Document Document Title
US08403330B2 Ball net of box type with raised front top
A ball net of box type comprises a front loop, a rear loop, and first and second side loops. The enclosing net portion are for covering a top hole formed by top portions of the loops, two side holes formed by the side loops, and a rear hole formed by the rear loop, so as to enclose the box-type space from four sides. The vertical side straight portions of neighboring loops are hold together by fabric holder portions. The top curved portion of the front loop protrudes above the top straight portions of the other loops, such that a front opening defined by the front loop provides a receiving area larger than the other holes defined by the other loops especially in a upper portion of the receiving area. The front loop has a larger area than the other loops in a lower portion of the receiving area.
US08403316B2 Method and apparatus for assembling a workpiece
There is disclosed an elevator for holding a workpiece, the elevator comprising a turntable and adapted to slide along a support chain to thereby vertically displace the elevator. There is further disclosed a method of assembling a workpiece, the method comprising the steps of stacking first and second workpiece sections on a turntable elevator; and sliding the elevator along a support chain to thereby vertically position the workpiece.
US08403304B2 Open air vehicle cooling device and method
A vehicle misting device and method that is operable is dry and humid environments are provided. The device may also include a payment system and fan.
US08403296B2 Metal seat seal with flexible sealing edge
A gate valve seat has structure formed on it to provide a sealing edge or lip which flexes when loaded. The lip forms a dual seal against portions of the gate valve body when the seat is placed under load.
US08403291B2 Tube slide clamp with extending finger grips
A slide clamp for use with an infusion pump and infusion set provides finger grips and support members for supporting the infusion tubing. The finger grips make the slide clamp easier to use while reducing the risk of error. The tubing support members reduce the likelihood of improperly loading the tubing and reduce the risk of kinking the tubing during use. An infusion set is provided wherein the slide clamp may be coded through the use of colors, holes, or the like so as to identify the type of infusion tubing used therewith. The infusion pump can identify the code on the slide clamp and thereby determine the type of infusion tubing, and thereby allow access only to infusion programs for drugs or infusion solutions which are compatible with the particular type of infusion tubing.
US08403290B2 Wiper seal assembly
A hydraulically-operated annular blowout preventer, for controlling a wellbore and comprising a wiper seal assembly, is described. The wiper seal assembly comprises a discrete wiper seal, for preventing debris and/or contaminants from the wellbore from entering the hydraulic fluid chamber of the blowout preventer, a discrete pressure seal, positioned below and abutting the wiper seal in the same seal groove, for isolating the hydraulic chamber, and a retainer member for preventing both radial and axial movement of the wiper seal.
US08403288B2 Supporting mechanism and device using the same
A supporting mechanism for supporting a device includes a rotating member rotatably coupled to the device, and a supporting member rotatably coupled to the rotating member and being foldable on the device. The rotating member is capable of being rotated from a first position to a second position. When the rotating member is rotated to a first position, the unfolded supporting member supports the device in a first orientation; when the rotating member is rotated to a second position, the supporting member supports the device in a second orientation different from the first orientation. A device having the supporting mechanism is also provided.
US08403279B2 Fastening device and heat dissipation apparatus using the same
A fastening device includes a fixing bracket and a fastener. The fixing bracket includes a fixed arm and two adjusting arms respectively connecting at two ends of the fixed arm. Each of the two ends of the fixed arm defines a plurality of spaced retaining slots. The retaining slots are located at different positions along the fixed arm. Each of the two adjusting arms has a sliding end retained selectively in one of the retaining slots and an opposite fixing end. The fastener extends through the fixing end of each of the two adjusting arms.
US08403264B2 Air inlet valve for an airplane and manufacturing method for an air inlet valve
The present invention provides an air intake valve for an aircraft and a method for the production of an air intake valve. The air intake valve has an opening region for letting ambient air through into a fuselage inner region of the aircraft and a flap for opening and closing the opening region, the opening region and the flap each having a shape which is capable of forming air vortices on edges of the opening region when ambient air flows through the air intake valve.
US08403261B2 Process for making an aircraft having a floor
The method of fabricating an aircraft comprises the following steps: fastening two lateral floor portions, each firstly to a fuselage element and secondly to supports that are connected to the fuselage element; and then bringing a middle floor portion between the lateral portions and connecting it to the lateral portions.
US08403259B2 Method of taxiing an aircraft
The invention provides a method of taxiing an aircraft having at least one nose undercarriage at the front of the aircraft and main undercarriages, each undercarriage having wheels, the method comprising the steps of: fitting at least one of the wheels carried by the nose undercarriage with a main taxiing motor member, and fitting at least one of the wheels carried by the main undercarriages with an auxiliary taxiing motor member; and in response to a taxiing order, powering the main taxiing motor member to cause the aircraft to taxi, and in particular if the driving force developed by the main taxiing motor member on the aircraft is insufficient, powering the auxiliary taxiing motor member, as required.
US08403253B1 Active IR signature target simulation system and a method thereof
An active IR signature target simulation system which includes: a platform having a known temperature profile and a preplanned flight trajectory; a heat source carried onboard the platform, capable of producing heat following a controlled heating plan; and a control unit connected to the heat source and configured for initiating the heat source, thereby modifying the known temperature profile and generating a desired temperature profile required for sensing a simulated target IR signature during a simulation time window at a desired line of sight from the platform to an observing sensor, wherein the platform is an exo-atmospheric missile which includes an inner shell and a perforated outer shell, and wherein the heat source is a thermally active material disposed between at least a part of the inner shell and a part of the outer shell.
US08403245B2 Cushioning element for mill liner
A cushioning element suitable for use in a liner assembly for a grinding mill, the liner assembly including a mounting element having a recess therein, the cushioning element being located within the recess, and a wear element operatively connected to the cushioning element, the cushioning element including a cushion body of elastomeric material including a side section and opposed end sections, a plurality of cavities within the cushion body and extending from at least one of the end sections towards the other end section.
US08403244B2 Mobile system and method for crushing rock while isolating electronic components from excessive vibration
A mobile rock crushing vehicle with a detachable electronic control box which can be automatically lifted, by a pair of hydraulic pivoting arms, off the vehicle, lowered and set upon any vibration damping and isolating mass, such as the earth, all by moving a hydraulic lever. The pair of pivoting arms further automatically configures a reduced-vibration transmitting connection when the electronic control box is set upon the ground.
US08403242B2 Snow making method and apparatus
A system for producing snow incorporates a snow-making machine with ice supplied externally or manufactured on-site. The snow-making machine has one or more multi-bladed impellers fitted blades which impact ice blocks, pieces or tubes fed to the inlet of a snow-making chamber. The impact of the blades with the ice in a velocity range 150-300 Km/h produces artificial snow, with characteristics very similar to natural snow, suitable for ski-fields or other applications for snow. The blades may incorporate serrated or jagged cutter portions the break the latter ice pieces to sizes suitable for conversion to snow.
US08403239B2 Liquid storage system, liquid container, and liquid lead-out control method
A liquid storage system includes a liquid container having a plurality of through holes of a nano-size from which volatile liquid contained in the liquid container is led outside by capillary action, and photocatalytic films provided on surfaces of the through holes, the photocatalytic films being hydrophilic during light irradiation, an irradiation unit configured to irradiate the photocatalytic films with light, and a control unit configured to control the irradiation unit in accordance with an amount of the volatile liquid to be led outside.
US08403238B2 Portable decorative waterfall feature
A portable waterfall feature is provided for use on a fireplace having a mantle and a fireplace opening, and includes a water reservoir; tubing connectors and connectable tubing pieces, which may be assembled to extend upward from the water reservoir when the reservoir is placed at the bottom of the fireplace opening and around the one end of the mantle to be connected to a dispensing tubing piece connectable at the top of the mantle. A flexible curtain hangs down over the front of the mantle and in front of the fireplace opening over the water reservoir so that water that is pumped from the water reservoir flows upward through the assembled tubing pieces, is dispensed from the dispensing tubing piece along the top side of the flexible curtain; and flows down the flexible curtain and back into the reservoir.
US08403237B2 Articulated water nozzle system
The present invention relates to an articulated nozzle system comprising a nozzle cap for directing water exiting the nozzle cap, wherein the water exiting the nozzle cap has an average flow direction away from a nozzle cap base plane. The articulated nozzle system further comprises a nozzle cap driver for orienting the nozzle cap about a central pivot point to adjustably define the average flow direction, wherein the nozzle cap driver is linked to the nozzle cap. The nozzle cap driver can be moved along a plane, referred to as a driver support plane, by a drive module. Changing the location of nozzle cap driver along the driver support plane can change the orientation of the nozzle cap about the central pivot to adjust the average flow direction of the water exiting the nozzle cap.
US08403231B2 Semiconductor device and driving method thereof
To provide a semiconductor device, which is capable of supplying a stable voltage to a memory and communicating wirelessly in writing data into a memory, and a driving method thereof. The semiconductor device is operated with periods which are divided into a period for receiving a signal wirelessly from a reader/writer, and a period for boosting up electric power received wirelessly from the reader/writer before being supplied to the memory. The signals transmitted from the reader/writer include timing for completion of signal transmission as information. The timing for completion of signal transmission is known by receiving the signals. After completion of signal transmission from the reader/writer, electric power received from the reader/writer starts to be boosted up, and then it is supplied to the memory in the semiconductor device.
US08403229B2 Secure card packaging with concealed activation field
Improved secure card packaging is provided which includes a concealed region within which an activation data field corresponding with a transaction card is located. The corresponding transaction card may be retainably disposed so that a proprietary account data field thereupon is not readable when the concealed region is selectively accessed. Upon accessing the concealed region, the activation data field may be read to activate the transaction card, e.g. at a point-of-sale location. Locating the activation data field within a concealed region reduces tampering risks. Tampering is further reduced by retained disposition of the transaction card so that the proprietary account data field is not readable prior to a purchase and card activation transaction.
US08403228B2 Computer readable universal authorization card system and method for using same
A computer readable universal authorization card system including a card having a computer readable non-volatile memory portion for conducting communications over a global network and a magnetic stripe for interfacing with card readers is disclosed. Here, the magnetic stripe has a stripe length and a stripe width, the card has a card length and a card width, and, in one embodiment, the stripe length is shorter than the card length.
US08403227B2 Method and apparatus for pinless tag securing
A security device is removably affixable to an article. The security device includes a housing having a securing pad, a locking element and a strap. The locking element is disposed within the housing. The strap includes a first end having a latching region that is insertable into the housing and a second end having a securing region. The strap is slidingly movable between an open position and a locked position. The locking element engages with the latching region of the strap. An eccentrically mounted wheel may be mounted on one of the securing region of the strap and the securing pad. When in the locked position, the eccentrically mounted wheel secures the article between the securing pad and the securing region of the strap.
US08403226B2 Chip card holder
An exemplary chip card holder for holding a chip card includes a base member, a card receiving frame and a cover. The card receiving frame is mounted on the base member and defines an accommodating space for receiving the chip card therein. The accommodating space has an inserting opening for inserting the chip card into and removing the chip card out from the accommodating space. The cover includes a resisting block protruding therefrom. The cover is detachably latched to the base member in such a way that the resisting block is aligned with the inserting opening and located adjacent to an end of the chip card to hold the chip card within the accommodating space.
US08403211B2 System, program product and methods for retail activation and reload associated with partial authorization transactions
Systems, program product, apparatus and method for transmitting and processing the sale of a transaction card product over an existing payment network using partial authorization messaging, are provided. An example of such a system can include a merchant POS apparatus equipped to support partial authorization messaging, a transaction card issuer server in communication therewith, and a transaction card product. The transaction card product can include a conventional transaction card securely wrapped within a tamper evident container that can carry its own magnetic strip. The container magnetic strip can store an assigned unique card identifier linked to, but different from, the card identifier normally associated with the card. The container card identifier stored in the container magnetic strip is compatible with the merchant POS card reader and is usable to activate the card without the merchant or consumer having access to the card, the card identifier, or the card magnetic strip.
US08403202B1 Method for soldering surface mounting LED to circuit board
A method for soldering an LED to a circuit board includes firstly providing a solder-applying pattern overlaying the circuit board. First holes and second holes are defined in the solder-applying patter. Then, solder pastes are filled in the first holes and the second holes. The solder-applying pattern is removed and a plurality of first solder poles and second solder poles are remained on the circuit board. An LED is then put on the first solder poles and the second solder poles. The first solder poles and the second solder poles are heated to form a first solder ball and a second solder ball respectively after the heated first and second solder poles are cooled. The first and second solder balls electrically connect positive and second electrodes of the LED with the circuit board.
US08403196B2 Dissection tip and introducer for surgical instrument
The present disclosure describes a surgical fastener applying apparatus that includes an elongate body portion having proximal and distal ends, an end effector including a first movably coupled to a second jaw that is positioned at the distal end of the elongate body portion, and an introducer member. The introducer member has proximal and distal portions, and is configured and dimensioned for releasable connection with the end effector. The introducer member is at least partially formed from a flexible material, and is configured and dimensioned to separate target tissue from collateral tissue prior to positioning of the target tissue between the first and second jaws of the end effector.
US08403192B1 Vehicle-mounted real estate sign carrier assembly and associated method
A vehicle-mounted real estate sign carrier assembly includes a U-shaped rack having front, back and side walls, and an L-shaped support rail. The support rail may be adapted to directly connect to a vehicle trailer hitch and locked with a pin when in use. A flexible strap directly mated to a top end of the support rail wraps about each of the stakes such that the real estate signs remain vertically stacked while the display screens are seated within the rack in a stable manner. The carrier assembly may transport multiple real estate signs to various locations, safely and easily by providing a quick-assembly, sturdy, compact and stable construction. Constructed with a low center of gravity the assembly allows a user to travel over bumpy and winding roads without the risk of dislodging his real estate signs from his vehicle.
US08403189B2 Baby carrier
A baby carrier has a harness and a harness-carried front piece which forms a baby-carrying pouch. The front piece includes two laterally separated parts at a variable spacing relative to one another. The laterally separated parts of the front piece are mutually connected to a strip-like piece of material whose lateral stretchability is much greater than the lateral stretchability of the separated parts of the front piece.
US08403186B2 Composite spout and injection-forming apparatus for forming the composite spout
A composite spout obtained by injection forming a spout body in a state where a sleeve having a functional resin layer disposed as an intermediate layer is fitted as a core onto the core member of an injection-forming metal mold such that the inner peripheral surface only of the sleeve is substantially exposed on the inner peripheral surface of the spout body. A tilted surface is formed on the inner peripheral surface at one end of the spout body in at least a portion thereof in the circumferential direction, the tilted surface being tilted outward in the radial direction from a position in agreement with the inner peripheral edge at the one end of the sleeve or from the inside thereof in the radial direction facing the one end of the spout body.
US08403184B2 Cap for an aerosol can or a spray can, with an acoustic seal
For acoustic sealing of a spray cap (7) for an aerosol can or spray can, the spray cap includes a push button (6) and a nap body (7a) and is provided with an acoustic seal (49) between the push button (6) and the cap body (7a). The acoustic seal (49) includes a sealing lip (8) on a rim (7b) of the cap body (7a) and another sealing lip (9) on an adjacent rim (6a) of the push button (6). A pleasing sound is produced when product is discharged from the aerosol or spray can by manually actuating the push button, since the push button (6) is configured integral with a spray channel (10) connecting a valve stem (11) with a discharge opening (3) provided in the cap body (7).
US08403183B2 Device for attaching a dip tube to a fluid container
A device for that places a fluid container in fluid communication with a sprayer is disclosed. The device includes a container adapter that allows a dip tube to be attached to the fluid container rather than the sprayer. When the sprayer is removed from the fluid container, the dip tube stays in the fluid container. Refill fluid containers may come with the container adapter and dip tube installed. When the sprayer is attached to the fluid container, the adapter seals against the sprayer allowing fluid to be pumped from the fluid container by the sprayer. A sprayer connector with geometry that matches an inner or outer shape of the adapter is attached to and/or built into the sprayer. The sprayer connector is constructed to allow easy alignment of the sprayer to the fluid container. The sprayer connector and the container adapter also provide a unique attachment geometry to insure only containers with formulae compatible to the sprayer are pumped through the sprayer.
US08403180B2 Chemicals mixing container with elastic partition wall
A chemicals mixing container includes: a cylinder (8) having a tubular shaped outer tube (10), and an end wall (11) which seals one end of the outer tube; an elastic partition wall (12) placed inside the outer tube to define a mixing chamber (5) within the cylinder; and an ejection auxiliary member (13) placed inside the outer tube and outside the mixing chamber, and which has an end face swollen toward the mixing chamber and moreover which is enabled to press the elastic partition wall against the end wall. The chemicals mixing container is enabled to reliably mix a liquid material and a powder material together and discharge a mixture (18) of the liquid material and the powder material without waste.
US08403169B2 Mobile tank for cryogenic liquids
A tank for cryogenic liquids, which is intended for installation in motor vehicles and which consists of an outer container and of an inner container suspended in the latter in tension or compression struts. In order to take the contrasting requirements in motor vehicles into account in an optimum way, between the outer container and inner container abutments and supporting faces are additionally provided, which can be spaced apart from one another when the vehicle is at a standstill and can be brought to bear when the vehicle is driving. The abutments inside the outer container Co.-operate with supporting faces on the inner container and can be displaced by means of an actuator.
US08403167B2 Dispenser lid with biasing pin and container including the same
A container including a bottom and a plurality of walls that form a storage cavity. A primary lid is disposed over the storage cavity. The primary lid includes a top surface that defines a dispenser portion through which items within the storage cavity may be dispensed. A dispenser lid is pivotally attached to the primary lid. The dispenser lid has a closed position in which the dispenser lid is pivoted downwards relative to the primary lid to cover the dispenser portion and an open position in which the dispenser lid is pivoted upwards relative to the primary lid to expose the dispenser portion. The dispenser lid includes a pivot end portion and an opposite free end portion, and a biasing pin extending from the pivot end portion. The biasing pin has a longitudinal end portion anchored to the primary lid so that the biasing pin urges the dispenser lid towards the open position. The biasing pin and a main dispenser lid portion are formed as a unitary structure.
US08403166B2 Sealable storage container
A sealable storage container is described and which includes a container bottom having a continuous sidewall, a container lid for mating cooperation with a container bottom; a rotatable member received in, and cooperating with the container lid; a moveable pressure plate cooperating with the rotatable member; and a resilient sealing member mounted on a moveable pressure plate and extending in the direction of the container lid, and wherein rotation of the rotatable member causes the resilient seal to deform, at least in part, laterally outwardly so as to releasably sealably engage the container bottom to affect sealable attachment of the container lid to the container bottom.
US08403161B2 Package
The invention relates to a package suitable for containing a perishable product, comprising a first shell element provided with an upright circumferential edge and a central portion for accommodating said perishable product, as well as a closure element provided with a circumferential edge which closure element is placed with its circumferential edge on the upright circumferential edge of said first shell element in an adhering and closing manner and wherein said closure element is provided at its circumferential edge with a protruding lip, which lip does not adhere to the circumferential edge of said first shell element, for the purpose of peeling off said closure element from said first element. Near said lip the two circumferential edges are provided with a closed channel being in communication with said central portion, and wherein at least one of said circumferential edges is provided with a fracture line extending substantially perpendicularly to said channel.
US08403158B2 Feeding bottle
A feeding bottle comprising a bottle, which has an opening and an external thread surrounding the opening, a teat, which has a nipple carrier with a fastening edge and, on the nipple carrier, a teat nipple with a drinking hole in a side surface, a ring nut, which has an internal thread for screwing onto the external thread and means for connecting with the fastening edge of the teat, in order to keep the teat from the bottle opening, and a covering cap, which can be placed on the teat and, whereas the covering cap in its placed position presses with the inside of its side wall against the side surface of the teat nipple having the drinking hole and form a seal and, with the inside of its bottom, presses against an opposite side surface of the teat nipple.
US08403148B2 Method of sorting documents of value
A method of sorting documents of value includes a) forming a stack of documents of value, the including two or more batches of documents of value, each batch of documents of value being provided with first and second separators to separate the batch from an adjacent batch; and, b) sequentially feeding all the documents in the stack through a sorting machine to inspect the documents and to sort the documents into one or more output stations in dependence upon the results of the inspection, and sorting all first separators to a separator output station.
US08403141B2 Tool bag with secure-pocket configuration
A tool bag including a tool bag body having a surface with a high-density, secure-storage pocket is disclosed. The high-density, secure-storage pocket is formed from a reinforcing sheet, a base fabric sheet over the reinforcing sheet, a primary pocket layer over the base fabric sheet, a primary elastic retention strip over the primary pocket layer, and a plurality of vertically-oriented attachment regions. The base fabric sheet, the primary pocket layer and the primary retention strip are attached together by the vertically-oriented attachment regions. The base fabric material and said primary pocket layer are attached along the lower edges of each. The vertically-oriented attachment regions can be separated such that a space between the base fabric sheet and primary pocket layer between adjacent vertically-oriented attachment regions defines a primary high-density, secure-storage pocket. The primary elastic retention strip can extend horizontally and proximate to an upper edge of the primary pocket layer.
US08403139B2 Apparatus and system for retaining and installing rivets
An apparatus and system for retaining and installing rivets into a belt fastener includes a collated rivet strip comprising connected upper and lower strips and retaining a predetermined configuration of rivet heads therebetween. The rivet strip is used in conjunction with a guide block assembly having top and bottom portions interlocked together. The top portion contains studs aligning with the rivet heads to assist the release of the rivet head from the rivet strip, seating the rivets in pilot holes of the lower portion of the guide block assembly for further driving through the belt fastener and into the belt material.
US08403138B2 Surgical clip cartridge and housing member for use therein
In order to improve the fixing of the surgical clips in the housing member in a surgical clip cartridge with a housing member and with a plurality of C-shaped surgical clips stored therein, having two limbs connected to one another by a web, the housing member comprising a plurality of compartments each to receive a surgical clip, with a support face adapted to the contour of the surgical clip in each compartment, against which support face a respective surgical clip abuts with its inner face, with holding members arranged on the housing member, which can be pivoted from a holding position into a release position and, in the holding position, fix the surgical clip in its compartment and, in the release position, are removed from the surgical clip, it is proposed that openings are provided in the limbs, in which the holding members engage in the holding position.
US08403128B2 Conveyor system support hanger assembly
A screw conveyor to move media includes a first feed screw having a first end portion, a second feed screw having a second end portion, and a support hanger assembly to support the first feed screw and the second feed screw. The support hanger assembly includes a hanger bracket having a vertical support member and an inner hub secured to and extending perpendicularly from the vertical support member, a shaft portion disposed within the inner hub, an inner sleeve configured to be disposed between the shaft portion and the inner hub, at least one outer hub coupled to the shaft portion, and an outer sleeve configured to be disposed between the inner hub and the at least one outer hub. The first feed screw and the second feed screw are coupled to the at least one outer hub. The inner sleeve and/or the outer sleeve may be fabricated from low coefficient of friction material.
US08403120B2 Double clutch comprising a torsional vibration damper
A double clutch transmission having a wet-running double clutch, a dual mass flywheel and a centrifugal force pendulum. The dual mass flywheel is arranged in a dry chamber between a drive and the double clutch and the centrifugal force pendulum is arranged in a wet chamber of the double clutch.
US08403118B2 Three-pass turbine damper
A torque converter, including: turbine and pump shells; a turbine hub; a drive hub including a first orifice; and a lock-up clutch. The clutch includes: a clutch plate directly engaged with the turbine hub, fixed with respect to rotation to the turbine hub, and sealed with respect to the turbine hub; an apply plate the rotation of which is fixed to the rotation of the pump shell; and a piston plate. The converter includes a first fluid chamber at least partially formed by the piston, clutch and apply plates; and a second fluid chamber partially formed by the clutch and apply plates and the turbine and pump shells. When the lock-up clutch is closed, the first chamber is sealed except for the first orifice and one of a second orifice through the apply plate or a first fluid flow path through the lock-up clutch to the second fluid chamber.
US08403108B2 Acoustically tunable sound absorption articles and methods of making same
A moldable acoustic facing comprises cellulosic fibers and synthetic fibers entangled together. The acoustic facing has a basis weight of from about 1.5 to about 5.0 ounces per square yard (osy), a thickness of less than about 0.050″, a mean pore size of between about 8 microns and about 40 microns, and an elongation at break of at least twenty percent. The acoustic facing includes less than about five percent synthetic microfiber and has an acoustic resistance of at least about 250 Rayls.
US08403106B2 Man-portable non-lethal pressure shield
A man-portable non-lethal pressure shield provides both a physical as well as pressure shield. The pressure shield addresses the concerns of military, police and human rights organizations and international law as regards effectiveness, efficiency and safety and efficiency. A folded acoustic horn is incorporated into the physical shell of the shield. The horn couples acoustic pulses from a sonic pulse generator to an acoustic aperture to output a pulsed pressure beam that approximates a plane wave to produce a pressure barrier. The operator may specify a desired effect on its human target that is maintained as range-to-target changes or a desired effect at a specified perimeter range. The shields may be networked to facilitate coordinated action among multiple pressure shields as a force multiplier or to provide a more sophisticated pressure barrier.
US08403102B2 Automatic engine speed adjustment
An apparatus and method move a speed control lever of an engine automatically in response to movement of a manual actuator to engage a driven member.
US08403101B2 User interface for energy sources on a hybrid vehicle
A user interface for managing energy from multiple energy sources on a hybrid vehicle displays information on the amount of energy available from a battery pack and liquid fuel tank, and allows the user to select when and how much stored energy is used from each energy source. The user interface may include an operator actuated control and a pair of gauges showing the amount of stored energy for the battery pack and the liquid fuel tank. The operator control may move the control between end settings that disable the internal combustion engine or minimize battery pack use.
US08403094B2 Power unit and vehicle equipped with it
A power unit includes an engine, a belt transmission driven by the engine, and a second transmission driven by the belt transmission. The engine includes an engine output shaft having an end portion projecting outward from the engine. The second transmission includes a transmission input shaft and a transmission output shaft having respective end portions projecting outward from the second transmission. The belt transmission includes a drive pulley provided on the end portion of the engine output shaft, a driven pulley provided on the end portion of the transmission input shaft, and a belt looped over the drive and driven pulleys. The belt has first and second portions between the drive and driven pulleys. The first portion runs from the drive pulley to the driven pulley. The second portion runs from the driven pulley to the drive pulley. The end portion of the transmission output shaft is extended through a portion of the belt transmission between the drive and driven pulleys and between the first and second portions of the belt so as to project outward from the belt transmission.
US08403092B1 Motorcycle suspension system
A motorcycle suspension for a motorcycle, the motorcycle having a frame member, a swingarm member, and a pivot point about which the swingarm member rotates with respect to the frame member, the suspension system comprising an airbag mounted above the swingarm member pivot point and interposed between the frame member and the swingarm member and a shock absorber/dampener in a position below the swingarm member pivot point as used in the traditional Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Company® SOFTAIL® motorcycle type suspension position. The system optionally can be connected to an air compressor to adjust the pressure in the airbag member so as to control ride height, ride quality, payload capacity, or a combination thereof. The system optionally can also be connected to a controller, such as a microprocessor, that automatically adjusts the system to predetermined values in response to environmental and road conditions.
US08403082B2 Double wishbones and double pivots vehicle suspension system
A vehicle equipped with a double wishbones and double tandem members suspension system to suspend the vehicle, the double tandem members being operatively interconnected together and adapted to receive idling wheels adapted to support and guide an endless belt thereon to provide significant suspension travel and prevents an endless belt disengagement from the idling wheels. A suspension and a kit thereof are also provided.
US08403076B2 Power tool
A power tool includes a grip, a connecting part, an elastic element, an electrical switch and an operating member. The connecting part connects the grip to the power tool body. The elastic element is disposed between the connecting part and the power tool body. The operating member is switched by a user between an energizing position and a de-energizing position. The operating member is retained in the position to which it is switched. The operating member is disposed in the connecting part in such a manner as to be slidable in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the power tool body and to the extending direction of the grip.
US08403070B1 Automated exterior fire protective system
A cover system and method of automated deployment for protecting structures from fire dangers uses water pressure to force fire resistant rolls and folded arrangements of materials to deploy when a water valve is triggered by high heat. Water then is forced through sprinkler hoses on the interior of the deployed materials to maintain a wet condition on the interior surface of the deployed covers and also on the exterior of the building that is being protected. The water is collected in pockets of the deployed material which anchors it in place and pumps within the pockets return the water to a distribution manifold on the roof of the structure.
US08403069B2 Oil recovery employing alkylene carbonates
A method for enhanced oil recovery contacts a gas and an alkylene carbonate with a subterranean formation. The gas may be selected from any gas that is suitable for injection into a subterranean formation and has properties that allow for enhanced recovery of petroleum from a subterranean formation. The alkylene carbonate may be cyclic, straight chained, or combinations thereof.
US08403066B2 Control line hybrid junction assembly
A hybrid junction assembly is provided. The hybrid junction assembly may comprise a junction body configured to sealingly couple to a first control line and a second control line. In addition, the assembly may include a transfer conduit configured to fit within a hybrid control line such that an annulus is formed between the transfer conduit and the hybrid control line. The first control line and the transfer conduit may form a first communication pathway and the second control line and the annulus may form a second communication pathway. The transfer conduit and the hybrid control line may be sealingly coupled to the junction body.
US08403065B2 Fluid connection to drilling riser
A riser for use in boring a subsea wellbore having a gooseneck assembly connected onto the riser. The gooseneck assembly has an outlet that couples with a flowline on the riser and a connector assembly that selectively decouples the gooseneck assembly from the flowline. A release member, such as a wire, cable, or rod, is attached to the connector so the connector assembly can be actuated by manipulating the release member from a remote location.
US08403062B2 Wellbore method and apparatus for completion, production and injection
Method, system and apparatus to produce hydrocarbons includes a packer apparatus with a swellable packer element around primary and secondary flow paths, the packer is configured to block flow in a portion of a wellbore annulus. The method includes disposing sand control devices having shunt tubes and a packer within a wellbore adjacent to a subsurface reservoir. The packer is then set within an interval, which may be an open-hole section of the wellbore, and gravel packing the sand control devices in different intervals. Hydrocarbons are produced by passing hydrocarbons through the sand control devices with different intervals providing zonal isolation. In some embodiments, intervals may be alternatively packed and plugged, wherein the plugged intervals are not packed.
US08403056B2 Drill pipe running tool
A system and method for verifying support hanger orientation within a wellhead housing. In an example, a profile is included at a designated location on an inner surface of the wellhead housing. When the support hanger is landed in the wellhead housing, an impression is taken of the inner surface of the wellhead housing from a reference location. Analyzing the impression can indicate the position of the support hanger within the wellhead housing. A running tool that can land the support hanger within the wellhead housing can be equipped with an impression block for taking the impression of the profile in the wellhead housing.
US08403055B2 Self sealing hydraulic coupler
A hydraulic coupler for providing fluid communication between adjacent members that includes a two way check valve formed from a double headed poppet set in a hollow cylinder with corrugated bellows like walls. Contoured bores are provided in the cylinder ends and the poppet heads are profiled to match the contour of the bores. When the heads are seated in the bores they form a sealing surface to block fluid from flowing through the coupler. Compressively preloading the cylinder before assembly provides a sealing force between the heads and the bores. Axially compressing the cylinder with respect to the poppet unseats the heads from the bores to form a flow path through the coupler.
US08403048B2 Slickline run hydraulic motor driven tubing cutter
A tubing cutter is run in with a bottom hole assembly that includes a seal and support within the tubing to be cut. A ported sub allows pressurized fluid pumped from the surface to enter the bottom hole assembly above the sealed support location and to be directed to set an anchor and to a fluid driven motor such as a progressive cavity motor that is in turn connected to the tubing cutter at the rotor of the progressive cavity motor. The rotation of the cutter with its blades extended cuts the tubular as the fluid exiting the stator goes to the lower end of the tubing being cut and can return to the surface through an annulus around the tubing to be cut. Other configurations such as cutting casing or cutting casing through tubing are also envisioned.
US08403046B2 Apparatus and method for providing an alternate flow path in isolation devices
An apparatus for use in a wellbore is described, the apparatus having a tubular body and a throughbore which defines a primary fluid path through the apparatus. An expanding element is disposed around the tubular body and is configured to provide an annular barrier in a space between the tubular body and a surrounding wall. A conduit defining a secondary flow path through the apparatus is provided, and is configured to be in fluid communication with at least one alternate path, such as a shunt tube. The conduit is arranged to vary the secondary flow path along a longitudinal direction of the apparatus, for example to redirect the flow path to a radial position closer to the tool body. The conduit is configured to have a reduced effect on the operation of the expanding element, while still allowing the conduit to be coupled to alternate flow paths of adjacent apparatus.
US08403045B2 Settable compositions comprising unexpanded perlite and methods of cementing in subterranean formations
An embodiment of the present invention comprises a method of cementing comprising: placing a settable composition into a well bore, the settable composition comprising unexpanded perlite, cement kiln dust, and water; and allowing the settable composition to set. Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a method of cementing comprising: placing a settable composition into a well bore, the settable composition comprising ground unexpanded perlite, Portland cement interground with pumicite, and water; and allowing the settable composition to set. Yet another embodiment of the present invention comprises a settable composition comprising: ground unexpanded perlite; cement kiln dust; and water.
US08403039B2 Tool and method for providing access to a wellhead annulus
A system and method for accessing an annulus within a wellhead assembly while the annulus is pressurized. The system includes a tubular body with an attached valve assembly and adapter. The adapter to the wellhead assembly with a sealed annular fitting. The body houses a selectively extendable plunger assembly rotatable by an attached motor. A bit or milling device is provided on the end of the plunger assembly, so that selectively extending the plunger assembly through the valve assembly and adapter contacts the bit against the wellhead assembly. An opening is formed through the wellhead assembly with the rotating bit allowing access to the annulus.
US08403035B2 Sealing and anchoring device for use in a well
A sealing and/or anchoring element for use in pipelines. The sealing and/or anchoring element includes at least one helical element disposed around a string section, with the helical element being configured so as to be able to expand radially towards an inner wall of the pipeline as the circumferential diameter thereof is increased.
