Document	Document Title
US08460465B2	Support ring for supporting a semiconductor wafer composed of monocrystalline silicon during a thermal treatment, method for the thermal treatment of such a semiconductor wafer, and thermally treated semiconductor wafer composed of monocrystalline silicon A support ring for supporting a monocrystalline silicon semiconductor wafer during a thermal treatment of the semiconductor wafer has outer and inner lateral surfaces and a curved surface extending from the outer lateral surface to the inner lateral surface, this curved surface serving for the placement of the semiconductor wafer. The curved surface has a radius of curvature of not less than 6000 mm and not more than 9000 mm for 300 mm diameter wafers, or a radius of curvature of not less than 9000 mm and not more than 14,000 mm for 450 mm diameter wafers. Use of the support ring during thermal treatment reduces slip and improves wafer nanotopography.
US08460457B2	Robust air-detraining for cement milling The present invention discloses compositions and methods wherein air entrained in cementitious materials at least one air-entraining cement additive is detrained using an ethoxylated, propoxylated fatty alcohol or alkylphenol having robustness for withstanding the harsh temperature and mechanical shearing effects of cement grinding mills. Exemplary air-entraining cement additives include a tertiary alkanolamine, a lignosulfonic acid or salt thereof, naphthalene sulfonate formaldehyde condensate, melamine sulfonate formaldehyde condensate, a glycol, a glycerin, or mixtures thereof.
US08460455B2	Air clay and method of manufacturing the same An air clay and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes i) selecting at least one raw material from a group consisting of sand powder, shell powder, crop powder and a mixture thereof, ii) finely grinding the raw material to prepare a base material having a particle diameter of about 0.02 mm to about 0.2 mm, iii) adding about 10 wt. parts to about 30 wt. parts of glycerin to about 100 wt. parts of the base material, iv) mixing and kneading these materials together to form a paste and v) adding about 0.1 wt. parts to about 9 wt. parts of a liquid coagulating agent for water treatment to the paste and mixing these materials together. According to one embodiment, the clay is useful for various types of play and learning for infants and young children.
US08460454B2	Alkyl silicate paint compositions with improved cracking resistance The present application discloses an acidic-stabilized alkyl silicate composition comprising 0.5-30% by solids volume of inorganic fibers, wherein the fibers have (i) an average length of 25-250 μm and an average thickness of 1-50 μm, and a ratio between the average length and the average thickness (aspect ratio) of at least 5; and (ii) a specific surface area (BET) of 0.01-6 m2/g. A corresponding acidic-stabilized alkyl silicate composition comprising zinc and inorganic fibers, wherein the zinc constitutes 50-95% by solids weight of the total composition, and the fibers constitutes 0.5-30% by solids volume of the non-zinc fraction of the composition, is also disclosed. The application further discloses a method for the establishment of a crack resistant alkyl silicate paint coat by applying one of the compositions to a metal surface.
US08460451B2	Support material and applications thereof In one aspect, support materials operable for use in 3D printing systems are described herein. In some embodiments, a support material comprises a wax component comprising at least one ethoxylated fatty alcohol and a viscosity modifying agent, wherein the support material is water dispersible. In some embodiments, the wax component comprises a mixture of at least one fatty alcohol and at least one ethoxylated fatty alcohol.
US08460449B2	Water-based ink set for ink jet recording, ink cartridge, and ink-jet recording apparatus A water-based ink set includes a yellow ink, a magenta ink, and a cyan ink, each including a coloring agent, water, and a water-soluble organic solvent. The yellow ink includes dyes (Y-1) and (Y-2), the magenta ink includes dyes (M-1) and (M-2), and the cyan ink includes a dye (C-1).Dye (Y-1): a dye represented by the formula (Y-1)Dye (Y-2): at least one dye selected from the group consisting of C. I. Direct Yellow 86, C. I. Direct Yellow 132, and C. I. Direct Yellow 142Dye (M-1): a dye represented by the formula (M-1)Dye (M-2): at least one dye selected from the group consisting of dyes represented by a formula (M-2a), dyes represented by the formula (M-2b), C. I. Acid Red 1, and C. I. Acid Red 254Dye (C-1): a dye represented by the formula (C-1).
US08460435B2	Apparatus for producing high-concentration ozone gas and method of producing high-concentration ozone gas An apparatus for producing high-concentration ozone gas has a plurality of adsorption/desorption columns and a plurality of valves capable of switching opening/closing of the passage of gas flowing into or out of the adsorption/desorption columns, such that each of the adsorption/desorption columns can performs ozone adsorption processing, evacuation processing or desorption processing. At least two of the adsorption/desorption columns are placed in a serial cycle arrangement to constitute a main adsorption/desorption column group, and one or more of the other adsorption/desorption columns is placed in parallel with the main adsorption/desorption column group to constitute an auxiliary adsorption/desorption column. The auxiliary adsorption/desorption column performs desorption processing during a period in which none of the adsorption/desorption columns of the main adsorption/desorption column group is performing desorption processing.
US08460432B2	Cheap thin film oxygen membranes The present invention provides a membrane, comprising a porous support layer a gas tight electronically and ionically conducting membrane layer and a catalyst layer, characterized in that the electronically and ionically conducting membrane layer is formed from a material having a crystallite structure with a crystal size of about 1 to 100 nm, and a method for producing same.
US08460414B2	Polishing slurry and polishing material using same Disclosed is a polishing slurry which enables to suppress damages to an under layer while securing an adequate polishing rate. The polishing slurry contains a resin (A) having an amide group and an organic resin (B).
US08460413B2	Method and apparatus for supply of low-Btu gas to an engine generator A carburetion system and method for adapting a low-Btu gas source with a low-Btu gas consumer. Pressure-based air-gas mixers geometrically appropriate for the carburetion system and method. The carburetion system comprises a low-Btu gas inlet, a gas outlet, a zero-pressure regulator, and at least one pressure-based air-gas mixer capable of maintaining a volumetric air to low-Btu gas ratio of no more than about 2:1. The method comprises diverting a low-Btu gas to a gas outlet when the gas consumer is off. The method further comprises, during operation of the consumer, diverting low-Btu gas to a zero-pressure regulator in order to balance low-Btu gas pressure with air pressure, passing low-Btu gas to at least one pressure-based air-gas mixer capable of maintaining a volumetric air to low-Btu gas ratio of no more than about 2:1, mixing the low-Btu gas with air in the at least one pressure-based air-gas mixer to form an air-gas mixture, and sending the air-gas mixture to the consumer. A venturi air-gas mixer comprising at least one venturi gas intake and at least one venturi air intake wherein the at least one venturi gas intake has a cross-sectional area at least equal to the cross-sectional area of the at least one venturi air intake whereby the venturi air-gas mixer is capable of maintaining a volumetric air-to-gas ratio of no more than about 1:1.
US08460410B2	Two stage entrained gasification system and process The present invention relates to a system and process for gasifying feedstock such as carbonaceous materials. The invention includes partial combustion of dry solids and pyrolysis of carbonaceous material slurry in two separate reactor sections and produce mixture products comprising synthesis gas. The invention employs one or more catalytic or sorbent bed for removing tar from the synthesis gas. The inventive system and process allow a gasification to be carried out under higher slurry feeding rate and lower temperature with the provision to manage the tar being produced, therefore to increase the conversion efficiency of the overall gasification.
US08460409B2	Plasma-catalyzed fuel reformer A reformer is disclosed that includes a plasma zone to receive a pre-heated mixture of reactants and ionize the reactants by applying an electrical potential thereto. A first thermally conductive surface surrounds the plasma zone and is configured to transfer heat from an external heat source into the plasma zone. The reformer further includes a reaction zone to chemically transform the ionized reactants into synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide. A second thermally conductive surface surrounds the reaction zone and is configured to transfer heat from the external heat source into the reaction zone. The first thermally conductive surface and second thermally conductive surface are both directly exposed to the external heat source. A corresponding method and system are also disclosed and claimed herein.
US08460396B1	Systems, devices, and/or methods for washing and drying a product Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, machine, and/or device adapted for washing and drying a product via a continuous forward flow of product and a reverse flow of aqueous content. Certain exemplary embodiments can provide an auger, a rotating paddle wheel, a spiral drum, a cylindrical drum, and/or a ram press.
US08460393B2	Modular lateral hip augments An implant for a hip can include a lateral augment adapted to be coupled to a lateral side of a femoral body implant. The lateral augment can include a body portion having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a protrusion extending from the second surface. The protrusion can have a shape adapted to mate with a complimentary shaped recess formed in the lateral side of the femoral body implant. An aperture can be positioned in the body portion and extend through the protrusion. A fastener can be received through the aperture and adapted to be threadably secured to the lateral bore. The fastener can be configured to have a length sufficient to pass through a portion of a greater trochanter for securing the portion of the greater trochanter and the lateral augment to the femoral body implant.
US08460385B1	Fusion member for insertion between vertebral bodies Some embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus that (1) delivers a fusion member between two vertebral bodies after at least a portion of the fibrocartilaginous disc between the vertebral bodies has been removed, and (2) affixes the fusion member to the vertebral bodies. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes (1) a fusion member that is delivered and positioned between the vertebral bodies, (2) a delivery mechanism that delivers and positions the fusion member between the vertebral bodies, and (3) an anchoring member that affixes the fusion member to the vertebral bodies.
US08460381B2	Methods and devices for the treatment of intervertebral discs disorders Devices for the treatment of intervertebral discs are described. The devices, when implanted into the nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc, are specifically configured with an inert outer layer and an inner layer containing at least one chemonucleolysis agent so as to provide a delayed and controlled release of the chemonucleolysis agent from the inner layer into the disc. The implant can be an elongated solid body having a tapered or rounded insertion end having at least one therapeutic agent in the inner layer of the implant surrounded by an outer layer of inert material.
US08460380B2	Intervertebral implant and surgical method for spondylodesis of a lumbar vertebral column An intervertebral implant has a head positioned at one end of the implant. The head has a conical portion, on which an external thread is formed, and an outer end region formed by a protective elevation. The elevation is, is viewed from the outside, convexly curved and free from sharp edges. A central portion is positioned between the head and a basic structure which is formed at an opposite end of the implant. The central portion is formed by a plurality of struts extending from the head to the basic structure. The central portion is provided with an external thread and has openings formed between the head, the struts and the basic structure.
US08460379B2	Adjustable suture button construct and methods of tissue reconstruction An adjustable construct for fixation of a tendon or ligament graft in a tunnel. The construct comprises a flexible, adjustable loop connected to tissue (for example, graft, ligament or tendon). The adjustable loop may be integrated with an additional tissue supporting device (for example, a wedge or a plug). The tissue is secured within a bone socket/tunnel by adjusting the length of the flexible adjustable loop.
US08460378B2	Biocompatible, biodegradable polyurethane materials with controlled hydrophobic to hydrophilic ratio The biocompatible, biodegradable materials in the solid and/or liquid form are based on segmented linear polyurethanes and/or segmented crosslinked polyurethanes based on A) one or more biocompatible polyols susceptible to hydrolytic and/or enzymatic degradation having a molecular weight of 100 to 20,000 dalton and a number of active hydroxyl groups per molecule (functionality) of at least two or higher; B) one or more diisocyanates and/or triisocyanates; and C) one or more low molecular weight chain extenders having a molecular weight of 18 to 1000 dalton and the functionality of at least two or higher.
US08460372B2	Prosthesis for reducing intra-cardiac pressure having an embolic filter The present disclosure relates to devices and methods for implanting a prosthesis into a heart of a mammal, such as a person. The disclosure includes a prosthesis that acts as a pressure vent between the left and right atria of the heart. The intracardiac pressure vents disclosed allow sufficient flow from the left atrium to the right atrium to relieve elevated left atrial pressure and resulting patient symptoms. The devices also limit the amount of flow from the right atrium to the left atrium to minimize the potential for thrombi or other embolic material from entering arterial circulation.
US08460370B2	Device and method for treatment of heart valve regurgitation In one embodiment, the present invention provides a prosthesis that can be implanted within a heart to at least partially block gaps that may be present between the two mitral valve leaflets. In one preferred embodiment, the prosthesis includes an anchoring ring that expands within the left atrium to anchor the prosthesis and a pocket member fixed to the anchoring ring. The pocket member is positioned within the mitral valve, between the leaflets so that an open end of the pocket member is positioned within the left ventricle. When the mitral valve is open, blood flows past the pocket member, maintaining the pocket member in a collapsed state. When the mitral valve closes, the backpressure of the blood pushes into the pocket member, expanding the pocket member to an inflated shape. The mitral valve leaflets contact the expanded pocket member, allowing the prosthesis to block at least a portion of the openings between the leaflets, thereby minimizing regurgitated blood flow into the left atrium.
US08460365B2	Venous valve, system, and method with sinus pocket A valve with a frame and valve leaflets that provide a sinus pocket. The valve provides for unidirectional flow of a liquid through the valve.
US08460363B2	Axially-radially nested expandable device Expandable medical implants for maintaining support of a body lumen are disclosed. These implants comprise an axially-radially nested, diametrically expandable, moveable vascular device for enlarging an occluded portion of a vessel. The device can be configured to allow for motion such as translating and/or slide and lock. One advantage of the axially-radially nested stent is that it maintains the expanded size, without significant recoil.
US08460358B2	Rapid exchange interventional devices and methods Wire-guided interventional devices and methods are provided which enable faster and easier catheter exchanges. The interventional devices include a catheter shaft and a guidewire tube wherein the catheter shaft and the guidewire tube each have a length sufficient to extend to the vascular penetration when the interventional device is positioned at the treatment site. In some embodiments, a collar is disposed around the catheter shaft and guidewire tube that automatically inserts or removes the guidewire from the guidewire tube or automatically collapses or extends the guidewire tube as the catheter is introduced or withdrawn.
US08460354B2	Inflatable convective pad for surgery An inflatable convective pad for warming a person during surgery has two ends, two sides, and at least two openings, each located in an area of the pad between the two ends and between a respective side and the center of the pad. The openings, which may be in the form of slits, allow the threading of a sheet or the person's arms through the pad to restrain the arms during surgery.
US08460350B2	Graft protection mesh and fixation technique A three-dimensional mesh or screen in the shape of a simple flat piece of material that can be provided adjacent the graft (i.e., in between graft bundles, or around the graft, or between the graft and the fixation device) for improved strength and structural support for graft fixation. The mesh provides improved methods for installing and securing ligament grafts (such as double-bundle cruciate ligament grafts) with enhanced reconstruction results.
US08460343B2	Intramedullary tubular bone fixation An intramedullary bone fixation device suitable for treatment of fractures of the tubular bones of the hand or feet. The implantable device can be used singly or introduced through both the radial and ulnar aspects. The device includes a stem having a tip portion at one end and a base member at the opposite end of the stem. The stem and tip portions are configured with a unique configuration and cross section to facilitate insertion into and through the canal and provide the necessary forces on the stem portion within the canal. The base is sized and configured to minimize tissue damage while as the same time providing a strong point of fixation.
US08460339B2	Multi element biased suture clip A suture clamp comprising a plurality of elements positioned together in a row, each element of the plurality of elements having a lower portion separated from an upper portion by a flexible neck, each element of the plurality of elements including a slot having an outwardly facing opening, the slots from the plurality of elements configured to accept a suture element through the row of elements and secure the suture element. A method of clamping a suture, including applying a biasing force to at least one element into the first position to provide access to the outwardly facing opening of the slot, passing the suture through a tissue layer, receiving the suture into the slot through the outward facing opening, and removing the biasing force to form a tortuous path between adjacently positioned elements of the plurality of elements.
US08460328B2	Surgical marking tools and methods for marking a patient A surgical marking tool for marking a location on a patient includes a cutting head and a handle. The cutting head includes a screw thread. The handle is coupled to the cutting head to rotate the cutting head. The screw thread is configured to progressively embed in the patient to mark the location when the cutting head is placed in contact with the patient and rotated with respect to the patient using the handle.
US08460327B2	Tissue removal device for neurosurgical and spinal surgery applications A tissue cutting device that is especially suited for neurosurgical applications is disclosed and described. The device includes a handpiece and an outer cannula in which a reciprocating inner cannula is disposed. The inner cannula includes a hinge between a body section and a cutting section that allows the cutting section to pivot when the inner cannula reciprocates within the outer cannula. The inner cannula also includes a bending portion between the proximal end of the inner cannula and the hinge which is bendable with the outer cannula. The device is particularly suited for accessing neurosurgical sites that are not accessible along a linear path.
US08460325B2	Apparatuses and methods for forming incisions in ocular tissue A surgical tool includes a surgical blade configured to be moved to form an incision. The surgical tool also includes a wire configured to cause movement of the surgical blade. The surgical tool further includes an actuator configured to shorten a length of the wire to cause the movement of the surgical blade. The surgical tool could be configured to move the surgical blade in a first direction and then in a second direction in response to a single shortening of the wire. Also, the wire could represent a first wire, the surgical tool could include a second wire, and the surgical tool could be configured to move the surgical blade in a first direction in response to shortening the first wire and to move the surgical blade in a second direction in response to shortening the second wire.
US08460321B2	Devices, tools and methods for performing minimally invasive abdominal surgical procedures Methods, systems, devices and assemblies are provided for treating a patient by: making an incision or puncture though the patient's skin over the abdominal cavity; establishing an initial tract through an opening formed by the incision or puncture; advancing an instrument through the tract; contacting a distal end portion of the instrument against an inner surface of the abdominal cavity; driving at least one stitching needle through the inner surface of the abdominal cavity; continuing the driving until the at least one stitching needle exits the inner surface of the abdominal cavity; anchoring a suture carried by each of the at least one stitching needle to a suture anchor at an exit location, respectively; and applying tension to each of the sutures.
US08460319B2	Intervertebral disc annulus repair system and method A device for at least partially closing an aperture in an annulus fibrosus of an intervertebral disc of a patient comprises an implant delivery tool and an implant releasably coupled to the implant delivery tool. The implant delivery tool includes a substantially rigid outer tube having a sharpened distal tip, a body a body coupled to the proximal section of the outer tube, and a plunger assembly movable axially relative to the body and including a plunger member and a pusher tube coupled thereto and disposed within the outer tube. The implant includes first and second tissue anchors serially disposed within the distal section of the outer tube, and a flexible connecting element coupling the first and second tissue anchors including a knotless braided suture structure for adjusting the length of the flexible coupling element.
