=z).
US08382858B2 Nanoparticle-textured surfaces and related methods for selective adhesion, sensing and separation
Textured heterogeneous surfaces and related articles as can be used in conjunction with methods for selective sensing and/or separation. When used for selective particle separation such a system can comprise a heterogeneous surface comprising a surface member and a plurality of components extending therefrom, such components spaced about and having a surface density, with heterogeneity comprising different interactions of the surface member and of the extended components with a particle exposed thereto. Various surface heterogeneities and different interactions can be utilized. However, in certain embodiments, competing electrostatic interactions, or a combination of electrostatic and non-electrostatic interactions, with a particle can be utilized. Such a system can utilize a surface member having a charge difference with respect to the components extending therefrom.
US08382856B2 Hair dye
It is an object of the present invention to provide a safe hair dye, which requires a short hair dyeing time, has good hair dyeing property and color tone, and also has an effect of preventing photofading. The present invention provides a hair dye, which comprises a combination of (a) a first agent containing a substance reacting with iron to develop color and an ultraviolet absorbent having a 2-hydroxybenzophenone skeleton, and (b) a second agent containing iron salt.
US08382855B2 Composition and method for colouring hair
A composition and method oxidative colours hair based on at least one oxidative dye precursor and comprises one or more surfactants and has a pH below or equal to 7.0 after mixing with a composition comprising at least one oxidizing agent wherein the composition is applied onto hair as foam from a non-aerosol foamer vessel.
US08382846B2 Systems and methods for providing deeper knee flexion capabilities for knee prosthesis patients
Systems and methods for providing deeper knee flexion capabilities, more physiologic load bearing and improved patellar tracking for knee prosthesis patients. Such systems and methods include (i) adding more articular surface to the antero-proximal posterior condyles of a femoral component, including methods to achieve that result, (ii) modifications to the internal geometry of the femoral component and the associated femoral bone cuts with methods of implantation, (iii) asymmetrical tibial components that have an unique articular surface that allows for deeper knee flexion than has previously been available, (iv) asymmetrical femoral condyles that result in more physiologic loading of the joint and improved patellar tracking and (v) modifying an articulation surface of the tibial component to include an articulation feature whereby the articulation pathway of the femoral component is directed or guided by articulation feature.
US08382843B2 Intervertebral implant with blades for connecting to adjacent vertebral bodies
An intervertebral implant (300) for insertion into an intervertebral disc space between adjacent vertebral bodies or between two bone portions. The implant includes a spacer portion (310), a plate portion (330) operatively coupled to the spacer portion and one or more blades (350) for securing the implant to the adjacent vertebral bodies. The blades preferably include superior and inferior cylindrical pins (360) for engaging the adjacent vertebral bodies. The implant may be configured to be inserted via a direct lateral transposals approach. Alternatively, the implant may be configured for insertion via an anterior approach.
US08382829B1 Method to reduce mitral regurgitation by cinching the commissure of the mitral valve
Methods of repairing the mitral valve and reducing mitral regurgitation. One method includes securing a first tissue anchor to a position on a posterior portion of the annular tissue of the mitral valve and a second tissue anchor to a position on an anterior portion of the annular tissue of the mitral valve. At least one tensile member spans between the first and second tissue anchors and across the orifice of the mitral valve. When tension is applied to the at least one tensile member, the posterior portion of the annular tissue is pulled toward the anterior portion.
US08382823B2 Biodegradable stent and method for manufacturing the same
A stent includes a magnesium layer, a ceramic layer formed over the magnesium layer, and a magnesium compound layer interposed between the magnesium layer and the ceramic layer. The initial corrosion of the stent can be delayed, and the stent has excellent biocompatibility and thus can reduce side effects during cell proliferation and differentiation.
US08382821B2 Helical hybrid stent
An expandable helical stent is provided, wherein the stent may be formed of an amorphous metal alloy or other non-amorphous metal with a securement. The stent is formed from flat or tubular metal in a helical coiled structure which has an undulating pattern. The main stent component may be formed of a single helically coiled component. Alternatively, a plurality of helically coiled ribbons may be used to form a stent heterogeneous in design, material, or other characteristic particular to that stent. The helical tubular structure may be secured with a securement, such as a weld, interlock or a polymer, to maintain the helical coils in a tubular configuration. The helical coils of the main stent component may be spaced apart or nestled to each other. The nestling of the undulation of adjacent helical coils contributes to maintaining the tubular shape of the helically coiled stent. In addition, the nestling of helical coils may prevent the polymer layer from sagging at any point between cycles of the helical coils.
US08382819B2 Thermoelastic and superelastic Ni-Ti-W alloy
A radiopaque nitinol stent for implantation in a body lumen is disclosed. The stent is made from a superelastic alloy such as nickel-titanium or nitinol, and includes a ternary element including tungsten. The added tungsten in specified amounts improve the radiopacity of the nitinol stent comparable to that of a stainless steel stent of the same strut pattern coated with a thin layer of gold. Furthermore, the nitinol stent has improved radiopacity yet retains its superelastic and shape memory behavior and further maintains a thin strut/wall thickness for high flexibility.
US08382815B2 TiNxCy modified surface for an implantable device and a method of producing the same
Implantable devices, such as stents, having a surface modified with TiNxCy are disclosed.
US08382797B2 Methods for sealing a vascular puncture
A method for sealing a puncture through a vessel wall using a sealing device including an elongate tubular body, a balloon carried by the body, an outer tubular member carried over the elongate tubular body, and a sealant carried by the elongate tubular body adjacent the balloon. Retracting the outer tubular member exposes the sealant.
US08382796B2 Closure devices, related delivery methods and related methods of use
A device for sealing a patent foramen ovale (PFO) in the heart is provided. The device includes a left atrial anchor adapted to be placed in a left atrium of the heart, a right atrial anchor adapted to be placed in a right atrium of the heart, and an elongate member adapted to extend through the passageway and connect the left and right atrial anchors. The right atrial anchor preferably includes a plurality of arms and a cover attached to the arms. The left atrial anchor preferably also includes a plurality of arms and preferably does not include a cover. Preferably, the elongate member has a first end fixedly connected to the left atrial anchor and a portion, proximal to the first end, passing through the right atrial anchor. Preferably, the elongate member is flexible.
US08382795B2 Vascular puncture seal anchor nest
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for sealing a subcutaneous tissue puncture. The method and apparatus increases the reliability of device function by creating a multi-level anchor nest in a carrier tube of a tissue puncture closure device. The multi-level nest allows an insertion sheath or other deployment member to slide between the carrier tube and the anchor to rotate and deploy the anchor within an artery or other lumen.
US08382792B2 End effector assembly for electrosurgical device
A bipolar forceps is provided and includes a housing having a shaft that extends therefrom which defines a longitudinal axis therethrough. The housing including a drive assembly disposed therein and is operable to reciprocate an actuation tube within the shaft. The bipolar forceps includes an end effector assembly operatively connected to a distal end of the shaft and has a pair of first and second jaw members. The first and second jaw members are pivotable about a living hinge and are adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source. Each of the jaw members includes a cam slot defined at a proximal end thereof. One or more of the jaw members is operatively connected to a distal end the actuation tube via a cam pin such that distal reciprocation of the actuation tube cams each of the jaw members towards one another about the respective living hinge to grasp tissue.
US08382789B2 Handle for surgical instruments
A handle for surgical instruments that has a “wishbone” configuration. In one embodiment, the instrument is provided with a ratchet mechanism allows two operating handles to be locked in a predetermined position (for example, when the surgical instrument that is maneuvered is in use) or to move relative to each other when the ratchet is partially or fully released (for example, when the surgical instrument that is maneuvered is not in use). In another embodiment, the instrument is provided with a rotary gear mechanism.
US08382785B2 Apparatus and method for performing cystotomy procedures
A cystotomy apparatus includes a sound from which an advancement device having a cutting tip creates a surgical pathway from the bladder through abdominal tissue to the external abdomen along a predetermined path. The cutting tip is captured and removed from the advancement device in a capture cup located in the predetermined path by an alignment structure. The cutting tip is removed from the advancement device while within the capture cup, to allow a dilator, cannula or catheter to be drawn through the surgical pathway into the bladder.
US08382775B1 Methods, instruments and devices for extragastric reduction of stomach volume
Methods, instruments and systems are provided for separating opposite walls of the stomach by extragastric application of suction. Plication of the stomach can be performed between the separated walls after which the separate walls are brought back toward one another. In another aspect, methods, instruments, devices and systems are provided for reducing the effective volume of a stomach by performing one or more extragastric plications of the stomach.
US08382770B2 Method for implanting a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy/jejunostomy tube in a patient and access needle for use in said method
Method for implanting a percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy tube in a patient and access needle for use in the method. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of (a) providing an access needle wherein the distal end of the stylet extends distally for an appreciable distance beyond the distal end of the cannula; (b) inserting the stylet, but not the cannula, into the jejunum; (c) grabbing the stylet with an endoscopically-positioned snare; (d) anchoring the jejunum against the abdominal wall using the snared stylet; (e) loosening the snare slightly while advancing the cannula into the jejunum and into the loosened snare; (f) tightening the snare around the cannula; (g) removing the stylet from the cannula; (h) inserting a guide wire or suture through the cannula into the jejunum; and (i) proceeding in the conventional fashion to implant a PEJ tube into the patient using the guide wire or suture.
US08382766B2 Connection of cutting blocks
The present application relates to a surgical connecting device for connecting a first and second cutting block which each serve to make an incision on a first and second anatomical structure, comprising: a first attaching section for attaching the surgical connecting device to the first cutting block by a mechanical connection; a second attaching section for attaching the surgical connecting device to the second cutting block by a releasable mechanical connection; and a spacing section which spaces the first attaching section away from the second attaching section.
US08382759B2 Intramedullary pin tracking
A tracking device for an intramedullary pin whose spatial position is determined and/or tracked in image-guided surgery, including a reference device at a proximal end of the intramedullary pin and a medical navigation system which locates the reference device and determines the orientation of the intramedullary pin from the proximal end. A deformation detection device detects deformations of the intramedullary pin and communicates the deformations to the navigation system. Also provided is a tracking method for determining or tracking the spatial position of an intramedullary pin in image-guided surgery, and to an intramedullary pin that includes a deformation detection device.
US08382727B1 Skin topical applicator apparatus
A skin topical applicator apparatus includes an arm that has a first end and a second end. A cavity is positioned in the arm and is adjacent to the first end. A mount is attached to the arm and extends away from the first end of the arm. A roller is rotatably attached to the mount. A canister is removably mounted in the cavity and a nozzle is fluidly coupled to the canister and extends outwardly of the first end. The nozzle is directed toward the roller. The canister is filled with a fluid under pressure. The canister includes a valve that is actuated to release the fluid into the nozzle to coat the roller with the fluid.
US08382723B2 Access port identification systems and methods
An access port for subcutaneous implantation is disclosed. Such an access port may comprise a body for capturing a septum for repeatedly inserting a needle therethrough into a cavity defined within the body. Further, the access port may include at least one feature structured and configured for identification of the access port subsequent to subcutaneous implantation. Methods of identifying a subcutaneously implanted access port are also disclosed. For example, a subcutaneously implanted access port may be provided and at least one feature of the subcutaneously implanted access port may be perceived. Further, the subcutaneously implanted access port may be identified in response to perceiving the at least one feature.
US08382717B2 Safety device for drug delivery devices and containers
A drug administration safety device having a label configured to be attached to a drug container such as a syringe or IV bag, an adhesive on the back face of the label, and a backing or substrate for holding the label and protecting the adhesive prior to the application of the label to the drug container. In one embodiment, the label includes a first drug name section in a first orientation, a second drug name section in a second orientation, a third drug name section in a third orientation, a drug concentration section, a variable information section, and a gradiation viewing section. The first orientation, second orientation, and third orientation are different from each other to enable a user to readily see the drug name regardless of the position and orientation of the drug container.
US08382706B2 User interface for configuring an invasive cardiology digital signal amplifier and method of use
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for catheter input management. Certain embodiments provide a user interface system facilitating catheter monitoring. The system includes a virtual catheter input module (CIM) corresponding to and representing a physical CIM that is adapted to be connected to at least one catheter. The system also includes a configuration module establishing a catheter configuration for the virtual CIM based on a plurality of configuration settings for a catheter channel. At least one catheter channel is assigned to a virtual input port on the virtual CIM. The configuration module applies the catheter configuration for at least one catheter channel when a catheter is connected to a physical input port on the physical CIM corresponding to the virtual input port on the virtual CIM.
US08382701B2 Method for ensuring constant speed of a motor in an injection device
The present invention relates to a method for ensuring a constant target speed of a battery driven electrical motor, the battery driven electrical motor being adapted to move a piston rod in an injection device so as to inject a set dose of medicine from the injection device, the method comprising the steps of setting a first target speed to be reached by the motor, determining whether the first target speed can be reached, and, if the first target speed can be reached, maintaining the first target speed until a set dose of medicine has been injected from the injection device, or if the first target speed cannot been reached, setting a second target speed.
US08382700B2 Medical device for glucose monitoring or regulation
A medical device comprising a pressure generating means adapted to deliver a liquid, a sensor adapted to measure a flow resistance, and an implantable member comprising an analyte responsive porous membrane which reversibly changes its porosity subject to changes in analyte concentration occurring in the solution surrounding the implantable member. The analyte may in particular be glucose. The medical device may also be used for drug administration.
US08382697B2 Devices, systems, and methods for peripheral arteriovenous fistula creation
Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for the formation of an arteriovenous fistula in the limb of the patient. Embodiments include an apparatus for the creation, modification and maintenance of a fistula, including the modification of an existing dialysis fistula; and a method of supplying oxygenated blood to the venous circulation of a patient. A kit of anastomotic implants is described which supports a broad base of patient anatomies and fistula locations. The devices, systems and methods can be used to treat patients with one or more numerous ailments including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, hypertension, hypotension, respiratory failure, pulmonary arterial hypertension, lung fibrosis and adult respiratory distress syndrome.
US08382694B2 Ankle-foot orthotic for treatment of foot drop
An ankle-foot orthotic is provided that treats steppage gate by preventing foot drop during movement. The orthotic having an ankle brace linked to a user's shoe by an elastic strap. The elastic strap having sufficient elasticity to provide the appropriate amount of tensile force to the shoe to prevent foot drop, while having sufficient flexibility to allow the user to naturally flex their foot and ankle during movement. The elastic strap comprises hook fasteners attachable to and removable from the shoe, such that the orthotic can be easily put on or taken off by the user.
US08382691B2 Orthopedic cast cover anchor assembly and kit for protecting exposed limbs
An orthopedic cast cover anchor assembly having a cast anchoring member and a coupler member for coupling the cast anchoring member to form a coupled cast anchor assembly in a generally annular configuration. Also, an orthopedic cast cover kit with at least one cast anchoring member, at least one coupler member for coupling the cast anchoring member to form a coupled cast anchor assembly in a generally annular configuration, and at least one limb protective cover which may be releasably fastened to the fastening portion of the cast anchoring member.
US08382690B2 Portable physis-stimulating device for promoting growth with two-phase ultrasonic vibration generators and led elements
Disclosed herein is a growth plate stimulation-type portable growth promotion apparatus including two-phase ultrasonic vibration generators and Light Emitting Diode (LED) devices. The ring-shaped two-phase ultrasonic vibration generators have a center hole. Each of the LED devices is provided in the center hole of the each two-phase ultrasonic vibration generator. The two-phase ultrasonic vibration generators includes a ring-shaped vibration stator configured to have a center hole; a first electrode layer provided under the vibration stator; a second electrode layer provided under the first electrode layer; and a piezoelectric ceramic group layer configured to include a first piezoelectric ceramic group for generating an A phase and a second piezoelectric ceramic group for generating a B phase. Growth plates are stimulated using two-phase ultrasound projected from the two-phase ultrasonic vibration generators and light projected from the LED devices.
US08382689B2 Device and method for high intensity focused ultrasound ablation with acoustic lens
A high intensity focused ultrasound transducer includes an ultrasonic emitter having a surface that emits ultrasonic energy along a beam path, at least one low attenuation polymeric ultrasonic lens acoustically coupled to the surface in the beam path of the ultrasonic energy, such that the lens can direct the ultrasonic energy in at least one direction, and at least one stress mitigation feature, such as a kerf, a heat sink, or an acoustic matching layer, to mitigate thermal expansion mismatch stresses within the transducer. For manufacturing simplicity, the first surface is typically either flat or monotonically curvilinear. The lens may take a variety of shapes, including Fresnel features, and may focus, collimate, or defocus the ultrasonic energy. Any orientation and positioning of the at least one ultrasonic lens relative to the first ultrasonic emitter is contemplated. Manufacture is further simplified by molding, casting, or thermoforming the lens.
US08382683B2 Tissue penetration device
A moving coil tissue penetration device includes a magnetic source that produces a magnetic field in a magnetically active region. A cylindrical coil is secured to a translation substrate and disposed at least partially within the magnetically active region. A sharpened member is configured to penetrate tissue and mechanically coupled to the translation substrate.
US08382678B2 Display of target cardiac flow based on cardiac index calculation
User interfaces for medical perfusion systems that provide oxygenation, filtering, and recirculation of blood in connection with various medical procedures are provided. In particular, methods of displaying and communicating a desired target flow rate and cardiac index during cardiopulmonary bypass surgeries are provided.
US08382677B2 Anchored implantable pressure monitor
An anchored implantable pressure monitor.
US08382672B2 Macro/micro duty cycle devices, systems, and methods employing low-frequency ultrasound or other cyclical pressure energies
Improved devices, systems, and methods treatment of patients can be used to help mitigate injury to the kidneys by applying cyclical mechanical pressure energy at low intensities. The energy often be selectively directed from non-invasive transducers disposed outside the patients. The energy will typically comprise low frequency ultrasound energy, shock wave energy, or the like, and may induce the generation and/or release of nitric oxide, thereby enhancing perfusion and ameliorating tissue damage. Superimposed micro and macro duty cycles may help avoid thermal and other injury to tissues of the patient during treatment. Bilateral treatments are facilitated by a support structure that orients at least one transducer toward each kidney.
US08382671B2 Handheld force-controlled ultrasound probe
A handheld ultrasound probe includes force detection and feedback to permit control and/or characterization of applied forces. The probe may, for example, be operated to maintain a substantially constant applied force over a period of use independent of a user's hand position, or to measure applied forces that might contribute to deformation of an imaging subject.
US08382662B2 Catheterscope 3D guidance and interface system
Visual-assisted guidance of an ultra-thin flexible endoscope to a predetermined region of interest within a lung during a bronchoscopy procedure. The region may be an opacity-identified by non-invasive imaging methods, such as high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) or as a malignant lung mass that was diagnosed in a previous examination. An embedded position sensor on the flexible endoscope indicates the position of the distal tip of the probe in a Cartesian coordinate system during the procedure. A visual display is continually updated, showing the present position and orientation of the marker in a 3-D graphical airway model generated from image reconstruction. The visual display also includes windows depicting a virtual fly-through perspective and real-time video images acquired at the head of the endoscope, which can be stored as data, with an audio or textual account.
US08382661B2 Endoscope sucking operation apparatus
When a suction button is pushed in a pushing operation direction, the suction button pushes down longer lever ends of inversion levers, shorter lever ends of the inversion levers are pushed up based on a seesaw operation and the principle of leverage, and a piston body coupled through a coupling body moves in a direction opposed to a pushing operation direction against an urging force of a spring in cooperation with this upward movement. As a result, a valve moving portion moves away from a valve receiving portion to open a suction duct valve portion and suction is carried out, but the piston body retires to an outer periphery side of a bent duct when the valve portion is opened, and hence a suction duct is widened, thereby facilitating suction of even, e.g., a fluid having high viscosity.
US08382658B2 Capsule endoscope system
A capsule endoscope system includes: a receiving device that receives in-vivo images captured by a capsule endoscope inserted into an organ of a subject; and an image display device that acquires ID information of one or more capsule endoscopes, acquires through the receiving device the in-vivo images captured by the capsule endoscopes identified by the ID information, and displays thereon the in-vivo images thus acquired. The image display device is connected via a communication network to a central server that uniformly manages information about the capsule endoscopes, notifies the central server the ID information of the one or more capsule endoscopes, acquires information about the one or more capsule endoscopes from the central server, and performs a warning process about the one or more capsule endoscopes according to the information thus acquired.
US08382655B2 Adjustable tourniquet for venous flow control
A disposable penile erection device that has a positive locking mechanism on the superficial veins around the base of a human penile organ. The device is a tubular structure adapted to the penis to be secured in loop configuration about the base of the penis to provide two (2) adjustable and lockable radial constriction force about the base of the penis. Methods for using the device are also provided.
US08382635B2 Epicyclic reduction gear device with balanced planet wheels
An epicyclic reduction gear device includes a cylindrical housing (1), having an internal circumference equipped with at least a crown wheel (2), at least a first train-carrier (7) rotatable inside the housing (1) and supporting a first output shaft (13), at least a planetary first wheel set (3a, 3b, 3c), hinged on relative pins (6a, 6b, 6c) fixed at the first train-carrier (7) and provided with related toothed portions (9a, 9b, 9c) engaged with the crown wheel (2), and a solar gear wheel (4) which is integral with an input shaft (10) and which is engaging with the planetary wheels (3a, 3b, 3c). The reduction gear device (12) has at least a first idle gear wheel (5) which is pivoted on the first train-carrier (7) and which engages two wheels (3a, 3b) of the planetary wheels (3a, 3b, 3c) in order to allow force balancing.
US08382632B2 Differential gear
A differential case includes a first boss part into which a first drive shaft is inserted, and a second boss part into which a second drive shaft opposed to the first drive shaft is inserted. The differential case is composed of: a first case body extending from pinion-shaft assembling parts on which a pinion shaft is assembled, to a ring gear; a second case body having the first boss part; and a third case body having the third boss part. The first case body is integrally formed by forging. The second case body is integrally formed by forging. The third case body is integrally formed by forging. The first case body and the second case body are joined to each other by welding. The first case body and the third case body are joined to each other by welding.
US08382631B2 Accessory drive and engine restarting system
A drive system includes a pulley, an engine, a variator for varying a ratio of an output speed and an input speed, a gearset including a first and second components driveably connected to the engine and pulley, respectively, and a third component connected to the output, and a second gearset for increasing an input speed relative to an pulley speed.
US08382630B2 High speed and continuously variable traction drive
A fixed ratio traction drive is disclosed that uses multidiameter planet rollers. The high speed traction drive provides speed reduction from a high speed shaft. A planet carrier is used to rotationally mount the multidiameter rollers. A continuously variable transmission that uses planetary ball traction is also disclosed that provides infinitely variable speed ratios.
US08382625B2 Drivetrain device of a vehicle with a gear unit
A device (2) for a vehicle drivetrain (1) with a transmission unit (3) for changing various transmission ratios and with a hydraulic device (4). The device (2) can provide a drive torque in the area of the drive output (5) of the vehicle drivetrain (1) and in whose area a drive output torque of the vehicle drivetrain (1) can be at least partially supported. A reversing gear system (6) is connected, upstream of the transmission unit (3), for reversing the rotation direction and the hydraulic device (4) can be brought into active connection with the transmission unit (3) by way of the reversing gear system (6).
US08382620B2 V-belt type continuously variable transmission
A V-belt type continuously variable transmission includes a drive pulley assembly provided on a drive shaft, a driven pulley assembly provided on a driven shaft, a V-belt looped over both the pulley assemblies, and a transmission case assembly housing both the pulley assemblies and the V-belt. One end of the drive shaft in the shaft direction is coupled to an output side rotation member of a centrifugal clutch, and the other end of the drive shaft is rotatably supported on a boss portion formed in the transmission case assembly.
US08382606B2 Structure of a golf club head or other ball striking device
Ball striking devices, such as golf club heads (including putter heads), have a high moment of inertia about their center, to help prevent twisting and mis-hits, particularly when the ball striking device hits the ball at a somewhat off-center position. The ball striking head of the ball striking device may be structured and/or weighted (optionally with separately attachable weight elements) to have a moment of inertia about a center of the ball striking surface of at least 10,000 g/cm2, and in some examples, the moment of inertia may be at least 11,000 g/cm2, or even at least 12,000 g/cm2. In some examples, the moment of inertia may be at least 20,000 g/cm2, or even at least 25,000 g/cm2 or at least 28,000 g/cm2.
US08382605B2 Golf putter
A golf putter head is provided that includes a base element, the base element including a golf ball striking surface, at least one alignment rail, a lip, the lip extending the entire front width of the golf putter head and a top surface, the top surface located at the rear of the golf putter head, an upper plate the upper plate configured to be secured to the base element at the lip and the top surface, the upper plate includes at least one aperature and the upper plate completely covering the top surface. The upper plate further includes at least one indicator marking, the at least one indicator marking configured to align with the at least one alignment rail and the aperature is sized such that the at least one alignment rail may be viewed through the aperature. The mass of the putter head is distributed such that the mass of the upper plate is greater than the mass of the base element, thereby positioning the center of gravity of the putter head above a centerline of the golf ball striking surface and an equator of a golf ball when the golf ball is positioned proximate the golf ball striking surface of the golf putter head.
US08382600B2 Cross groove type constant velocity joint with composite groove patterns
A constant velocity joint for a drive system comprises: an outer joint member having a plurality of inwardly facing outer ball grooves, the outer ball grooves consisting of a first group of grooves and a second group of grooves with composite or non-linear groove pattern; an inner joint member disposed inside the outer joint member and having a plurality of outwardly facing inner ball grooves consisting of a first group of grooves and a second group of grooves with composite or non-linear groove pattern, each inner ball groove of the inner joint member being coupled with a corresponding outer ball groove of the outer joint member generally in crossed pair; and a cage having circumferentially displaced cage windows to accommodate a plurality of balls therein. The groove patterns of the ball grooves can be a combination of skewed grooves and non-linear grooves, a combination of non-linear grooves such as a curved groove or a compositely shaped groove, or a combination of linear grooves and non-linear grooves.
US08382595B2 Torque limiting driveline
A torque-limiting device assembly is provided that includes a bell having a top wall and a circumferential side wall defining a bell interior. A plurality of radially-arrayed engagement grooves are formed on an inner surface of the top wall. A clutch stub shaft having a stem and a plurality of engagement protrusions formed on a clutch flange is disposed within the bell interior. A resilient member is secured to the bell, and the resilient member biases the clutch stub shaft towards the top wall of the bell such that the engagement grooves frictionally engage the engagement protrusions to transfer torque from the stem to the bell when the stem is rotated. An input torque applied to the stem that is greater than a predetermined input torque causes the engagement protrusions to disengage from the engagement grooves such that the input torque is not transferred from the stem to the bell.
US08382580B2 Gaming machine with separately settable auxiliary display
A gaming machine includes a light emitting portion, a terminal controller, a light emission control unit, a power supply unit, an input device through which a predetermined input is externally input, and a light emission power control unit. The light emitting portion emits light. The terminal controller runs a game. The light emission control unit causes: with power supplied thereto, the light emitting portion to emit light; and controls the light emitting portion so that the light emitting portion emits light in a lighting mode associated with a game state. The power supply unit supplies power to the light emission control unit and the terminal controller, separately. The light emission power control unit controls, in response to the predetermined input, the power supply from the power supply unit to the light emission control unit in a resettable manner, while terminal controller is running the game.
US08382579B2 Card for use with a game apparatus
The present invention relates to a card stack reader, a card thereof, a card case, a method for manufacturing the card, a game machine using the same, and a computer-readable storage medium on which a game program is recorded. The card stack reader comprises an imaging unit which reads an image from a peripheral side portion of a stack of cards, each card having a read code along a peripheral side edge thereof, the read code identifying the card, and a code recognizing unit which recognizes the read code of each card from the image read by the imaging unit.
US08382578B2 Gaming device and method having purchasable randomly selected paytables
An apparatus and method for a game including a plurality of paytables, wherein each of the paytables has an average expected payout. The gaming device initially employs a default paytable and enables a player to cause the gaming device to change the employed paytable. If the player chooses to cause the gaming device to change the employed paytable, the gaming device randomly selects another paytable from the plurality of paytables and determines a game outcome based on the randomly selected paytable. If the player does not choose to cause the gaming device to change the employed paytable, the gaming device determines a game outcome based on the default paytable. In one embodiment, when a player chooses to cause the gaming device to select another paytable, the player has a chance to obtain a paytable that includes higher or better awards.
US08382556B2 Portable belt grinder
The portable belt grinder 201 comprises; a main body 202 with an electric motor 203 built therein; a drive pulley disposed in the lower portion of the main body 202 and rotationally drivable by the electric motor 203; an idle pulley disposed as the companion to the drive pulley; and, an endless abrasive belt 215 wound between the two pulleys. In the portable belt grinder 201, in the portion of the main body 202 that exists in the vicinity of the abrasive belt 215, there is formed a hole portion 202f which is used to visually confirm the side end edge of the abrasive belt 215 from above. Also, on the upper surface of the main body 202, there is mounted a transparent cover 222 which is used to cover the hole portion 202f.
US08382546B2 Flying toy able to move by the flapping of wings
Disclosed is a flying toy capable of moving by flapping of wings. The flying toy comprises a support structure; an actuation mechanism, for the wings, arranged on the support structure and comprising a crank drive rotated by a means providing the driving force; and two flexible wings arranged symmetrically with respect to the vertical plane of symmetry of the toy and connected, at the wing bases, to the actuation mechanism, the aforementioned wing bases being mounted oscillating about axes arranged on both sides of the vertical plane of symmetry of the toy. A controller receives a control signal indicating a left turn, increases the tension on the right wing and reduces it on the left wing and, for a right turn, the opposite action is performed.
US08382539B2 Amphibious vehicle for bridging a water-filled opening
An amphibious vehicle includes caissons, floats, and ramps stored on top of one another on a self-propelled rolling base, when the vehicle is in a folded configuration for driving over firm ground. The elements can be deployed transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the rolling base when the vehicle, alone or with another vehicle of the same design, forms a pontoon or a ferry to breach a water-filled opening. The vehicle includes a deployment device to deploy the elements on one side before beginning to deploy the elements on the other side of the rolling base. The elements are deployed in at least three different configurations. The elements on each side, include respectively, from the inside outwards, in the deployed configuration, a caisson, a float, and a ramp which are hinged together in a Z-configuration.
US08382536B2 Outboard motor control apparatus
In an apparatus for controlling operation of an outboard motor mounted on a boat and having a torque converter equipped with a lockup clutch, it is configured to regulate a trim angle relative to the boat by trim-up operation and trim-down operation; calculate a speed ratio of the torque converter based on an input rotation speed and output rotation speed of the torque converter; and control operation of the trim angle regulator based on the calculated speed ratio. With this, it becomes possible to mitigate a deceleration feel to be generated after the acceleration is completed, and easily sets a trim angle of after the trim-up operation to an optimal value.
US08382531B2 Electrical connector assembly
Electrical connector assembly comprising a cover part and a contact assembly for providing a mechanical and electrical contact to an electrode, and connecting arrangements for connecting lead wire to the contact component. The contact component is made of an elongated flat-formed strip forming at least two contact points for the electrode and between the contact points forming a recess having walls enlarging when drawing away from the contact points. The contact points are arranged to press against the electrode for detachable fastening.
US08382523B1 Modular cable clamp with high impedance surface
A cable terminating and grounding apparatus and method comprises a backshell including a cable terminating and grounding adapter shield which comprises a cable receiving and positioning portion comprising a plurality of individual cable passages around the outer rim of the receiving and positioning portion and a gathering portion adjacent the receiving and positioning portion comprising a plurality of individual cable receiving slots around an outer periphery of the gathering portion, each slot having a side wall receiving a cable shield enclosing one or more wires comprising the cable. A gathering mechanism may engage each of the cable shields oppositely from the respective slot side wall and force the respective shield into engagement with the respective slot side wall. There may be a cable passage in a center portion of the receiving and positioning portion and the gathering portion. A locking portion of the adapter shield may engage a connector.