US08403030B2 Cooling manifold
A cooling manifold and a method for manufacturing the cooling manifold are provided. The cooling manifold includes a housing that defines an interior region having a serpentine flow path therein. The housing has a first plurality of grooves extending from a first surface of the housing into the housing. The grooves do not fluidly communicate with the interior region. The first plurality of grooves receive a portion of a thermally conductive member therein to conduct heat energy from the thermally conductive member to the housing. The cooling manifold further includes a top cap configured to seal a first end of the housing and a bottom cap configured to seal a second end of the housing.
US08403025B2 Preparation of inorganic samples by fusion
In a process for the preparation of inorganic sample disks for analysis, the sample, in powdered form, is mixed with a powdered reagent flux which has been pre-melted. In an inert gas atmosphere, the mixture is placed in a graphite crucible and heated to a temperature slightly above 1000° C. After the flux dissolves the sample, a homogenous mix is produced. This mix is then poured into a graphite mold, the bottom of which contains a molten pool of an inert metal, such as gold, which acts as a smooth receiving surface. Upon cooling, the material in the mold solidifies, resulting in a glassy disk that can be analyzed. Cooling can be accelerated by making use of a cooling fluid that has a substantially higher thermal capacity than air.
US08403021B1 Portable partition system having modular frames, bars, and friction fit spacers
A portable partition system for dividing spaces and which can easily be changed in appearance, function and size has at least one frame that includes interior grooves suitable for receiving rigid or flaccid panels. More frames may be connected with lift-off or removable pin hinge sections, which allows a user to add to or remove rigid rectangular frames from the system simply. Dowels may suspend fabric panels, or rigid flat panels may be slid down through an opening at the top of and into each frame along with removable bars to create a structure notably different in appearance or purpose. All of the components, including dowels, fabric panels, flat panels, and horizontal bars, are insertable into the rigid rectangular frames and are removable, reversible and replaceable at will, generally without tools, to achieve many different visual effects using the same set of frames.
US08403018B2 Manufacturing equipment of wearing article
Equipment of manufacturing a wearing article includes a plurality of units movably arranged on a unit basis for transferring a half-completed product of the wearing article. The plurality of units is configured to perform the steps of shaping pulverized pulp into an absorbent body, sandwiching the absorbent body between first and second sheet members to obtain a continuous body of an absorbent main body, producing at least apart of a belt element, severing the continuous body to obtain the absorbent main body, affixing a pair of the belt elements to end sections of the absorbent main body, folding the absorbent main body in two, and superposing the belt elements on each other, joining the superposing belt elements at intervals at a to-be-joined portion to obtain the waist-belt section, and severing the continuous body corresponding to the to-be-joined portion for each waist-belt section to obtain the wearing article.
US08403007B1 Rivet plumbing repair apparatus and method
A repair process for a puncture through a plumbing pipe, the process initiates with a step of machining a puncture hole to a uniformly shaped hole having a diameter for receiving a repair rivet. The process continues by inserting and securing a blind rivet through the hole. The rivet can be sealed via any of a variety of methods, including using a solderable rivet and soldering the rivet to the pipe, utilizing a sealed blind rivet, combined with a gasket assembled between a rivet flange and the pipe surface. For two punctures, a section of coupling material can be utilized, sized to cover both punctures. The section is assembled to the pipe by inserting the rivet through both the section and the pipe, securing the rivet, then soldering the coupling to the pipe. A rivet end seal can be assembled to an end of a common blind rivet creating a watertight seal.
US08403004B2 Variable flow rate controller
A variable flow rate controller is provided herein. The controller may have a linearly traversable switch such that the controller is primed to flush air bubbles out of the fluid system of the controller prior to administering fluidic medication to a patient. Moreover, the controller may have a plurality of valves which may be independently opened and closed by a caming surface. To close the valve, a first seal may be disposed between offset inlet and outlet to prevent fluid from flowing from the inlet to the outlet. To open the valve, the first seal is disposed on one side of both of the inlet and outlet. Fluid if permitted to flow from the inlet to the outlet.
US08403001B2 Connector for fuel tank and check valve
A connector for a fuel tank includes a cylindrical main body; a connecting cylinder body including an attachment portion of a pipe connecting the fuel tank and an external portion, and assembled with the cylindrical main body; and a reinforcing cylinder body housed inside the connecting cylinder body. By a stopper portion formed on an inside of the connecting cylinder body, and a holding end portion of the cylindrical main body positioned inside the connecting cylinder body by the above-mentioned assembling, the reinforcing cylinder body is sandwiched from both sides so that the reinforcing cylinder body is positioned on an inside of the attachment portion of the connecting cylinder body.
US08402998B2 System and method for delivering chemicals
Systems and method for delivering materials to a tool are disclosed. A material delivery system utilizes two or more sources of the material to be delivered to the tool. One or more of the sources of the tool may be a batch mixer. The material delivery system also includes at least two material delivery recirculation lines providing material to at tool. The material delivery system may be manually or automatically controlled to switch supply of the material from one source to another, and/or to switch from one material delivery recirculation line to another.
US08402995B2 Flow-volume regulator
A flow-volume regulator has an elastic throttle body which delimits, between itself and a housing wall, a control gap that changes under the pressure of a fluid flow, and at least one associated bypass and/or cleaning channel that has at least one channel inlet arranged upstream of the control gap and at least one channel outlet arranged downstream of the control gap. The bypass and/or cleaning channel contains a valve which can move against a restoring force under the pressure of the oncoming fluid, from an open position into a closed position, and seals the bypass and/or cleaning channel in its closed position. The flow-volume regulator allows an additional volume of the fluid through the bypass channel when the oncoming fluid is at low pressure, so that its flow curve is significantly increased in the low pressure range.
US08402993B2 Hydraulic fluid cooling system for a dual clutch automatic transmission
A system for providing a constant flow of cooled hydraulic fluid to a dual clutch assembly of a transmission of a motor vehicle includes a hydraulic fluid cooler, a pressure control valve and a logic valve. The system is also capable of providing additional hydraulic fluid to the dual clutch assembly. The hydraulic fluid cooler provides hydraulic fluid to each clutch of a dual clutch assembly and to a logic valve. The logic valve is operable to divert additional fluid flow to either of the clutches of the dual clutch assembly.
US08402987B2 Schrader valve/Presta valve dual-mode valve cap
A Schrader (American) valve /Presta (French) valve dual-mode valve cap includes a casing having an axle hole and a through hole kept in communication, a rotating device rotatably mounted in the axle hole and having two opposing heads respectively disposed outside the axle hole with a respective screw hole defined therein for the connection of a Schrader (American) valve or Presta (French) valve, an accommodation chamber in communication between the two screw holes, an annular air passage defined in between the rotating device and the casing, a through hole in communication with the annular air passage and the accommodation chamber and two seal rings mounted on the periphery thereof at two sides of the annular air passage, a valve block movable back and forth in the accommodation chamber and having a seal ring mounted on the periphery thereof to divide the accommodation chamber into two spaces, and a spring member stopped between the valve block and a part of the rotating device to force the valve block toward the screw hole for Schrader (American) valve.
US08402976B2 Electrically heated smoking system
An electrically heated smoking system for receiving an aerosol-forming substrate. includes at least one heating element for heating the substrate to form an aerosol, a power supply for supplying power to the heating element, electrical hardware connected to the power supply and the heating element, and an interface for establishing a communications link with a host. The communications link may be a USB link and the host may be a personal computer.
US08402965B1 Mass oxygen distribution system
A mass oxygen distribution system (“MODS”) for mass delivery and distribution for of breathing oxygen has a mobile unit that stores a large amount of on board LOX and controls distribution of oxygen from the enclosure at safe pressure to one or more patient end users. An on board oxygen converter source within the enclosure stores preferably up to 75-liters of LOX, ready to be volatilized to provide gaseous oxygen for many hours. The enclosure being supported by wheeled support members, allowing the enclosure to be moved to and through premises where mass distribution to said one or more end users is required and quickly put into use. LOX in the pressurized vessel is provided to one of a dual set of vaporizers converts the liquid oxygen to cold gaseous breathing oxygen. A dual coil heat exchanger warms the cold breathing oxygen to safe breathing temperature. A warning system monitors temperature and pressure of the breathing oxygen. Dual auxiliary oxygen sources can be connected to the mobile unit and continuous oxygen supply can be maintained for hours or days by switching between the auxiliary sources such as of the VGL type. The dual vaporizer sets allow continuous vaporizing. The oxygen is distributed by specialized hose assembly to multiple patient distribution kits even if patients are scattered in various locations.
US08402964B2 Neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector
A neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector has a colorimetric carbon dioxide detector membrane having a pH-sensitive chemical indicator that undergoes colorimetric change in the presence of carbon dioxide. The detector has a patient orifice in fluid communication with the baby's airway and a respiration equipment orifice connected to a breathing system. The patient orifice is connected to a breathing tube and when the breathing tube is inserted correctly into the trachea, as the baby exhales, carbon dioxide interacts with the colorimetric membrane which changes color based upon the concentration of carbon dioxide. The internal volume of the neonatal colorimetric carbon dioxide detector is reduced to properly function with low-birth-weight (neonatal) infants.
US08402944B2 Method and system for pre-ignition control
Methods and systems are provided to address engine pre-ignition. One or more cylinders are alternately rich and lean operated for a duration to reduce engine thermal loading while maintaining an exhaust air-to-fuel ratio around stoichiometry.
US08402940B2 Engine having fuel injection induced combustion chamber mixing
An engine assembly may include an engine structure, a piston, and a direct injection fuel system. The engine structure may define a cylinder bore and the piston may be disposed within the cylinder bore for reciprocal displacement between a top dead center position and a bottom dead center position. The direct injection fuel system may include a fuel injector that provides a fuel spray to a combustion chamber defined by the piston and the cylinder bore. The fuel flow may extend generally tangential to a circumference of the combustion chamber and may define a centerline extending in a direction radially across the combustion chamber.
US08402918B2 Showerhead electrode with centering feature
A showerhead electrode includes inner and outer steps at an outer periphery thereof, the outer step cooperating with a clamp ring which mechanically attaches the electrode to a backing plate.
US08402915B2 Composite coating apparatus including Q-switch laser source
A composite coating apparatus includes a first device configured for forming a nanoscale metal particle layer on an electrically conductive workpiece and a second device configured for forming metallic film on the nanoscale metal particles. The first device includes a Q-switch laser source for providing impulse laser light beams, a first liquid-ejecting member configured for ejecting electrolyte liquid contained therein onto the workpiece, and a first hollow light guide conduit for guiding the impulse laser light beams through the first liquid-ejecting member onto the workpiece. As such, an electrochemical reaction occurs on the workpiece. The electrolyte liquid forms a metal film and is then vibrated into nanoscale particles by the impulse laser light beams.
US08402905B2 Kite ship
A kite ship contains a ship and a kite for pulling the ship, wherein the kite includes a kite main body, the upper and the lower ends of which are respectively connected with an upper and a lower end ropes, the other end of the upper end rope is fixed on a traction apparatus, the other end of the lower end rope is fixed on a connector, a traction apparatus pulling rope is fixed on the traction apparatus; the other end of the traction apparatus pulling rope is wound on a stranding cage connected with a motor through a speed reducer; a tension dynamometer is fixed on the connector; the tension dynamometer connects with a connector pulling rope; the other end of the connector pulling rope is wound on another stranding cage connected with the motor through the speed reducer; a buoyant balloon is arranged on the kite main body.
US08402893B2 Combustion chamber for launching fireworks projectiles
The invention provides a combustion chamber (3) for launching a fireworks projectile which comprises a container (4) having top wall, bottom and side walls, wherein the top wall which comprises venting holes (1). The invention further provides a launching system', a method for launching a fireworks projectile, and a kit of parts comprising the combustion chamber (3) or launching system in accordance with the present invention and a propellant charge (7) for use in the combustion chamber (3).
US08402887B2 Clamp
A lever for binding items with a strap may not be attached to the item and function to tension a strap around the item. The strap may engage the lever by bending an end of the strap to secure the strap through a plurality of apertures in the lever, by friction, by pressure, by any combination of the foregoing, or other suitable manner. A lever may lock in a closed position using a locking device, such as an over-center mechanism, a retaining clip, or a strap engaging portion.
US08402885B2 Methods and apparatus for vibration damping in a cooking device
A cooking device comprises a rotatable food basket disposed within the cooking device and a damping mechanism configured to reduce a vibration generated by the rotatable food basket rotating within the cooking device. An aspect of the cooking device includes a basket partition in the rotatable food basket, and the basket partition is configured to maintain a substantially equal distribution of a food within the rotatable food basket. The cooking device includes a motor in a hood for rotating the rotatable food basket, and it further includes a lifting plate and a lifting mechanism operable to move the rotatable food basket between a cooking section and a spinning section. The cooking device may also comprises a first basket portion and a second basket portion configured to be disposed within a first section and a second section of the rotatable food basket. The hood of the cooking device may also comprise a motor gear that includes a plurality of teeth configured to receive a motor key on a central shaft of the rotatable food basket. The motor key may be configured to automatically seat with the plurality of teeth in the motor gear via an electromagnetic coupling in response to an instruction from a microprocessor controller.
US08402879B2 Tool for screwing a piston onto the piston rod of a hydraulic cylinder and hydraulic cylinder
The present invention relates to a tool for screwing a piston onto the piston rod of a hydraulic cylinder, in particular of a hydraulic cylinder with a piston diameter of more than 200 mm, comprising a first tool element with connecting elements for releasable connection with the piston and a second tool element with connecting elements for releasable connection with the piston rod, which is rotatable with respect to the first tool element, wherein the torque necessary for screwing together piston and piston rod can be applied onto the piston and the piston rod via the connecting elements by rotating the first tool element against the second tool element.
US08402876B2 Ballistic lightweight ceramic armor with cross-pellets
An armor uses optimally shaped ceramic cross-pellets and a matrix for containing the cross-pellets. The armor comprises front and back plates and an array of interlocking ceramic cross-pellets of repeating shape between front and back plates. Each cross-pellet may have a horizontal cross-section in the shape of a cross and comprises a center and four fingers projecting therefrom. Each cross-pellet in a non-peripheral portion of the array may be supported by fingers of other cross-pellets which may include two fingers from each of four other cross-pellets. The result is lightweight, composite hybrid structure. The dense, hard armor has good fracture toughness, hardness and a high capacity to absorb impacts for ballistic protection particularly suited to tactical ground vehicles. Valley spaced is minimized. A polymer resin may be situated in spaces between the ceramic cross-pellets and between the array and at least one of the back plate and front plate.
US08402872B2 Hybrid towel dispenser
A hybrid towel dispenser is provided that can be operated in an automatic dispensing mode and a manual dispensing mode. The dispenser includes a drum having a retractable knife that extends out of the drum when the drum rotates past a selected position and severs a towel segment from a towel sheet. The dispenser also includes a motor, a manual advance assembly, and a one-way rotational coupling that couples the motor to the drum such that the motor rotates the drum in the automatic dispensing mode and a user can rotate the drum in the manual dispensing mode separately from the motor, using the manual advance assembly.
US08402871B2 Receiving and guiding device for receiving a work piece and guiding a cutting tool
A receiving and guiding device for receiving a work piece and guiding a cutting tool has a receiving frame with a bearing surface for the work piece, a guide rail for the cutting tool, which guide rail is displaceable between a functional position and a non-functional position, and in the functional position is located above the bearing surface and the receiving frame, and a support arm supporting the guide rail in the functional position, wherein the support arm and the guide rail are moveable relative to one another.
US08402868B2 Apparatus and method for shaping slabs of material
A slab shaping system includes a slab shaping device. The slab shaping device includes a cutting device and de-burring device, wherein the cutting device and the de-burring device, respectively cut and de-burr a slab. According to an embodiment, the slab shaping system may include a plurality of spaced apart slab support beams that form at least one slot therebetween. According to an embodiment, the cutting device and de-burring device may be axially-aligned. A method for operating a slab shaping system is disclosed. The method includes the steps of positioning a plurality of slab support beams on a table to form at least one slot; positioning a slab over the slab support beams; positioning a cutting device and de-burring device of a slab shaping device in axial-alignment; and cutting and de-burring the cut in the slab along a length of the at least one slot.
US08402867B2 Cutting tool with protrusions, and methods of use thereof
A cutting element adapted for removing a chip from a surface of a workpiece has at least one cutting edge defined by an intersection line between a rake and a relief surface and is formed with one or more workpiece deforming protrusions. At least a portion of the protrusions is spaced from the cutting edge such this portion protrudes, along a plane perpendicular to the relief surface and passing through the cutting edge, in a direction transverse to the relief surface beyond the cutting edge. At least the projecting portion of at least one of the protrusions is constructed so as to deform the workpiece before its contact with the cutting edge.
US08402864B1 Wrench gripping assist apparatus
A wrench gripping assist apparatus includes an elongated member having a first end, a second end and a peripheral surface extending between the first and second ends. The elongated member has a slot therein extending into the peripheral surface and through each of the first and second ends. The slot is configured to receive a handle of a wrench so that opposite heads of the wrench extend away from the first and second ends. The peripheral surface has a plurality of finger grips therein.
US08402853B2 Linear motion device with compact motor arrangement
A linear motion device has a first assembly and a second assembly which is linearly movable relative to the first assembly; a row of rolling elements that may circulate endlessly is located between the first and second assemblies, the first assembly including a rotatable threaded spindle that extends parallel to the longitudinal direction, and that is engaged in a screw-type manner with a threaded nut, the threaded nut being a component of the second assembly; the first assembly also includes an electric motor that is connected to the threaded spindle in a rotationally driving manner, and the rotational axis of which extends parallel to the threaded spindle; the first assembly includes a single-pieced, first body. The threaded spindle and the electric motor are located next to one another in the region of the first body, the electric motor extending along a first longitudinal section of the first body, while a first rolling surface for the rolling elements extends across a second longitudinal section—which differs from the first longitudinal section—of the first body; the threaded spindle extends over the first longitudinal section and at least in sections over the second longitudinal section of the first body, and the rolling elements are capable of circulating endlessly in the first assembly.
US08402848B2 Probe holder
A probe holder has a manipulator, a probe arm arranged on the manipulator, and a probe needle that is at least indirectly connected to the probe arm. To increase the number of contacts of a substrate to be tested and to make it possible to test a plurality of contacts in etched trenches of semiconductor elements in a group of wafers, the probe arm is connected to a needle support on which the probe needle and at least one second probe needle are arranged.
US08402845B2 Dual path gas distribution device
An apparatus for deploying two fluids separately into a reaction chamber is provided. The apparatus includes a first distribution network that is formed on a plate having a distribution face and a dispensing face. The first distribution network is defined by a plurality of recessed channels on the distribution face. The plurality of recessed channels includes a plurality of thru-ports that extend from the plurality of recessed channels to the dispensing face. The apparatus further includes a second distribution network that has passages formed below the plurality of recessed channels and above the dispensing face. A first set of ports extends from the passages to the distribution face and a second set of ports extends from a top surface of the distribution face to the dispensing face.
US08402843B2 Dissolution actuated sample container
A sample collection vial and process of using a vial is provided. The sample collection vial has an opening secured by a dissolvable plug. When dissolved, liquids may enter into the interior of the collection vial passing along one or more edges of a dissolvable blocking member. As the blocking member is dissolved, a spring actuated closure is directed towards the opening of the vial which, when engaged, secures the vial contents against loss or contamination.
US08402840B2 Ultrasonic fluid flow meter housing with acoustically matched base
A device for sensing fluid flow within a pipe, which pipe has a pipe wall, is provided. The device includes a sensor housing and a fluid flow meter. The sensor housing includes at least one pressure vessel enclosure and hardware for mounting the enclosure on an exterior surface of the pipe wall. The enclosure includes a base, side walls, and a cap. The enclosure base has a pipe-side surface that mates with the exterior surface of the pipe wall. The enclosure base and the pipe wall have substantially similar resonant frequencies and acoustic impedance. The sensor housing is adapted to be attached to the pipe wall such that the pipe-side surface of the base is mated with the exterior surface of the pipe wall. The fluid flow meter includes a plurality of ultrasonic sensors disposed within the at least one pressure vessel enclosure. Each sensor has a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitters are adapted to transmit signals at one or more frequencies, including frequencies that are substantially equal to the resonant frequencies of the base and pipe wall.
US08402839B2 Jig for compression test in a heating furnace
Provided is a jig for a compression test in a heating furnace capable of variously changing boundary conditions such as a both-end hinge, a both-end fixing, or one-end hinge and one-end fixing through simple attachment and detachment of a holder. Therefore, it is possible to easily implement hinge and fixing conditions of a test sample installed in a heating furnace using one jig, remarkably reducing time and cost consumed to install the test sample.
US08402834B1 Fiber optic pressure sensor based on differential signaling
A temperature correcting pressure gauge which has a substrate having at least one surface coupled to a source of pressure to be measured, the substrate first surface having a first fiber Bragg grating from a first optical fiber attached in an appropriately sensitive region of the substrate, a fiber Bragg grating from a second optical fiber attached to the opposite surface from the first fiber Bragg grating, the first and second fiber Bragg gratings reflecting or transmitting optical energy of decreasing or increasing wavelength, respectively, in response to an applied pressure. The first and second fiber Bragg gratings have nominal operating wavelength ranges that are adjacent to each other but are exclusive ranges and the fiber Bragg gratings also have closely matched pressure coefficients and temperature coefficients.
US08402833B2 Stepper motor gauge
A gauge includes a housing and a fitting having an inlet, an internal flow path, and an outlet. A sensor is in fluidic communication with the internal flow path and measures a characteristic of a fluid in the flow path. A control unit is in electrical communication with the pressure sensor, receives an output from the pressure sensor and generates a command based on the output received. A stepper motor has a rotor shaft with an indicator needle operatively connected thereto, and is in electrical communication with the control unit. A power supply is in electrical communication with the pressure sensor, the motor and the control unit for supplying power thereto. The control unit transmits the command to the stepper motor, which receives the command from the control unit and drives the rotor shaft according to the command, displaying the sensed characteristic via the needle.
US08402827B2 Sensor element and method for operating a sensor element
A sensor element, in particular a multichannel acceleration sensor having a substrate and a seismic mass, the sensor element having a detecting element for detecting a deflection of the seismic mass relative to the substrate, and the sensor element having an excitation element for exciting a deflection of the seismic mass perpendicular to the main extension plane.
US08402806B2 Installation/processing systems and methods of using the same
Installation/processing tools may be used to install one or more expandable structures in a workpiece. An installation/processing tool may include an expansion mandrel, a processing tool, and an expansion assembly having an expansion jaw movable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. An expandable portion of the expansion jaw is sized to fit within a passageway of an expandable member. When the mandrel is moved through the expansion assembly, the expansion jaw is moved between the collapsed and expanded configurations to cause expansion of the expandable member. The installation/processing tool can also be used to cold work a workpiece.
US08402796B2 Laundry machine having first and second laundry treating spaces
A laundry machine includes a first laundry treatment apparatus, second laundry treatment apparatus including an air supply unit, a first course selection part for a user to select a treating course for the first laundry treatment apparatus, and a second course selection part provided together with the first course selection part, the second course selection part for the user to select a treating course for the second laundry treatment apparatus.
US08402791B2 Microchannel plate and process for producing the same
A method of manufacturing microchannel plate according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a first step of fabricating a multifiber having a polygonal cross-section by bundling a plurality of fibers; a second step of fabricating a microchannel plate base material by use of a plurality of the multifibers; and a third step of fabricating a microchannel plate out of the microchannel plate base material. The plurality of fibers include: a first fiber whose predetermined-thickness outer circumferential part surrounding a center part including a core is formed of a predetermined-component glass material; and a second fiber whose both center part including a core and outer circumferential part surrounding the same are formed of the predetermined-component glass material. The second fiber is arranged at, at least, one corner of a polygonal cross-section of the multifiber.
US08402785B2 Method and apparatus for measuring surface shape profile
An apparatus for measuring a shape profile of a surface of a sheet of material includes a light source for providing a light beam to be directed at the surface of the sheet of material, a linear translation stage coupled to the light source for translating the light source over the surface of the sheet of material such that the light beam, when directed at the surface, is incident on the surface at multiple positions and produces a reflected light beam at each of the multiple positions, a plurality of light receivers located at predetermined positions for selectively intercepting the reflected light beam produced at each of the multiple positions, a data acquisition device configured to receive information related to position difference between the light source and a selected one of the plurality of light receivers intercepting the reflected light beam produced at each of the multiple positions, and a data analysis device configured to correlate the position difference information to a shape profile of the surface of the sheet of material.
US08402780B2 Oil return for a direct exchange geothermal heat pump
A heating/cooling system design enabling one to maintain a superheat level of more than 1 degree F. and up to 10 degrees F., incorporating a specially designed accumulator, optional special oil return means, a specially designed receiver, and, when utilized in a DX geothermal system application, a preferable sub-surface liquid refrigerant transport line insulation design, as well as a design enabling the utilization of at least two compressors to increase heat transfer temperature differentials together with special oil separators.
US08402776B2 Thermal management system with dual mode coolant loops
A dual mode, thermal management system for use in a vehicle is provided. At a minimum, the system includes a first coolant loop in thermal communication with a battery system, a second coolant loop in thermal communication with at least one drive train component (e.g., electric motor, power electronics, inverter), a dual mode valve system that provides means for selecting between a first mode where the two coolant loops operate in parallel and a second mode where the two coolant loops operate in series, and a coolant reservoir that is coupled to both coolant loops when the two coolant loops are operating in series and only coupled to the drive train coolant loop when the two coolant loops are operating in parallel.
US08402769B2 Casing of a gas turbine engine having a radial spoke with a flow guiding element
A section of a gas turbine engine including a radial spoke is provided. The spoke includes an aerodynamic shape with a leading side and a trailing side and, extending from the leading side to the trailing side, a first side and a second side, opposite the first side. The spoke also includes at least one flow guiding element arranged on at least the first side.
US08402768B2 Reheat burner injection system
The disclosure relates to a burner for a combustion chamber of a gas turbine, with an injection device for the introduction of at least one gaseous and/or liquid fuel into the burner, wherein the injection device has at least one body which is arranged in the burner with at least one nozzle for introducing the at least one fuel into the burner, the at least one body being configured as a streamlined body which has a streamlined cross-sectional profile and which extends with a longitudinal direction perpendicularly or at an inclination to a main flow direction prevailing in the burner. The at least one nozzle has its outlet orifice at or in a trailing edge of the streamlined body, and with reference to a central plane of the streamlined body, the trailing edge is provided with at least two lobes extending in opposite transverse directions.
US08402763B2 Combustor headend guide vanes to reduce flow maldistribution into multi-nozzle arrangement
A combustor for a gas turbine includes a plurality of nozzles provided in an array; a baffle plate configured to provide a desired air flow distribution to the array of nozzles; and a casing comprising a plurality of holes in an outer surface. The casing extends from a headend of the combustor to the baffle plate. A method of distributing an air flow in a combustor of a gas turbine includes providing an air flow to the outer surface of the casing; directing the air flow around the baffle plate; and distributing the air flow through the baffle plate to the array of nozzles.
US08402761B2 Step-less hydrostatic gear box for rotary movement SLGB
A hydrostatic system for step less rotary movement transmission having two hydrostatic motors with radial pistons connected in a push-pull configuration, an oil distribution system and a system for elimination of air and other volatile substances from the working spaces. The input of the gear box is connected to the engine and the output is connected to the external load. In this push-pull configuration of both hydrostatic motors, the stators of both hydrostatic motors are the active part of the gear box, while rotors of both hydrostatic motors are the passive part of the system. Additionally, the hydrostatic system has both hydrostatic motors having the same rotary speed but moving in the opposite direction. While the first stator is connected to the engine, the common driven shaft of the both hydrostatic motors is connected to the external load on the output of the system.
US08402757B2 Waste heat control apparatus
The waste heat control apparatus is used in a heat recovery system for recovering and reusing waste heat of an engine. The waste heat control apparatus includes a plurality of waste heat amount adjusting sections activated to increase an amount of the waste heat of the engine, and a control section which performs waste heat control in accordance with a heat utilization demand to increase the amount of the waste heat of the engine by activating at least one of the plurality of waste heat amount adjusting sections.
US08402753B2 Exhaust gas purification system for an internal combustion engine
This invention is to reduce NOx occluded in a NOx catalyst in a more appropriate manner. In this invention, in case where an amount of NOx occluded when an execution condition for NOx reduction control holds is more than a predetermined amount of occlusion, NOx reduction control is performed by lowering the O2 concentration of the exhaust gas by means of said O2 concentration lowering means and at the same time supplying a reducing agent to the NOx catalyst by a reducing agent supplying means. In addition, in case where the amount of NOx occluded when the execution condition for NOx reduction control holds is equal to or less than the predetermined amount of occlusion, NOx reduction control is executed by supplying the reducing agent to the NOx catalyst by the reducing agent supplying means without lowering the O2 concentration of the exhaust gas by the O2 concentration lowering means.
US08402752B2 Injector mounting structure
The present invention has its object to suppress heat transfer from an adapter 19 to an injector 11 so as to ensure a high level of reliability of the injector 11 over a long time. In a mounting structure for an injector 11 fitted at a mixing pipe 9B (exhaust passage) via an adapter 19 for addition of urea water into exhaust gas 3, an inner surface of the adapter 19 to be exposed to the flow of the exhaust gas 3 is shielded by a heat-resisting plate 22 to interpose a heat insulating layer 23 between the plate 22 and the inner surface.
US08402742B2 Gas turbine engine systems involving tip fans
Gas turbine engine systems involving tip fans are provided. In this regard, a representative gas turbine engine system includes: a multi-stage fan having a first rotatable set of blades and a second counter-rotatable set of blades, the second rotatable set of blades defining an inner fan and a tip fan and being located downstream of the first set of rotatable blades; and an epicyclic differential gear assembly operative to receive a torque input and differentially apply the torque input to the first set of blades and the second set of blades.
US08402739B2 Variable shape inlet section for a nacelle assembly of a gas turbine engine
A nacelle assembly includes an inlet section having a plurality of discrete sections. Each of the plurality of discrete sections includes an adaptive structure. A thickness of each of the plurality of discrete sections is selectively adjustable between a first position and a second position to influence the adaptive structure of each of the plurality of discrete sections.
US08402737B2 Inlet system for an EGR system
An embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a system that may recirculate a portion of the exhaust of at least one turbomachine where it may be mixed with the inlet air and re-enter the turbomachine without affecting reliability and availability of the unit. An embodiment of the present invention provides an inlet system for an exhaust gas recirculation system. This inlet system may take a variety of forms and may optimize the direction that the portion of the recirculated exhaust stream flows within the inlet system.
US08402716B2 Encapsulated composit fibrous aerogel spacer assembly
An insulating spacer for creating a thermally insulating bridge between spaced apart panes of a multiple pane window unit comprises in one embodiment, a solid fiber-stabilized aerogel insulation material, hardened with a desiccant-impregnated hot melt adhesive. The spacer defines a thermally insulated space between the panes. Several embodiments of the insulating spacer of the present invention are disclosed. Insulated glass units using the disclosed insulating spacers and windows employing these insulated glass units have significantly better thermal performance than prior art insulated glass units and windows.
US08402715B2 Building panel in particular for wall covering and method for the production thereof
A structural member (100), particularly for lightweight construction, is described, comprising a two-dimensional extent, and a plurality of adjacent arranged hollow shaped elements (11, 11A) extending across the two-dimensional extent of the structural member, wherein the hollow shaped elements (11, 11A) each have a continuous peripheral side wall (12) and the adjacent hollow shaped elements are connected to each other at their side walls, and wherein two structural spacing parts (15,16), which extend in parallel to the two-dimensional extent of the structural member and form arrangements of the hollow shaped elements (11, 11A), wherein each of the structural spacing parts (15, 16) has a base layer (13, 14) on which the hollow shaped elements (11, 11A) belonging to this structural spacing part (15, 16) are arranged at mutual intervals, and the structural spacing parts (15, 16) are arranged in opposite orientation so that the hollow shaped elements (11, 11A) of the first structural spacing part (15) protrude into the spaces between the hollow shaped elements (11, 11A) of the other structural spacing part (15). Furthermore, a method of manufacturing the structural member is described.
US08402711B2 Multistable shape-shifting surfaces
Multistable shape-shifting surfaces that retain their effectiveness as physical barriers while undergoing changes in shape and that can remain stable in the various shapes. The shape changes include any motion that makes the surface more effective at performing its function, such as expansion, shrinkage, twisting, encircling, wiggling, swallowing or constricting. The shape-shifting surfaces include tiled arrays of polygonal cells, each cell including specifically-designed compliant flexures attached to specifically-shaped overlapping thin plates or shells. The surfaces remain stable by leveraging them during deformation to an extent that they cannot spontaneously return to the unstressed shape. Applications for such surfaces include micro-scale cellular engineering and macro-scale biomedical applications, recreational uses, national security, and environmental protection.
US08402708B2 Modular blocks and structures made therefrom
A modular block apparatus including a block having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a generally cylindrical core passage extending between the top and bottom surfaces, and a locking assembly received in the core passage including a core having a through-bore extending therethrough defining alternating core grooves and lands, a locking rod having an array of alternating rod grooves and lands complementary to the core grooves and lands, and a rod key positioned between the locking rod and the core for retaining the locking rod in engagement with the core.
US08402705B2 Building façade structure with joined pultruded elements
A building element includes a glass panel defining an outer circumferential rim including at least two rectilinear segments, a first one of which defines a first length and a second one of which defines a second length. The glass panel is made of hardened glass and has a specific coefficient of thermal expansion. The building element further includes a first pultruded element having a length corresponding to the first length, and a second pultruded element having a length corresponding to the second length. The first and second pultruded elements are adhered in a high strength integral adhesion to the hardened glass panel along the first and second rectilinear segments, respectively, and the pultruded elements have a content of reinforcing fibers for providing a coefficient of thermal expansion of the pultruded elements substantially corresponding to the specific coefficient of thermal expansion.
US08402697B1 Gutter cover with rear compound bend
A gutter protection system is disclosed. The system includes a gutter cover having, as viewed in cross-section when the gutter cover is installed, a front section configured for engagement with the rearward-projecting flange of the gutter, a center section covering the gutter, and a rear section configured for engagement with the hanger. The rear section has a novel compound bend configuration.