US08460318B2	Suturing instrument and method for passing multiple sutures Apparatus and methods for passing multiple sutures in tissue repair and/or other mini-open procedures. The apparatus includes a pair of jaws mounted on a distal end of a shaft, a hand assembly mounted on a proximal end of the shaft, and a needle mounted on the hand assembly and passing through a cannulation of the shaft. The pair of jaws includes a lower jaw and an upper jaw, the lower jaw being provided with a slot configured to sequentially engage multiple sutures inserted into the instrument. The handle assembly has a cam mechanism and a finger lever with a ratchet and a releaser with a hook, the handle assembly being designed to move the needle from a first position to a second position, and to thereby sequentially capture, in the needle, each of the multiple sutures inserted in the instrument, for subsequent passing through tissue.
US08460310B2	Surgical base unit and retractor support mechanism An apparatus and methods for exerting force on a first bone with respect to a fulcrum, which may be a second bone. A base structure, mechanically coupled to the fulcrum, is coupled to the closure top so that a force may be exerted by the base structure, acting against the fulcrum, in at least one of axial and transverse directions with respect to a pedicle screw inserted into bone. A leg extension, allowing force to be applied through the pedicle screw to a bone, has a first end rotatably coupled to the base structure; and a second end threaded as the closure top. The base structure may also support a retractor in a manner local to the immediate region of surgery.
US08460308B2	Insertion and reduction tool for pedicle screw assembly Disclosed are devices, methods and systems for manipulating a pedicle screw assembly and for inserting and reducing a rod relative to the pedicle screw assembly. The system can include a cannula assembly having a reduction cannula with an internal bore extending between a proximal region and a distal region and an insertion cannula co-axially positioned within the internal bore of the reduction cannula. The insertion cannula includes a pair of opposed prongs extending distally from a distal region of the insertion cannula, wherein each prong is interposed between a pair of flexible projecting elements. The pair of opposed prongs of the insertion cannula and the distal region of the reduction cannula are aligned to collectively define an opening that is sized and shaped for receiving a spinal rod. The device also can include an annular collar mounted on the proximal region of the reduction cannula and rotatably coupled to a proximal region of the insertion cannula. The cannula assembly can also be a pivoting cannula assembly.
US08460304B2	Joint arthroplasty devices and surgical tools Disclosed herein are methods, compositions and tools for repairing articular surfaces repair materials and for repairing an articular surface. The articular surface repairs are customizable or highly selectable by patient and geared toward providing optimal fit and function. The surgical tools are designed to be customizable or highly selectable by patient to increase the speed, accuracy and simplicity of performing total or partial arthroplasty.
US08460296B2	Minimally invasive instruments and methods for preparing vertebral endplates Instruments and methods for treating vertebral endplates are disclosed. The instrument includes one or more treatment members movable from a reduced profile position for insertion to the operative site to a deployed position for providing treatment to the vertebral endplates.
US08460294B2	Intramedullary nail An intramedullary device includes an intramedullary nail extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end, a proximal portion of the intramedullary nail including a cavity extending from an opening at the proximal end along the longitudinal axis and a locking hole extending transversely therethrough along with a first insert sized and shaped for insertion into the cavity along the longitudinal axis thereof and including a transverse bore aligning with the locking hole and a second insert for engaging an inner surface of the cavity proximally of the first insert to retain the first insert within the cavity and including a central bore extending longitudinally therethrough for coupling to an insertion instrument.
US08460293B2	Intramedullary nail with shape memory elements for elongated bones An intramedullary nail for a fractured elongated bone, comprising a cannulated rod having proximal and distal ends; an outside tubular sleeve for coaxially hosting and guiding the rod; and at least a pair of shape memory elements hosted in corresponding seats at the distal end of the rod. Each shape memory element can be retractably housed in its seat in a first configuration, allowing insertion of the nail into the bone, and can project from a sleeve opening in another configuration. Pairs of transversal holes are provided in proximal portions of the rod and the sleeve. The distal pair of shape memory elements lie on an offset plane to the plane of the proximal holes and are kept in their corresponding seats by a distal cover fixed to the rod. This improves the stability of the nail in the medullary canal.
US08460289B2	Electrode with rotatably deployable sheath A sheath system for selectively covering a distal end of an electrocautery blade is provided. The sheath system includes a hub having a body portion defining a lumen therethrough and a sheath having a body portion defining a lumen therethrough. The lumen of the sheath is configured and dimensioned to operatively receive an electrocautery blade therein. The sheath is translatably associated with the hub such that rotation of the hub in a first direction results in axial movement of the sheath in a first direction to expose a distal end of the electrocautery blade and rotation of the hub in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, results in axial movement of the sheath in a second direction to cover the distal end of the electrocautery blade. The hub and the sheath may be concentric with one another.
US08460285B2	Ablation catheter electrode having multiple thermal sensors and method of use The invention relates to electrodes used in ablation catheter devices, where the electrodes contain two or more thermal sensors at different positions within the electrode that are capable of detecting temperature differences along the external surface of the electrode. In preferred embodiments, the thermal sensors are separated by one or more thermal insulating members and the thermal sensors are positioned near the external surface of the electrode at about the same distance from the end of the electrode, so that temperature measurements can indicate the position of the electrode with respect to the tissue desired to be ablated.
US08460282B2	Occlusion apparatus Methods, apparatus, and systems for occluding a left atrial appendage are provided. One embodiment includes an elongate body having a tissue apposition member extendably positioned within a lumen of the elongate body to appose tissue of the LAA. An energy emitting device coupled to the elongate body can be used for emitting high intensity focused ultrasound to the tissues to fuse the tissues.
US08460280B2	Localized flashlamp skin treatments A flashlamp device having a small diameter waveguide is disclosed for use in localized dermatological applications. A preferred waveguide has a curvilinear wall surface. The waveguide is supported by a plurality of spaced apart thermally-conductive elements in contact with the curvilinear wall surface allowing sufficient cooling of the waveguide while minimizing the amount of high angle light stripped from the waveguide at points of contact with the contact elements.
US08460272B2	Method and apparatus for extensible intravenous drip line The extensible intravenous (“i.v.”) drip line tubing uses a helical accordion support structure on which the i.v. tubing is attached. The helical accordion backbone has some tendency to spring back, but this is not relied upon to extend and return the i.v. tubing it carries. The carrier structure keeps the i.v. tubing from getting tangle or kinked. A centrally located retractable line, which is located within the center of the helical accordion structure, acts as the retracting mechanism, as it tends to allow the accordion structure to be pulled into an extended position, while upon rewinding the central cord, the helical accordion support structure can be pushed toward a collapsed position without the i.v. drip line tubing becoming tanked, kinked, and thereby blocked. As a safety feature, so the i.v. line does not encounter and strain between it and the point of entry of the i.v. line into the patient, is one or more wrist and or armbands to which the i.v. carrier is attached by a short, strong line.
US08460265B1	Washable female undergarment A washable female undergarment is designed for comfort and for alleviating leakage. The undergarment comprises an outer layer of a stretchable fabric, an inner layer of an absorbent fabric, and a main absorbent layer positioned between the inner and outer layers in the crotch area. The three layers are permanently secured together to form a reusable reliant undergarment.
US08460259B2	Controlled discharge ostomy appliance and moldable adhesive wafer A controlled discharge ostomy appliance is described for use with an adhesive body fitment. The body fitment comprises an adhesive wafer having a stomal aperture that is manually shapeable by folding or rolling back a rim portion of the adhesive around the stomal aperture.
US08460257B2	Reduced-pressure, wound-treatment dressings and systems A wound-closing dressing, which is suitable for use as part of a reduced-pressure, wound-treatment system, may include a sealing drape, one or more contracting elements, and a gripping member. The contracting element may be coupled to the sealing drape and is configured to contract when activated and to generate a closing force. A gripping member is coupled to the sealing drape and is configured to transmit the closing force to a patient's epidermis. Other dressings, systems, and methods are also disclosed.
US08460256B2	Collapsible fluid collection and disposal system and related methods A fluid collection system includes a disposable collection container and a disposable collection container receiving housing, the housing having a cavity and a suction source. The fluid collection container may include a flexible liner and a shelf for diverting fluid from the suction and to assist with a collapse of the liner during evacuation of the fluid from the liner. The collection container receiving housing may include a piston assembly having a main piston body and a scraper ring. The collection container receiving housing may include a piston stop feature. The system may include a partially hydrophobic filter and a flat surface suction tool.
US08460253B2	Magnetically sealed intravenous access valve The magnetically sealed intravenous access valve is an implantable port and valve for vascular access. The magnetically sealed intravenous access valve includes a housing and a pair of hollow tubes provided for interconnection and communication with the patient's blood vessel. Each tube is partially slidably received within a lower portion of the housing. A hollow key is used to selectively open and close the valve and also to inject medication into the patient's blood vessel. The hollow key is removably received within channels formed through a retainer and a rotatable obturator so that the lower end of the hollow key releasably engages the obturator. Selective rotation thereof allows eccentric spout formed in the obturator to align with an eccentric aperture formed in a valve plate. Fluids flow through the hollow key, the aligned spout and plate opening, the lower portion of the housing, and the opposing tubes for fluid transfer.
US08460249B2	Needle assembly and components thereof Needle assemblies are generally discussed herein with particular discussions extended to needle assemblies having a tip protector with a plurality of wall surfaces for preventing contact with the needle tip from a side. Aspects of the tip protectors discussed herein include a first protector body having an arm for blocking a needle tip surrounded by a second protector body having a plurality of wall surfaces.
US08460244B2	Reservoir compartment adapter for infusion device The present invention provides a reservoir compartment adapter for use with a fluid delivery device. The adapter includes a first end adapted for coupling with a fluid delivery device, a second end adapted for coupling with a connector, and a structure between the first end and the second end including an interior space for receiving the reservoir, wherein an extended reservoir compartment for accommodating the reservoir is adapted to be formed when the first end is coupled to the fluid delivery device, and the reservoir is adapted to be secured in the extended reservoir compartment when the connector is coupled to the second end. The adapter allows a user of a delivery device accommodating reservoirs of a certain size to manage periods where increased medication dosage is needed without the burden of carrying a larger delivery device for accommodating reservoirs filled with the increased dosage.
US08460236B2	Fiber optic instrument sensing system Systems are described herein that improve control of a shapeable or steerable instrument using shape data. Additional systems use such shape data for improved mapping or adjusting models of the instrument. Such systems include robotic medical systems for controlling a shapeable instrument within an anatomical region having a controller, one or more actuators, and a localization system for guiding one or more shapeable instruments.
US08460228B2	Methods, devices, and systems for parallel control of infusion device A tubing set is disclosed including a first line having first and second ends, a bag spike at the first end configured for connection to a source of infusate, and a connector at the second end configured for connection to a blood line. The first line has a pumping portion for engagement with an infusate pump. The tubing set includes a second line having first and second ends, the first end being attached to the first line between the first line pumping portion and the first line second end and the second end being configured for connection to the first line between the first line first end and the first line pumping portion. The second line second end is configured for connection to the first line by a dual lumen spike.
US08460224B2	Therapeutic compression apparatus A therapeutic compression device for applying compression force to a patient. The device is constructed of multiple layers, at least two of which are fluid-tight. At least two fluid-tight layers define a fluid-tight chamber that has a smaller surface area than the overall device. Fluid supplied to the fluid-tight chamber causes compressive force to be exerted on a patient. Preferably at least one layer is a fluid permeable material. An additional layer of fluid permeable material may be also be added to ensure a fluid permeable barrier exists between the fluid-tight chamber and a patient.
US08460221B2	Ultra-sonic and vibratory treatment devices and methods An exemplary embodiment provides a hand-held apparatus for treatment of conditions requiring ultra-sonic or vibratory treatment. The apparatus includes a transducer, an electronic tuning circuit and a power source for powering the apparatus. The transducer has a first section axially aligned with the second section. The second section has an outer wall of predetermined thickness surrounding an annular cavity that contains a piezoelectric stack. The electronic tuning circuit is in communication with the piezoelectric stack. The circuit is configured to tune the transducer to a target output frequency. The transducer, electronic tuning circuit and power source are at least partially contained within a common housing that is configured to be grasped by a human hand to administer treatment.
US08460212B2	Body fluid sampling unit A body fluid sampling unit includes a puncture device including a needle having a sharp needle point and a drive mechanism for operating the needle to puncture a living body surface with the needle point, a tip including an introducing section for introducing a body fluid flowing out from a puncture portion of the living body surface punctured with the needle point, a test paper for detecting a predetermined component in the body fluid, and a tip body mounted to a component measuring device for measuring the quantity and/or property of the predetermined component detected by the test paper; and a case including a mechanism containing section for containing the puncture mechanism so that the needle point of the puncture mechanism can be moved by the drive means, and a sampling implement containing section for containing the body fluid sampling implement so that the tip can be taken out.
US08460208B2	Flask for preparing a cytological suspension based on a fixing solution A system for preparing a cytological suspension is based on a fixing solution. The system containing a cytological sample-taking brush and a flask having an opening for receiving the cytological sample-taking brush are detachably fastened to a handle including a brush-receiving filter basket that is at least partially immersed in the a suspension.
US08460203B2	Gas flow diverter for respiratory monitoring device A gas flow diverter for increasing the turbulence of an incoming respiratory gas flow through a respiratory gas sensor is provided. The diverter is positioned at a patient or inlet end of a tube section of the sensor in order to divert the respiratory gas flow from the patient generally equally across the cross-sectional area of the tube section. The diverter can be formed integrally as a part of the sensor, or can be releasably attached to the sensor or to an adapter that is releasably connected to the inlet end of the sensor for use in situations in which the volume of the incoming respiratory gas flow from the patient is greatly reduced due to the size of the patient, i.e., when the patient is an infant.
US08460201B2	Visualization of stress level cardiac functional analysis results The invention relates to a system (100) for visualizing a cardiac parameter at a plurality of positions in a myocardium and at a plurality of stress levels, the system comprising a determination unit (110) for determining a value of the cardiac parameter at a position from the plurality of positions in the myocardium and at a stress level from the plurality of stress levels on the basis of stress level cardiac functional data, and a visualization unit (120) for visualizing the determined value of the cardiac parameter by displaying a point in a viewing plane. The visualized points are defined by their polar coordinates in a polar coordinate system in the viewing plane. A radial coordinate of the point visualizes the determined value of the cardiac parameter. An angular coordinate of the point visualizes an angular coordinate of the position in the myocardium in a cylindrical coordinate system. Thus, the system allows easy numerical comparison of local myocardial contractions at different stress level values.
US08460199B2	Monitoring device with an accelerometer, method and system A monitoring device for monitoring the vital signs of a user is disclosed herein. The monitoring device is preferably comprises an article, an optical sensor, an accelerometer and processor. The optical sensor preferably comprises a photodetector and a plurality of light emitting diodes. A sensor signal from the optical sensor is processed with a filtered accelerometer output signal from the accelerometer to create a filtered vital sign signal used to generate a real-time vital sign for a user.
US08460194B2	Therapy assessment with ultrasound contrast agents An ultrasonic imaging apparatus and method are described for monitoring the progress of therapy for pathology such as lesions, tumors, and metastases by means of contrast agent imaging. A sequence of images are acquired as a bolus of contrast agent infuses the tissue containing the pathology. A contrast wash-in time parameter is calculated for both the tumor and normal tissue, and a ratio is calculated of the two wash-in time parameters (called WITR) which removes the effects of variations in the procedure from one therapy monitoring session to another. A difference curve of the time-intensity curves of the pathology and normal tissue is also produced, which is similarly immune to procedural variations.
US08460193B2	System and method for ultra-high frequency ultrasound treatment A non-invasive ultra-high frequency ultrasound treatment method and system are provided. An exemplary method and system comprise a high-frequency ultrasound transducer system configured for providing ultrasound treatment to a patient such that the superficial and/or subcutaneous regions of the patient can be treated. An exemplary high-frequency ultrasound transducer system comprises a control system and a transducer configured to provide treatment to the superficial and/or subcutaneous regions of interest. The high-frequency ultrasound transducer may be configured to operate at higher frequencies and controlled power levels to provide treatment to the superficial and/or subcutaneous regions of interest. For example, higher frequencies within the range from approximately 20 MHz to 500 MHz or more may be utilized.
US08460189B2	Adherent cardiac monitor with advanced sensing capabilities An adherent device comprises an adhesive patch with at least two electrodes and an accelerometer. The accelerometer can be used to determine an orientation of the at least two measurement electrodes on a patient. By determining the orientation of the electrodes of the patch on the patient, physiologic measurements with the at least two electrodes can be adjusted and/or corrected in response to the orientation of the patch on the patient. The adherent patch and/or electrodes can be replaced with a second adherent patch and/or electrodes, and the orientation of the second adherent patch and/or electrodes can be determined with the accelerometer or a second accelerometer. The determined orientation of the second patch and/or electrodes on the patient can be used to correct measurements made with the second adherent patch and/or electrodes.
US08460186B2	Methods and devices for providing access through tissue to a surgical site Methods and devices are provided for providing access through tissue to a surgical site. Generally, the methods and devices allow adjustment of a surgical access port's longitudinal length. In one embodiment, a surgical access port is provided that includes a housing having a cannula distally extending therefrom. The housing can be configured to cut a proximal portion of the cannula to adjust a longitudinal length of the cannula and hence of the surgical access port. In another embodiment, a surgical access port is provided that includes a cannula formed of a plurality of modular segments removably coupled together. One or more of the segments can be configured to be removable from the cannula to change the cannula's longitudinal length.
US08460185B2	Articulated surgical retractor A surgical retractor assembly that utilizes a tubular shaft and a connection nub. A pivot joint connects one end of the tubular shaft to the connection nub. The pivot joint enables the connection nub to move relative the tubular shaft along a path that is coplanar to the axis of the tubular shaft. Together, the tubular shaft and the connection nub create an elongated element that can be introduced into a small incision. A retractor blade is provided. A bearing joint extends from the retractor blade. The retractor blade and bearing joint are introduced into a surgical site independent of the elongated element. Within the surgical site, the connection nub interconnects with the bearing joint, therein joining the retractor blade to the tubular shaft and a handle.
US08460179B2	Balloon unit for endoscope apparatus The present invention provides a balloon unit for an endoscope apparatus comprising: a balloon for an endoscope apparatus having an opening formed in a cylindrical shape in which an insert part of an endoscope or an insert supporter having the insert part inserted therein is inserted and fixed; and a cylinder body having an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the insert part or the insert supporter; wherein the opening of the balloon is fitted over and fixed to the cylinder body to form a unit and the unit is attached to the insert part or the insert supporter or detached from the insert part or the insert supporter.