US08382509B2 Electrical connector assembly including compliant heat sink
An electrical connector system includes a first electrical connector having a mounting interface and a mating interface, wherein the mounting interface is configured to electrically connect to an electrical component, and the mating interface is configured to electrically connect to a complementary electrical connector along a forward insertion direction. The electrical connector system further includes a heat sink disposed forward of the first electrical connector, the heat sink defining an engagement surface configured to contact the complementary electrical connector when the first electrical connector is mated with the complementary electrical connector. The heat sink is movably supported in a direction substantially perpendicular with respect to the insertion direction so as to maintain the engagement surface in thermal contact with the complementary electrical connector.
US08382503B2 Quick release retention mechanism for socketed microelectronic devices
The present description relates to the field of microelectronic device retention mechanisms and, more particularly, to a quick release retention mechanism including a base plate, a load plate and a biasing mechanism adapted to apply a desired load and to allow rapid insertion and extraction of microelectronic devices from sockets.
US08382502B2 Illumination device with a connector having a retainer with a rotary member and a starter and a swich and elastic pieces
An illumination device includes a light tube holder including two connectors for receiving either a light-emitting diode (LED) tube or a fluorescent tube. The connector includes three conductive elastic pieces therein. One elastic piece is electrically connected to an LED tube drive circuit board and a fluorescent tube, and the other two elastic pieces are respectively electrically connected to the LED and fluorescent tube drive circuit boards. A normally closed switch is located in the one of the connectors. The switch has a first end connected between a power supply and a first end of a ballast, and a second end connected to a second end of the ballast. When the LED tube is mounted to the holder, the switch is closed, and when the fluorescent tube is mounted to the holder the switch is open.
US08382498B2 Card connector with ejector
A card connector includes an insulative housing defining a card receiving space, a number of contacts retained in the insulative housing, an ejector received in the insulative housing and a metal shell covering the insulative housing. The ejector includes a movable slider, a spring, and a pin member, the slider defines a heart-shaped slot, and the pin member has a positioning end being rotatablely retained to the insulative housing and a free end being slidable along the heart-shaped slot to lock the slider. A latching piece is retained to the insulative housing and has a catching portion catching the pin member and an elastic portion connecting with the catching portion. When the pin member slides, the catching portion will bring the elastic portion to deflect and provide an outward or inward force to the pin member so as to control a movement trace of the pin member.
US08382486B2 Self-orienting electrical connector
An electrical connector and electronic device for connecting to a complementary electrical connector are provided. The electrical connector comprises a main body containing one or more electrically conducting mediums. The electrical connector also comprises an end piece rotatably connected to the main body at one end of the main body. The end piece has a connecting side for engaging the complementary electrical connector. The end piece is rotatable about an axis of rotation. The connecting side comprises one or more electrical contacts for engaging complementary electrical contacts on the complementary electrical connector. Each electrical contact of the electrical connector is electrically connected to one of the electrically conducting mediums of the main body. The connecting side also comprises a magnet disposed on the connecting side of the end piece for engaging a complementary magnet on the complementary electrical connector.
US08382483B2 Service providing system
There is provided a system which is able to realize study assistance or a desired appliance operation for a user, even in the absence of an answer input from the user.A service providing system includes an output section for presenting a question to a user, and further presenting sequentially a plurality of options as candidate answers to the question; a signal detection section for measuring an event-related potential of electroencephalograms of the user; and a determination section for determining whether the user has thought each option to be the correct answer or not, based on the event-related potential in a predetermined period after each option is presented, e.g., in a period from about 350 milliseconds to about 450 milliseconds.
US08382478B2 Method and material to form a cast from gypsum
A method is disclosed for forming an accurate stone cast from an impression of a body region, used for the purpose of prosthetic fabrication, such as dental crowns and artificial eyes and hearing aids. The initial step with this unique method is to first acquire a suitable amount of dental stone catalyst. One type of a suitable stone catalyst is calcium sulfate dihydrate. The dental stone catalyst is engaged onto the internal surface of the impression. This catalyst, placed in the area between impression material and stone, will act to hasten the initial setting of wet, mixed dental stone that is in closest proximity to the impression. The result is a stratified set of the stone. Setting of the wet, mixed dental stone occurs first at the impression/stone interface. The mixed stone better resists distortion upon setting and the resultant set stone cast is more accurate.
US08382476B2 Dental retraction composition, production thereof and use of a powder jet device for dental retraction
The invention relates to a dental composition comprising a hardenable powder to be used in a process for retraction of dental tissue. The invention also relates to a kit of parts comprising the dental composition comprising a hardenable powder, a hardening agent, optionally a handpiece of a powder jet device, optionally a powder jet device, and optionally retraction caps. In a further aspect, the invention relates to a method for retracting dental tissue comprising the steps of applying a dental composition comprising a hardenable powder with a powder jet device into the sulcus between soft and hard dental tissue, applying a composition comprising a hardening agent either before or after the previous step, leaving the dental composition in the sulcus for a time sufficient to effect retraction of the soft dental tissue and removing the dental composition from the sulcus.
US08382466B2 Large area dissolvable template lithography
A method and apparatus for patterning a substrate are provided. A template is formed by applying a precursor material to a patterned master substrate and curing or solidifying the precursor material. The template is detached from the master substrate using a carrier having a curved surface. The template is coated with a patterning material, and is then detached from the carrier and applied to the substrate to be patterned. The template is then dissolved without affecting the patterning material, and the patterning material may thereafter be finished to develop the pattern. In an alternate embodiment, the patterning material may be applied to the substrate and then imprinted using the template.
US08382463B2 Device for producing structured optical materials
The invention relates to a method for producing structured optical materials. It also relates to a device for producing structured optical materials, and to use of the method.In order to create a novel, continuous method for the production of structured optical materials, which is more economical than the known production method, it is proposed within the scope of the invention that optical material be applied to a carrier, a carrier or protective film be laminated onto the optical material, the resulting laminate be exposed to light and thereby structured, and subsequently a delamination of at least one of the films be performed.
US08382462B2 Vane pump with circulating oil supply passage
An oil supply groove in communication with a pump room is formed above a bearing of a housing, and an open air groove in communication with atmospheric air is formed at a position rotated around the bearing by 90° from the oil supply groove. In a shank of a rotor, a branch passage branching from an oil passage formed in its axial direction to the diametrical direction of the shank and an open air passage formed in the direction perpendicular to the branch passage are formed. The branch passage and the oil supply groove communicate with each other while the open air passage and the open air groove are arranged to also communicate with each other.
US08382459B2 Piston pump with improved piston
The invention relates to a piston pump for conveying a fluid, in particular in a vehicle brake system. The piston pump has a cylinder and a piston movably disposed in the cylinder. A restoring element preloads the piston, and a drive unit for actuates the piston in the cylinder to pump the fluid into a pressure chamber formed in the cylinder. The piston is embodied by a first piston par and a second piston part. The first piston part is a cylindrical body, which can be moved by the drive unit. The second piston part form the piston base, in which four radial inlet openings and one axial connection opening for communication with the pressure chamber are disposed. A flange for the disposition of a seal is disposed on the outer circumference of the piston base element. The openings are simple to make in the face ends and circumferential regions of the second piston part.
US08382450B2 Centrifugal fan
A centrifugal fan includes a housing including a base, a side wall portion having an air outlet defined therein, and a cover arranged above the side wall portion and having an air inlet defined therein. A circuit board is arranged on an upper surface of the base, and includes a circuit board protruding portion arranged to protrude radially outward of the housing. At least one of electronic components to be mounted on the circuit board is arranged radially outward from an inner circumferential surface of the side wall portion.
US08382449B2 Fluid machine with radial cylinders
A fluid machine with radial cylinders, includes cylinders being fixed with respect to a body wherein the cylinders are peripherally spaced in a rotation plane of a crank rotating with a driving shaft of the machine, elements distributing a fluid, a piston of each cylinder placed in contact with a surface of the crank by a sliding member, the piston of each cylinder being placed within a jacket of the cylinder with contact of a side surface of the piston in a guide and sealing area which is small with respect to the side surface of the piston, and for a guide function an annular edge is present and projecting from an inner surface of the jacket, and for a sealing function a sealing ring is present on the jacket and housed in an annular slot which is parallel and attached to the annular edge, and rings maintaining the contact between the pistons and the crank.
US08382445B2 Air logic controller
An air logic controller for increasing the efficiency of an air operated double diaphragm pump. The air logic controller may increase the efficiency of the pump by controlling the supply of compressed fluid to the pump. In one embodiment, the air logic controller may control the supply of compressed fluid to the pump by replacing the continuous, large volume supply of compressed fluid supplied to conventional air operated pumps during a single pumping stroke with a varied supply of compressed fluid. The varied supply of compressed fluid may comprise a supply of compressed fluid that alternates between a large volume supply and a small volume supply of compressed fluid. The air logic controller may vary the supply of compressed fluid to the pump based at least partially on the position of a main air valve spool and the setting on an adjustable pneumatic time delay relay.
US08382443B2 Control device for electric compressor and start control method of electric compressor
Control device for an electric compressor and a start control method of an electric compressor that can smoothly and reliably start the electric compressor even at high temperature. Even in a high temperature state of a power transistor, a rotational speed or an acceleration rate of a motor according to the temperature is set to gradually start the electric compressor. After the commencement of the start, the temperature of the power transistor is repeatedly checked for every predetermined time to update the rotational speed or the acceleration rate of the motor, and the rotational speed or the acceleration rate of the motor is increased according to the temperature of the power transistor, thereby allowing quick start.
US08382441B2 Method of manufacturing a blade
A method of manufacturing a blade (20) for a turbomachine by superplastic forming and diffusion bonding a first layer (18), a second layer (16) and a membrane (2), the membrane (2) being disposed between the first and second layers (18, 16), the method comprising: applying a stop-off material in a first predetermined pattern between the first layer (18) and the membrane (2) so as to prevent a diffusion bond from forming between the first layer and the membrane across said first predetermined pattern; and applying the stop-off material in a second predetermined pattern between the second layer (16) and the membrane (2) so as to prevent a diffusion bond from forming between the second layer and the membrane across said second predetermined pattern.
US08382436B2 Non-integral turbine blade platforms and systems
In one embodiment, a turbine blade platform may be disposed between two turbine blades. The platform may include a first exterior side configured to interface with a first turbine blade. The platform also may include a second exterior side disposed generally opposite the first exterior side and configured to interface with a second turbine blade.
US08382435B2 Opposed tilting blade, vertical axis wind turbine power generator
Improvements in A wind generator, that may also be called and relates to, windmill, turbine or aero generator, on a vertical axis. The vertical axis gives the windmill the ability to be turned by air, or liquid if inverted, from any direction parallel to the earth's surface. Multiple blades rotate through a horizontal axis into the wind to lessen air resistance on one side while turning vertically on the other side to gain energy from the wind. The system is counter-weighted as needed, to reduce energy loss, by different methods including but not limited to gears, levers, pneumatics, cables, hydraulics or added counter-weight. The electrical generating machinery is below the blades or at the bottom of the vertical drive shaft.
US08382434B2 Fluid-propelling device having collapsible counter-rotating impellers
A counter-rotating fluid-propelling apparatus uses an oblong drive mechanism being oriented substantially orthogonal to the axes of rotation of a pair of counter-rotating impellers and which temporarily and simultaneously engages the edges of the impellers while they are in substantial contact. Each impellers can include a number of substantially rectangular planar panels, hingedly connected to one another along common edges to vertices. Each impeller has an axis of rotation that passes lengthwise through the middle of the impeller such that the axis is parallel to and equidistant from the panel edges. The impellers counter-rotate and remain in constant contact with respect to one another. During each revolution of the impellers, each of the panels of one impeller contacts its counterpart on the other impeller so that planar panels meet flat surface to flat surface and vertex to vertex. The impellers collapse so that constant contact is maintained. A paddled drive belt successively engages drive pins extending from the vertices and pushes them in order to drive the impellers.
US08382429B2 Turbine housing, and method of making a turbine housing
A turbine housing of an exhaust gas turbocharger includes an outer casing and a rotor casing which is arranged in the outer casing and includes a tubular neck for engagement in an exhaust pipe to conduct exhaust gas from the neck in a direction of an exhaust flange. The exhaust pipe is hereby coupled to the rotor casing for relative movement there between. A sealing ring is arranged between the neck and the exhaust pipe, wherein the neck has one end provided with at least one outwardly directed projection defined by an outer diameter which is greater than an inner diameter of the sealing ring. Fabrication of the turbine housing is realized by pushing the sealing ring over the neck, and inserting an expanding mandrel into the neck to widen the neck.
US08382420B2 Cart stop
A cart stop suitable for use with a lift platform is described. The cart stop has a closed position which allows a cart or other wheeled device to move over it. The cart stop also has an open position which prevents the cart or other wheeled device from rolling off of the lift platform.
US08382410B2 Anchor bolt assembly
An anchor bolt assembly having a generally cylindrical grip end spaced from an actuating end. The grip end has two relatively movable mating portions each having at least one complementary ramp surface. The actuating end is used to move a movable mating portion relative to a fixed mating portion in a longitudinal direction. Actuation will cause the movable mating portion to slide relative to the static mating portion and apply radial pressure at the grip end of the anchor bolt assembly remote from the actuating end. The grip end has a roughened surface on the static mating portion while the movable mating portion is smooth. The anchor bolt assembly is particularly suitable for use in tapered holes formed in concrete.
US08382409B2 Direct tension multi-color indicating washers
A direct tension indicating washer includes a first surface having a plurality bumps formed thereon; a second surface having a plurality of discrete indentations, each indentation formed opposite one of said protuberances; an indicating material positioned in at least one indentation, the indicating material including an indicating material having a first color and an indicating material having a second color; and a channel leading from the at least one indentation to an outer edge of said direct tension indicating washer.
US08382395B2 Paving system and method for controlling compactor interaction with paving material mat
A paving system includes a machine having a plurality of ground-engaging elements and a frame. The machine may be a paving machine having a receiver configured to receive electronic data indicative of a non-uniformity in a substrate within a region to be paved with a mat of paving material. The paving system further includes an electronic control unit configured to control compactor interaction with the mat of material according to a mat smoothness criterion, including controlling compactor interaction with the mat of material in response to data, such as screed control data, indicative of the non-uniformity in the substrate.
US08382393B1 Temporary roadway for moving heavy equipment on an incline and steep grades including synthetic inter-connectable movable and removable structural mats
A temporary roadway with a static resistant synthetic inter-connectable structural mats which connect without tools or fasteners having a top layer, a middle layer and a bottom layer. The static resistant synthetic inter-connectable structural mats can have static charge conduction conduit through the mat and the mats can be made from 100 percent recycled rust proof, non-absorbing materials.
US08382392B2 Multi-purpose adjustable quick expandable installment
A multi-purpose adjustable quick expandable installment which can be quickly and finely adjusted and ascend or descend freely, by a snap design which adjusts ascending or descending with a slope principle, based on a mechanical principle that a force is constant if acting on a same area and an opposite force compensates with the force. Through a structure which follows the law of action and reaction to compensate with a sliding force which occurs naturally, a stable movement without moving accidentally is formed.
US08382389B2 Tape cassette
A tape cassette that includes a housing having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface and a pair of side surfaces, a tape that is a print medium housed in the housing, a tape exit that discharges, from the housing, the tape guided in the housing along a predetermined feed path, at least a part of the feed path extending parallel to the front surface, and a type indicator portion provided adjacent to the tape exit and in a specified area of the front surface on an upstream side of the tape exit in a feed direction of the tape, the type indicator portion indicating a type of the tape and including vertical information sections and an aperture formed in at least one of the vertical information sections, the vertical information sections being strip-shaped sections extending along a direction orthogonal to the feed direction.
US08382386B2 Photographic device
A photographic device includes an upper cover component, a lens module, a signal line set, a circuit board, and a lower cover. The upper cover component comprises an upper casing having a through hole and a transparent mask. The transparent mask is fastened under the through hole and exposed by it and does not protrude from an outer surface of the upper casing. The lens module has a photographic lens facing the mask. The signal line set has a fixing end fastened to one end of the upper casing. The circuit board is electrically connected to the lens module and the signal line set. The lower cover and the upper casing are joined and enclose the lens module and the circuit board. As the transparent mask does not protrude from the outer surface of the upper casing, cracks of the transparent mask caused by a foreign object can be prevented.
US08382385B2 Optical transceiver module having an electromagnetic interference (EMI) cancellation device disposed therein, and an EMI cancelation method for use in an optical transceiver module
A floating heat sink device is provided that attaches to a cage in a floating configuration that enables the heat sink device to move, or “float”, as the parallel optical communications device secured to the cage moves relative to the cage. Because the heat sink device floats with movement of the parallel optical communications device, at least one surface of the parallel optical communications device maintains continuous contact with at least one surface of the heat sink device at all times. Ensuring that these surfaces are maintained in continuous contact at all times ensures that heat produced by the parallel optical communications device will be transferred into and absorbed by the floating heat sink device.
US08382375B2 Motor shaft vibration isolator for electric submersible pumps
A vibration dampening system for a motor shaft in an electric submersible pump ESP uses axially extending arms in one or opposed directions from a fixed portion of a motor shaft bearing. The weights can have their location adjusted to tune the device to the natural frequencies of the rotating shaft and to add an ability to address vibration in more than one plane. Openings are provided in the support for the arms that hold the weight so that arm vibration can create turbulence and improve heat dissipation in the oil for improved bearing life. Bearing cost can be reduced using more economical materials without sacrificing bearing life.
US08382373B1 Wear-point protection system, apparatus and method
The invention provides a wear protector device, system and method. The device including a first protective layer configured to cover a wear-point of a utility bag, and a reinforcement covering connected over a portion of the first layer. The reinforcement covering including a flat portion and a raised portion.
US08382358B2 Double-side display panel with backlight module used therein and manufacture method thereof
A backlight module and a display device using the same are provided. The display device further includes a first panel and a second panel disposed on opposite sides of the backlight module. The backlight module has a light module and a back plate with a through hole formed on it. The light module includes a flexible circuit board having a first strip and a second strip. A plurality of first light sources and second light sources are respectively disposed on the first strip and the second strip. The flexible circuit board passes through the through hole, and the first strip and the second strip are on two opposite sides of the back plate. The first strip and the first light sources are distributed along a side of the first panel while a portion of the second strip is bent to extend along a side of the second strip.
US08382357B2 User interface with means for light bleed mitigation
A light-transmissive substrate includes an arrangement of penetrations extending from one surface of the substrate toward another surface of the substrate. The penetrations are configured to attenuate or inhibit transmission of light through the substrate from one side of the arrangement of penetrations to the other side of the arrangement of penetrations.
US08382349B2 Signaling assembly
A signaling assembly for use on an overland vehicle is shown and described, and which includes an exterior mirror housing defining an internal cavity, and which is mounted on a side of the overland vehicle; a semitransparent mirror having forward and rearward facing surfaces, and which is mounted on the mirror housing; a focusing optic mounted in the exterior mirror housing and juxtaposed relative to the rearward facing surface of the semitransparent mirror; and an emitter of visible light mounted in the internal cavity of the exterior mirror housing and juxtaposed relative to the focusing optic, and which further, when energized, emits visible light which passes through the semitransparent mirror, and which can be seen at an angle which is about 60 degrees relative to the side of the overland vehicle.
US08382342B2 Tunnel light fixture
Disclosed herein is a tunnel light fixture that comprises an improved hinge-coupling mechanism to couple a body and a cover of the light fixture, and has an efficient packing structure capable of increasing the shielding efficiency between a lamp and a ballast to provide improved endurance and safety, and the tunnel light fixture comprises the body and the cover, and the body comprises a hinge-receiving part integral to the body and including a pair of shaft-receiving guides having a shaft groove, and a strut between the pair of shaft-receiving guides, and the cover comprises a hinge-inserting part integral to the cover corresponding to the hinge-receiving part and including a rotational bar having a strut recess formed at an intermediate portion of the rotational bar and a shaft extending from both sides of the rotational bar.
US08382337B2 Lighting device, light spreading plate and method for manufacturing the same
A lighting device, a light spreading plate for the lighting device and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The lighting device comprises a light source plate and the light spreading plate. The light source plate comprises a plurality of light sources. The light spreading plate comprises a light travelling layer formed with a plurality of light spreading units. Each of the light spreading units is formed with a main body being defined with a top surface, a bottom surface and a peripheral. The main body has a thickness being tapered towards the peripheral. The main body comprises a top surface having a cone-shaped recess and a bottom surface having a bowl-shaped recess. The cone-shaped recess and the bowl-shaped recess of each of the spreading units are opposite to each other, and one of the cone-shaped recess and bowl-shaped recess is fitted for one of the light sources.
US08382335B2 Light emitting diode module with three part color matching
A light emitting diode module is produced using at least one LED and at least two selectable components that form a light mixing chamber. First and second selectable components have first and second types of wavelength converting materials with different wavelength converting characteristics. The first and second wavelength converting characteristics alter the spectral power distribution of the light produced by the LED to produce light with a color point that is a predetermined tolerance from a predetermined color point. Moreover, a set of LED modules may be produced such that each LED module has the same color point within a predetermined tolerance. The LED module may be produced by pre-measuring the wavelength converting characteristics of the different components selecting components with wavelength converting characteristics that convert the spectral power distribution of the LED to a color point that is a predetermined tolerance from a predetermined color point.
US08382329B2 Adjustable beam lamp
A lamp device having first and second ends comprising a glass lens positioned on the first end of the lamp and a socket positioned on the second end of the lamp. The lamp is configured with a parabolic reflecting surface lining the interior side walls of a top portion of the lamp and an array of LEDs or other light emitting device positioned within that the top portion of the lamp. The array of LEDs or other light emitting device are operatively connected to the socket in order to receive power. The lamp may also be configured to facilitate movement of the glass lens closer to and further away from the array of LEDs or other light emitting device in order to shorten or lengthen the focal point of the light beam created by the array of LEDs or other light emitting device. Alternatively, the lamp may be configured to facilitate movement of the array of LEDs or other light emitting device closer to and further away from the glass lens in order to shorten or lengthen the focal point of the light beam created by the array of LEDs or other light emitting device.
US08382318B2 Lighting device and lighting method
There is provided a lighting device comprising one or more groups of solid state light emitters and one or more groups hof lumiphors, which emits mixed illumination having x, y color coordinates within a region defined by (0.32, 0.40), (0.36, 0.38), (0.41, 0.455), and (0.36, 0.48). Also, such lighting devices which emit light having x, y color coordinates within other specified regions. Also, such lighting devices with respective groups which emit light within two specified regions, and which mix to produce light within such regions. Also, methods of lighting light from such emitters and/or lumiphors.
US08382314B2 LED channel
An LED lamp includes an extrusion which is an elongate extrusion housing. It has an outside lens and a circuit board of elongated shape and mounted to an inside bottom portion of the elongate extrusion housing. A plurality of light emitting diodes can be mounted to the circuit board. A concave lens is mounted to an upper portion of the elongate extrusion housing. The outside lens covers the concave lens forming an outside air gap between the outside lens and the concave lens and a power wire connects to the circuit board. A base end cap receives a wire harness. The wire harness includes power, and the base end cap retains a base end of the outside lens and a base end of the extrusion. A top end cap retaining an end of the extrusion also retains an end of the outside lens.
US08382313B2 Electric torch
An electric torch (10) includes a main body (1), a head assembly (2), and a rear assembly (3) releasably engaged with a rear end of the main body. The rear assembly includes a rear cover (31) for enclosing an electrically conductive spring (315), an electrically conductive cathode plate (314), and a magnetic controlled member (313, 318) therein. The spring is electrically engaged between negative terminal (152) of the battery pack and the cathode plate. The magnetic controlled member is disposed between the cathode plate and rear end of the rear cover, and can divert electric current flows in the torch under an attractive force of a magnet. The main body and the rear cover are electrically conductive, and given an electrically nonconductive surface treatment except for certain areas (11-13, 3111-3112, 3121, 3121′, 3122) for electrically connection. The torch is waterproof and multifunctional.
US08382312B2 Method of manufacturing a housing for a light device
A light device is provided that includes a light source and electrical circuitry for supplying electrical power to the light source. The light device also includes a housing having first and second ends and a hollow interior defining a compartment for holding a power source. The housing comprises a woven fiber thermoset composite. The housing is made by applying woven fibers to a mandrel and impregnating the woven fibers with an epoxy and curing the epoxy impregnated woven fibers to form the thermoset composite housing. An electrical interconnect is provided within the housing having first and second resilient contacts for providing an electrical connection between the power source and the light source.
US08382309B1 Light pod system
The light pod system is an illumination assembly that is placed in a handbag or a purse and when touched illuminates the interior to aid an end user in seeing the contents contained within the purse or handbag. The light pod system consists of a sleek housing that is slim and of which includes a plurality of light emitting diodes, which all illuminate once the housing is touched by an end user. The housing also includes a timer that can adjust the duration of illumination. An optional remote control can turn on the system without the need to actually touch the housing.
US08382303B2 Keypad module for portable electronic device
A keypad module includes a light source, a light guide plate and a keypad. The light guide plate includes a plurality of coarse surfaces. The keypad forms a plurality of ribs corresponding to the coarse surfaces. The light source is positioned in the light guide plate, the coarse surfaces and the ribs guiding light of the light source to uniform on the light guide plate.
US08382293B2 Light source module
A light source module is disclosed. The light source module includes an emitter having a light emitting surface, a solid integrating optic aligned to accept light emitted from the emitter at an entrance face and deliver light to an exit face, and a lens aligned to receive light from the exit face. The lens has a substantially hemispherical portion having a radius of curvature and the exit face of the solid integrating optic has an exit face diagonal. The ratio of the radius of curvature to the exit face diagonal is greater than 0.7. The solid integrating optic and the lens each have an index of refraction, and the ratio of the lens index of refraction to the solid integrating optic index of refraction is greater than unity.
US08382289B2 Projector apparatus and projection image correcting program product
A projector apparatus includes: a projection unit that projects an image onto a projection surface; a reflectance distribution detection unit that detects a reflectance distribution at the projection surface; a density distribution detection unit that detects a density distribution of a base pattern on the projection surface; a smoothing unit that smooths the reflectance distribution and the density distribution; an input unit that inputs image data; a correction unit that corrects the input image data based upon the smoothed reflectance distribution and the smoothed density distribution; and a control circuit that controls the projection unit so as to project the image based upon the correction image data.
US08382280B2 Variable focus liquid filled lens apparatus
A variable focus optical apparatus including a rigid, curved, transparent optical component; two transparent, distensible membranes attached to a periphery of the rigid optical component to define two cavities, a first cavity between the rigid optical component and a first membrane and a second cavity between the first membrane and a second membrane; and a variable amount of fluid filling each of the cavities, and a reservoir containing additional fluid and in fluid communication with the cavity, wherein the reservoir is configured to provide injection of fluid into the cavity or withdrawal of fluid out of the cavity in response to a force or an impulse.
US08382265B2 Liquid container and liquid supplying system
A liquid container detachably mountable to a recording apparatus to which a plurality of liquid containers are detachably mountable, wherein the recording apparatus includes apparatus electrical contacts corresponding to the liquid containers, respectively, photoreceptor means for receiving light, and an electric circuit connected with a line which is commonly connected with the apparatus electrical contacts, the liquid container includes a container electrical contact electrically connectable with one of the apparatus contacts; an information storing portion capable of storing at least individual information of the liquid container; a light emitting portion; a controller for controlling emission of light of the light emitting portion in response to a correspondence between a signal indicative of individual information supplied through the container electrical contact and the information stored in the information storing means.
US08382262B2 Inkjet printerwith active control of ink pressure
An inkjet printer comprises an inkjet printhead and an ink reservoir contained in a pressurizable chamber, with an ink conduit interconnecting the ink reservoir and the printhead. An air compressor is in fluid communication with the chamber and a valve is positioned between the air compressor and the chamber. A first air conduit interconnects an outlet of the air compressor and the valve, while a second air conduit interconnects an inlet of the air compressor and the valve. The valve is switchable between a first configuration in which the valve interconnects the outlet and the chamber via the first air conduit, and a second configuration in which the valve interconnects the inlet and the chamber via the second air conduit.
US08382260B2 Liquid discharging apparatus
A liquid discharging apparatus includes a liquid container having an information storage portion configured to store information and a supply port for supplying liquid in the liquid container to the outside and a movable member having the liquid container attached thereon. After the connection between the supply port and the apparatus is severed while the movable member moves from a first position to a second position, information is written in the information storage portion. The second position is set such that the time required for the movable member to move from the first position to the second position is longer than or equal to the time required for the information communication.
US08382259B2 Ejecting liquid using drop charge and mass
A liquid jet is modulated using a drop formation device to selectively cause portions of the liquid jet to break off into drop pairs and third drops traveling along a path. The third drop is larger than the drops of the drop pair. A charging device and the drop formation device are synchronized to produce a first charge to mass ratio on a first drop of the drop pair, produce a second charge to mass ratio on a second drop of the drop pair, and produce a third charge to mass ratio on the third drop. A deflection device causes the first drop having the first charge to mass ratio to travel along a first path, the second drop having the second charge to mass ratio to travel along a second path, and the third drop having a third charge to mass ratio to travel along a third path.
US08382251B2 Nozzle arrangement for printhead
A nozzle arrangement for a printhead is provided which has a chamber defined on a substrate configured to hold fluid, an ejection port defined in the chamber, and an actuator for moving the ejection port relative to the substrate to eject the held fluid therethrough.
US08382248B2 Liquid discharge method, liquid discharge head and liquid discharge apparatus using discharge port having projections
A liquid discharge head is arranged in a manner that in the cross-section of a discharge port perpendicular to a liquid discharge direction, the discharge port includes at least one projection that is convex inside the discharge port; a first area, for holding a liquid surface connecting a pillar-shaped liquid that is elongated outside the discharge port; and second areas where a fluid resistance is lower than that in the first area so as to pull the liquid in the discharge port in a direction opposite to the liquid discharge direction. The first area is formed in the direction in which the projection is convex, and the second areas are formed on both sides of the projection.
US08382247B2 Liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting apparatus
A liquid ejecting head includes a plurality of head bodies each having a nozzle plate, a flow channel forming substrate having a plurality of pressure generating chambers that communicate with the plurality of nozzles and a manifold that communicates with the plurality of pressure generating chambers, and pressure generating, and a fixation plate having an exposure aperture formed so that the plurality of nozzles are exposed therethrough and on which the plurality of head bodies are fixedly positioned, wherein the edges of the exposure aperture formed on the fixation plate are located in a region opposite the manifold, and a depression is formed on a side of the fixation plate facing the nozzle plate by depressing the edges of the exposure aperture in the region opposite the manifold.
US08382246B2 Printhead having mirrored rows of print nozzles
A printhead having at least first and second rows of print nozzle cells. Each each nozzle cell has an ink chamber, control circuitry and drive circuitry. Each nozzle cell in the first row has a corresponding nozzle cell in the second row. The drive circuitry of each nozzle cell of the first row is arranged adjacent the drive circuitry of the corresponding nozzle cell in the second row and distant the control circuitry of the corresponding nozzle cell in the first row.
US08382233B2 Head cleaning device, image forming device, and head cleaning method
A head cleaning device includes an electrode disposed in a position confronting to a bottom of a head in a cleaning position, the head including nozzles for discharging a water-soluble ink, the electrode being set in a covered state to provide a surface covered with an electrolyte which, when electrolyzed, dissolves the water-soluble ink. A liquid supplying unit supplies the electrolyte to the electrode so that the electrode is set in the covered state. A voltage supplying unit supplies a voltage between the head and the electrode to electrolyze the electrolyte on the surface of the electrode in the covered state.