US08402692B1 Invertible plant pot
A plant pot for growing plants in an inverted orientation is provided. The plant pot comprises a soil chamber for retaining soil, and an open end for filling the soil chamber. An end cover releasably couples to the open end to retain the soil. A base end opposes the open end and comprises an aperture through which a plant is planted. An aperture cover releasably couples to the aperture and comprises an adjustable opening. The adjustable opening encircles the stem of the plant and enlarges as the stem grows.
US08402688B2 Lure
A lure of the present invention comprises a lure body formed as a hollow body by using a transparent material, wherein a plurality of long projections are arranged parallel at predetermined intervals on an inner face of the hollow lure body, a first coloring part is provided on one side face of the long projection, and a second coloring part expressing a color different from the first coloring part is provided on the other side face of the long projection.In the lure of the present invention, the first and second coloring parts provided on the inner face of the lure body can be seen through via the lure body.For example, in the case of viewing the lure from one direction, only the color of the first coloring part can be seen through. On the other hand, in the case of viewing the lure from the other direction, only the color of the second coloring part can be seen through.Since the color of the lure of the present invention can be changed depending on the viewing directions, an excellent fish collecting effect is produced. In addition, the long projections of the lure do not come into contact with a foreign matter at the time of use, so that adhesion of water stain to the first and second coloring parts or peeling off of these coloring parts can be prevented.
US08402686B1 Light emitting fishing teaser
A light emitting fishing teaser with a translucent lure head, an enable terminal, a charging terminal, a ground terminal, an energy source, a control circuit board, a light emitting circuit board, a convex lens formed by an outside surface of the translucent lure head, a leader secured to a fishing line and extending through the cylindrical lure cavity and connecting to a fishing lure, and a lure skirt. A plurality of light emitting fishing teasers disposed on a leader forming a daisy chain of light emitting fishing teasers.
US08402682B2 Bleacher with advertising tunnel
An advertising display system including a bleacher having a seating surface and support beams below the seating surface and defining a primary chamber, and an advertising panel assembly mounted within the primary chamber and defining a secondary chamber. The primary chamber has a first end and a second end and the advertising panel assembly may include an intermediate advertising panel between a first and second advertising panel that define the sides of the secondary chamber. Additionally, a ceiling panel may extend between the top edges of the first and second panels.
US08402674B2 Slippers for dancing, leisure, work, athletics and the like
The slipper has an upper composed of woven material having a warp which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the slipper and a weft which extends normal to the weft. The weft has a larger degree of elasticity than that of the warp. The opening for a wearer's foot is defined by a margin which lacks any means for biasing the margin into contact with a wearer's ankle such that minimal pressure is exerted on the ankle by the margin.
US08402673B2 Method for drying a fibrous web
A method for drying a fibrous web, especially a paper, cardboard or tissue web, the moving web is treated with hot air from a hot air hood in the area of a upstream pre-defined drying zone, and is subsequent carried to the drying zone in a downstream drying cylinder, especially a Yankee-Cylinder, to which an additional hood is allocated and in whose area the fibrous web is dried further. The hot air for the hot air hood allocated to the upstream drying zone is recovered, at least partially, from the exhaust air of the hood allocated to the downstream drying cylinder.
US08402671B1 Measuring assistance device
A device comprising a body, having a cavity extending therethrough from a top surface to a bottom surface, may comprise a massive core enclosed by a cover. A recessed area on the top surface adjacent the cavity extends from the cavity to a perimeter of the body. A designated edge between the cavity and the recessed area is located a predetermined distance from an opposite perimeter. A releasable fastener or clamping device may be provided at the recessed area. A top and bottom post may be coupled together in a center hole in the body, to provide a center post from which to measure. Markings may be provided on the top surface of the body for measuring at an angle from the center. Small grooves may be provided in side surfaces of the body for aligning the device with lines or markings on the floor.
US08402669B2 Articulated arm
An articulated arm CMM comprises a plurality of transfer members, a plurality of articulation members connecting at least two transfer members to each other, a coordinate acquisition member at a distal end, and a base at a proximal end. At least two of the articulation members can include at least one encoder and the at least two encoders can both be enclosed within a single monoblock housing.
US08402658B2 Manufacturing method of compressor pulley
A compressor pulley having a partially cold forged base of improved strength and a bridge of improved strength is easily manufactured. Metal is heated to a predetermined temp and then hot forged into a pulley shape. A piercing step then forms a through hold in a center portion of the pulley. The heated pulley is then cooled to room temperature. Then the pulley is rough guided. A partial cold-forging step forges the base at room temperature. A slot is then pierced in the base portion. During a finishing step, groove working and grinding are performed on a surface of the pulley.
US08402655B2 Method of processing orifice
Disclosed herein is a method for processing an orifice capable of processing recessed portions and orifices, each having a unique hole diameter different from each other, to high positioning accuracy and in a short time.A press includes: a B-axis angle indexing device 3 disposed on a base 2b, the B-axis angle indexing device 3 including a table B; an A-axis angle indexing device 25 disposed on the table B, the A-axis angle indexing device 25 including a table A; a chuck 32 disposed on the table A, the chuck 32 for holding a work; a base Z 6 disposed on a base, the base Z 6 being operable in an axis Z-direction; a base X 8 disposed on the base Z, the base X 8 being operable in an axis X-direction; a punch holding portion 13 disposed on the base X, the punch holding portion 13 being operable vertically in an axis Y-direction; and a plurality of punches 19, 22 held on the punch holding portion in parallel with the axis Z. The press is used to perform a pressing cycle at a desired position by changing a posture of the work and moving the punch in the Z-direction continuously using punches having different leading end diameters and shapes with the work held in the chuck.
US08402648B2 Printed circuit board fabrication method
A printed circuit board includes a through hole constituted by a hole penetrating through the front and rear surfaces of the printed circuit board. A fabrication method of the printed circuit board, includes applying conductive material plating to the inner wall surface of the hole to form a through hole electrically connecting the front and rear surfaces of the printed circuit board, and removing the conductive material plated on the hole inner wall surface at least at a portion between the front and rear surfaces of the printed circuit board is carried out to thereby fabricate a printed circuit board having a through hole electrically isolates the front surface of the printed circuit board from the rear surface thereof.
US08402646B2 Method of manufacturing electronic cards
A method of manufacturing complex electronic cards is provided, each card including an electronic device or assembly formed of a first electronic unit at least partially arranged in a window in a solid bottom layer of the card and a second electronic unit, incorporated in the body of the card, at least partially formed by resin provided on the solid bottom layer. In order to prevent the resin from flowing into a slit between the lateral wall of the window and the second unit inserted therein, a protective film is arranged to cover the edge of the rear face of the first unit and a zone peripheral to the aperture in the solid layer. The electronic device or assembly is first formed and then placed on the bottom solid layer. The protective film is arranged between the two units after or when the electronic device or assembly is formed.
US08402644B2 Method of manufacturing an electronic parts packaging structure
A method of manufacturing an electronic parts packaging structure including the steps of preparing a plurality of sheet-like units each of which is constructed by a first insulating layer, a wiring formed on one surface of the first insulating layer, electronic parts connected to the wiring, a second insulating layer formed on an one surface side of the first insulating layer to cover the electronic parts, and a connecting portion for connecting electrically the wiring, and stacking mutually the units to arrange directions of unit adjacent in a thickness direction alternately oppositely, and bonding the units such that electronic parts of respective units are electrically connected mutually via connecting portions.
US08402642B2 Pocket coil spring structure assembling apparatus
In a pocket coil spring structure assembling apparatus, a row-of-pocket-coil-springs auxiliary feed stock mechanism and a row-of-pocket-coil-springs delivery mechanism are connected together in series so as to form a row-of-pocket-coil-springs supply unit, a plurality of row-of-pocket-coil-springs supply units are disposed on an upstream side with respect to a sealing/cutting mechanism, a control apparatus is allowed to alternatively select a row-of-pocket-coil-springs supply unit to face the sealing/cutting mechanism from the plurality of row-of-pocket-coil-springs supply units, and a row-of-pocket-coil-springs supply unit alternatively selected is moved to face the sealing/cutting mechanism.
US08402632B2 Method for crimping an insert in a support with two superposed panels
A method for crimping an insert to be clinched in a support by means of a placing apparatus having an anvil, in an area where the support comprises superposed first and second panels at a distance from one another, wherein the shank is inserted axially in the support and the anvil is brought up against the distal end of the shank, and the second section is then axially compressed against the anvil to create a securing edge, axial compression of the second section then being continued to create a crimping rim delineating an anchoring groove, in combination with the securing edge, surrounding the second panel, axial compression of the second section then being continued to bring about clamping of the support between the securing head and the securing edge in conjunction with clamping of the second panel between the securing edge and the crimping rim.
US08402628B2 Apparatus, carrier, and method for securing an article for coating processes
An apparatus for securing an article, a carrier including the apparatus, and a method involving the apparatus are disclosed. The apparatus includes a base having a channel and a pivot post, an engagement member for selectively engaging the article, a rotatable actuation member having a pivot feature corresponding to the pivot post, and a positioning member secured to the base. The engagement member is slidably positionable in the channel of the base, the positioning member establishes travel limits for the rotatable actuation member, and the positioning member urges the engagement member toward the article. Rotation of the rotatable actuation member slides the engagement member along the channel of the base, thereby securing the article by the force provided by the positioning member.
US08402615B2 Hook structure and injection molded hook strap including the same
A hook, in a mechanical fastener, includes a hook body having a base, at least one hook arm and a hook body side-curved portion corresponding to the at least one hook arm, the at least one hook arm including a hook end and a neck portion between the hook body and the hook end, the neck portion having an inner curved portion opposing to the hook body side-curved portion. The hook body side-curved portion is defined by a portion of a circumference of a first circle, the inner curved portion of the neck portion is defined by a portion of a circumference of a second circle and the hook end is defined by a portion of a circumference of a third circle.
US08402613B2 Slide fastener
A slide fastener is provided. A pair of coupling elements provided along adjacent edges of a pair of fastener tapes. A slider is configured to engage or separate the pair of coupling elements with or from each other. An end stop is secured to the pair of fastener tapes at an end portion of the pair of coupling elements. The pair of coupling elements are secured to each other at one region of the end portion of the pair of coupling elements. The one region extends between a rear end portion of a diamond of the slider and a base portion of the slider in a state where the base portion of the slider comes in contact with the end stop.
US08402609B2 Self-lock hinge
A self-lock hinge is mounted between a cover and a base of an electronic device and has a resilient sleeve and a pintle. The resilient sleeve has a tubular body with a positioning protrusion formed on an inside wall thereof. The pintle has a rod. The rod is mounted rotatably through the tubular body and has a flat wall selectively abutting the positioning protrusion. When the cover is closed relative to the base, the flat wall of the rod abuts the positioning protrusion to lock the cover. Therefore, the cover is self-locked when closing.
US08402608B2 Hinge
A hinge is mounted between a cover and a base of an electronic device and has a supporting bracket, a rotating bracket, a mounting bracket and a pintle. The supporting bracket is connected to the base, and the rotating bracket is connected to the cover. The mounting bracket is attached to the supporting bracket and has a positioning wing and two sleeves. The pintle is attached to the rotating bracket, is mounted through the mounting bracket and has a flat wall. The flat wall of the pintle selectively abuts against the positioning wing of the mounting bracket to hold the cover at a desired position. The abrasion between the sleeves and the pintle balances torque.
US08402602B2 Accessory unit of a vacuum cleaner
An accessory unit of a vacuum cleaner, alone, with a vacuum cleaner conduit, and with a vacuum cleaner. The accessory unit has a housing, a first tool end, and a second tool end for releasable connection to a vacuum cleaner conduit. The first tool end has a first nozzle for vacuum cleaning, and the second tool end has two pivotable arms for forming second and third nozzles. Each arm has distal and proximal ends. The distal ends are arranged to be brought together for forming the second nozzle, and to be spread apart for forming the third nozzle. Furthermore, the arms are folded together to bring the distal arm ends in vicinity of each other for releasable connection of the second tool end to the vacuum cleaner conduit by at least partial insertion into said vacuum cleaner conduit.
US08402599B2 Vacuum cleaner dirt cup and seal
A dirt cup for a vacuum cleaner including a container, a tube, a lid, a first chamber, a second chamber, and a seal. The container includes an open bottom end. The lid is coupled to the container. The lid includes an aperture that extends through the lid. The lid is movable between a closed position where the lid covers the open bottom end and an open position for emptying the container through the open bottom end. The seal is coupled to the lid and includes a flange and a post that extends from the flange. The post extends into the aperture of the lid to couple the seal to the lid. The seal is positioned between the lid and the tube when the lid is in the closed position to inhibit airflow between the first chamber and the second chamber.
US08402597B2 Steam appliance with motion switch
A steam appliance having a water pump controlled by a motion switch response to movement of the appliance is provided. In one embodiment, a micro-switch is turned ON and OFF by movement of a micro-switch actuator in operative engagement with the towel frame at the base if the appliance. In another embodiment, the actuator is operatively connected to a mechanical pump to activate the pump. The motor switch or actuator will be displaced whenever the unit is moved by a user, thus causing the pump to pump water to the boiler. Steam is then fed to a steam pad that may have a replaceable fabric pad fit snugly on the frame to distribute clean steam to a surface to be steamed.
US08402588B2 Multi-layer surface treatment pad for motorized device
A multi-layer surface treating pad is disclosed. It has an upper layer suitable to serve as one part of a hook/loop type fastener system, a bottom layer which comprises an abrasive or polishing material, and a cleaning or other surface treating formulation positioned between the upper and bottom layer in the form of a bump which is positioned mostly in a central region of the pad. The bump of the formulation causes the upper layer to bulge upwardly so as to provide a visual indication as to where one optimally should attach a motorized device thereto.
US08402583B1 Multipurpose health care professional tool assembly
A multipurpose health care professional tool assembly for providing in one convenient package the specific tools used on a daily basis by health care professionals includes a housing having a top face, a front slot and a rear slot. A calculator is positioned on the top face of the housing. A light is coupled to the housing. A pen is provided having a connection end and a writing end. The connection end is pivotally coupled to the housing in the rear slot such that the pen is extendable from the rear slot of the housing to facilitate writing using the pen. A hemostat tool is pivotally coupled to the housing and extendable from the front slot into a use position.
US08402582B2 Air mattress
An air mattress is provided. The air mattress may comprises: a top sheet and a bottom sheet, the top and bottom sheets being made of a flexible airtight material and being connected to form an airtight inflatable compartment; and at least one vertical connecting unit, being disposed within the compartment, wherein the vertical connecting units are attached to respective inner surfaces of the top and bottom sheets to form connecting areas. The air mattress may also comprise a side sheet and at least one horizontal connecting unit.
US08402579B2 Climate controlled beds and methods of operating the same
A climate controlled seat, bed or other assembly configured to receive a person includes a blower and two or more thermoelectric devices or other conditioning fluid modules. According to one embodiment of an operational scheme, a control system for the seat or bed is configured to continuously discharge air from the blower through the thermoelectric devices. In one arrangement, the thermoelectric devices are sequenced between an activated and a deactivated position. Consequently, the desired cooling and/or cooling effect can be maintained while reducing energy consumption of the climate control system.
US08402576B2 Universal patient lifting frame
The invention relates to a patient lifting frame for use with an invalid hoist for lifting and supporting an invalid patient. Such a lifting frame can be used in conjunction with a wheeled or overhead mechanical or electrical hoist unit, to assist nursing staff, healthcare staff or carers in lifting and moving disabled patients. This lifting frame may also be used in many different areas to carry able bodied people in safety for operations such as air sea rescue service.
US08402574B2 Bath
A bath has a drain outlet at the end of the bath which is also that end designed to be the most comfortable for reclining against by a user. The bath may also comprise a removable cover having one part which when the cover is in place in the bath fits over the drain outlet and is substantially flush with the floor of the bath and another part which extends up an adjacent wall section of the bath substantially to a rim of the bath, for assisting in supporting a person sitting in the bath over or adjacent the drain outlet and reclining against the wall of the bath.
US08402573B2 Toilet unit for use in a supine position
A toilet unit for use in a supine position comprises: a substantially oblong support casing formed in a substantially boat shape; and a treating body housed in the support casing and formed in a substantially T-shape by a urination and defecation container, serving as a lateral casing, of which the inside is formed a boat shape and a washing nozzle retainer, serving as a vertical casing, which stands upright on the downstream side of the urination and defecation container, wherein a head section of the urination and defecation container is provided with an injection nozzle for crushing stools of a patient, the washing nozzle retainer is provided with a washing nozzle and a bidet nozzle, and a domed cover body for covering the private parts of the patient is pivotally provided to be openable and closable at an upper edge of the washing nozzle retainer.
US08402571B1 Toilet seat handle
A handle mechanism for lifting a toilet seat and its cover. The handle mechanism is affixed to the toilet seat cover, and selectively engages the toilet seat to lift the cover and the seat individually or together. Because the handle mechanism is affixed to the front of the cover, when the toilet is being used, with the seat up or down, the handle mechanism is well away from the toilet, such that the handle mechanism remains clean and sanitary.
US08402570B2 Discharge device, in particular toilet flusher, having a tank that can be coupled
A toilet freshener for releasing a preparation into a toilet bowl includes a dispenser, at least one container couplable with the dispenser for storing the preparation, a release element for releasing preparation into the toilet bowl and connected in communicating manner to the container via a line so that the bottom of the container is arranged above the release orifice of the release element in the direction of gravity, such that a difference in level is formed between the bottom of the container and the release orifice of the release element, and a pin connected to the line, which interacts with the couplable container such that, during coupling of the container with the dispenser, the pin displaces a volume of preparation in the container, whereby a pressure is produced in the container, which pressure conveys the preparation over the difference in level into the line.
US08402565B1 Zippered pant system
A zippered pant system for providing a user easy access to his/her legs or knees featuring a pair of pants having a first leg, a second leg, a waist opening, and a front opening region; and a zipper disposed in at least the first leg and the second leg of the pair of pants, the zipper has a first end and a second end wherein the first end is positioned at a bottom edge of the first leg and the second leg of the pair of pants, the zipper can be unzipped upwardly. The zipper may be positioned along the inseam of the first and second leg of the pair of pants up to the middle, of the thigh.
US08407809B2 Delivery of non-permanent media files to a mobile station
A media file content provider 30 sends a non-permanent copy of a media file, such as a music or video file, to a second mobile station MS 34 in response to a request from a first MS 22. The copy may be rendered non-permanent by streaming it, by encrypting it, and by appending a first instruction to automatically delete it after playing. The first MS 22 may be given an option of delivery pathways, such as cellular 76, 78, WLAN 80, or DVB-H 84. After playing, an offer is made to the second MS 34 to purchase a permanent copy of the media file. If accepted, the content provider may provide another copy of the media file, or preferably a permanent decryption key or a second instruction that defeats the first instruction prior to its deletion of the media file.
US08407806B2 Digital data distribution detection, deterrence and disablement system and method
A method of distributing a data over a network includes protecting the data as a protected document by encryption and watermarking, controlling access to the protected document based on permissions, checking for permissions from a database, recording a record of the step of checking in the database, and accessing the protected document if allowed per permissions from the step of checking. The method collects a so-called “document thread” indicating a fingerprint of the first accessor of the data and the distributions and uses subsequently made of the data. The method is operable via a web page interface, such as through a browser of a device of the network communicatively connected to a web server of a data center. The method is alternately operable atop a document/data management system, including a client device application of a device of the network communicatively connected to the document/data management system. The method provides detection and log of the protected data in each event of access by the device over the network, deterrence of inappropriate access to the protected data by the device through policies for the document and device and event recordation on access, and disablement of the protected data for access by the device if access is not permissible per the method.
US08407804B2 System and method of whitelisting parent virtual images
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for virtual machine scan optimization. In response to a change in the primary virtual machine, the virtual machine scan optimization may involve comparing the primary virtual machine to the related virtual machine and tracking changes of the primary virtual machine with respect to the related virtual machine wherein the changes are identified by location within the primary virtual machine; forming a tracked changes log; generating a relevant file map of the primary virtual machine wherein the relevant file map includes a plurality of relevant files and each of the plurality of relevant files' locations in the primary virtual machine; comparing the changed locations identified in the track changes log with the locations of the plurality of relevant files to determine if any one of the plurality of relevant files has been changed; and in the event that a relevant file has been changed, as indicated by the comparison of the relevant file map to the tracked changes log, causing the changed relevant file to be security scanned.
US08407800B2 Method for software vulnerability flow analysis, generation of vulnerability-covering code, and multi-generation of functionally-equivalent code
A method for detecting, analyzing, and mitigating vulnerabilities in software is provided. The method includes determining whether one or more vulnerabilities are present in one or more target software components, determining whether any detected vulnerabilities are fixable, and fixing the detected vulnerabilities that are fixable in code or in associated models used to generate code. A vulnerability-covering code is generated when one or more of the detected vulnerabilities are not fixable. A determination is then made whether there are any remaining vulnerabilities in the vulnerability-covering code. A vulnerability-aware diverse code is generated when there are one or more remaining vulnerabilities to obfuscate the remaining vulnerabilities.
US08407796B2 Computer virus screening methods and systems
A method includes receiving a status update from a client device, the status update reflects at least one change associated with the client device, updating a model of the client device based on the status update, receiving data to be screened for a virus, the data is received after an updating of the model of the client device, and screening the model of the client device for the virus. Systems and articles of manufacture are also disclosed.
US08407790B2 Low-latency detection of scripting-language-based exploits
Systems and methods for protecting client computers are described. One method includes receiving webpage data at a proxy from a webpage before the data reaches an intended recipient; gathering scripting-language-data from the webpage data; normalizing the scripting-language-data so as to generate normalized data; emulating execution of the normalized scripting-language-data with a inspection-point-script-execution engine that that is adapted to provide inspection points instead of effectuating particular functions, and determining whether to block the data from the intended recipient by analyzing inspection-data collected from the inspection points.
US08407788B2 Methods and systems for implementing a self defending/repairing database
This disclosure describes, generally, methods and systems for self defending and repairing a database. The method includes monitoring, at a database server, code modifications to a database management application. The database management application is configured to maintain the database. The method further includes determining that a code modification has occurred to the database management application. The method further includes checking the code modification for the presence of an authorization key, and in response to an invalid or non-existent authorization key, determining that the code modification is unauthorized. Further, the method includes quarantining the modified code in a secure storage location, and automatically accessing original code of the database management application and replacing the modified code with code from the original code of the database management application.
US08407785B2 Systems, methods, and media protecting a digital data processing device from attack
In accordance with some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, systems, methods, and media for protecting a digital data processing device from attack are provided. For example, in some embodiments, a method for protecting a digital data processing device from attack is provided, that includes, within a virtual environment: receiving at least one attachment to an electronic mail; and executing the at least one attachment; and based on the execution of the at least one attachment, determining whether anomalous behavior occurs.
US08407774B2 Cloud authentication processing and verification
A method and system for the identification of a user is provided, the system having: an enrollment processor, whereby initial login attempts by the user are measured, and data identifying the user are collected for a specific device and location; the enrollment processor being configured to collect the identifying data and create a first login score, a iterative average login score, and a iterative standard deviation login score; an enrolled login processor, the enrolled login processor being configured to measure dwell time on keys and flight time between keys in a login sequence and to calculate weighted dwell time and weighted flight time from the dwell time and the flight time; a login score calculator, the calculator taking the weighted flight time and the weighted dwell time and generating an actual login score; a login confidence comparator, the login confidence comparator comprising a processor whereby a comparison score is generated as a function of the actual login score, the iterative average login score, and the iterative standard deviation login score.
US08407771B1 Method and system for providing persistence in a secure network access
A system and method for providing persistence in a secure network access by using a client certificate sent by a client device to maintain the identity of a target. A security handshake is performed with a client device to establish a secure session. A target is determined. A client certificate is associated with the target. During subsequent secure sessions, the client certificate is used to maintain persistent communications between the client and a target. A session ID can be used in combination with the client certificate, by identifying the target based on the session ID or the client certificate, depending on which one is available in a client message.
US08407759B1 Device, method, and system for secure mobile data storage
A device, method, and system for secure mobile data storage includes a mobile data storage device having a short-range communication circuit, a long-range communication circuit, and a data storage for storing data. The mobile data storage device is used to store data used by a paired mobile communication device. The mobile data storage device and the mobile communication device communicate control signals over a wireless control link established using the short-range communication circuit and data over a wireless data link, different from the wireless control link, established using the long-range communication circuit. The mobile data storage device and/or mobile communication device may monitor a distance between the devices and perform a security function in response the devices being separated from each other. The mobile data storage device may backup data on a remote data server and/or repopulate data from the remote data server using the mobile communication device.
US08407750B2 Enabling users of peer to peer clients to socially interact while viewing videos
Embodiments of the present invention pertain to enabling users of peer to peer clients to socially interact while viewing videos. According to one embodiment, a first client and a second client are physically remote from each other. A first video and a second video are for the same show but are in different formats. The first client accesses the first video and the second client accesses the second video. The users of the first client and the second client are enabled to socially interact with each other using peer to peer communications between the first client and the second client.
US08407748B2 Image processing apparatus, control method thereof
An image processing apparatus includes a reception unit configured to receive a transmission request of information on a directory for managing contents from a display apparatus, a transmission unit configured to transmit a response to the transmission request received by the reception unit, and a notification unit configured to notify the display apparatus of a change in a predetermined directory, thereby causing the display apparatus to transmit a transmission request of information on the predetermined directory again. When a new directory is formed on the same layer as that of the directory for managing the contents as a result of addition of the contents in the storage medium, the notification unit notifies the display apparatus of a change in a directory located on a layer above the directory for managing the contents.
US08407746B2 Wireless digital video recorders—content sharing systems and methods
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods for distributing media content between portable media devices with digital rights management protections. Offering several applications in the technical arts, embodiments of the present invention provide methods for managing distribution of media content between portable media devices. Further, embodiments of the present invention provide methods for easy and effective transmission of media content between portable media devices.
US08407737B1 Systems and methods for providing a scan transport bar
A scan transport bar is disclosed. The scan transport bar includes a number of cells indicating programs within the scan. The scan transport bar is displayed with the currently-tuned program. The scan transport bar includes tuning sequence numbers for allowing users to easily tune to programs within the scan. A countdown timer is also provided that indicates the amount of time until the next tune in the scan.
US08407725B2 Proteins, pools, and slawx in processing environments
Embodiments described herein include mechanisms for encapsulating data that needs to be shared between or across processes. These mechanisms include slawx (plural of “slaw”), proteins, and pools. Generally, slawx provide the lowest-level of data definition for inter-process exchange, proteins provide mid-level structure and hooks for querying and filtering, and pools provide for high-level organization and access semantics. Slawx includes a mechanism for efficient, platform-independent data representation and access. Proteins provide a data encapsulation and transport scheme using slawx as the payload. Pools provide structured and flexible aggregation, ordering, filtering, and distribution of proteins within a process, among local processes, across a network between remote or distributed processes, and via longer term (e.g. on-disk, etc.) storage.
US08407713B2 Infrastructure of data summarization including light programs and helper steps
A method of summarizing data includes providing a multi-method summarization program including instructions for summarizing data for a transaction processing system. At least one functional aspect of the transaction processing system for which a summarization of a subset of the data is desired is determined. The functional subset to a user as a light summarization program is exposed. The dependencies of the functional subset can be enforced at runtime allowing packaging flexibility. A method for efficient parallel processing involving not necessarily filled requests for help.
US08407703B1 Quiensce termination/suspension in a multithreaded enviroment
In response to the detection of an external event by the first thread, the first thread sends a quiesce event to each additional thread of the application and suspends execution. The quiesce event may be either a suspension event requesting suspension of the additional threads or a termination event requesting termination of the additional threads. Each additional thread, upon receiving the quiesce event, checks its environment to determine whether it is holding any critical system resource. If the additional thread determines that is not holding any critical system resource and that it is therefore safe to quiesce, the additional thread quiesces. Before quiescing, the last additional thread to quiesce resumes the first thread, which is now free to perform critical operations without interference from the additional threads. If the quiesce type is suspension, the first thread resumes the additional threads upon completing its critical operations, whereupon the application resumes its normal operation.
US08407695B2 Control device setting method and program
Execution is provided of at least: the first processing for making the installer software store the group information that relates to information which classifies a plurality of apparatuses into groups and specifies the apparatuses belonging to each group or the address information indicating the location storing this group information, at the time of building the installer software for installing the universal control software that provides universal control of a plurality of the apparatuses; the second processing for notifying about the group information or address information to prompt the group setting of a plurality of the apparatuses when installing the universal control software using installer software; and the third processing for selecting an apparatus as the object of control from among the apparatuses specified by group information acquired from the storage location having been notified or specified by the address information, when universal control software is executed.
US08407693B2 Managing package dependencies
A technique for managing package dependencies for an application installation. A set of used files for the application and a package for a respective file in the set of used files are identified, and names of the identified packages are added to an original package list of package names for the application, wherein the original package list defines package dependencies. Responsive to a determination that the identified packages can be located, that the files within the identified packages can be found, and that the files within the identified packages were used, the original list of package names for the application is updated to form an updated list of managed package dependencies. A difference list between the updated list and the original list of package names is created, and the application is selectively installed using a combination of the original list of package names and the difference list.
US08407689B2 Updating nodes considering service model constraints
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for deploying an update to nodes propagated throughout a data center are provided. Launching new upgrade to hosting environment residing on the nodes typically invokes a mechanism (e.g., fabric controller) to form a group of nodes that are independent of one another with respect to upgrade domains, which are assigned to tenants (e.g., program components of service applications running within the data center) presently hosted by the nodes. The constraints of the update domains are articulated by service level agreements established for the service applications, respectively. Forming the group involves identifying independent nodes for membership, where no two members of the group host analogous tenants (belonging to a common service application) that are assigned to distinct update domains. However, it is acceptable to join to the group those nodes hosting analogous tenants that are each assigned to the same update domain.
US08407687B2 Non-invasive automatic offsite patch fingerprinting and updating system and method
Methods, systems, and configured storage media are provided for discovering software updates, discovering if a given computer can use the software update, and then updating the computers with the software as needed automatically across a network without storing the updates on an intermediate machine within the network. Furthermore, when a failure is detected, the rollout is stopped and the software can be automatically removed from those computers that already were updated. The software update can be stored originally at an address that is inaccessible through the network firewall by intermediately uploading the software update to an update computer which is not a part of the network but has access through the firewall, which is then used to distribute the update.
US08407686B2 Method and system for problem notification and processing
A notification of a problem associated with an application may be received. A difference may be determined between a problem version of the application and an operational version of the application to identify a change associated with the problem. A person associated with the change may be determined. A task of resolving the problem may be assigned to the person associated with the change. A person may be notified of the problem and of the assigning of the task based on the identified change. A modification may be performed to resolve the problem associated with the change based on the determining of the difference.
US08407682B2 Software and method that enables selection of one of a plurality of online service providers
Software stored on a computer-readable storage medium at a user station provides a plurality of functions including an online service selector function that enables a user at the user station to select any one of a plurality of available online service providers, and a communications function that establishes a communication link between the user station and the selected one of the available online service providers. Corresponding methods for operating a user station are also described.
US08407681B2 System and method for changing variables at runtime
A system and associated method for changing the initial size of a variable where intermediate code contains a static method class which in turn contains the initial size of variable. Comparing a statistic with the initial size of the variable, the statistic being derived from all current instances of the variable contained in located in dynamic memory, the comparing being performed in response to an event having occurred. Then modifying the initial size of the variable located in the intermediate code. The modification being in such a way as to change the initial size of variable in dependence of the statistic and all current instances of the variable located in the dynamic memory. Finally, repeating the comparing and changing steps for all variables contained in the dynamic memory.
US08407662B2 Apparatus and method for network driver injection into target image
A method provides network driver injection into a target image to transform the target image to be compatible with one or more source machines, for facilitating operating system streaming over a network. The method may include: facilitating access to a source system registry file of a source machine; facilitating access to a target system registry file of the target image, without copying the target image; determining whether source network interface cards of the source machine are compatible with the target image; and if the source network interface cards are not compatible with the target image, performing network interface driver injection into the target image. The target image may include an operating system. A machine-readable storage medium and apparatus are provided. A method is described for building a program for providing network driver injection into a target image to transform the target image to be compatible with computing machines.
US08407659B2 Method of designing a printed circuit board
In a method of designing a printed circuit board, a package capacitance, a package inductance, and a chip capacitance of an actual memory device are calculated. A signal line capacitance and a signal line inductance per unit length of a signal line are calculated based on characteristics of the printed circuit board. A length of the signal line for each pin is determined based on the package capacitance and the signal line capacitance.
US08407651B2 Optimization for circuit design
Methods for optimizing design parameters of a circuit are disclosed. In one aspect, an optimization problem includes one or more performance specifications that represent an exponent of a design parameter to be optimized. Various parameters of passive and active circuit devices may be efficiently and accurately optimized as a result. In another aspect, linear performance specifications are included for accurately calculating voltages. In yet other aspects of the invention, three special types of convex optimization problems are disclosed for enabling the above use of exponents of design parameters which provide efficient and accurate calculations of a virtually unlimited array of circuit parameters and performance characteristics.
US08407649B2 PLD architecture for flexible placement of IP function blocks
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a hole is formed within an LE array of a PLD by interrupting the LE array base signal routing architecture such that a hole is left for IP function block to be incorporated. An interface region is provided for interfacing the remaining LE array base signal routing architecture to the IP function block.
US08407642B2 Leak current calculation apparatus and method for calculating leak current
A leak current calculation apparatus includes an acquiring section for acquiring partial circuit information, and a grouping section for forming a plurality of groups each comprising a part of the partial circuits connected with each other and for generating group information. The apparatus includes a leak difference value calculating section for calculating a leak difference value, which is a difference between a provisional maximum value acquired by adding up the maximum values of the leak current values of all the partial circuits and a sum of maximum values of the leak current values contained in the group information of the groups, and a maximum leak current calculating section for calculating the maximum leak current value of the integrated circuit by adjusting the provisional maximum value with the leak difference value.