US08460170B2	Method and apparatus for treating pelvic organ prolapses in female patients An anterior implant adapted to treat central and lateral cystoceles present in a female patient includes laterally extending stabilizing straps for supporting the implant between the patient's bladder and vagina independently of the patient's arcus tendineous fascia pelvis. Rectocele and hysterocele repairs can be carried out using a single posterior implant which, like the anterior implant, is provided with laterally extending stabilizing straps for supporting the implant between the patient's rectum and vagina.
US08460166B2	Radiotherapy planning and delivery Methods of radiotherapy planning and delivery are disclosed in which a radiation beam is directed towards a time-averaged mean position of the target during radiation-on. In addition, the radiation beam is gated to deliver radiation to the target only when the target is within a treatment volume centered on the mean position. Treatment plans according to embodiments of the present invention result in low doses to the surrounding healthy tissue, but high duty cycles and quicker treatment times.
US08460163B2	Calf enhancer for the lower extremity An ingenious calf, shin and ankle rehabilitation and exerciser apparatus for engagement with the lower leg muscles and ankle comprising of a rigid sole plate member having a sole plate protective pad and affixed fastening sole straps for securing foot to sole plate member, an attachable fulcrum heel ball member for attaching to the bottom of heel section. Sole plate member is pivotally attached to a rigid cross brace member which is comprised of a fastening shin straps affixed to a shin protective pad member to secure the lower leg to a rigid pivoting back support member that is pivotally engaged to cross brace member. Cross brace engages the toe section of sole plate member via an engaging biasing resistance means that provides posterior and anterior resistance not limited to isotonic and isometric for the flexing of the foot and ankle not limited to dorsi-flexion, plantar-flexion, inversion or eversion.
US08460161B2	Proprioception training and exercise apparatus An exercise apparatus includes a substantially flat, rigid platform for supporting a user during exercise. An inflatable tubular support having an upper portion with a first radial outside diameter, and a lower portion with a second radial outside diameter that is greater than the first radial outside diameter, is coupled to the platform by a fastener. The tubular support defines a central opening that communicates between the platform and a support surface. The platform includes a venting structure for releasing air from the central opening during use. The inflatable support includes an intermediate portion between the upper portion and the lower portion of the tubular support, the intermediate portion including a support feature to restrain the intermediate portion from radial expansion induced by an air pressure internal to the integral inflatable support.
US08460154B2	Frictional drive device and inverted pendulum type vehicle using the same In a frictional drive device comprising a pair of drive disks (48) rotatably supported by a frame (10) around a central axial line (A) in a mutually opposing relationship, a pair of motors (64) supported by the frame for individually rotatively actuating the drive disks, a plurality of drive rollers (56) arranged along an outer periphery of each drive disk at a regular interval and each having a rotational center line so as to be rotatable along a plane which is neither parallel nor perpendicular to the central axial line, and an annular main wheel (84, 110) disposed approximately coaxially with respect to the central axial line and engaged by the drive rollers of the drive disks, the main wheel comprising an annular member (86, 111) and a plurality of driven rollers (92) supported along the annular member so as to be rotatable around a tangential line of the annular member, a resiliency is incorporated either in the main wheel or in the drive rollers so that a relatively large number of driven rollers can be simultaneously engaged by the drive rollers and, hence, a relative high drive efficiency can be maintained even when the axial center of the annular member and the axial center of the drive disks are offset from each other.
US08460153B2	Hybrid impact tool with two-speed transmission A power tool that includes a housing, a motor, a planetary transmission, a first bearing and a second bearing. The motor is disposed in the housing and includes an output shaft. The planetary transmission has a sun gear, a plurality of first planet gears, a first ring gear and a carrier. The sun gear is driven by the output shaft. The first planet gears are driven by the sun gear and have teeth that are meshingly engaged to teeth of the first ring gear. The carrier includes a rear carrier plate and a front carrier plate between which the first and second planet gears are received. The rear carrier plate includes a first bearing aperture. The first bearing is received in the first bearing aperture and is configured to support the output shaft. The second bearing is received onto the rear carrier plate to support the carrier relative to the housing.
US08460152B2	Auto-selecting two-ratio transmission A pulley assembly with an auto-selecting multi-speed transmission that can be operated in at least two modes depending on the manner in which rotary power is transmitted through the pulley assembly.
US08460150B2	Multi-speed planetary transmission with two compound planetary gear sets A multi-speed transmission includes an input member, an output member, a stationary member, and a first and a second compound planetary gear set. The first compound planetary gear set has a first, a second, a third, a fourth, and a fifth member. The second compound planetary gear set has a first, a second, a third, and a fourth member. The first member of the second compound planetary gear set is continuously connected for common rotation with the output member. An interconnecting member continuously connects the first member of the first planetary gear set for common rotation with the second member of the second planetary gear set. The transmission includes seven torque-transmitting mechanisms that are engagable to establish up to fifteen forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member.
US08460145B2	Rotation mechanism Each of reclining devices is formed so as to have a different size. An external gear wheel of each of the reclining devices has a diameter smaller than an internal gear wheel thereof and has a teeth number different from the internal gear wheel. The internal gear wheels and the external gear wheels of the connection devices respectively have the same teeth number as each other. The internal gear wheels and the external gear wheels of the connection devices are formed such that distances between centers thereof are equal to each other. Further, a meshing line of the internal gear wheel and the external gear wheel of each of the connection devices is formed between two curves defining a meshing range and is drawn as a line that extends from a side of a radially inwardly positioned curve in a circumferential direction in which the two curves are gradually spaced from each other and reaches to a side of a radially outwardly positioned curve.
US08460144B2	Arrangement comprising at least one dog clutch An arrangement which comprises at least one claw clutch for the shiftable coupling and decoupling of a shaft (1), in an automatic transmission of a planetary design, with at least one component. The shaft can be connected to a component of the planetary gearset (4) and the claw clutch is arranged centrally, substantially inside a sun gear (3) of the planetary gearset (4).
US08460141B2	Chain with lubricant sealing gaskets A chain has links formed by pairs of internal and external plates respectively connected by pins and inserts fitted onto the pins and projecting through the internal plates. Rollers are fitted onto the inserts between the internal plates and a lubricated interface is identified between each roller and the respective insert. The roller is provided, at each end, with a bevel or cavity tilted inwards the roller to identify a seat between the internal plate and the external surface of the respective insert, into the seat the sealing gasket being accommodated. A further sealing gasket is advantageously arranged between the plates to seal an interface between the pin and insert.
US08460140B2	Belt tensioner utilizing asymmetric motion control A belt tensioner includes a support housing at least in part defining a spring cavity and an arm pivotally attached to the support housing. A spring is located in the spring cavity and is operatively connected to the arm and the support housing to bias the arm about a pivot axis toward an unloaded position relative to the support housing. A damping member includes a hub and deflectable, force-applying elements that are connected to and spaced apart about a periphery of the hub. The force-applying elements are biased toward a contact surface of the arm to apply a frictional force between the contact surface and the force-applying elements to impede rotation of the arm relative to the support housing.
US08460139B2	Belt installation guides A belt installation guide is disclosed which accommodates the loading in a belt module of a new belt around drive rollers. The guide is placed opposite the end portions of the rollers, the belt is slipped over the guides and held by the guides until the belt is pushed over the rollers. The guides can be attached to the belt module or can be detachable therefrom. Once in place over the rollers, a tension is exerted on the belt to make it taut over all of the rollers. The guide is removed from near the rollers after the belt is in place over the rollers.
US08460128B2	Multi sports net with rebounder A ball sports practice device is disclosed having a forward facing ball capture enclosure and a rear facing rebound structure. The angle between the ball capture enclosure and the rebound structure may be adjusted to support the device to a plurality of use positions on a support surface. An optional support arm may be included to maintain or limit the angle between the capture enclosure and the rebound structure.
US08460121B2	Golf putting training apparatus A putting training apparatus having a frame, a handle on the frame to be gripped by a user to perform a putting stroke, a putter head on the frame for striking a golf ball, and a stabilizer assembly on the frame. The stabilizer assembly is engageable with a user's frontal region with the putting training apparatus operatively positioned to maintain a user's arms braced consistently relative to each other and the handle with the user's hands gripping the handle in a manner to perform a putting stroke.
US08460120B1	Method for auto-aligning golf club head A golf club that can automatically align the club head with intended path of ball direction. The golf club encompasses a movable club head, electronics, a power source and motor driver for adjusting golf club head position at time of impact with a golf ball. The golf club can also serve as teaching aid for tracking a golfer swing path and errors in golf club path.
US08460109B2	Gaming community management and personalization The present invention involves methods and devices for controlling many aspects of a player's gaming experience, including game themes presented, game denomination, pay models, content and promotions. Some implementations of the invention provide a casino operator the necessary tools to create subsets of customers, often referred to herein as “communities,” and to control the gaming experiences of players in these communities. In some such implementations, communities may be created and/or modified according to various criteria, some of which may be weighted more heavily than others. Specific marketing messages, promotions, etc., may be provided to attract and retain players having similar characteristics and preferences.
US08460103B2	Gesture controlled casino gaming system Various techniques are disclosed for controlling a wager-based game played at a gaming system. In one embodiment the gaming system may include a handheld device operable to communicate with a gaming controller. In one embodiment, the handheld device may include a gesture input interface device operable to detect movements gestures associated with one or more persons. The gaming system may further include a gesture interpretation component operable to identify selected movements or gestures detected by the gesture input interface device, and operable to generate gesture interpretation information relating to interpretation of the selected movements or gestures. In at least one embodiment, the gaming system may be operable to control a wager-based game played at the gaming system; automatically detect a gesture by a player participating in a game session at the gaming system; interpret the gesture with respect to a set of criteria; identify at least one action to be initiated in response to the gesture interpretation; and initiate the at least one action. In at least one embodiment, information relating to the gesture and/or information relating to the gesture interpretation may be recorded as part of the game history associated with the game session.
US08460100B2	Game apparatus, game program and game system A game apparatus generates control point data for forming a contour of each part of a character, generates a line model of a body being a line polygon model along the body on the basis of the control point data, then generates a line model of a foot being a line polygon model along a contour of one foot, and arranged at the back of the line model of the body Bd in a Z direction, and generates a mask model of the body being a transparent polygon model arranged at the back of the line model of the body in the Z direction and in front of the line model of the foot in the Z direction, and having the contour along the line of the body. Then, when the respective models are depicted with a Z comparison performed after depicting a background, the mask model of the body, the line model of the foot, the line model of the body are depicted in this order.
US08460097B2	Information storage medium and game image generation device A portable information terminal includes a state determination section that determines whether a current state of a screen is in a first state in which a first area in the screen is not touched, or in a second state in which the first area is touched, based on a touch operation and a touch position on the screen, an image generation section that generates an image in which a current touch position image is returned to an initial position when the second state changes to the first state, an update section that updates operation data based on the touch operation and the touch position in the first area when the screen is in the second state, the operation data indicating an operation direction and an operation amount of a moving object in a game space, and a calculation section that performs calculations for moving the moving object based on the operation data.
US08460096B2	Apparatus and method for copying gaming machine configuration settings Disclosed is an apparatus and method for use in a casino gaming system where data concerning set-up configuration of gaming units may be copied from one gaming unit to another gaming unit. The data concerning gaming unit configuration may be copied via an external device, such as a smart storage device or a dumb storage device, copied directly between gaming units or copied via a network storage device of a network that interconnects gaming units.
US08460094B2	Gaming device having free game bonus with a changing multiplier The present invention includes an apparatus and method for a bonus game, and particularly a free spin bonus with an incrementing multiplier. The bonus game includes a plurality of reels having a plurality of symbols and multipliers. The gaming device provides a number of free spins to the player at the beginning of the bonus game. The multiplier preferably starts at “1×” and increases by one after each free spin. Initially, the player spins the reels attempting to obtain a winning symbol combination on the reels. If the player obtains a winning combination, the gaming device provides an award. The award is multiplied by the multiplier and the player receives the multiplied award for that free spin. The player continues to spin the reels until there are no free spins remaining in the bonus game.
US08460088B1	Game processing server apparatus A game processing server apparatus connected to a terminal device via a network and controlling a game in which a reward is given by completing a collection of predetermined items, includes a parameter updating unit which receives an instruction to send an item from a first player to a second player, and calculates and updates a bonding parameter indicating intimacy from the first player toward the second player; and a display unit which displays in a screen for a target player a value of a first bonding parameter indicating intimacy from the target player toward another player and a value of a second bonding parameter indicating intimacy from the other player toward the target player.
US08460087B2	Community wagering game with multiple player selections A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes a plurality of linked gaming machines for receiving multiple player selections in a community bonus game. The community bonus game may be displayed to all players at the linked gaming machines on a community display. Upon receiving multiple player selections in the community bonus game, players are awarded bonus awards based on the respective player selections.
US08460084B2	Gaming device including movable symbol indicator plates A gaming device including a first and second indicator plate which are adjacent to each other and on the same axis where the second plate overlaps at least a portion of the first plate and the first and second plates are in different planes. In one embodiment, the first plate includes at least one symbol where one or more awards are associated with the symbol. The second plate is composed at least in part of a substantially transparent material, which enables a player to see through at least a portion of the second plate to view one or more symbols on the first plate. The second plate also includes a plurality of sections, which indicate one or more symbols on the first plate. In one embodiment, the second plate includes at least one transparent section and at least one non-transparent section.
US08460081B2	Grid-based multi-lottery game and associated method A lottery game method and associated system include offering a plurality of different draw-type lottery games to players, with each of the lottery games having a different game theme and respective rules of play. Lottery tickets are issued to the players in the different lottery games, with each lottery ticket having a grid of uniquely identifiable positions displayed thereon. The number of grid positions may vary between the different lottery games. In a single drawing event, grid positions are randomly and sequentially drawn in a number so as to encompass all of the different types of grids for the respective different lottery games. The sequential order in which the grid positions were drawn is provided to the players and prizes are determined for winning lottery tickets in each of the different lottery games as a function of the order in which the grid positions are sequentially and randomly drawn.
US08460074B1	Apparatus and method for providing breathable air to safe havens within a mine Apparatus and method for providing breathable air to one or more safe havens in an underground mine from a source external to the mine utilizing a source of compressed, breathable air located outside of the underground mine.
US08460068B2	Disc sander A disc sander includes a housing having an operation platform for holding a workpiece on a work surface at the operation platform for sanding, a sanding mechanism pivotally mounted on the housing and having a sanding surface for sanding the workpiece, and an angle adjustment unit set between the housing and the sanding mechanism and including two swing plates disposed at two opposite lateral sides relative to the housing and respectively connected to the sanding mechanism so that the sanding mechanism is biasable with the swing plates relative to the housing to change the angle between the work surface and the sanding surface.
US08460062B2	Polishing machine for lenses and method for polishing a lens using a machine tool A polishing machine for lenses with at least one first polishing spindle having a polishing axis (K) and a tool holder disposed on the first polishing spindle for a first polishing disc designed as a tool, further comprising at least one first workpiece spindle having a rotary axis (C) and a workpiece holder disposed on the first workpiece spindle for a lens, wherein the workpiece holder and the tool holder are disposed so as to be movable in translation in the direction of a telescoping axis (Z) disposed parallel to the polishing axis (K) and in the direction of a translation axis (X) disposed at right angles to the rotary axis (C). The polishing machine further has at least one first tool changer for changing the tool and a working chamber formed of at least one wall spatially limiting a spray of polishing medium during processing, wherein at least the workpiece holder and the tool holder are disposed within the working chamber, wherein the first tool changer is disposed at least partially within the working chamber during operation.
US08460056B2	Device for machining an ophthalmic lens The shaper device for shaping an ophthalmic lens comprises a blocking support on a blocking axis, a shaper tool, an electronic or computer unit for controlling the position of said shaper tool, and a man/machine interface connected to said electronic or computer unit, and comprising a display screen (253) and input means for inputting numerical values. The electronic or computer unit is adapted to display on said display screen at least three so-called “offset” fields (301-304) for inputting numerical values via said input means, the fields being displayed simultaneously or in succession, then for generating a control setpoint for said shaper tool relative to said blocking support, for shaping the ophthalmic lens by forming an engagement ridge on its edge face, the ridge presenting, at each axial section of the ophthalmic lens, a profile having front and rear ends that present respective first and second distances from the blocking axis, with the difference between said distances being a so-called “offset” function that is not entirely uniform around the edge face of the ophthalmic lens, and that depends on the numerical values input in each of the offset fields.
US08460054B2	Exercise garment An exercise garment includes front and rear panels with height adjusting straps that extend over the wearer's shoulders. The front panel includes an outer compression fabric and an inner cup assembly, which is essentially non-compressive. The cup assembly includes individual cups for each breast, which can each include an under support. An elastic band extends around the bottom portion of the garment. Tensioning structures, such as side flaps extending from the back to the front, can be provided to adjust the circumferential size of the garment. The garment can include releasable connectors on the side of the garment to at least partially release the compressive tension to aid in putting on and taking off the garment.
US08460053B2	Toy attachment systems and methods Systems and methods enable attaching toys or other items to child care equipment such as a play gyms, swings, bouncers, changing pads, and the like. Attachment is accomplished by passing a compressible portion of the item to be attached through an opening in the child care equipment. The opening may be provided by a hole in the equipment, or by a hole in a clip engaged with a rod embedded in or attached to the equipment. The clip may slide along the rod to adjust the position of the item. In one application, rods embedded in a play gym provide a structural support for a canopy of the play gym, and also may receive clips for attaching toys or other items to the play gym.
US08460048B2	Method and apparatus for manufacturing plasma display panel A method for manufacturing a plasma display panel in which an electrical discharge gas is introduced into a space between a first substrate and a second substrate which are sealed together, the method including: a first deaeration step of releasing impurity gases from a protective film by heating the first substrate, on which the protective film is formed for withstanding plasma electrical discharge, to 280° C. or more in a vacuum or in a controlled atmosphere; and a sealing step of sealing the front substrate, in which the impurity gases have been released from the protective film, and a rear substrate which are placed in contact with each other.
US08460047B2	Method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescence display device Provided is a film formation mask capable of preventing slit-like openings from being closed by vibrations so as to form a highly precise patterned film with stability. In a film formation mask formed by providing multiple slit-like openings in a metal foil, the shape of the opening of at least one end of the slit-like openings is asymmetrical with respect to a center line of the width direction of the slit-like openings.