US08382232B2 Method of operating printer with incorrectly operating nozzles
A method is provided of operating a printer which has a printhead having ejection nozzles configured to print an array of rows and columns of dots and control means. The method includes monitoring for incorrectly printed columns with the control means, and increasing the duration of a signal delivered with the control means to correctly operating nozzles neighbouring incorrectly operating nozzles associated with the incorrectly printed columns.
US08382230B2 Image forming apparatus and image forming method
An image forming apparatus includes: a printing device which forms an image on a recording medium using ink containing at least pigment, a water-soluble organic solvent, resin particles and water; and a fixing device which makes contact with a surface of the recording medium on which the image is formed and applies heat and pressure to fix the image, wherein a minimum filming temperature) (MFT0) of an aqueous dispersion of the resin particles is 60° C. or above, and higher than a minimum filming temperature (MFT25) of a dispersion of the resin particles in a mixed liquid combining a water-soluble organic solvent at 25 weight % with respect to the resin particles, and water; and wherein the image forming apparatus further includes a controller which controls temperature of the recording medium in such a manner that, when the temperature of the recording medium in the fixing device is represented by T, the minimum filming temperature (MFT25) of mixed liquid dispersion of the resin particles satisfies MFT25≦T≦MFT25+50 (° C.), and a coating layer is formed on the recording medium, then the temperature of the recording medium is adjusted to or below a temperature at which a coating layer is not broken down.
US08382225B2 Liquid ejecting apparatus and method of driving liquid ejecting head
A liquid ejecting apparatus includes a liquid ejecting head having a pressure generating chamber which communicates with a nozzle opening for discharging a liquid and a pressure generating unit which generates a pressure variation within the pressure generating chamber; and a driving unit that supplies the pressure generating unit with a driving signal having an inflation element in which the pressure generating chamber is inflated, a contraction element in which the pressure generating chamber is contracted to discharge a liquid from the nozzle opening, and a re-inflation element in which the pressure generating chamber is inflated during the contraction element, wherein the re-inflation element is initiated in a state that two different phases of vibration of the meniscus within the nozzle opening are not opposite to each other.
US08382222B2 Functional liquid tank, method for replenishing functional liquid in droplet discharge device, and droplet discharge device
A functional liquid tank is adapted to receive functional liquid from a functional liquid supply source and to supply the functional liquid to an inkjet functional liquid droplet discharge head. The functional liquid tank includes a tank body, a liquid column pipe, upper and lower limit liquid level detection units, a float member, and a float-regulating member. The float member is accommodated within the tank body with a small gap formed between the float member and an inside wall of the tank body. The float-regulating member is configured and arranged to regulate a descending end position of the float member when the float member descends as a liquid level within the tank body descends.
US08382220B2 Decorative panel and refrigerator having the same
A decorative panel and a refrigerator having the same are presented. Inner gorgeous decorative patterns are seen according to an opening and closing operation of a refrigerator door usually serving as a mirror, providing the user a continuous aesthetic sense with which the user is not bored compared with decorative patterns which are always exposed. In addition, a mirror face is formed on a front plate and a decorative plate to continuously reflect the decorative patterns to thereby provide a three-dimensional aesthetic sense with the planar decorative patterns. Also, because recesses or protrusions are formed on the decorative plate to obtain a decorative effect, the usage amount of high-priced components such as jewels can be reduced to lower a fabrication cost of a product.
US08382211B2 Wheel insert attachment system
An ornamental wheel insert utilizing a snap-fit attachment to a wheel. In a first embodiment, fingers carrying bosses are attached to an insert body, wherein when the insert body is seated the bosses snappingly engage a boss abutment of the wheel. In a second embodiment, a snap ring snappingly engages the insert body from the inside of the wheel to thereby securely seat the insert body at the wheel.
US08382208B2 Handle for a brush, in particular a toothbrush
The inventive handle for a brush, in particular for a toothbrush or a domestic brush, has an integral handle body with a hollow space which is surrounded by a wall. Recesses which are offset in relation to one another and open into the hollow space are formed in the wall. The handle is produced from a plastic in an injection-molding process using an injection-molding die which has finger elements, with sections of these finger elements touching in a sealing manner when the injection-molding die is in the closed state and, as a result, these finger elements forming the recesses and the hollow space in the hardened handle.
US08382205B2 Adjustable device for motor vehicle seat
Disclosed is an adjustment device for a motor vehicle seat having an adjusting element adjustably disposed in its longitudinal direction and in the area of one end, connectable in an articulated manner to a vehicle seat structure, and a drive unit driving the adjusting element. In order to provide an adjustment device of the initially named type, that can be disposed at a vehicle seat component in a simple and reliable manner, it is provided that the drive unit comprises means for the articulated, particularly pivotal, connection to a vehicle seat component, particularly a side member of a seat base frame.
US08382204B2 Modular contour support apparatus
A four way lumbar support for an automobile seat includes a wire array, a fixed frame, and a basculating arm. When in its extended position, the basculating arm exerts pressure on the wire array thus providing lumbar support to the seat occupant at that point. A system of cables and sliding connections allows the basculating arm to slide along the fixed frame so that the lumbar support may be provided at different heights within the seat.
US08382202B2 Stackable child safety seat
A child safety seat can be formed in a single body, and comprises a seating portion having an upper surface and opposite bottom surface, and two armrests projecting upward at left and right sides of the seating portion, the upper surface having left and right front corners provided with lobe portions, and the bottom surface having recessed portions respectively corresponding to the locations of the lobe portions. Each of the recessed portions has a shape that can fit with the shape of each of the lobe portions. When two instances of the seats are stacked on each other, the lobe portions of the lower seat are respectively fitted at least partially into the recessed portions of the upper seat, and the tapered inner surfaces of the armrests on the lower seat are in contact with the tapered outer surfaces of the armrests of the upper seat.
US08382196B2 Vehicle instrument panel reinforcement attachment structure
Deformation of an instrument panel reinforcement is effectively suppressed even if there is a large difference between impact loads that are inputted to a driver seat side and a passenger seat side of the instrument panel reinforcement. At the passenger seat side of the instrument panel reinforcement, a passenger seat side brace member is provided that joins a cowl inner panel with a small diameter portion of the instrument panel reinforcement in a vehicle front-rear direction. The passenger seat side brace member is structured by a front side bracket and a rear side bracket being detachably joined by a bolt. Therefore, the rear side bracket is detached when an offset impact occurs at the driver seat side, a large load is inputted to a large diameter portion of the instrument panel reinforcement and the small diameter portion is pulled to the vehicle rearward side.
US08382192B2 Reversibly deployable spoiler
A reversibly deployable spoiler for a vehicle comprises a body and an active material in operative communication with the body. The active material, such as shape memory material, is operative to change at least one attribute in response to an activation signal. The active material can change its shape, dimensions and/or stiffness producing a change in at least one feature of the active spoiler airflow control device such as shape, dimension, location, orientation, and/or stiffness to control vehicle airflow and downforce to better suit changes in driving conditions such as speed, while reducing maintenance and the level of failure modes. An activation device, controller and sensors may be employed to further control the change in at least one feature of the active spoiler airflow control device such as shape, dimension, location, orientation, and/or stiffness. A method for controlling vehicle airflow selectively introduces an activation signal to initiate a change of at least one feature of the device that can be reversed upon discontinuation of the activation signal.
US08382186B2 Vehicle floor tray
A vehicle floor tray is thermoformed from a polymer sheet of substantially uniform thickness. The tray has a central panel and at least first and second upstanding side panels joined to the central panel by curved transitions. Within a reservoir disposed in the central panel are plural, hollow treads/baffles. The treads/baffles have a width, in any horizontal direction, which is more than twice the substantially uniform thickness of the tray as thermoformed. The treads/baffles impede lateral motion, due to changes in vehicle speed or direction, of liquid collected in the reservoir.
US08382185B2 Tilt-down vehicle seat
A tilt-down vehicle seat including: a base member on a vehicle floor; a seatback connected to the base member via a reclining mechanism; a seat cushion that moves downward as the seatback is tilted downward; a front link pivotally fitted at a lower portion to the base member and at an upper portion to a front portion of the seat cushion; a guide mechanism that slidably supports a rear portion of the seat cushion and guides the rear portion in such a manner that the rear portion slides relative to the base member in the fore-and-aft and up-and-down directions; a seatback-connected member that moves in accordance with a movement of the seatback; and an interlocking link pivotally connected at a front portion to the front link and at a rear portion to the seatback-connected member, which causes the seat cushion to move in accordance with the movement of the seatback.
US08382184B2 Sound absorption sheet for motor vehicles and engine under cover for motor vehicles using sound absorption sheet
A sound absorption sheet is constructed by both films which are made of a fire-retardant polyethylene resin and layered with each other. The film has a flat film portion and a large number of air bubble portions. The flat film portion is adhered at its rear face to the flat film from the side of the front face. A large number of air bubble portions are dispersed in a staggered arrangement with each other along the planar direction of the film and raised and formed cylindrically along the thickness direction of the flat film portion in a direction separating from the film.
US08382183B2 Spine member and accessory module apparatus
A console apparatus for use in a vehicle that secures additional optional accessories that function to provide storage space for personal items, food and liquids, and/or and armrest, the apparatus including one or more accessory modules and a spine member for receiving, securing and reducing the jostling or shifting of one or more accessory modules by a person or the motions of a moving vehicle.
US08382182B2 Storage compartment having lid element
A storage compartment for a motor vehicle includes a wall defining a storage space and an access opening to the storage space. A lid element has a free end unsecured to the wall and a hinged end hinged to the wall. The wall has a support area forming a protrusion and which at least partially encloses the access opening such that the free end of the lid element is disposable on the support area in a covering position to form a joint section with the support area to cover the access opening. A cover has an overlap part for covering the joint section in order to prevent penetration of objects into the joint section.
US08382178B2 Robotic finger and robotic hand
A robotic finger is provided that includes a base joint connected to a base member. By way of the base joint, a main finger member is connected to the base member for pivoting movements of the main finger member in two planes. The base joint has two driven main bevel gears opposite one another, and two likewise opposing intermediate bevel gears disposed between the main bevel gears. The main bevel gears are mounted rotatably at the base member and can be driven independently of one another through electric motors and an intermediate toothed belt. The two intermediate bevel gears are each rotatably mounted at support members connected to the main finger member. To protect the base joint, a curved cover bracket is provided.
US08382174B2 System, method, and apparatus for suction gripping
A suction gripper includes a cup member, a suction port, and a valve. The cup member has inner and outer surfaces defining an opening such that the inner surface defines an inner cavity. The suction port provides suction. The valve in is fluid communication with the suction port and the inner cavity of the cup member to modify the suction therebetween. The valve is operatively coupled to the cup member and is adapted to passively actuate in response to an applied force to the cup member.
US08382172B2 Decomposable collector and container
A decomposable collector and container for the manual collection and containment of small amounts of material without direct manual contact. The collector and container may decompose upon exposure to light, heat, ozone, or other environmental factor. The collector and container, comprises a first film formed into an elongated bag-like structure having an open end, a closed end, and closed side edges, the bag being sized to comfortably receive a user's hand, the closed end being gusseted to form a “W”-shape in cross section; the gussets in the closed end forming two interior pockets for receipt of the user's fingers and thumb, respectively, and an intermediate exterior pocket therebetween for receipt of the material being collected and for engagement thereof by and between the fingers and thumb, the collector and container when turned inside-out to remove it from the user's hand comprising a container for the collected material; wherein the first film comprises linear low density polyethylene, not more than about 25% aggregate, and a degradation additive.
US08382171B2 Self-adjusting striker assembly
A self-adjusting striker assembly, for use with a box having a lid, a box body and a latch, includes a striker bar mounted to the lid which is operative to move linearly relative to the latch in the event of misalignment between the lid and box body.
US08382161B2 Ice skate blade guard
A blade guard for a runner blade of an ice skate. The blade guard includes a channel extending a distance between first and second ends. The channel has an open top and a bottom surface and first and second opposing side surfaces extending from the bottom surface to the open top. The blade guard also includes at least one recess disposed below the channel and extending a distance transverse to the distance of the channel. The at least one recess includes first and second countersink portions at opposite ends of the distance and a center portion. A first shoulder is defined between the first countersink portion and the center portion and a second shoulder is defined between the second countersink portion and the center portion.
US08382160B2 Belt latch for a safety belt
A belt latch including a connection plate, for connecting it to a buckle, and a latch main body rigidly connected thereto. The latch main body may have a cut-open hollow cylindrical portion housing a bending and clamping element arranged to rotate in relation thereto from a deflecting position to a clamping position if the force in an associated belt exceeds a defined force. A lid may be arranged to cover the cut-open hollow cylindrical portion.
US08382147B2 Raised rails hitch
A hitch device for a trailer mount. The hitch device includes a mounting portion for being received within a receiver portion attached to a vehicle. The hitch device includes a tongue portion secured to the mounting portion. The tongue portion includes an upper face, a lower face and a through-hole for receiving a lower portion of a hitch ball. At least one of the upper and lower faces includes a pair of raised rails.
US08382132B2 Modular running board
A modular running board adaptable for use with various types of vehicles having different wheel bases. In a first embodiment, the running board includes a first long board and a second long board connectable to a pick-up truck having crew cab or quad cab with four full doors. In another embodiment, the first long board is connected to a short board, and both the long board and short board are connected to a pick-up truck having an extended cab, with two full doors and two half-doors. In either of the first two embodiments, a coupling piece is used for connecting the first long board to the second long board, or the first long board to the short board. In yet another embodiment, only the first long board is connected to a vehicle, such as a pickup truck having a regular cab with two full doors only.
US08382128B2 Axle arrangement
An axle arrangement includes an axle member and an axle member bracket arranged on the axle member. A wheel suspension having a wheel carrier bracket is constructed in the form of a fork-shaped metal sheet and swingably supported on the axle member bracket for wheel alignment, with a wheel carrier being arranged on the wheel carrier bracket.
US08382121B2 Double mechanical seal device
The present invention provides a cartridge type double seal having a size small enough to be mounted on the outer surface of an apparatus without using a space in a stuffing box and without requiring any special design and modification. In a seal device (1), a seal case (44) is fixed and installed by the set screw (18), screwed in radially inside from the far end of the mounting groove (15) of the seal cover (10) through the screw groove (17), at the innermost end of the seal cover (10). The thickness of thickness direction can be reduced because the seal case (44) is not axially supported and fixed.
US08382104B2 Image forming apparatus and control method therefor
An image forming apparatus that is capable of reducing a jam and correcting misalignment of a sheet due to a buckling of the sheet certainly. A skew correction unit conveys a sheet while contacting one of side edges of the sheet with a reference member that is arranged in parallel to a conveyance direction in order to correct a skew of the sheet conveyed along a conveyance path. A misalignment correction unit moves the sheet that the skew has been corrected in a width direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction. A sheet position detection unit detects a position of the other of the side edges of the sheet that the skew has been corrected. A moving amount determination unit determines a moving amount by which the misalignment correction unit moves the sheet in the width direction.
US08382095B2 Sheet feeding unit, image reading device including same, and image forming apparatus including the image reading device with independent cover and restriction member
A sheet feeding unit has a main body, a sheet stack portion attached to the main body to accommodate a stack of sheets, a sheet feeding device disposed substantially above the sheet stack portion to feed the sheet onward, which is movable between a sheet feeding position at which the sheet feeding device contacts the sheet and feeds the sheet onward and a separating position at which the sheet feeding device separates from the sheet and does not feed the sheet onward, a separation unit to separate the sheets, a restriction member disposed between the sheet feeding device and the separation unit and is switchable between a sheet feeding state when the sheet feeding device is at the sheet feeding position and a sheet restriction state when the sheet feeding device is at the separation position, and a cover openably closable relative to the main body and constituted as an independent member.
US08382087B2 Work rests for supporting a workpiece in a machining unit and machining units containing such work rests
Workpiece rests are disclosed for holding workpieces in machining systems which machine the workpieces using a cutting beam, e.g., a laser beam. A workpiece rest includes a frame, a plurality of rest elements that are arranged adjacent to one another in the frame so as to support the workpiece, and a supporting element attached to at least one of the rest elements.
US08382086B2 Universal mounting platform and system
A platform and system for mounting a tool or appliance to a workstation or for use on other surfaces. The platform is portable and includes a clamping bar and receiving pockets for receiving tables of an adjustable workstation and mounting pockets for accommodating placement of fastening hardware to secure the tool to the platform. The receiving pockets allow the tables to adjust and clamp upon the clamping bar. The mounting pockets allow the hardware to maintain independence from the workstation to which the platform is mounted.
US08382079B2 Liquid sealed vibration isolating device
A vibration isolating device includes an insulator for isolating the transmission of an inputted vibration by an elastic deformation. A principal vibration input portion is provided in a central area of a concave curved wall portion formed in the insulator. A thin wall portion and a thick wall portion are formed by relatively varying a thickness of the insulator around the vibration input portion, wherein the concave curved wall portion of the insulator is formed in a substantially circular shape when viewed in a principal vibration inputted direction. The thick wall portion is formed substantially in the shape of a belt of a predetermined width and extends across the concave curved wall portion in the diametrical direction thereof while passing the vibration input portion. A rigid body covering portion for covering a surface of a metallic member of the vibration input portion is provided in the central area of the thick wall portion. A thickness of the rigid body covering portion is at least 1.7 mm.
US08382078B2 Bump stopper
To provide a bump stopper (1) having constricted parts (2A, 2B) in the circumferential surface and exhibiting buffering action by deforming resiliently when an annular distal end portion (3) collides against a partner member (61) in a state that a bump stopper central axis (0) is inclined to a collision surface (62), without sliding on the collision surface (62), thereby generation of noise being suppressed, the distal end portion (3) has a outside diameter and an inside diameter which expand toward the end, a diameter d1 at a collision start point (4) at the most distal end of the inner diameter surface is set substantially equal to or larger than the outside diameter d2 of the constricted part (2A) located just above it, and the distal end portion (3) deforms to tilt further to the outer diameter side through action of moment at the time of collision.
US08382073B2 Humidifier, filter unit and rotation drive structure
A disc-shaped filter unit including a filter main body having a water absorbability and a holder having a non water absorbability is disposed in a vertical orientation, with a part of a circumferential portion thereof immersed in water reserved in a water tank, and is rotated by a rotation drive mechanism in a circumferential direction. The filter unit has an absorptive region and a non-absorptive region arranged adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. Therefore, in accordance with rotation of the filter unit in the circumferential direction, a state where the absorptive region is immersed and the filter main body of the filter unit absorbs water through a water-conduction hole and a state where the non-absorptive region is immersed and water absorption of the filter main body is prevented by a watertight section having a non water absorbability are continuously alternated.
US08382070B1 Barrier system
A barrier is formed from a plurality of posts and a plurality of rails. Each post has an I-shaped cross section, with a pair of double-walled flanges separated by a single-walled web. Each rail is a channel-shaped member having an intermediate portion and opposed end portions. Each end portion has a rounded convex edge. The intermediate portion includes a flat section to which pickets or a fencing fabric may be attached. Each end portion also includes a flat section, which is recessed relative to the flat section of the intermediate portion. A rail is connected to a post by inserting the rail's end portion into the channel-shaped region of the post. The flat section of the rail's end portion engages the planar inner side of one of the post's flanges. Fasteners are inserted into aligned openings in the flange and the flat section to connect the rail to the post. When assembled, the post flanges and the flat section of the intermediate portion of the rail are coplanar.
US08382064B2 Solenoid valve
Provided are a solenoid valve which is configured such that the valve body is not deformed when a retainer is mounted and which can be easily assembled, and a method of manufacturing the solenoid valve. A solenoid valve is provided with a valve body inside which a spool is provided so as to move in an axial direction, a solenoid section which is mounted to one end of the valve body in the axial direction thereof, and a retainer which is mounted to the other end of the valve body in the axial direction thereof. The retainer is fixed by a staking section which is provided to an end of the valve body in the axial direction thereof and staked in the axial direction.
US08382053B2 Modular beverage holder
A beverage container holder adapted to hold a wide variety of containers including cups, bottles, mugs, and tumblers. The device preferably includes a base, an upright extending upward from the base, and a receiver near the top of the upright. The receiver includes a cup holder which is preferably made detachable so that it may be washed in a dishwasher. The cup holder and receiver include a cutout which is wide enough to accommodate the handle on a coffee cup.
US08382045B2 Shape-changing control surface
A method and apparatus for controlling the shape of a control surface. A structure is rotated about an axis. The structure is located between a flexible skin and a skin located substantially opposite of the flexible skin. An assembly is moved to change the shape of the control surface in response to a rotation of the structure. The assembly is movably connected to the structure and is configured to move such that the flexible skin forms a plurality of curvatures.
US08382041B1 Rakelet
A rakelet comprises a raked portion and a winglet portion that selectively integrate features of raked wingtips and winglets into a wingtip device that improves aircraft endurance and range over standard wings and over other wingtip devices such as raked wings, winglets, and the like. The features of the rakelet can be configured to improve and maximize the range and endurance for any particular aircraft.
US08382039B2 Turbomachine nacelle and anti-icing system and method therefor
An anti-icing system for a nacelle of an aircraft engine. The nacelle has an inlet lip that defines a leading edge of the nacelle, and further has an annular-shaped cavity adjacent and delimited in part by an interior surface of the inlet lip. An anti-icing system is located within the cavity and includes a manifold with a cross-sectional shape that conforms to the interior surface of the inlet lip. A wall of the manifold faces the interior surface of the inlet lip, and air is conducted to the manifold to cause heating of the inlet lip via the manifold wall.
US08382036B2 Seating arrangements particularly for passenger aircraft
Seating arrangements for passenger aircraft or other vehicles are detailed. Some arrangements position seats at offsets from a longitudinal axis of a vehicle cabin in either “V” shapes or herringbone patterns. Other arrangements include seats that are staggered within the cabin. Further arrangements include pairs of seat that are both parallel and offset from the longitudinal axis, but are placed so that feet of the port and starboard passengers point away from the fuselage. All embodiments contemplate providing seats that are convertible to beds, although this conversion is not required.
US08382034B2 System box for accommodating aircraft systems
A system box for accommodating aircraft systems, and for load transmission between an aircraft structure and a crew rest compartment. The system box comprises a first, a second and a third region, wherein the three regions differ from each other. The first region is adapted attachment of the system box to the primary structure of the aircraft, wherein the second region is adapted for mechanical contact with a crew rest compartment for the aircrew. The mechanical contact in turn is adapted for load transmission between the aircraft structure and the crew rest compartment. Necessary aircraft systems are accommodated in the third region of the system box.
US08382031B2 Fan cowl support cradle mounted on the attachment pylon and on the air inlet of the nacelle
An engine unit for an aircraft including an engine, a device for hooking the engine, and a nacelle surrounding the engine and provided with fan cowls, the device for hooking including a rigid structure and a front aerodynamic structure whereon the fan cowls are articulated, the front aerodynamic structure including a cradle with a rear mechanism of hooking mounted on the rigid structure. The cradle also includes a front mechanism of hooking mounted on an air inlet of the nacelle.
US08382030B2 Variable cycle VTOL powerplant
A VTOL aircraft powerplant choosing between a low-power, turbofan mode during cruise flight and a high-power, lift fan mode during vertical flight. Turbofan mode is a gas turbine engine's shaft power driving a remote front fan. Its fan flow goes to thrust for cruising flight. During VTOL, front fan output enters a boost compressor. It produces the compressed air for a combustion chamber which feeds a large lift-fan turbine. That is the implementation of lift-fan mode. The boost compressor has more stages than the front fan and is a big added load. The gas turbine engine is supercharged to turn that added load: Part of the boost compressor output is taken during VTOL. This is a new version of the supercharging. During cruise flight, a low pressure turbine stage is bypassed to match the lesser load. That completes the apparatus for a variable-cycle VTOL engine.
US08382029B2 Wingless hovering of micro air vehicle
Embodiments relate to a Wingless Hovering Micro Air Vehicle and its Power Source Unit. Embodiments can operate at reasonable power levels for hovering and withstanding expected wind gusts. Embodiments can have a diameter less than 15 cm. Embodiments can have one or more smooth (continuous curvature) surface and can be operated using electromagnetic and electrohydrodynamic principles. The wingless design of specific embodiments can allow operation with no rotating or moving components. Additional embodiments can allow active response to the surrounding flow conditions. The issue of low lift to drag ratio and degradation of airfoil efficiency due to the inability of laminar boundary layers attachment can also be significantly reduced, or eliminated. The electromagnetic force can be generated by applying a pulsed (alternating/rf) voltage between a set of grounded and powered electrodes separated by a polymer insulator, dielectric, or other material with insulating properties.
US08382022B2 Spinning reel for fishing
A spinning reel for fishing includes: a reel body including a front portion; a handle provided in the reel body; a cap-shaped cover body including a surrounding wall mounted in the front portion of the reel body; a spool on which a fishing line is to be wound; a rotor including a fishing line guide part, the rotor being rotated by the rotational manipulation of the handle to wind the fishing line on the spool; a driving part passing through the cover body and transmitting the rotation of the handle to the rotor; a support part provided in the front portion of the reel body and supporting the driving part; and a magnetic seal device mounted in the cover body and including a magnet, a cylindrical magnetic body forming a magnetic circuit between the magnetic body and the magnet and magnetic fluid maintained between the magnet and the magnetic ring.
US08382020B2 Strengthened cutting device for a crosscut shredder
A cutting device for a crosscut shredder is mounted in a housing, is driven by a motor through a transmission gear set and has two driving shafts, and two bracing leaves, multiple shredding blades and multiple partitions mounted on the driving shafts. The partitions are disposed between the shredding blades. The bracing leaves hold the driving shafts at middles of the driving shafts to structurally enhance the driving shafts so the driving shafts are not deformed easily. Therefore, the papers are shredded thoroughly, and the transmission gear set and the motor are able to operate appropriately and keep in good conditions. Moreover, the driving shafts have saved manufacturing costs and effective shredding capabilities.
US08382018B2 Food processor and method for operating a food processor
A food processor having a coupling point to attach a processing device to the food processor; a cover part; a detection device disposed at the coupling point, wherein the detection device detects the attached processing device or the cover part; wherein each of the processing device and the cover part has a respective actuating element to actuate the detection device; and wherein the detection device has at least a first actuating region and a second actuating region that is oriented differently from the first actuating region.
US08382017B2 Grinding system, grinding mill for such grinding system, reload cartridge for such grinding system, method for distributing material to be ground, method for selling the same and method for grinding the same
Grinding system (1) comprising a grinding mill (2) and a reload cartridge (3) containing a material to be ground (37) and adapted to be removably mounted on the grinding mill. The cartridge has a closure member (33) which is opened by an opening member (18) of the grinding mill when the cartridge is coupled to the grinding mill.
US08382008B1 Optimized and miniaturized aerosol generator
An optimized and miniaturized aerosol generator preferably includes a transducer plate, at least one transducer, a level float, a fluid container, at least one aerosol output member and an air input member. At least one transducer counterbore is formed in the transducer plate to retain the at least one transducer. The fluid container includes a float chamber and an aerosol chamber. The at least one aerosol output and the air input member are retained in a top of the aerosol chamber. A sealing gasket is preferably placed between a top of the transducer plate and a bottom of the fluid. The level float is contained in the float chamber. Air is pumped into the aerosol chamber through the air input member. A transducer driver powers the at least one transducer. The at least one transducer vibrates and produces an aerosol, which exits the at least one aerosol output member.
US08381996B1 Memory card supporting near field communication through single wire protocol
A memory card supporting near field communication through single wire protocol includes a power management unit, an interface control unit, a data storage unit, a power protection unit and an intelligent unit. The power protection unit is interposed between the power management unit and a near field voltage source of the near field communication unit to prevent short-circuit induced by direct connection there between. Moreover, direct connection between the power management unit and the intelligent unit can also be prevented, which can protect against bursts of excessive voltages or currents that may damage the data in the intelligent unit. Additionally, the power protection unit can prevent power leakage from the power management unit and the near field voltage source, which solves the problem of improperly driving near field communication or insufficient power supply to the interface control unit or intelligent unit.
US08381994B2 Data storage device, stacking method thereof, and data storage device assembly
A data storage device, a stacking method thereof, and a data storage device assembly are provided. The data storage device assembly includes a first data storage device and a second data storage device respectively having a body, a magnetic element, and a storage device. Each body has a first containing space and a second containing space. Each magnetic element is disposed in the corresponding first containing space. At least one of the magnetic elements of the first and the second data storage device is a magnet. Each storage device is disposed in the corresponding second containing space and includes an electrical connector terminal, a memory chip, and a memory controller with no crystal oscillator. The magnetic elements of the first and the second data storage device attract each other so that the body of the first data storage device is stacked on the body of the second data storage device.
US08381991B2 Radio frequency identification tag with privacy and security capabilities
An RFID tag that is foldable about a generally transverse fold line. The line divides the tag into two regions. One region has an RFID integrated circuit and areas of electrically conductive material. The other region has conductive areas that provide an efficient RFID antenna. In a folded configuration the areas are operatively associated with the integrated circuit while in the open configuration the areas are not functionally associated with the integrated circuit. Accordingly in the open configuration the tag is disabled or its RFID performance substantially degraded. The tag can be reversibly altered between the open and folded configurations.
US08381984B2 System operative for processing frame having representation of substrate
A system having an image sensor array can be provided for use in locating and decoding a bar code symbol represented within a frame of image data. An image sensor array can be incorporated in a terminal having a hand held housing. A terminal can be operative to capture a frame and locate a feature of a document represented within the frame, the document of a type having a bar code symbol at a predetermined location. The system can determine a location of a bar code symbol representation within an image representation. For determining a location of the bar code symbol representation in an image representation, the system can be operative to utilize pre-stored information respecting the document and the determined location of the document feature representation, the pre-stored information indicating a location of the bar code symbol in a document of the document type subject to image capture.
US08381980B2 Evaluating an electromagnetic field strength of an electromagnetic gate apparatus
A device (110) for evaluating an electromagnetic field strength/field geometry of an electromagnetic gate apparatus (120) is provided, the device (110) comprising a measurement unit (112) adapted for receiving a measurement signal from the electromagnetic gate apparatus (120) and determining a value of the field strength of said measurement signal, a communication unit (114) adapted for receiving command data from the electromagnetic gate apparatus (120) and adapted for sending response datato the electromagnetic gate apparatus (120). Optionally, the device (110) comprises an evaluation unit (116,118) adapted for evaluating the electromagnetic field geometry of the electromagnetic gate apparatus (120) based on said values of the field strength received from the measurement unit (112).
US08381976B2 System and method for object metrology
A system includes a time of flight (TOF) camera or similar device, a processor coupled to the TOF camera, and a sensor. The processor receives TOF data from the sensor. The TOF data is related to an object within range of the TOF device. The processor calculates dimensions of the object using the time of flight data.
US08381972B2 Customized transaction card and account reports
A method of customizing communications to a transaction account user is described. The method may include the steps of incorporating a customized image sent by the user on a transaction card that is provided to the user, and displaying the customized image on one or more account message seen by the user. Also, a method to customize messages about a transaction account to an account user is described. The method may include the steps of sending the account user a customized transaction card having a customized image received from a person opening the account, and incorporating the customized image on one or more messages about the account that are sent to the account user.
US08381971B2 System and method for point of sale cash rebates
According to certain embodiments of the present invention, systems and methods are provided for providing a consumer with a rebate on purchases, which are made, for example, at a merchant. The rebate may be in a variety of forms. According to one aspect the rebate may be a reduction in the purchase price associated with a transaction. According to another aspect the rebate may be in the form of cash or an item having value being delivered to the consumer. The rebate may be provided at the Point of Sale. The rebate may be determined by a number of different criteria including purchase price, transaction frequency, predetermined time intervals, consumer loyalty, Point of Sale location, or any combination of these and other criteria.