US08407633B2 Dynamically reconfigurable self-monitoring circuit
A method configures a plurality of circuit elements for execution of an application in a first configuration. The method monitors the execution of the application on the plurality of circuit elements to produce monitoring information, using a computerized device, and stores the monitoring information in a storage structure. The method selectively communicates the monitoring information to an external element separate from the computerized device. The external element transforms the first configuration into a second configuration based on the monitoring information. The computerized device receives the second configuration from the external element and reconfigures the plurality of elements into the second configuration.
US08407631B2 Method for enhancing wafer exposure effectiveness and efficiency
The present invention applies the data mining methodology by which the wafer exposure effectiveness and efficiency are predictable in terms of the chip size, chip length and chip width. More specifically, in the present invention, an index, named “Mask-field-utilization weighted Overall Wafer Effectiveness” (MOWE), integrates the two parameters of “Overall Wafer Effectiveness” (OWE) and “Mask-Field-Utilization” (MFU), mainly regarding the wafer exposure effectiveness and efficiency respectively, in order to construct a model tree of the MOWE to achieve the data mining. By the MOWE model tree, the causal relationship between design independent variables and fabrication dependent variables is constructed, which can be accordingly applied as design guidelines in the design phase to improve the chip layout in order to produce a better wafer exposure effectiveness and efficiency.
US08407629B2 Pattern verification-test method, optical image intensity distribution acquisition method, and computer program
A pattern verification-test method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: deriving an illumination condition at a verification-test subject position in a photomask surface of a mask pattern as a verification or a test subject based on the verification-test subject position and illumination condition information about a distribution of an illumination condition in a photomask surface of exposure light incident on the mask pattern, performing lithography simulation on the mask pattern based on the derived illumination condition and the mask pattern, and verifying or testing the mask pattern based on a result of the lithography simulation.
US08407628B2 Photomask manufacturing method and semiconductor device manufacturing method
This invention discloses a photomask manufacturing method. A pattern dimensional map is generated by preparing a photomask in which a mask pattern is formed on a transparent substrate, and measuring a mask in-plane distribution of the pattern dimensions. A transmittance correction coefficient map is generated by dividing a pattern formation region into a plurality of subregions, and determining a transmittance correction coefficient for each of the plurality of subregions. The transmittance correction value of each subregion is calculated on the basis of the pattern dimensional map and the transmittance correction coefficient map. The transmittance of the transparent substrate corresponding to each subregion is changed on the basis of the transmittance correction value.
US08407623B2 Playback control using a touch interface
This is directed to controlling media playback based on particular touch gestures detected by a touch-sensing interface. The electronic device can identify particular touch inputs, such as combinations of tapping and holding a touch sensitive surface, or circular motions. In response to detecting a particular touch gesture, the electronic device can perform a playback operation specifically associated with the detected touch gesture. To provide a consistent user interface with the device, some of the particular touch gestures can match other inputs provided using a button, for example a button integrated on a wired headset. In such an embodiment, the same combination of tapping and holding a touch input and pressing and holding a button can control the same electronic device operations.
US08407622B2 Portable device and method of providing menu icons
A portable device and a method of providing menu icons are provided. The portable device includes a button signal determination unit, a focus location checking unit, a background screen management unit, and an icon management unit. The button signal determination unit determines whether an input button signal is the signal of a function button or the signal of a direction button when the button signal is received from a user. The focus location checking unit determines a location of a focus located on a specific menu icon. The background screen management unit changes the view point of a background screen to a direction in which the focus is moved. The icon management unit changes the size of a menu icon based on the location of the focus.
US08407621B1 Enabling participation in an online community using visual machine-readable symbols
A facility for coordinating an online discussion is described. The facility receives an indication that a user has captured a machine-readable symbol encoding an identifier that identifies a particular online discussion. In response, the facility incorporates into an online forum that hosts this online discussion an indication that this user captured a symbol encoding an identifier that identifies this online discussion.
US08407616B2 Graphical user interfaces and methods for thermography
A graphical user interface facilitates methods for analyzing a temperature distribution across a scene that is captured by a thermal imaging device. Preferably, the interface includes a both a two-dimensional image of the captured scene and a three-dimensional representation of the captured scene. The three-dimensional representation is formed by a plurality of pixels, each of which are coded by a qualitative value from within a range of qualitative values, and each value, within the range, corresponds to a temperature. Each of the plurality of pixels is arranged, in a first and a second dimension of the three dimensions, according to a position of a corresponding pixel of the two-dimensional image, and, in a third dimension, according to a magnitude of the temperature associated therewith.
US08407615B2 Method of displaying and interacting with information on a rotary fabric
A system and method by which menus, displays, charts, maps and pictures may be presented to a user and very quickly seen and used in the context of a larger display without obscuring key elements of that display. Menus or other graphical displays are anchored to the sides of a solid figure, which can be rotated to display the menu panels and other textual and graphical information.
US08407613B2 Directory management on a portable multifunction device
In some embodiments, a portable multifunction device with a touch screen display concurrently displays on the touch screen display a plurality of predefined regions, the predefined regions including: a source region, a command region, and a destination region. In response to detecting a first command association input by a user on the touch screen display, the device associates a first icon from the source region with a first directory management command icon in the command region. In response to detecting a first command performance input that includes selecting a first folder icon in the destination region, the device performs a directory management operation on a folder or file that corresponds to the first icon. The directory management operation is in accordance with the first directory management command icon and the selected first folder in the destination region.
US08407612B2 Pinning of tabs in tab groups
A multi-document application that includes a multi-document interface that includes a view area that displays one document at a time and includes a tab group element that displays tabs, each tab having a control that permits a corresponding document to be visualized in the view area. A user may then designate that one or more of the tabs are to be pinned to thereby have the multi-document application assign a pinned status to the tab. The pinned status may be persisted such that when the multi-document application is closed and reloaded, the pinned status remains. Further, when a tab receives a pinned status, the tab does not display less information regarding the corresponding document as compared to before the tab was pinned.
US08407601B2 Customized user interface
Regulating user interface controls includes identifying a grouping from among different groupings and providing a set of user interface controls corresponding to the identified grouping. The groupings can correspond to the maturity levels (e.g., kids and teenagers) of different network service provider users.
US08407596B2 Media timeline interaction
Media timeline interaction may be provided. An electronic presentation may comprise a media object. A user may select the media object within a presentation application and use an on-object user interface in conjunction with the application's user interface to modify the media object. The user may also display the modified media object within the presentation application.
US08407588B1 Large columnar text file editor
The different advantageous embodiments provide a method for loading and editing text files. A text file is identified as input. A determination is made as to whether the text file is a columnar text file. If the text file is columnar, data information is retrieved for the text file. Pre-defined cache settings are identified. A determination is made as to whether the data information retrieved fits within the pre-defined cache settings. If the data information retrieved fits within the pre-defined cache settings, a determination is made as to whether the first row of the text file is a header row in a view. If the first row of the text file is not a header row, the text file is normalized. A view mode is selected for load and edit operations of the text file.
US08407586B2 Editing apparatus, editing method, and program
An apparatus includes an editing area display unit configured to display a screen including an editing area that enables a user to edit a document, a temporary storage area display unit configured to display a temporary storage area which differs from the editing area and temporarily displays a list of reduced images of editing materials, and a layout editing unit configured to edit the document by adding a material selected from the editing materials displayed in the temporary storage area. When a currently edited document is transferred to a file, a control unit stores a path of a material displayed in the temporary storage area in relation to the document transferred to the file. When a document file stored in relation to the path of a material area is newly opened, the control unit determines whether the newly opened document file is related to the material in the temporary storage area.
US08407577B1 Facilitating access to functionality via displayed information
Techniques are described for facilitating access of computing system users to restricted or other functionality, such as internal functionality of a business or other organization. The functionality access may be facilitated by an access provider system that executes on a client computing system of an authorized user, such as a program operating in conjunction with another presentation program that presents publicly available information by modifying interactions available to the user when using the presentation program or otherwise providing additional information to the user. In some situations, the additional information is provided by temporarily modifying the information being presented by the presentation program, such as to provide additional information that is related to functionality corresponding to a subject area of the currently presented information and/or corresponding to an aspect of the currently presented information that is indicated by the user.
US08407574B2 User interface for accessing presentations
A user interface and methods for accessing document presentations are described herein. In one aspect of the invention, an exemplary method of the invention allows a user to directly snapback to a previous accessed document presentation without having to select from a menu of items or go through the intermediate pages. In this method, when a first document presentation is accessed, a first location of the first document presentation is recorded, automatically or manually. Subsequently, when a sequence of additional document presentations originated from the first document presentation is accessed, in response to a first input, without having to select from a menu of items, the first document presentation is directly retrieved from a recorded first location and displayed in a window. In one particular embodiment, a second document presentation is accessed and a second location of the second document presentation is recorded, where the recordation of the second location resets or supercedes the recordation of the first location. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
US08407571B2 Methods and apparatus for processing a received signal using a multiple-step trellis and selection signals for multiple trellis paths
Methods and apparatus are provided for performing SOVA detection at higher data rates than achievable with conventional designs. A received signal is processed by (i) determining at least three selection signals that define a plurality of paths through a multiple-step trellis into a given state, wherein a first of the plurality of paths is a winning path for each single-step-trellis period of a multiple-step-trellis cycle, a second path is a winning path for a first single-step-trellis period and is a losing path for a second single-step-trellis period of a multiple-step-trellis cycle and a third path is a losing path for a first single-step-trellis period and is a winning path for a second single-step-trellis period of a multiple-step-trellis cycle; and (ii) determining at least one reliability value (such as a reliability value for a bit decision associated with a maximum-likelihood path through the multiple-step trellis or a plurality of reliability values for each multiple-step-trellis cycle).
US08407565B2 System and method for producing importance rate-based rich media, and server applied to the same
Disclosed are a rich media sever, a rich media transmission system, and a rich media transmission method, which are adaptive to network environments. The rich media server includes an interfacing unit for communicating with a terminal, which requests rich media; a media processing unit for processing at least one piece of media corresponding to the request; a rich-media encoding unit for encoding at least one piece of media, which is output from the media processing unit, to produce rich media, and outputting the rich media to the interfacing unit in order to provide the rich media to the terminal; and a controller for determining importance rates of pieces of media constituting the rich media, based on reproduction information of the rich media, and controlling at least one of the media processing unit and the rich-media encoding unit to convert a transmission processing for the at least one piece of media based on the determined importance rates.
US08407562B2 Systems and methods for compressing data in non-volatile semiconductor memory drives
A non-volatile semiconductor memory (NVSM) storage system includes a NVSM drive interface configured to receive host data sectors (HDSs) from a host interface. A buffer managing module is configured to store the HDSs in a buffer. A compression module is configured to compress the HDSs to generate compressed HDSs of different lengths. A drive data sector (DDS) generating module is configured to add nuisance data to the compressed HDSs to generate DDSs. The DDSs are stored in NVSM.
US08407555B2 LDPC codes robust to non-stationary narrowband ingress noise
LDPC codes robust to non-stationary narrowband ingress noise. Particularly designed LDPC codes are adapted to address deleterious noise-effects incurred within LDPC coded signals that propagate via a communication channel (such as from a transmitting communication device to a receiving communication device). Such LDPC matrices employed for encoding and/or decoding such LDPC coded signals are composed of sub-matrices (e.g., all-zero values sub-matrices and/or CSI (Cyclic Shifted Identity) sub-matrices). The sub-matrices are generally uniform in size and square in shape. Based on certain operational conditions, such as communication channel noise, various operations within a communication device are adaptively modified (e.g., signaling, modulation, demodulation, symbol mapping, metric generation, decoding, etc.). Various types of signaling may be employed for such LDPC coded signals including orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signaling, which may include employing symbols of different size therein (e.g., symbols with x and y bits, respectively, with x and y being integers).
US08407553B2 RAM list-decoding of near codewords
Certain embodiments of the present invention are efficient run-time methods for creating and updating a RAM list of dominant trapping-set profiles for use in (LDPC) list decoding. A decoded correct codeword is compared to a near codeword to generate a new trapping-set profile, and the profile written to RAM. Record is kept of how many times RAM has been searched since a profile was last matched. Profiles that have not been matched within a specified number of searches are purge-eligible. Purge-eligible profiles are further ranked on other factors, e.g., number of times a profile has been matched since it was added, number of unsatisfied check nodes, number of erroneous bit nodes. If there is insufficient free space in RAM to store a newly-discovered profile, then purge-eligible profiles are deleted, beginning with the lowest-ranked profiles, until either (i) sufficient free space is created or (ii) there are no more purge-eligible profiles.
US08407550B2 Method and system for decoding graph-based codes using message-passing with difference-map dynamics
A code to be decoded by message-passing is represented by a factor graph. The factor graph includes variable nodes indexed by i and constraint nodes indexed by a connected by edges for transferring messages mi→a outgoing from the variable nodes to the constraint nodes and messages ma→i incoming from the constraint nodes to the variable nodes. The messages mi→a are initialized based on beliefs bi of a received codeword. The messages ma→i are generated by overshooting the messages mi→a at the constraint nodes. The beliefs bi are updated at the variable nodes using the messages ma→i. The codeword is outputted if found, otherwise, the messages mi→a are updated using a correction for the overshooting.
US08407548B2 Data link layer tunneling technique for high-speed data in a noisy wireless environment
A data link layer tunneling technique improves the throughput of high speed data in noisy wireless environments. Recovering lost frames transmitted between a packet sending unit and a packet receiving unit in a data communications system generally comprises (a) identifying a failure to successfully receive a missed frame at the packet receiving unit; (b) establishing a logical tunnel channel at the packet receiving unit to acknowledge the next successfully received frame; (c) starting a first timer at the packet receiving unit; (c) upon receiving a tunnel establishment request from the packet receiving unit, the packet sending unit resending the missed frame on the logical tunnel channel and starting a second timer; and (d) the packet sending unit resending the missed frame a specified number of times until receiving an acknowledgement from the packet receiving unit.
US08407538B2 Semiconductor package
A semiconductor package includes a memory controller chip, a plurality of first memory chips configured to store normal data, a second memory chip configured to store error information for correcting or detecting error of the normal data, and an interface unit configured to interface the memory controller chip, the plurality of first memory chips, and the second memory chip.
US08407536B2 Voice processing apparatus and method for detecting and correcting errors in voice data
A voice processing apparatus includes: an error detector which detects an error in a frame containing voice data; a correction value calculator which determines a level of the error detected by the error detector and calculates a correction value according to the level; and a voice data corrector which corrects the voice data by using the correction value calculated by the correction value calculator.
US08407532B2 Test apparatus and transmission device
Provided is a test apparatus that tests a device under test, comprising a test unit that sends and receives signals to and from the device under test; and a control apparatus that controls the test unit. The control apparatus includes a first buffer and a second buffer that buffer access requests to the test unit; a data output section that buffers, in the first buffer, access requests to be sent from the control apparatus to the test unit and, when an error occurs, buffers the access requests in the second buffer instead of the first buffer; and a transmitting section that sequentially transmits the access requests in the first buffer to the test unit and, when an error occurs, sequentially transmits the access requests in the second buffer to the test unit.
US08407523B2 Method for protecting software programs
In order to protect a software program, at least one corruption function is included in the program. Also included in the program is at least one instruction that causes the program to be directed to the corruption function. An available breakpoint is then set such that, when the starting location of the corruption function is reached, an exception is generated and the handling of the exception causes the corruption function not to run. This has the effect that, if a malicious user attempts to use the available hardware breakpoint to perform unauthorized actions on the software program, the corruption function will run, and the software program will be unusable.
US08407516B2 Controlling memory redundancy in a system
In one embodiment, the present invention provides an ability to handle an error occurring during a memory migration operation in a high availability system. In addition, a method can be used to dynamically remap a memory page stored in a non-mirrored memory region of memory to a mirrored memory region. This dynamic remapping may be responsive to a determination that the memory page has been accessed more than a threshold number of times, indicating a criticality of information on the page. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08407511B2 Method and apparatus for generating early or late sampling clocks for CDR data recovery
Methods and apparatus are provided for a clock phase generator for CDR data sampling that generates early and/or late sampling clocks, relative to ideal transition and sample points. An early sampling clock is generated by generating a plurality of transition and data sampling clock signals having a substantially uniform phase separation; and delaying at least one of the transition clock signals to generate one or more early clock signals. A late sampling clock is generated by generating a plurality of transition and data sampling clock signals having a substantially uniform phase separation; and delaying at least one of the data sampling clock signals to generate one or more late clock signals. The early clock signals can be employed, for example, in a threshold-based decision feedback equalizer. The late clock signals can be employed, for example, in a classical decision feedback equalizer.
US08407510B1 DDR interface bus control
Systems and techniques for improved bus control, which may be particularly useful for double data rate (DDR) data transfer. A circuit may include a clock transmitter in communication with a clock bus, a clock receiver in communication with the clock bus, and a driver in communication with the clock bus. The driver may drive a voltage of the clock bus to a first voltage level when the clock transmitter is not transmitting a clock signal on the clock bus and the clock receiver is not receiving a clock signal on the clock bus.
US08407507B2 Power management circuit, power management method and power management program for controlling power supplied to functional blocks in integrated circuits
A power management circuit has a resource management unit which performs a use management of a functional block in an integrated circuit, and a power management unit which transmits a power control request to a power control device which controls power of the functional block for each domain. The power control request designates the domain and the power control content for the domain. The power management unit executes a use prohibition process prohibiting the use of the functional block belonging to the domain, by using the resource management unit, before transmitting the power control request to the power control device, in accordance with a type of the functional block belonging to the domain and the power control content.
US08407501B2 Allocation of storage resources in a networked computing environment based on energy utilization
Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach to provision storage resources (e.g., across an enterprise storage system (ESS) such as a general parallel file system (GPFS) or the like) for different workloads in an energy efficient manner. The system evaluates different energy profiles/workloads' energy consumption characteristics of storage devices to determine an allocation plan that reduces the energy cost (e.g., results in the lowest cost/energy consumption for handling a storage workload). In a typical embodiment, energy consumption characteristics for handling a particular storage workload will be determined. Thereafter, a type of storage device capable of handling the workload will be determined. Then, an allocation plan that results in the most efficient energy consumption for handling the workload will be developed. In general, the allocation plan is based upon the energy consumption characteristics and an energy efficiency algorithm. The energy efficiency algorithm serves to identify storage device(s) that can handle the workload in such a way as to reduce total energy consumption and, accordingly, costs. Along these lines, the energy efficiency algorithm may also consider other factors such as capacity and load of storage devices and service level agreement (SLA) terms in addition to energy costs (e.g., over times of day and/or days of week). In any event, at least one storage device can then be selected for handling the storage workload according to the allocation plan.
US08407497B2 Frequency and voltage scaling architecture
A method and apparatus for scaling frequency and operating voltage of at least one clock domain of a microprocessor. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to techniques to divide a microprocessor into clock domains and control the frequency and operating voltage of each clock domain independently of the others.
US08407493B2 Method of supplying power for a device wired adapter, and wireless universal serial bus communication system
In a method of supplying power for a device wired adapter, a stand-alone USB device is connected to the device wired adapter for operating as a wireless USB device. The stand-alone USB device is set as a USB on-the-go host. The device wired adapter is set as a USB on-the-go device. Power is supplied to the device wired adapter by the stand-alone USB device. A USB on-the-go role of the device wired adapter is swapped with a USB on-the-go role of the stand-alone USB device.
US08407488B2 Semiconductor device including encryption section, semiconductor device including external interface, and content reproduction method
A secure LSI device 1 includes an encryption section 2 for encrypting a program, and an external I/F 50 for inputting/outputting a program or data from/to an external memory 100. In the encryption section 2, the operation of a private key arithmetic processing section 20 is prohibited with respect to a sequence whose execution is determined by a key-generation/update sequencer 30 to be impermissible. In the external I/F 50, a program processing section 51 and a data processing section 55 are structured independently from each other.
US08407484B2 Flash memory distribution of digital content
Methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media for distributing digital content. One embodiment comprises an apparatus comprising: a device (100) communications bus; coupled to the device communications bus (150), a bi-directional communications controller (110) capable of communicatively interfacing with a computer (710); coupled to the device communications bus (150), an integrated processor (130) capable of executing (270) computer-executable instructions; and coupled to the integrated processor (130), a storage module (140) capable of storing computer-executable instructions.
US08407483B2 Apparatus and method for authenticating personal use of contents by using portable storage
A system for authenticating personal use of contents by using a portable storage medium includes: a portable personal use authentication device configured to store domain authentication information; and a contents personal use authentication apparatus configured to extract playback information for playing a provided content based on the domain authentication information and provide the extracted playback information to a player.
US08407482B2 User session dependent URL masking
The present invention is directed toward a method, device, and system for enhancing web security by masking a URL embedded in at least some portion of web content. A session dependent URL is generated and masked on a server side prior to being distributed to a customer for viewing. The session dependent URL is only active during the session in which it was generated. After the session has ended information relating to the session, web content, and masking of the URL is purged from memory.
US08407477B2 Information distribution system and program for the same
The present invention is made to provide an information distribution system capable of securely storing digitized personal information in an encrypted state in a storage section and securely transferring/disclosing the stored digitized information only to a particular third person via a network. Communication of the information is securely performed in the encrypted state between information terminals connected to the communication network (between a client and a server or between peer-to-peer client terminals). An information terminal which has created information encrypts the original information by a common key generated upon communication and stores the information in a secure storage of one of the information terminals connected to the communication network while maintaining the encrypted state. Further, the system creates a mechanism for authenticating a person having a particular authority for viewing the encrypted information and index information having an encrypted common key and link information indicating the location of the information for supply to a user.
US08407467B2 Ubiquitous audio reproducing and servicing method and apparatus
A ubiquitous audio reproducing and servicing method and apparatus for streaming or downloading a lossless audio source from a Content Provider (CP) using a lossy audio source card as an authentication key. The ubiquitous audio reproducing method includes determining whether a memory card storing lossy audio sources and their authentication codes is inserted, if it is determined that the memory card is inserted, transmitting an authentication code of a lossy audio source in the memory card and a system unique Identifier (ID) to a content server by connecting to the content server via a network, and if the content server allows the use of a lossless audio source corresponding to the lossy audio source using the authentication code, streaming or downloading the lossless audio source from the content server.
US08407466B2 Controlling download and playback of media content
Systems and methods provide for controlling download and playback of media content. A system includes a client, which can play content, and a server. The server includes a permission system that can determine whether a client request to download or play content should be granted. All purchase, download, and playback requests require permission from the permission system. The server also includes a DD module system that transfers a DD module to the client. The DD module includes a content key decryption module, a content decryption module, and a content decompression module. The content key decryption module decrypts an encrypted content key that was received from the server. The decryption uses a unique DD module key that has been hard-coded into the content key decryption module. The content decryption module uses the content key to decrypt encrypted content. The content decompression module decompresses compressed content so that it can be played.
US08407464B2 Techniques for using AAA services for certificate validation and authorization
In one embodiment, techniques to validate certificates using authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) services are provided. A service receives a request from a requester for validation of a certificate. The request may include the certificate associated with the requester. The servicer creates a AAA request that includes the certificate. The AAA request is then sent to the AAA server. A response is then received from the AAA server that includes a result of the certificate validation and also AAA attributes associated with any AAA services performed. The servicer may then validate the proof of possession of the private key or perform other type of authentication calculations after receiving the response from the AAA server if the response indicates the certificate was validated. The servicer can then perform an action based on the certificate validation and AAA attributes.
US08407452B2 Processor for performing encryption mask processing using randomly generated instructions and data
An arithmetic processing apparatus includes an operation circuit group that performs encryption and a redundant operation circuit group configured the same as the operation circuit group. The arithmetic processing apparatus, while performing encryption, performs normal encryption in the operation circuit group, and performs an encryption mask processing program by using data and the like randomly generated by a random data generating unit and the like in the redundant operation circuit group. The arithmetic processing apparatus, when not performing encryption, performs normal arithmetic processing in the redundant operation circuit group.
US08407450B2 Electronic device, time difference data acquisition method, and data structure for time difference data
An electronic device receives satellite signals from positioning information satellites and acquires positioning information and time information. A stored data table comprises a first block of data having a first array of time difference data and a second block of data having a second array of time difference data that is different than the first array of time difference data. A stored memory address table stores the memory address of each of the first and second blocks of data, at least one the blocks of data being stored a plurality of times in the memory address table. The data block corresponding to the acquired positioning information is identified, the memory address corresponding to that data block is read, the data block data indicated by the memory address is acquired, and the time difference data for the segment corresponding to the positioning information is acquired from the data block.
US08407446B2 Simultaneously supporting different block sizes on a single hard drive
A method and system where a hardware platform such as a disk drive is formatted to the largest block length it is desired to read from or write to. Using commands, data can be accessed from the drive in any block length that is equal to or less than the formatted block length.
US08407441B2 Method and apparatus for calibrating write timing in a memory system
A system that calibrates timing relationships between signals involved in performing write operations is described. This system includes a memory controller which is coupled to a set of memory chips, wherein each memory chip includes a phase detector configured to calibrate a phase relationship between a data-strobe signal and a clock signal received at the memory chip from the memory controller during a write operation. Furthermore, the memory controller is configured to perform one or more write-read-validate operations to calibrate a clock-cycle relationship between the data-strobe signal and the clock signal, wherein the write-read-validate operations involve varying a delay on the data-strobe signal relative to the clock signal by a multiple of a clock period.
US08407429B2 Multi-context configurable memory controller
The exemplary embodiments provide a multi-context configurable memory controller comprising: an input-output data port array comprising a plurality of input queues and a plurality of output queues; at least one configuration and control register to store, for each context of a plurality of contexts, a plurality of configuration bits; a configurable circuit element configurable for a plurality of data operations, each data operation corresponding to a context of a plurality of contexts, the plurality of data operations comprising memory address generation, memory write operations, and memory read operations, the configurable circuit element comprising a plurality of configurable address generators; and an element controller, the element controller comprising a port arbitration circuit to arbitrate among a plurality of contexts having a ready-to-run status, and the element controller to allow concurrent execution of multiple data operations for multiple contexts having the ready-to-run status.
US08407422B2 Address translation caching and I/O cache performance improvement in virtualized environments
Methods and apparatus relating to improving address translation caching and/or input/output (I/O) cache performance in virtualized environments are described. In one embodiment, a hint provided by an endpoint device may be utilized to update information stored in an I/O cache. Such information may be utilized for implementation of a more efficient replacement policy in an embodiment. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08407420B2 System, apparatus and method utilizing early access to shared cache pipeline for latency reduction
A memory system, apparatus and method for performing operations in a shared cache coupled to a first requester and a second requester. The method includes receiving at the shared cache a first request from the second requester; assigning the request to a state machine; transmitting a first pipe pass request from the state machine to an arbiter; providing a first instruction from the first pipe pass request to a cache pipeline, the first instruction causing a first pipe pass; and providing a second pipe pass request to the arbiter before the first pipe pass is completed. The first requester may be a lower level cache such as an L2 cache, or an I/O device and the second requester may be an upper level cache such as an L4 cache, and the first request may be a coherency request.
US08407415B2 De-icing of multi-layer storage media
A device for recording information on a record carrier (11) is arranged for formatting a multilayer record carrier. The device has formatting means (16) for formatting the record carrier according which formatting includes de-icing by, in the event that locations in the user data area have not yet been recorded, writing dummy data (60) on the locations. The formatting means (16) determine a first radial position (50) and a first layer (40), which first radial position is indicative of a location on the first layer on which user data will be recorded first according to a predefined recording format. Subsequently said de-icing is started by writing of dummy data on a second layer (41) of the record carrier at the first radial position, opposite the location of the first user data (55). Hence a de-iced area (58) is created opposite the user data (55).
US08407412B2 Power management of memory circuits by virtual memory simulation
An apparatus and method are provided for communicating with a plurality of physical memory circuits. In use, at least one virtual memory circuit is simulated where at least one aspect (e.g. power-related aspect, etc.) of such virtual memory circuit(s) is different from at least one aspect of at least one of the physical memory circuits. Further, in various embodiments, such simulation may be carried out by a system (or component thereof), an interface circuit, etc.
US08407411B2 Operation frequency adjusting system and method
Techniques pertaining to adjusting the operation frequency of a DRAM are disclosed. According to one embodiment, the DRAM operation frequency adjusting system includes a statistic module counting effective operations of a DRAM to obtain a bandwidth utilization rate of the DRAM at a present operation frequency; a parameter configuration module including a target frequency configuration sub-module configured to generate a target operation frequency; and a frequency switch controller for switching a present operation frequency of the DRAM to the target operation frequency. The invention adjusts the operation frequency of a DRAM according to the application environment, and creates a balance between performance and power consumption of DRAMs, and thus improves operation speed of system-on-chips as well as decreases the power consumption.
US08407409B2 Metrics and management for flash memory storage life
According to one aspect of the invention, a method of evaluating reliability of flash memory media comprises managing a flash memory remaining life for each disk of a plurality of flash memory media disks provided in one or more flash memory media groups each of which has a configuration and a relationship between said each flash memory media group and the flash memory media disks in said each flash memory media group, wherein each flash memory media group is one of a RAID group or a thin provisioning pool; and calculating to obtain information of each flash memory media group based on the measured flash memory remaining life for each disk in said each flash memory media group, the configuration of said each flash memory media group, and the relationship between said each flash memory media group and the flash memory media disks in said each flash memory media group.
US08407407B1 Solid state drive access control system with equalized access timing
A drive control module of a solid-state drive (SSD) includes a first module that receives host commands from one of a host command buffer and a drive interface of the SSD, converts the host commands to stage commands, and determines whether to store the stage commands in a stage slot of a staging memory or leave the stage slot empty. A second module transfers data between a buffer and a flash memory based on the stage commands. The flash memory comprises flash arrays. A third module detects a first empty stage of one of the flash arrays and based on an empty stage timer value triggers at least one of an end of the first empty stage, a start of an at least partially full stage of the one of the flash arrays, or a start of a second empty stage of the one of the flash arrays.
US08407398B2 Cache mapping for solid state drives
An approach is provided that loads software files, such as an operating system, on a hybrid storage device. The hybrid storage device is a device that includes a nonvolatile storage device and a nonvolatile memory cache. The nonvolatile memory cache has less storage capacity than the nonvolatile storage device. The nonvolatile memory cache is preset (“pinned”) to data corresponding to an initial set of address ranges of the nonvolatile storage device, such as all or part of the operating system that was loaded onto the nonvolatile storage device. A system usage metric is initialized along with a threshold value. The nonvolatile memory cache remains pinned to the initial set of address ranges until the system usage metric reaches the threshold value. When the system usage metric reaches the threshold value, then a caching algorithm is used to determine what data should be cached to the nonvolatile memory cache.
US08407393B1 Modifying a disk drive while preserving calibrated parameters stored in a non-volatile semiconductor memory
A method of operating a disk drive is disclosed, the disk drive comprising a head actuated over a disk surface, and a first non-volatile semiconductor memory (NVSM). Calibrated parameters are stored in the first NVSM, wherein the calibrated parameters for accessing the disk surface. Prior to altering the disk drive, the calibrated parameters are uploaded from the disk drive to a host. After altering the disk drive, the calibrated parameters are downloaded from the host to the disk drive and the calibrated parameters are stored in a second NVSM.
US08407390B2 Method and apparatus for data processing
According to the present invention, a method and apparatus for data processing is provided for a data processing device comprising an auxiliary execution system, a main execution system, a switch unit and a networking unit. The method and apparatus according to the present invention are capable of establishing a networking data channel between the auxiliary execution system, the switch unit and the networking unit based on a first control instruction for the switch unit; or of establishing a networking data channel between the main execution system, the switch unit and the networking unit based on a second control instruction for the switch unit. In this way, the realization of always online can be guaranteed, and apparently, the user satisfaction can be effectively improved.
US08407388B2 Device and method for manipulating communication messages
A device for manipulating an operating state of a deterministic communication system is provided, which communication system includes a physical data bus, a plurality of nodes connected thereto, and an arrangement for transmitting messages in message frames at fixedly predefined communication cycles. The device is situated in the data bus between at least one node, from whose point of view the operating state of the communication system is manipulated, and the other nodes of the communication system. To make any desired manipulation of the operating state of the communication system possible, the manipulation device includes an arrangement for short-circuiting the data bus (2) and/or interrupting the data bus.
US08407386B2 Increasing functionality of a reader-writer lock
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for accessing a shared memory associated with a reader-writer lock according to a first concurrency mode, dynamically changing from the first concurrency mode to a second concurrency mode, and accessing the shared memory according to the second concurrency mode. In this way, concurrency modes can be adaptively changed based on system conditions. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08407380B2 Remote operation system
A remote operation system has a server, a client to which a first keyboard is connected, and a KVM switch connected to the server, the client and a second keyboard, the KVM switch including: an acquisition portion that acquires a state of the second keyboard; and the client including: a reception portion that receives a state of the first keyboard, and the state of the second keyboard from the KVM switch; a determination portion that determines whether the state of the first keyboard is identical with the state of the second keyboard; and a transmission portion that transmits information which makes the state of the first keyboard identical with the state of the second keyboard, to the first keyboard when the state of the first keyboard is not identical with the state of the second keyboard.
US08407377B1 Storage system with multicast DMA and unified address space
A system and method for clients, a control module, and storage modules to participate in a unified address space in order to and read and write data efficiently using direct-memory access. The method for reading data includes determining a first location in a first memory to write a first copy of the data, a second location in a second memory to write a second copy of the data, where the first memory is located in a first storage module including a first persistent storage and the second memory is located in a second storage module including a second persistent storage. The method further includes programming a direct memory access engine to read the data from client memory and issue a first write request to a multicast address, where the first location, the second location, and a third location are associated with the multicast address.
US08407370B2 Storage apparatus for controlling running of commands and method therefor
A plurality of command storage areas respectively corresponding to a plurality of priorities and storing I/O commands in a storage control apparatus are common to a plurality of ports and a plurality of processors. Here, regardless of which port receives an I/O command, the I/O command is stored in a command storage area corresponding to a priority which is given to the I/O command. The plurality of processors run the I/O commands in the plurality of command storage areas so that an I/O command with a higher priority is run more often within a given period of time.