US08460046B2	Organic functional element and method for manufacturing same The object of the invention is to provide a highly reliable organic functional element such as an organic EL element or an organic semiconductor element exemplified by an organic TFT element which can be manufactured without requiring a vapor deposition process for forming an electrode on an organic material layer. Consequently, such an organic functional element can be large-sized easily and produced at lower cost. In addition, no damage is caused to the organic material layer during formation of the electrode, and the organic functional element is not affected by environmental changes. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing such an organic functional element. To attain the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides an organic functional element comprising at least a plurality of electrodes and an organic material layer which is characterized in that at least one of the electrodes is composed of a metal having a melting point not higher than a temperature that is higher by 30° C. than the glass transition temperature of the organic material layer.
US08460045B2	High intensity discharge lamp with enhanced dimming characteristcs A high intensity discharge lamp comprises a discharge vessel and two electrode rods having substantially flat ends facing to each other in opposite positions within the discharge vessel. A spiral coil of wire is wound at least on a part of the surface of at least one of the electrode rods. The spiral coil protrudes over said end of the corresponding electrode rod and thus forms a hollow cavity for extending dimmable wattage range of the lamp.
US08460027B2	Interlock for an electrical system An interlock for use with an electrical system includes an electrical component that is supported on a support structure. A first member is removably secured to the support structure. The first member prevents contact with the electrical component while the first member is secured to the support structure. A second member is also removably secured to the support structure. The second member prevents removal of the first member while the second member is secured to the support structure. The electrical component is adapted to be connected to a power source only when both the first member and the second member are secured to the support structure.
US08460024B2	Contact assembly for electrical connector A contact assembly includes a contact organizer having a central axis. A plurality contacts are secured to the contact organizer. The contacts are arranged as differential pairs. The contacts have mating segments and termination segments extending from the mating segments. The mating segments extend along the central axis. The termination segments are configured to terminate to corresponding wires. The mating segments of each differential pair of contacts are radially offset from the central axis of the contact organizer. Wire holders are coupled to the contact organizer. The wire holders have openings extending therethrough and are configured to receive wires. The wire holders are configured to terminate the wires to the termination segments of the contacts when the wire holders are coupled to the contact organizer.
US08460012B2	Socket protection device and circuit board assembly A socket protection device includes a fixing member, a cover, a limiting member, and an operation member. The fixing member is secured to a circuit board. The fixing member includes a pair of first connecting blocks. The cover includes a second connecting block, a first latching portion, and a second latching portion. The limiting member is secured to the circuit board. The operation member includes a shaft and an operation rod secured to the shaft. The shaft rotatably connects the cover to the fixing member via the first and second connecting blocks. When the operation rod is pressed to drive the shaft to rotate, the cover is rotated toward the socket. When the cover covers the socket, the first latching portion latches the limiting member, and the second latching portion latches the operation rod.
US08460011B2	Substrate connector A substrate connector utilizes a plurality of conductive terminals, each of which are held in a single terminal-receiving cavity of a substrate. The terminals of the connector have a hook-shape with a retention portions in the form of a fork having a central slot and two free ends spaced apart from the retention portion and which protrude out of their cavities for contacting contact pads on opposing circuit boards. The retention portions engage abutments formed in the cavities to hold the terminals in place but do so in a manner that permits the terminals to move in both the vertical and horizontal directions.
US08460010B2	Contact and electrical connecting apparatus A contact according to the present invention comprises a plate-shaped first plunger contacting one member, a plate-shaped second plunger contacting the other member in a state of being overlapped with the first plunger and conducting electricity between the one member and the other member in cooperation with the first plunger, and a compression coil spring which is a member coupling the first plunger with the second plunger in a state where contact pieces thereof are in opposite directions from each other, covering outer circumferences of coupling portions of the first plunger and the second plunger, abutting on spring receiving portions of the respective plungers, and supporting the respective plungers to be relatively slidable. In an electrical connecting apparatus, the contacts are incorporated.
US08460009B1	Method for electrically connecting a pair of circuit boards using a pair of board connectors and an interconnector A system for electrically connecting circuit boards includes a pair of board connectors configured to be electrically connected to respective circuit boards. Each of the board connectors includes a plurality of electrical conductors and a housing configured to enclose at least a portion of the electrical conductors. An interconnector includes a plurality of electrical conductors, each of which is configured to be electrically connected to a respective electrical conductor of the board connectors, thereby electrically connecting the circuit boards. An interconnector housing is configured to cooperate with the housings of the board conductors to at least partially enclose the electrical connections between the electrical conductors of the interconnector and the board connectors.
US08460004B2	Moon gazers' wheel chart An educational field chart used for observing the Moon. The two-piece chart has an indicator wheel joined with a background chart that depicts the Sun, Earth and the Moon in orbit. The pieces rotate to locate a moon phase illustration that matches the Moon in the sky. Once set, a user can automatically determine facts and aspects about the Moon during this phase. Information aligns on both pieces to tell the following about the Moon: a) the moon phase name, b) the position of the Moon in orbit going around Earth, c) the rise & set time of the phase, and when it is visible in the sky, and d) the approximate day of the phase in the lunar month. The illustrations on the chart also visually correlate the relationship of the Sun, Earth and Moon during each moon phase.
US08459996B2	Training device for grenade launchers A laser-based system is useful for training soldiers in the operation and use of a grenade launcher. The system comprises a training assembly rotatably attached to the body of a grenade launcher and at least one sensor to detect laser energy at a target site. The training assembly comprises a housing; a variable output laser; a shaft extending through the housing to the body of the grenade launcher; a motor within the housing that engages the shaft and is capable of causing the housing to rotate about the shaft; at least one sensor to detect rotation of the housing, trigger pull, and/or gravitational direction; and a control unit operationally connected to the laser, the at least one sensor, and the motor. The training assembly rotates from the elevation of the launcher barrel to the elevation of the target site to generate a burst of laser energy at sensors at the target site.
US08459993B2	Cover and holdback element for permitting disturbance-free dental operations to be performed on teeth A cover and holdback element for permitting disturbance-free dental operations to be performed on a patient's teeth includes an expandable sheet operable to cover at least a portion of the mouth volume of a patient and an intra-oral spanner and an extra-oral spanner. The sheet is turned around the at least one of the spanners and is displaceable relative thereto.
US08459988B2	Orthodontic connector assembly and a method for treating teeth An orthodontic connector assembly 10 including a plurality of substantially identical connecting members, such as members 12, 14 which include a movable but biased portion 20 which is adapted to selectively and removably receive a pocket portion 44 which is deployed on at least one bracket, such as bracket 40. In an alternative embodiment, the members, such as member 12, 14 each include a ridge, such as ridge 212, which is selectively, removably, and frictionally placed within slot 236.
US08459978B2	Method for manufacturing a composite drive shaft manufactured using mold A mold for manufacturing a composite drive shaft, most of which, except for opposite ends functioning as power transmission parts, has a tubular shape with a circular cross-section similar to that of a general shaft, and the shape of each end of which is changed so as to realize easy removal of the drive shaft from the mold after molding. Further, the present invention provides a composite drive shaft, which is manufactured using the mold and is configured such that, when a connection joint (metal yoke) is assembled with each end of the drive shaft, the drive shaft can be rotated in an integrated state realized by the connection joints. Thus, the composite drive shaft of the present invention can directly transmit power, instead of a mechanical fastening jointing technique or an adhesive bonding jointing technique, thus efficiently transmitting high torque.
US08459967B2	Axial flow fan, in particular for a motor vehicle An axial flow fan is provided that is arranged in a rotatable manner around an axis in a stationary shroud ring, with fan blades. The shroud ring has an essentially cylindrical annular surface with an axial extension from a leading edge to a trailing edge and the fan blades have an axial depth from an inflow edge to an outflow edge. The outflow edges of the fan blades in an axial direction project beyond the trailing edge of the annular surface and form a blade overhang and flow guidance elements are arranged radially outside the fan blades as well as in the axial region of the blade overhang.
US08459961B2	Multistage compressor unit with cooling device A multistage compressor unit consisting of a low-pressure charging device having a low-pressure compressor housing, a high-pressure charging device having a high-pressure compressor housing and a cooling device, characterised in that the cooling device comprises a cooling device housing and the cooling device housing of the cooling device is indirectly connected to the low-pressure compressor housing of the low-pressure charging device and the high-pressure compressor housing of the high-pressure charging device.
US08459960B2	Jet pump assembly A jet pump assembly includes a fuel supply conduit, a first jet pump integrally formed as a single piece with the fuel supply conduit and in fluid communication with the fuel supply conduit, a second jet pump integrally formed as a single piece with the fuel supply conduit and in fluid communication with the fuel supply conduit, and an inlet conduit integrally formed as a single piece with the second jet pump.
US08459957B2	Water-injected compressor A water-injected compressor, which injects the water inside the separator 3 into the compressor and discharges the water along with compressed air into the separator and then gains condensed and separated water, has the compressor stopping and then, if staying at a stop for a predetermined duration of time without activating, becoming activated and operating for a set duration of time.
US08459954B2	Torsional flexing energy absorbing blade lock A lock for constraining blades in a hub includes a flexible ring for constraining the blades from moving axially in the hub, a finger attached to the hub for preventing the ring from rotating relative to the hub and whereby the ring flexes about at least a partial circumference thereof if urged axially by the blades.
US08459937B2	Unity wind power plant with vertical axis of rotation A wind power plant has a turbine with its axis of rotation (1) substantially at right angle to wind direction, and wings (2) protruding from the axis (1) and the wings (2) have their crossways extension essentially in vertical direction. The wings (2) can be in odd as well as even number distributed around the axis of rotation (1), and composed of wing elements (21-24 and 31, 32) of optional length. For formation of the wings (2), the wing elements (21-24) are connected into a torsion link configuration (like a row of pairs of scissors), and thus synchronously movable in relation to each other. To adjust the extension of the wing elements (21-24 and 31, 32) an along the axis of rotation (1) adjustable sleeve means (4) is present, to which the inner end of an inner wing element (21) is connected.
US08459936B2	Flexible seal for gas turbine engine system A system includes a gas turbine engine, a nozzle structure located adjacent to the gas turbine engine, a flexible annular seal linking the gas turbine engine and the nozzle structure, the flexible annular seal having a plurality of corrugate sections arranged about a centerline, and a connection device secured to the gas turbine engine and to the nozzle structure. The connection device is adjustable to select a length of the flexible annular seal measured along the centerline.
US08459935B1	Turbine vane with endwall cooling Turbine stator vane with endwall cooling that includes a number of impingement chambers that extend around the airfoil perpendicular to a hot gas flow over the endwall, the impingement chambers are connected by rows of near wall cooling channels offset so that impingement cooling occurs within the chambers, some of the impingement chambers are connected by resupply cooling air holes and some of the impingement chambers are connected to film cooling holes.
US08459934B2	Varying cross-sectional area guide blade A guide blade for a gas turbine includes an inner and an outer platform, an airfoil extending in a radial direction between the inner and the outer platforms and having a height in the radial direction, and at least one cooling channel disposed in an interior of the airfoil and configured to receive a cooling medium flowing through the at least one cooling channel configured to cool the guide blade, wherein a cross-sectional area of a blade material of the airfoil varies over the height.
US08459929B2	High-capacity automatic loader device A mailpiece loader device comprising a storage tower for receiving mailpieces and whose mailpieces are separated into a plurality of independent stacks that are superposed one above another and that are held by a plurality of paddles, control means being provided for successively releasing, by gravity, each of said independent stacks separated in this way, it being possible for each paddle to retract horizontally from a support position to a retracted position under the action of rotation of a toothed wheel to which said paddle is connected via a mechanism of the crank and connecting rod type, said retracted position making it possible for said stack of mailpieces to be released by gravity.
US08459901B2	Jacking system A jacking system for jacking a structure, includes a leg having a longitudinal axis and including first engagement parts along the leg, and a guiding frame displaceable along the leg. The guiding frame includes at least a first, second, third and fourth actuator, the actuators each having a first and second actuator part which in operation can displace with respect to one another along the leg, the first actuator part of the actuators coupled to the guiding frame, the second actuator parts of the actuators each coupled to first engagement parts for engaging and disengaging the first engagement parts of the leg for providing abutment in the longitudinal direction of the leg, the second actuator parts of the actuators displaceable along the leg past one another, and the actuators being arranged in pairs opposite one another with respect to a longitudinal plane of the leg.
US08459892B2	Oral care implement An oral care implement (210) includes a handle (214) and a head (212) mounted to one end of the handle (214) that includes a first face (237) having plurality of tooth cleaning elements (226) extending therefrom, a second face (247) and a store of oral care material (232). A soft tissue cleaner (241) can be included on the second face (247). Oral care material can be provided simultaneously to the first (237) and second faces (247) during use from the store of oral care material (232). The oral care implement can include a plurality of oral care material stores (232), which can include different dentifrices. A store of oral care material (232) can be located within an arrangement of the tooth cleaning elements (226) and can extend through the head (212) to an arrangement of soft tissue cleaning elements (226). The toothbrush (210) can be small in size and lightweight so as to be readily portable for use away from the home.
US08459881B2	Electromagnetic radiation containment in an optoelectronic module Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) containment assemblies for use in optoelectronic modules. In one example embodiment, an EMR containment assembly includes an EMR shield and a mounting spring plate attached to the EMR shield. The EMR shield includes a first substantially flat body defining at least one edge, a plurality of optical ports defined in the first body; and a plurality of fingers defined along at least one edge of the first body. The fingers are configured to bias against a housing of an optoelectronic module. The mounting spring plate includes a second substantially flat body defining at least one edge, an optical window defined in the second body, and a plurality of leaf springs defined along at least one edge of the second body. The leaf springs are configured to bias against an alignment guide positioned within the optoelectronic module.
US08459880B2	Fiber optic connectors, cable assemblies and methods for making the same Disclosed are fiber optic connectors including a holder for attaching a fiber optic cable to a fiber optic connector along with cable assemblies and methods for making the same. In one embodiment, the holder includes a first and a second cantilevered arm that are squeezed together when a sleeve is placed over the holder. Further, one or more of the cantilevered arm may include a plurality of teeth for “biting” into the cable jacket and providing a suitable fiber optic cable retention force. The fiber optic connectors, cable assemblies and methods disclosed herein are advantageous since they allow the craft to quickly, reliably, and easily attach a robust fiber optic cable to a connector, thereby providing a rugged solution for the craft.
US08459873B2	Self-lubricating composite bearing A self-lubricating composite bearing includes a casing and a bearing set. The bearing set comprises at least two bearing members. The casing axially defines an accommodation space through two opposite ends thereof for mounting the bearing set therein. An axial hole is defined through two opposite ends of the bearing set for the insertion of a shaft. The bearing set includes at least one neck portion. At least one storage chamber is defined between an inner surface of the casing and an outer surface of the at least one neck portion of the bearing set and stores a higher viscosity lubricant therein. At least one fine flow passage is defined through the at least one neck portion of the bearing set. The at least one storage chamber is in fluid communication with the axial hole of the bearing set via the at least one fine flow passage.
US08459865B1	Tracking heat flux sensors for concentrating solar applications Innovative tracking heat flux sensors located at or near the solar collector's focus for centering the concentrated image on a receiver assembly. With flux sensors mounted near a receiver's aperture, the flux gradient near the focus of a dish or trough collector can be used to precisely position the focused solar flux on the receiver. The heat flux sensors comprise two closely-coupled thermocouple junctions with opposing electrical polarity that are separated by a thermal resistor. This arrangement creates an electrical signal proportional to heat flux intensity, and largely independent of temperature. The sensors are thermally grounded to allow a temperature difference to develop across the thermal resistor, and are cooled by a heat sink to maintain an acceptable operating temperature.
US08459855B2	UV LED based color pixel backlight incorporating quantum dots for increasing color gamut of LCD A ultra-violet based color pixel backlight system for color filter-less Liquid Crystal Display, comprising multiplicity of LEDs, emitting UV or NUV light in the wavelength range of 150 nm to 390 nm, assembled at one edge of a UV transmitting light guide, which has other three edges and bottom surface coated with UV reflecting layer and its top surface roughened with UV and NUV extracting pixel patterns that contain layers of quantum dots that emit different colors of light in red, blue and green region with sharp spectrum, to increase the color gamut on LCD screen, upon excitation by UV or NUV light. The formed pixels contain reflective islands, underneath the layers of quantum dots, to reflect the visible rays, generated by the pixelated quantum dots, towards the LCD and suppress the visible light leaving the pixel as well as suppress the visible light from adjacent pixels entering the pixel. Thus suppressing the color mixing that could occur without the incorporation of reflective islands. LCD without color filters, a micro-lens sheet and the light guide with color pixels are placed in substantial alignment to provide a color pixel backlight system for LCD. Thus red, blue and green pixels of light from the light guide passes through the intended red, blue and green pixels of the color filter-less LCD, resulting in color pixel backlighting that enhances the optical efficiency of LCD as well as the color gamut on LCD screen.
US08459844B2	Replacement light assembly A light assembly for a hand-held medical diagnostic instrument. The light assembly includes a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, a light source mounted to the top surface, and the bottom surface having first and second electrical terminals. The light assembly further includes a circuit board disposed inclined to the substrate, the circuit board having first and second electrical terminals, a first connector mounting and electrically connecting the first electrical terminal of the substrate to the first electrical terminal of the circuit board, a second connector mounting and electrically connecting the second electrical terminal of the substrate to the second electrical terminal of the circuit board, a heat sink, and a thermal conductor thermally connecting at least one of the first and second electrical terminals of the substrate to the heat sink.
US08459840B2	Semiconductor light emitting apparatus and light source apparatus using the same A semiconductor light emitting apparatus includes a solid-state light emitting device and a wavelength converter that converts primary light emitted by the solid-state light emitting device into secondary light at a loner-wavelength. The wavelength converter is an inorganic compact that includes a transparent wavelength conversion layer containing phosphor having a garnet crystal structure. The phosphor contains a constituent element group composed of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Y, La, Gd, Tb, and Lu. Part of the constituent element group is substituted by Ce3+ and the amount of Ce3+ is 1 atomic % less of the entire constituent element group. As a result, a high-power and highly reliable semiconductor light emitting apparatus suitable as a point light source is provided. In addition, such a semiconductor light emitting apparatus is manufactured through a simple application of traditionally used practical technicians.
US08459839B2	Hand held, high power UV lamp A UV curing lamp has variable resistive ballast provided by at least one resistance alloy wire and a set of switches tapping varying positions along the resistance alloy wire. The variable resistance ballast defines the lamp's maximum operating power consistent with the power supply. The wire in combination with a fan also doubles as thermal ballast provided by air flowing across the wire onto the UV lamp. A detachable reflector in a generally parabolic cylinder shape directs light from the lamp located on the reflector's focal axis. The curing lamp with resistive ballast can be in the form of a handheld unit or as a floor unit with rotating lamps within the housing.