US08381965B2 Thermal compress bonding
A method includes providing a substrate carrier including work piece holders, and placing a first plurality of work pieces into the work piece holders. A second plurality of work pieces is picked up and placed, with each of the second plurality of work pieces being placed on one of the first plurality of work pieces. Solder bumps between the first and the second plurality of work pieces are then reflowed to simultaneously bond the first and the second plurality of work pieces together.
US08381964B2 Tin-silver bonding and method thereof
A Sn—Ag bonding and a method thereof are revealed. By means of a bonding layer formed by tin and silver between wafers, the stress released by diffusion and bonding between tin(Sn) and silver(Ag) is larger than the stress released by diffusion and bonding of conventional gold-silver bonding. Moreover, a Sn—Ag bonding method of the present invention forms Sn—Ag bonding at low temperature and releases more stress so as to reduce thermal stress generated during wafer bonding effectively. And after wafer bonding, the high temperature processes can be performed.
US08381963B2 Compression-bonding apparatus
A compression-bonding apparatus includes a support stage and a pressing tool. The pressing tool includes a pressing stage, an elastic member and a plurality of bonding heads. The elastic member is held by the pressing stage. The plurality of bonding heads includes an upper surface attached to the elastic member and a lower surface facing an upper surface of the support stage.
US08381962B2 Injection molded solder method for forming solder bumps on substrates
A flexible unitary mask has a plurality of through holes. A substrate has a plurality of wettable pads in recessed regions defining volumes. The through holes are aligned with the wettable pads. Molten solder is directly injected through the through holes of the flexible unitary mask into the volumes with the wettable pads, such that the through holes and the volumes with the wettable pads are filled with solder. The solder is allowed to solidify, forming a plurality of solder structures adhered to the wettable pads. The flexible unitary mask is peeled from the substrate after the solder has solidified.
US08381961B2 Surgical stapling apparatus including staple with plate
A fastener system includes an open loop member and a receiving plate. The open loop member has first and second legs and a base. Each leg defines a longitudinal axis therethrough. The receiving plate has a body including a pair of spaced apart channels. The body defines a longitudinal axis therethrough. Each channel is positioned to receive a portion of one of the first or second legs.
US08381953B2 Conceal and carry gun holster
A gun holster fastening system for supporting a handgun in a position proximate to the ribcage area of the wearer is provided. The gun holster fastening system including a holster case having a pistol receiving compartment, and a holster support band attached to the holster case. The holster support band is sized to extend around a wearer's ribcage. The system also includes holster support strut sized to span between the wearer's ribcage area and a wearer's trouser waistband area, such that the holster support strut has a proximate end adjacent to the holster case, a distal end, an internal face, and an external face. The holster support strut is configured to support the gun fastening system and prevent the holster case and holster support band from moving down a wearer's ribcage. The distal end has a plurality of belt cleats which extend from the external face of the holster support strut to define at least one belt channel.
US08381941B2 Flexible container with integral dispensing tube
A package for containing a viscous substance in a transport configuration and for dispensing the viscous substance in a dispensing configuration is disclosed. The package includes first and second sheets disposed in opposing relation that are sealed together around a perimeter. The package has a compartment that defines a space for holding the viscous substance. The package further includes an integral tube having a first end in fluid communication with the compartment, and a second end that is closed in the transport configuration. The second end can be opened such that the viscous substance contained in the package can flow from the container, through the integral tube, and exit the package via the opening. The second end of the integral tube is positionable independent of the compartment for depositing the substance at multiple, spaced apart target locations without moving the compartment.
US08381937B2 Double-walled tank container
The present invention concerns a double-walled tank container, whereby the inner container is stored at the bottom inside the outer enclosure by a spacer consisting of several spacer pieces. The spacer provided, which is preferably placed near a front saddle ring, imparts transportation and storage stresses between the inner tank and the outer enclosure and consequently between the inner container and the frame of the tank container. The spacer can be laid out in such a way that it absorbs shocks and/or defines a hollow space. This hollow space can serve as a thermal insulation or for the installation of temperature equalization devices, mediums or a leak detector fluid.
US08381934B2 Sealing plug for blind installation
The present invention provides a sealing plug for blind installation in a suitable hole (50) thereby to plug and seal the hole, which sealing plug comprises a sleeve (2), a nut stem (4) having a shoulder (8), and a head (6) at least part of which is radially enlarged with respect to the remainder of the stem; the nut stem being of a material which is harder than that of the sleeve; the nut stem being internally threaded; whereby, when the sealing plug is inserted in a suitable hole, with the sleeve entirely within the hole, and increasing force is applied to the stem with respect to the sleeve, axial compression is applied by the shoulder to the sleeve material abutting it, thereby causing the sleeve to deform and expand radially outwardly to engage with the wall (52) of the hole.
US08381929B2 Container with side walls foldable on top of one another
A container for transporting and storing goods with a container base and at least two side walls that can be folded over one another, the two side walls are respectively pivotably supported through at least one hinge bolt in a hinge bolt receiver, wherein the hinge bolt receiver comprises an elongated recess extending perpendicular to the container base. The folded down side wall is movable from a lower end position, in which the folded down side wall contacts the container base, into an upper end position, which is displaced upward from the lower end position in a direction perpendicular to the container base. Hinge bolt is provided with a guided translatoric movement when the side wall is folded up from the lower end position, causing rotation of the hinge bolt in the hinge bolt receiver, so that the side wall moves upward in a direction perpendicular to the container base.
US08381928B2 Multilayer fuel tank with a seam having an overlay for reducing vapor permeation
A method of reducing fuel vapor permeation through a multi-layer tank includes providing a multi-layer overlay onto at least a portion of a structural layer of the multi-layer tank. The multi-layer overlay preferably comprises at least one structural layer composed of a polymeric material that is compatible with one or more of the polymeric structural layer(s) of the multi-layer tank. The multi-layer overlay further comprises at least one barrier layer composed of a vapor barrier material resistant to hydrocarbon permeation therethrough. The multi-layer overlay may be secured to the multi-layer tank by, for example, applying a suitable amount of heat and pressure thereto or by molding the multi-layer overlay to the tank body during a tank forming process.
US08381924B2 Closure apparatus
A closing arrangement includes a neck having an end closed by a wall and an associated cap. The end of the neck is provided with a weakening line that surrounds the neck. The cap is provided with an opening promoting device arranged for engaging with a further opening promoting device of the wall to separate at least a part of the wall of the neck along the weakening line.
US08381919B2 Storing device for a dishwashing machine
Provided is a mat device to be arranged in a basket of a dishwashing machine. The mat device includes a base structure including a rigid supporting structure and a flexible structure allowing the base structure to be at least partially conformed to a bottom of the basket. The base structure is at least partially covered by an elastic material, supports a flexible structure for receiving dishes or cutlery, or is at least partially covered by the elastic material and supports the flexible structure for receiving the dishes or cutlery.
US08381914B2 Method for recovering silicon from sawing waste
A method for separating and recovering silicon debris from sawing waste is characterized in that it includes the following steps: —treating the sawing waste so as to deoxidize the silicon debris in a manner that reduces their surface energy, —applying to the sawing waste thus treated a flotation method using a flotation liquid and a nonoxidizing flotation gas, and —recovering the silicon debris at the surface of the flotation liquid.
US08381905B1 Burglarproof bit socket bracket assembly
A bit socket bracket assembly has a frame, multiple bit socket mounts and a burglarproof unit. The frame has a track. Each bit socket mount is detachably and slidably connected with the track and has a hollow positioning section. Each positioning section has a round cross section and can be inserted into a bit socket. The cross sections of the positioning sections are round, so the bit sockets can be rotated. Accordingly, a number or a sign on each bit socket can be rotated to face a user and this is greatly practical and convenient.
US08381904B1 Protective covering for personal electronic device
A personal electronic device protective wallet covering. A main housing is dimensioned to fit securely and snugly around a personal electronic device. The main housing includes a window disposed on a front side of the housing allowing usable access to a front surface of a device disposed in the housing. A rear protective face at least partially covers a rear surface of the device disposed inside. A preferably externally accessible pocket is formed coextensively with the rear protective face, adapted to allow insertion and removal of cards or paper currency into and out of the pocket in the manner of a wallet. The window may be an absence of housing material, allowing direct user contact with the front of the device, or it may thin and transparent, allowing functional contact therethrough. The pocket may be formed between the housing and the device or between the housing and an additional layer.
US08381892B2 Motorcycle
In a motorcycle, a cable linked with a clutch release lever is reduced in length and arranged without being bent so much. A release mechanism for a friction type clutch device is provided with a clutch release lever on a lateral surface of a crankcase that is linked with a cable connected to a clutch operational lever disposed on the left side of a steering handlebar that is turned to perform a clutch release operation. The clutch release lever includes an arm portion linked with the cable and a release rod turned together with the arm portion to press the push rod. The release rod is disposed on a left side portion of the crankcase and the arm portion is attached to project outwardly of the crankcase. The clutch release lever is turned clockwise as viewed from above a vehicle body to perform clutch release operation.
US08381885B2 Brake system and lawn mower implementing the same
A brake system and powered implement, such as a lawn mower, incorporating the same. In one aspect the invention is a system for stopping an electrically grounded rotating member of an engine powered by an ignition circuit, the system comprising: a conductive member operably coupled to the ignition circuit that renders the engine inoperative when electrically grounded, the conductive member mounted adjacent the rotating member; and the conductive member normally biased into a brake position in which the conductive member contacts the rotating member and is electrically grounded as a result of the contact with the rotating member.
US08381884B2 Bicycle braking system
A bicycle braking system is basically provided with a bicycle braking device, a supplementary brake operating device and a brake maintaining arrangement. The bicycle braking device is movably between a non-brake applying position and a brake applying position for applying a braking force. The supplementary brake operating device is operatively coupled to operate the bicycle braking device. The supplementary brake operating device includes a rider operating arrangement that is operable by a rider between a non-braking position and at least one predetermined braking position. The brake maintaining arrangement is configured and arranged to hold the bicycle braking device in the brake applying position in response to movement of the rider operating arrangement to the predetermined braking position such that the braking force of the bicycle braking device is continually and consistently applied.
US08381882B1 Spring loaded anti-lock braking system sensor
An anti-lock braking system includes a sensor apparatus that includes a sensor body. In a first position, the sensor body is positioned such that a desired gap is maintained between the sensor body and a reference point located on a tone ring, which is rotatably coupled to a corresponding wheel hub. In the first position, a spring-loaded plunger holds the sensor body in place. When the sensor body is moved to a second position, a plunger pin is displaced within the plunger, putting tension on an internal spring. The tension in the spring returns the sensor body to the first position.
US08381880B2 Elevator installation access control with position detection
A method of operating an elevator installation for transporting elevator users in a building area, including the steps of: detecting the position of elevator users in the building area, granting of an access authorization of the elevator users to building regions, triggering of a destination call by a detected elevator user, allocation of an elevator car serving the destination call or elevator call, boarding of an elevator car by at least one detected elevator user, if an elevator call was triggered triggering a car call by a detected elevator user, comparing whether the position of the elevator user that has boarded the elevator car corresponds with the position of the elevator user that has triggered the destination call, and determining whether the elevator user that has boarded the elevator car has an access authorization for a destination location corresponding with the destination call or elevator call.
US08381878B2 Oil capture and bypass system
An assembly for capturing lubricating liquid from a fan drive gear system of a gas turbine engine includes a gutter and an auxiliary reservoir. The gutter is positioned radially outward from a centerline axis of the gear system for capturing lubricating liquid slung from the gear system. The auxiliary reservoir is fluidically connected to the gutter for receiving and storing the lubricating liquid from the gutter. A portion of the auxiliary reservoir and a portion of the gutter have a same radial distance from the centerline axis of the gear system.
US08381876B1 Tree climbing tree stand
A tree climbing tree stand comprising, in combination a lower foot portion. The lower foot portion has a lower flexible tree strap coupled there to. There is also provided an upper portion. The upper portion has an upper flexible tree strap coupled there to.
US08381875B2 Lambdoidal ladder
A lambdoidal ladder comprises front struts (100), back struts (200), treads (500), a folding device) 400, a connection device (600) and a platform (300). Wherein the platform (300) is connected to the front strut (100) and the back strut (200), and the structure between the front strut and the back strut is a rotatable connection; the platform (300) comprises a body (310) and a transverse rod (320) which goes through the front strut (100), an orientation slot (314) matching to the transverse rod (320) is set under the body (310); the folding device (400) fixed to the middle part of the front strut and the back strut is constructed a hinge with a H figuration; the tread (500) is fixed to the front and back struts by the connection device (600).
US08381873B2 Ladder and support stand
A convertible ladder and scaffold assembly includes a plurality of uprights and a plurality of beams each extending from one of the uprights. A plurality of hinges each hingedly connect one of the uprights to one of the beams about a rotational axis (AR) to provide an assembly having ladder, scaffold, push-cart, and storage configurations. Each of the hinges defines catches and present a stop releasably engaging catches for preventing rotation about the rotational axis (AR). At least one lever bar releasably engages a plurality of the stops for simultaneously releasing a plurality of the stops from engaging catches. Each of the lever bars have a plurality of lever sections for providing leverage to disengage the stops from the catches. Each of the lever bars has a grip section interconnecting the lever sections for simultaneously releasing a plurality of the stops from engaging the catches.
US08381865B2 Construction machine
A gate-shaped muffler mount including front and rear leg portions and a muffler attaching portion is attached to a mounting bracket for supporting an engine with bolts so as to straddle a hydraulic pump. One of mounting holes has a diameter larger than the diameter of the bolt, and the muffler mount is therefore rotatable around the other bolt along the axial direction of a bellows. By this rotation, the bellows can be positionally adjusted in the axial direction relative to an engine exhaust pipe so that assembly errors can be absorbed.
US08381862B2 Pedal arrangement for a motor vehicle
A pedal arrangement for a motor vehicle includes a pedal arm connected to the vehicle structure via a first pivotal joint connection and connected to a force transmitting element via a second pivotal joint connection. The pedal arrangement further includes a pyrotechnically driven release arrangement. The release arrangement is adapted to perform a release movement in order to release the second pivotal joint connection upon being driven in response to a corresponding activation signal. The release movement of the release arrangement is based on a translational movement essentially along the pedal arm.
US08381859B2 Inverted pendulum type vehicle
An inverted pendulum type vehicle (1) includes a lower frame incorporated with load sensor having an input portion 60 for receiving an external force and an upper frame (3) provided with a saddle 11 for supporting a load of a rider or a cargo and a grip handle (31) for enabling a user not riding the vehicle to support the vehicle (1), the upper frame being connected to the lower frame via the input portion of the load sensor. Therefore, in the vehicle including the lower frame supporting a propelling unit for the vehicle and the upper frame detachably attached to the lower frame, by using a single force sensor, not only the force acting on a load support portion of the upper frame can be detected in an accurate manner, but also the force acting on the load support portion when the user is transporting the vehicle can be detected.
US08381854B2 All terrain vehicle with improved air intake
An all terrain vehicle contains a partition wall which partitions a passenger space and a hood which is arranged ahead of the partition wall. When viewed from the side of the vehicle, an air outlet of an exhaust passage is opened in an upper space located between the partition wall and the hood.
US08381853B2 Electric vehicle
An electric vehicle comprising a drive wheel which is driven by a traction electric motor, a brake command device, a brake releasing unit, a brake shaft, a friction plate, and a braking spring. The brake shaft is rotatable in a brake realizing direction which is one direction by an operation of the brake command device, and is rotatable in a brake releasing direction which is the other direction by driving of the brake releasing unit. The friction plate is operatively connected to the traction electric motor, and is frictionally braked when the brake shaft is rotated in the brake realizing direction. The braking spring applies an elastic force to the brake shaft in a direction to rotate the brake shaft in the brake realizing direction.
US08381852B2 Multiple battery system of a motor vehicle
An electrical system for a motor vehicle includes first and second battery sets. The first battery set generally supplies power to vehicle electrical loads while the second battery set is used to energize the engine starter system. The vehicle's engine driven alternator is connected to recharge the first battery set. Recharging of the second battery set is provided by a charger connected to draw power from the first set and to transfer the power to the second set.
US08381851B2 Methods of operating a series hybrid vehicle
A method for operating a series hybrid vehicle is provided, in which an engine generates secondary power that is either stored or used as direct input energy by a secondary power source to provide motive power to the vehicle. Regenerative braking is used to convert kinetic energy of the vehicle into secondary energy, which is also stored. When the vehicle driver makes a power demand, the secondary power source is powered by secondary energy from an energy storage device, direct input energy generated by the engine, or both, depending on the amount of stored secondary energy in combination with vehicle speed. When in use, the power level at which the engine is operated is also determined on the basis of available stored energy and vehicle speed. At higher vehicle speeds, the amount of stored energy is allowed to be depleted in order to increase the available storage capacity for regenerative braking.
US08381848B2 Children's ride-on vehicles with window mechanisms
Children's ride-on vehicles having window mechanisms, and window mechanisms for such vehicles. In some embodiments, the window mechanism is a manual window mechanism, and in some embodiments the window mechanism is a powered, or motorized, window mechanism. The window mechanism includes a window drive assembly that selectively drives movement of a window member relative to the vehicle body. In some embodiments, the window drive assembly is a powered window drive assembly that includes a window motor assembly and a window linkage to couple the output of the window motor assembly to the window member. In some embodiments, the window drive assembly is a manual window drive assembly. In some embodiments, the window member includes a receiving region coupled to the window linkage. In some embodiments, the window mechanism includes a window support assembly that maintains the window member in a predetermined orientation relative to the vehicle body.
US08381847B2 Unicycle
A unicycle having a lower part with a wheel, a drive and a fork, in the branched end of which the wheel is rotatably mounted. An upper part of the unicycle includes a seat and a support frame. The lower part and the upper part are connected by a rotational connection, enabling the rotational movement of the upper part of the unicycle relative to the lower part. The unicycle is therefore easier to steer and to balance.
US08381841B2 Debris evacuator for cleaning a masonry bore
A cover tube concentric about a pressure tube at the opposite end.
US08381818B2 Apparatus for, and method of, landing items at a well location
An apparatus for, and method of, lowering items from a drilling rig to a well located below it through the use of a landing string comprised of drill pipe having an enlarged diameter section with a shoulder, in combination with upper and lower holders having wedge members with shoulders that engage and support the drill pipe at the shoulder of the enlarged diameter section, the shoulder of the drill pipe and the shoulders of the wedge members being rotatable with respect to each other.
US08381814B2 Groundwater isolation barriers for mining and other subsurface operations
To protect an underground aquifer from pollution due to the extraction of subsurface products from a recovery well or other subsurface mining operation, a plurality of barrier injection wells are formed around the recovery well/subsurface operation, each barrier injection well terminating in a groundwater layer to be protected. A polymer matrix material is then into the injection wells such that the material exiting each injection well expands and overlaps with material exiting from adjacent wells prior to solidification, thereby forming an isolation barrier within the groundwater layer. In the preferred embodiment, the polymer matrix material is a cellulose polymer hydrogel matrix material which is injected in gel form. Following recovery of the hydrocarbonaceous products from the recovery well(s), the injected polymer matrix material may be reheated and subsequently liquefied allowing full groundwater flow to occur.
US08381809B2 Packer with non-extrusion ring
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally provide a packer for use within a conduit, such as casing, having a non-extrusion ring. The non-extrusion ring is comprised of hard segments and an elastic matrix.
US08381803B2 High temperature and high pressure corrosion resistant process heat exchanger for a nuclear hydrogen production system
A high-temperature and high-pressure corrosion-resistant process heat exchanger for a nuclear hydrogen production system decomposes sulfite (SO3) using heat from a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor to thereby produce sulfide (SO2) and oxygen (O2). The process heat exchanger comprises second and third system coolant channels, each of which is defined by a heat transmission fin, which is bent in a quadrilateral shape, and heat transmission plates, and has increased corrosion resistance thanks to ion-beam coating and ion-beam mixing using a material having high corrosion resistance. The third system coolant channel includes reaction catalysts for SO3 decomposition, and is made of a super alloy. Thus, a system differential pressure between the second and third system coolant channels can be greatly maintained at a high temperature of 900° C. or higher.
US08381802B2 Heat transfer device
This invention provides a heat transfer device which can improve its heat transfer performance in a heat exchanger with a flow rate of heat carrier fluid being set at a relatively low velocity, while restricting increase in pressure loss of the fluid flow. Plural longitudinal vortex generator winglets (10) are arranged in a spanwise direction on each side of the heat transfer object (T). The winglets on each side are oriented substantially in the same direction for deflecting the fluid to the same direction and conducting the fluid to an area behind the object. Each of the winglets has a configuration gradually decreasing in its height toward an upstream side of a flow of the fluid. Longitudinal vortices are produced behind the winglets by the fluid flowing rearward beyond the winglets.
US08381801B2 Heat dissipation device
A heat dissipation device includes a first heat sink thermally contacting an electronic component, a second heat sink connecting to the first heat sink, and a heat pipe thermally connecting the first heat sink with the second heat sink. The first heat sink defines a receiving portion at a lateral side thereof. The heat pipe includes an evaporating section attached to the first heat sink, a condensing section attached to the second heat sink and a connecting section interconnecting the evaporating section with the condensing section. An engaging portion protrudes from a lateral side of the second heat sink and is firmly embedded in and lockable with the receiving portion of the first heat sink. The heat pipe extends through the engaging portion.
US08381796B2 Functionally graded metal matrix composite sheet
A method of making a functionally graded metal matrix composite (MMC) sheet having a central layer of particulate matter, the particulate matter having a size of at least about 30 microns. The method includes providing a molten metal containing particulate matter to a pair of advancing casting surfaces. Solidifying the molten metal while advancing the molten metal between the advancing casting surfaces to form a first solid outer layer, a second solid outer layer, and a semi-solid central layer having a higher concentration of particulate matter than either of the outer layers. Solidifying the central layer to form a solid metal product including a central layer sandwiched between the outer layers and withdrawing the metal product from between the casting surfaces.
US08381786B2 Pneumatic tire
A pneumatic tire has no spew or no spew trace on a sidewall surface of the pneumatic tire and reduces air resistance. The tire includes a plurality of dimple-like recesses and a plurality of linear valley portions. The dimple-like recesses are provides in a first region including a tire maximum width position of the sidewall surface of the tire. The linear valley portions which are formed by serration of the sidewall surface, extend linearly in one direction in the first region and provided around each of the recesses so as to enclose each of the recesses. When a size of an occupied area of each of the recesses on the sidewall surface is represented by an equivalent diameter of a circle, an interval distance between the linear valley portions is smaller than the equivalent diameter.
US08381778B2 Method and apparatus to charge aerosol containers with fluid, and method to clean a charging apparatus
Method for charging an aerosol container with fluid, comprising:—providing an aerosol container (1) having a reservoir (2) comprising a product, for example a foodproduct, and having product discharge means (1a);—gradually supplying fluid to the reservoir of the container (1) via the discharge means (1a) thereof; and—applying a mixing movement to the container (1), preferably during the supplying of the fluid, to mix the fluid and product at least partly with each other, wherein the mixing movement is such that at least a first virtual point (P1, P2) of a virtual center line (Z) of the container reservoir (2) follows an endless path around a respective virtual axis. Embodiments of the invention also provide a cleaning method and a dummy container.
US08381772B2 Low-pressure hose for connection to diving cylinders for underwater activities
A low-pressure hose for connection to diving cylinders for underwater activities, comprising an inner tubular element, which is sheathed by an inner sheathing layer constituted by a polyester braid, the hose further comprising an outer sheathing layer constituted by nylon braiding.
US08381764B2 Check valve
A check valve (1) includes a casing (2) having a valve seat (10) formed in a flow path and a valving element assembly (21) disposed in the casing. A top (23) of a valving element (22) is received in a large-diameter portion (38) of a through-hole (37) in a support member (35) of the valving element assembly. A narrow flow path portion (68) is formed between an arcuate portion (46) of an outer periphery (45) of the support member and a second enlarged-diameter portion (11) of the casing. The narrow flow path portion (a first portion of an intermediate flow path) is communicated with a back-pressure chamber (50) defined in the support member at the rear of the top of the valving element through a communicating passage (67) including a gap (66) between the outer periphery of the valving element and the inner periphery of the large-diameter portion and grooves (27) on the rear surface of the top of the valving element. A low static pressure of fluid flowing through the narrow flow path portion is introduced into the back-pressure chamber. Fluid passing through the narrow flow path portion enters a diffuser flow path portion (69) as a second portion of the intermediate flow path and recovers the static pressure while flowing therethrough. Next, the fluid flows downstream through a uniform flow path portion as a third portion of the intermediate flow path while maintaining the recovered static pressure.
US08381758B2 Safety relief fill valve assembly
A safety relief fill valve adapted to being an interface for filling and relieving excess pressure from a closed fluid system. An insert shell retains a piston member for movement between fluid input and fluid holding configurations, the piston member being resiliently biased toward fluid holding configuration. When in fluid holding configuration, the piston member sealingly engages an inlet bore of the insert shell. When in fluid input configuration, the piston member allows fluid flow through the inlet bore. A housing receives the insert shell, thereby limiting relative axial movement and forming a cavity between a portion of the housing the insert shell. This cavity provides mechanical guidance and a flow channel for an overpressure relief system having fluid retaining and fluid relief configurations, the overpressure relief system being elastically biased toward fluid retaining configuration. The elastic bias is overcome responsive to excess pressure within the closed fluid system.
US08381746B2 Shopping cart auto washing system
The shopping cart washing machine includes a cart transporting means (200) which continuously transports a cart in a forward direction, a high pressure washing water spraying means (300) which washes the cart by spraying high pressure washing water to a surface of the cart, a handle washing means (400) which washes a handle (4) of the cart by brushing upper and lower surfaces of the handle (4) of the cart, a cart outside surface washing unit (500) which washes the outside surface of a container part (1) of the cart by brushing the sides of the container part (1), a cart inside space washing means (600) which is disposed inside the container part (1) and removes dirt from the container part (1) by vertical vibrations, a rinsing means (700) which removes dirt remaining on the surface of the washed cart by spraying high pressure washing water again, and a drying means (800) which removes water droplets remaining on the surface of the washed cart using hot air.
US08381734B2 Patient stabilizing strap
A patient stabilizing strap includes a base strap, which is removably attachable to a planar surface. At least one receiving portion is secured to the planar surface by the base strap. At least one elongate stabilizing portion has longitudinally spaced first and second stabilizing portion ends separated by a stabilizing portion body. Each first stabilizing portion end is removably attachable to a receiving portion to secure the stabilizing portion to the planar surface. Each second stabilizing portion end is removably attachable to an other second stabilizing portion end to encircle at least a portion of a patient body in cooperation with the planar surface.
US08381726B2 Safety system and method of an underground mine
Disclosed are a safety system and method of an underground mine. In one embodiment, a method of safety of a mine structure includes expediting an air extraction process from an emergency support system by including a RIC (rapid interventions company/crew)/UAC (universal air connection) fitting to a fill panel to fill a breathable air apparatus. The method may include ensuring that a prescribed pressure of the emergency support system maintains within a threshold range of the prescribed pressure by including a valve of the emergency support system to prevent leakage of breathable air from the emergency support system. The method may also include maintaining the prescribed pressure of the emergency support system such that a system pressure is compatible with a breathable air apparatus through a distribution structure that is rated for use with compressed air.
US08381723B2 Broad-band, low frequency, high-amplitude, long time duration, oscillating airway pressure breathing apparatus and method utilizing bubbles
It has been discovered that high amplitude, low frequency, broadband spectrum pressure oscillations of sufficient time duration can help stabilize lung volumes and improve gas exchange in a patient receiving ventilation assistance by helping to recruit and stabilize alveoli. A novel device is presented which can produce pressure oscillations having high amplitudes, a low broad-band frequency spectrum and long time duration. Additionally, the device can maintain a patient's mean airway pressure at one or more controlled levels. The device can control the oscillatory amplitude, frequency range and composition, time duration, and mean airway pressure levels by adjusting certain device parameters, such as the angle and depth of the device in a fluid. A device and mechanical system for remotely adjusting and measuring the angle of the device in a fluid are also disclosed. Furthermore, a device and system are disclosed that can deliver pressure oscillations having high amplitudes, a low broad-band frequency spectrum, long time duration, and multiple mean airway inspiratory and expiratory pressure levels. The device and system also provide means for controlling respiration timing in a patient, including: breaths per minute, inspiratory time, and the ratio of inspiratory to expiratory time.
US08381715B2 Radiant tube heater assembly
A radiant tube heater includes a housing and a burner tube extending outwardly therefrom for carrying products of combustion from the housing. When less heat is required, unless air from the blower is reduced, there is too much air for complete combustion of the fuel and excess air mixes with combustion gases causing cooling in the burner tube. This problem is solved by providing a short flame tube in the inlet end of the burner tube for receiving the flame. Excess air flow around the flame tube is heated. Thus, it is necessary to reduce only the supply of fuel to the burner.
US08381708B2 Vehicle and vehicle control method
An engine ECU calculates a rotational variation based on a required rotation time when a complete misfire occurs in a cylinder, a required rotation time when complete combustion occurs in the cylinder, and a required rotation time during the current combustion stroke, and integrates the calculated rotational variation. If it is determined that the number of times the rotational variation has been integrated has reached a predetermined number, the engine ECU calculates an amount of learning value deviation from the integrated rotational variation. If the amount of learning value deviation is equal to or greater than a certain amount, the engine ECU corrects a learning value of a sub-feedback control with respect to the air-fuel ratio.
US08381706B2 Head cover of an internal combustion engine
A part of a ceiling wall (14) of a head cover (10) that opposes an intake collection chamber (51) is constituted by a concave ceiling wall (20) that defines a concave surface facing the intake collection chamber (51), and the concave ceiling wall (20) is formed with a recessed groove (21) that further recedes toward an inner side of the head cover.
US08381692B2 Internal combustion engine with exhaust-phase power extraction serving cylinder pair(s)
A heat engine employs an auxiliary cylinder to receiving exhaust gases from a main cylinder during its exhaust phase to extract mechanical energy from the heat in the exhaust gases. The auxiliary cylinder has an auxiliary piston that reciprocates with an asymmetric pattern in respect to the main crank a counter-rotating auxiliary cranks such that the downward stroke of the auxiliary piston and the upward stroke of the auxiliary piston correspond to crank angles above and below 180 degrees. In one favorable embodiment, fresh air can be drawn in and combined with the exhaust gases.
US08381688B1 Animal harness
An animal harness including first strap adapted to generally lie on a back area of an animal when the harness is disposed on the animal and second strap adapted to generally lie on an underside of the animal when the harness is disposed on the animal. Third strap is coupled to a first end of the first strap and a first end of the second strap, the third strap including a male clasp portion and a corresponding female clasp portion wherein the third strap is adapted to lie in front of a leg of the animal when the harness is disposed on the animal and the male and female clasp portions of the third strap are mated. Fourth strap is coupled to a second end of the first strap and a second end of the second strap, the fourth strap including a male clasp portion and a corresponding female clasp portion wherein the fourth strap is adapted to lie behind the leg of the animal when harness is disposed on the animal and the male and female clasp portions of the fourth strap are mated.
US08381683B2 Dispenser tray for feed dispenser
Feed dispenser for feeding birds, comprising a dispenser tray (1) having a center section (2) which is raised relative to the bottom surface (3). The raised center section interacts with a downpipe (7) in such a way that a supplied volume of feed (8) is distributed over the bottom surface of the dispenser tray. The center section of the dispenser tray is joined to the bottom surface which blends into a rising outwardly directed side wall (4). The side wall ends in an outer edge. The dispenser tray comprises at least two steep wall sections in the side wall at different height levels relative to the bottom surface. The steep wall sections extend in a direction parallel to the outer edge. In the vertical direction, the side wall has a top (4c) and a bottom half (4d). The bottom half comprises at least two steep wall sections.