US08407351B2 Method and apparatus for ensuring transport of user agent information
Techniques to ensure that user agent information is transported includes determining whether both a type field and a client platform information field are included in a first portion of a uniform resource locator field (URL) of a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) request message received from a remote client process. The first portion is different from a domain portion of the URL. The type field holds data that indicates whether the remote client inserted the client information field into a URL of an original HTTP request message. If both the type field and the client platform information field are included, then it is determined, based on data in the type field, whether to include both the type field and the client platform information field in a first portion of a URL in a link in a HTTP response message. The HTTP response message is sent to the remote client process.
US08407350B2 System and method for projecting content beyond firewalls
A system and method for exchanging information between clients separated by firewalls is disclosed. A server may receive the information as posted through a browser client from beyond a first firewall and relay it to another client beyond a second firewall without lowering the security levels of the firewalls.
US08407345B2 Enforcing application and access control policies in an information management system with two or more interactive enforcement points
A method and apparatus for controlling document access and application usage using centrally managed rules. The rules are stored and manipulated in a central rule database via a rule server. Policy enforcers are installed on client systems and/or on servers and perform document access and application usage control for both direct user document accesses and application usage, and application program document accesses by evaluating the rules sent to the policy enforcer. The rule server decides which rules are required by each policy enforcer. A policy enforcer can also perform obligation and remediation operations as a part of rule evaluation. Policy enforcers on client systems and servers can operate autonomously, evaluating policies that have been received, when communications have been discontinued with the rule server.
US08407344B2 Method and system for active profile server
A system and method for active profile services is provided. An embodiment includes an active profile server that is configured to respond to requests for subscriber profile information from an application server. The profile server is further configured to access a known set of profile information for a subscriber and, according to predefined criteria, automatically modify the known set of subscriber profile information and provide the modified profile information to the application server.
US08407343B2 System, method, and computer-readable medium for managing communications among service modules
A communication method between service modules in a system in which service modules operating on a plurality of information processing apparatuses connected with a network operate in collaboration with each other, the system includes a monitoring apparatus that is provided with a monitor module monitoring a connection between service modules in the system and that has connection management information including identifier information for uniquely identifying an information processing apparatus in which a service module is operating in the system, and connection information including external connection information for the service module to perform communication using an external network between the information processing apparatuses and internal connection information for the service module to perform communication using an internal network of the information processing apparatus.
US08407340B2 Page load performance analysis
Page load time analysis. The analysis may allow a web page designer to determine improvements that could be made to the web page to decrease load time, and perhaps identify the modules or components that are critical paths in decreasing page load time. The analysis is performed based on the monitoring of multiple requests associated with a page request. The user may be notified of the graph or the results of analysis of the graph. The user may then determine whether the page load time can be improved.
US08407325B2 Method and system for automated project accountability
The invention provides a method for automated project accountability comprising, determining at least one decision maker of a project preparation, determining a readiness category for the decision maker, and providing a readiness category rating for the readiness category. The method further determines a decision process for the readiness category and readiness category rating, conducts a project assessment as a function of the decision process, and determines a project readiness as a function of the project assessments.
US08407319B1 Event-driven module loading
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for event-driven module loading. In one aspect, a method includes obtaining a mapping for a resource, wherein the mapping identifies one or more events that, upon occurrence, will trigger a dynamic loading of one or more code modules that are referenced by the resource, determining that an event has occurred, identifying one or more of the code modules that are associated with the event, based on the mapping, and dynamically loading the identified code modules.
US08407300B2 Recording medium with electronic mail management program recorded, communication terminal, and electronic mail management method
An address set in a forwarding mail of an electronic mail received from a sender is obtained, a receiver having a delete program for deleting the forwarding mail is identified as the obtained destination, and the electronic mail is related to the sender and the receiver of the identified delete program.
US08407299B2 Content disposition system and method for processing message content in a distributed environment
In one embodiment, a scheme is disclosed for interpreting contents of at least one message body per message, e.g., a SIP or HTTP message, wherein the message body contents correspond to a content type. A communication protocol message such as a SIP or HTTP message is generated by a sender towards a recipient, wherein the message includes at least one message body content in the message's body. A component associated with the recipient is configured to examine whether at least one indicator is associated with the message. A component, operable responsive to the examination, is configured to inhibit a treatment of the message body content and to apply an alternative treatment with respect thereto.
US08407293B2 Print service system
A mail server has a mail receiving section for receiving an electronic mail including attached image data transmitted from a user through Internet, a print user designation managing section for making a user ID and a password for the corresponding user and transmitting them, and a data accumulating unit for making a user directory for each user ID and storing image data therein. When the user ID and the password are inputted from a touch panel by the user, one or more print terminals download the image data from the data accumulating unit through the Internet in order to print the image data. A usage guide including information related to an installation location of the print terminal is provided to the user in a web site (usage guide site).
US08407290B2 Dynamic data sharing using a collaboration-enabled web browser
Users sharing web pages and editing shared content are forced to manually refresh their web browsers to view a latest version of the content. This can be cumbersome and may not give users a true interactive content sharing experience. Functionality for dynamic sharing of content modifications and for automatic presentation of the latest version of the content can be implemented on the web browser to ensure that the latest version of the content is always presented to the user. By automatically retrieving content modifications made by one user and transmitting the content modifications to other users viewing and editing the shared content, users can be preempted from having to manually refresh the content presented on the web browser. This can result in a more interactive content sharing experience with little or no manual intervention.
US08407287B2 Systems, methods, and media for identifying and associating user devices with media cues
Systems, methods, and media for identifying and associating user devices with media cues are provided. In some embodiments, a plurality of data streams from a plurality of endpoints is received. At least one media segment is then received from a user device. It is determined whether the at least one media segment from the user device corresponds with one of the plurality of data streams from the plurality of endpoints. In response to being unable to match the at least one media segment, a media cue is inserted into one of the plurality of data streams. In response to detecting that the media cue in that data stream is received by the user device, identification information is transmitted to the user device that associates the user device with one or more services on a communications server.
US08407277B1 Full subtractor cell for synthesis of area-efficient subtractor and divider
A full subtractor cell is disclosed including an XNOR gate having first and second inputs coupled to first and second bits; an XOR gate having first and second inputs coupled to an XNOR gate output and a carry input bit; a first AND gate having first and second inputs coupled to an XNOR gate output and the carry input bit; an inverter gate having an input coupled to the second bit to generate a complemented second bit; a second AND gate having first and second inputs coupled to the first bit and an inverter output to receive the complemented second bit; and an OR gate having first and second inputs coupled to a first AND gate output and a second AND gate output. An XOR gate output and an OR gate output generate the sum output bit and the carry output bit.
US08407275B2 Fast floating point compare with slower backup for corner cases
A floating point processor unit executes a floating point compare instruction with two operands of the same or different precision by comparing the two operands in integer format, which speeds up the execution of the floating point compare instruction significantly. The floating point processor now executes the floating point compare instruction at least twice as fast or faster (e.g., two clock cycles instead of five clock cycles in the prior art) for nearly most operand cases (e.g., 99% of all cases). Only the rare corner cases require additional operations on one of the operands and thus require additional cycles of execution time because the integer compare operation will not work for these corner cases. This is due to the fact that one operand is a single precision subnormal number in an unnormalized representation (i.e., has two representations) and the other operand is in the SP subnormal range such that the integer compare operation will fail.
US08407270B2 Methods of calculating negative inverse of modulus
Provided is a method of calculating a negative inverse of a modulus, wherein the negative inverse, which is an essential element in Montgomery multiplication, is quickly obtained. The method includes setting a modulus, defining P obtained by converting the modulus to a negative number, and defining S obtained by subtracting 1 from P, and calculating a negative inverse of the modulus by using P and S.
US08407267B2 Apparatus, method, system and computer-readable medium for storing and managing image data
An apparatus, method, system and computer-readable medium store and manage image data with automatic labeling of image data corresponding to body slices, such as obtained by a computed tomography scanner. The labels include a body coordinate value along the body axis. The respective body coordinate value can be determined by comparing received image data sets with reference data sets with known attached coordinate values utilizing pattern recognition techniques. Applications include medical image data management in hospitals or operating and providing medical networks. Queries for images that include particular body regions are processed more efficiently. This results in less local memory required and narrower bandwidth resources of transmission networks.
US08407258B2 Systems and methods for rule inheritance
Systems and methods for automating and increasing the efficiency of access to data using inheritance of access rules within an organization based upon the relationship of positions within the organization and the roles associated with the positions. In one embodiment, a role structure is used in conjunction with a hierarchical organization structure to allow access rules to be inherited by some of the positions from other positions based upon the relationship of positions within the organization and the roles associated with the positions. Access rules can be applied across equivalent or similar positions, yet differentiated between distinct portions of the organization and the distinct roles associated with the positions. Consequently, particular access rules are not necessarily inherited by all of the positions subordinate to a particular position with which the rule originates, and are not necessarily inherited by all of the positions that are associated with a particular role.
US08407257B2 System and method for mutating polymorphic object components
Embodiments of the present invention provide for techniques for enabling mutation of an instantiated object between multiple underlying object types at run time. The object may alter its behavior from one object type to another at anytime without requiring a new object to be instantiated. The object's behavior may be implemented by other objects which are retrieved at run time, thus disconnecting the direct link between the object's behavior and the object.
US08407254B2 Systems for receiving and forming marketplaces for working on digital information blocks
A remote access medical image exchange system utilizes a decentralized, i.e., self-organizing, distribution system combined with bid queues to establish a market place which allows for continuously negotiated prices with control (over who reads the images, when they are read and what the fee will be for such a reading) being placed in the hands of the patient/gatekeeper and the diagnostic physician.
US08407252B2 Promotion infrastructure having third party posting service
An online sales/automatic rebate and coupon redemption system provides online customers automatic retrieval and redemption of all applicable rebates and coupons during purchase. Purchase orders from customers are selectively fulfilled and products are shipped to the customers either by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption or by other merchant or manufacturer environments. The system purchases from merchants using applicable coupons and rebates and then sells the products to the customers, passing the savings to them. The system makes it possible to automatically retrieve coupons and rebates for items in a shopping cart during the activity of an online purchase at an electronic mall or an online merchant site. The system provides coupons to potential customers via email, based on customer profile, geographical information, etc. Manufacturers and merchants can update coupon value and content based on ongoing sales and volume of customer activity.
US08407249B1 Handling document revision history information in the presence of a multi-user permissions model
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that controls accesses to revisions of documents in the presence of a multi-user permissions and ownership model. During operation, the system receives a request to on behalf of a user to access a revision of a document. If the request is directed to a most-recent revision of an existing document, the system uses the multi-user permissions and ownership model to control access to the revision. Otherwise, if the request is directed to a previous revision of the document, the system grants access to the revision only if the user was the owner of the document at the time of the revision.
US08407245B2 Efficient string pattern matching for large pattern sets
A string matching system is described herein that provides for very fast and efficient pattern matching against large sets of certain types of pattern strings. If a set of pattern strings is comprised of strings that can be logically divided into segments, these pattern strings can be stored efficiently in a tree-like data structure, segment by segment, storing pattern-match syntax segments separately from literal string segments. After segmentation, individual match candidate strings are compared, segment by segment, against elements in the tree. The system uses a data structure that is conceptually a combination of a tree and a hash table. Using a hash table to implement the branching elements at each level in the tree contributes to quick matching speed at each level. By consistently separating strings into segments, the system can also share storage locations for like elements in the data structure.
US08407234B1 Ordering a list embodying multiple criteria
A computer-automated system orders a list of elements according to multiple criteria. Each element in a data set may have any number of attributes. Attributes may have corresponding weights which differ from each other. The system orders the elements based on the weight of the attributes and the attributes associated the elements. In particular, the system may combine the weights of all attributes associated with a particular element to produce a combined weight for the element. The system may tend to place elements having relatively high combined weights closer to the beginning of the list than elements having relatively low combined weights. The system may be used in a variety of applications, such as coordinating the schedules of multiple workers in a hospital or other workplace, based on multiple needs of the workplace and multiple preferences of the workers.
US08407233B2 Method for calculating relevance between words based on document set and system for executing the method
A method and system for calculating a relevance between words using a document set is provided. The method of calculating the relevance between words based on a document set, includes: obtaining statistical information about the words based on at least one of the words, documents, a word classification of the words, and a document classification of the documents, wherein the words and the documents are included in the document set; standardizing the statistical information; and calculating the relevance between the words based on the standardized statistical information.
US08407224B2 Apparatus and method for generating a collection profile and for communicating based on the collection profile
An apparatus for generating a collection profile of a collection of different media data items has a feature extractor for extracting at least two different features describing a content of a media data item for a plurality of media data items of the collection, and a profile creator for creating the collection profile by combining the extracted features or weighted extracted features so that the collection profile represents a quantitative fingerprint of a content of the media data collection. This collection profile or music DNA can be used for transmitting information, which is based on this collection profile, to the entity itself or to a remote entity.
US08407223B2 System for information discovery in video-based data
A system for information discovery of items, such as individuals or objects, from video-based tracks. The system may compute similarities of characteristics of the items and present the results in a matrix form. A similarity portrayal may have nodes representing the items with edges between the nodes. The edges may have weights in the form of vectors indicating similarities of the characteristics between the nodes situated at the ends of the edges. The edges may be augmented with temporal and spatial properties from the tracks which cover the items. These properties may play a part in a multi-objective presentation of information about the items in terms of a negative or supportive basis. The presentation may be partitioned into clusters which may lead to a merger of items or tracks. The system may pave a way for higher-level information discovery such as video-based social networks.
US08407217B1 Automated topic discovery in documents
A computer-assisted method for discovering topics in a document includes the steps of calculating a term prominence value for a token, selecting tokens based on the term prominence values of the respective tokens, and outputting topic terms comprising the selected tokens to represent the topics in the document.
US08407216B2 Automated tagging of objects in databases
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for automatically generating tag terms (or tags) for objects in databases of a web site. The metadata of the objects (or data) of the web site are processed and parsed to automatically generate tag terms for the corresponding objects. Information (or data, or content) downloaded from the Internet often comes with metadata, which can exist in titles, description, sources, and authors of the information, etc. The metadata of downloaded information can be process and parsed to generate tag terms for the corresponding objects. The system can automatically generate tag terms for the data, which are stored as objects in the databases, and make the data (or objects) searchable. In addition, the automatically generated tag terms allow associated data to maintain their relationship. For example, data from the same sources, same authors, or same subjects can be identified based on the common tag terms. Automatically generated tag terms enable searching and association of data (or objects) in databases in a web site.
US08407211B1 Determining relevance scores for locations
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining relevance scores for locations. In one aspect, a method includes storing a respective plurality of category-location relevance scores for each location of a plurality of geographic locations. A category-location relevance score is based on a plurality of category-entity-location relevance scores for a plurality of entities associated with the category at the location. A first category-location relevance score is determined for a first geographic location that is not one of the plurality of geographic locations. Determining the first category-location relevance score includes calculating the first category-location relevance score based on a second category-location relevance score for a second geographic location in the plurality of geographic locations and a physical distance between the first geographic location and the second geographic location.
US08407198B2 Information processing apparatus and method, recording medium, and program
Information processing apparatus and method, recording medium, and program are provided. An information processing apparatus includes the following elements. A receiver receives a command requesting for the execution of predetermined processing. A storage unit stores data and first information indicating, among a plurality of stages in a lifecycle of the information processing apparatus, the current stage determined by the stored data and second information indicating an executable command in the current stage, the executable command being determined for each of the plurality of stages. A determining unit determines on the basis of the first information and the second information whether the command received by the receiver is an executable command in the current stage.
US08407179B2 Method of determining influence of a member within a dataset
A method of determining influence of a member within an overall dataset may include functions which capture, aggregate, analyze and visually present the relationships and influence that members of a dataset or collection, such as individual persons, websites, applications and/or machines, exercise over one another based on interaction, behavioral and demographic factors, etc. The calculated results of influence may be employed for the tracking of content and/or marketing, for example.
US08407176B2 Data processing method for controlling a network
Patterns of change in system operating parameters are identified which may be used to identify unexpected operational conditions and to trigger an appropriate alert or action. A network is controlled using operating data for the network. Network operating data is received and divided into sequential time periods. A structural description such as an association rule is determined for the received data in each time period and a change pattern in the determined structural description is identified over the time periods. The network is then controlled using a predetermined action corresponding to a predetermined structural description change pattern in response to the identified structural description change pattern matching the predetermined structural description change pattern.
US08407175B2 Method, apparatus and product for SAT solving using templates clauses
A method to solve a template SAT problem associated with a bounded model that is modeled checked, said method comprising: receiving the template SAT problem, the template SAT problem comprising a plurality of clauses including a template clause that represents a plurality of concrete clauses each associated with a different temporal shift, the template clause is associated with a literal; determining a value of the literal in a cycle based on the template clause and a temporal shift, said determining comprises: determining a concrete clause of the plurality of concrete clauses based on the template clause and the temporal shift; determining a new template clause based on at least two clauses; determining a deduced clause based on at least the value of the literal in the cycle; deducing a solution to the template SAT problem; and outputting the solution.
US08407169B2 Expert system and method
A system and method is provided for representation of a real world problem situation. The system includes a computer software process which can acquire or accept a set of input data. The input data generally includes seed facts and user entered facts. The set of input data represents real world objects which pertain to a real-world problem situation. The computer software process generates new data. The new data consists of additional not-previously-known facts about the real-world problem situation. The additional not-previously known facts include acquired facts and reasoned facts. The computer software process utilizes a fact structured representation method. The fact structured representation method represents a first group of facts about a problem situation. It also represents a rule structured representation method for representing a first group of rules about a class of problem situations. The computer software process also represents a plurality of causal features of the problem situation so that a reasoning process results. The reasoning process is characterized as performing some elements of deep reasoning.
US08407168B2 Codebook generating method
A codebook generating method includes a dividing and transforming step dividing an original image into original blocks and transforming the original blocks into original vectors; a dividing step grouping the original vectors to obtain centroids; a first layer neuron training step selecting a portion of the centroids as first-level neurons; a grouping step assigning each of the original vectors to a closest first-level neuron so as to obtain groups; a second layer neuron assigning step assigning a number of second-level neurons in each of the groups, and selecting a portion of the original vectors in each of the groups as the second-level neurons; and a second layer neuron training step defining the original vectors in each of the groups as samples, training the second-level neurons in each of the groups to obtain final neurons, and storing vectors corresponding to the final neurons in a codebook.
US08407164B2 Data classification and hierarchical clustering
Apparatus, systems, and methods can operate to provide efficient data clustering, data classification, and data compression. A method comprises training set of training instances can be processed to select a subset of size-1 patterns, initialize a weight of each size-1 pattern, include the size-1 patterns in classes in a model associated with the training set, and then include a set of top-k size-2 patterns in a way that provides an effective balance between local, class, and global significance patterns. A method comprises processing a dataset to compute an overall significance value of each size-2 pattern in each instance in the dataset, sort the size-2 patterns, and select the top-k size-2 patterns to be represented in clusters, which can be refined into a clustered hierarchy. A method comprises creating an uncompressed bitmap, reordering the bitmap, and compressing the bitmap. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08407163B2 Monitoring a device, network, or system with adaptive dynamic classification employing a hidden Markov model operating on a time sequence of information
In a monitoring method, a time sequence of information pertaining to a monitored device, network, or system is recorded, comprising observations of the monitored device, network, or system and known prior correct action recommendations for the monitored device, network, or system. A hidden Markov model (HMM) operating on the time sequence of information is maintained. The HMM comprises a hidden state of the monitored device, network, or system. A current state of the monitored device, network, or system is classified using a classification value comprising an emission of the HMM that depends on an estimate of the distribution of the hidden state and on a selected portion of the time sequence of information. An action recommendation is generated for the current state of the monitored device, network, or system based on the classification value.
US08407160B2 Systems, methods, and media for generating sanitized data, sanitizing anomaly detection models, and/or generating sanitized anomaly detection models
Systems, methods, and media for generating sanitized data, sanitizing anomaly detection models, and generating anomaly detection models are provided. In some embodiments, methods for generating sanitized data are provided. The methods including: dividing a first training dataset comprised of a plurality of training data items into a plurality of data subsets each including at least one training data item of the plurality of training data items of the first training dataset; based on the plurality of data subsets, generating a plurality of distinct anomaly detection micro-models; testing at least one data item of the plurality of data items of a second training dataset of training data items against each of the plurality of micro-models to produce a score for the at least one tested data item; and generating at least one output dataset based on the score for the at least one tested data item.
US08407157B2 Locating harvested material within a work area
A method and system for locating harvested material comprises receiving material data including material location data on a material location of harvested material within a work area. Background data is obtained. A location-determining receiver determines a forwarder location of a forwarder. An estimator estimates economic cost factors associated with corresponding candidate paths or segments of candidate paths between the forwarder location and the material location. A selector selects a preferential planned path between the forwarder location and the material location consistent with the material data, background data, and minimization of the economic cost factors.
US08407147B2 Gaming machine
A method of conducting a software update of a gaming machine, including: starting a boot process of the gaming machine; determining during the boot process that a memory device potentially containing at least one software component more recent than a corresponding software component currently stored in gaming machine memory is in data communication with the gaming machine; determining that the memory device contains at least one authentic, more recent software component; and updating gaming machine memory with each more recent software component.
US08407142B1 Managing a universal payment account
To facilitate management of a universal payment account, it is determined whether a transaction occurs. Transaction information is received from a payment systems module if the transaction occurs, wherein the transaction information comprises a universal payment identifier associated with a universal payment account. A processor determines at least one payment rule based at least in part on the universal payment identifier, and the processor determines a financial account associated with the universal payment account based upon the at least one payment rule. The plurality of financial accounts are associated with the universal payment account and the determined financial account is used to process the transaction. The determined financial account is accessed to facilitate processing of the transaction.
US08407141B2 System and method for processing multiple methods of payment
Financial transaction data comprising payment on any one of multiple financial transaction types are processed with an adapter layer that receives an incoming data message relating to a financial transaction initiated by a payer and operates on the incoming data message to produce adapted data relating to the financial transaction, and a processor that receives the adapted data and determines transaction routing to direct the adapted data to a processing network module that requests authorization by an issuer, responds to authorization by initiating request for settlement and payment on the financial transaction to a transaction payee, and responds to payee query requests by providing non-payment data to an external payee.
US08407139B1 Credit risk evaluation with responsibility factors
A system, device, and method for calculating an enhanced credit score using insurance rating information, individual rating factors, interaction rating factors, geographic rating factors, vehicle monitoring rating factors, and/or credit risk information is disclosed. Insurance rating information, individual rating factors, interaction rating factors, geographic rating factors, and vehicle monitoring rating factors, either individually or in combinations, may be used as inputs to a novel credit-scoring model to calculate an enhanced or improved credit score. The novel credit-scoring model may be implemented in a computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for causing a computing device to calculate an enhanced credit score. The computer-executable instructions may be arranged into an input module, output module, and calculation module. The modules may be used to calculate an enhanced credit score that may be used by lending institutions and others to determine the terms of a financing agreement with a user.
US08407132B2 System and method for changing the view of a trading screen
A trading screen displays market information, such as working orders, buy and sell orders, and other items of interest, in association with values on a value axis. Each item of interest is therefore displayed in relation to the value axis to provide a trader with an intuitive display of the market. In one embodiment, a user can select a location associated with a particular value on the trading screen and upon an selection, for example, by a click of the mouse button, the value axis is repositioned so that the selected value is moved to a predefined location. During which, market information is moved to new locations that are associated with their respective values on the value axis.
US08407131B2 Method and interface for presenting last traded quantity information
Trading software may receive trading information from an exchange. The trading software may use the trading information to compute an estimate of last traded total sweep quantity. The trading software may also display the last traded total sweep quantity on a trading screen.
US08407126B2 Prospective currency units
Methods and systems for calculating values for indexes based on breakout currencies are provided. A prospective breakout index may be formed before an entity breaks out of a monetary union. Other aspects relate to calculating an initial index value on a breakout date. An initial exchange rate of the breakout currency may be combined with a breakout value and/or a base value. In one embodiment, the breakout value is the reciprocal of the initial exchange rate. Therefore, in accordance with certain embodiments, the initial index value of the breakout index may be equal to the base value. Further aspects relate to calculating a second index value. A second exchange rate of the breakout currency may be utilized with the fixed base value and the breakout value to calculate the second index value of the breakout index. Further aspects relate to creating a prospective currency unit for a monetary union.
US08407124B2 Method for managing buyer transactions and settlements using communication network between computers, and method for relaying information following buyer consumption trends to the buyer
Described herein are methods and apparatus for the processing of electronic invoices. A server for processing invoices communicates with computing systems such as a supplier system (used by a supplier), a buyer system (used by a buyer), and finance systems (which manage bank accounts of the supplier and buyer). The server communicates with the supplier system and the buyer system regarding an electronic invoice that relates to a transaction between the supplier and the buyer, and that includes a unique identification code. When the buyer has approved the electronic invoice, the supplier system and/or the server is able to settle the invoice using the unique identification code.
US08407120B1 System and method for providing an adjusted weighted repeat sale index
Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media are described for estimating real estate property values based on an adjusted repeat sales model. In one exemplary embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises calculating data for estimating the adjustments from aggregated levels to disaggregated levels by marking a first transaction to a second transaction using a repeat sales house price index function at an aggregated level; determining, using the calculated data, an estimate of the deviation between the repeat sales house price index at the aggregated level and a repeat sales house price index at a disaggregated level; and calculating the repeat sales house price index at the disaggregated level based on the determined estimate of the deviation from the aggregated level.
US08407119B2 Forecasting levels of currency usage and need
A target level of funds may be defined to specify an ideal level of currency stored in a currency handling device for efficient operation. The target level may be modified based on forecasted currency usage needs. Forecasts may be conducted based on historical usage data, user input and seasonal/event considerations. When a level of funds exceeds the target level by a specified amount, a transport request may be generated. When a level of funds underruns the target level by a specified amount, a change order request may be generated. In one or more arrangements, recommendations for target levels, transport requests and change order requests may be provided for user confirmation instead of automatically executing the recommendation.
US08407109B2 Information processing apparatus, consumables stock management system, consumables stock managing method, consumables stock managing program, and memory medium
A frequency of a residual amount signal which includes the absence of consumables and is issued by a printing apparatus is analyzed, whether new consumables have been attached or not is properly discriminated, and proper stock management is made.
US08407105B2 Discovery of behavior-based item relationships based on browsing session records
Various processes are disclosed for discovering item relationships between particular items, such as products represented in an electronic catalog, based on monitored user behaviors (e.g., item viewing activities, item purchases, shopping cart activities, etc.). The discovered item relationships may, for example, be used to generate personalized item recommendations for users, and/or to supplement item detail pages of an electronic catalog with lists of related items. Also disclosed are processes for generating personalized item recommendations based on users' search activities and browse node visits.
US08407100B2 Machine, methods, and program product for electronic order entry
Systems, methods, and program product for facilitating electronic ordering of goods, services, or goods and services, or other products, through messaging over a financial services electronic payment network, are provided. A customer provides electronic order registration activation information for an electronic order transaction card. The customer is provided an electronic order card having a unique electronic payment network compatible electronic order card identifier including a non-financial transaction IIN and a customer number, and is provided a catalogue or list including product order codes each associated with a different product, to enable electronic ordering over the financial services electronic payment network. An electronic order card configured to interface with a conventional point-of-sale terminal can be used to facilitate the electronic ordering over the existing financial services electronic payment network when presented to the point-of-sale terminal with a product order code identifying a selected product.
US08407098B2 Method, medium, and system for ordering a playlist based on media popularity
This is directed to systems and methods for ordering a playlist of media items. An existing playlist can include media sharing some characteristics, where some of the media items are unfamiliar to the user. To provide the user with a sense of the unfamiliar media items, the electronic device can order the playlist media items based on a familiarity or popularity measure. For example, the electronic device can determine the chart rankings of each media item in the playlist, and play back the media items in the order of chart ranking. This may allow a user to first listen or watch the most familiar or popular media items and get a sense for the less familiar or popular media items in the playlist.
US08407092B2 Metering in a data processing system
A data processing system is described wherein use of resources in the system is metered. Metering evidence is generated which is difficult to forge and is, thus, relatively resistant to tampering. Such a system finds application, for example, in the field of metering the amount of time a person spends reading advertisement that are published on the World Wide Web. If reliable, such metering evidence may be used by the owner of the web server that contains the advertisement to bill the originator of the advertisement.
US08407069B2 Apparatus and method for constructing formularies
An system for constructing formularies is disclosed. The system includes a central computer system and at least one additional computer. The central computer system compiles a list of various pharmaceutical products and sort them into different categories. Formularies are then created by selecting individual products or categories of products that will be covered. When prescription claims are received, coverage is either accepted or denied based on whether the products in the prescription claims are covered by the formulary.
US08407055B2 Information processing apparatus and method for recognizing a user's emotion
An information processing apparatus includes an obtaining unit that obtains meta-information concerning content; a predicting unit that predicts an emotion of a user who is viewing the content from the meta-information obtained by the obtaining unit; and a recognizing unit that recognizes an emotion of the user using the emotion predicted by the predicting unit and user information acquired from the user.
US08407054B2 Speech synthesis device, speech synthesis method, and speech synthesis program
A speech synthesis device is provided with: a central segment selection unit for selecting a central segment from among a plurality of speech segments; a prosody generation unit for generating prosody information based on the central segment; a non-central segment selection unit for selecting a non-central segment, which is a segment outside of a central segment section, based on the central segment and the prosody information; and a waveform generation unit for generating a synthesized speech waveform based on the prosody information, the central segment, and the non-central segment. The speech synthesis device first selects a central segment that forms a basis for prosody generation and generates prosody information based on the central segment so that it is possible to sufficiently reduce both concatenation distortion and sound quality degradation accompanying prosody control in the section of the central segment.
US08407053B2 Speech processing apparatus, method, and computer program product for synthesizing speech
A speech processing apparatus, including a segmenting unit to divide a fundamental frequency signal of a speech signal corresponding to an input text into pitch segments, based on an alignment between samples of at least one given linguistic level included in the input text and the speech signal. Character strings of the input text are divided into the samples based on each linguistic level. A parameterizing unit generates a parametric representation of the pitch segments using a predetermined invertible operator and generates a group of first parameters in correspondence with each linguistic level. A descriptor generating unit generates, for each linguistic level, a descriptor that includes a set of features describing each sample in the input text and a model learning unit classifies the first parameters of each linguistic level of all speech signals in a memory into clusters based on the descriptor corresponding to the linguistic level.
US08407052B2 Methods and systems for correcting transcribed audio files
Methods and systems for correcting transcribed text. One method includes receiving audio data from one or more audio data sources and transcribing the audio data based on a voice model to generate text data. The method also includes making the text data available to a plurality of users over at least one computer network and receiving corrected text data over the at least one computer network from the plurality of users. In addition, the method can include modifying the voice model based on the corrected text data.
US08407048B2 Method and system for transcribing telephone conversation to text
Methods and systems for transcribing portions of a telephone conversation to text enables users to request transcription such as by pressing a button on a mobile device, with the request transmitted to a server including transcription software. The server transcribes some or all of the telephone conversation to text, and transmits the text to the mobile device. The text data may be scanned for selected information, and only the selected information transmitted to the mobile device. The selected information may be automatically stored in memory of the mobile device, such as in an address book.
US08407044B2 Telephony content signal discrimination
A method for discriminating a telephony content signal into a first category or a second category is described. The method comprises a filtering procedure for obtaining from the telephony content signal a band signal set comprising one or more band signals, each band signal being associated with a respective frequency band at least one of said band signals being a sub-band signal (n) associated with a sub-band of an overall frequency band of the telephony content signal. Furthermore a determination procedure is provided for determining a band signal variation value (LLn) and a band signal strength value (TLn) for each band signal (n) of said band signal set. Finally, a discrimination procedure discriminates whether the telephony content signal is of the first category or of the second category. The discrimination procedure comprises one or both of an unconditional and a conditional step for evaluating a relationship of the band signal variation value (LLn) and said band signal strength value (TLn) for said sub-band signal (n).
US08407026B2 Systems and methods for quantifying reactions to communications
Embodiments of methods and systems are described that provide methods for quantifying an entity's reaction to one or more communication signals by quantifying a probabilistic relationship between the communication signal and a known relationship of an attribute to the communication signal. With this quantification, the entity's reaction can be modeled as probability distributions that can be compared to the communication signal and known relationship. With this information, an entity's reactions can be compared to an ideal algorithm that optimally integrates the known relationships and communication signals to arrive at an optimal reaction. By making this comparison between the entity's reaction and an optimal reaction, a quantitative calibration measure can be determined. The meaning of the communication signals, or relationships to an attribute, may or may not be known and in embodiments the quantification of reactions can provide an ability to estimate an unknown attribute from the communication signals.
US08407022B2 Real-time dynamic tracking of bias
A bias value associated with a sensor, e.g., a time-varying, non-zero value which is output from a sensor when it is motionless, is estimated using at least two, different bias estimating techniques. A resultant combined or selected bias estimate may then be used to compensate the biased output of the sensor in, e.g., a 3D pointing device.
US08407008B2 For in-field control module for managing wireless seismic data acquisition systems and related methods
An exemplary system for managing the deployment of a seismic data acquisition system uses a module configured to execute a plurality of task in the field by receiving one or more seismic devices. The module may include a power source that provides electrical power to the seismic devices. The module may also include a processor programmed to retrieve data stored in the seismic devices, perform diagnostics, facilitate inventory and logistics control, configure seismic devices and update data or pre-programmed instructions in the seismic device.
US08407000B2 Image augmented inertial navigation system (IAINS) and method
An image-augmented inertial navigation system includes an inertial navigation system configured to estimate a navigation state vector and an imager configured to output pixel signals associated with terrain features passing through a field view of the imager. The system further includes a processing unit configured to determine a distance from the imager to each of the pixel signals for a given image frame and to determine a distance between the imager and a centroid of one or more of the terrain features passing through the field of view of the imager for the given image frame. The processing unit is also configured to track each terrain feature as the terrain features pass through the field of view of the imager. The processing unit is further configured to update the navigation state vector of the inertial navigation system based on calculated NED coordinates position information of the tracked terrain features.