US08459838B2	Traffic light A traffic light assembly includes at least one light module, at least one lens located in front of the at least one light module, a transparent housing located in front of the at least one lens, and a cleaning device. The cleaning device includes a wiper located on an outer surface of the transparent housing, and a driver which drives the wiper to brush the transparent housing.
US08459828B2	Backlight assembly and display device having the same A backlight assembly includes a lamp unit, a covering member, a panel guiding member and a lamp supporting member. The lamp unit has a first electrode and a second electrode disposed at a first side of the lamp unit and a curved portion disposed at a second side of the lamp unit that is opposite to the first side. The covering member covers at least one of a first region corresponding to the first and second electrodes and a second region corresponding to the curved portion. The panel guiding member is configured to support a display panel that displays images using light generated by the lamp unit. The lamp supporting member is configured to retain the lamp unit. Therefore, a number of inverters may be reduced, thereby lowering cost and time of manufacturing the backlight assembly. Furthermore, reliability of the backlight assembly may be enhanced.
US08459827B2	Test device using light projection to test adherence of electrical device A test device is used for projecting light into a to-be-tested product. The product includes a sidewall, the sidewall defines an opening, and the opening communicates with an internal space of the product. The test device includes a collimated light source and a support element. The collimated light source is used for emitting collimated light into the internal space through the opening. The support element supports the collimated light source. An included angle between the collimated light and the sidewall is about 5 degrees.
US08459824B1	Lighting fixture A ceiling mounted lighting fixture for insertion in a ceiling grid wherein the source of artificial light is a plurality of light emitting diodes.
US08459820B2	Back light unit and liquid crystal display using the same A backlight unit is provided. The backlight unit comprises: a cover bottom: a printed circuit board (PCB) that is supported by the cover bottom; a light emitting element that is positioned on the PCB; an optical film layer that is supported by the cover bottom and that is positioned on the PCB; and a guide that is mounted separately from the light emitting element in a surface of the PCB in order to support the optical film layer.
US08459814B2	White-light emitting devices with stabilized dominant wavelength The disclosure provides a dominant wavelength stabilized white light emitting device and a method for stabilizing dominant wavelength of a white-light light emitting device. The light emitting device includes light-emitting diode chips, a phosphor resin layer disposed above the diode chip, and an optical filter disposed above the resin with a gap interposed between the phosphor resin layer and the optical filter. The phosphor resin layer contains a phosphor that is excited by light of the first wavelengths to emit light of second wavelengths. The optical filter reflects light of wavelength shorter than the peak wavelength and transmitting light of the second wavelengths with a modulated transmittance in a range of the first wavelengths.
US08459811B2	Method and apparatus for illumination In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus comprises a light source capable of illuminating a target scene and an adjustable light filter coupled with the light source, the adjustable light filter adapted to display a filter image, the filter image created to spatially filter the illumination based at least in part on at least one parameter.
US08459799B2	Optical scanning projector with raster scanning unit and vector scanning unit An optical scanning projector includes: a raster scanning unit that draws an image in a drawing area on a display surface by scanning beams in a first direction on the display surface while scanning beams in a second direction on the display surface that is orthogonal to the first direction; and a vector scanning unit that draws an image by irradiating beams so as to sequentially form segments each connecting two different points positioned on the display surface.
US08459796B2	Method and system for shaped glasses and viewing 3D images Shaped glasses have curved surface lenses and spectrally complementary filters disposed on the curved surface lenses configured to compensate for wavelength shifts occurring due to viewing angles and other sources. The spectrally complementary filters include guard bands to prevent crosstalk between spectrally complementary portions of a 3D image viewed through the shaped glasses. In one embodiment, the spectrally complementary filters are disposed on the curved lenses with increasing layer thickness towards edges of the lenses. The projected complementary images may also be pre-shifted to compensate for subsequent wavelength shifts occurring while viewing the images.
US08459794B2	Image-processor-controlled misalignment-reduction for ophthalmic systems An ophthalmic system is provided that includes an ophthalmic imaging device to generate an image of a portion of an imaged eye of a patient, an image processor to determine a misalignment of the imaged eye and the imaging device by processing the generated image, and to generate a control signal according to the determined misalignment, and a misalignment-reduction system to receive the control signal, and to generate a misalignment-reduction response. The misalignment-reduction system can include a fixation light system or a gantry. In some cases a locator light system may provide additional alignment information for the image processor.
US08459791B2	Spectacle frame for protective shield A spectacle frame comprises a substantially straight or slightly curved structure composed of two rims and a bridge, and two temples. The bridge is connected between the two rims. One end of each temple is rotatably connected with an outward portion of a respective rim via a hinge. Each temple is formed into a bow-shaped bar that has a front portion, a middle portion, and a rear portion. The spectacle frame is designed to have a predetermined first parameter, a predetermined second parameter, a predetermined third parameter, and a predetermined fourth parameter, whereby the spectacle frame has a size smaller than general glasses to facilitate a person engaging a special task to wear a protective shield and prevent the protective shield from being interfered with, and can perfectly fit various facial profiles of persons so as to keep the protective shield airtight.
US08459783B2	Liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting apparatus A liquid ejecting head comprising: a pressure chamber substrate where pressure chambers that communicates with nozzle holes are provided, and a piezoelectric element including a first conductive layer, a piezoelectric material layer, and a second conductive layer, wherein the piezoelectric element has an overlap area that overlaps the pressure chamber, the first conductive layer, the piezoelectric material layer, and the second conductive layer, wherein the second conductive layers overlap a plurality of the pressure chambers continuously, wherein, the first conductive layer is provided in each of the overlap areas and has an end portion area at one end side of the overlap area in the longitudinal direction, and wherein a width of the end portion area gets narrow in the lateral direction as the end portion area directs to the end of the longitudinal direction.
US08459782B2	Liquid ejecting head, liquid ejecting apparatus, and piezoelectric element A liquid ejecting head having pressure chambers each communicating with a nozzle opening for liquid ejection and piezoelectric element having a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer consisting a perovskite oxide containing lead, zirconium, and titanium, and a second electrode. The piezoelectric layer has a carbon intensity ratio in the range of 8 to 28 in its inner region excluding the volume 20 nm in depth from the second electrodes. The carbon intensity ratio is defined as the ratio of the maximum carbon intensity to the minimum as measured by secondary ion mass spectrometry along the thickness of the piezoelectric layer.
US08459780B2	Piezoelectric element, liquid-ejecting head, and liquid-ejecting apparatus A piezoelectric element includes electrodes and a piezoelectric layer provided between the electrodes. The piezoelectric layer is made of a complex oxide which contains bismuth, iron, and chromium. The piezoelectric layer contains 0.125 to 0.875 mole of chromium per mole of the combination of iron and chromium.
US08459774B2	Liquid jetting apparatus There is provided a liquid jetting apparatus including: a first and a second cartridge attaching section; a liquid jetting head on which a plurality of first nozzles and a plurality of second nozzles are formed and which has a plurality of driving sections provided corresponding to the nozzles respectively; and a flushing control unit which operates the driving sections to cause execution of a first flushing operation in which an amount of the liquid forcibly jetted from the first nozzles is made smaller than an amount of the liquid forcibly jetted from the second nozzles when a height of the first cartridge is greater than a height of the second cartridge.
US08459772B2	Image forming apparatus and method for maintaining head An image forming apparatus includes an endless belt having holes facing a head and to transfer a recording medium in a transferring direction perpendicular to an array direction of nozzles in the head, a driving unit to drive the endless belt, a driving speed control unit to control a driving speed of the endless belt, and a maintenance discharge amount acquisition unit to acquire an amount of a recording liquid to be discharged from the nozzles of the head to allow the amount of the recording liquid to be passed through the holes in the endless belt for performing maintenance during a non-image forming operation. The driving speed control unit sets the driving speed of the endless belt based on the amount of the recording liquid to be discharged from the nozzles acquired by the maintenance discharge amount acquisition unit.
US08459769B2	Grayscale printing control method and device A grayscale printing control method, a device thereof and a storage medium are provided. The method comprises: determining the grayscale level of image data of each point in each point line and converting the same into multi-bit binary data; forming a data set using the binary data of the same bit of all the points in a point line, thereby forming multiple data sets; each data set corresponding to a predetermined strobe time, and the print head heater corresponding to each point heating upon receiving predetermined data during the strobe time. The present invention can reduce the number of printing strobes and the times of data transmission while ensuring printing quality, thereby greatly improving printing speed.
US08459765B2	Liquid ejecting apparatus A liquid ejecting apparatus that ejects a liquid containing a sedimentary component from an ejection nozzle provided in an ejection head includes: a liquid channel that conducts the liquid to the ejection head; a liquid discharge unit that discharges the liquid from the ejection nozzle. The liquid channel is provided with a first channel region and a second channel region; and the liquid discharge unit discharge a predetermined amount of the liquid from the ejection nozzle in the case where the amount of time that has elapsed a predetermined threshold time.
US08459761B2	Recording apparatus A recording apparatus that records onto recording paper includes: a main case housing a noise source that generates noise when printing is carried out; a scanner space portion that is within the main case but that is independently separate from a housing space portion of the noise source; and a communication tube portion that communicates between the housing space portion and the scanner space portion. An inner surface area that intersects with the axial direction of the communication tube portion at the inner surface of the scanner space portion is formed of a document platform glass whose surface density is higher than that of the material of which the other wall surface areas are formed in the inner surface of the scanner space portion.
US08459754B2	Washing machine A washing machine comprises a casing, a top cover installed on an upper surface of the casing, a door installed at the top cover, through which laundry is accommodated into the casing, and a tub installed in the casing, wherein the door is connected to the top cover by a hinge assembly or a damper assembly provided thereat. The hinge assembly includes a first hinge portion, and a second hinge portion having a torsion spring therein. The damper assembly includes a first damper portion, a second damper portion, and a ring member having a round shape and fitted into an outer circumferential surface of the second damper portion. Accordingly, even when the door has a heavy weight due to its material of a reinforcing glass, the hinge assembly or the damper assembly can endure the weight of the door. This may prevent noise or impact occurring when the door is closed.
US08459736B1	Poolside chair and associated use thereof An adjustable poolside chair comprises a chair assembly, a height-adjustable support mechanism, and a weighted base. The chair assembly comprises an outdoor padded chair with a tilting back portion and is constructed of lightweight, waterproof materials. The weighted base comprises a pair of horizontally adjustable hooks which are extended around a lip of a pool. The base also comprises a pair of rollers for transportation of the chair. The adjustable support mechanism comprises a height adjustable pneumatic cylinder and also provides a swivel function. In use, the base is placed in a desired location and the hooks are extended around the lip of the pool and secured in place using tightening knobs, thereby providing additional stabilization of the chair in a poolside position.
US08459725B2	Method and apparatus for improving the damage-resistance of container body top rails Various embodiments of an improved top rail for a container body, e.g. a truck body, are disclosed. In exemplary embodiments, a support structure is disposed at least partially within a channel of the top rail to provide increased strength to the top rail and to protect the top rail and container body from damage. Examples of support structures include support blocks, such as composite blocks, and support rails, such as metal rails. In an exemplary embodiment, a low-profile light source can be installed on the top rail and/or the support structure.
US08459714B2	Mobile radiation therapy The invention provides techniques for diagnosing medical conditions and providing appropriate treatment at a patient's home residence. A mobile x-ray team can be dispatched to the patient's home residence. A technical team reviews patient data to determine a proper therapy plan. A mobile radiation therapy apparatus is dispatched to the patient's home as required by the therapy plan. The mobile radiation therapy apparatus includes a radiation source and shielding, and is capable of superficial radiation therapy and/or High Dose Rate (HDR), Low Dose Rate (LDR), and Medium Dose Rate (MDR) implant therapy and/or particle therapy. For HDR, LDR and MDR therapy, the mobile radiation therapy apparatus itself is a specialized radiation vault which the patient will enter. The technical team adjusts the therapy plan based on the additional analysis, and the mobile radiation therapy apparatus is dispatched in accordance with adjusted therapy plan.
US08459711B2	Five-fingered hand device A five-fingered hand device suitably applicable to a humanoid robot is provided. The device includes a hand body (2) which has a base (4) and five finger mechanisms (5) to (9), a drive unit (3) which drives the finger mechanisms, and a control unit (36) which controls bending and stretching of the finger mechanisms. The drive unit (3) has driven fluid pressure cylinders provided inside the hand body (2) and driving fluid pressure cylinders (37) provided outside the hand body (2), the driven fluid pressure cylinders being connected to the driving fluid pressure cylinders via fluid pressure transmission pipes (45).
US08459709B2	Gripper mechanism with two drive shafts per gripping finger A gripper mechanism for machines, robots and manipulation devices comprises at least one moving gripping finger, operated by coupling to an operating mechanism by two drive shafts. As a result of operating the gripping finger by two connecting bars, in turn each driven by the drive shafts, it is possible to move the gripping finger through a rotation over 180° through the path or range thereof and hence securely transmit forces and torques without tipping or getting in an unstable position. The drive shafts are divided axially into at least two parts in order to be housed completely in an enclosed and unitary gripper housing, protected from dust and dirt and hermetically sealed. The different parts of the drive shafts are centered on one another and positively connected by means of axial toothing, in the form of pinion gears and pins, and have a carrier support bearing.
US08459707B2	Sifting pet waste scoop A pet waste scoop, e.g., cat litter scoop, having a relatively large mouth opening includes body having an open end opposite a closed end and defining an interior therebetween for receiving pet waste for easy disposal thereof. A handle is integrally formed with the body and extends downwardly toward the closed end a predetermined distance such that the user may easily grasp the handle for manipulating the pet waste scoop while maintaining his or her hand a safe distance from the pet waste to be scooped. A plurality of elongate slot-shaped apertures that can be curvilinear are formed within a front surface opposite the handle for sifting the litter scooped with the pet waste scoop. The apertures are defined by a number of rounded elongate sifting bars that also can be of curvilinear construction and configured to prevent pet waste and/or litter build up within the apertures.
US08459706B2	Door handle apparatus for vehicle A door handle apparatus for a vehicle, includes a frame, a handle, a rotational movement connecting portion integrally formed at one of the frame and the handle, a contact wall portion integrally formed at the other one of the frame and the handle and restricting a displacement of the handle towards one end portion thereof in a longitudinal direction thereof when contacting the rotational movement connecting portion, and a protruding portion integrally formed at the other one of the frame and the handle, being elastically deformable when press-contacting the rotational movement connecting portion to allow the handle to be slidably displaced towards the one end portion, elastically returning to an initial position where the slide displacement of the handle towards the other end portion in the longitudinal direction is restricted when the press-contact is cancelled, and rotatably supporting the rotational movement connecting portion in conjunction with the contact wall portion.
US08459705B2	Door lock apparatus Provided is a door lock apparatus which is adopted in an electronic product to lock or release a door of the door lock apparatus. The door lock apparatus includes a rocker, a rocker supporting member, a door lock main body and a locking unit. The rocker rotates when the hook of the door enters or withdraws from the door lock apparatus, to be coupled with or separated away from the hook. A rocker hinge rod and a position fixing rode positioned in parallel to the rocker hinge rod are integrated into the rocker. The rocker supporting member is hinge-coupled with the rocker hinge rod to rotatably support the rocker, reciprocatingly moves in a direction in which the hook enters or withdraws when the rocker is rotated, and receives an elastic force from a first elastic member in the direction in which the hook enters. The door lock main body supports the reciprocating movement of the rocker supporting member, and includes position fixing holes to guide movement of the rocker while being coupled with the position fixing rod when the rocker rotates and to fix the rocker while the rocker is coupled with or separated from the hook. The locking unit locks the rocker while the rocker is coupled with the hook. Accordingly, the door lock apparatus has a simple, compact structure, which has fewer failures, ensures convenience in maintenance and repair and reduces the number of assembly steps.
US08459703B2	Pawl assembly A pawl assembly that can be installed to the output shaft of a latch mechanism more easily, and in some embodiments without the use of tools, as compared to prior art pawls.
US08459691B2	Curtain airbag for a motor vehicle An inflatable curtain airbag is secured along an upper edge to a body structure of the motor vehicle and deploys downwardly when inflated. Prior to deployment, the lower edge of the curtain is not tethered to the vehicle body. When nearly or fully deployed, the lower edge of the curtain engages an adjacent part of the motor vehicle so as to form a virtual tether therebetween resisting relative movement between the curtain and the adjacent part.
US08459686B2	Steering wheel with airbag device A horn switch mechanism 15 has a securing pin 31 serving as a support member, a movable member 32 serving as an insulating portion, a compression coil spring 35 serving as an urging member, and a contact terminal 34 serving as a movable contact. The securing pin 31 is fixed to a metal core 12 of a steering wheel body 11 and supports a bag holder 21 in such a manner that the bag holder 21 selectively proceeds toward and retreats from the metal core 12. The movable member 32 is arranged between the securing pin 31 and the bag holder 21 and electrically insulates the securing pin 31 and the bag holder 21 from each other. The coil spring 35 urges the bag holder 21 away from the metal core 12. The contact terminal 34 moves together with the bag holder 21. When the bag holder 21 moves toward the metal core 12 against the urging force of the compression coil spring 35, the contact terminal 34 contacts the securing pin 31 and permits conduction between the contact terminal 34 and the securing pin 31. This activates a horn device 40 of the vehicle.
US08459683B2	Gangway with an articulated bridge between two vehicles coupled in an articulated manner A gangway includes an articulated bridge which extends between two vehicles coupled in an articulated manner. The articulated bridge has, at both ends, an enclosed carriage whereby at least one enclosed carriage can be attached to the vehicle in such a manner that it may be displaced in a direction perpendicular to the lengthwise axis of the vehicle.
US08459675B2	Structural mounting insert having a non-conductive isolator The present invention is predicated upon methods and devices for positively mounting structural members while preventing or substantially limiting exposure of such members to environmental conditions possibly leading to corrosion.
US08459670B1	Compact folding long board A long board for street skating having an offset axial joint with a lower hinge support block on a front segment and a lower hinge support block on a rear segment having a hinge which folds the board in the direction of the upper surfaces of each segment, the offset joint allowing a first set of wheels to set behind a second set of wheels depending from each segment when in a folded position for a more compact profile, each lower hinge support block providing the hinge so that each front and rear segment are parallel in a stored and folded position.