US08381669B2 System for loading of hydrocarbons from a floating vessel
The invention relates to a system for loading of hydrocarbons from a floating vessel, such as a FPSO or FSO vessel, to an export tanker, where the floating vessel is spread moored to a sea bottom, and where the export tanker during the loading phase is moored in such a way that the export vessel to a greater or less degree can weathervane dependent upon the prevailing weather, wave and/or wind conditions.According to invention the floating vessel at least at one end is provided with a rotatable deck which can be turned when the heading of the export tanker changes.
US08381657B1 Enhanced grenade
An enhanced grenade exhibiting improved insensitive munitions (IM) characteristics while providing improved lethality or non-lethality as desired.
US08381650B2 Safety and arming unit for a fuse
A safety and arming unit for a fuse includes a firing chain having first and second firing devices defining an intermediate space therebetween and a barrier blocking the intermediate space in a safe position. The firing chain is brought into an armed position by a releasing movement vacating the intermediate space. First and second mutually independent securing devices lock the barrier in the safe position and execute an unlocking action based on two mutually independent physical arming parameters. A compact and very reliable safety and arming unit can be achieved in this way.
US08381635B2 Portable espresso coffee apparatus
A brewing device comprising a brewing system; a handle assembly coupled to the brewing system and containing a source of compressed fluid; and a valve system, coupled to the handle, to selectively place the source of compressed fluid in fluid communication with the brewing system.
US08381634B2 Field gun carriage
There is disclosed a field gun that may be converted between a firing condition and a travelling condition. In the firing condition, front legs and back legs rest on the ground and support the gun. In the travelling condition, the back legs are out of contact with the ground and the front legs are retracted towards the gun chassis. To facilitate conversion, a link joins a front leg to a back leg so that as the back leg is lifted off the ground, the front leg is retracted.
US08381617B2 Dual end gear fluid drive starter
A compressor starting torque converter method and apparatus for high power rotating equipment strings includes a compressor starting torque converter (CSTC) (16) and gearing to make the input and output speed conform to the speed and power requirements of the at least one compressor (4) at the end of the string. The string also includes a prime mover (10), either a motor or gas turbine with a starter motor. The CSTC is driven by a prime mover that has been geared down (via 18) to an appropriate speed for efficient power transfer, followed by a gear increasing unit (20) to allow the output of the CSTC to be increased to conform to the necessary requirements of a high speed compressor. The gearing can be two separate units with their own housings, or incorporated in a single housing with the CSTC. The CSTC may be a CSTC used in pressurized starts high compressor load strings for LNG refrigeration service.
US08381613B2 Parking brake cable and adjust system having no lost cable travel
A self-adjusting parking brake actuator includes a brake lever that is movable between brake-released and brake-applied positions. In addition, the parking brake cable adjust system includes a self-adjustment assembly having a frame; a rack mounted for movement relative to the frame along a longitudinal direction of the rack in a tension direction and an opposite direction; a cable connector for operatively connecting the rack to a brake cable, a first resilient member biasing the rack relative to the frame along its longitudinal direction in the tensioning direction, a primary locking device configured to engage the rack and permit movement of the rack relative to the frame in the tensioning direction only; a secondary locking device moveable between (a) a locking to lock the primary locking device to prevent adjusting movement of the rack relative to the frame in the tensioning direction, and (b) a releasing position to permit the primary locking device to allow adjusting movement of the rack relative to the frame in the tensioning direction by the biasing of the resilient member; and a second resilient member biasing the secondary locking device to the locking position.
US08381610B2 Accelerator device
An accelerator device for performing an acceleration operation includes a rotary body which rotates with rotation of a grip, a magnet which rotates with rotation of the rotary body, a rotation angle detector which detects a rotation angle of the magnet, an urging member which returns the grip to an original point position by urging the rotary body, and a separation member which separates the rotary body and the rotation angle detector, the rotation angle detector is fixed to the separation member and the rotary body is rotatably held thereby while the urging member urges the rotary body toward the separation member as well as in the rotation direction, so that positional variation of the rotation angle detector against the magnet can be prevented.
US08381607B2 Roller screw
A roller screw includes a long shaft, a screw nut sleeved onto the long shaft, and rollers, a turnaround member and a turnover member set in between the long shaft and the screw nut. The turnaround member enables the rollers to circulate. The turnover member defines a turnover passage extending over the peripheral surface of the long shaft and connected between two load paths in the long shaft and the screw nut to constitute a circulation path. The direction of arrangement of the rollers before entering the turnover passage is different from that after moving out of the turnover passage so that the amount ratio of the rollers that are arranged in two different directions is kept constant for industrial application.
US08381601B2 Transducer matrix film
A transducer system includes a plurality of transducer elements formed on a flexible substrate with localized circuit elements and interconnects associated with each transducer element.
US08381598B2 Method of measuring the flow rate of a liquid flowing in a fluidic channel and implementation device
The present invention provides a method of measuring the flow rate of an electrically conductive liquid in laminar flow and to an implementation measurement device that are easy to implement, simple to produce and compact. For this purpose, the invention provides a device for measuring the flow rate, comprising: a channel (1); a pair of electrodes (2a-2b); and at least one device (3) for measuring the voltage (V) between the electrodes (2a-2b) of said pair, an electrical double layer forming at the interface of each electrode with the conducting liquid. The device comprises means (4, 5) designed so that, when the conducting liquid is flowing through the channel, the flow velocity fields in the diffuse layers facing each electrode are different and so that the convective/diffusive charge equilibria of the electrical double layer at the interface of each electrode are different.
US08381597B2 Inferential flow meter for use in fuel dispensing environments
An apparatus and method for measuring fluid flow comprising an inferential flow meter having a housing defining a fluid flow path. A pulser is operative to produce an output signal indicative of flow rate through the meter. The apparatus further includes a controller in electronic communication with the pulser so as to receive the output signal. Based on the output signal, the controller is operative to determine fluid flow in a plurality of dynamic time sub-windows corresponding to respective periods of substantially consistent instantaneous flow.
US08381595B2 Pressure detecting device
A pressure detecting device includes: a resonator whose oscillation frequency varies depending on a pressure; a first oscillation circuit that oscillates the resonator and outputs a signal of a frequency corresponding to the pressure; an AT-cut quartz crystal resonator; a second oscillation circuit that oscillates the AT-cut quartz crystal resonator and outputs a reference clock signal; a measuring unit that measures the reference clock signal by the use of a reciprocal counting method; a temperature detecting unit that detects a temperature of the resonator; and a storage unit that stores coefficients of a first approximating polynomial for calculating a first correction value used to compensate for a frequency-temperature characteristic of the measuring unit, wherein the frequency-temperature characteristic of the value measured by the measuring unit includes a frequency-temperature characteristic of the AT-cut quartz crystal resonator and a frequency-temperature characteristic of the resonator.
US08381594B2 Acoustic transducer and image generation apparatus
An acoustic transducer has a first transducer which transmits an acoustic primary wave having two frequency components, and a second transducer which, in order to receive a reflected wave of an acoustic secondary wave generated with propagation of the acoustic primary wave, is disposed so that a region for receiving the reflected wave is superimposed on the first transducer as seen along the direction of transmission of the acoustic primary wave.
US08381593B2 Method for the remote detection, localization and monitoring of critical faults in pipelines
With a certain pipeline, either underground or deposited on a sea/lake bottom, the formation of critical faults is determined and localized, which arise in the walls of the pipeline, or the growth of an already localized fault is monitored, through a method which detects, by acoustic sensors regularly distributed along the pipeline, the ultrasounds diffused along the walls of the pipeline itself upon the formation of a critical fault, or when a controlled fault increases, and processing, by a remote processor, the digital signals associated with the sound waves to identify the position or evaluate the development of a critical fault.
US08381585B2 Nautical instrument
A nautical instrument that can be repetitively mounted and removed from a surface within a ship without the use of tools or other instruments. The nautical instrument incorporates a mounting system that achieves slidable locking engagement of the nautical instrument to a bulkhead plate that is permanently secured to the surface of the ship. In another aspect, the invention is a nautical instrument that is extremely resilient to corrosion and harsh weather environments. In one embodiment, the invention is a nautical instrument comprising: a housing having a front face comprising an opening, the housing constructed of a material coated with zirconium; a transparent lens hermetically enclosing the opening of the housing; and a gauge mechanism for measuring a desired standard, the gauge mechanism positioned within the housing.
US08381582B2 Method and system for monitoring soil properties
The present application is directed to a method and apparatus for monitoring soil hydraulic properties, and for collecting soil pore-water samples, in relatively undisturbed soil conditions, by means of a vadose zone probe (10) adapted to be mounted on an inflatable sleeve (18) for installation in a borehole (14) formed in the vadose zone, said vadose zone probe comprises a fluid cell (15) having one or more conduits (13a, 13b, 13c) connected thereto for externally accessing its interior, and a porous medium (11) installed in, or formed on, one of its walls for allowing passage of liquid between the interior of said fluid cell and the borehole soil, wherein said vadose zone probe is made from an elongated body having a front (10f) and rear (10r) sides, and wherein said rear side is substantially flat and said front side is made from a deformable and permeable material, or having a curvature corresponding to the curvature of said borehole.
US08381580B2 Tire pressure monitoring device with inclinable valve stem
A tire pressure monitoring device with an inclinable valve stem is disclosed. The tire pressure monitoring device includes: a main body having a channel, wherein the channel includes a socket segment near one end thereof; the valve stem being movably fixed to a wheel rim and having a domed end movably received in the socket segment wherein the domed end has a threaded hole axially passing therethrough; and a positioning bolt being positioned in the channel from an opposite end of the channel and coupled with the threaded hole, so that the domed end of the valve stem is movably positioned in the socket segment and when the domed end moves, an angle between the connected valve stem and the main body is changed, thereby allowing the main body to abut against the wheel rim.
US08381571B2 Method and apparatus for assessing the penetration of tooth cleaning elements in the gingival pocket
A method and apparatus for assessing the penetration of tooth cleaning elements into a simulated gingival pocket. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a tooth shaped member, wherein at least a portion of the tooth is transparent to light; a gum member positioned on a first side of the tooth shaped member; a simulated gingival pocket created between the gum member and the tooth shaped member; and an imaging device configured to obtain a plurality of images related to the gingival pocket, and bristle penetration into the gingival pocket.
US08381568B2 Method of obtaining same wrench torque by calibration by testing different force exertion points on hand grip of electronic torque wrench and electronic torque wrench thereof
An electronic torque wrench calibration method includes providing test rod for simulating wrench body and support plate for simulating hand grip wherein on either side of the support plate there are provided at least two test points and an intermediate reference point; securing sensor to a stress gauge; placing two weights on the reference points and setting a count to one; recording torque as standard value; placing a weight on a respective one of the test points; recording torque as test value; comparing the test value with the standard value and obtaining an error; increasing bores of the adjustment holes if the error is greater than one prior to looping back to weight placing step; and ending the method by determining whether a predetermined count has been reached, and otherwise placing the weight on another respective one of the test points prior to looping back to test value recordation step.
US08381562B2 Metal forming apparatus characterized by rapid cooling and method of use thereof
A metal forming apparatus characterized by rapid cooling includes a forming tool having a first portion defining a forming surface and a second portion defining a cavity for a working gas. A plurality of fins are in conductive heat transfer relationship with the forming tool. The metal forming apparatus enables a high thermal efficiency mode of operation when the effect of the fins is negated for use during metal forming operation, and a rapid cooling mode for use in preparing for tool maintenance. A corresponding method is also provided.
US08381546B2 Method of deflecting conveyor rolls intended for bending glass panels, and assembly applying the method
The invention relates to a method of longitudinally deflecting conveyor rolls intended for bending glass panels. The method includes deflecting the conveyor rolls during a glass-panel bending process by turning link member on which the ends of the conveyor rolls are mounted with bearings. In order to turn the link members of each conveyor roll, at least one link member is subjected to a force sufficient for its turning by a position-identifying electric drive. At least the other link member is subjected to a force sufficient for its turning by a second electric drive, which is controlled on the basis of position data provided by the position-identifying electric drive. The present invention relates also to an assembly applying the method for bending glass panels.
US08381541B2 Air conditioning device utilizing temperature differentiation of exhausted gas to even temperature of external heat exchanger
This invention relates to a cooling/heating air conditioning device for regulating temperature, which pumps an airflow exhausted from a space in an air conditioning object such as inside of a room or vehicle to the external through the external heat exchanger disposed at the external of the air conditioning object such as outside of the room or vehicle so as to equalize the temperature of the fluid flowing through the internal of the external heat exchanger by means of the temperature difference between the internal and external of the air conditioning object for achieving an energy saving effect.
US08381539B2 Method and control system for decreasing the thermal load on animals
A method of controlling a cooling element in order to decrease the thermal load on animals includes the step: —to start the cooling element when the air temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold value and/or a parameter, dependent on the relative humidity of air, exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
US08381532B2 Bled diffuser fed secondary combustion system for gas turbines
The present subject matter provides a system for modifying static pressure recoveries and emissions formation within a gas turbine. The system includes a bled diffuser positioned downstream from a compressor section of the gas turbine and a bleed duct extending from the bled diffuser. The bleed duct may be configured to direct bleed air from the pressurized airflow exiting the compressor section to a secondary combustion system located downstream from the main combustion system in a combustor. The bleed air flowing into the secondary combustion system may be mixed with fuel to form an air/fuel mixture.
US08381526B2 Systems and methods of providing high pressure air to a head end of a combustor
A combustor includes a first flow path and a second flow path. The first flow path places a diffuser in indirect fluid communication with a combustor cap assembly by way of an intervening lower combustor annular passageway. The second flow path places the diffuser in direct fluid communication with the combustor cap assembly.
US08381510B2 Method and systems for controlling engine thrust using variable trim
A method and systems for controlling a thrust output of a gas turbine engine are provided. The system includes a first sensor for measuring a first engine operating parameter, a second sensor for measuring a first engine condition parameter, and a processor programmed to determine an expected value of the first engine condition parameter and determine a first variance value using a difference between the expected value of the first engine condition parameter and the measured first engine condition parameter. The processor is further programmed to determine a trim value using the first variance value and a first engine operating parameter demand and to determine a modified operating parameter demand based on the nominal operating parameter demand and the determined trim value. The system also includes a controller coupled to the processor for controlling engine thrust based on the modified demand of the first engine operating parameter.
US08381508B2 Closed-cycle rocket engine assemblies and methods of operating such rocket engine assemblies
Closed-cycle rocket engine assemblies including a combustor assembly, a combustor jacket, a turbine, a first pump and a mixing chamber are disclosed. The combustor jacket facilitates the transfer of heat from the combustor assembly into a fluid and the turbine is driven by a heated fluid from the combustor jacket. The mixing chamber may include a first inlet to receive a fluid from the turbine, a second inlet to receive a fluid from a first reactant reservoir, and an outlet to deliver a fluid to the first pump. Additionally, the first pump may be coupled to and powered by the turbine and the first pump may be configured to deliver at least a portion of the fluid from the mixing chamber into the combustion chamber of the combustor assembly. Related methods of operating such rocket engine assemblies are also disclosed.
US08381506B2 Low heating value fuel gas blending control
A method includes blending a first fuel with a second fuel in a ratio to produce a third mixed fuel. The first fuel has a first heating value, the second fuel has a second heating value, and the third mixed fuel has a third heating value. In addition, the first heating value is different than the second heating value. The method also includes feedforward controlling the third heating value of the third mixed fuel via prediction and correction of a fuel flow rate of the first and/or second fuels to adjust the ratio of the first and second fuels based at least in part on a comparison between a measurement and a target for the third heating value.
US08381500B2 Aquatic weed harvester
An aquatic weed harvester includes an open frame and a tubular mesh harvesting material that is secured to the open frame via a series of hooks disposed about the harvesting frame. The frame can be secured to a bow of a floatable structure or vessel via a variety of configurations, such as a pair of mounting channels or a rotating frame assembly. The rotating frame assembly allows the user to rotate the harvester between an in use orientation and a stored orientation. When placed in a stored orientation, the harvester opening is rotated upwards aiding the user in sealing the harvesting bag. The vessel preferably is designed having a split bow, where the weed harvester is positioned between the two bow extensions.
US08381493B2 Method of packaging compound semiconductor substrates
Affords a compound semiconductor substrate packaging method for preventing oxidation of the surface of compound semiconductor substrates. The compound semiconductor substrate packaging method provides: a first step of inserting a compound semiconductor substrate (10) into a gas-permeable, rigid container (20), placing the rigid container (20) into an inner-packing pouch (30) having an oxygen transmission rate of 1 to 100 ml·m−2·day−1·atm−1, and a moisture transmission rate of 1 to 15 g·m−2 ·day−1, replacing the air inside the inner-packing pouch (30) with an inert gas, and hermetically sealing the inner-packing pouch; and a second step of placing the sealed inner-packing pouch (30), and a deoxygenating/dehydrating agent (40) that at least either absorbs or adsorbs oxygen gas and moisture, into an outer-packing pouch (60) that has an oxygen transmission rate that is 5 ml·m−2·day−1·atm−1 or less and is lower than that of the inner-packing pouch (30), and a moisture transmission rate that is 3 g·m−2·day−1 or less and is lower than that of the inner-packing pouch (30), and hermetically sealing the outer-packing pouch (60).
US08381485B2 Precast composite structural floor system
A composite floor panel includes a concrete floor deck having a side portion and an edge member secured to the side portion. The edge member is configured to be positioned in proximity to an adjacent edge member. The adjacent edge member is coupled to an adjacent concrete floor deck. The edge member is further configured to have a junction formed between the edge member and the adjacent edge member to define a channel. The edge member is further configured to have a binder material placed in the channel to form a joint between the concrete floor deck and the adjacent concrete floor deck.
US08381484B2 Insulated modular building frame
A building frame resistant to earthquakes, gale-force wind loads, fire, insects and rot includes a peripheral frame wall constructed of square or rectangular steel tubing. Side wall frame modules bolted together along adjacent edges, and end wall modules bolted together along adjacent edges and to the ends of the connected side wall modules form the peripheral frame wall. Diagonal bracing is built into selected side and end wall modules as required for the desired degree of wind resistance. Trusses made of various size tube such as 2×3 inch rectangular steel tubing for supporting a roof on the peripheral wall, are assembled and welded in a welding shop and the prefabricated trusses and wall modules are trucked to the building site. Multiple stones may be erected and fastened together, and the building frame is secured to a foundation or slab by attaching to anchor bolts or plates.
US08381478B2 Retaining wall block
Blocks for wall constructions described herein are in the form of casted one-piece concrete hollow bodies. The blocks include front and back walls which are generally parallel to a first axis and have top and bottom ends and two inner walls integral to both front and back walls therebetween that are generally parallel to a second axis which is perpendicular to the first axis. One of the end side faces of the two inner walls includes male connector portions that are offset from a first distance from the front wall. The other end side face includes female connector portions that are registered along the first axis with the male connector portions and are offset from the first distance from the back wall. The male connector portion is for insertion in the female connector portion of another block when the other block is mounted thereon so as to yield a straight or a shifted retaining wall portion. The shifted retaining wall portion results from the first and second blocks having their front walls on a same side relative to the first axis and the straight retaining wall portion results from the first and second blocks having their front walls on opposite sides relative to the first axis. Further embodiments of the blocks include further female receiving portions allowing versatile positioning of the blocks.
US08381476B2 Panel and floor covering
A panel with a working surface and four edges of which oppositely disposed pairs of edges have corresponding holding profiles so similar panels are connectable. Holding profiles of a first pair of edges are connectable by angular movement into interlocking relationship Holding profiles of a second pair of edges are hook elements, which are connectable to similar adjacent panels by joining movement provided a hook element is a separate vertical locking element projecting toward joining movement of the hook elements. During joining, the vertical locking element is movable out of the path of joining movement and when hooked, the hook elements are movable toward the joining movement by spring action. When dismantling, connected panels are unlockable from hooked and vertically locked condition by pivoting about an axis near the hooked edges and toward an unlocking position. The working surfaces, when unlocked, are less than 180° relative to each other.
US08381475B2 Fixing system for cladding
A fixing system (20) for securing cladding boards (28) to the framing (26) of a building in a partially overlapping relationship, each board (28) having front and rear faces with a recess (42) being provided in and along the rear face. The fixing system (20) comprises a plurality of fixing devices (30), supported by the framing (26), that are spaced apart relative to one another and arranged in rows, each row of fixing devices (30) being arranged to support a board or row of boards (28) and each fixing device (30) having an engagement portion (40) that is arranged to engage with a section of the recess (42) of a board (28) to, in co-operation with a number of other fixing devices (30) of that row also engaging with a section of the recess (42), support the board (28) in place on the framing (26). Also, the fixing system comprises a plurality of fixing components (44) that are arranged to extend through the front face of each board (28) within the overlapping region of adjacent boards and into the framing (26) to secure each board (28) to the framing (26) in co-operation with the fixing devices (30).
US08381469B2 Cold formed joist
The present invention provides a cold formed joist that can be used in a variety of construction applications. The present cold formed joist consists of three elements, each formed from sheet metal: an upper chord, an intermediate web, and a lower web. These three elements can be produced in different dimensions. The upper chord further consists of a downwardly facing receiving channel adapted to receive the upper edge of the intermediate web, and two upwardly facing channels. The lower chord consists of an upwardly facing receiving channel that is adapted to receive the lower edge of the intermediate web.
US08381465B2 Building integrated power generating system
A power generating system is integrated within an exterior shell or façade of a building structure. The energy generating devices (which can be photovoltaic), control units and associated power/signal wiring are incorporated and integrated within individual unitized curtain wall units making up the façade. Electrical power can be more advantageously generated from surface areas of building structures previously untapped for solar energy harvesting.
US08381457B2 Domed steel roof frame
A domed steel roof frame (12). The frame (12) has at least three corners and an outwardly convex shape with an uppermost apex (20). The frame (12) comprises at least three steel interior members (18), at least three interior cable retainers and at least three interior cables. The at least three steel interior members (18) each extend from one of each of the corners to the apex (20). The at least three interior cable retainers are each attached to, or form part of, and extending substantially along each of the respective interior members (18). The at least three interior cables are each inserted through each of the respective interior cable retainers. The frame (12) also comprises means to tension each of the interior cables relative to their respective interior cable retainers and means to maintain each of the interior cables tensioned relative to their respective interior cable retainers.
US08381456B2 Domed non-steel roof frame
A domed non-steel roof frame (12). The frame (12) has at least three corners and an outwardly convex shape with an uppermost apex (20). The frame (12) comprises at least three non-steel interior members (18), at least three interior cable retainers and at least three interior cables. The at least three non-steel interior members (18) each extend from one of each of the corners to the apex (20). The at least three interior cable retainers are each attached to, or form part of, and extending substantially along each of the respective interior members (18). The at least three interior cables are each inserted through each of the respective interior cable retainers. The frame (12) also comprises means to tension each of the interior cables relative to their respective interior cable retainers and means to maintain each of the interior cables tensioned relative to their respective interior cable retainers.
US08381446B2 Device for connecting a window pane to a motor vehicle window lifter
A device for connecting a window pane to a motor vehicle window lifter, said device includes a follower having a basic follower body connected to guide and transport means of the window lifter and a coupling follower body which is to be connected to a pane socket connected to the window pane, a coupling portion of the pane socket being attached to a fastening means in a mounting direction for connecting the pane socket to the follower. The fastening means is pre-installed to the coupling follower body and by actuating the fastening means the coupling portion of the pane socket is braced to the coupling follower body.
US08381442B2 Hand-pulling drive mechanism for an industrial door
A hand pulling drive mechanism includes a hand drive device and a shaft connected with the hand drive device. The mechanism further includes a gear pair, a rotation propelling device connected with the shaft, and an eccentric pulling device including a shaft pin placed on the shaft and a torsion jacket pivotally connected to the shaft and rotated relative to the shaft pin. The gear pair includes a drive gear sleeved on the shaft for switching, and a follower gear secured to a motor shaft. The rotation propelling device is connected with the drive gear. The torsion jacket and the drive gear pull the torsion jacket through eccentric rotation of the shaft pin when the shaft is rotated, so that the drive gear moves in an axial direction and the follower drive engages with and disengages from the drive gear.
US08381414B2 Method and apparatus for inhibiting pitch formation in the wet seal exhaust duct of a veneer dryer
A method and apparatus for operating a dryer used to reduce the moisture content of sheet material. A drying chamber is provided and includes a plurality of drying sections and a single point exhaust system. A seal section located at the input end of the dryer includes an exhaust passage through which a gas sample is drawn by a sampling fan. Gases within the seal section are a combination of ambient air drawn through restricted passages at the entry to the seal section and exhaust gas that bleeds into the seal section from the drying chamber. A controller monitors the temperature of the sampled gases and ambient air and adjusts the rate of exhaust flow from the main exhaust system as a function of the temperature differential. A heating system is also provided for heating the seal exhaust gases above the pitch condensation temperature for the flow.
US08381409B2 Laser measurement of a vehicle frame
A laser measurement system operates to measure portions of a vehicle, such as a vehicle frame. The measurements are used, for example, to determine if the portions of the vehicle are bent or damaged. The measurement system includes a laser scanner and at least one target assembly that can be connected to a point of the vehicle. The laser scanner emits a laser beam that is detected by the target. Time and laser position information detected by the target are used to determine the location of the target, as well as the location of the point of the vehicle. The location of the point is then compared to an original location of the point to determine if damage has occurred.
US08381402B2 Fuel injector tip autofrettage process
A production robust autofrettage process for strengthening fuel injector nozzle tips includes applying a vacuum to the interior volume of the nozzle tip. Plugs are suctioned over each of the nozzle outlets. Nozzle outlets are blocked by pressing the plugs between the nozzle tip and a fixture component. The nozzle tip is then autofrettaged at least in part by pressurizing the interior volume with an autofrettage liquid. The plugs are then removed from the nozzle outlets leaving the nozzle tip strengthened with compressive residual stress, especially in the sac region of the interior volume of the nozzle tip.
US08381394B2 Circuit board with embedded component and method of manufacturing same
A circuit board has an embedded electronic component such as an integrated circuit chip with a wafer level chip size package. A via hole extends through the electronic component. Another via hole extends through the substrate or prepreg on which the electronic component is mounted inside the circuit board. Conductors in the via holes enable a terminal on the surface of the electronic component to be electrically connected to a wiring pattern or another electronic component on the opposite side of the substrate or prepreg. Routing the connection through the electronic component itself saves space and reduces the length of the connection.
US08381391B2 Method for providing a magnetic recording transducer
A method for providing a magnetic recording transducer is described. The method includes providing a pinned layer for a magnetic element. In one aspect, a portion of a tunneling barrier layer for the magnetic element is provided. The magnetic recording transducer annealed is after the portion of the tunneling barrier layer is provided. The annealing is at a temperature higher than room temperature. A remaining portion of the tunneling barrier layer is provided after the annealing. In another aspect, the magnetic transducer is transferred to a high vacuum annealing apparatus before annealing the magnetic transducer. In this aspect, the magnetic transducer may be annealed before any portion of the tunneling barrier is provided or after at least a portion of the tunneling barrier is provided. The annealing is performed in the high vacuum annealing apparatus. A free layer for the magnetic element is also provided.
US08381389B2 Method for assembling the rotor of an electric machine
A method for assembling the rotor (R) connected with a shaft (4) and made by permanent magnets (2). The method includes providing an annular flange (9); forming a plurality of fixed linear guides on the annular flange (9); positioning another annular flange (90) on the guides; and locking the second flange (90) to the guides, so that the magnets (2) are clamped, inside the guides, by the first and the second flange (9, 90). The guides are formed by inserting a rod (13) through each of passing holes (91) in the first flange (9) and locking the rods (13) to the first flange (9); fitting, on the rods (13), a body (12) having a central portion with a passing hole (121) and side arms (122); fitting a spacer (11) on each rod (13); and fitting, on each rod, a body (12) having a passing hole (121) and two arms (122).
US08381381B2 System, method and apparatus for producing fire rated doors
The present invention provides a system, method and apparatus for producing fire rated doors having added strength, better finishing and low cost manufacturing flexibility. The fire rated doors are made from two panels “sandwiched” together. An optional interior layer (e.g., fire resistant material, lead sheeting, steel or Kevlar) can be added between the door panels for various purposes. Splines, stiles or sticks are inserted in longitudinal channels in the door panels to provide assistance in aligning the door panels and greater hardware holding strength. An intumescent banding material concealed by a banding material around the perimeter of the door seals the door within its frame during a fire. The door design and the automated manufacturing process provide greater design choice, reduced cost and faster fabrication.
US08381376B2 Method of manufacturing a fibrous structure and an apparatus therefor
A method of manufacturing a fibrous structure is particularly, though not exclusively, applicable to the manufacture of friction products such as preform discs. The method comprises mounting a former on a shaft. First feeds of fibrous material are spaced along the shaft and applied to the former in a direction tangential to the shaft as the shaft is rotated. A second feed is also applied to the former in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The fibrous materials in the feeds overlie as the shaft rotates and the thickness of the material applied to the former increases to form the fibrous structure. Lengths of the first and/or second feeds are then inserted into the fibrous structure body in a radial direction with respect to the shaft as the shaft is rotated to interconnect the overlying layers and hold the structure together.
US08381367B2 Belt holder device
A belt holder device is provided having a housing having a first fixing device, a plate having a second fixing device mounted on the housing for displacement in a displacement direction, wherein the belt holder device is held on an application via one fixing device and a belt is held on the other fixing device, a transmitter-sensor device arranged in the housing and by which the relative position of the plate to the housing is determinable, and a spring device via which the plate is supported on the housing and which provides a return force, wherein the spring device is formed by a flexural spring device, wherein the transmitter is integrated in the plate, wherein the transmitter is arranged in a recess of the plate, and wherein the transmitter in the recess is a magnet and is surrounded by a magnetically insulating enclosure.
US08381365B2 Strap buckle and method of securing a strap portion
The buckle includes a first and a second clamp member positioned substantially parallel to one another. End members are provided at the opposite ends of the first clamp member. The buckle includes a set of pliable wall directly interconnecting one of the end members to the second clamp member. The pliable walls are subjected to a permanent plastic deformation when the second clamp member is moved closer to the first clamp member.
US08381347B2 Vacuum attachment for the collection of liquids
The invention provides a wet vacuum attachment, connecting to a hose of a commercially available vacuum cleaner that separates a liquid from a suction airstream created by the vacuum, so that the liquid does not enter the vacuum cleaner intake hose. The attachment can be manufactured as a single-part, having a suction port where the vacuum hose is attached, a suction passage to communicate with a reservoir in a region of low velocity for the separation and storage of the collected liquid, an inlet nozzle to increase the airstream velocity and to engage the working surface. In an additional embodiment, a filter media is inserted into a filter housing located in the region of low velocity between the suction passage and the reservoir to further prevent liquid from entering the vacuum hose.
US08381338B1 Sheet metal working tool
A sheet metal working tool has a shaft with a first end and a second end, a striking tool attached to the first end of the shaft, and an opener attached to the second end of the shaft. The opener includes a flat plate with a first end and a second end and a C-shaped structure having a first-end and a second end, the first end of the flat plate and the first end of the C-shaped structure joined together with the second end of the plate spaced from the second end of the C-shaped structure.