US08406999B2 Navigation device
A navigation device includes a map information acquiring unit 47 and 48 for acquiring map information, a positioning unit 46 for measuring a vehicle position, an input unit 34 and 45 for inputting a search condition for a search for facilities which are search objects, a facility searching unit 50 for, when the vehicle position measured by the positioning unit is located on a dedicated road whose exits and entrances are predetermined, searching through the map information acquired by the map information acquiring unit for facilities existing on the dedicated road and facilities existing at a predetermined distance or less from an exit of the dedicated road, those facilities satisfying the search condition inputted from the input unit, and a display unit 32 and 43 for displaying the facilities searched for by the facility searching unit in order of increasing distance from the vehicle position measured by the positioning unit.
US08406996B2 Cordless inertial vehicle navigation
Inertial navigation systems for wheeled vehicles with constrained motion degrees of freedom are described.
US08406992B2 Network-based navigation system having virtual drive-thru advertisements integrated with actual imagery from along a physical route
A network-based navigation system includes a user interface and a computer server system that can access a map database, an actual imagery database and an advertisement database in order to provide visual route guidance information having virtual drive-thru advertisements integrated with actual imagery from along a physical route. The user interface permits a user to submit a request for navigation information, receive visual route guidance information in response to the request and initiate a drive-thru presentation of at least a portion of a route. The computer server determines at least one route from the map database based on the request from the user and provides route guidance information to the user interface in response. The computer server also identifies actual imagery from the image database associated with the at least one route and selectively replaces at least one polygon region identified in the actual imagery associated with the at least one route with at least one advertisement from the ad database to create a drive-thru presentation with at least one virtual advertisement. At least a portion of the drive-thru presentation is presented to the user interface. In one embodiment, the computer server records a drive-thru charge for the virtual advertisements present in the portion of the drive-thru presentation provided to the user interface.
US08406991B2 In-vehicle device and wireless communication system
Upon detection of a portable terminal positioned at a predetermined distance allowing wireless communication with an in-vehicle device, the in-vehicle device in an in-vehicle system performs a pairing process with respect to the detected portable terminal to establish wireless communication with the detected portable terminal. Thereafter, the in-vehicle device acquires an image and sound acquired by an application being executed on the portable terminal from the portable terminal, with which wireless communication has been established. The in-vehicle device converts acquired various types of data into an outputtable format of the in-vehicle device and outputs the converted data to at least one of a display unit and a speaker.
US08406981B2 Engine throttle control system
An operation amount detecting unit 17 detects an operation amount of a throttle grip from a zero position. A basic throttle opening degree computing unit 18 computes a basic throttle opening degree corresponding to the operation amount. A throttle opening degree additional value computing unit 20 outputs as a target throttle opening degree a value obtained by adding the basic throttle opening degree with a throttle opening degree additional value corresponding to the operation amount when the operation of the throttle grip is performed within a small operation region corresponding to an idle operation. The throttle opening degree additional value computing unit 20 outputs as the target throttle opening degree the basic throttle opening degree when the operation of the throttle grip is performed without the small operation region.
US08406975B2 Control apparatus and control method for vehicle mounted with automatic transmission
An ECU executes a program including the steps of: determining whether or not the conditions for execution of low-temperature neutral control: the temperature of the automatic transmission hydraulic fluid is at most a threshold value; the shift position is D or R position; the vehicle speed is zero; and the brake is ON and the vehicle is stopped, are continuously satisfied for a period of time represented by a threshold value; executing the neutral control when the conditions for execution of low-temperature neutral control are continuously satisfied for at least the period represented by the threshold value; returning from the neutral control when the conditions for execution of low-temperature neutral control are not satisfied; and restricting the throttle opening position in returning from the neutral control.
US08406968B2 Control system for a vehicle having a transmission with autoshift function
A control system and method for a vehicle having an engine and a transmission with an autoshift function comprises a processor coupled to the engine and the transmission of the vehicle and adapted to control the power output of said engine and, in an autoshift mode of operation, the upshifting and downshifting of the transmission. The control system further comprises user interface means (10) coupled to said processor and including a first manual control means (14) being operable to be set to a first engine speed, and a second manual control means (16) being operable to be set to a second engine speed. The interface means (10) provides signals representing the setting of said first and second manual control means (14, 16) to said processor; and said control system has a plurality of modes of operation selectable by the relative settings of said first and second manual control means.
US08406965B2 System for monitoring for risk of road shoulder collapse, and transport vehicle
Disclosed herein is a shoulder collapse risk monitoring system capable of alerting a driver to a risk of a road shoulder collapse during approach operations to the shoulder.The system includes: a shoulder shape measuring device 101 that measures a shape and slope angle of a road shoulder around a vehicle; a measurement position identification section 121 that identifies a wheel position relative to the shoulder when the shape and slope angle of the shoulder are measured by the shoulder shape measuring device; a shoulder strength calculating section 122 that calculates, from the shape and slope angle of the shoulder measured by the shoulder shape measuring device, strength of the shoulder at the wheel position identified by the measurement position identification section; a wheel load measuring section 123 that measures a wheel load of the wheel whose position has been identified by the measurement position identification section; and an alert device 105 that presents information on a risk of a collapse of the shoulder at the identified wheel position by comparing the wheel load measured by the wheel load measuring section, with the shoulder strength calculated by the shoulder strength calculating section.
US08406963B2 Implement control system for a machine
This disclosure relates to a control system for a machine implement. The control system includes a measurement sensor configured to provide an implement measurement signal indicative of a velocity of a machine implement, and a controller. The controller is configured to provide an implement measurement signal and an operator command signal, and to determine an adjusted implement command based signal based on the implement measurement signal and the operator command signal.
US08406950B2 Optoelectronic sensor
An optoelectronic sensor (10), in particular a laser scanner, for a vehicle (100) which moves on a path (104) bordered at both sides, the optoelectronic sensor having a light receiver (24) for the conversion of received light (20) into electric signals as well as an evaluation unit (30, 34) which is configured to determine the position of objects in a monitored zone of the sensor (10) from the electric signals and to recognize whether an unauthorized object is located within a protected field (102) dynamically changing in position and/or extent, wherein a safety output (32) is provided via which a stop signal or a brake signal can be output to the vehicle (100) by the evaluation unit (30, 34) on the recognition of a protected field intrusion. The evaluation unit (30, 34) is furthermore configured to recognize borders (110) of the path (104) from the electric signals and to fit the protected field (102) dynamically into the borders (110).
US08406946B2 Single-powered multi-CVT differential system with stabilizing device
The present invention relates to single power source installed at a common load, for individually installing the CVT between the output shaft of the single power source or further through two or more output shafts of the transmission and the individually driven load, for randomly changing the speed ratio to match the speed differential operation between two loads driven by the single power source, in which the stabilizing device constituted by torque limited coupling device with sliding damping during sliding is installed between the loads individually driven by the two CVTs.
US08406943B2 Apparatus and method for controlling remote train operation
A method of verifying clearance of a rail crossing includes: (a) detecting the presence of a train near the crossing, the train being equipped with a locomotive control unit; (b) in response to detection of the train near the crossing, generating a unique code; (c) capturing an image of the crossing; (d) transmitting the unique code along with the image to a remote operator control unit; (e) using the locomotive control unit, waiting for a response from the operator control unit containing the unique code; and (f) if the response containing the unique code is received by the locomotive control unit, permitting further operation of the train and, if the unique code is not received by the locomotive control unit, carrying out an automatic response which prevents movement of the train through the crossing.
US08406940B2 Methods and systems for mapping railroad tracks
A method for mapping a railroad track is provided. The method includes defining a plurality of track segments that form the railroad track and determining coordinates of each track segment. The method also includes storing the coordinates of each track segment in a database as map segments and linking the map segments stored in the database to create a multi-dimensional railroad track map.
US08406937B2 System and method for reducing peak and off-peak electricity demand by monitoring, controlling and metering high intensity fluorescent lighting in a facility
A method of reducing electricity usage during peak demand periods includes the steps of establishing predetermined load reduction criteria representative of a desire by a power provider to reduce loading on an electricity supply grid, and coordinating with a facility having HIF lighting equipment to permit the power provider to turn-off one or more of the HIF lighting equipment by sending instructions to a master controller at the facility in response to the predetermined load reduction criteria, and establishing a list of HIF lighting equipment to be turned-off in response to the instructions, and configuring the master controller to send an override control signal to the HIF lighting equipment to implement the instructions, and configuring the HIF lighting equipment to send a response signal to the master controller providing a status of the HIF lighting equipment.
US08406933B2 Systems and methods for estimating the effects of a request to change power usage
Systems and methods for estimating the effects of a request to change power usage are described. Device data about one or more devices may be received. User behavior data about past and anticipated user behavior may be received. Effects of a request to change power usage on a power grid may be estimated using the device data and the user behavior data. Whether to send the request to change power usage may be determined based on the estimated effects.
US08406927B2 Electronic control system for drilling devices
An electronic control system for drilling devices, includes at least one pair of data-processing units (2a, 2b); a plurality of data-exchange lines, connected to the data-processing units (2a, 2b) for transmission of signals from and to control devices (4a-4c) of the drilling device; and accessories (5, 9) proper to the drilling device. Each of the data-processing units (2a, 2b) is redundant by the others with one and the same level of hierarchy, and all the data-processing units (2a, 2b) are connected to all the control devices (4a-4c) and to the accessories (5, 9) proper to the drilling device through the electronic data-exchange lines that are redundant in a number equal to the multiplicity of the data-processing units (2a, 2b).
US08406919B1 Quality regulating apparatus and method
A quality regulating apparatus and method is disclosed which operates on a product stream having an incoming product stream quality level so that an outgoing product stream quality level provided by the apparatus follows a target quality level so that it is better than the target quality level providing a maximum yield. The apparatus includes a conveying device, a product stream imager, an inspection engine, a routing engine, and an object diverting station. In operation, the inspection engine and routing engine cooperate in a manner so that objects classified as defective are intentionally passed to the output product stream when their inclusion maintains the quality level of the first output product stream at a level that is better than or equal to the target quality level.
US08406917B2 System and method for random mixed palletizing of products
A system and method of the present invention randomly mixes and palletizes various containers received from a conveyor. A control system received an order in advance to cooperate with an automatic storage and retrieval system to pick the containers, ordered by various customers, and to place them on a second conveyor. A robotic device, such as a robotic arm or a gantry system, selectively picks the containers from the second conveyor and places the containers on a pallet in a mixed fashion. The pallets are delivered to the respective customers.
US08406915B2 Mobile rack for a library and RFID system for a library including the same
The present disclosure relates to a mobile rack for a library and an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) system for a library including the same, wherein the mobile rack includes a plurality of racks configured to keep books each attached with an RFID tag and mounted with an RFID reader for recognizing tag information stored in the RFID tag, a moving unit configured to move at least one of the plurality of racks, a server configured to manage the books that are inputted, outputted and stacked, and a controller configured to control the moving means in response to a user command through the server or the tag information and to adjust a discrete distance between racks.
US08406914B2 Injection molding controller, manufacturing method thereof, and injection molding system using the same
An injection molding controller controls an injection molding apparatus and peripheral devices of the injection molding apparatus. The injection molding controller includes an integral interface and a storage unit. The integral interface includes an injection molding control page and peripheral control pages. The integral interface shows the injection molding control page and the peripheral control pages simultaneously. The storage unit communicates with the integral interface and stores data related to the integral interface. The disclosure further provides a method for manufacturing the injection molding controller and an injection molding system using the injection molding controller.
US08406911B2 Implementing sequential segmented interleaving algorithm for enhanced process control
A method and apparatus are provided for implementing Advanced Process Control (APC) for enhanced electrical, magnetic, or physical properties process output control using a sequential segmented interleaving algorithm. The sequential segmented interleaving algorithm includes two tuning equations running in parallel. A deposition time is calculated after a production run based upon the relationship between the electrical, magnetic, or physical properties process output and deposition time process input. A deposition rate offset value is calculated after a calibration run based upon the relationship between a calibration deposition thickness process output and an updated deposition time process input calculated after a last production run.
US08406909B2 Method of designing dental-implant prosthesis
A method of designing a dental-implant prosthesis includes the steps of arranging a referential jig and combining the referential jig into a fixture installed in a patient's oral cavity, the referential jig having at least one feature point, the fixture having a connection interface, the referential jig having an opposite-joint interface; scanning the patient's oral cavity to acquire an oral digital data and a referential-jig digital data having at least one feature-point digital data; selecting one digital dental-implant prosthesis from a prosthetic database in a computer, a digital positioning jig overlapping the digital dental-implant prosthesis for combination with the connection interface, and proceeding with overlapping and localization of the digital positioning jig and the referential-jig digital data to combine the referential-jig digital data into the connection interface; and adjusting the position, size, and angle of the digital dental-implant prosthesis to acquire the digital dental-implant prosthesis which is most suitable to the patient.
US08406908B2 Method and system for producing a dental prosthesis
A method for producing a dental prosthesis, including obtaining data for the teeth that are to be replaced and for their surrounding area; compiling a database containing data for prefabricated tooth replacement parts; excluding those tooth replacement parts which, based on the data recorded for the teeth to be replaced and for their surrounding area, are unsuitable for functional and/or aesthetic and/or stability reasons; selecting the tooth replacement parts to be used; using imaging software to obtain a virtual representation of the tooth replacement parts integrated into the surrounding area in the patient's dentition in accordance with customary set-up rules; recording the data of an actual situation in a patient's mouth after preparation of the affected teeth and insertion of any implants; checking the compliance of the selected tooth replacement parts with the data of the actual situation after preparation; making available the selected tooth replacement parts; modifying the selected tooth replacement parts according to the data of the actual situation after preparation.
US08406891B2 Telemetry double buffering and oversampling for an implantable medical device
This document discusses, among other things, a communication circuit for an IMD comprising a radio frequency (RF) modulator to modulate and demodulate IMD data signals, first and second serial buffer registers to store received demodulated data and to store transmit data for modulation and configured to operate according to a first clock signal, and a parallel buffer register to receive data in parallel from the first and second serial buffer registers and configured to operate according to a second clock signal that is slower than the first clock signal. The communication circuit also includes a telemetry control circuit configured to, when in the receive mode, alternate between serially receiving data into the first serial buffer register while the parallel buffer receives data from the second serial buffer register, and serially receiving data into the second serial buffer register while the parallel buffer receives data from the first serial buffer.
US08406889B2 Conducting polymer nanowire brain-machine interface systems and methods
The present invention relates to conducting polymer nanowires and their use in a brain-machine interface which is secure, robust and minimally invasive. In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a vascular-based brain-machine interface comprising conducting polymer nanowires is disclosed.
US08406882B2 Implantable pulse generator with a stacked battery and capacitor
One example includes a configurable power source system for an implantable device having a predetermined power requirement, the system comprising a housing for a battery and a capacitor, the housing including a distance D between a first internal face and a second internal face, the housing adapted to fit within dimensions of the implantable device, a plurality of batteries of different thicknesses, each battery adapted to fit within a perimeter of the housing, a plurality of capacitors of different thicknesses, each capacitor adapted to fit within the housing and adjacent the battery and a pick and place system adapted to assemble a selected battery from the plurality of batteries and a selected capacitor from the plurality of capacitors with the housing to form a configurable power source at least meeting the predetermined power requirement for the implantable device.
US08406879B2 Rate adaptive cardiac pacing systems and methods
The invention relates to cardiac rhythm management systems, and more particularly, to rate adaptive cardiac pacing systems and methods. In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for providing rate-adaptive cardiac pacing therapy from an implantable medical device, the method including sensing a pulmonary function of a patient; determining a rate of change in the pulmonary function; sensing a cardiac function of the patient; determining a rate of change in the cardiac function; and calculating a target pacing rate based on an existing pacing rate, the rate of change in the pulmonary function, and the rate of change in the cardiac function.
US08406875B2 Routing of pacing signals
An apparatus includes a sensing unit and control circuitry. The sensing unit is connected to a channel that delivers Electro-Physiological (EP) signals from a cardiac catheter to an EP recording system and pacing signals from the EP recording system to the catheter. The sensing unit is configured to automatically identify time intervals during which the pacing signals are delivered. The control circuitry is configured to route the EP signals on the channel from the catheter to the EP recording system via an intervening system that is detrimental to the pacing signals, to switch the channel to an alternate path that bypasses the intervening system during the identified time intervals, and to route the pacing signals from the EP recording system to the cardiac catheter over the alternate path.
US08406869B2 Post-acute electrical stimulation treatment of adverse cerebrovascular events
A method for treatment is provided, including identifying that a subject has suffered from an adverse cerebrovascular event, excluding Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Responsively to the identifying, beginning at least nine hours after the event, electrical stimulation is applied to a site of the subject selected from the group consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), a greater palatine nerve, a lesser palatine nerve, a sphenopalatine nerve, a communicating branch between a maxillary nerve and an SPG, an otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion, an efferent fiber going out of the otic ganglion, an infraorbital nerve, a vidian nerve, a greater superficial petrosal nerve, and a lesser deep petrosal nerve. The stimulation is configured to excite nervous tissue of the site at a strength sufficient to induce at least an increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF) and/or a release of one or more neuroprotective substances.
US08406868B2 Therapy using perturbation and effect of physiological systems
Methods for treating a patient and further to devices for performing such treatment, e.g., methods and devices to perturb at least one physiological system and deliver therapy to the patient based on the effects of such perturbation. For example, a method for using an implantable medical device is disclosed that involves delivering electrical stimuli to an efferent nerve associated with the selected organ. Afferent electrical activity is monitored during delivery of electrical stimuli to the efferent nerve, the monitored afferent electrical activity includes an indirect component of a compound action potential (CAP). A status of the selected organ is assessed based upon the indirect component. A determination is made as to whether to deliver therapy to the selected organ in response to assessing the status of the selected organ.
US08406863B2 Device for using saved frequency information
The invention relates to a device for applying saved frequency information in the form of modulated magnetic fields and/or modulated light to the body, wherein the device comprises at least one transceiver, one display, one memory, one control electronic, one D/A-converter, and a coil (6) for the application of modulated magnetic fields and/or a laser (7) for the application of modulated light. The invention also relates to a method for tapping signals of the electric potential of the heart and the pulse value and applying saved frequency information by means of a device according to the invention.
US08406858B2 Multi-excitation diagnostic system and methods for classification of tissue
Methods and systems for in vivo classification of tissue are disclosed. The tissue is irradiated with light from multiple light sources and light scattered and fluoresced from the tissue is received. Distinct emissions of the sample are identified from the received light. An excitation emission matrix is generated (1002). On-diagonal and off diagonal components of the excitation emission matrix are identified (1004, 1006, 1008). Spectroscopic measures are derived from the excitation emission matrix (1014), and are compared to a database of known spectra (1016) permitting the tissue to be classified as benign or malignant (1018). An optical biopsy needle or an optical probe may be used to contemporaneously classify and sample tissue for pathological confirmation of diagnosis.
US08406848B2 Reconstructing three-dimensional current sources from magnetic sensor data
Magnetic source imaging (MSI) involves the reconstruction of the current sources in a portion of a body, such as an organ, from measured magnetic field data. The measured magnetic field data may be from one-dimensional or three-dimensional sensors. Aspects of the present invention include systems and methods for reconstructing the electrical current of an organ given magnetic data. In embodiments, reconstruction of three-dimensional current sources is accomplished knowing or estimating the position, or offset, of the sensor plane with respect to the patient in order to form a set of linear equations. Alternatively, reconstruction of three-dimensional current sources is accomplished without knowing the offset of the sensor plane with respect to the patient. In embodiments, the linear and nonlinear systems of equations are iteratively used to obtain the current source information. In embodiments, multi-scale strategies are employed.
US08406841B2 Dry electrode for biomedical signal measuring sensor
A dry electrode for biomedical signal measuring sensor includes a conductive sponge, a conductive fabric, and a thin metal film. The conductive fabric covers the whole conductive sponge, and the thin metal film is disposed on one face of the conductive fabric opposite to the conductive sponge. When using the dry electrode in measuring biomedical signal, it is not necessary to apply a conductive gel on a patient's skin, at where the biomedical signal is to be measured. Without the need of applying the conductive gel, the dry electrode is readily for measuring biomedical signal at any time and can be conveniently used in measuring signal over a long period of time without the problem of an attenuated signal due to gradually becoming dried conductive gel.
US08406830B2 Radio frequency signal transmission system, radio frequency signal transmission connector and radio frequency signal transmission cable
A radio frequency signal transmission system is provided which includes a radio frequency signal transmission connector including an antenna for radiating a radio frequency signal having a predetermined frequency band, and a first dielectric body made of a material having a predetermined first permittivity and having the antenna cast therein, and a radio frequency signal transmission cable including a dielectric transmission path formed of a second dielectric body made of a material having substantially the same second permittivity as the first permittivity of the first dielectric body of the radio frequency signal transmission connector. The radio frequency signal transmission connector is connected with the radio frequency signal transmission cable thereby to form a radio frequency signal transmission path through which the radio frequency signal radiated from the antenna is transmitted to the dielectric transmission path via the first dielectric body.
US08406825B2 Integrated antenna and electrostatic discharge protection
A mobile communications device having an antenna partly formed from an electrostatic discharge shield covering a microphone. The antenna includes a radiator arm extending from the electrostatic discharge shield and includes a feed element connecting the electrostatic discharge shield to a signal trace. To the extent the microphone employs an acoustic tube to form an acoustic pathway between the device casing and the microphone, the radiator arm of the antenna may be arranged over the acoustic tube.
US08406824B2 Wireless communication apparatus and power-supply apparatus
A wireless communication apparatus includes a power-supply apparatus configured to supply electric power to a load that is intermittently operated by using a battery as a power supply; and a control unit configured to control the power-supply apparatus, wherein the power-supply apparatus includes a capacitor; a switching unit capable of selectively forming a first path through which charging is performed from the battery to the capacitor and a second path through which the battery is connected in series with the capacitor, and wherein the control unit controls the switching unit so that the first path is formed during a period in which the load is idle and the second path is formed during a period in which the load is not idle, and thereby supplies the voltage of the sum of the battery voltage and the charged voltage of the capacitor in a non-idle period.
US08406821B2 In-vehicle hands-free phone system, and tone sending-out method
An in-vehicle hands-free phone system includes: a base station; a portable terminal that is wirelessly connected to the base station; and an in-vehicle device that includes: an information acquisition portion that acquires information about a portable terminal that is connected to the in-vehicle device; a storage portion that stores a number sequence whose intermediate portion includes a predetermined code; and a tone sending-out control portion that sends the number sequence stored in the storage portion to the portable terminal and causes the portable terminal to send out the number sequence in a tone. The tone sending-out control portion determines a tone sending-out behavior about a number sequence part that is subsequent to the predetermined code on the basis of the information acquired by the information acquisition portion.
US08406818B2 System and method for providing a visual indicator on a communication device
Embodiments of the disclosed invention include an apparatus, method, and computer program product for providing a larger display area for viewing pictures and/or videos on a communication device. For example, in one embodiment, a communication device is disclosed comprising a plurality of display components for displaying an image that covers a plurality of sides of the communication device. In certain embodiments, a user first image is displayed in response to receiving an incoming call for providing a visible indicator for alerting the user of an incoming call.
US08406810B1 Magnetic semiconductor element for authentication and user device using such an element
An authentication semiconductor element (such as a chip for a user identity card) and an associated user device include magnetic elements for automatically aligning and holding in place the authentication element on electrical contacts of the user device. The authentication semiconductor element includes a substrate, an electrical circuit, electrical contacts formed on the surface of the substrate, and at least two magnetic elements located on the substrate. The user device includes a communication interface, a processor, and a socket for receiving an authentication semiconductor element. The socket includes electrical contacts and at least two magnetic elements positioned to magnetically interact with the magnetic elements of the authentication element and automatically align the electrical contacts of the authentication element on corresponding electrical contacts of the socket.
US08406808B2 Multiservice communication device with logical control channel
A multiservice communication device includes a plurality of transceivers that wirelessly transceive network data with a corresponding plurality of networks in accordance with a corresponding plurality of network protocols, wherein at least one of the plurality of transceivers further transceives control channel data with a remote management unit contemporaneously with the network data via a logical control channel carried using the corresponding one of the plurality of network protocols, wherein the control channel data includes local control data sent to the management unit and remote control data received from the management unit. A processing module processes the remote control data and generates a least one control signal in response thereto, the at least one control signal for adapting at least one of the plurality of transceivers based on the remote control data.
US08406795B2 Methods and apparatus for performing timing synchronization with base stations
A wireless terminal using OFDM signaling supporting both terrestrial and satellite base station connectivity operates using conventional access probe signaling in a first mode of operation to establish a timing synchronized wireless link with a terrestrial base station. In a second mode of operation, used to establish a timing synchronized wireless link with a satellite base station, a slightly modified access protocol is employed. The round trip signaling time and timing ambiguity between a wireless terminal and a satellite base station is substantially greater than with a terrestrial base station. The modified access protocol uses coding of access probe signals to uniquely identify a superslot index within a beaconslot. The modified protocol uses multiple access probes with different timing offsets to further resolve timing ambiguity and allows the satellite base station access monitoring interval to remain small in duration. Terrestrial base station location/connection information is used to estimate initial timing.
US08406771B2 Wireless communication system, base station, and wireless communication method
A wireless communication system, includes: a first base station; a second base station; a first terminal which transmits call connection data to the first base station; a second terminal which receives a call connection request; and a management device which manages location and movement of the first terminal, wherein the first base station employs a handover procedure to notify the management device, when receiving the call connection data from the first terminal, that a call connection destination of the second terminal which has received the call connection request is changed, and notifies the first terminal about a frequency of the second base station, and the first terminal transmits call connection data to the second base station based on the notified frequency.
US08406769B2 Leadership support system determining a danger of isolation of a group member even under temporarily worsened communication conditions
A leadership support system includes a leader terminal and plural member terminals. The member terminals, according to either the relay of communication information not addressed thereto or the reception of communication information addressed thereto, send back a response to the appropriate communication information. The leader terminal determines, based on the times of relaying the communication information, whether or not the member terminal that transmitted the communication information is in danger of isolation. When the leader terminal determines the member terminal in danger of isolation, it outputs a warning signal indicative of a ranger of isolation to that member terminal.
US08406760B2 Method and arrangement for using certain information acquired upon registration at a base station especially for traffic forecasting
In a method and an arrangement for using certain data acquired upon registration of a mobile communication device of a mobile subscriber of a cellular provider at a switching center, in particular for traffic forecasting, wherein the acquired data comprise at least a numerical identification associated with the person of the subscriber and time and location of registration at the switching center, the numerical identification is used at least partially as an argument of a true one-way function or pseudo one-way function for calculating a functional value. The functional value is associated with the acquired data, especially time and location of the registration. The acquired data including the functional value but without the numerical identification are transmitted to a unit using the data.
US08406742B2 Cellular telephone set and character display presentation method to be used in the same
A cellular telephone set can increase number of display patterns of animation display without occupying large storage region in the memory and without performing setting operation every time. The character presentation means determines character to be displayed in each event screen upon depression of call release button after telephone calling, depression of call release button after telephone call reception, upon occurrence of at least one of presence of not responded call and newly received mail, and upon variation of state between open state and closed state of the first and second casings, depending upon calling history, time of calling, call arriving history, time of call arrival, and timing of detection of variation of state between open state and closed state of the first and second casing by the detecting means.
US08406741B2 Dual SIM mobile terminal and operating method thereof
Disclosed herein is a dual SIM terminal and an operating method thereof for supporting dual standby and single talk using a single baseband. The dual SIM mobile terminal may include a controller which is a single chipset, a dual SIM, and two radio frequency (RF) units, thereby having an effect capable of providing a service at the same level as a dual SIM using two mobile terminals even with one mobile terminal. Furthermore, dual SIM switching is performed according to a state of the network, a pricing system, and a user's setting, thereby providing the user's desired service.
US08406737B2 Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof
A mobile terminal includes a display, transmitter, memory, and a controller configured to recognize a first SIM card having a first SIM identification that identifies the first SIM card, and to receive access data having conditional broadcast access information via user input, the access data being associated with the first SIM identification. The controller is further configured to store the access data based upon the recognition of the first SIM card in the memory, cause the display to display received broadcast content in accordance with conditions specified by the access data, and delete the access data from the memory after the first SIM card is removed from the mobile terminal.
US08406735B2 Method for pairing electronic equipment in a wireless network system
A method pairs electronic equipment, particularly, in a wireless network system. The method includes: providing first and second wireless electronic equipment to be paired which store a first and a second public key, respectively, and providing a user with a wireless portable electronic device which stores a third public key. Then, the portable electronic device transmits the third public key in turn to the first and second electronic equipment, and receiving from the first and second equipment the first and second public keys, respectively. Moreover, the portable electronic device calculates first and second numbers starting from the first and second public keys, respectively. The same first and second numbers is independently calculated by the first and second electronic equipment, respectively, starting from the third public key and representing secret numbers shared between the portable device and the first and second electronic equipment. Finally, the portable device provides a secure communication key to be transmitted in turn to the first and second equipment through encryption with the first and second secret numbers, respectively.
US08406725B2 Method and system for coordinating necessary radio transmission events with unrelated opportunistic events to optimize battery life and network resources
A method and apparatus for sending an event from user equipment operating in a mobile network, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring whether an unrelated opportunistic event has occurred; and sending said event with said unrelated opportunistic event.
US08406720B2 Beamforming weight generation using adaptive trigonometric waveform interpolation techniques
Techniques are provided herein to generate beamforming weight vectors for transmissions to be made from a first wireless communication device, e.g., a base station, to a second wireless communication device, e.g., a client device. The first device has a plurality of antennas and receives uplink transmissions from the second device, each uplink transmission comprising a group of frequency subcarriers. The first device computes channel information from the received uplink transmission and computes one or more trigonometric waveforms determined to approximate the channel information. One or more downlink beamforming weight vectors are computed at any given frequency subcarrier (thus in any frequency subband) by interpolation using the one or more trigonometric waveforms.
US08406717B1 Digital FM stereo receiver architecture to recover carrier information based on stereo or mono signals
Systems and techniques for digital processing of FM stereo signals are described. In some implementations, a receiver system is provided. The receiver system can include a received signal input configured to receive a digital signal based on a received mono signal or a received stereo signal. The receiver system can also include a stereo detector coupled with the received signal input, the stereo detector configured to produce a stereo detection signal indicating either a received stereo signal or a received mono signal. The receiver system can further include a digital signal processor coupled with the stereo detector, the digital signal processor configured to process the digital signal based on stereo transmission when the stereo detection signal indicates a received stereo signal and process the digital signal based on mono transmission when the stereo detection signal indicates a received mono signal.
US08406708B2 Joint process estimator with variable tap delay line for use in power amplifier digital predistortion
Methods and circuits for pre-distorting a signal to compensate for distortion introduced by an electronic device operating on the signal. In an example method, first and second signal samples representing the input and output of the electronic device are generated. The first and second signal samples are spaced at unit-delay intervals, and each of the second signal samples corresponds in time to one of the first signal samples. Pre-distortion weights are then calculated from the first and second signal samples, the pre-distortion weights corresponding to a pre-distortion model comprising a lattice-predictor memory model structure having multiple delays and having at least one multi-unit delay interval between adjacent delays. The calculated pre-distortion weights are then applied to the input signal, using a predistorter with a structure corresponding to the lattice-predictor memory model, to produce a pre-distorted input signal for input to the electronic device.
US08406690B2 Data transmission system
A system is provided for transmitting data between a first component and a second component, which rotates relative to the first component. The system includes a first coupling element of limited angular extent mounted to the first component, and a second coupling element of limited angular extent mounted to the second component. The first and second coupling elements come into angular alignment once per revolution of the second component relative to the first component. The system further includes a first transceiver connected to the first coupling element, and a second transceiver connected to the second coupling element. The first and second transceivers are configured to detect the angular alignment of the first and second coupling elements. The first and second transceivers are further configured to transmit data between the first and second transceivers via the first and second coupling elements when the angular alignment is detected.
US08406688B2 Data control apparatus, data control method, and storage medium
A data control apparatus that enables data communication among devices with simple operations. A first communication unit communicates with a first device placed on a predetermined surface of the data control apparatus. A second communication unit communicates with a second device. A detection unit detects a position of the first device placed on the predetermined surface of the data control apparatus. A communication control unit controls communication between the first device and the second device according to the position of the first device detected by the detection unit.
US08406686B2 Wireless communication terminal apparatus and method of controlling same
A mobile communication terminal apparatus includes a non-contact communication section configured to perform non-contact communication with an external terminal apparatus. The non-contact communication section includes a main unit having a controller configured to control communication with the external terminal apparatus and a main antenna, and a sub-unit having a sub-antenna having a coil whose number of windings is smaller than the number of windings of a coil of the main antenna and an adjuster configured to adjust a resonance frequency.
US08406685B2 System and method for intercepting cellular satellite communication
The present invention provides a method for intercepting and monitoring of cellular satellite communication wherein communication between at least one mobile device (MES) and the satellite is through a first band link that includes plurality of first-band spot beams each accommodating at least one basic channel unit that includes a control channel and corresponding traffic channels, and communication between the satellite and main station is through wideband second-band link accommodating plurality of second band spot beams each accommodating at least one basic channel unit that includes a control channel and corresponding traffic channels, the method comprising detecting map between a control channel of the downlink first band link and corresponding control channel of downlink second band link by identifying identical unique spot beam number (SB Mask) data in the respective control channels.
US08406684B1 Two-way radio device with combined mobile communication function
A two-way radio device with combined mobile communication function comprises at least a radio transceiver module, a 2G/3G transceiver module, a control processor, an audio processing module, a memory, a display, a button set and a power supply module. Accordingly by executing a manual operation mode or an automatic operation mode of the device, one of a radio communication function and a mobile communication function of the device is selected to be enabled so as to achieve voice and data communications with one of radio system subscribers or 2G/3G system subscribers. Besides, the device can also execute a transfer operation mode to transfer and forward communications between the radio system subscribers, or between the radio system subscribers and the 2G/3G system subscribers.