US08459666B2	Side-beam lift assembly for heavy-duty vehicles A lift assembly for a suspension assembly of an axle/suspension system is located generally adjacent to and beside the suspension assembly. The lift assembly includes an air chamber, a support member assembly, a pivot arm assembly and a beam support assembly. The support member assembly attaches to the hanger of the suspension assembly, to the air chamber, and pivotally attaches to the pivot arm assembly. The air chamber also attaches to the pivot arm assembly. The pivot arm assembly pivotally attaches to the beam support assembly which in turn attaches to the beam of the suspension assembly, for raising and/or lowering the suspension assembly during operation of the heavy-duty vehicle.
US08459665B2	Foldable stroller frame A foldable stroller frame includes a seat frame assembly, and a leg tube assembly including a front leg tube, a rear leg tube, and a pivot joint connected between the front and rear leg tubes and connected pivotally to the seat frame assembly. A link is connected pivotally to a handle tube at one end thereof and to the pivot joint at the other end. Two supporting tubes are connected respectively to the seat frame assembly and the leg tube assembly. A drive member is connected among the rear leg tube, the handle tube, and the supporting tubes, in such a manner to allow for rotation of the handle tube relative to the drive member. When said handle tube is rotated relative to said drive member, said drive member is activated to result in rotation of said seat frame and leg tube assembly, and said stroller frame is converted between unfolded and fully folded states.
US08459662B2	Mowing apparatus A mowing apparatus having a center of gravity having a frame member, at least one front ground engaging wheel rotatably connected proximate the front end of the frame member and at least two rear ground engaging wheels rotatably connected proximate the back end of the frame member so as to substantially prevent the mowing apparatus from rolling over as it traverses along an inclined surface.
US08459660B2	Multi function patient transport A transport that is manually powered for transporting an injured or disabled person from one location to another. The chair is particularly useful for transporting an injured or disabled person (who is of a heavy weight) up or down a flight of stairs. The chair lift is manually driven by reciprocating hand levers operated by an attendant. A ratchet and pawl mechanism in combination with a brake system, which is continuously set/locked, allows movement of the chair only when the chair is being propelled up a flight of stairs and when an attendant purposefully actuates a hand lever to release the brakes and allow movement of the transporter.
US08459656B2	Fuel line gasket for use with a diesel fuel injector Disclosed is a gasket for sealing a fuel connection for a diesel fuel injector. The gasket resides between the filter caps and the jumper block. The gasket includes a pair of holes having frustoconical shaped sidewalls designed to fit within the chamfer walls of the filter caps. The gasket further includes an aperture designed to fit over the threaded injector stud.
US08459654B2	Hydrodynamic seal with increased flexibility sealing element A hydrodynamic shaft seal assembly includes a PTFE seal member having outer and inner sections. The outer section is affixed to an annular carrier. The inner section is free and includes at least one hydrodynamic groove in direct running contact with a rotating shaft or wear sleeve. A mid-portion of the seal member is formed between the inner and outer sections. The mid-portion is thinned and includes one or more annular undulations formed therein to improve flexibility of the inner section relative to the outer section. The seal assembly may include one or more excluder features. A rubber casing is molded about portions of the carrier. Preferably, one or more annular undulations are formed in a coining operation during the rubber molding process.
US08459645B2	Media actuated media diverter for an imaging device A media actuated, media diverter mounted on a guide member positioned between the output of a simplex path and the entrance of a duplex path in an imaging device. The media diverter comprises a first plate having a media contact surface, a biasing member for biasing the first plate, and a second plate having a media guiding surface. First plate and second plate are movable in a slot through the guide member and are biased in first positions where media contact surface extends into the duplex path and media guiding surface extends into the simplex path while second plate remains movable from its first position to a second position. A media sheet fed into the duplex path moves first plate to its second position blocking movement of second plate from its first position allowing a following media sheet in the simplex path to the exit of the imaging device.
US08459643B2	Printing apparatus There is provided a printing apparatus including: a printing mechanism; a plurality of trays; a discharge mechanism; a plurality of detection mechanisms which detect whether a height of the sheets stacked on the trays is not less than a threshold value; and a controller which controls the discharge mechanism and the printing mechanism. When the detection mechanisms detect that all heights of the sheets stacked on the trays are not less than the threshold value, the controller controls the discharge mechanism to discontinue a discharge of the sheets. After the discharge of the sheets is discontinued, when the detection mechanisms detect that the heights of the sheets stacked on at least two trays became smaller than the threshold value, the controller controls the discharge mechanism to resume the discharge of the sheets on a tray which is other than a tray which is recovered last.
US08459636B2	Device for stacking flat articles on edge and a postal sorting machine equipped with at least one such device This device has an arrival corridor via which the articles arrive, an article-receiving zone on which a stack (P) of said articles is formed, and a rotary actuator (22) suitable for pushing said articles away against a retaining element (32) for retaining the stack. The actuator (22) has at least one protective member (281, 282) for protecting the last article (N) in the stack (P) being formed, said protective member being suitable for being interposed between said last article and a current article (N+1) coming from the arrival corridor.
US08459635B2	Sheet feeding device and image forming apparatus A sheet feeding device and an image forming apparatus which can stably separate sheets even when the position of a pressing portion is changed are provided. A guide portion supports sheets from below and guides the sheets to a pressing portion between a sheet feeding roller which is biased in the direction pressing the sheet feeding roller onto the sheets stacked on a sheet stacking portion and a separating member which separates the sheets fed from the sheet feeding roller one by one. The guide portion is linearly lowered together with the separating member with the downward movement of the sheet feeding roller biased by a roller biasing member.
US08459630B2	Sheet processing apparatus and image forming apparatus A sheet processing apparatus and an image forming apparatus are provided which can stabilize the shape of the spine after a squaring process. To square a spine Sb of a sheet bundle S, a spine processing apparatus 400 which squares the spine Sb performs squaring of the spine by moving the spine Sb which projects from a pair of first nipping rollers 405 and 406 while pressing the spine Sb by means of a pressing roller 411 in a state where the spine Sb is nipped by a pair of second nipping rollers 403 and 404.
US08459628B2	Non-slip bench support block A work piece support device that includes a body and at least two portions of high-grip material on opposite sides of the body is provided. The body may have a flowable media stored therein to provide a lowered center of gravity depending on the orientation of the work piece support device. The work piece support device may include mating projections and recesses for coupling a plurality of work piece support devices together. Further, the projection can be in the form of a cone such that the work piece support device may function as a support cone.
US08459625B1	Device for securing vehicle body to conveyor carrier A vehicle body clamping device including a clamping linkage unit adapted for mounting to a conveyor carrier at a location beneath a vehicle body while said vehicle body is carried on a conveyor carrier. A clamping actuation assembly is located below the conveyor carriers and along their path of travel, and includes a pair of actuator units for operating the clamping linkage. Activation of a first actuator unit cause the clamping linkage to place a clamping bar thereof in an unclamped position, such that a vehicle body can be loaded to or removed from the conveyor carrier. Activation of the second actuator unit cause the clamping linkage to place the clamping bar in a clamped position, such that a vehicle body is securely clamped to the conveyor carrier.
US08459623B2	Powdered grip clamping force A powered grip that can engage and hold an item which includes a primary body member, an actuator dependent from the primary body member and a pair of spaced apart clamp jaws to move towards and away from each other. A force transmission mechanism is operatively located intermediate of the actuator and each of the clamp jaws to displace the clamp jaws relative to the primary body and that, through mechanical advantage, establishes a multiplication of the force of the actuator force at the clamp jaws. A force transmission mechanism geometry adjuster is provided to vary the spacing between the clamp jaws for any given operating force applied by the actuator, allow the pre-testing setting of the spacing between the jaws such that the range of force applied by the clamping jaws to the item to be tested is within a desired range.
US08459619B2	Gas spring control system and method A vehicle suspension system includes a pump, a gas spring, and an accumulator. The suspension system also includes a controller for adjusting the suspension system. The controller has a processing circuit configured to receive a measure of gas in the spring. The processing circuit is further configured to calculate a difference between a target value and a current value based on the received measure of gas. The processing circuit is also configured to provide an output for adjusting the gas in the spring in response to the calculated difference.
US08459617B2	Disc assembly of air cleaning humidifier A disc assembly of an air cleaning humidifier includes a disc member provided with assembly parts formed by cutting parts of the disc member; first and second plate members respectively disposed at both sides of the disc member; at least one fixing member inserted into a corresponding one of the assembly parts between the first and second plate members to fix the disc member; and water storage parts formed in the at least one fixing member.
US08459614B2	Dual capstan puller and method A puller is provided with a number of advantages. Pullers are described that have a high power to weight ratio, and a high power to volume ratio. Examples of pullers and pulling systems include harmonic drive gear reduction elements and configurations that provide high cable friction in a small device volume. Examples of pullers and pulling systems also include constant force pulling which is desirable in particular for small diameter pipe replacement. Using pullers and pulling systems as described, minimally invasive pipe replacement operations are possible. Reversible pullers are also provided that decrease the amount of time needed to burst or split multiple segments of pipe.
US08459613B2	Drive system for potentiometer adjustment A strap-drive system that provides smooth, reliable potentiometer adjustment, particularly in devices used in conjunction with musical instruments.
US08459605B2	Rail system and vehicle seat A rail system for a vehicle seat comprises at least one profiled fitting part and at least one cross member. The cross member is arranged perpendicular to a main direction of travel. The at least one fitting part completely surrounds the cross member. The cross member is able to be moved in relation to the fitting part perpendicular to the main direction of travel. Rolling bodies guide the cross member in the interior of the fitting part, and are arranged between the cross member and the fitting part.
US08459600B2	Trestle stabilizing device A trestle stabilizing device is provided for a model track assembly having support apparatuses or trestles for elevating track sections. The device includes a base including a first end section and a second end section. A first fastening member is connected to the first end section. A second fastening member is connected to the second end section. The first and second fastening members releasably secure the device to the track support apparatuses.
US08459592B2	Fuselage nose door The present invention relates to a fuselage nose door for sealing an opening in the hull of an aircraft. In order to make loading and unloading as efficient as possible, a door shell is proposed that is movably held between a closed setting and an open setting by a bearing device, wherein the door shell can be pivoted and shifted in relation to the bearing device. The invention also relates to an aircraft with such fuselage nose door. In addition, the invention also relates to a method for opening and closing an opening in the hull of an aircraft with a fuselage nose door, which has a door shell that is movably held by a bearing device between the closed setting and open setting, wherein the door shell is pivoted and shifted in relation to the bearing device in the opening and closing process.
US08459591B2	Methods and apparatus for aerial recovery of flying apparatus Methods and systems are provided which may allow a first vehicle to recover a second air vehicle while both are moving. The first vehicle and the second air vehicle may be traveling at different velocities. An attachment member of the second air vehicle may attach to a recovery member of the first vehicle while the first vehicle and the second air vehicle are traveling at different velocities. The recovery member attached to the second air vehicle may move relative to and along an exterior surface of the first vehicle in a direction substantially parallel to a direction of travel of the first vehicle.
US08459581B2	Systems and methods for processing a heterogeneous waste stream Systems and methods for processing and sorting a municipal solid waste stream are described herein. A system can include a processing sub-system configured to receive a municipal solid waste stream and to remove the non-processable waste, a processing apparatus configured and disposed to receive constituents of the municipal solid waste stream from the processing sub-system and reduce the size of the constituents of the waste stream to an average particle size of less than about ¾ inch, and separators configured to sort the waste stream into constituents based on density.
US08459580B2	Grinder-dispenser apparatus for frozen material A grinding apparatus for dispensing a dose of ground frozen material starting from a frozen block includes a grinding unit for grinding the frozen block in order to provide an amount of ground frozen material and a feeding unit for feeding the frozen block to the grinding unit. In particular, the feeding unit includes a feeding member that is adapted for moving frozen block for a desired predetermined grinding stroke against grinding unit such that a grinding length of block is ground. A grinding unit provides at least one grater and one motor for causing the grater to rotate. In order to obtain a desired weight of the dose, a volume of frozen material is calculated that corresponds to said weight, since the density of the frozen material is known.
US08459564B2	Apparatuses for executing wireless transmission using a magnetic field, wireless transmission apparatuses, and wireless receiver apparatuses An integrated circuit, a non-contact IC card, a reader/writer, a wireless communications method, and a computer program are provided to improve communication. The integrated circuit configured to execute wireless communication by means of magnetic field. The integrated circuit has a resonance circuit having resonance frequencies of a plurality of levels, a confirmation block configured to confirm whether a predetermined condition is satisfied, and a switching block configured to change the resonance frequencies if the predetermined condition is found satisfied as a result of the confirmation.
US08459561B2	Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same A separation layer and a semiconductor element layer including a thin film transistor are formed. A conductive resin electrically connected to the semiconductor element layer is formed. A first sealing layer including a fiber and an organic resin layer is formed over the semiconductor element layer and the conductive resin. A groove is formed in the first sealing layer, the semiconductor element layer, and the separation layer. A liquid is dropped into the groove to separate the separation layer and the semiconductor element layer. The first sealing layer over the conductive resin is removed to form an opening. A set of the first sealing layer and the semiconductor element layer is divided into a chip. The chip is bonded to an antenna formed over a base material. A second sealing layer including a fiber and an organic resin layer is formed so as to cover the antenna and the chip.
US08459558B2	Device and method for optically scanning a machine-readable marking The invention relates to a device for optically scanning a machine-readable device applied to an object, comprising a transport apparatus for transporting the object in a transport direction, the object being supported on the transport apparatus on an underside, the transport apparatus containing a first transport belt with a first upper strand and a second transport belt with a second upper strand, wherein a gap is formed between the first transport belt and the second transport belt which is arranged ahead of the first transport belt in the transport direction, and comprising a scanning apparatus for scanning the machine-readable marking, wherein the scanning apparatus has at least one scanning element associated with the gap, wherein the first upper strand and the second upper strand are arranged so as to have a height offset relative to each other in such a way that the underside of the object can be scanned by tipping the object when the object is transferred from the first transport belt to the second transport belt.
US08459533B2	Carton with handle A carton for containing a plurality of articles. The carton comprises a first top panel, a second top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, and a second side panel. A handle comprises a first handle panel and a second handle panel. The first handle panel comprises a central portion in the top panel and an end portion in a first top end flap. The second handle panel comprises a first portion in the second top panel and a second portion in a second top end flap. The central portion of the first handle panel is attached to the first portion of the second handle panel and the end portion of the first handle panel is attached to the second portion of the second handle panel.
US08459532B2	Folded box for transport of cylindrical articles A folded box is for transporting cylindrical articles such as tires. The folded box includes two octagonal base planes that are arranged in parallel to each other. At least three rectangular main side planes, that are attached to three outer edges of each octagonal base plane, connect the base planes with each other. At least one hinged cover plane is connected to another outer edge of one of the octagonal base planes.
US08459531B2	Container and blank for the production thereof A container (1) for storing and removing food comprises a first and a second container half (2, 3) which are connected to each other by means of a pivotable connection in order to pivot between an open position (4) and a closed position (5). To improve such a container to the effect that it is also suited for the consumption of the food and can be simultaneously produced more stably and economically while it is easy to assemble, each container half (2, 3) comprises an upper and lower polygonal container wall (7, 8; 9, 10), when seen from above, and a lateral wall (11, 12) which connects the walls at a distance in relation to each other, wherein the pivotable connection is embodied by a pivotable line embodied between facing first ends (13, 14) of the lateral walls (11, 12), and the second ends (15, 16) of the lateral walls (11, 12) are in the closed position (5) detachably connected to each other, wherein the pivotable axis (17) associated to the pivotable line (6) extends essentially perpendicular to the upper and lower container walls (7, 9; 8, 10). Moreover, a single-pieced blank (60) is provided for producing such a container (1).
US08459527B2	Apparatus for ensuring concentric weld deposition of material on a pipe interior A welding jig for ensuring concentricity of an interior surface of a pipe with a circular outer periphery of a bolting flange thereon, comprising (i) a frame member; (ii) two spaced-apart rollers positioned at one end of said frame member, each adapted to remain in contacting engagement during welding with said circular outer periphery of said bolting flange; and (iii) a chill block, having a convexly-curved outer surface of a curvature corresponding to a desired inner diameter of said pipe, adapted to be positioned proximate said interior surface of said pipe. The rollers permit translational movement of the chill block about a center point of said pipe flange when the welding jig is placed on the pipe flange, to permit uniform diametrical deposition of weld material on said inner diameter of said pipe flange. A method of making a pipe is further disclosed and claimed.
US08459524B2	Tissue fastening system for a medical device A surgical fastening device includes a handle assembly having a stationary handle and a movable handle and an elongated member extending distally from the handle portion. The elongated member includes a distal end portion. The device also includes a pair of firing rods operably coupled with the movable handle and movable between a proximal position and a distal position. A tool assembly has a plurality of helical fasteners supported therein and includes a pair of opposing jaw members. At least one of the jaw members is movable in relation to the other jaw member between spaced and approximated positions. The jaw members are configured to form a pair of radial channels when the jaw members are in the approximated position. The firing rods are configured to advance helical fasteners through at least one radial channel and into tissue upon movement from the proximal position to the distal position.
US08459520B2	Surgical instrument with wireless communication between control unit and remote sensor A surgical instrument, such as an endoscopic or laparoscopic instrument. The surgical instrument may comprise an end effector comprising at least one sensor. The surgical instrument may also comprise an electrically conductive shaft having a distal end connected to the end effector wherein the sensor is electrically insulated from the shaft. The surgical instrument may also comprise a handle connected to a proximate end of the shaft. The handle may comprise a control unit electrically coupled to the shaft such that the shaft radiates signals as an antenna from the control unit to the sensor and receives radiated signals from the sensor. Other components electrically coupled to the shaft may also radiate the signals.
US08459519B2	High-speed electromagnetic nail gun An electromagnetic nail gun with a lever, comprising a handle for holding the nail gun and triggering the operation of the nail gun, an electromagnetic lever driving device for driving nails with variable speeds through the movement of the lever, wherein electromagnetism is used as driving force, a firing pin slideway for allowing the lever to move therein, and a muzzle magazine assembly for loading nails inside. The present invention uses the magnetism as driving force directly and then applies the lever and variable speed drive to launch nails. Therefore, the structure of the present invention is very simple, light, the manufacture cost is decreased drastically, vibration and noise when used are quite little, very convenient to operate, dispense with the air compressor, easy to carry around.
US08459512B2	Re-sealable spigot for a collapsible beverage container A re-sealable spigot includes a cylindrical structure configured to be attached to a liquid receptacle, wherein said cylindrical structure further comprises a stem, having an upper portion and a base portion, and a top in a coaxial arrangement with said upper portion of said stem, and a cap having a hollow receiving portion shaped as a multi-sided geometrical element, wherein said cap seals said cylindrical structure.