US08381336B2 Bed apparatus provided with bed-departure prediction and detection system
A load measuring unit detects the load of a bed section and generates a load signal. A body weight computing unit computes the body weight of a user positioned on the bed section on the basis of the load signal. A first determination unit determines whether the body weight is equal to or less than a prescribed threshold. A center-of-gravity position computing unit computes a center-of-gravity position of the user on the basis of the load signal. A second determination unit determines whether the center-of-gravity position is in a monitored area of the bed section. The state of the user is detected to away from the bed when the first determination unit has determined that the body weight is equal to or less than a prescribed threshold, and the second determination unit has determined that the center-of-gravity position is within the monitored area.
US08381334B2 Travel quilt with retainment means
A combination quilt and article retention means for transporting and storing loose items attached thereon, particularly suited for providing a baby blanket and retention device for baby toys and similar articles. The quilt comprises a plurality of square patches upon which are provided retention straps for securing baby articles thereto. A pocket is provided for larger items or for those items not suitable for strap retention. The quilt is collapsible into a folded state, wherein a transportable structure is provided that is of reduced surface area, while the retained articles are secured within the interior of the blanket. The size of the quilt is suited for fitment into a standard sized baby crib, while the straps and pouch provide a means to secure various items while traveling with a baby outside of the home.
US08381327B2 Shower curtain cornering clip
A shower curtain clip having a curved base member with a first open end, a second closed end opposite the first end, and a curved clamping rail connected to the second closed end of the curved base member. The clamping rail clamps a shower curtain between the clamping rail and the base member in a space created between the clamping rail and the base member at the first open end, causing the curtain to curve inward, eliminating the gap between the curtain and the wall and causing water that strikes the curtain to deflect downward.
US08381324B2 Vacuum sewage system
The invention relates to a vacuum sewage system, which includes a sanitary unit, such as a toilet unit, vacuum sewer piping (200) connected to the sanitary unit, a discharge valve between the sanitary unit and the vacuum sewer piping, and a vacuum generating device for generating vacuum in the vacuum sewer piping. The system comprises an on-line separator device (1) in the vacuum sewer piping (200, 201) and a first pump means (2) and a second pump means (3) connected in parallel with the on-line separator device (1). The first pump means (2) is a vacuum pump for generating vacuum in the vacuum sewer piping (200, 201) and for evacuating air from the sewage flow flowing into the on-line separator device (1) and the second pump means (3) is arranged for pumping mainly sewage from the sewage flow flowing into the on-line separator device (1).
US08381323B2 Sanitary washing apparatus
A sanitary washing apparatus having a bidet washing function for jetting water at private parts of a female user, the apparatus includes: a nozzle including a jetting port configured to jet water; a swirling chamber and a communication channel for jetting water as a hollow-conic-shape liquid film flow at the private parts of the female user from the jetting port; and a fluid squiring device for generating an intermittent granular flow of granular water balls so as to fill inside the liquid film before the liquid film flow impinges on the private parts.
US08381317B2 Helmet attachment clip
A visor assembly for use with a helmet having at least one face mask bar comprises a visor and a mounting bracket. The visor is configured to provide a shield associated with the face mask bar. The mounting bracket is configured to secure the visor to the face mask bar. The mounting bracket includes a clip and a thumbscrew removably connected to the clip. The clip defines a channel configured to receive the face mask bar. A threaded receptacle is positioned on the clip. The thumbscrew includes a threaded post connected to a thumbwheel. The threaded post is configured to threadedly engage the receptacle of the clip and releasably retain the thumbscrew on the clip. The threaded post of the thumbscrew is configured to extend through a hole of the visor and into the receptacle. When the thumbwheel is rotated, the thumbwheel clamps the visor between the thumbwheel and the mounting bracket.
US08387158B2 Laser guided tip approach with 3D registration to a surface
The present invention relates to a method of rapidly and repeatably bringing sharp objects into close proximity to a particular region of interest of a sample with high precision and accuracy in two or three dimensions using a laser guided tip approach with three dimensional registration to the surface.
US08387136B2 Role-based access control utilizing token profiles
A method A method and system for managing role-based access control of token data using token profiles is described. In one method, a token processing system (TPS) receives a request from a TPS client over a network to perform an operation on entries of a token database. The TPS identifies a subset of the multiple groups that corresponds to the entries indicated in the request of the TPS client, determines to which of the identified groups the TPS client belongs using token profiles. For each group the TPS client belongs, the TPS determines a corresponding role for the TPS client from the token profiles. For each group the TPS belongs, the TPS allows the TPS client access to the entries of the respective group to perform the operation when the TPS client has the appropriate role assigned within the respective group.
US08387127B1 Storage security appliance with out-of-band management capabilities
A data security appliance intercepts out-of-band control traffic directed to a data storage device, wherein the out-of-band control traffic includes a command to change a configuration of the data storage device. The data security appliance is reconfigured in accordance with the command in order to conform with a new configuration of the data storage device.
US08387126B2 Systems and methods for authenticating a server by combining image recognition with codes
A system and method is provided for authenticating a first device to a second device. This involves providing images to the second device, receiving an indication of selected ones of the images as authenticating images, and identifying an authenticating code associated with the second device. This also involves receiving a transaction request from the second device, the first device providing a display page to the second device, the display page including the authenticating images at locations identified by the authenticating code.
US08387116B2 Attribute information authentication apparatus, attribute information authentication method, and storage medium for storing computer program
A present server transmits to a second user terminal attribute information authentication request information for requesting authentication of attribute information registered by a first user when a predetermined request is received from a first user terminal. Also, the server registers authenticated information in association with the attribute information of the first user when the authentication information, which indicates that the attribute information registered by the first user has been authenticated, has been received. When a request is made to view the attribute information of the first user, the existence of the authenticated information is determined, and if the authenticated information is registered, attribute authentication display information is generated and transmitted so as to be visually and identifiably displayed on the user terminal to indicate that authenticated information exists.
US08387115B2 Active access control system and method
A method of dynamically assigning a role to a user in a distributed computing environment can comprise the steps of: defining one or more roles and their respective threshold trust values; defining one or more attributes and their respective weight coefficients; determining current values of the attributes for the user; calculating a current level of trust for the user, based on the attribute values and the weight coefficients; and assigning a role to the user based on the current level of trust and the threshold values.
US08387108B1 Controlling identity disclosures
Controlling identity disclosures is disclosed. A difference between a site policy as received at a first time and the site policy as received at a second time is detected through at least partially automated processing. The existence of the difference is indicated before disclosing to a relying party associated with the site policy, at or subsequent to the second time, an identity information.
US08387102B1 Method and system for minimizing a number of data streams
A method and system for minimizing data streams of the same program on a shared medium. A user device receives a first data stream of a program and effects display of the program based on the first data stream to a display device. The user device halts display of the program and provides an advertisement to a viewer. A second data stream of the program being provided over the same medium to a second viewer that was initiated after the first data stream is provided to the user device. The user device buffers the second data stream, and after the advertisement is finished, provides the program to the viewer based on the second data stream.
US08387092B2 Display apparatus and information saving method thereof
A display apparatus includes: a saving part; a user inputting part; a receiving part which receives broadcasting signal including at least one data information; a signal processing part which performs signal processing by extracting the data information from the received broadcasting signal; and a controlling part which enables a user to determine whether to save the data information through the user inputting part if the data information is received, and controls the signal processing part to save the data information determined to be saved in the saving part.
US08387085B2 Methods and systems for tailoring an interactive game associated with a media content instance to a user
An exemplary method includes maintaining a user profile associated with a user of a media content access subsystem, presenting, by the media content access subsystem, a media content instance and an interactive game associated with the media content instance to the user, and tailoring the interactive game to the user in accordance with the user profile. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
US08387082B2 Enhanced voice-rich input for interactive programming
A method may provide an interactive video program to a user, receive, by a video client, audio data from a microphone based on the user's interactive speech during the interactive video program, and send, by the video client, the audio data to another device to verify at least one of that the audio data corresponds to the user or that the user completes the interactive video program.
US08387076B2 Standardized database connectivity support for an event processing server
Techniques for facilitating communication between one or more client applications and an event processing server. In one set of embodiments, a framework is provided that enables a client application to communicate with an event processing server via a standard database connectivity API, such as Java Database Connectivity (JDBC).
US08387071B2 Controlling integrated circuits including remote activation or deactivation
Techniques are generally described for transitioning a Finite State Machine (FSM) of an integrated circuit from a first state to a second state or a replicated variant of the second state in lieu of the second state, and out of the replicated variant of the second state, using a robust physically unclonable function (PUF), an event generator and a control block of the IC. In various embodiments, the techniques leverage on manufacturing variability of the IC. In various embodiments, the techniques are employed to control activation or deactivation of the IC. Other embodiments may be disclosed and claimed.
US08387063B2 Storage apparatus and load balancing method
This storage apparatus having a plurality of physical devices for balancing and retaining data sent from a host computer and parity of the data for each prescribed unit includes a load ratio calculation unit for calculating a load ratio of the plurality of physical devices, a load ratio determination unit for determining whether the load ratio of the physical devices calculated with the load ratio calculation unit exceeds a prescribed threshold value, a command ratio determination unit for determining whether a command ratio of either a write command or a read command issued from the host computer exceeds a prescribed threshold value when the load ratio determination unit determines that the load ratio of the physical device exceeds a prescribed threshold value, and a change unit for changing the data and the parity among the plurality of physical devices when the command ratio determination unit determines that the command ratio exceeds a prescribed threshold value.
US08387062B2 Virtualization of storage buffers used by asynchronous processes
The amount of host real storage provided to a large guest storage buffer is controlled. This control is transparent to the guest that owns the buffer and is executing an asynchronous process to update the buffer. The control uses one or more indicators to determine when additional host real storage is to be provided.
US08387061B2 Logic for synchronizing multiple tasks at multiple locations in an instruction stream
Logic (also called “synchronizing logic”) in a co-processor (that provides an interface to memory) receives a signal (called a “declaration”) from each of a number of tasks, based on an initial determination of one or more paths (also called “code paths”) in an instruction stream (e.g. originating from a high-level software program or from low-level microcode) that a task is likely to follow. Once a task (also called “disabled” task) declares its lack of a future need to access a shared data, the synchronizing logic allows that shared data to be accessed by other tasks (also called “needy” tasks) that have indicated their need to access the same. Moreover, the synchronizing logic also allows the shared data to be accessed by the other needy tasks on completion of access of the shared data by a current task (assuming the current task was also a needy task).
US08387060B2 Virtual machine resource allocation group policy based on workload profile, application utilization and resource utilization
A system, method, and computer-readable medium are disclosed for automatically allocating resources to a virtual machine. Expected workload profile data and application utilization data corresponding to a software application associated with a virtual machine (VM) is collected by an application profiling agent. Resource utilization data corresponding to the utilization of resources associated with the execution of the software application is collected by a system resource monitor. The expected workload profile data, the application utilization data, and the resource utilization data are then processed to determine a virtual machine workload class, which is then used to determine a corresponding VM policy. Data associated with the VM policy then processed to generate VM resource allocation instructions, which are in turn processed to provision the VM.
US08387058B2 Minimizing complex decisions to allocate additional resources to a job submitted to a grid environment
At least one decision to allocate additional resources to at least one previously submitted job is stored in a decision cache, wherein said the least one decision is stored according to at least one characteristic of the at least one previously submitted job. When another job is submitted to the grid environment needs additional resources, the characteristic of the currently submitted job is compared with the characteristics of previous submitted jobs. If there is a match, then the previously made decision associated with the matching characteristic controls allocation of additional resources for the currently submitted job, such that complex decision making for allocation of additional resources is minimized by reusing previously stored decisions to allocate additional resources.
US08387057B2 Fast and linearizable concurrent priority queue via dynamic aggregation of operations
Embodiments of the invention improve parallel performance in multi-threaded applications by serializing concurrent priority queue operations to improve throughput. An embodiment uses a synchronization protocol and aggregation technique that enables a single thread to handle multiple operations in a cache-friendly fashion while threads awaiting the completion of those operations spin-wait on a local stack variable, i.e., the thread continues to poll the stack variable until it has been set or cleared appropriately, rather than rely on an interrupt notification. A technique for an enqueue/dequeue (push/pop) optimization uses re-ordering of aggregated operations to enable the execution of two operations for the price of one in some cases. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08387054B1 Method and apparatus of scheduling data movers
A method and apparatus for scheduling data movers is described. The method and apparatus comprise monitoring utilization of a resource used by a data mover to process a data flow, determining rank information based on the utilization of the resource and scheduling a task according to the rank information.
US08387042B2 Remote servlets collaboration
Presents remote servlets collaboration. A method includes: creating a common registry; creating an extended context in response to an external request, wherein the extended context can invoke the resources within the common registry; performing initializing configuration on a plurality of servlets, and registering a plurality of servlets in the common registry, wherein a plurality of servlets being located on different Java virtual machines, or being located in different servlet containers on the same Java virtual machine; and a plurality of servlets collaborate with each other by being invoked through the extended context. It can implement collaboration between servlets located on different virtual machines or even servlets on the same virtual machine but within different servlet containers, because in a converged application service system, not only between HTTP servlets or between SIP servlets but also between HTTP servlets and SIP servlets there is necessity to collaborate.
US08387039B2 System and method for customized provisioning of application content
The current state of art for over-the-air (OTA) provisioning typically consists of a rigid set of operations that are suited to deliver a fixed content type. The runtime environment on the terminal is designed to handle a limited set of predefined content types and incapable of any content-adaptive or customized provisioning by the content provider or publisher. Systems and methods are provided for customized provisioning of an application program on a runtime environment of a terminal. The application includes application content having at least one specified content type. A method comprises: obtaining the application content by the runtime environment; and obtaining by the runtime environment a set of provisioning instructions related to the application content. The provisioning instructions are coupled to the application for specifying a provisioning API set for provisioning the application content. This method also executes the provisioning instructions for employing the API set to provision the application according to the specified content type.
US08387038B2 Method and system for automatic computer and user migration
A method is provided for automatic computer and user migration. The method may include obtaining a plurality of source computers with corresponding users and preparing the source computers such that at least one software image is created, based on a software inventory, for the source computers to be used to migrate the source computers and the users to a plurality of target computers. The method may also include installing the software image on the target computers and verifying operations of the target computers after the installation.
US08387035B2 Pinning internal slack nodes to improve instruction scheduling
A scheduling algorithm is provided for selecting the placement of instructions with internal slack into a schedule of instructions within a loop. The algorithm achieves this by pinning nodes with internal slack to corresponding nodes on the critical path of the code that have similar properties in terms of the data dependency graph, such as earliest time and latest time. The effect is that nodes with internal slack are more often optimally placed in the schedule, reducing the need for rotating registers or register copy instructions. The benefit of the present invention can primarily be seen when performing instruction scheduling or software pipelining on loop code, but can also apply to other forms of instruction scheduling when greater control of placement of nodes with internal slack is desired.
US08387032B1 Captive runtime deployment
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for captive runtime deployment. In one aspect, a method performed by data processing apparatus employing a runtime environment includes accessing software code of a software application that relies on a runtime of the runtime environment to operate; selecting a proper subset of the runtime, including sharable library code, based on information associated with the software application; combining the software code and the proper subset of the runtime to form a computer program configured to effect the software application using a version of the runtime captive to the computer program, the captive version of the runtime including the proper subset of the runtime; and storing the computer program on a computer-readable medium coupled with a processor.
US08387028B2 Determining a target data type in a heterogeneous multi-level environment
An apparatus and computer program product determine a target data type in an environment having a plurality of levels. The plurality of levels comprise a source level, zero or more intermediate levels, and a target level. The zero or more intermediate levels are between the source level and the target level. A target data type representing a transformation of a data type of an associated datum as the datum passes from the source level through the zero or more intermediate levels to the target level is generated. The target data type comprises a sequence of nested transformation functions having an innermost transformation function and an outermost transformation function.
US08387026B1 Compile-time feedback-directed optimizations using estimated edge profiles from hardware-event sampling
Traditional feedback-directed optimization (FDO) is not widely used due to the significant computational overhead involved in using instrumented binaries. The described embodiments provide methods that eliminate the need for instrumented binaries by permitting the conversion of hardware-event sampling information into edge frequencies usable by FDO compilers. Some advantages include: the ability to collect feedback data on production systems; the ability to perform FDO on the OS kernel; and the ability to avoid disrupting timing paths from instrumented binaries.
US08387023B2 Instrumentation of computer-based application software
A method for instrumenting a computer-based software application, the method including instrumenting instructions of a computer-based software application, the instructions being in a first computer instruction language, with a native handler referencing instructions in a second language, and creating the instructions referenced by the native handler in the second computer instruction language to carry out at least one task during the execution of the computer-based software application.
US08387015B2 Scalable automated empirical testing of media files on media players
Scalable empirical testing of media file playback utilizes test hooks in each media player to support simulated human interaction and playback monitoring. A media crawler catalogs media files accumulated in a media file database to create a wordlist. One or more scalable instances of media tester accesses the wordlist to select items of work linked to media files. Work items and/or operating modes of media tester specify test parameters such as performance profiles or further define testing such as specifying repetitious playback on one or more media players. Media files are downloaded to and played by a scalable number of media players. Playback performance is monitored, analyzed and reported. Failure reports are accompanied by instructions to reproduce failures and cross-references to content or source code in media files. Failures can be audited by additional work items for follow-up testing.
US08387000B2 Continuous time mode-driven simulations in a graphical modeling environment
A system, computer-readable medium, and method includes providing a control flow graph including at least one condition. An update control flow graph is automatically generated based on the provided control flow graph, where execution of the update control flow graph includes an evaluation of the condition. The update control flow graph and a value corresponding to the evaluated condition is stored. An output control flow graph based on the provided control flow graph is automatically generated, where execution of the output control flow graph is based on the stored value corresponding to the evaluated condition. A mode transition control flow graph configured to identify mode transitions for the control flow graph at one or more time intervals is automatically generated and the update control flow graph is re-executed based on the generated mode transition control flow graph.
US08386998B2 Software development apparatus for model that requires security
A software development apparatus for developing application software based on an object model that requires security in a web service application is provided. The software development apparatus includes a display unit that displays, in a class diagram of the application software, security annotation for adding security requirements for a service, input means for inputting the security annotation, transforming means for transforming the class diagram into a configuration model based on a markup language, and configuration-file creating means for creating a configuration file based on a markup language by serializing the configuration model based on a markup language. The security annotation includes the security requirements and a token class of a security token that is a certificate for declaring identity of a client to a server.
US08386991B2 Support apparatus, method, and recording medium
A design support apparatus includes: a circuit-data generation unit to generate circuit data based on layout information of a semiconductor integrated circuit; and a parameter determination unit to set a first parameter relating to mechanical stress exerted on a transistor including at least one of a plurality of gates in a diffusion region, wherein the circuit-data generation unit obtains a mobility of the transistor based on the first parameter and reflects the mobility in the circuit data.
US08386990B1 Unique identifier derived from an intrinsic characteristic of an integrated circuit
An embodiment of the invention relates to an integrated circuit such as an FPGA wherein a stable unique identifier is produced by reading an intrinsic characteristic of the IC such as a physically unclonable function, and a related method. In one embodiment, a first unique identifier is generated using the intrinsic characteristic and is subdivided into a plurality of first subsets. A second unique identifier is received and subdivided into a plurality of second subsets. The first and second subsets are compared to identify matching subsets to generate the stable unique identifier. Each of the one or more matching subsets includes a particular one of the plurality of first subsets that matches a corresponding one of the plurality of second subsets. The stable unique identifier can be integrated into logic of the IC. Prior to comparing the subsets, the first and second subsets can be transformed with one-way functions.
US08386986B2 Temperature controlled attenuator
In one embodiment, a temperature controlled attenuator is disclosed having an attenuation circuit and a control circuit. The attenuation circuit includes a series connected attenuation circuit segment and a shunt connected attenuation circuit segment, as well as additional attenuation circuit segments. Each attenuation circuit segment includes a stack of transistors that are coupled to provide the attenuation circuit segment with a variable impedance level having a continuous impedance range. Furthermore, the temperature controlled attenuator includes a temperature controlled circuit that adjusts an attenuation level of the attenuation circuit in accordance to an operating temperature. In this manner, the attenuation level of the temperature controlled attenuator is temperature dependent.
US08386981B1 Method and systems for implementing I/O rings and die area estimations
Disclosed are improved methods, systems, and computer program products for generating an I/O ring arrangement for an electronic design, and for performing chip planning and estimation based upon the I/O ring arrangement.
US08386964B2 Interactive image matting
A user interface enables interactive image matting to be performed on an image The user interface may provide results including an alpha matte as feedback in real time. The user interface may provide interactive tools for selecting a portion of the image, and an unknown region for alpha matte processing may be automatically generated adjacent to the selected region. The user may interactively refine the alpha matte as desired to obtain a satisfactory result.
US08386942B2 System and method for providing digital multimedia presentations
There is presented a system and method for providing a digital multimedia presentation. The system comprises a presentation server and a presentation content database configured to store a plurality of digital multimedia content items, accessible through the presentation server. The system also comprises a presentation control application configured to enable identification of a digital multimedia content item for presentation from among the plurality of digital multimedia content items. The presentation control application is configured to organize the plurality of digital multimedia content items into digital multimedia content sets displayed on a selection plane, enable navigation in a first navigation mode on the selection plane, group the plurality of digital multimedia content items into grouping subsets displayed on a presentation plane, enable navigation in the first navigation mode on the presentation plane, and enable navigation in a second navigation mode between the selection plane and the presentation plane.
US08386937B1 System, apparatus, and method for filtering network configuration information
Methods to match certain context of commands directed to a network technology or a network design from configuration files and a user interface to display these results. A language with the simple syntax similar to the human language is provided. The language includes rules to define the parameter and syntax for the parameter operations and also standard functions to parse commands. A script file can be conveniently written in this language to filter the desired contexts from a configuration file. In the exemplary embodiment, the system translates the script file to an executable standard Perl programming and Perl programming is run with the configuration file as the input. The result is displayed in the graphic user interface, which is designed to work with an interactive network topology map.
US08386924B2 Apparatus, method and system for transforming data
An apparatus, method and system to automatically associate page elements, and convert and transform between disparate data and device format types. This allows for the ability to transform a single data source into multiple output composites suitable for deployment in disparate media outlets and on disparate output devices. Such automatic generation of disparate composites allows for the ability to take content written once in any given format and have said content automatically regenerated for any desired output outlet. The present disclosure further provides the ability to create and edit templates and data, and save edited changes affecting a single or a collection of templates. The invention teaches how to create associations from a piece of data and any of its page elements. Such associations facilitate the automatic transformation of the data into various output formats.
US08386918B2 Rendering of real world objects and interactions into a virtual universe
Systems are disclosed herein that can capture image data reflecting real world objects and/or actions and convert this data into a format that, is usable in a virtual universe (VU). Thus, image data representing real world/actual objects and actions can be acquired, converted into virtual universe compatible data, sent to a VU server where the actions and objects can be associated with a virtual area or an avatar, and a recreation of the objects and actions can be displayed to a user in the VU. This allows a participant to customize activities and objects in the VU, and provide a unique “personality” for their avatar and their VU. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08386916B2 Systems and methods to create a multidimensional expression calculated member in a spreadsheet cell
According to some embodiments, a system, method, means, and/or computer program code are provided to facilitate use of a spreadsheet application to access information stored in a multidimensional data source. Some embodiments include receiving, at an analyzer module, a change indication from the spreadsheet application. The change indication may be, for example, associated with a spreadsheet formula of the spreadsheet application entered by a user into a spreadsheet cell. In response to the change indication, the spreadsheet formula may be translated into a multidimensional expression calculation associated with the multidimensional data source. The spreadsheet formula in the spreadsheet cell may then be automatically replaced with information associated with the multidimensional expression calculation.
US08386914B2 Enhanced document browsing with automatically generated links to relevant information
Additional documents are automatically located that are relevant to an original document, such as a document being read by a user, and also potentially relevant to personal information of the user. The additional documents may be located based on descriptive information that includes personal information of the user and content information of the document being read. The additional documents, or links to the additional documents, may be incorporated into the document being read. In some implementations, the additional documents may be presented in-line with the document being read, such as through an in-link link or text snippet. The user can thus be efficiently presented with additional information that is relevant to the original document being read.
US08386909B2 Capturing and presenting interactions with image-based media
In one aspect, images of a person's interactions with images presented on a display are captured. The person's interactions are segmented from the presented images in the captured images. A multimedia data object is generated. The multimedia data object includes a presentation media object containing digital representations of the presented images, an image presence media object containing the segmented interactions of the person, and at least one link synchronizing the presentation media object and the image presence media object.
US08386906B2 Multi-CSI (cyclic shifted identity) sub-matrix based LDPC (low density parity check) codes
Multi-CSI (Cyclic Shifted Identity) sub-matrix based LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) codes. A CSI parameter set, that includes at least one dual-valued entry and may also include at least one single-valued entry, and/or at least one all-zero-valued entry, is employed to generate an LDPC matrix. One of the single-valued entries may be 0 (being used to generate a CSI matrix with cyclic shift value of 0, corresponding to an identity sub-matrix such that all entries along the diagonal have elements values of 1, and all other elements therein are 0). Once the LDPC matrix is generated, it is employed to decode an LDPC coded signal to make an estimate of an information bit encoded therein. Also, the LDPC matrix may itself be used as an LDPC generator matrix (or the LDPC generator matrix may alternatively be generated by processing the LDPC matrix) for use in encoding an information bit.
US08386903B2 Bit reverse interleaving methods for QAM modulation in a wireless communication system
In a communication method, a sequence of information bits is encoded into systematic bits and parity bits. The systematic bits and the parity bits are grouped in output blocks, each output block to be assigned to an address of a constellation scheme. The addresses include addresses that are more prone to error and address that are less prone to error so that the symbols are grouped such that bits in groups of consecutive bits of the sequence of information bits are not all assigned to addresses that are more prone to error.
US08386900B2 Controlling point-to-multipoint transmissions of content data over a radio interface
The invention relates to error control for point-to-multipoint (PTM) transmissions of content data over a radio interface. A method embodiment for controlling a PTM transmission in a PTM-enabled network comprises the steps of receiving and storing redundancy data at a dedicated redundancy data storage in a radio access network, wherein the redundancy data are provided for a correction of transmission errors in the content data resulting from the transmission of the content data without the redundancy data over one or more radio interfaces; receiving a request for redundancy data from a redundancy data control node; and responding to the redundancy data request by providing at least a portion of the redundancy data.
US08386897B1 Cyclically interleaved dual BCH, with simultaneous decode and per-codeword maximum likelihood reconciliation
A method and system are provided for forward error correction. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a strong FEC algorithm that performs similarly to RS(255,239) when a simple decoder is used, and scales up linearly to a full-scale decoder that outperforms all 7% algorithms currently in G.975.1. The Forward Error Correction code is suitable for use in optical transport networks (OTN) and other applications requiring high decode performance and high code rate. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an FEC code that is a cyclically interleaved dual BCH, with simultaneous decode and per-codeword maximum likelihood reconciliation.
US08386893B2 Digital broadcasting system and method of processing data in digital broadcasting system
A digital broadcasting system and a data processing method are disclosed. The method includes, receiving a broadcast signal in which mobile service data and main service data are multiplexed, extracting transmission parameter signaling information and fast-information-channel signaling information from a data group contained in the received mobile service data, parsing first program table information, which describes virtual channel information and a service of an ensemble acting as a virtual channel group of the received mobile service data, using the fast-information-channel signaling information, parsing second program table information including a data chunk acting as data-broadcasting contents of the mobile service data, and providing a data broadcasting service using the data broadcasting contents of the parsed second program table information.
US08386892B1 Partial packet recovery for wireless networks
A method, apparatus and computer program product for providing partial packet recovery (PPR) for wireless networks is presented. PPR incorporates an expanded physical layer (PHY) interface that provides PHY-independent hints to higher layers about the PHY's confidence in each bit it decodes, and a technique to recover data even when a packet preamble is corrupted and not decodable at the receiver. Also described is an asynchronous link-layer automatic repeat request (ARQ) protocol built on PPR that allows a receiver to compactly encode a request for retransmission of only those bits in a packet that are likely in error.
US08386890B2 Error correction for multilevel flash memory
An integrated circuit is provided with an array of multilevel flash memory cells. In one embodiment these flash memory cells have a storage signal level which is Gray coded to output data bits thereby increasing the independence between bit errors. The error correction circuitry targets independent identical distributed error patterns. In another embodiment, the storage signal levels are read to generate n-bit symbols which are then subject to error correction with an error correction mechanism targeted at the error properties of those n-bit symbols. The data is read in sets of symbols such that the error correction targeted at those symbols will be more efficient.
US08386873B2 Cooperation communication method and system using feedback signal
Disclosed are a cooperation communication method and system using feedback signals. The cooperation communication method includes transmitting a packet to a base station by a terminal, determining, by the terminal, whether decoding of the transmitted packet is successfully performed using a feedback signal from the base station, and re-transmitting the packet to the base station by the terminal according to whether decoding of a packet of an adjacent terminal within a prescribed distance from the terminal is successfully performed.
US08386862B2 Fault diagnosis apparatus and fault diagnosis method of multi-channel analog input/output circuit
A fault diagnosis apparatus and method capable of simultaneously detecting the fault of a multiplexer and the fault of an A/D converter and isolating and identifying causes of these faults, the multiplexer and the A/D converter being used in a multi-channel analog input/output circuit. Test-voltage values are inputted from a diagnosis-voltage input unit into the multiplexer and the A/D converter constituting an analog-signal conversion unit, the multiplexer having plural channels, the A/D converter converting outputs from the multiplexer into digital signals, the test-voltage values being different from each other for each channel of the multiplexer. Comparisons are made between the digital voltage values and the test-voltage values inputted, the digital voltage values being outputted for each channel of the multiplexer. From this comparison result, it is judged whether the multiplexer is at fault or the A/D converter is at fault.
US08386856B2 Data storage device capable of selecting scrambled signals according to transmission power
The invention provides a data storage device. In one embodiment, the data storage device comprises a memory and a controller. The memory is for data storage. When the data storage device receives first source data to be written to the memory from a host, the controller generates at least one first input data according to the first source data, scrambles the first input data according to a plurality of pseudo random sequences to obtain a plurality of first scrambled signals, calculates a plurality of transmission powers of the first scrambled signals, and selects a target scrambled signal with a lowest transmission power to be stored in the memory from the first scrambled signals.
US08386846B2 Network switch with backup power supply
A network switch apparatus includes a housing, a first network port, a second network port, a first instrument port, an active component inside the housing, wherein the active component is configured to receive packets from the first network port, and pass at least some of the packets from the first network port to the first instrument port, a connector for supplying power from a power supply to the active component, and a backup power supply for supplying power to the active component when the active component does not receive power from the power supply.
US08386845B1 Techniques for providing instant disaster recovery
Techniques for providing instant disaster recovery are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for providing instant disaster recovery comprising, maintaining, in a data store, data associated with a first host system, wherein the data comprises a first data portion and a second data portion, storing, in the first data portion, a disaster recovery agent, and exposing, to a second host system, the first data portion and the second data portion, wherein the disaster recovery agent is configured to initiate, on the second host system, a disaster recovery process, boot the second host system using the first data portion, and copy, from the data store, the second data portion in accordance with a first copy procedure and a second copy procedure.
US08386835B2 System and method for end-to-end data integrity in a network file system
A computer readable storage medium, embodying instructions executable by a computer to perform a method, the method including: validating a memory write of data segments using a first number of leaf hashes of a first hash tree, where each of the first number of leaf hashes is associated with one of the data segments of a first block size, generating interior node hashes based on the first number of leaf hashes, where each of the interior node hashes is associated with a second block size, generating a first root hash using the interior node hashes, where the first root hash is associated with a remote procedure call size, transmitting the first root rash and the data segments to a network file system, where the transmission is performed using the remote procedure call size, and validating the transmission of the data segments using the first root hash.