US08406680B2 Sheet reversing device and image forming apparatus
A sheet reversing device has a vertical first conveyance path, a horizontal second conveyance path into which a sheet is carried via the first conveyance path and a horizontally third conveyance path into which the switched-back sheet is carried from the second conveyance path. A curved guide plate is disposed between the first and second conveyance paths and includes a curved guide surface for guiding the sheet to the second conveyance path, and a pivotal guide pivotably supported with a part thereof projecting from the curved guide surface. The pivotal guide pivots to retract into the inner side of the curved guide by being pushed by the sheet moving from the first conveyance path toward the second conveyance path while guiding the sheet switched back and carried out from the second conveyance path toward the third conveyance path with the part thereof projecting from the curved guide surface.
US08406677B2 Image forming device that reduces consumption of toner used for non-printing purpose
When carrying out monochrome printing, an engine unit of a printer calculates an amount of toner consumed as lubricant by a color photoreceptor according to the number of sheets to be printed (S63). When carrying out color printing, the engine unit calculates an amount of toner remaining on the color photoreceptor after the printing based on an amount of toner necessary for printing calculated from a printing rate and an amount of actually transferred toner that is calculated from the transfer rate (S65). The toner remaining on the color photoreceptor is used as lubricant, and the engine unit calculates an amount of toner by subtracting the residual toner amount from the amount of toner as lubricant calculated from the number of sheets for monochrome printing (S67), and supplies the calculated amount of toner as lubricant to the color photoreceptor when carrying out monochrome printing.
US08406662B2 Developer supply device
A developer supply device, comprising: a casing; first electrodes located at a first most downstream position defining a certain distance with respect to the supply target and positions between the casing and the first most downstream position to form a first traveling electric field; a second electrodes that are located at a second most downstream position defining the certain distance with respect to the supply target and positions between the casing and the second most downstream position to form a second traveling electric field; a power circuit that supplies a first voltage and a second voltage having a same frequency respectively to the first electrodes and the second electrodes such that a phase of voltage change of a first most downstream electrode and a phase of voltage change of a second most downstream electrode shift with respect to each other.
US08406655B2 Image-forming device capable of positioning developing unit and developer cartridge precisely
An image-forming device which may include a casing and a developing unit that is detachably mounted in the casing and formed with a first opening. The developer unit may have a developer carrying member carrying a developer, wherein the developing unit includes one end. The image-forming device may also include a first shutter configured to open and close the first opening and a developer cartridge that is configured to be detachably mounted in the casing, accommodate the developer, and is formed with a second opening. The second opening may be in alignment with the first opening when the developing unit and the developer cartridge are mounted in the casing. The image-forming device may also include a second shutter configured to open and close the second opening. The image-forming device may also include an alignment member between the developing unit and the developer cartridge.
US08406654B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of photosensitive members, an endless belt, and a separation mechanism. The photosensitive members are arranged in parallel with and spaced from one another and correspond to respective colors. The plurality of photosensitive members includes a first photosensitive member and at least one second photosensitive member. Each of the photosensitive members has a first end portion and second end portion that is opposite to the first end portion in a longitudinal direction of each of the photosensitive members. The endless belt contacts the photosensitive members. The separation mechanism is configured to swing the second photosensitive member around the first end portion of the second photosensitive member as a fulcrum between a contact position at which the second photosensitive member contacts the endless belt and a separated position at which the second photosensitive member is separated from the endless belt.
US08406651B2 Apparatus and method for removing toner deposits from the surface of a cleaning element
In a method to remove toner deposits on a surface of a cleaning element, electrically charged toner particles are transferred from a transfer element surface to a photoconductor. On the cleaning element, untransferred, electrically charged toner particles as residual toner from the transfer element surface are received. Electrically charged toner particles on the cleaning element are directed past an electrode arrangement arranged at a distance from the surface of the cleaning element. An alternating electrical field is generated which acts on the toner particles to loosen them. The toner particles remaining on the surface of the cleaning element are brought into contact with a mixture of carrier particles and toner particles during further transport along a transport direction of the cleaning element.
US08406637B2 Automatic pre-emphasis
A system and method are provided for controlling the pre-emphasis applied to an optical signal, in which the output level of individual transmitters is controlled in order to reach a pre-defined desired value of a quality metric. Transmitters are able to adjust their output power without external control in such a way as to optimise the power distribution across the system.
US08406633B1 Method and apparatus for data frame synchronization and delineation
A method of synchronizing with a data transmission in a passive optical network, wherein the data transmission includes a plurality of data transmission frames each having i) a known transmission duration, and ii) a start boundary identified by a predetermined synchronization pattern. The method includes comparing a plurality of data patterns within the data transmission to at least part of a predetermined synchronization pattern; providing a comparison result for each comparison having a match between a data pattern and the at least part of the predetermined synchronization pattern; assigning a frame tracking signal to each one of the plurality of comparison results occurring within the known transmission duration; comparing one or more subsequent data patterns occurring in the data transmission to at least part of the predetermined synchronization pattern for each assigned frame tracking signal; and generating a synchronization signal associated with a selected one of the frame tracking signals.
US08406631B2 Network timing
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to synchronizing network timing. In one particular example, network timing may be synchronized using reflected signals.
US08406625B2 Apparatus and method for cross-connecting optical path in wavelength division multiplexing system
Provided is an optical network in which a wavelength division multiplexing-based optical transmission scheme is implemented. An apparatus for cross-connecting an optical path includes a path switch including a plurality of input terminals receiving optical signals from other nodes, and a plurality of output terminals sending the optical signals to the other nodes, the path switch switching the path of the optical signal so that the optical signal input via one of the input terminals is output to one of the output terminals; and a wavelength converter converting a wavelength of the optical signal input via the input terminal and outputting the wavelength-converted optical signal to the output terminal according to a switching result of the path switch. Thus, inefficient use of a network resource due to wavelength collision can be prevented, the path can be automatically cross-connected and thus quickly established, path switching and branch combination can be performed irrespective of wavelength, and switching can be performed irrespective of direction.
US08406622B2 1:N sparing of router resources at geographically dispersed locations
Systems and methods are described that that dynamically configure high-speed data link lightpaths between access routers and backbone routers at geographically dispersed locations to reassign traffic when a backbone router fails or is removed from service. Embodiments reduce the quantity of backbone router ports used in dual backbone router-homed networks.
US08406619B2 Stereo camera with automatic control of interocular distance
There is disclosed stereographic camera system including a left and a right camera including respective lenses, plural mechanisms to synchronously set a focal length of the lenses, to synchronously set a focal distance of the lenses, to set a convergence angle between the left and right cameras, and to set an intraocular distance between the left and right cameras. A distance measuring device may be used to measure the distance to an extreme object. A controller may cause an interocular distance and a convergence angle between the left and right cameras to be set based on a maximum allowable disparity, the focal length of the lenses, and a convergence distance.
US08406617B2 Photographic optical device
A photographic optical device may include a movable module having a camera module on which a lens and an imaging element are mounted, a support body, and a shake correction mechanism. The movable module may be provided with a sensor for detecting an inclination of the camera module and a cover member which structures an outer peripheral face of the movable module. The shake correction mechanism may be provided with a swing drive mechanism for swinging the movable module so that the optical axis is inclined. The swing drive mechanism may be provided with a drive magnet and a drive coil.
US08406616B2 Tablet and device for the evaporation of volatile substances
The present invention refers to a tablet (1) for retaining a volatile substance in a liquid or solid state, such as a perfume and/or an insecticide. The tablet comprises at least a first and a second layers (2,4) of volatile substance retaining material, said first and second layers being spaced apart from each other at a selected distance, and wherein it further comprises a layer of impermeable material (3) joined to said layers and located in between said first and second layers.
US08406608B2 Generation of composited video programming
Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for creating a talk shows and other video programming. In one example, a host processor-based facility is configured for: (i) accepting inputs of content and stylistic information for designing a composited video program, (ii); and electronically transferring such content and stylistic information to the processor-based production server; the host processor-based facility and a set of the participant processor-based devices, each associated with a user, are configured: (i) to communicate with each other over an electronic communications network as participating devices in a live conference that includes audio communication, with each of the participating devices transmitting a live first data stream; and (ii) to transmit a second data stream to a processor-based production server; both the first data stream and the second data stream represent a corresponding user's participation in the live conference; and the processor-based production server is configured to receive the second data streams and assemble them into a final composited video program using the content and stylistic information.
US08406594B2 Optical fiber with resonant structure of cladding features connected to light sink
An optical fibre that use index-guidance formed with a low index cladding or a microstructured cladding using voids/holes or low index features (404) together with multiple high index resonant cladding features (1205, 1206). One to three resonant cross sectional extending structure act as a filter by resonantly coupling light out to part of the cladding (1202) or other structures (fx. a high index outer cladding ring) that acts as light sink(s) at one to three wavelength when using one to three materials or features with different size, shape, refractive index profile or normalized frequency parameter. The fibre can be asymmetrical. The fibre can be adapted for suppression of higher order modes (HOM) and/or guiding light in a narrow spectral wavelength range and act as a band pass filter. For enhancing out-coupling the high index features can be arranged along two intersecting lines tangentially positioned in relation to the core and along a line that extends from the core and intersects the tangentially positioned lines. Light absorbing material such as samarium can be used in the light sink. The fibre can be used in a fibre amplifier or fiber laser.
US08406592B2 Bend resistant multimode optical fiber
Bend resistant multimode optical fibers are disclosed herein. Multimode optical fibers disclosed herein comprise a core region and a cladding region surrounding and directly adjacent to the core region, the cladding region comprising a depressed-index annular portion comprising a depressed relative refractive index which is spaced from the core at least 0.5 microns and less than 4 microns.
US08406590B2 Apparatus for manufacturing an optical cable and cable so manufactured
A method and apparatus for manufacturing an optical cable comprising at least one metal tube housing at least one optical fiber and having a predetermined excess fiber length (EFL) is described. In this method the metal tube is plastically deformed and shortened by a predetermined amount (St) greater than the predetermined EFL and is plastically deformed after shortening to provide a controlled elongation thereof so as to reach the predetermined excess fiber length. An optical cable so manufactured has a local excess fiber length (EFL) varying of or less than 0.2% along the longitudinal extension of the cable with respect to an average EFL of the cable.
US08406589B2 Method of making a fiber optical cable assembly
A process for forming a fiber optical cable assembly comprises the steps of (a) subjecting a first high tenacity reinforcement yarn such as para-aramid that is coated with a water-impermeable thermally reversible cross-linked polymeric coating to a temperature of from 45 to 200 ° C. for sufficient time to convert the protective coating via bond cleavage into a water-swellable super absorbent polymer, (b) combining one or more of the first reinforcement yarns from step (a) with one or more optical glass fiber transmission media and (c) applying a protective sleeve over at least one assembly of step (b).
US08406573B2 Interactively ranking image search results using color layout relevance
This disclosure describes various exemplary user interfaces, methods, and computer program products for the interactively ranking image search results refinement method using a color layout. The method includes receiving a text query for an image search, presenting image search results in a structured presentation based on the text query and information from an interest color layout. The process creates image search results that may be selected by the user based on color selection palettes or color layout specification schemes. Then the process ranks the image search results by sorting the results according to similarity scores between color layouts from the image search results and the interest color layout from a user based on the color selection palettes and the color layout specification schemes.
US08406557B2 Method and apparatus for correcting lens shading
A lens shading correction method and apparatus are provided for removing vignetting occurring in digital images due to lens shading. A white image captured by an image pickup device and an image pickup unit is separated into reference white images corresponding to color channels. A vignetting center having a maximum light intensity is estimated in each of the reference white images. Multiple reference segments on each of the reference white images are defined. A lens shading correction value corresponding to each pixel constituting the reference segments are calculated using a corresponding light intensity. A lens shading correction function corresponding to each reference segment is derived using a corresponding lens shading correction value. Vignetting of a general image received in a general image processing mode is removed, using the derived multiple lens shading correction functions.
US08406551B2 Rendering method of an edge of a graphics primitive
A method for rendering an edge of a graphics primitive to be displayed on a screen. Such edge has an inclination relative to a reference direction of the screen. The method includes the steps of: calculating, based on the inclination of the edge, an error coefficient representative of the distance of the edge from a center of a pixel of the screen; and associating a transparency coefficient to the pixel, based on the calculated error coefficient.
US08406535B2 Invariant visual scene and object recognition
A method for performing image recognition is disclosed. The method includes obtaining a collection of pixels and grouping at least some of the pixels into a set of cluster features based on gradient magnitude. For each cluster feature in the set, statistical variables are generated. The statistical variables represent a collective property of the pixels in the cluster feature. The statistical variables are utilized as a basis for comparing the collection of pixels to a different collection of pixels.
US08406532B2 Image matching using line signature
A method and system of matching features in a pair of images using line signatures. The method includes determining a first similarity measure between a first line signature in a first image in the pair of images and a second line signature in a second image in the pair of images; determining a second similarity measure between the first line signature in the first image and a third line signature in the second image; comparing the first similarity measure with a first threshold value; comparing a difference between the first similarity and the second similarity with a second threshold value; and if the first similarity measure is greater than the first threshold value and the difference between the first similarity and the second similarity is greater than the second threshold value, the first line signature and the second line signature produce a match.
US08406531B2 Data access based on content of image recorded by a mobile device
Embodiments of the invention are directed to using image data and contextual data to determine information about a scene, based on one or more previously obtained images. Contextual data, such location of image capture, can be used to determine previously obtained images related to the contextual data and other location-related information, such as billboard locations. With even low resolution devices, such as cell phone, image attributes, such as a histogram or optically recognized characters, can be compared between the previously obtained images and the newly captured image. Attributes matching within a predefined threshold indicate matching images. Information on the content of matching previously obtained images can be provided back to a user who captured the new image. User profile data can refine the content information. The content information can also be used as search terms for additional searching or other processing.
US08406530B2 Methods and systems for detecting numerals in a digital image
Aspects of the present invention are related to systems and methods for determining the location of numerals in an electronic document image.
US08406524B2 Apparatus, method, and medium of generating visual attention map
A method, apparatus, and medium of generating a visual attention map. A visual attention map to extract visual attention may be generated to convert a two-dimensional (2D) image into a three-dimensional (3D) image based on visual attention. The 2D image may be downscaled and at least one downscaled image may be generated. A feature map may be extracted from the 2D image and the at least one downscaled image, and the visual attention map may be generated.
US08406521B2 OCR interface to single result diagnostic interface
A method and apparatus are provided. The method includes the steps of an imaging device capturing an image of a display of a medical instrument, an image processor determining a location of a patient biometric measurement within the image, an optical character recognition module recognizing a set of alphanumeric characters within the determined location and a communication processor sending the recognized characters to a remotely located healthcare database.
US08406516B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing system, image processing method and image processing program for performing color classification of image data
An image processing apparatus MFP includes a memory for storing color data of a plurality of picture elements together with a correlation to identification information for identifying each picture element, and storing a reference value and a statistical value for each of a predetermined number of baskets; a classifying unit for classifying each of the plurality of picture elements into one of the baskets based on the color data and the reference value corresponding to the basket; a calculating unit for calculating the statistical value and the reference value of the basket accommodating the classified picture element based on the color data corresponding to the picture element; and a determining unit for determining a representative color of each basket based on the statistical value, and outputting the representative color of each basket and a result of the classification of each picture element.
US08406498B2 Blood and cell analysis using an imaging flow cytometer
Multimodal or multispectral images of cells comprising a population of cells are simultaneously collected. Photometric and/or morphometric image features identifiable in the images are used to identify differences between first and second populations of cells. The differences can include changes in a relative percentage of different cell types in each population, or a change in a first type of cell present in the first population of cells and the same type of cell in the second population of cells. The changes may be indicative of a disease state, indicative of a relative effectiveness of a therapy, or indicative of a health of the person from whom the cells populations were obtained.
US08406496B2 Method and system for left ventricle detection in 2D magnetic resonance images
A method and system for left ventricle (LV) detection in 2D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images is disclosed. In order to detect the LV in a 2D MRI image, a plurality of LV candidates are detected, for example using marginal space learning (MSL) based detection. Candidates for distinctive anatomic landmarks associated with the LV are then detected in the 2D MRI image. In particular, apex candidates and base candidates are detected in the 2D MRI image. One of the LV candidates is selected as a final LV detection result using component-based voting based on the detected LV candidates, apex candidates, and base candidates.
US08406489B2 Image display apparatus
An image display apparatus 4 includes a control unit 15 having an image display controller 15a and an image processing controller 15b to enable an easy recognition of a condition and the like of an imaging target with respect to respective image areas at each imaging point. The image display controller 15a controls to display a time scale indicating an imaging period of a series of intra-subject images, to divide a display area of each time point on the time scale so as to be associated with divided image areas, and to display average colors of divided image areas respectively in divided scale areas separated as a result of the division, the divided scale areas and the divided image areas being associated with each other, respectively. The image processing controller 15b obtains image data stored in the portable recording medium 5 or the storage unit 14 to output to an image processor 13, and controls various image processes on the output image.
US08406486B2 Inter-pattern feature corresponding device, inter-pattern feature corresponding method used for the same, and program therefor
To provide an inter-pattern feature corresponding device (1) for determining a feature correspondence relationship with high accuracy even if a pattern to be collated has distortion. The inter-pattern feature corresponding device (1) includes a means (11) for generating a proximity feature point group in which the feature points are positionally proximate to each other in a pattern and a location relationship numeric number group indicating the location relationship between the feature points of the proximity feature point group as feature point group locations, a means (12) for comparing the generated location relationship numeric numbers to detect the corresponding feature point group location candidates, a means (13) for comparing the location relationship numeric numbers between a feature point of each feature point group location of the corresponding feature point group location candidates and feature points which are proximate to the feature point group locations, adding the corresponding proximity feature points to the corresponding feature point group location candidates, and updating the corresponding feature point group location candidates, a means (14) for examining the associated corresponding feature point candidates of the updated corresponding feature point group location candidates to set the associated corresponding feature points of the corresponding feature point group location candidates, and a means (15) for examining the corresponding feature point group location candidates to set inter-pattern corresponding feature points.
US08406485B2 Image-capturing apparatus and method, expression evaluation apparatus, and program
An image-capturing apparatus for capturing an image by using a solid-state image-capturing device may include a face detector configured to detect a face of a human being on the basis of an image signal in a period until an image signal obtained by image capturing is recorded on a recording medium; an expression evaluation section configured to evaluate the expression of the detected face and to compute an expression evaluation value indicating the degree to which the detected face is close to a specific expression in relation to expressions other than the specific expression; and a notification section configured to notify notification information corresponding to the computed expression evaluation value to an image-captured person.
US08406481B2 Automated indexing for distributing event photography
The present method relates to the automated indexing of event images for distribution. The automated indexing can use automated facial recognition to determine which people are in each image. The images indexed in this fashion can be presented in a gallery, ordered by characteristics of the people in the images such as their name or room number, so as to facilitate the selection of the images by the people. The identification of the people in the images can be assisted by security or other information regarding the people that may be available to the event manager. Furthermore, the closeness of the relationships of two people can be inferred from the degree to which the people are in the same images, allowing the people in the images to be placed into groups, which can be hierarchical and/or overlapping, and which can assist in the organization of images being presented to the people, either in a gallery or electronic display format.
US08406479B2 Visual axis direction detection device and visual line direction detection method
Provided is a visual axis direction detection device capable of obtaining a highly accurate visual axis direction detection result without performing a particular calibration for each of examinees. The device (100) includes: a feature calculation unit (160) which calculates as a reference position, a 3D position of the center of a face of an examinee whose visual axis direction is to be detected, from a 3D position of two face parts positioned symmetrically, and calculates as a feature position, a 3D position of the center of the right and left pupils of the examinee in the horizontal direction; a visual axis direction feature amount calculation unit (172) for calculating a shift amount of the feature position from the reference position in the horizontal direction as a visual axis direction feature amount; and a visual axis vector calculation unit (173) for calculating the visual axis direction of the examinee according to the visual axis direction feature amount.
US08406475B2 Method and device for analyzing berries
Method for analyzing berries, characterized in that: berries are arranged on an analysis plate, an image of the berries is recorded, the image consisting of pixels of at least one component of an elementary color, the contours of the berries are identified, and geometric and/or colorimetric characteristics of the berries are determined. The number of berries can then be determined, or a volume, a surface area, a surface area to volume ratio, and a characteristic concentration for each berry can be determined, in addition to an average, for all of the pixels inside the contour of a defined berry, of the values of a component of an elementary color of a component of interest. A device for implementing the method is also disclosed. The invention especially relates to viticulture and to the analysis of the maturity of the grape.
US08406470B2 Object detection in depth images
A method for detecting an object in a depth image includes determining a detection window covering a region in the depth image, wherein a location of the detection window is based on a location of a candidate pixel in the depth image, wherein a size of the detection window is based on a depth value of the candidate pixel and a size of the object. A foreground region in the detection window is segmented based on the depth value of the candidate pixel and the size of the object. A feature vector is determined based on depth values of the pixels in the foreground region and the feature vector is classified to detect the object.
US08406459B2 Method and apparatus to mark a document using a combination between guilloches and watermarking, method and apparatus to read previous combination
Guilloches (preventing modification) and watermarking (preventing substitution) technologies are combined to protect a medium, such as a card or a passport. The major idea stems from their dual role for medium authentication: the presence of one is needed to check the validity of the other one. By nature, the guilloche network is visible in the image and easily detectable by image processing. This network is therefore used to generate reference points as elements of synchronization to retrieve watermark information originally embedded in the medium that has submitted an RST transformation. These reference points are by nature stronger than any other means involving invisible templates in the spatial or Fourier space.
US08406454B2 Method and system for customized shoe fitting based on common shoe last using foot outline comparison and interchangeable insole adaptors
A method for shoe fitting includes identifying outer foot outlines defining outer boundaries of feet of a user, and inner foot outlines defining weight-bearing areas of the feet in a computer-readable image of the feet. Weighted foot outlines are calculated based on the outer and inner foot outlines. A plurality of unfilled shoes are defined by a common shoe last having a last bottom outline, and sets of different left and right interchangeable insole adapters for insertion into the unfilled shoes are provided. The adapters match the last bottom outline and have respective adapter outlines. The weighted foot outlines are compared with the adapter outlines, to determine an optimal shoe size of a pair of shoes out of the plurality of the unfilled shoes, and to select left and right insole adapters from the sets of the interchangeable insole adapters whose adapter outlines best match the weighted foot outlines.
US08406447B2 Earphone device with ear canal protrusion
An earphone device (1) comprising a main body (14) to be inserted in to the outer ear (28) of a user. The main body (14) has a first side (5) that faces the user's head when inserted, a cavity (13) and a sound opening (2) connecting the first side (5) with the cavity (13). The main body (14) further comprises an ear canal protrusion (3) to be inserted into the ear canal (7). The cross section of the ear canal protrusion (3) is smaller than the cross section of the ear canal (7) and the ear canal protrusion (3) is having a first side (8) adapted to lie against the ear canal wall (10) and a second side (9) lying opposite the first side (8) and beside the sound opening (2).
US08406446B2 Microphone with vibration isolation
A microphone includes: a housing that serves as a microphone grip; a microphone unit supported at one end of the housing; an air chamber provided behind the microphone unit in the housing. The air chamber is filled with a plurality of elastic particles. The individual particles are mechanically bonded to one another and part of the particles are mechanically bonded to the housing such that gaps are formed therebetween.
US08406444B2 Audio radiation type reflective sound box structure
An audio radiation type reflective sound box structure comprises a hollow cone tube having a first end received in a box, a second end extended out of an opening of the box to form an inclined side wall, and at least one vent disposed adjacent to the first end. When a diaphragm of a speaker mounted on an inner side edge of the second end generates vibrations, compressed air in the hollow cone tube is pushed out of the opening through the vent, and then collides with the outer edge of the inclined side wall and is diffused toward a peripheral direction adjacent to a front side of the speaker along an extension direction of the inclined side wall. Thus, the sounds reflected by the box can be evenly transmitted to a peripheral environment adjacent to the front side of the speaker.
US08406442B2 Hearing aid apparatus
There is described a hearing aid comprising input transducer means for converting input acoustic signals into electrical input signals, signal processor means and output transducer means. The signal processor means is operable to divide said electrical input signals into a plurality of frequency bands and to perform a contrast enhancement operation in each said frequency band, to increase the difference between the amplitudes of those frequency components of the input signals having a relatively high amplitude and those frequency components thereof having a relatively low amplitude to produce output electrical signals in each said respective frequency bands. The output transducer means is operable to produce an output acoustic signal corresponding to a combination of said output electrical signals.
US08406439B1 Methods and systems for synthetic audio placement
Methods and systems for providing synthetic audio placement are described herein. In different aspects, the methods and systems may include a connection port to receive a plurality of remote audio signals included in a conference call, at least one of the plurality of remote audio connections being a single channel audio signal, a processor configured with the connection port to provide a sound field for placing the plurality of audio signals, the sound field providing synthetic audio placement of each of the plurality of remote audio signals, and a rendering output configured with the processor to project the plurality of remote audio within the sound field to a listener.
US08406436B2 Microphone array
A sound capture device comprises a symmetric microphone array that includes non-radially-oriented directional sensors (101). The device typically derives a spherical harmonic representation of the incident sound field, and affords higher signal-to-noise ratios and better directional fidelity than prior arrays, across a wide range of audio frequencies.
US08406435B2 Audio submix management
Described herein are one or more implementations offering a centralized (e.g., single-point) user-interface, where a user may manipulate audio properties (e.g., volume level) for one or more audio submixes produced by each of multiple active operating-system processes.
US08406434B2 Audio processing system
The audio processing system disclosed in the invention comprises an audio processor and an audio amplifier. The audio processor receives a data signal to generate a processed signal, and comprises at least one gain control circuit and at least one operational amplifier. The gain control circuit generates a gain signal according to a volume control signal, a reference signal, and a feedback signal. The operational amplifier couples to the gain control circuit and amplifies the data signal by the gain signal to generate a processed signal. The audio amplifier couples to the audio processor to receive and amplify the processed signal, wherein an amplified signal is generated.
US08406433B2 3-point positioning device and method thereof
A 3-point positioning device senses a scene including an auxiliary positioning module by means of an image sensor, and accordingly generates a sensed image. The auxiliary positioning module comprises a first, a second, and a third auxiliary positioning units. By means of the sensed image, the 3-point positioning device recognizes a first, a second, and a third sensing units of the image sensor corresponding to the first, the second, and the third auxiliary positioning units. In this way, the 3-point positioning device can calculate out an absolute location of the auxiliary positioning module according to the locations or the received power of the first, the second, and the third sensing units.
US08406428B2 Secure method and apparatus to verify personal identity over a network
The present application provides an apparatus and method for verifying a user, via captured biometric characteristics of the user, who is interacting online. The captured biometrics are guaranteed to be captured in real-time, and avoids the possibility of providing biometrics that were previously captured, by sending to the user a time-sensitive challenge and requiring the user to provide the requested biometric information within a predetermined time period. Therefore, the present invention is best positioned for environments where trusted identification of a user is needed online to facilitate secure transactions.
US08406424B2 Visual universal decryption apparatus and methods
Disclosed is a virtual universal decryption (VUD) service that provides a mechanism for allowing users of camera enabled mobile devices to use their camera to decrypt messages. The VUD service can provide a mechanism for a user of a VUD enabled device to authorize one or more other users of VUD enabled and camera enabled devices to use their cameras to decrypt messages sent by the authorizing user. The VUD service may then provide mechanisms for the authorized users to decrypt messages, which have been encrypted by the authorizing users, by simply capturing an image/video of the encrypted text with a camera of their VUD enabled devices.
US08406418B2 Headset with a 360 degrees rotatable microphone boom and function selector
A headset and method for voice communication comprising a housing (2) and a pickup unit (8) rotatably connected to the housing via a joint (7). The pickup unit (8) transmits its position to circuitry which in turn enables functions according to its position. When the unit is moved to a predetermined position and a function is enabled, the user is preferably notified by an audible signal in the earphone. The unit may be rotated, pivoted or twisted and even ratcheted to various positions to engage different functions, such as mute, volume up/down, activate Bluetooth® link etc. One position detection includes a sliding contact (20, 70) mutually rotatable about a rotational axis (26) and a annular ring (50) arranged so that the ring (50) is positioned around the rotational axis (26) so as to provide an electrical connection between the first annular ring (50) and the contact members (30).
US08406417B2 Overvoltage protection with power sink
A line card includes a subscriber line interface circuit, an interface line, and a first overvoltage protector. The subscriber line interface circuit has a first input terminal operable to receive power at a first reference voltage. The interface line is coupled to the subscriber line interface circuit for interfacing with a subscriber line external to the line card. The first overvoltage protector is coupled to the interface line and referenced to the first reference voltage to provide overvoltage protection responsive to a voltage on the interface line exceeding the first reference voltage by a first predetermined threshold.
US08406416B2 Configuring virtual noise parameters of very high-speed digital subscriber line
An apparatus comprising a transmitter configured to transmit a digital subscriber line (DSL) signal in a line from a plurality of subscriber lines according to a reference virtual noise power spectral density (PSD), wherein the reference virtual noise PSD is based on an upper bound for a worst-case far-end crosstalk (FEXT) PSD in the subscriber lines. Also included is an apparatus comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising obtaining an upper bound for a worst-case FEXT PSD for a plurality of subscriber lines, obtaining a referred virtual noise PSD based on the worst-case FEXT PSD for the lines, and determining a bit-loading for the lines based on the referred virtual noise or a scaled version of the receiver-referred virtual noise.
US08406415B1 Privacy modes in an open-air multi-port conferencing device
Conferencing products for conducting a conference between a local and two or more distant parties through an electronic channel, wherein distant party audio is routed to the distant parties to provide full audio. These conferencing products are capable of open-air interaction with participants in the locality of a product. Acoustic echo cancellation is applied, which may be accomplished through a single set of coefficients or by a plurality of coefficients and/or echo cancelers on different incoming audio streams and speaker combinations. Privacy modes are provided, whereby one distant party cannot hear the communications of another distant party; those modes including a coaching mode where the privacy is one-way and a mediation mode where the privacy is two-way. Detailed information on various example embodiments of the inventions are provided in the Detailed Description below, and the inventions are defined by the appended claims.
US08406413B2 Method and apparatus for universal xDSL demarcation interface with multi-functional capability and signal performance enhancement
Provided is an apparatus for splitting an input signal, the apparatus including a xDSL profile filter for filtering a first sub-signal from the input signal, the first sub-signal according to a xDSL profile, and outputting a xDSL profile output signal; a voice-band filter for filtering a second sub-signal from the input signal, the second sub-signal according to a voice frequency band, and outputting a voice-band output signal; and a user interface for selecting a xDSL profile mode, wherein the xDSL profile mode is consistent with one of a plurality of xDSL profiles, and wherein the xDSL profile filter filters the first sub-signal according to the xDSL profile mode.
US08406412B2 System and method for call flow generation via real-time tracking of guided problem resolution
Systems and methods for adapting an existing call flow wherein the call flow further comprises an associated data set, comprising: activating the existing call flow, the existing call flow generating a series of questions designed to obtain information from a caller; determining if an exception condition has occurred; allowing a user to activate an exception call flow in response to the exception condition; retaining the data set associated with the call flow when the exception condition occurred; adapting the data set such that the call flow addresses the exception condition; analyzing the adapted data set to determine if it is unique; and, modifying the existing call flow to incorporate the adapted data set if the adapted data set is unique.
US08406407B2 System and method for providing custom alerts
A system and method for providing custom alerts including a processor configured to retrieve a custom alert from a custom alert provider, a receiver configured to receive, from a user, a request to initiate communication with a communications agent, and a transmitter configured to transmit one or more signals over a network to communicate with the communications agent, wherein transmitting the one or more signals includes transmitting the custom alert for output at the communication agent.
US08406404B2 Method for setting up a conference call in telecommunications network using the SIP protocol
This invention relates to a method for setting up a conference call in a telecommunications network using the SIP protocol to set up a communication between a first terminal (30) and a second terminal (32), call controllers (36ca30, 36ca32) relaying signals for this communication.According to the invention, such a method is characterized in that it comprises the following steps: the step to interrupt communication of the first terminal (30) with the second terminal (32) to set up a communication between this first terminal (30) and a conference bridge (38pc), the step to simulate the second terminal (32) maintaining its communication with the first terminal (30) using at least one of the call controllers (36ca30, 36ca32), and the step to simulate the second terminal (32) interrupting its communication with the first terminal (30) to set up a communication between this second terminal and the conference bridge (38pc).
US08406398B2 Call detail record data refinement and reporting
An embodiment of a method includes selecting call detail report (CDR) call setup attributes from captured CDR data, refining the CDR data, and summing CDR amount attribute values for each set of CDR call entries having common values for the selected CDR call setup attributes. Each set of one or more CDR call entries having common values for the CDR call setup attributes are combined into a single refined CDR call entry having the common CDR call setup attribute values and the summed CDR amount attribute values. The summing process is repeated for each set of CDR data associated with each of a plurality of network elements. After summing the CDR attribute amount values for call entries having common CDR setup call attribute values for each switch, CDR attribute amount values associated with common CDR setup attribute values in call entries associated with all switches are summed to generate a final set of refined CDR data.
US08406395B2 System and method for identifying telecom users based on call usage patterns
The disclosed embodiment relates to identifying telecom users. An exemplary method comprises collecting, with a computing device, call usage data based on the call usage of a new telecom user, comparing, with a computing device, the collected call usage data with existing call usage data stored within a call usage database to determine if the collected call usage data for the new telecom user corresponds with the existing call usage data for an existing telecom user, assigning the new telecom user a user identifier corresponding to the existing telecom user if it is determined that the collected call usage data for the new telecom user corresponds with the existing call usage data for an existing telecom user, and assigning the new telecom user a new user identifier if it is determined that the collected call usage data for the new telecom user does not correspond with the existing call usage data for an existing telecom user. The disclosed embodiment also relates to a system and computer-readable code that can be used to implement the exemplary methods.
US08406392B2 Method and system for automated user authentication
A method and system for authenticating a telephone number. The method includes receiving a user-inputted telephone number over a communication channel. The method includes providing a security code to a user over the communication channel. The method includes initiating a voice telephone call session to the user-inputted telephone number. The method includes prompting the user over the voice telephone call session. The method includes responsive to receiving the security code from the user over the voice telephone call session, authenticating the user-inputted telephone number.