US08459509B2	Fluid dispensing apparatus A fluid dispensing apparatus includes a fluid reservoir and a dispensing assembly. The dispensing assembly includes a housing and a deformable member that define a metering chamber that is configured to receive a predetermined volume of fluid from the fluid reservoir. The deformable member is deformed from a rest position to an eject position and the deformation causes the volume of the metering chamber to change which results in a change in fluid pressure within the metering chamber. An increase in the fluid pressure within metering chamber causes a predetermined volume of fluid within the metering chamber to be ejected and a decrease in the fluid pressure within the metering chamber causes fluid to be drawn into the metering chamber from the reservoir.
US08459506B2	Dispensing assembly with shut off valve, backflow preventer, and methods of operating the same A dispensing assembly for dispensing a mixture of fluids is provided. In some embodiments, the dispensing assembly includes a first valve for selectively permitting fluid flow to a mixing chamber in which a second fluid is introduced, wherein the valve is actuated between open and closed positions responsive to fluid pressure downstream of the mixing chamber. In such embodiments, the fluid pressure downstream of the mixing chamber can change based upon whether fluid is dispensed from a spray gun, wand, nozzle, or other dispensing head of the dispensing assembly.
US08459499B2	Dispensers and functional operation and timing control improvements for dispensers A method of operating a dispensing unit including the steps of applying a power source to a dispensing unit that includes a container and performing a startup procedure in response to applying the power source. The startup procedure includes performing an activation sequence that discharges a fluid from the container. The method further includes the step of performing an active mode procedure after the startup procedure without providing a lockout period in between. The active mode procedure includes activating a motion sensor associated with the dispensing unit, performing an activation sequence that discharges the fluid from the container when the motion sensor detects motion, and performing a transition procedure.
US08459497B2	Apparatus for mixing, cooling, and dispensing a containerized beverage A smoothie dispenser (20, 20S, 20A) comprises a frame (22); a smoothie receptacle storage section (24); and a receptacle conformed chiller section (26). The smoothie receptacle storage section (24) is provided within the frame (22) and configured to house plural smoothie receptacles (30) at a first temperature. The chiller section (26) is arranged to receive a selected smoothie receptacle released from the smoothie receptacle storage section and configured to crystallize contents of the selected smoothie receptacle. The receptacle conformed chiller section (26) is “receptacle conformed” in the sense that a surface of the chiller section is configured to conform to (e.g., have a surface of shape to mate with or to form substantially greater than linear contact with) at least a portion an exterior profile or periphery of the selected smoothie receptacle.
US08459485B2	Two-piece container lid assembly A two-piece lid is provided and includes a base portion defining at least two openings of differing sizes and a single cover portion connected to the base for covering the openings. At least one opening is constructed as to maximize the size of the opening. A confectionery container comprising the two-piece lid is also provided.
US08459484B2	Drink container with automatically extending straw A system for aiding in drinking from a drink container is provided. The system includes a spring-style, flexible straw located inside a drink container such that when the container is closed the straw is compressed. A lever located on the exterior top portion of the container can be used to produce a circular orifice in the top of the container. When the container is opened via the circular orifice, the straw automatically extends through the orifice in the top of the container, thereby allowing a person to use the straw to drink the liquid in the container. Whereas the lower portion of the straw is spirally shaped like a spring mechanism, the upper portion of the straw is straight and an accordion mechanism is located at a base of the upper portion to allow the consumer to bend the straw when sipping from the straw.
US08459480B2	Case structure and method for pre-forming the same A case structure and a method for pre-forming the same are described. The pre-forming method includes the following steps. A first case body and a second case body are supplied. Two side plates of the second case body are bent, such that the two side plates respectively form an initial angle with the bottom plate. The second case body is disposed in the first case body. The two side plates are pulled to respectively come close to two side walls of the first case body, such that the bottom plate forms a curved surface in the first case body. When having an object disposed therein, the case structure overcomes a downward pressure generated by the object through the curved surface, thereby preventing the first case body and the second case body from sagging out of the case structure.
US08459478B2	Self-opening closure with air inlet channel for composite packaging or for container necks to be sealed with foil material The self-opening closure includes a pouring spout (10), which can be assembled leak-proof on a combipack or a container spout sealed with foil material, twist cap (9) and a self-opening sleeve (1) arranged inside the pouring spout, which can be made to rotate by the twist cap. The self-opening sleeve forms on its upper edge an indentation (4), which becomes smaller towards the bottom edge (6) and tapers off into the same. There are guiding means present on the outer side of the self-opening sleeve and on the inner side of the pouring spout so that the self-opening sleeve is guided downwards by rotation on the pouring spout. The indentation (4) lies partially inside the pouring spout and partially below the same after unscrewing of the cover cap and forms an air inlet channel, which results in a steady outpour of the liquid content of a combipack.
US08459476B2	Audio / video isolation rack An apparatus and system for video and audio components. According to one embodiment, the present invention generally comprises carbon fiber composite shelves separated by carbon fiber posts and supported by carbon fiber legs. The posts and legs are secured by studs. Adjacent to at least the bottom surface of each of the shelves at each opening where a stud passes through is a polyurethane ring.
US08459470B2	Functionalized nonwoven article A grafted nonwoven substrate is disclosed having average fiber sizes of 0.7 to 15 microns, and a void volume of 50 to 95%, and a polymer comprising cationic aminoalkyl(meth)acryloyl monomer units grafted to the surface of the nonwoven substrate. The article may be used as a filter element to purify or separate target materials, such as oligonucleotides or monoclonal antibodies (MAb), from a fluid mixture.
US08459466B2	Systems and methods for optimizing a single-stream materials recovery facility Systems and methods for sorting a plurality of recyclable items in a single-stream materials recovery facility (SSMRF) are provided. In some embodiments, a system includes an infeed conveying system, a fiber transfer conveyor, a container transfer conveyor, and a glass sorting and conveying system. The system further includes a controller configured to obtain total weight and volume of recyclable items at the infeed conveying system. The controller estimates a percent weight of fiber items and a percent weight of non-fiber items relative to the total weight. Based on the estimates, the controller controls speed of at least one of the infeed conveying system, the fiber transfer conveyor, the container transfer conveyor, and the glass sorting and conveying system.
US08459455B2	Catheter assembly with resealable opening A catheter assembly includes a catheter, preferably having a hydrophilic surface coating; and a package accommodating said catheter. The package preferably also accommodates a wetting fluid. The package includes a first and a second sheet material connected around the edges; a perforation line extending along a non-closed loop in one of said sheet materials, which defines a flap opening; a third sheet material connected by means of an adhesive over said flap opening. The third sheet material with a margin covers the entire flap opening. The adhesive is adapted to maintain a sterile closure of the package before use, and to be resealable after use. The third sheet material forms a tab not provided with adhesive and the tab provides a grip portion for peel opening of the package.
US08459453B2	Carrying case for display apparatus A carrying case for a display apparatus which includes a frame for receiving the display device and a folding stand mechanism secured to the frame for supporting the frame on a support surface. The folding stand mechanism includes a folding stand base, a major folding support rotatably mounted on the folding stand base, with the major folding support being movable between a closed position adjacent the folding stand base and at least one open position. A minor folding support is rotatably mounted on the major support, with the minor folding support being moveable between a closed position near the major folding support and at least one open position. When the major support is moved to it's at least one open position, the minor support is movable to it's at least one minor open position where the minor support is disposed between the major folding support and the folding stand base. The display apparatus is supported on a surface by any one of four edges of the display apparatus along with the opened folding stand mechanism.
US08459448B1	Match container and striker for a match handle My match container and striker for a match handle or holder enables self-sufficient functionality. It does so by incorporating match containment and striking within the application device itself. No secondary component such as a disconnected box of matches is necessary. Within one device a match can be lit and applied with convenience, efficacy, and safety.
US08459438B2	Workpiece conveyance device Workpiece conveyance device employs a workpiece conveying traveling body composed of a workpiece support carriage supporting a longitudinal central portion of a workpiece and two auxiliary carriages and positioned below both longitudinal end portions of the workpiece. The workpiece support carriage includes a workpiece high-position supporting means switchable between a rising posture of supporting the workpiece at a high position and a folded posture. The two auxiliary carriages nd include workpiece low-position supporting means and to support front and rear two places in the longitudinal direction of the workpiece at a height higher than the workpiece high-position supporting means in the folded posture.
US08459436B2	System and method for processing currency bills and tickets A method of processing documents includes receiving a stack of documents including currency bills and substitute currency media. Each substitute currency medium has at least one barcode. The method further includes transporting the stack of documents via a transport mechanism, one document at a time, along a transport path and denominating with a currency detector each of the currency bills in the stack of documents. The currency detector is positioned adjacent to the transport path. The method further includes scanning with a barcode scanner a barcode on each substitute currency medium in the stack of documents. The barcode scanner is positioned adjacent to the transport path. The method further includes imaging with an image scanner each substitute currency medium in the stack of documents to generate a raw image file of the substitute currency medium. The image scanner is positioned adjacent to the transport path.
US08459432B2	Friction clutch and method to reduce drag loss in friction clutch A wet clutch includes a rotatable hub and a rotatable drum having an aperture extending therethrough. A plurality of outer clutch plates are fixed for rotation with the drum. A plurality of inner clutch plates are fixed for rotation with the hub and interleaved with the outer clutch plates. A piston is moveable to apply a force to the inner and outer clutch plates to transfer torque between the hub and the drum. A cover is moveable relative to the drum between first and second positions. The cover selectively restricts a flow of fluid through the aperture in the drum when in the first position.
US08459428B2	Electronic clutch control apparatus for vehicle An electronic clutch control apparatus is provided for a vehicle having a clutch assembly and a clutch lever operatively associated with the clutch assembly. The electronic clutch control apparatus includes an actuator for driving a clutch assembly, an operation amount sensor for sensing an operation amount of a clutch lever, an electronic control unit for controlling the operation of the actuator based on the detected operation amount received from the operation amount sensor, and a feedback unit for applying an operation reaction force to the clutch lever. The feedback unit includes a plurality of springs having different spring constants. The feedback unit is configured such that when the clutch lever is operated in an operation amount increasing direction thereof, the operational reactive elastic forces of the plural springs are sequentially applied to the clutch lever.
US08459422B1	Luggage with integrated vacuum bags The luggage with integrated vacuum bags includes a standard piece of luggage that includes at least one vacuum bag within said piece of luggage. The vacuum bags are vacuumed via a vacuuming means integrated on a side of said luggage, which engages a male valve located on an exterior surface of said luggage and of which engages a female valve located on a vacuum bag. The vacuum bags are filled with items typically associated with luggage (garments, etc.) in anticipation of vacuuming, which increases the packing efficiency of the luggage such that more items may be packed into said luggage than when compared with luggage excluding said vacuum bags. The vacuuming means includes a hose, motor, and powering means and vacuums the vacuum bag(s) from outside of said luggage.
US08459420B2	Brake lever assembly with two cylinder units A brake lever assembly includes a body connected to an oil pipe and includes a first room and a second room. A first path communicates between the storage space and the first room. A second path communicates between the first room and the second room. The oil pipe is connected to a hydraulic oil storage space in the body. A lever is pivotably connected to the body and includes a push portion. A first cylinder unit is located in the first room and connected between the oil pipe and the push portion. The first cylinder unit is operated a first travel. A second cylinder unit is located in the second room and has a first end contacting inside of the body and a second end connected to the push portion. The second cylinder unit is operated a second travel which is longer than the first travel.
US08459418B2	Bicycle fork having lock-out, blow-off, and adjustable blow-off threshold A bicycle fork includes a pair of fork leg assemblies, each of the leg assemblies having an upper leg telescopingly engaged with a lower leg. A damping assembly is provided in at least one of the legs. The damping assembly includes lock-out and blow-off compression circuits. These compression circuits are externally adjustable without tools. Furthermore, these two compression circuits may be adjusted independently of each other.
US08459414B2	Lubrication and exhaust system for a powered surgical instrument A lubrication cartridge includes a cartridge body. A cartridge coupling is located on the cartridge body and defines a first passage and a second passage. A lubricant reservoir is housed in the cartridge body and comprises a pressurized fluid inlet coupled to the first passage and a lubricant outlet coupled to the second passage. A metering insert is located between the lubricant outlet and the second passage and comprises a density that controls lubricant flow between the lubricant reservoir and the second passage.
US08459412B2	Portable scaffold system A scaffold system includes first and second spaced apart vertical posts. An upper support device mounts at an upper portion of each of the first and second vertical posts and includes spaced apart arms extending in a first direction from the associated vertical post for engaging the side of a building. A lower support device mounts at a lower portion at each of the vertical posts to support one or more planks and includes outriggers extending laterally and in a second direction opposite the first direction. The outriggers include a wheel mounted near an extended end of each of the outriggers to provide for rolling the system to a worksite. The outriggers may be vertically adjusted and combined in multiple combinations and with multiple arm configurations to adapt to uneven terrain.
US08459410B2	System and method for a modular step stool A modular step stool system according to various embodiments can include a plurality of stepping blocks comprising a first stepping block and a second stepping block configured to support a user's body weight. A plurality of interlocking elements is interposed between the first stepping block and the second stepping block for horizontally and vertically interconnecting and interlocking at least the first and second stepping blocks to form a raised step platform. Some of the plurality of interlocking elements include sub-couplings which are configured to provide simultaneous horizontal and vertical interconnections. Some embodiments of the device include raised walls configured within the side walls and corner tabs inserted within the corners of the stepping blocks and configured having a profiled selected based upon the shape of the sub-couplings to facilitate stacking and interconnections in at least one of a horizontal, a vertical, a perpendicular, and an offset configuration.
US08459390B2	Vehicle having drive train The invention relates to a vehicle having a drive train, which comprises at least one first engine and a wheel, wherein a torque can be transmitted from the first engine to the wheel by the drive train, and wherein at least one first unit of the drive train is connected to an interface, by which rapid and simple replaceability of said unit is possible, wherein the interface is designed to be connected to a second unit, which is different from the first unit, wherein both units are designed to store electricity, to convert chemically bound energy into energy of rotation and/or to convert electricity into energy of rotation and/or to convert rotation energy of rotation into electricity.
US08459388B2	Evaporation cycle heat exchange system for vehicle An evaporation cycle heat exchange system for a vehicle is provided. The evaporation cycle heat exchange system is a new type of cooling system that cools vehicle electronic components, a fuel cell stack, an internal combustion engine, an automatic transmission, a turbocharger, etc. using an evaporative heat exchanger, thus improving cooling efficiency and reducing the size of components such as a radiator. The evaporation cycle heat exchange system cools coolant circulating through a vehicle cooling system by employing an evaporative heat exchanger in which a working fluid flows by a pressure difference caused by volume expansion and capillary phenomenon. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the cooling efficiency of the entire cooling system, reduce the size of components to comply with pedestrian protection regulations, improve fuel efficiency, and ensure the stability of the system. Moreover, the present invention provides an evaporation cycle heat exchange system for a vehicle, in which a product-integrated or line-integrated evaporative heat exchanger capable of being mounted in various vehicle components such as an inverter, a fuel cell stack, an oil fan of an internal combustion engine, a turbocharger, an automatic transmission oil fan, etc. is employed. Accordingly, it is possible to easily apply the evaporative heat exchanger to various vehicle components and various vehicle models, and thus it is possible to increase the degree of freedom of the design of the cooling system.
US08459387B2	Cyclonic motor cooling for material handling vehicles A material handling vehicle includes a cyclonic motor cooling system for a motor compartment that accommodates an ergonomically designed operator compartment. Together, the motor compartment and cyclonic motor cooling system include a generally cylindrical housing with a tangentially arranged cooling air injection port at a lower end and exhaust port at a radially and axially opposite end. An air blower directs cooling air into the compartment where a cyclonic cooling air flow and a vortex cooling flow is produced. The cyclonic air flow cools more effectively than conventional linear air flow while also reducing dust contamination and buildup of the motors in the motor compartment.
US08459386B2	Road wheel propulsion apparatus and method of making A road wheel propulsion apparatus for alternately propelling and retarding the rotation of a road wheel supporting an automotive vehicle. An electric drive motor is carried by a vehicle and is drivingly connected to a road wheel to provide motive force to the vehicle by driving the road wheel in rotation relative to the vehicle. The electric drive motor includes a radially inner motor stator to be fixed to a vehicle. The electric drive motor also includes a radially outer annular motor rotor to be carried within a road wheel and to be driven in rotation relative to the motor stator by electromagnetic forces developed by between the motor stator and the motor rotor.
US08459376B2	System for drilling under balanced wells A system for drilling a well bore with an under-balanced hydrostatic pressure. The system includes a tubular member containing a first port, a compression member disposed about the outer portion of the tubular member and having an internal sliding mandrel extending therefrom with a second port, an external sliding sleeve having a third port and being in contact with the internal sliding mandrel and operatively associated with the internal sliding mandrel, and a compressible seal disposed about the external sliding mandrel that is responsive to a longitudinal weight transferred to the compression member. In a closed position the first, second and third port are misaligned and in an open position the first, second and third ports are aligned.
US08459361B2	Multipart sliding joint for floating rig A system for interconnecting a floating rig and a riser assembly includes a rotating control device permitting pressurization of the riser assembly; and a sliding joint connected to the rotating control device, the sliding joint being longitudinally extendable and compressible while the riser assembly is pressurized. Another system includes a sliding joint including more than two telescoping sleeves, and the sliding joint being longitudinally extendable and compressible while the riser assembly is pressurized at the surface. An apparatus includes a sliding joint with multiple sets of telescoping sleeves, each set including at least two of the sleeves. Another apparatus includes a sliding joint with multiple radially overlapping seal assemblies.
US08459359B2	Treating nahcolite containing formations and saline zones A method for treating a nahcolite containing subsurface formation includes removing water from a saline zone in or near the formation. The removed water is heated using a steam and electricity cogeneration facility. The heated water is provided to the nahcolite containing formation. A fluid is produced from the nahcolite containing formation. The fluid includes at least some dissolved nahcolite. At least some of the fluid is provided to the saline zone.
US08459354B2	Self-sealing method A method of sealing a leak of fluid from a container comprises introducing a solute to a body of fluid within the container. The solute is selected so as to be soluble in the fluid at the expected conditions prevailing inside the container, and insoluble when the pressure experienced by the fluid is reduced at the site of a leak.