US08386824B2 System and method for adapting a power usage of a server during a data center cooling failure
A method includes detecting that a rate of temperature change in a server is above a threshold rate, changing the server to a lowest system performance state when the rate of the temperature change in the server is above the threshold rate, and reducing a fan speed to a minimum fan speed level when the rate of temperature change is above the threshold rate.
US08386821B2 Apparatus for providing appropriate level of power to a CPU driving power generator based on the mode of the CPU
A computer includes a CPU and a system unit, and further includes a power source, a system driving power generator which converts source power input from the power source to be outputted to the system unit, a CPU driving power generator which outputs driving power to drive the CPU, and a controller which selectively supplies either the source power from the power source or the system power converted from the system driving power generator to an input terminal of the CPU driving power generator according to an operation mode of the CPU. Thus, a computer adjusts a level of power supplied to a CPU driving power generator according to a CPU mode and improves power efficiency, and includes a control method thereof.
US08386816B2 Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for reducing power consumption in computing devices
A method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided for reducing power consumption in computing devices. An apparatus may include a processor configured to provide a user interface allowing a user to select a device power profile from a plurality of available device power profiles. The processor may be further configured to receive an indication of a selection of a device power profile. The processor may additionally be configured to implement the selected device power profile based at least in part upon the received indication. The processor may also be configured to measure power consumed by the device and calculate power consumption statistics based at least in part upon the measured power consumed. The processor may further be configured to send the calculated power consumption statistics to a community power savings portal. Corresponding methods and computer program products are also provided.
US08386811B2 Computer having power management function
A power management system is disposed in a computer. The power management system includes a current detecting module and a chipset. The current detecting module is disposed between the power receiving end of an external device and the power cord of the power source of the computer for detecting the current sink by the external device and accordingly outputting a current detecting signal. The chipset adjusts the operating voltage or operating frequency of the external device according to the current detecting signal.
US08386802B2 Method and apparatus for processing arbitrary key bit length encryption operations with similar efficiencies
A calculating apparatus, or system, having a plurality of stages, such as in a pipeline arrangement, has the clocking rail or conductor positioned alongside the stages. With a large number, i.e., hundreds, of stages arranged in parallel sub-arrays, the clocking conductor is snaked alongside the sub-arrays. In individual stages it is arranged that the shortest of the two calculations taking place in a stage, takes place in the return path. An array can be divided into separate sections for independent processing.
US08386790B2 Method of using ECDSA with winternitz one time signature
A method is provided of authenticating a digitally signed message. A chain of messages is generated. A Winternitz pair of keys is generated for each respective message. A sequence number is assigned to each of the messages. Each of the sequence numbers cooperatively identify an order of Winternitz verifiers assigned to each of the messages. A signature to a first message in the chain of messages is signed using a digital signature algorithm private key. Signatures to each of the following messages in the chain of messages are signed using both Winternitz private keys and digital signature algorithm private keys. The signed messages are broadcast from a sender to a receiver. The first signed broadcast message is authenticated at the receiver by verifying the digital signature algorithm signature. At least some of the following signed broadcast messages are authenticated at the receiver by verifying only the Winternitz signature.
US08386785B2 Gaming machine certificate creation and management
Methods and systems for creating and managing certificates for gaming machines in a gaming network using a portable memory device are described. A gaming machine creates a certificate signing request which is stored on a portable memory device at the machine by an operator. The memory device is handed over to a certificate authority (CA) security officer at the casino and is coupled with an appropriate CA server. A certificate batch utility program on the server downloads and processes the CSRs. A certificate services program on the server issues gaming machine certificates according to the CSRs. In one embodiment, the certificates are uploaded onto the memory device, along with copies of certificate authority server certificates, including a root CA certificate. The CA security officer hands the memory device to the casino floor operator. At the machine, the operator inserts or couples the device and software on the machine identifies and downloads its certificate based on the certificate file name. The machine also downloads copies of the CA server certificates which it may use in a certificate chain validation procedure. In another embodiment, the certificates are placed in a shared file on the CA server and retrieved by the gaming machines over a gaming network.
US08386779B2 Role navigation designer and verifier
Systems and methods are provide for providing role navigation design and verification. An embodiment includes displaying user interface having at least one secured element, identifying a first privilege needed for access the secured element, and associating the privilege with a role, whereby a user having the role may access the at least one secured element.
US08386778B2 System and method of protecting data on a communication device
A system and method of protecting data on a communication device are provided. Data received when the communication device is in a first operational state is encrypted using a first cryptographic key and algorithm. When the communication device is in a second operational state, received data is encrypted using a second cryptographic key and algorithm. Received data is stored on the communication device in encrypted form.
US08386775B2 Tolerant key verification method
A tolerant key verification method is provided. The tolerant key verification method comprises the following steps. A first key is generated instantly according to first characteristic values from a user terminal and is transmitted to a verification server to perform a comparison. When a data in the verification server matches the first key, the verification server makes no response and asks a network-service server to provide a network service to the user terminal. When the data doesn't match the first key, the verification server makes no response. When no data is available, the verification server makes no response and asks a message server to send a key-regeneration signal to the user terminal such that the user terminal generates a second key instantly according to second characteristic values. The verification server saves the second key and asks the network-service server to provide the network service to the user terminal.
US08386774B2 Logging system and method based on one-way hash function
A logging system and method based on a one-way hash function are described. The system includes a user system, a trusted third party, and a verifier. The method includes the following steps. The user system records a log file and initializes a message authentication code key and an image code. When the verifier requests the user system for a logging unit corresponding to an operation history, the user system uses a one-way hash function to calculate a check value and returns the check value and an image code sequence. The verifier then verifies the integrity of the check value and the image code sequence through the trusted third party. The trusted third party checks if the image code sequence obtained by the hash calculation equals to the check value through the one-way hash function, so as to verify that the log file of the user system has not been modified.
US08386766B2 Method and arrangement for deciding a security setting
The present invention relates to a method and arrangements in a mobile telecommunications network including a plurality of access points (203), a plurality of 5 network gateway devices (204). The method comprising the steps of: deciding a security setting needed for a dedicated bearer signal by a network component, communicating said decision to a node needed for establishing communication, configuring or selecting by said access point (203) a secure protocol (205) as needed between said access point and said gateway devices (204), and said decision being based on one or several of the network deployment being used and/or network operator policies.
US08386763B1 System and method for locking down a capability of a computer system
A system and method is disclosed for locking down a capability of a computer system. Hardware instructions initiate a sequence of boot cycles to launch a computer operating system on a computer-enabled device. During the boot cycles, multiple levels of boot code are verified. Each verified stage of boot code verifies a subsequent stage of boot code. If the subsequent stage of boot code cannot be verified, the verified stage locks a capability of the computer so that the subsequent stage of boot code cannot modify the capability.
US08386762B2 Methods and systems for modifying disk images to provide network interface card teaming capabilities
A system for modifying a virtual disk to provide network interface card (NIC) teaming capabilities to a virtual disk. The system can include a virtual disk that has access to one or more NICs. In some instances, the NICs are included in a NIC team that is also available to the virtual disk. A teaming module executing on a computer can identify the NIC team and responsively obtain a media access control (MAC) address of the NIC team. In response to obtaining the NIC team MAC address, the teaming module can obtain a network boot MAC address that was used to PXE boot the virtual disk. The teaming module can then replace the NIC team MAC address of each NIC in the NIC team with the obtained network boot MAC address. The system then boots from the virtual disk that has the modified NIC team configuration.
US08386758B1 System and method of enabling codec device features
A computing system includes a codec device, a basic input-output system including both configuration data and feature data for the codec device, and a device driver for the codec device. The basic input-output system configures the codec device based on the configuration data. The device driver reads the feature data from the basic input-output system and enables one or more features of the codec device based on the feature data. In various embodiments, the device driver is WHQL certified and is included in an automated operating system upgrade of the computing system. Because the feature data is in the basic input-output system, the feature data is preserved during the operating system upgrade of the computing system. In some embodiments, the device driver enables one or more features of an application program based on the feature data.
US08386749B2 Address mapping in virtualized processing system
A processing system has one or more processors that implement a plurality of virtual machines that are managed by a hypervisor. Each virtual machine provides a secure and isolated hardware-emulation environment for execution of one or more corresponding guest operating systems (OSs). Each guest OS, as well as the hypervisor itself, has an associated address space, identified with a corresponding “WorldID.” Further, each virtual machine and the hypervisor can manage multiple lower-level address spaces, identified with a corresponding “address space identifier” or “ASID”. The address translation logic of the processing system translates the WorldID and ASID of the current address space context of the processing system to corresponding WorldID and ASID search keys, which have fewer bits than the original identifiers and thus require less complex translation lookaside buffer (TLB) hit logic. The resulting WorldID and ASID search keys are used to perform one or more TLB lookups to obtain address mapping information related to the particular address space represented by the WorldID/ASID combination.
US08386739B2 Writing to memory using shared address buses
Techniques for writing to memory using shared address buses. A memory device that includes a plurality of memory arrays connected to a common address bus, the common address bus used to broadcast memory addresses simultaneously to the plurality of memory arrays. Each memory array includes a plurality of memory locations and circuitry for: receiving the broadcasted memory addresses from the address bus; selecting a memory address in the memory array from a list of most recent memory addresses received from the address bus; and performing a memory access at the selected memory address, such that at a given point in time at least two of the memory arrays perform the memory access at a different broadcasted address when the memory access is a write.
US08386725B2 USB host controller and controlling method for USB host controller
The present invention aims to provide a USB host controller capable of reducing time for a data transfer between storage devices. A USB host controller according to the present invention includes a buffer memory for USB pipe having a first buffer memory region and a second buffer memory region, and a buffer memory controller configured to control a data transfer between the buffer memory for USB pipe and each of first and second devices. The buffer memory controller stores data from the first device in the first buffer memory region, swaps address information corresponding to the first buffer memory region and address information corresponding to the second buffer memory region, and transfers data stored in the first buffer memory region to the second device, on the basis of the address information corresponding to the first buffer memory region after the swapping.
US08386720B2 Method for allowing exclusive access to shared data
A method of allowing exclusive access to shared data by a computing device and a computer readable article embodying instructions for executing the method. The method includes: reading from a storage unit into a memory a program including a code for execution in a critical section and an instruction to write a value into or read a value from a shared data area in the memory; acquiring a lock on the critical section before start of a first instruction in the critical section; writing a value into a thread-local area in the memory in response to an instruction to write the value into the shared data area; writing into the shared data area the value written into the thread-local area upon completion of a final instruction in the critical section; and releasing the lock on the critical section, thereby allowing exclusive access to shared data.
US08386717B1 Method and apparatus to free up cache memory space with a pseudo least recently used scheme
A mechanism is provided for identifying data that can be removed from a cache memory by determining a memory region of the cache that is less recently accessed than other memory regions in the cache. A tree data structure is used to store a mapping of storage volume data locations to cache data locations. A counter reflecting recency of access to the cache data location is associated with each entry. The counter is incremented, along with counters associated with keys leading to a node including the entry, with each access to the associated cache memory location, while other counters in each affected node are decremented. Advantages of the tree data structure are used to efficiently locate a cache memory location associated with a counter reflecting a less recently accessed state in order to make that cache memory location available for storage of recently accessed data from the storage volume.
US08386704B2 Techniques for improving hard disk drive efficiency
A host operating system (OS) can function as a task under a disk drive operating system. The host OS and the disk drive operating system can be run on a single processor. The processor is able to maintain the real-time response characteristics of a disk drive controller. A shared memory subsystem can be accessed by both operating systems. A disk drive storage device can access and respond to metadata about an underlying file system maintained by a host operating system (OS) to optimize data transfers between the disk drive and the host OS. The disk drive can identify the nature of read/write accesses, allowing it to prioritize and performance optimize the accesses. The disk drive can perform these functions without any changes to the block interface.
US08386698B2 Data accessing method for flash memory and storage system and controller using the same
A data accessing method for a flash memory and a storage system and a controller using the same are provided. The data accessing method includes grouping a plurality of physical blocks of the flash memory into a data area, a spare area, and a random area and when a write command and a new data to be written are received from a host, determining whether the new data is a continuous data, wherein the new data is written temporarily into the physical blocks in the random area if the new data is not a continuous data. Thereby, the number of data moving and physical block erasing is reduced and accordingly the data accessing speed in a random writing mode is increased.
US08386697B2 Memory managing method for non-volatile memory and controller using the same
A memory managing method for a non-volatile memory and a controller using the same are disclosed. The controller includes a system wear leveling member for performing a first wear leveling process in a non-volatile memory for choosing a memory unit; and a subsystem wear leveling member for performing a second wear leveling process in the chosen memory unit for selecting a block from the chosen memory unit for data programming; whereby uneven use of the blocks of the chosen memory unit is avoided.
US08386693B2 Information processing device and information processing method
In an information processing device for processing VLIW includes memory banks, a memory banks are used to store an instruction word group constituting a very-long instruction. A program counter outputs an instruction address indicating a head memory bank containing a head part of the very long instruction of the next cycle. A memory bank control device uses information regarding the instruction address for the very long instruction and the number of memory banks associated with the very long instruction to specify the use memory bank to be used in the next cycle and the nonuse memory bank not to be used in the next cycle. The memory bank control device controls the operation of the nonuse memory bank. The instruction decoder decodes the very long instruction fetched from the use memory bank. An arithmetic device executes the decoded very long instruction.
US08386686B2 Cloud computer
A cloud computer includes a base, a host, and a battery, in which the host includes a motherboard, a memory connected to the motherboard, and a base connector connected to the motherboard, and the base includes a host connector corresponding to the base connector of the host, and a plurality of input/output ports to connect to peripherals. The battery is mounted on the host and connects to the motherboard to provide electronic power to the motherboard, and the host is detachably connected with the base.
US08386685B2 Apparatus and method for packet based storage virtualization
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for data processing and virtualization. The method and apparatus are configured to receive communications, separate a command communication from a data communication, parallel process the command communication and the data communication, generate at least one virtual command based on the command communication, and generate virtual data according to the at least one virtual command. The apparatus can comprise a parallel virtualization subsystem configured to separate data communications from command communications and to parallel process the command communications and the data communications, to generate virtual commands and to generate virtual data according to a virtual command, and a physical volume driver coupled with the parallel virtualization subsystem, wherein the physical volume driver receives the virtual data and configures the virtual data.
US08386682B2 Method, apparatus and system for maintaining transaction coherecy in a multiple data bus platform
Techniques for maintaining an order of transactions in a multi-bus computer architecture. In an embodiment, an arbitrator receives access requests from a plurality of requestors, each access request requesting a respective access to a bus. Based on an arbitration between the access requests—e.g. between those requestors providing the access requests—the arbitrator may generate a grant message which triggers a carrying of a first message on the first bus. In certain embodiments, the grant message further triggers another carrying of the first message on the second bus.
US08386677B2 Communicating location information between a portable device and an accessory
Location data is exchanged between a portable media device and an accessory. If the portable media player is equipped with location determining capability, the portable media device can communicate its location data to the accessory, and the accessory can use this location data to perform various tasks. If the accessory is equipped with location assistance capability, the accessory can communicate location data to the portable media device, and the portable media device can use this location data to perform various tasks.
US08386675B2 Data transmitting apparatus and data transmitting program
There is disclosed a data transmitting apparatus for transmitting data including a plurality of data elements, each of which is a bit sequence of a plurality of bits. At least one bit in the bit sequence of a first one of the kinds of data elements that most frequently occurs has the same value as a bit at a corresponding place in the bit sequence of a second one of the kinds of data elements that second most frequently occurs. The data-block generating portion generates a data block, by rearranging the bit sequences of the data elements of the raw data such that bits at the same place in the respective bit sequences as each of the at least one bit are arranged in a series in the data block. The data compressing portion creates a compressed file. The transmitting portion transmits the compressed file.
US08386662B2 Method for a DMA-compatible peripheral
The invention relates to a method for organizing the registers of a peripheral in memory, the peripheral including at least one control register to be addressed in memory to store configuration data of the peripheral, one transmission register to be addressed in memory to store data to be transmitted from the memory to the peripheral, and one reception register to be addressed in memory to store data to be transmitted from the peripheral to the memory, the method including: duplicating, within a data memory range, the transmission/reception register to different contiguous addresses; and implementing in memory the control registers at contiguous addresses at the level of a memory range adjacent to the memory range where the transmission/reception register has been duplicated.
US08386660B2 Method for generating interface configuration files for computers of an avionic platform
The invention relates to a method for configuring interfaces of computers belonging to an avionic platform. The platform implements a plurality of avionic functions which may exchange functional messages, each functional message comprising one or more parameters. Each avionic function is implemented by means of software modules hosted by computers. For each software module hosted by a computer, signal occurrences are generated for transmitting all the parameters of the functional messages of the function associated with the software module, this on the different communications media. Next all the occurrences are grouped per functional system, parameter and communications medium in order to configure the interfaces of these computers.
US08386653B2 Instrumenting configuration and system settings
Described are systems and methods for instrumenting configuration and system settings based on targeting configuration settings at dynamically populated groups, groups with varied membership, and objects defined in a class. The systems and methods provide for attributing a configuration setting or policy to one or more objects and then targeting the object at one or more scope.
US08386650B2 Method to improve a solid state disk performance by using a programmable bus arbiter
A method to improve a solid state disk performance by using a programmable bus arbiter is generally presented. In this regard, in one embodiment, a method is introduced comprising delaying a request from a solid state drive for access to an interface for a time to allow a host to access the interface to transmit a command to the solid state drive. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08386646B2 Simplified application object data synchronization for optimized data storage
A method for synchronizing a mobile device with a central computer system is provided. The method includes coupling the mobile device to an application server of the central computer system over a network, defining a sync list that includes a candidate object type for distribution, synchronizing a relevant object of the candidate object type to the mobile device, determining a referenced object type from the relevant object type, and synchronizing a referenced object of the referenced object type to the mobile device. The sync list can be defined from meta-data that associates a user of the mobile device with one or more candidate object types, where the candidate object types serve as a starting point for the distribution process. Referenced object types can be determined from the relevant object types through additional meta-data.
US08386632B2 Method, device, and system for controlling streaming media play
A method for controlling streaming media play includes: receiving from a terminal a PAUSE message requesting to pause the playing of a current streaming media file; pausing the sending of a media stream of the current streaming media file to the terminal and obtaining a first play time parameter, where the first play time parameter is about the time when the current streaming media file is paused; receiving from the terminal a PLAY message that carries a second play time parameter used to locate a play position of the streaming media file; and comparing the first play time parameter and the second play time parameter, and play, according to the comparison result, another streaming media file in the play list to which the current streaming media file belongs. This facilitates the selection of streaming media files by the user and enhances the user experience.
US08386630B1 Video-aware P2P streaming and download with support for real-time content alteration
A method for generating chunks for peer to peer distribution, the method includes: converting a media stream to chunks of variable size in response to media characteristics of the media stream; generating a hash value for each chunk; and transmitting to a peer to peer manager hash values and media characteristic information associated with the chunks.
US08386627B2 UDP broadcast for a user interface in a download and configuration gaming method
A system and method are disclosed for implementing a modified form of User Datagram Protocol (UDP) multicast notification system in a client-server architecture that otherwise allows only client initiated messages. The method includes: receiving a registration message at a server from a client with a client IP address in the registration message, wherein the registration message includes types of notifications desired to be received by the client, and wherein the server is a Download and Configuration Management (DCM) engine; adding the client IP address to a registration message database; receiving a request for a port number from the DCM engine; and responding to the request for the port number.
US08386624B2 Broadcast processing method for network system and network system
A network system broadcast data from one node to a plurality of other nodes, which can decrease the time required for broadcast. A transfer source node divides the transfer data to be broadcasted, and transfers each divided data separately from the network adapters of the transfer source node to the network adapters of the other nodes, and the other nodes transfer the received data to the network adapters of the other nodes other than the transfer source node. Since more nodes (network adapters) can participate in data transfer in the second data transfer, high-speed transfer processing can be implemented, and the transfer processing time for broadcast can be decreased.
US08386619B2 Sharing content among a group of devices
Systems and methods for the sharing of content among user devices of a device group are presented. In one example, content generated in a first user device is received from the first user device. A device group to which the first user device was associated when the first user device generated the content is determined. The device group, which includes a plurality of user devices, is determined based on at least one logical relationship between the first user device and the plurality of user devices. The received content is transmitted to the plurality of user devices of the device group.
US08386611B2 Information system, load control method, load control program and recording medium
A load control server, computer program product, and method for controlling bottlenecks in an information system that includes application servers and a database server. Each application server executes at least one application program for processing a transaction received by each application server. The database server accesses a database based on a request received from an application server. A processing time required for each application program to process the transaction is monitored. A bottleneck relating to usage of at least one resource is detected. Each resource is a resource of at least one application server, a resource related to input to the transaction, a resource of the database server, or a resource related to the transaction. The detecting responds to the monitoring determining that the processing time for processing the transaction by at least one application server is not within a predesignated permissible processing time range. The detected bottleneck is removed.
US08386591B2 Method and broadband access system for remote-controlling a voice interface of an access node
A method for controlling an access node interface connected to a VoIP server via an IP-based network, wherein subscriber lines connect a plurality of subscriber terminals to the access node, includes storing subscriber-specific data in a memory device associated with the VoIP server, where the data contains information to configure an access node voice interface. The access node determines whether at least one of the plurality of subscriber terminals is connected to the interface. If at least one of the subscribers is connected to the interface, then interface-associated identification data is transmitted from the access node to the VoIP server using an IP-based protocol. In response to the interface identification data received, subscriber-specific data filed for the connected interface is transmitted from the VoIP server to the access node using the IP-based protocol. The access node is configured, using the subscriber-specific data, so that the interface is operated as a voice interface.
US08386582B2 Information processing apparatus and control method thereof
An information processing apparatus obtains image data included in an image file stored in a storage medium of the digital camera and the updated time of the image file stored in the storage medium of the digital camera, and reads out the shooting time of the image data included in the header of the image file stored in the storage medium of the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus displays a first view that displays the image data in an order based on the obtained updated time, and a second view that displays the image data included in the image file stored in the storage medium of the information processing apparatus in an order based on the read out shooting time.
US08386564B2 Methods for determining a reputation score for a user of a social network
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for assigning a “karma” to users of a social network. In some embodiments, the karma is a score that is based on various reputations and feedback on a user. For example, reputation or feedback scores given to user in general are collected. In addition, karma is based on scores collected by analyzing feedback provided between two users. Thus, a reputation score for one from the point of view of the others may be calculated. Embodiments of the present invention provide an open interface (API) that allows users to submit their reputation scores.
US08386554B2 Systems, methods and apparatus for factoring numbers
Systems, methods and apparatus for factoring numbers are provided. The factoring may be accomplished by creating a factor graph, mapping the factor graph onto an analog processor, initializing the analog processor to an initial state, evolving the analog processor to a final state, and receiving an output from the analog processor, the output comprising a set of factors of the number.
US08386551B2 Dynamic filtering device and method thereof
A dynamic filtering device includes a variation detector, a coefficient generator and a filter. The cut-off frequency of the filter is dynamically adjusted according to variations of an input signal. A higher signal-to-noise ratio is obtained when a finger moves in slow motion and its response time is reduced when the finger moves in fast motion, therefore improving the response time and the noise immunity of the filter.
US08386545B2 System and method of using common adder circuitry for both a horizontal minimum instruction and a sum of absolute differences instruction
A system which uses common adder circuitry to perform either one of a horizontal minimum instruction and a sum of absolute differences instruction including multiple adders, a sum circuit, a compare circuit, and a routing circuit. The input operands include multiple digital values which are delivered by the routing circuit to the adders depending upon which instruction is indicated. Each adder determines a difference between a pair of digital values. The differences are grouped and summed together by the sum circuit for the sum of absolute differences instruction. The adders are paired together for the horizontal minimum instruction, in which each pair provides carry and propagate outputs. The upper portions of a pair of digital values are compared by the upper adder and the lower portions are compared by the lower adder, and the carry and propagate outputs are collectively used to determine the minimum value.
US08386543B1 Reduced memory usage for digital signal processing system and method
A technique for reducing memory usage during signal processing includes storing least significant portions of a plurality of intermediate results in a first memory. Most significant portions of a subset the plurality of intermediate results are stored in a second memory having a smaller length than the first memory. A data linkage is maintained between the most significant portions and corresponding least significant portions.
US08386537B2 Method for trimming data on non-volatile flash media
A method for trimming data on non-volatile flash media is generally presented. In this regard, in one embodiment, a method is introduced comprising allocating a temporary file that occupies free space on a flash memory, determining specific blocks of the flash memory that the temporary file occupies, generating TRIM commands for the specific blocks, and deleting the temporary file. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08386532B2 Mechanism for co-located data placement in a parallel elastic database management system
A database management system implemented in a cloud computing environment. Operational nodes are assigned as groups of controller-nodes, compute-nodes or storage-nodes. Assignments as compute-nodes or storage-nodes vary during execution of queries. Queries specify tables for an associated database operation, and respective storage nodegroup(s). The number of nodes executing a query may change by (a) changing a compute-nodegroup, or (b) adding or removing nodes from a compute nodegroup; and/or distributing data to the storage nodegroup based on a Distribution Method which may be specified by a Distribution Vector (DV) that determines at least where each row is stored.
US08386530B2 Systems and methods for processing regular expressions
A method for reducing the size of a DFA associated with a regular expression separates the functions of locating subexpressions within the DFA and determining if the located subexpressions satisfy a regular expression. For example, the functions of (1) locating subexpressions in a range asserting expression and, (2) determining whether the subexpressions satisfy the range of the range asserting expression are partitioned. In one embodiment, a first component may locate the subexpressions in a data stream using one or more DFAs, while a second component determines if the located subexpressions satisfy the range. In this embodiment, because the DFAs are not configured to determine a relationship between subexpressions, such as a range between subexpressions, the size of the resultant DFA may be significantly reduced.
US08386524B2 Generating service specification of a service oriented architecture (SOA) solution
A system and associated method for automatically generating a service specification of a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) solution. A process model framework and a data model framework are received as inputs. Processes in the process model framework perform services of various complexity levels. Processes are decomposed into a respective set of atomic service processes in the lowest complexity level and data objects are extracted from the decomposed atomic service processes. The data objects are associated with data elements of the data model framework. The data model framework is extended and flexibility patterns are added for reusability of the service specification. The service specification of the SOA solution is generated as process interfaces represented with the data objects according to inputs from a user customizing aspects of the service specification, for either a desired service of the SOA solution or a desired process in the process model framework.
US08386513B2 System and method for analyzing, integrating and updating media contact and content data
A computer implemented system for integrating, searching, and updating media related databases comprising a first server for receiving digital content from at least one of a plurality of sources, a second server for receiving queries from at least one of a plurality of user computing devices, and a database access layer being utilized by the first and second servers to read and write to a plurality of databases. The plurality of databases comprise a content database and a media database. The content database receives at least one article of digital content from the first server via the database access layer and stores the at least one article. The media database contains at least one journalist data and media outlet data. A mapping module matches journalist data and media outlet data to at least one journalist data and media outlet data contained in the media database.
US08386508B2 System and method for parallel query evaluation
A method and system for parallel query processing is provided. The method includes estimating a number of sub-queries that may be formed corresponding to an input query. The method further includes fragmenting the input query into a plurality of sub queries by adding one or more filter predicates to the input query without altering the semantics of the input query. Further, processing of the sub queries is scheduled. Thereafter, one or more query execution plans are generated and processed. Following the processing of the query execution plans, the results of the processed sub queries are collated, aggregated and presented in a required format.
US08386500B2 Apparatus, system, and method for XML based disconnected data access for multivalued/hierarchical databases
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for providing a client with disconnected data access to a non-relational database. A command module requests non-relational XML data from a non-relational database using an XML mapping in response to a non-relational data request. A fill module receives the non-relational XML data from the non-relational database and populates one or more data access sets with the non-relational XML data. A communications module transmits the one or more data access sets to an integration broker in communication with the integration adapter.
US08386494B2 Providing data structures for determining whether keys of an index are present in a storage system
Keys of an index are associated with corresponding data chunks in a storage system. In response to a request for a particular key, a particular location is accessed in a first data structure which is maintained in a first storage using a first portion of the particular key. In response to the particular location containing a first value, indicating that the particular key is not present in the index. In response to the particular location containing a second value, a map is accessed using a second portion of the particular key to retrieve an entry in a second data structure maintained in a second storage. The second data structure provides a collision chain to link entries of the second data structure that share a common value of the second portion of the particular key. The first data structure, map, and second data structure are part of the index.
US08386486B2 Method for facilitating social networking based on fashion-related information
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for facilitating social networking based on fashion-related information. During operation, the system receives fashion-related information from a user. Next, the system extracts the user's fashion preferences from the received information and compares the user's fashion preference with other users' fashion preferences. Finally, the system groups users based on similarity of their fashion preferences.
US08386485B2 Case-based framework for collaborative semantic search
A service-oriented system architecture includes a computer-implemented search method and computer-implemented agent system for enabling efficient information searches on, for example, on XML databases, relational databases, and files located on intranets, the Internet, or other computer network systems. Referred to as the Knowledge Sifter architecture, the architecture may comprise, in one embodiment, a community of cooperating agents. The system architecture may be employed using a variety of methodologies, such as a case-based framework, collaborative filtering, or hybrid filtering. The case-based framework may be configured to recommend query specifications and refinements based on previously-stored user-query cases. Collaborative filtering involves the architecture recommending a set of unseen items that are preferred by other users to the active user. Hybrid filtering combines collaborative filtering and content-based filtering.
US08386484B2 Maltweb multi-axis viewing interface and higher level scoping
A method, apparatus and computer program product for navigating in a multi-dimensional space containing an electronic publication formed from predefined portions of text-based data encoded using a markup language are disclosed. A selected predefined portion is displayed in a first display region. A point on a primary axis of the multi-dimensional space corresponding to the displayed pre-defined portion is also displayed. Also, a method, apparatus and computer program product for publishing an electronic publication formed from predefined portions of text-based data encoded using a markup language are also disclosed. Predefined portions are stored in terminal nodes. Higher level nodes are provided for organising the terminal nodes into an hierarchical structure embodied in said electronic publication. Each higher level node contains the identity of a parent node, a position indicator for the higher level node and an associated identifier.
US08386480B2 Systems and methods for providing search results
A method includes generating search results in response to a user query, where at least one of the search results includes a group of links. The group of links may represent links to web pages within a same web site and may be identified based on at least one factor associated with the links. The method may also include providing the search results to the user.
US08386473B2 Process architecture for elastic stateful shared nothing system
A database management system implemented in a cloud computing environment. Operational nodes are assigned as controller-nodes, compute-nodes or storage-nodes. The number of operational nodes, and their assignment as compute-nodes or storage-nodes can vary. Queries specify tables, with each such table assigned to a respective group of storage nodes. The number of operational nodes executing a given query may change by (a) changing the compute-nodegroup associated with a connection, or (b) adding or removing nodes from the compute-nodegroup; and/or distributing data from the tables among the nodes in a storage nodegroup. State information is maintained for each client connection, and recorded for a given connection, so that subsequent steps from the same connection are executed with the state as left by a prior step, and so that subsequent queries on the same connection are executed with the state as left by the prior query.
US08386470B2 Information searching method, information searching apparatus, information searching system, and computer-readable information searching program
An information searching method to be implemented in a computer includes accepting a first character string from characters or a character string in a reading or inspecting document that is displayed on a display unit, acquiring a second character string from index information for searching the reading or inspecting document, based on identification information of the reading or inspecting document, and executing a search based on the first character string and the second character string.