US08406388B2 Systems and methods for visual presentation and selection of IVR menu
Embodiments of the invention provide a system for generating an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) database, the system comprising a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory comprising a list of telephone numbers associated with one or more destinations implementing IVR menus, wherein the one or more destinations are grouped based on a plurality of categories of the IVR menus. Further the memory includes instructions executable by said processor for automatically communicating with the one of more destinations, and receiving at least one customization record from said at least one destination to store in the IVR database.
US08406375B2 Article inspection device and inspection method
The present invention discloses an article inspection device, comprising: an x-ray machine, a collimation unit, a transmission detector array and a scattering detector array. The scattering detector array comprising a plurality of same scattering detector modules arranged in a matrix of i-rows and j-columns. A transmission cross section of the article transmitted by the x-rays is divided into a plurality of same sub-regions arranged in a matrix of i-rows and j-columns. The plurality of scattering detector modules arranged in i-rows and j-columns correspond to the plurality of sub-regions arranged in i-rows and j-columns one by one for detecting pair production effect annihilation photons and Compton-effect scattering photons from the respective sub-regions. Obtaining atomic numbers of the respective sub-regions based on a ratio of the pair production effect annihilation photon count to the Compton-effect scattering photon count, so as to form a three-dimensional image of the article. In addition, the present invention further discloses an article inspection method.
US08406372B2 Bi-directional shift register
A shift register of an LCD device includes a plurality of shift register units coupled in series. Each shift register unit includes an input circuit and a pull-down circuit having symmetric structures which enable the LCD device to function in a forward-scan mode and a reverse-scan mode.
US08406368B2 Burn-up profile measuring method, burn-up profile measuring apparatus, radiation signal distribution measuring apparatus, and burn-up profile measuring program
An upper detector and a lower detector that face at least one side of a fuel assembly, on which neutrons are irradiated in a nuclear reactor, and detect radiation are set at a predetermined interval in an axial direction of the fuel assembly. Distributions of radiation signals are measured by the upper detector and the lower detector while the fuel assembly and the upper detector and the lower detectors are relatively moved along the axial direction of the fuel assembly. Soundness of radiation signals measured by the upper detector and the lower detector is determined in every measurement by comparing radiation signal distributions obtained by measuring the same portion in the axial direction of the fuel assembly in a multiplexed manner with the upper detector and the lower detector. Thereafter, relative burn-up is calculated by utilizing the measured radiation signals to measure a burn-up profile. According to the present invention, it is possible to measure a burn-up profile of the fuel assembly while securing reliability of a measurement result.
US08406365B2 Frequency reacquisition in a clock and data recovery device
A system and method are provided for reacquiring a non-synchronous communication signal in a clock and data recovery (CDR) device frequency synthesizer. The method initially acquires the phase of a non-synchronous communication signal having an input data frequency. In response to acquiring the phase of the input data frequency, a synthesized signal is generated having an output frequency. Also as a result of acquiring the input data frequency, a frequency ratio value is selected. The output frequency is divided by the selected frequency ratio value, creating a divisor signal having a divisor frequency, which is compared to a reference signal frequency. In response to the comparison, the frequency ratio value is saved in a tangible memory medium. In response to losing phase-lock with the communication signal, the frequency ratio value is retrieved from memory. After acquiring the input data frequency, the phase of the communication signal is reacquired.
US08406353B1 Signal sequence detection in presence of carrier or narrow band transmissions
Signal sequence detection techniques are provided to enable a wireless communication device to detect presence of a sequence, such as a preamble sequence, in the presence of other transmission that would otherwise interference with the ability of the device to detect the sequence. At the wireless communication device, energy in a frequency band is received and a receive signal is generated from the received energy. The receive signal is divided into windows of a predetermined time duration. A running auto-correlation of the receive signal is computed to produce an auto-correlation sequence for a sequence to be detected in the receive signal. Data representing a mask is generated for a window based on the receive signal. The mask is applied to the auto-correlation sequence to filter out portions of the auto-correlation sequence that are outside of the mask. A position of sequence, e.g., a preamble sequence, in the receive signal is detected based on a position of a peak in the auto-correlation sequence after application of the mask.
US08406351B1 Method and device to compensate for baseline wander
A method and device for compensating for undesirable signal characteristics such as baseline wander that includes a linear equalization filter responsive to receive an input, a combiner responsive to an output of the linear equalization filter, and a decision feedback equalization filter responsive to an output of the combiner, where the combiner is further responsive to an output of the decision feedback equalizer. Additionally, an error feedback circuit is responsive to the output of the combiner, and the combiner is further responsive to an output of the error feedback circuit to form a compensated signal having reduced distortion relative to the distorted signal.
US08406349B2 Method and apparatus for receiving signal for MIMO system
Provided is a method and apparatus for receiving a signal for a MIMO system. The receiving apparatus includes: a QR decomposer for calculating a unitary matrix Q, an upper triangle matrix R, and a vector size for a received signal; a multiple dimension detector for calculating a first LLR for an output of the QR decomposer through multiple dimension detection; an inverse matrix and weight calculator for calculating an inverse matrix for the upper triangle matrix R and a weight; an interference remover for regenerating a symbol for a demodulated data stream using the fist LLR and removing interference from an output vector of the QR decomposer using the regenerated symbol; and a weight zero forcing unit for performing zero forcing on the interference removed output vector from the interference remover using the inverse matrix of the upper triangle matrix R and the weight and calculating a second LLR.
US08406345B2 Method and device for aquiring a channel with frequency offset less than half symbol rate
A method and device for acquiring a channel with a frequency offset less than half symbol rate is applied but not limited to a DVB-S system. A target channel is selected to obtain a carrier frequency and a symbol rate for programming a tuner to obtain a digital baseband signal. A down-sampling factor is calculated based on the symbol rate for performing a down-sampling operation to obtain a down-sampling signal that passes through a digital matched filter to generate a filtered spectrum. A moving average and spectrum inversion is applied to detect location of the target channel and find two cross points thereby estimating a coarse carrier frequency offset for compensating the tuner and a coarse symbol rate. A fine carrier frequency offset and a symbol rate estimate are estimated for compensating and acquiring the target channel when the target channel is successfully detected.
US08406341B2 Variable encoding and detection apparatus and methods
Apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture for media monitoring are disclosed. In particular, the example apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture determine a media source type associated with a media signal and select an encoding or decoding mode based on the media source type. An encoding operation encodes the media signal using the selected encoding mode and a decoding operation decodes the media signal using the selected decoding mode.
US08406340B2 Distortion and aliasing reduction for digital to analog conversion
Distortion and aliasing reduction for digital to analog conversion. Synthesis of one or more distortion terms made based on a digital signal (e.g., one or more digital codewords) is performed in accordance with digital to analog conversion. The one or more distortion terms may correspond to aliased higher-order harmonics, distortion, nonlinearities, clipping, etc. Such distortion terms may be known a priori, such as based upon particular characteristics of a given device, operational history, etc. Alternatively, such distortion terms may be determined based upon operation of a device and/or based upon an analog signal generated from the analog to conversion process. For example, frequency selective measurements made based on an analog signal generated from the digital to analog conversion may be used for determination of and/or adaptation of the one or more distortion terms. One or more DACs may be employed within various architectures operative to perform digital to analog conversion.
US08406327B2 Wireless communication apparatus, wireless communication system, and transmission method
A wireless communication apparatus (a) generates a transmission symbol; (b) assigns, to the transmission symbol, a given number of units each formed of a symbol and a subcarrier in a frame which is formed of M (M is a positive integer) symbols and N (N is a positive integer) subcarriers and includes M×N units, and the given number being not more than M×N, to obtain the given number of identical transmission symbols; (c) multiplies the identical transmission symbols by a code sequence including a plurality of different elements; and (d) transmits the identical transmission symbols multiplied by the code sequence.
US08406324B2 Digital transmission and reception devices for transmitting and receiving streams, and processing methods thereof
A transmission system to transmit a transport stream (TS) having normal data and additional data, the transmission system including: a stream constructor to generate a TS, and a multiplexer (MUX) to insert information representing the characteristics of additional data in the TS. Therefore, it is possible for a reception system to use the additional data efficiently.
US08406320B2 Digital clipping method for a transmitter of an orthogonal frequency division multiple access system
The present invention relates to a digital clipping method for reducing a high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of a transmission signal in a transmitter of an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing access (OFDMA) system. In the method, a) the transmission signal to be digitally clipped is divided into real and imaginary parts, b) magnitudes of the real and imaginary part signals are divided into a plurality clipping levels, and c) the transmission signal is respectively clipped by comparing the real and imaginary part signals with the plurality of clipping levels while allowing phase errors. In c), a plurality of comparators is used to respectively compare the real and imaginary parts of the complex number transmission signal with the plurality of clipping levels.
US08406300B2 Video coding
Improved video coding is described to encode video data within a sequence of video frames. To this end, at least a portion of a reference frame is encoded to include motion information associated with the portion of the reference frame. At least a portion of a predictable frame that includes video data predictively correlated to said portion of said reference frame is defined based on the motion information. At least said portion of the predictable frame is encoded without including corresponding motion information and including mode identifying data. The mode identifying data indicate that the encoded portion of the predictable frame can be directly derived using at least the motion information associated with the portion of the reference frame.
US08406289B2 Method and device for selecting a transcoding method among a set of transcoding methods
Selecting a method from a set of methods of transcoding digital video data, the data being transferable between at least two communication apparatuses via a communication network, including, for each transcoding method, obtaining a distortion value from a mathematical model for establishing the distortion taking into account the transcoding method, the distortion model being applied to information representing the content of the signal represented by the digital data to be transcoded, and selecting a transcoding method as a function of the different distortion values obtained for the set of transcoding methods, the set of transcoding methods including at least two different types of transcoding methods, each type of transcoding method being selected from at least one of a plurality of methods of reducing a spatial resolution, a plurality of a re-quantization methods, and a plurality of methods of reducing a frame rate.
US08406288B2 Methods for reducing channel change times in a digital video apparatus
A digital video apparatus provides reduced channel change times. According to an exemplary embodiment, the digital video apparatus includes at least one receiver for receiving first and second video streams representing the same program, wherein the first video stream has at least one characteristic different from the second video stream; a first signal processor for processing the first video stream to generate a first processed video stream; a second signal processor for processing the second video stream to generate a second processed video stream having a delay with respect to the first processed video stream; a renderer for rendering the second processed video stream responsive to a channel change command; and a switch for switching from the second processed video stream to the first processed video stream after the renderer begins rendering the second processed video stream, and thereby causing the renderer to begin rendering the first processed video stream.
US08406285B1 Tuning algorithm for feed forward equalizer in a serial data channel with decision feedback equalizer
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for tuning an analog equalizer and a digital equalizer associated with a communications channel. A plurality of signals is injected into a model of a communication channel, the model being configured to have an analog equalizer at a receiving end, tuning a setting of the analog equalizer to obtain a first ratio of a pulse peak to a rise time in a precursor portion of the injected plurality signals that are received from the channel, injecting another plurality of signals into the model of the communication channel, the model being reconfigured to have the tuned analog equalizer and a digital equalizer downstream of the tuned analog equalizer, and tuning a setting of the digital equalizer based on a post-cursor tail characteristic of the another plurality of signals. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08406283B2 Modulation apparatus, test apparatus and correction method
Provided is a modulation apparatus that quadrature modulates a periodic signal, comprising an I-side signal output section that outputs an I-component signal; a Q-side signal output section that outputs a Q-component signal; a quadrature modulator that quadrature modulates the periodic signal with the I-component signal and the Q-component signal; an I-side correcting section that corrects the I-component signal according to an error of the quadrature modulator; and a Q-side correcting section that corrects the Q-component signal according to the error of the quadrature modulator.
US08406280B2 System and method for mitigating severe multipath interference for geolocation and navigation
A system and method for mitigating multipath interference of signals in environments to determine the line of sight signal propagation.
US08406270B2 Quadrature demodulation with phase shift
A quadrature demodulator preweights an input signal prior to mixing with in-phase and quadrature clock signals. In an implementation with discrete phase rotation, a series of weighting circuits may be arranged before or after a select circuit to select the amount of phase rotation. Various implementations may include ratioed current mirrors to perform the weighting function, a stacked arrangement of mixers, an H-bridge input stage, integrated mixers and select circuits, and/or selectable gain stages such as gm cells to perform the weighting function.
US08406267B2 Grazing-incidence-disk laser element
A solid-state gain element including a thin doped region in which an optical signal propagates through the thin doped region at a large angle with respect to the normal to the thin doped region, reflects at a boundary of the thin doped region, and passes through the thin doped region again. An optical pump beam propagates through the thin doped region also at a large angle with respect to the normal to the thin doped region. In one example, the gain element and source of the pump beam are configured such that there is total internal reflection of the pump beam at the boundary of the thin doped region for a second pumping pass through the thin doped region. In another example, an elliptically symmetric laser beam is used to create a circularly symmetric gain region in the thin doped region.
US08406255B2 Method and apparatus for controlling data transmission in a wireless communication system
Techniques for controlling data transmission are described. In an aspect, a user equipment (UE) determines whether to send a packet based on available transmit power. The UE determines a first packet size based on the available transmit power and sends a packet of the first packet size if it is equal to or larger than a minimum packet size. The UE sends a packet of a second packet size (e.g., the minimum packet size) if the first packet size is smaller than the minimum packet size and if at least one condition is met, e.g., the available transmit power is greater than a power threshold and the delay of a packet to send is larger than a delay threshold. In another aspect, the UE operates in a discontinuous transmission (DTX) mode and cancels the DTX mode if the delay of a packet to send exceeds a threshold.
US08406253B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and program product
An information processing apparatus includes two communication units having different communication areas from one another and a processing unit. When a mobile terminal is within the communication area of a first communication unit, the first communication unit receives setting information for establishing communication between the mobile terminal and a second communication unit, and function information indicating a function for processing substantial information including a document and/or an image to be communicated by the second communication unit. The second communication unit establishes communication with the mobile terminal based on the setting information received by the first communication unit, and communicates the substantial information to the mobile terminal. The processing unit processes the substantial information with the function corresponding to the function information received by the first communication unit.
US08406248B2 Priority-based scheduling and routing in a wireless network
A method of routing data in a mesh communication network including a plurality of network devices and operating in a process control environment, including assigning one of a plurality of priority levels associated with the communication network to a data packet, sending the data packet from a source network device included in the plurality of network devices to a destination network device included in the plurality of network devices, and routing the data packet to a destination network device via at least one intermediate network device included in the plurality of network devices. The act of routing includes comparing, at each intermediate network device, the priority level of the data packet to a priority mask of the intermediate network device, and modifying at least one of scheduling or routing of the data packet if the priority level of the data packet is not associated with the priority mask of the intermediate network device.
US08406237B2 Methods and apparatus for implementing proxy mobile IP in foreign agent care-of address mode
A method for implementing proxy mobile Internet protocol (PMIP) in mobile IP foreign agent care-of-address mode may include determining a home address of an access terminal. The method may also include communicating with a home agent in order to bind an address of the network node with the home address of the access terminal and establish a tunnel between the network node and the home agent. The method may also include receiving first packets destined for the access terminal from the home agent via the tunnel and sending the first packets to the access terminal. The method may also include receiving second packets sent by the access terminal that are destined for a correspondent node and sending the second packets to the home agent via the tunnel.
US08406229B2 System and method for traversing a NAT device for peer-to-peer hybrid communications
An improved system and method are disclosed for peer-to-peer communications. In one example, the method enables an endpoint to traverse a NAT device using a stateless reflector.
US08406225B2 Network configuration and routing
A system may install a trunk between a first switch and an end office, where the trunk is a trunk home for the end office. The system may further identify Numeric Numbering exchanges (NXXs) that home to the end office. Traffic for at least one of the identified NXXs is routed to the end office through a second switch that is different than the first switch. The system also causes traffic for the identified NXXs to be routed to the first switch.
US08406221B2 Automatic termination path configuration
There is provided herein a system and method for automatic configuration of data routings for use with electronic data such as phone calls, faxes, etc. In the preferred embodiment, when more than one carrier might potentially terminate the transmission, the carriers are ordered based on some screening criterion (e.g., transmission price). Data transmissions are then assigned to the carriers based on the sorting order, with the second place and lower carriers (e.g., the higher priced carriers) not being selected unless the first carrier cannot complete the transaction. The switch instructions necessary to implement this scheme are generated automatically.
US08406218B2 Cell search method, forward link frame transmission method, apparatus using the same and forward link frame structure
A method of and an apparatus therefor searching a cell in a mobile station of a communication system in which a plurality of cells are grouped into a plurality of cell groups, and each cell group includes at least two cells. The method includes detecting a primary synchronization signal and a secondary synchronization signal from a received signal, and identifying a cell based on a combination of the primary synchronization signal and the secondary synchronization signal. The secondary synchronization signal is related to the cell group to which the mobile station belongs and the primary synchronization signal is related to the cell to which the mobile station belongs within the cell group.
US08406217B2 Synchronizing wireless devices using timestamps and relative clock offsets of the wireless devices
Wireless communication may be provided between an access point and one or more wireless devices, such as wireless sensors used in avionics applications for sensing, monitoring and control systems. Synchronization of wireless devices may be required so that certain actions, such as data acquisition, are performed at precisely controlled time instances. The system described herein provides for rapid synchronization of wireless devices that does not require the use of prior timing data and that may be performed without communication directly between the wireless devices. Further, techniques are provided for addressing packet losses and packet propagation delays.
US08406215B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting reference signals in communication systems
Methods and apparatus are described for a Relay Node (RN) that is transparent to User Equipments to transmit, together with a base station (Node B), Reference Signals (RS) to UEs, to receive RS from UEs, to perform transmissions of Transport Blocks (TBs) to the Node B or to UEs and receptions of TBs from the Node B or from UEs, where the transmissions of TBs from the RN are for retransmissions associated with a Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) process for the same TBs, and enabling the Node B to obtain control information signaled from UEs while signaling from the RN interferers with that signaling of control information.
US08406211B2 Forward error correction for broadcast/multicast service
An error detection unit performs erasure decoding for physical layer packets and an assembler assembles the received data into higher layer packets. Higher layer packets that are incomplete are not erased if the higher layer packets contain some data indicated as valid by the error detection unit. In the case of incomplete packets, the data is labeled by assigning a value to a reliability attribute for the data to enable the decoder to discriminate between valid and invalid data in the same packet. The decoder is modified to use “dimmed” data from the incomplete packets to perform decoding.
US08406206B2 Mobile peer-to-peer content sharing method and system
Embodiment of the disclosure set forth methods for sharing data in a wireless network. Some example methods include storing in a database a content related information associated with a first mobile device, receiving a request for the content related information from a second mobile device, searching the database for the content related information, and transmitting a search result to the second mobile device to enable the transfer of content between the first mobile device and the second mobile device.
US08406203B2 Transmission rate switching based on rate switching time information
In a mobile communication system, a mobile switching center 27 changes a transmission rate of communication data transmitted from a mobile station 16 and so on to a database 11 or a transmission rate of communication data transmitted from the data 11 to the mobile station 16 and so on, on a basis of request from the mobile station 16 and so on or the database 11, individually and independently.
US08406202B2 Apparatuses and methods for handling timers for routing area (RA) update procedures or attachment procedures without integrity protection
A mobile communication device with a wireless module and a controller module is provided. The wireless module performs wireless transceiving to and from a service network. The controller module transmits an attachment request message without integrity protection to the service network via the wireless module, and receives an attachment response message without integrity protection from the service network via the wireless module. Also, the controller module directly applies a first value of a periodic Routing Area (RA) update timer included in the attachment response message.
US08406198B2 Distributed mobile agent
Systems, apparatus, and methods for forwarding data packets towards a mobile node roaming in a foreign packet-switched data network are disclosed. The data packets having been addressed to a home address of the mobile node, the mobile node being provided with a care of address for use in the foreign network, the systems, apparatus, and methods comprise various features.
US08406197B2 Wireless network system and wireless access point device and wireless terminal device thereof
A wireless network system and a wireless access point (AP) device and a wireless terminal device thereof are provided. The wireless network system includes at least a wireless AP device and at least a wireless terminal device. Each wireless AP device broadcasts a beacon including a load state content of the wireless AP device. Each wireless terminal device receives beacons of all wireless AP devices, and ranks load states of all wireless AP devices in a load list according to at least CPU utilization rates in the load state contents of all wireless AP devices respectively. When a wireless terminal device intends to establish a connection with one of the wireless AP devices, the wireless terminal devices searches through the load list to select a wireless AP device being in a low load state, and transmits a connection request message to the selected wireless AP device.
US08406193B2 Apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving system information in a wireless communication system with hierarchical cell structure
An apparatus and method for transmitting/receiving system information in a wireless communication system with a hierarchical cell structure are provided. A method for transmitting system information in a micro Base Station (BS) in a wireless communication system in which at least one micro cell exists within a macro cell includes transmitting first system information to a Mobile Station (MS) communicating with a macro BS within a micro cell and an MS communicating with a micro BS within the micro cell, and transmitting second system information to the MS communicating with the micro BS within the micro cell.
US08406191B2 Pseudo wires for mobility management
Embodiments describe mobility management utilizing neighbor discovery and at least two pseudo wires. When a wireless device desires to handoff to a detected access router, such handoff may not be configured until such time as a current access router receives routing information of the target access router. In order to minimize handoff time, communication between the target access router and the wireless device can be through the current access router utilizing least two pseudo wires. Bidirectional neighbor discovery and create is conducted by the access routers allow subsequent wireless devices to automatically handoff between the access routers.
US08406188B2 System and method for managing a wireless radio network
A communication system includes wireless access points that are distributed along a linear, terrestrial-based communications medium that has an operative interface to the Internet. The wireless access points establish wireless connectivity between end users in residences and businesses to the Internet via the communications medium. The operating channel for each wireless access point is controlled by a spectrum management system to control use of available spectrum in an efficient manner and to minimize interference.
US08406185B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting pilot in a wireless communication system
An apparatus for transmitting a pilot and method thereof are disclosed, by which a pilot can be efficiently transmitted in a wireless communication system. The present invention, in which the resource unit is transmitted by a base station in a wireless communication system, includes forming the resource unit including a plurality of pilot resource elements (REs) and a plurality of data resource elements, allocating a plurality of pilot pairs to have a prescribed subcarrier interval and a prescribed OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) symbol interval within the resource unit, and transmitting the resource unit to a user equipment via multi-antenna, wherein each of a plurality of the pilot pairs includes individual pilots for two different streams or antennas.
US08406175B2 Carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) protocol with multi-packet reception (MPR) in a wireless ad hoc network
This invention relates to systems and methods for communication in a wireless ad hoc network that employs multi-packet reception. The wireless network includes a transmitting node configured to transmit a control packet to a receiving node while other nodes within a transmission range of the transmitting node are involved in ongoing communication. The receiving node is configured to receive the control packet while simultaneously receiving a second packet from a second transmitting node, and to process the control packet without aborting the receiving of the second packet. Methods for transmitting and receiving multiple packets simultaneously are also presented.
US08406167B2 Proxy-bridge for connecting different types of devices
A proxy-bridge for connecting Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) compliant devices with Bluetooth (BT) compliant devices, and includes SSDP support for discovery of available UPnP compliant devices and services; a Bluetooth SDP client for discovery of available Bluetooth devices and available Bluetooth services and a Bluetooth SDP server for communicating with Bluetooth SDP clients in the available Bluetooth devices. The proxy-bridge has a converter for converting the discovered Bluetooth devices and services into associated UPnP device and service information, and the discovered UPnP compliant devices and services into associated Bluetooth device, service, and/or profile information. A device and service announcer advertises device availability at regular intervals. A UPnP adapter represents the Bluetooth devices towards the UPnP devices and a Bluetooth adapter represents the UPnP compliant devices towards the Bluetooth compliant devices.
US08406164B2 Method and system for implementing hard handovers between access networks
A method and a system for implementing hard handovers between access networks are provided, and the method includes: the access network on the target side obtaining the loop round trip delay of the pilot of the access network on the target side, and setting a center of a searching window of the pilot of the access network on the target side according to the obtained loop round trip delay of the pilot of the access network on the target side, so as to carry out the hard handovers between the access network on the source side and the access network on the target side. With the invention, the hard handovers between access networks could be implemented successfully.
US08406157B2 Communication method for radio communication system
A communication method of a user equipment using a time division duplex (TDD) frame in a wireless communication system is provided. The communication method include configuring a TDD frame comprising at least one downlink subframe and at least one uplink subframe, and transmitting a signal by using the TDD frame, wherein an uplink of the TDD frame starts on the basis of a guard period (GP) or an uplink pilot time slot (UpPTS) of a heterogeneous TDD frame.
US08406152B1 System and methods for presenting storage
A machine implemented method is provided. The method comprises configuring a target port of a target storage array as a plurality of virtual ports; wherein an application executed by a computing system uses the target port to access storage space at the storage array; presenting the plurality of virtual ports to an operating system instance executed by a computing system processor; and using the plurality of virtual ports to read and write information to the storage space of the target storage array.
US08406150B2 Ad-hoc simple configuration
A protocol governing the operation of an ad-hoc WLAN enables each device in the WLAN to be configured as a registrar and/or an enrollee. Accordingly, each device is configurable to support both the registrar as well as enrollee modes of operations. In response to a time-driven user action, the device may be configured to enter into a registrar mode or an enrollee mode. While in the registrar mode, the device enters into an aggressive beaconing phase by setting its beacon contention window to a relatively very small value. The aggressive beaconing increases the probability of the discovery of the registrar by the enrollees. Optionally the device may prompt the user to select between a registrar and an enrollee mode of operation by displaying the option on an LCD panel.
US08406147B2 Method and apparatus for soliciting connectivity from wireless data networks
According to the embodiments of the techniques of this application, a wireless data device or other data node sends solicitation messages periodically to a wireless gateway, such as a PDSN, when there is no data traffic between the wireless data device and a wireless data network. Each solicitation message resets the simple IP inactivity timer on the wireless gateway. When multiple wireless data devices send solicitation messages, the interval between subsequent transmissions of solicitation messages is randomized to reduce the probability of collision with the solicitations from other devices on the same wireless link. The solicitation timer, for instance, may be based on the simple IP inactivity timer setting on the wireless network, and the number of wireless data devices that the wireless data network serves. Expiration of the solicitation timer at the wireless data device or other data node causes the next solicitation message to be sent from or on behalf of the wireless data device.
US08406146B2 Scrambling code allocation in a cellular communication network
In a cellular wireless communications network, measurements are received from a plurality of user equipments relating to the reference signal received powers from a plurality of other cells of the cellular wireless communications network For other cells of the cellular wireless communications network having a physical cell identity (such as a scrambling code) that is the same as a physical cell identity of that first cell, it is determined from the received measurements whether a mutual potential interference level with that cell exceeds a threshold If so, an alternative physical cell identity is proposed, that would cause a mutual potential interference level between the cell or the potentially interfering cell and another cell already using that alternative physical cell identity that is lower than the mutual potential interference level between the cell and the potentially interfering cell.
US08406143B2 Method and system for transmitting connectivity fault management messages in ethernet, and a node device
A method for transmitting a Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) message of Ethernet includes: receiving a CFM message transmitted from a source node, the CFM message including identifier of a path and a connection maintenance target address; determining whether the connection maintenance target address matches address of a receiving node, and if yes, terminating the CFM message; otherwise forwarding the CFM message to a next hop based upon the path identifier of the path. Another method and a system for transmitting a CFM message of Ethernet, a node for transmitting a CFM message of Ethernet, and a node for receiving a CFM message of Ethernet are also disclosed. With the invention, a CFM message may be forwarded according to information of a Medium Access Control (MAC) address and a Virtual Local Area Network Identifier (VLAN ID) of a path identifier where a monitored service is located, and thus may be forwarded correctly in a Provider Backbone Bridge Traffic Engineering (PBB-TE) network.
US08406139B2 Method and apparatus for efficient transfer of data over a network
A method and apparatus for improving the efficiency of a network. A source node determines the propagation delay for data to reach a destination node. This enables the source node to transmit data more efficiently by ensuring a greater portion of a specific time slot is used for receiving data by the destination node. The destination node then determines if it is connected to any other nodes, and determines the propagation delay between the other connected nodes. The process continues until a node detects it is not connected to any other nodes for which a propagation delay has not been computed. Thus, each node on the network knows the propagation delay between each node, and the nodes utilize this information to more efficiently transfer data through the network.
US08406138B2 Wireless communication terminal and QoS information collection method
In a wireless communication terminal, the other terminal existence confirmation section broadcasts a confirmation message at fixed intervals and receives a response message. The topology information management section computes the topology of the whole network to which the wireless communication terminal itself belongs, on the basis of the topology information on the network received at fixed intervals from other terminals. The path management section derives an optimum path to the terminal of the transmission destination. The QoS information collection section issues a communication start request instruction and, when a QoS information collect request instruction has been issued, unicasts a QoS request packet on the path and receives a reply QoS request packet. The judgment section adopts the path as the communication path when QoS information satisfies a predetermined quality standard.
US08406134B2 Scaling content communicated over a network
The disclosed subject matter relates to an architecture that can scale content resolution in order to mitigate errors in a provisioned service of a communication network, such as a wireless service or a femtocell service that integrates with DSL or other broadband carriers. The architecture can identify fault conditions relating to e.g., bandwidth oversubscription or symbolization integrity. Based upon such identification, the architecture can alter encoding format codecs of certain types of content in order to reduce their resolution/quality, thereby mitigating bandwidth oversubscription fault conditions or freeing up space (without necessarily increasing bandwidth) to insert additional FEC code.
US08406133B2 System and method of regulating a packet rate to optimize traffic in a network
Systems and methods of optimizing packet flow in a network are disclosed. An internetwork includes plural networks, each network having plural non-router nodes and at least one router node. The non-router nodes of a first network can be configured to perform congestion control. The non-router node establishes a packet rate value for a packet queue associated with a second network of the internetwork. A total number of packets not greater than the packet rate value are removed from the packet queue. The removed packets are sent to a node in the second network.
US08406126B1 Ring-like communication architecture
A system for fault-tolerant communication includes N nodes, out of which one is a gateway node, and N data links, each data link connecting two of the nodes, forming a ring structure. At least two of the data links are wireless data links. The system substantially do not use one of the wireless data links to send data, effectively partitioning the ring structure into a first chain and a second chain. The system sends data downstream direction and upstream direction, through the first and second chains. The system detaches at least one node from the first chain, by substantially stop using a wireless data link having a reduction in performance and belonging to the first chain, and connects the at least one node to the second chain by starting to use the wireless data link that was substantially not in use.
US08406116B2 Mobile conferencing method and system
A server-based architecture for mobile conferencing is presented. Session-based mobile conferencing is established by transmitting necessary server network address information through page-mode based messaging services to establish connections among the various mobile devices with the server.
US08406108B2 Objective lens for optical pickup and optical pickup device
An objective lens for an optical pickup device is provided with a light-source-side lens surface by which laser light is converged, and a disc-side lens surface by which the laser light converged by the light-source-side lens surface is converged. The first lens surface and the second lens surface are configured to guide a part of a light collecting portion of the laser light reflected on the second lens surface to a position on an outside of the first lens surface.
US08406105B1 Calibrating optical drive write parameters during writing
A model is derived for write parameters of a laser in an optical drive. A parameter range for the write parameters is set based on a recordable medium. A number of test runs are recorded on the recordable medium while varying the write parameters. Write performance characteristics are measured over the test runs, and a model of write performance as a function of the write parameters is derived. Values for write parameters are selected for use in writing actual data based on the derived model. A first section of user data is written to the data-carrying region of the recordable medium using the selected values. The write performance characteristics of the first section of user data are measured, and the model is updated by including the measurements from the data-carrying region. New values for the write parameters of the laser are selected based on the updated model.
US08406094B2 Heat-assisted recording head and heat-assisted recording device
In a thermally assisted recording head using a conductive scatterer as an optical near-field transducer, a propagation loss in a waveguide for guiding light to the scatterer is reduced. An optical near-field is generated by using the conductive scatterer having a width that gradually becomes smaller toward a vertex at which the optical near-field is generated. At the same time, a height of the conductive scatterer for generating the optical near-field is made substantially equal to a height of a main pole or longer than the height of the main pole.
US08406078B2 Memory circuits having a plurality of keepers
A memory circuit includes a first plurality of memory arrays disposed in a column fashion. The memory circuit includes a first plurality of keepers each of which is electrically coupled with a corresponding one of the first plurality of memory arrays. A first current limiter is electrically coupled with and shared by the first plurality of keepers. A first plurality of sector switches each are electrically coupled between the first current limiter and a respective one of the first plurality of keepers.
US08406075B2 Ultra-low leakage memory architecture
An integrated circuit structure includes an active power supply line and a data-retention power supply line. A memory macro is connected to the active power supply line and the data-retention power supply line. The memory macro includes a memory cell array and a switch. The switch is configured to switch a connection between connecting the memory cell array to the active power supply line and connecting the memory cell array to the data-retention power supply line. The data-retention power supply line is outside of the memory macro.
US08406068B2 Voltage shifter for high voltage operations
A voltage shifter has a supply line receiving a supply voltage that varies between a first operating value in a first operating condition and a second high operating value, in a second operating condition. A latch stage is connected to an output branch and to a selection circuit, which receives a selection signal that controls switching of the latch stage. The latch stage is coupled to the supply line and to a reference potential line, which receives a reference voltage that can vary between a first reference value, when the supply voltage has the first operating value, and a second reference value, higher than the first reference value, when the supply voltage has the second operating value. An uncoupling stage is arranged between the latch stage and the selection circuit and uncouples them in the second operating condition, when the supply voltage and the reference voltage are at their second, high, value.
US08406062B2 Charge recycling memory system and a charge recycling method thereof
A memory system, including a nonvolatile memory device, a charge recycler configured to discharge charges from the nonvolatile memory device and recycle the discharged charges, and a controller configured to control the nonvolatile memory device and the charge recycler, wherein the controller controls the charge recycler to recycle the discharged charges, wherein during the recycling the charge recycler charges the charges discharged from the nonvolatile memory device.