US08386462B2 Standby index in physical data replication
Generating a standby index on a standby database server in a physical log-shipping data replication environment. Embodiments of the invention include providing a primary database server and a standby database server, replicating a primary database and a primary database index from the primary database server to the standby database server, generating a standby index on the standby database server, and cataloging the standby index on the standby database server.
US08386456B1 Codex search patterns
A search engine optimizer that works independently and in parallel with a browser and search engine supercomputer to gather, analyze, and distill input information interactively. The optimizer reorganizes the input, and providing an optimized version as an output. The optimized version of the input (e.g. output) is sent to the search engine that responds to the end user with search results. The optimizer recognizes each request as a pattern and stores the pattern in an advanced Glyph format. This permits the optimizer to identify a left and ride side checkmate combination required to achieve certitude.
US08386454B2 Systems and methods for providing advanced search result page content
The present invention provides a method and system for generating search results including receiving a search request and accessing a corpus of data relating to web content to determine relevant content. The method and system includes determining at least one semantic object in the search results set and generating an object filter on the basis of the at least one semantic object. The method and system further includes generating a search result output display for the presentation of at least a portion of the search result set and active data links for one or more of the semantic objects and toggling the search result output display to present at least a portion of a subset of the search results set in response to selection of a given active data link, the subset including content having semantic object associated therewith.
US08386450B2 Query optimization technique for obtaining improved cardinality estimates using statistics on pre-defined queries
A technique for optimizing execution of a query that accesses data stored on a data store connected to a computer. Statistics on one or more pre-defined queries are used to determine an optimal query execution plan for the query. In particular, improved cardinality estimates are generated for one or more query execution plans for the query using statistics of one or more pre-defined queries that vertically overlap the query. These cardinality estimates are used to make more accurate cost estimates, thus improving the likelihood of determining the optimal query execution plan.
US08386448B2 Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing a generic database security application using virtual private database functionality with a common security policy function
Methods for providing a generic database security application using virtual private database (VPD) functionality are provided. The methods may include inserting rows into a user security table in a database providing VPD functionality, each row comprising a user ID for which database access is to be controlled, the name of a database object to be secured, and a predicate; and defining a security policy function common to all secured database objects, said security policy function generating a second predicate to be appended by the database's VPD functionality to queries made on a queried secured database object by a querying user, said second predicate based on at least one predicate in at least one row in the user security table, the at least one row referencing the name of the queried secured database object and the user ID of the querying user. Related systems and computer program products are also provided.
US08386444B2 Techniques for selective compression of database information
Techniques for selective compression of database information are presented. Selective first portions of a field associated with a database table are identified along with metadata associated with the database table. The first portions and the metadata are then compressed by selecting one or more compression algorithms in response to compression capabilities associated with the algorithms.
US08386443B2 Representing and storing an optimized file system using a system of symlinks, hardlinks and file archives
A data de-duplication system is used with network attached storage and serves to reduce data duplication and file storage costs. Techniques utilizing both symlinks and hardlinks ensure efficient deletion file/data cleanup and avoid data loss in the event of crashes.
US08386440B2 Database corruption recovery systems and methods
The subject invention pertains to data store corruption recovery. More specifically, the invention concerns systems and methods for identifying corrupt data in a manner that prevents de-committing or removal of valid or consistent transactions from a database. This can be accomplished at least in part by logging the identities of data items that a transaction reads. Furthermore, the subject invention provides for employment of a multi-version (or transaction-time) database to reduce significantly reduce any down time or database unavailability caused by a corrupt transaction and associated corrupt data items. Accordingly, no backups need to be installed and only updates by the original corrupt transaction and transactions that read corrupt data need to be de-committed or removed.
US08386433B1 Coalescing metadata for mirroring to a remote node in a cluster storage system
Described herein are a system and method for remote mirroring/copying data and metadata sets from a local node to a remote node that reduces the number of metadata sets that are mirrored. In some embodiments, the local node may coalesce metadata sets into metadata chains, each metadata chain comprising a grouping of two or more metadata sets. In some instances, a “representative” metadata set of a metadata chain may be selected for sending to the remote node for storing, wherein the other metadata sets of the metadata chain are not sent to the remote node. In these embodiments, the selected metadata set may represent all the metadata sets in the chain and be the only metadata set in the chain that is transmitted and stored to the remote node. As such, the network congestion between the local and remote nodes may be reduced.
US08386429B2 Generic editor for databases
Facilitating generic database editing to allow for data to be received from a user for entry into a database without requiring the data to conform to schema constraints for the database. A method includes examining a first schema for a first database. The first schema including a first set of constraints specified in the first schema on data to be entered into the first database. The method further includes, based on the examination, constructing a second database corresponding to the first database. The second database is associated with a second schema with a second set of constraints. The second set of constraints is a relaxed version of the first set of constraints specified in the first schema.
US08386427B2 Monitoring bookmarked web pages
The present invention relates to a method for monitoring a bookmarked web page and a system and a computer program implementing such a method. A method according to an embodiment of the invention includes a first phase, including steps for storing, in association with each other, user identification data and an active version of the web page. The method further includes at least one iteration of a second phase, including a step for sending from user's browser to a network server a request for change information about the bookmarked web page since the stored version was active. On response of the server, if the web page has changed, the user has the possibility to choose to keep the stored old version of the web page or to accept the current version of the web page. The network server may be a server associated with the web page, e.g., a web site server, or an ISP server.
US08386420B2 Framework for web services exposing line of business applications
Functionality from a line of business application can be exposed as a web service. User input is received that requests information about objects exposed by a line of business application. Metadata is also gathered about a first set of objects exposed by the line of business application. The metadata is returned to the user. User input is received selecting a second set of objects from among the first set of objects to be exposed as a web service. A web service model is constructed that exposes the second set of objects. The web service model includes a service description, metadata map, and configuration information. The web service model is published to allow for web service clients to access the second set of objects by accessing the web service model. The web service can then be used to translate messages between a line of business application and one or more web service clients.
US08386419B2 Data extraction and testing method and system
The present method and apparatus provides for automated testing of data integration and business intelligence projects using Extract, Load and Validate (ELV) architecture. The method and computer program product provides a testing framework that automates the querying, extraction and loading of test data into a test result database from plurality of data sources and application interfaces using source specific adaptors. The test data available for extraction using the adaptors include metadata such as the database query generated by the OLAP Tools that are critical to validate the changes in business intelligence systems. A validation module helps define validation rules for verifying the test data loaded into the test result database. The validation module further provides a framework for comparing the test data with previously archived test data as well as benchmark test data.
US08386416B2 Database rating index
Methods, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for determining the status of a clinical database in order to characterize the quality of the database. The status may be based on the proportion of outstanding items in relation to relative milestones. A database rating index for a database is determined from risk factors, where the database rating index is indicative of a status of the clinical database and may be determined from risk factors, where each risk factor includes an issue parameter and a subject parameter, the issue parameter equals the number of occurrences for the corresponding issue, and the subject parameter corresponds to the number of patients associated with the issue parameter. The database rating index may be determined from one of a set of functions that depend on an issue health score and a subject health score.
US08386407B2 Method and apparatus for generating context-aware generic workflow applications
A method and apparatus for generating context-aware generic workflow applications is provided. The apparatus comprises: one or more generic workflow functional modules deployed on one or more workflow nodes of a workflow; a context-aware configuration storage device configured to store context-aware configuration data including context-aware logics; a context obtaining module configured, in response to the execution of the workflow on a workflow node, to obtain the current context of the workflow execution; a context-aware logic management module configured to retrieve context-aware logics matching the current context in the context-aware configuration data stored in the context-aware configuration storage device; wherein a relevant workflow functional module in the one or more generic workflow functional modules is configured to execute relevant operations according to the matched context-aware logics, thus generating a context-aware generic workflow application. The apparatus and method of the invention can generate generic workflow applications applicable to various workflows and contexts, which saves the developing and testing costs of workflow applications.
US08386387B2 System and method for tracking syndication of internet content
A method and system for syndicating content via a plurality of publication venues is provided. In one embodiment the method includes storing in a memory a plurality of videos; storing a content identifier (ID) for each of the plurality of videos; storing a syndication ID for each of the plurality of publication venues, wherein at least some of the plurality of publications venues act as a referring venue for other publication venues; and storing information sufficient to identify the referring venue for the other publication venues. The method may further comprise receiving a syndication request for a first video from a requester, wherein the request includes a first content ID for the first video and a first syndication ID; generating code that includes the first content ID and a second syndication ID; associating the first content ID, the first syndication ID and the second syndication ID in a memory; and providing the code to the requester.
US08386384B2 System and method for facilitating large scale payment transactions
A system and method of payment of an end-user account with a service provider includes a computer system that makes payments to service providers on behalf of end-users and that is operable to exchange information with a terminal at the point of sale or a web-enabled computer system operated by the end-user and with the computer system of the service provider. In one embodiment, the computer system of an intermediary receives and fulfills a request to make a payment on an end user's account with a service provider. In another preferred embodiment, a payment router together with an issuing/sponsoring bank and a processor, as implemented by their computer systems, facilitate payment transactions in which the router transacts at least thousands of payments for at least hundreds of payors with at least dozens of payees using at least one open system card association network, preferably in a day.
US08386382B1 System and method for allocation to obtain zero activity in one or more selected aggregated deposit accounts
A method, program product and system, the comprising: one or more computers, configured for accessing databases comprising: aggregated deposit account information for a plurality of FDIC-insured interest-bearing aggregated deposit accounts held in depository institutions participating in program, and client account information; obtaining via an internet interface transfer data; allocating first amount to and/or from one depository institution, comprising: selecting sub-set of aggregated deposit accounts to deposit or to withdraw funds, while avoiding withdrawing funds for a respective sub-period one or more of other aggregated deposit accounts based on criteria; allocating funds to an aggregated deposit account held in one or more other depository institutions; allocating second fund amount from client accounts among the aggregated deposit accounts to substantially match the first amount; generating data for instructions to transfer funds to or from the sub-set of depository institutions.
US08386372B2 System, method and computer program product for compiling golden copy of securities pricing
Systems, methods, and computer program products include a golden copy application for compiling golden copies of securities pricing according to a set of securities rules established by a subscriber that can be used in a computing environment and embodied in computer readable media. Disclosed embodiments of a golden copy application can compile each subscriber's golden copy in accordance with specific rules defined by the subscriber relative to which information source should be used for different asset classes. Each subscriber can identify more than one information source for each asset class, and rank those sources in order of desirability.
US08386368B2 Cover-OCO for legged order
A position associated with a synthetic spread order may be managed where a status of a synthetic spread order is identified as legged. The synthetic spread order may have at least one child hedge order pending at an electronic exchange and in response, a bracket order is submitted to an electronic exchange for the tradeable object associated with a filled leg of the synthetic spread. In response to execution of the bracket order, the child hedge order may be cancelled.
US08386360B2 Method for personalized guidance for reference date dependent investments
A system and method is provided to generate personalized savings recommendation and/or needed assignments of reference-date dependent investments. Recommendations and assignments are based on differences between a investor profile and an ideal representative that was used to construct the investments. The system provides a configurable increasing level of financial service based on a Methodology Publisher's configuration for reference date based investments. A forecast simulation system is provided for each investor with various optimizers by the Methodologically Publisher to provide various level of financial services and portfolio recommendations for reference date dependent investments. Reports may be provided to investors illustrating progress toward goals and highlighting distribution of potential risky outcomes. An online inter-active mode may allow an investor to provide further profile information and customize a solution to their needs.
US08386337B2 System and method for single-action returns of remotely purchased merchandise
A system and method for performing single-action returns of remotely purchased merchandise is provided. The system preferably includes at least one server and at least one client coupled via a network. The server is preferably operable to identify the user of the client system and retrieve a transaction listing for the identified user. The client system preferably displays the transaction listing to the user and allows the user to perform a single action to select transactions and/or merchandise for returns processing. In response to the single action performed, the server system preferably initiates and completes a returns process based upon stored user preferences for such returns. The returns process can include returning merchandise to the retailer from which it was purchased, auctioning the unwanted merchandise, notifying a shipping agent of the return as well as other return procedures.
US08386334B2 System and methods for mapping price and location of tickets in an event venue
A system and methods for mapping price and location of tickets in an event venue are described. An interactive event venue seat map is provided by a network-based system that implements an online marketplace for tickets for upcoming events. The interactive event venue seat map enables sellers to view pricing information and transaction information for both sold and current event listings for any section or zone in an event venue. The interactive event venue seat map allows sellers to browse and click on sections to see sold and listed data for any section and zone in the event venue and to compare a proposed sale price to available pricing information of sold and current event listings in comparable sections. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08386326B2 Methods for assisting a person in transitioning from one disposable absorbent product to another
The present disclosure generally relates to methods for assisting consumers in transitioning from a current absorbent product to a future absorbent product. Also described are transition aids for assisting in this transition. In particular, the transition aids provide a consumer with a means for comparing different characteristics of their current absorbent product with characteristics of a future absorbent product.
US08386322B2 Integrated point of sale terminal
An integrated point-of-sale terminal for use with a fuel dispenser has a site controller, at least one dispenser having a user interface, at least one processor at the site controller, memory coupled to the processor, and a plurality of point-of-sale applications associated with the site controller. The processor is configured to dynamically regulate which of the plurality of point-of-sale applications has control of the dispenser user interface based on a set of business rules.
US08386317B2 Full page video advertisement
The present invention is directed to a full-page video interstitial advertisement. The interstitial advertisement offers advertisers a high quality, full screen video distribution opportunity for a set period of time, such as a 15 second spot, however the duration of the video may vary depending on the content of the video or the configuration of the webpage. A session manager controls the exposure of the interstitial advertisement to the user, to prevent the user from experiencing too frequent interstitial advertisements during a web session. The interstitial advertisement includes a fuse for displaying the playing progress of the video. The use of sound is preferred as part of the interstitial advertisement since it is important for the delivery of the media value of the advertisement. The interstitial advertisement spans the entire web browser screen, overlaid on top of the current web page using a transparency layer.
US08386311B2 Estimating off-line advertising impressions
A computer-implemented method for monitoring the effectiveness of advertisements broadcast is described. The method includes detecting that an advertisement has been aired by a broadcast station, monitoring a network for a duration subsequent to the airing of the advertisement for activity attributable to the airing of the advertisement, and developing a quantitative relationship between the activity and a number of listeners of the advertisement.
US08386304B2 Methods for interactive television and mobile device
A environment of server and client systems for revenue generation, where a component is provided for broadcasters to broadcast and/or transmit programming, and where advertisers can create advertisement, and bid for advertising time on the transmitted programming. Advertisers are empowered by the network's ability to perform targeted advertising and/or product placement base on viewer attribute, programming content, and other criteria collected by the environment. Broadcasters are empowered by the network's ability to produce relatively high conversion rate using an viewer interface allowing enabling viewers to perform click-to-buy, click-to-send-lead, and/or click-to-send information, without much disruption to viewing of the transmitted programming. Also disclosed is a business method of generating revenue by utilizing an environment of server and client systems for targeted advertising and/or product placement, where incentives are created by and for broadcasters, advertisers, content providers, creator of the environment, and viewers.
US08386303B2 Sparse data environmental equipment threshold compliance alarm system and method
A sparse data system is provided for verifying operational compliance of a plurality of environmental systems. To reduce operational costs to a minimum, the quantity of data transmitted is minimized and the data is only transmitted at certain times. If systems are compliant, then information is preferably not sent. If systems are non-compliant, then notices are sent to parties of interest at effectively the same time as the noncompliance occurs. Subsequent alarm detection level may also be sent after detection of an operational threshold to provide notice for continued ongoing or severe noncompliance.
US08386299B2 System and method for dynamically pricing electronic advertisements
User terminals receive multimedia content, such as on-line articles, from a publisher. The user terminals collect statistical data indicating the current popularity of the content with the users, and report the statistical data back to a server associated with the publisher. The server accumulates and periodically analyzes the statistical data and dynamically generates prices for the publisher to charge the advertisers based on this information. Placing advertisements with more popular content, as determined by the statistical data, could cost the advertisers more than placing advertisements with less popular content.
US08386297B2 Planning for value
Target setting, forecasting, and budgeting methods and tools are provided in which targets are selected at a high level of management through a process of strategic planning to select targets based on a combination of value expected to be added and manageability of the candidate targets, including computer simulations of increased cash flow expected to be generated by the target strategies. The strategically planned targets are then flowed down to the various levels of management, budgets are constructed around those target strategies, and the budgets are then consolidated and flowed upward. By defining organizational targets and then aligning those targets with strategic goals from the beginning, the number and scope of iterations of budget adjustments can be reduced.
US08386296B2 System and method for managing and monitoring supply costs
Techniques for managing and estimating supply costs, by drilling down through detailed component lists of tree structured component specifications and rolling up pricing estimates based on predetermined, projected and available criteria and automatically accounting for costs in an organized manner. The costs may be analyzed from a historical perspective, accounting for future costs based on historical cost data within a given past or future date range. The costs may also be analyzed based on average costs of available costed items. Quotes can be received from suppliers for use in estimating supply costs. In addition, scenarios such as partnership splits, where multiple suppliers manufacture and supply common components to buyers at same or different prices, can be taken into account.
US08386288B2 Workflow management system and method with workflow package exchange between drop-box application programs
A workflow management system for managing workflow within one or more entities is provided. The workflow management system may include a first drop-box application program executed on a first computing system including a first input object directory configured to receive an input object electronically outputted from an application program. The first drop-box application program may further include a first workflow engine configured to generate and send a workflow package to a second drop-box application program executed on a second computing system, the workflow package including the input object, a plurality of workflow tasks, and a set of predetermined workflow rules defined by a user via the first drop-box application program. In some examples at least one workflow task may be implemented via the second drop-box application program based on the set workflow rules.
US08386287B2 Resource management using constraint programming with efficient ordering of variables
A method for resource management includes associating respective variables with resource consumers, and identifying resources as values applicable to the variables. A group of the variables are identified as preferred variables. An assignment of the values to the variables that satisfies constraints applying to the allocation of the resources is found by repeatedly performing the steps of choosing a variable from the group, instantiating the chosen variable with a value, removing the chosen variable from the group, and pruning the domains of the other variables by propagation of the constraints. The resources are assigned to the resource consumers responsively to the assignment of the values to the variables.
US08386285B2 Demand modeling and prediction in a retail category
System, method and computer program product for demand modeling and prediction in retail categories. The method uses time-series data comprising of unit prices and unit sales for a designated choice set of related products, with the time-series data obtained over a given sequence of sales reporting periods, and over a collection of stores in a market geography. Other relevant data sets from participating retail entities that include additional product attribute data such as market and consumer factors that affect retail demand are further used. A demand model for improved accuracy is achieved by individual sub-modeling method steps of: estimating a model for price movements and price dynamics from the time series data of unit-prices in the aggregated sales data; estimating a model for market share of each product in the retail category using the aggregated sales data and integrated additional product attribute data; and, estimating generating a model for an overall market demand in the retail category from the aggregated sales data.
US08386281B2 Locomotive assistant
There is provided a system for managing information comprising a network, a hand-held mobile device, and a central server computer. The network is established between the central server computer and the hand-held mobile device to communicate computer readable information between the central server computer and the hand-held mobile device. In an embodiment, the computer-readable information is human interface information related to operation of a train.
US08386264B2 Speech data retrieval apparatus, speech data retrieval method, speech data retrieval program and computer usable medium having computer readable speech data retrieval program embodied therein
A speech data retrieval apparatus (10) includes a speech database (1), a speech recognition unit (2), a confusion network creation unit (3), an inverted index table creation unit (4), a query input unit (6), a query conversion unit (7) and a label string check unit (8). The speech recognition unit (2) reads speech data from the speech database (1), carries out a speech recognition process with respect to the read speech data, and outputs a result of speech recognition process as a lattice in which a phoneme, a syllable, or a word is a base unit. The confusion network creation unit (3) creates a confusion network based on the output lattice and outputs the result of speech recognition process as the confusion network. The inverted index table creation unit (4) creates an inverted index table based on the output confusion network. The query input unit (6) receives a query input by a user, carries out a speech recognition process with respect to the received query, and outputs a result of speech recognition process as a character string. The query conversion unit (7) converts the output character string into a label string in which a phoneme, a syllable, or a word is a base unit. The label string check unit (8) checks the label string against the inverted index table and retrieves speech data which is included in both of the label string and the speech database (1).
US08386261B2 Training/coaching system for a voice-enabled work environment
A voice assistant system is disclosed which directs the voice Prompts delivered to a first user of a voice assistant to also be communicated wirelessly to the voice assistant of a second user so that the second user can hear the voice Prompts as delivered to the first user.
US08386257B2 Emotion detecting method, emotion detecting apparatus, emotion detecting program that implements the same method, and storage medium that stores the same program
An audio feature is extracted from audio signal data for each analysis frame and stored in a storage part. Then, the audio feature is read from the storage part, and an emotional state probability of the audio feature corresponding to an emotional state is calculated using one or more statistical models constructed based on previously input learning audio signal data. Then, based on the calculated emotional state probability, the emotional state of a section including the analysis frame is determined.
US08386233B2 Electronic multi-language-to-multi-language translation method and system
An electronic multi-language-to-multi-language translation method and system is disclosed. The system includes a first user to communicate in a first language, a server, where the first user and the server are in communication, a second user to communicate in a second language, and a translation engine on a remote server. A message in the first language is transmitted by the first user to the second user via the server, where the message is forwarded to the translation engine to translate the message to the second language and transmit a translated message back to the second user for display. The message may be forwarded to the translation engine by a local application of the second user. In addition, the system may include a database in communication with the server to store the user's profile to identify the preferred language of the user. The message may be stored by the database.
US08386227B2 Machine, computer program product and method to generate unstructured grids and carry out parallel reservoir simulation
A machine, computer program product, and method to enable scalable parallel reservoir simulations for a variety of simulation model sizes are described herein. Some embodiments of the disclosed invention include a machine, methods, and implemented software for performing parallel processing of a grid defining a reservoir or oil/gas field using a plurality of sub-domains for the reservoir simulation, a parallel process of re-ordering a local cell index for each of the plurality of cells using characteristics of the cell and location within the at least one sub-domain and a parallel process of simulating at least one production characteristic of the reservoir.
US08386225B2 Method of optimizing the development of a fluid reservoir by taking into account a geologic and transient exchange term between matrix blocks and fractures
A method for optimizing the development of a fluid reservoir by accounting for a transient exchange term between porous blocks and fractures. The reservoir is discretized into a set of grid cells and an image representative of the fracture network delimiting porous blocks and fractures is associated with each cell. A transient exchange flow occurring between the porous blocks and the fractures is then determined at each cell by processing the image representative of the fracture network. Fluid flows in the reservoir are simulated by a flow simulator and an exchange flow and development of the reservoir is optimized by the simulation.
US08386222B2 Variants in graphical modeling environments
This invention allows users to build, manipulate, and finally deploy various model configurations with little performance overhead, better syntactic clarity and configuration flexibility.
US08386201B2 Methods for measurement and characterization of interferometric modulators
Various methods are described to characterize interferometric modulators or similar devices. Measured voltages across interferometric modulators may be used to characterize transition voltages of the interferometric modulators. Measured currents may be analyzed by integration of measured current to provide an indication of a dynamic response of the interferometric modulator. Frequency analysis may be used to provide an indication of a hysteresis window of the interferometric modulator or mechanical properties of the interferometric modulator. Capacitance may be determined through signal correlation, and spread-spectrum analysis may be used to minimize the effect of noise or interference on measurements of various interferometric modulator parameters.
US08386200B2 Distribution system analysis using meter data
A monitoring system includes a first sensor positioned at a first location along a phase conductor line and a second sensor position at a second location along the phase conductor line. The first sensor is configured to generate a first set of synchrophasor data. The second sensor is configured to generate a second set of synchrophasor data. The monitoring system includes a processor configured to receive the first and second sets of synchrophasor data. The processor is further configured to determine a primary side voltage of at least one distribution transformer electrically connected to the phase conductor line based on a secondary side voltage of the at least one distribution transformer. The processor is further configured to determine at least one phase conductor line condition based on the first and second sets of synchrophasor data and the primary side voltage.
US08386199B2 Battery monitoring algorithms for vehicles
A system for monitoring the starter battery of a vehicle includes a central processing unit, a voltage sensor, a temperature sensor, a timer, a data store, and a display. A collection of computer software algorithms are executed by the central processing unit to ascertain the operational state of a vehicle's starter battery. The algorithms are operative to determine engine start time, initial start voltage drop, and the charge state of the battery.
US08386195B2 Information notification sample processing system and methods of biological slide processing
A sample processing system that may be automated and methods are disclosed where samples are arranged on a carrier element and a process operation control system automatically processes the samples perhaps robotically with an operationally-influential exteriorly-consequential information monitor or a data capture element. Significant process details as well as operationally-influential exteriorly-consequential information may be monitored and an automatic notice element may cause notification of a person at some display that may be remote. Various people may be notified, such as an administrator, a supplier, or a manufacturer of an opportunity for some action such as reagent reordering or the like. A simulated motion display may be included to “watch” simulated operation in real time or long after completion of the actual processing.
US08386193B2 Molecular orbital computing device for elongation method
A molecular orbital computing device, method, program, and a recording medium recorded with the program, capable of computing electronic states at a high speed by an elongation method, are provided. A molecular orbital computing device (1) for determining molecular electronic states by the elongation method implements a localization process of transforming a canonical molecular orbital by an atomic orbital basis into a regional localized molecular orbital by using the formulas expressed by: YCMORLMO=CROCML+U CAORLMO=CAOCMOYCMORLMO where YCMORLMO is a transformation matrix for transforming into a regional localized molecular orbital by a canonical molecular orbital basis, CROCMO+ is a transpose matrix of a matrix representing a canonical molecular orbital by a regional atomic orbital basis, U is a transformation matrix for erasing elements in an off-diagonal block in a density matrix DRO by the regional atomic orbital basis by a Jacobi method, CAORLMO is a matrix representing a regional localized molecular orbital by the atomic orbital basis, and CAOCMO is a matrix representing the canonical molecular orbital by the atomic orbital basis.
US08386177B2 Vehicle-dispatching method and vehicle-dispatching system
A vehicle-dispatching system includes a service center and a plurality of hosts disposed in respective vehicles. For equally distributing the chances of accepting a reserved vehicle service task, a vehicle-dispatching method is provided. Firstly, the service center is in communication with the hosts of respective vehicles, thereby establishing a database and a dispatching priority ranking table. When the service center receives a vehicle service request, a vehicle is selected from the database according to the dispatching priority ranking table. If the host of the selected vehicle receives the inquiry signal and consents to accept a vehicle service task, a vehicle service confirming signal is issued from the host of the selected vehicle. When the service center receives the vehicle service confirming signal from the host of the selected vehicle, the host of the selected vehicle is adjusted to a lower priority ranking in the dispatching priority ranking table.
US08386175B2 Unmanned aerial system position reporting system
An unmanned aerial system (UAS) position reporting system. Implementations may include an air traffic control reporting system (ATC-RS) coupled with a ground control station (GCS) of an unmanned aerial system where the ATC-RS includes an automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) and a traffic information services broadcast (TIS-B) transceiver and one or more telecommunications modems. The ATC-RS may be adapted to receive position data of the UAS in an airspace from the GCS and communicate the position of the UAS in the airspace to a civilian air traffic control center (ATC) or to a military command and control (C2) communication center through an ADS-B signal or through a TIS-B signal through the ADS-B and TIS-B transceiver. The ATC-RS may also be adapted to display the position of the UAS in the airspace on one or more display screens coupled with the ATC-RS.
US08386153B2 Internal combustion engine and method and device for operating an internal combustion engine
An internal combustion engine includes at least two cylinders, an intake duct, an exhaust gas section and an exhaust gas recirculation line. The cylinders include a combustion chamber. The intake duct communicates with the combustion chambers via a cylinder inlet channel of the intake duct depending upon a switch position of a gas inlet valve. The exhaust gas section communicates with the combustion chambers depending upon a switch position of at least one gas outlet valve. Exhaust gas is guided back to the inlet channels via the exhaust gas recirculation line dependent upon a switch position of the exhaust gas recirculation valve. To detect a mixing air temperature in the inlet channels, a mixing air temperature sensor is provided. The determined mixing air temperatures are compared. Exhaust gas guided back due to uneven distribution is identified if a difference between the determined mixing air temperature is greater than a predetermined threshold value.
US08386148B2 Traffic-sensitive engine control
A method and engine control system for controlling a vehicle, including determining an acceptable range for an engine operating parameter responsive to traffic conditions and directing the engine to maintain the engine operating parameter within the acceptable range.
US08386147B2 Apparatus for controlling intake air heating of gas turbine
In a heating apparatus for heating the air sucked into a gas turbine by a heat exchanger, the temperature fluctuation of the heated air is suppressed even in the period, for which a steam source to be fed to the heat exchanger is changed. For suppression, a heat exchanger is fed with both a self-can steam, the feed rate of which is controlled by a self-can steam control valve, and the auxiliary-steam, the feed rate of which is controlled by an auxiliary-steam control valve. At starting time, the quantity of the auxiliary-steam is reduced at a constant rate, and that of the self-can steam is increased while a feedback control and a feedforward control are being made. At stopping time, the quantity of the self-can steam is reduced at a constant rate, and that of the auxiliary-steam is increased while the feedback control and the feedforward control are being made.
US08386139B2 Shift control of automatic transmission
A subtransmission mechanism 30 comprises a Ravigneaux planetary gear mechanism 31, a Low brake 32 and a High clutch 33, shifts between a first speed gear position in which the Low brake 32 is engaged whereas the High clutch 33 is disengaged and a second speed gear position in which the Low brake 32 is disengaged and the High clutch 33 is engaged. A minute slip is caused at the Low brake 32 and then terminated by engaging the High clutch 33. A value representing the engaging state variation such as an engaging time period and/or an engaging speed of the High clutch 33 is learned and the pressure of oil supplied during the engaging operation of the High clutch 33 is corrected based upon the learned value, thereby assuring a smooth shift operation by compensating for any inconsistency in the torque transmission characteristics of the High clutch 33.
US08386131B2 Method and system for controlling a driving direction of an electric drive machine
The disclosure describes, in one aspect, a method for changing a direction of a machine that is moving in a first direction. The method includes the step of receiving a signal indicative of an intention to change the direction of the machine to a second direction. The method also includes the step of determining whether a signal indicative of a speed of the machine is greater than a threshold based at least in part on an electric motor parameter. Finally, the method includes the step of applying a braking torque to at least one travel mechanism of the machine in response to a signal indicative of an accelerator pedal position until the speed reaches the threshold.
US08386130B2 Occupant protection device
The occupant protection device (air bag ECU 1) of the invention is composed of an input signal acquisition unit 11 for acquiring acceleration signals or angular velocity signals from sensors installed in a vehicle, a digital signal processing unit 12 for generating an output signal in a time series of the acceleration signals or angular velocity signals composed of consecutive first, second and third intervals by changing a multiplication factor of the second interval in comparison with the first and third intervals, a status determination unit 13 for determining a collision or rollover of the vehicle based on the output signal, and an air bag actuation circuit 14 for igniting a squib 32.
US08386107B2 Control apparatus for hybrid vehicle
A control apparatus of hybrid vehicle has a drive mode change section, a deceleration detection section, an engine stall prevention control section, an engine stall prediction section, and an engine stall avoidance control section. The drive mode change section changes drive modes of EV drive mode, HEV drive mode and WSC drive mode according to a vehicle travel state. The engine stall prevention control section performs a coast-down shift which changes a transmission ratio of an automatic transmission to a lower transmission ratio upon deceleration of the vehicle. The engine stall prediction section predicts whether or not an engine stall occurs, during a travel in a HEV drive mode. The engine stall avoidance control section disengages at least one of first and second engagement elements when the occurrence of the engine stall is predicted by the engine stall prediction section.