US08459353B2	Delivery of particulate material below ground A wellbore fluid is an aqueous carrier liquid with first and second hydrophobic particulate materials suspended therein. The first hydrophobic particles have a higher specific gravity than the second hydrophobic particles and the fluid also comprises a gas to wet the surface of the particles and bind them together as agglomerates. The fluid may be a fracturing fluid or gravel packing fluid and the first particulate material may be proppant or gravel. The lighter second particulate material and the gas both reduce the density of the agglomerates which form so that they settle more slowly from the fluid, or are buoyant and do not settle. This facilitates transport and placement in a hydraulic fracture or gravel pack. One application of this is when fracturing a gas-shale with slickwater. The benefit of reduced settling is better placement of proppant so that a greater amount of the fracture is propped open.
US08459343B2	Thermal module assembly and heat sink assembly having at least two engageable heat sinks A thermal module assembly includes a first thermal module (10) and a second thermal module (20). The first thermal module (10) has a fan (300) with an air outlet, a first heat sink (120) positioned at the air outlet and a first clamp portion (122) formed on the first heat sink (120). The second thermal module (20) has a second heat sink (220) and a second clamp portion (222) formed on the second heat sink (220). The second heat sink (220) is juxtaposed with the first heat sink (120). The first heat sink (120) and the second heat sink (220) are combined together via engagement of the first clamp portion (122) and the second clamp portion (222) so that airflow produced by the fan (300) flows past the first heat sink (120) and the second heat sink (220) in order.
US08459338B2	Scraped surface heat exchanger and a method for producing whey protein concentrate The invention relates to a scraped surface heat exchanger (100) comprising a heat exchanging wall (20) having an cylindrical inner surface (21) with a radius (R+.delta.), a shaft (10) being rotatable mounted inside of and concentrically to the inner surface (21) of the heat exchanging wall (20) and having at least one gap portion (10A) with an outer surface (11) and a radius (R), and at least one scraping member (40) supported by the shaft (10) and extending to the inner surface (21) of the heat exchanger wall (20), characterized in that the at least one or the gap portions (10A) with an outer surface (11) and a radius (R) extend over at least 60% of the circumference of the shaft (10).
US08459337B2	Apparatus including a heat exchanger and equalizing vessel An apparatus may include a heat exchanger and an equalizing vessel for equalizing changes in coolant volume. The heat exchanger may include an inflow for delivering coolant to the heat exchanger and an outflow for discharging coolant from the heat exchanger. The equalizing vessel may be closed off by a flexible membrane that follows changes in volume of the coolant. The equalizing vessel may include a first chamber that is in liquid communication with the inflow of the heat exchanger and a second chamber that is in liquid communication with the outflow of the heat exchanger. A filter may also be provided to filter the coolant.
US08459331B2	Vacuum mold Disclosed is a vacuum mold with at least a first plate and a second plate to mold materials (e.g., amorphous alloys), and a method for manufacturing parts using the mold. An ejector mechanism, to eject molded material, is enclosed within an ejector box that is vacuum sealed relative to the plates. An ejector rod for moving the mechanism is also vacuum sealed via a seal in a vacuum feed through opening. Seals are provided between adjacent interfaces of the mold parts (plates and ejector box) to vacuum seal the mold. The mold is connected to at least one vacuum source that applies vacuum pressure thereto via a first vacuum port in a first direction. A second vacuum port may also be provided to apply pressure in a second direction. A vacuum release valve may be connected to the mold to release vacuum pressure applied to the mold.
US08459325B2	Operating system for arched covering for architectural opening An operating system for a retractable covering for an architectural opening wherein one edge of the covering is fixed and the opposite edge is movable between extended and retracted positions, includes an endless cord loop having a finger slide that is slidably mounted adjacent to the fixed edge of the covering to effect circulation of the cord loop. Also included in the cord loop is an anchor plate secured to the fabric of the covering adjacent to its movable edge, with the anchor plate also moving with circulatory movement of the cord loop to move the movable edge of the covering between extended and retracted positions. The tension in the cord loop is adjustable through the connection of opposite ends of the cord loop to the finger slide and the routing of the cord loop is directed through cord guides of low friction material so that the entire operation of the covering is smooth and reliable.
US08459321B2	Tread for tire including gum blocks with notches Tread for a tire provided with a running surface intended to come into contact with the roadway when running, this tread comprising a plurality of blocks of mean axis XX′ intersecting the running surface of the tread, each block, including a side wall that makes a full circuit of the block about the axis XX′. This side wall intersects the running surface at an edge with a closed geometric outline, this edge delimiting a contact surface via which the block makes contact with the roadway. The side wall of the block and the opposite wall delimit an incision, the blocks being provided on their lateral surface with at least one notch having a depth measured perpendicular to the lateral surface of the block and a width measured parallel to the lateral face of the block, the at least one notch at least partially making a circuit of the block about the axis XX′, that is to say at least over 180 degrees.
US08459320B2	Pneumatic tire with tread having chamfered surface A pneumatic tire comprises grooves 1 to 3 formed in a tread and land portions 4 each having an acute angle portion 5 formed by the grooves 2 and 3. The acute angle portion 5 is chamfered by a plurality of chamfered surfaces 11 and 12 to form into a step shape by the chamfered surfaces 11 and 12 and a connecting surface 21 that connects the adjacent chamfered surfaces 11 and 12. Furthermore, from one sidewall to the other sidewall of the acute angle portion 5 at an end 6 of the acute angle portion 5, a height H1 of the chamfered surface 11 and a height H2 of the chamfered surface 12 are gradually decreased while a length L1 of the chamfered surface 11 and a length L2 of the chamfered surface 12 are gradually increased.
US08459316B2	Safety cabinet for filling self-contained breathing apparatus bottles Safety cabinet for filling self-contained breathing apparatus bottles comprising a housing body with high-strength walls, openable on its front and top sides and forming a work surface fitted with a plurality of tapered rubber rollers, linked at their narrow ends and arranged to form a bed of supporting rollers for the bottles to be filled, arranged horizontally and to which the respective filling taps are attached. The housing body is closed using a vertical front door and a horizontal top door.
US08459313B2	Gas fuel vehicle [Problem to be Solved] A gas fuel vehicle capable of detecting a gas leakage on the back side of a fuel fill port (inside of a vehicle body) extremely easily is provided.[Means for Solving the Problem] The gas fuel vehicle includes: a gas filling port that receives a supply of a gas fuel from a fuel supply device on the outside of a vehicle body; a communicating hole that connects the inside of the vehicle body and the outside of the vehicle body; a shielding member that shields the fuel fill port and the communicating hole from the outside of the vehicle body; and a gas fuel storage unit that stores the gas fuel supplied from the fuel supply device through the fuel fill port. A rod portion of a gas leakage detector is inserted into the communicating hole from the outside of the vehicle body, thereby detecting a gas leakage inside the vehicle body.
US08459310B2	Systems and methods for filling medical device lumen The invention relates to systems and methods for filling a medical device with an active agent composition. In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for filling a medical device with an active agent composition. The method can include applying the active agent composition to the outside surface of the medical device, the medical device comprising a housing defining a lumen and a plurality of apertures. The method can also include contacting a surface of a press member against the outside surface of the medical device thereby pushing the active agent composition through the apertures and into the lumen of the medical device. Other embodiments are also included herein.
US08459308B2	Cylindrical shaft, transport roller, transport unit, and printing apparatus A cylindrical shaft is provided of which a pair of ends are formed in a cylindrical shape by a press work so as to form a joining portion therebetween. Here, the joining portion includes: a central linear section which is provided on a center portion in an axis direction of the cylindrical shaft and is formed in a linear shape to be parallel to the axis direction of the cylindrical shaft; and a folded section which includes a plurality of intersections which are provided on both ends of the center portion and are disposed so as to be extended in a direction perpendicular to the axis direction of the cylindrical shaft, and a connection linear section which connects ends of a pair of the adjacent intersections.
US08459298B1	Check valve for drain pipes A check valve for deterring intrusion into drain pipes comprises a body member having at least a first orifice and configured to mount on a drain pipe wherein the drain pipe is adapted to promote fluid flow in a single direction. Pivotably mounted on said body member will be a valve member. The mounting arrangement will provide a closed position that substantially occludes the first orifice and a range of open positions when the valve member is pivoted to open in the flow direction. In addition, at least one additional orifice is provided in either the body member or the valve member to permit fluid flow irrespective of the position of the valve member.
US08459286B2	Pressure retention valve and integrated valve for tank system A pressure retention valve with integrated valve is disclosed. The pressure retention valve with integrated valve includes a housing; an outer piston positioned in the housing; a main seal between the outer piston and the housing; an inner piston positioned in the outer piston, the inner piston having a bore containing a valve; a spring between the housing and a top of the outer piston; an ambient bore in the housing above the main seal; an outlet in the housing below the main seal; and a vessel connection in the housing adjacent to the bore of the inner piston. Methods of supplying fuel to a gas consuming system using the pressure retention valve are also described.
US08459284B2	Method and means for the preparation of solutions from dry chemicals An apparatus for preparing a chemical solution includes a lower housing and an upper housing. The lower housing has a base, an upper plate having a central opening, and a side wall. A grid mounted on the upper plate covers the opening. A wall within the lower housing divides the interior of the lower housing into a central inner chamber and an annular outer chamber; this wall extends into an upper portion of the lower housing. One portion of the wall has a reduced height to permit fluid flow from the inner chamber to the outer chamber. A nozzle is mounted in the inner chamber for discharging fluid into the inner chamber, and causes local elevation of a portion of the fluid surface above the grid. The nozzle may be an eductor creating a venturi effect to draw fluid into the eductor.
US08459282B2	Illuminated apparatus for assisting movement An illuminated apparatus for assisting movement is provided that is able to illuminate surface areas upon which one walks, hikes, skis, skates, runs, reads from, signals, examines or studies. The illuminated apparatus for assisting movement may provide both broad and focused illumination. The device may ensure safe footing, solid purchase, and stable load bearing by providing illuminated assistance for foot, ski and skate placement, as well as the placement of singular and multi-pole fixtures used for activities such as hiking, climbing, skiing, skating, running, and walking. The illuminated apparatus for assisting movement may be compact and lightweight.
US08459280B2	Support structure removal system A support structure removal system comprising a vessel and a second component. The vessel comprises a vessel body, a porous floor configured to retain a three-dimensional part, and an impeller rotatably mounted below the porous floor. The second component comprises a surface configured to operably receive the vessel, and a rotation-inducing assembly located below the surface, where the rotation-inducing assembly is configured to rotate the impeller with magnetic fields when the vessel is received on the surface of the second component to agitate and direct flows of an aqueous fluid through the porous floor.
US08459274B2	Adjustable device for protecting the edge of the fingernail and positioning a stencil on the nail Disclosed is an adjustable device enabling protection of the edge of a nail and positioning of a stencil on the nail. The adjustable device comprises a first sleeve on a first bar; a second bar attached such that the second bar is non-parallel to the first bar; a second sleeve on a second bar; and a cover attached to the first and second sleeves. The cover is configured to enable a stencil to be positioned under the cover, and configured such that adjustment of the cover is effectuated by sliding of the sleeves in a direction where the first and second bars diverge from each other, causing the cover to flatten and causing the sleeves to rotate, or by sliding of the sleeves in a direction where the first and second bars converge toward each other.
US08459272B2	Cigarettes and filter subassemblies with squeezable flavor capsule and methods of manufacture Improved delivery of additive materials to cigarettes is provided through the use of one or more capsules containing additive materials, such as flavor components, in the filter section of a cigarette. The capsule or capsules are provided between first and second absorbent members and the capsules are subjected to an external force, such as squeezing, by a smoker prior to or during smoking of the cigarette in order to release at least a portion of the additive material and expose the additive material to mainstream smoke passing through the filter. The capsules provide a barrier between the additive materials and other cigarettes components, such as sorbents or filter materials, in order to reduce additive material migration into the other cigarette components prior to desired use. An outer cover which is impermeable to the fluid within the capsules is provided about the capsule or capsules and the first and second absorbent members.
US08459268B2	Methods for treating airways This relates to treating an asthmatic lung and more particularly, relates to advancing a treatment device into the lung and treating the lung with the device. This also includes additional steps of treating the airway wall, applying energy or heat to the airway wall in an asthmatic lung.
US08459260B2	Determination of leak during CPAP treatment A respiratory treatment apparatus and method in which a leak is determined by using an averaging window. The window starts at the present time and extends back in time to a point determined according to a current one of progressively detected phase measures of a first respiratory cycle and a corresponding phase measure attributable to a preceding second respiratory cycle. In another aspect, a jamming index indicates whether the leak is rapidly changing. To the extent that jamming is high, the leak estimate used progressively changes from that using sliding breath-window averaging to a more robust and faster responding low-pass filter method, and adjustment of ventilatory support based on measures employing estimated respiratory flow is slowed down or stopped.
US08459250B2	Solar energy collection A solar collector apparatus with Dewar-type evacuated tubes results in the more efficient collection of solar radiation by, for example, maintaining the level of a volatile liquid flowing into the solar collector so that no more than 80% of the volume of an inner cylinder of a collection tube is filled with liquid and a corresponding manifold collects the vapor produced when heat is transferred from the surface of the inner glass cylinder that absorbs solar radiation to the volatile liquid. The aforementioned apparatus may likewise be used to heat a liquid within an absorber tube, the liquid having a volatile and a non-volatile component. As heat is transferred to the liquid, a fraction of the volatile component is converted to vapor, leaving the liquid more concentrated in the non-volatile component.
US08459245B1	Induction drive mechanism for a paintball loader An electronically controlled, brushless DC, electromagnetic induction drive apparatus for use in a paintball marker active loader capable of directly driving the feeder element in the active loader while providing independently user selectable torque transfer capability and rotational speed whether used to continuously or intermittently rotate the loader feeder element. A plurality of selectively polarity reversible electromagnets are disposed in the loader housing and act to move a plurality of magnetic drive elements disposed on the rotating feed cone to rotate the feed cone a predetermined amount for each polarity cycle and cause paintballs to be fed into the paintball marker via a feed tube. A controller linked to the marker firing sequence manages the number and frequency of the sequential polarity changes of the electro-magnets to cause the feed cone to rotate in response to sensed movement of paintballs in the feed tube.
US08459244B2	Center-bearing limbs for an archery bow An archery bow comprises a riser and a pair of bow limbs. The riser has a central portion and first and second end portions, each including a corresponding forward pivotable connection point and rearward bearing point substantially rigidly positioned on the corresponding end portion. A bearing member is positioned at each corresponding rearward bearing point. Each bow limb has a riser connection point and a pulley connection point, and is (i) pivotably connected at its riser connection point to the corresponding riser end portion at its pivotable connection point, (ii) positioned against the corresponding bearing member at a point along the bow limb between its riser and pulley connection points that is displaced from the riser connection point by at least one third of the distance between the riser and pulley connection points, and (iii) arranged at its pulley connection point to receive a pulley member pivotably connected thereto.
US08459237B2	Fill head assembly having membrane for protecting recirculation line A fill head assembly for a fuel storage system includes a check valve disposed within a central region of the fill head assembly. The check valve includes a membrane covering a vent outlet of the fill head assembly. The check valve prevents liquid flow from the central region into the vent outlet, while simultaneously allowing vapor flow from the central region into the vent outlet. The membrane includes a micro-porous material that is liquid impermeable, thereby preventing liquid flow through the membrane, and is vapor permeable, thereby allowing vapor flow through the membrane.
US08459228B2	Method for the production of a piston for an internal combustion engine and piston for an internal combustion engine A method for the production of a piston for an internal combustion engine, composed of at least two components, each of which has at least one corresponding joining surface, has the following steps: a) pre-working the at least two components, at least in the region of the joining surfaces; b) coating at least a part of the surface of at least one component with a covering medium containing at least one phyllosilicate; c) assembling the at least two components; d) connecting the at least two components along their corresponding joining surfaces, by means of beam welding, to produce a piston blank; e) removing the covering medium and any excess weld material adhering to it; and f) machining the piston blank to produce a finished piston.
US08459227B2	Sliding valve aspiration Multi-section sleeve valves for internal combustion engines for improved aspiration. An open connecting rod section is separated from an internal, tubular passageway by a closed wall. A port section proximate the wall defines valve ports. A midsection borders the port section, and an open section adjacent the midsection is in fluid flow communication with the tubular passageway. The lower-diameter midsection forms a relief annulus between the valve and the tunnel or sleeve in which the valve is disposed. Fluid flow occurs through the valve interior and through ports dynamically positioned above the compression cylinder, proximate aligned sleeve and head ports. Sleeve ports are separated by bridges that maintain valve rings in compression during reciprocation to prevent damage. High pressure gas is confined between axially spaced apart, stepped sealing rings that prevent gases from flowing axially about the valve exterior.
US08459226B2	Intake manifold metal posts An intake manifold is disclosed which has an upper shell portion having a first peripheral flange, a lower shell portion having a second peripheral flange, and at least one metallic post having a first plate and a second plate. The first and second peripheral flanges are friction welded and the first plate of the posts is friction welded to the upper shell portion and the second plate of the posts is friction welded to the lower shell portion. The upper and lower shells are made of a polymeric, or plastic, material. The metallic post is comprised substantially of aluminum or other suitable metals or alloys. The upper and lower shell portions define a cavity and a section of the post between the first and second plates traverses through the cavity.
US08459218B2	Adjustable-stroke solenoid valve An adjustable-stroke solenoid valve assembly includes supply, control, and exhaust ports, an inner cavity having first and second seats, a solenoid coil, and a plunger assembly. The plunger assembly includes an armature shifted by the coil. The plunger assembly also includes a stem having a first end adjustably engaged with the armature, and a second end adjustably engaged with a poppet. The plunger assembly additionally includes a first surface that gets pressed against the first seat to block fluid flow to the control port when the coil is de-energized and a second surface that gets pressed against the second seat to facilitate fluid flow to the control port when the coil is energized. Adjustment of the stem's first end relative to the armature and of the poppet on the stem's second end establish a predetermined stroke for the plunger assembly and a predetermined fluid flow rate to the control port.
US08459213B2	Partially self-refueling low emissions vehicle and stationary power system A method and device to optimize the cumulative beneficial effect of harvesting available forms of lost energy, including energy that is lost while a vehicle is in motion (e.g., kinetic energy and energy contained in electromagnetic radiation. The cumulative energy that is recovered is converted to electrical energy which powers the on-board electrolyzer to produce more hydrogen and oxygen while the system is in operation and stationary. Stationary, passive forms of energy (e.g., solar, wind, hydro, etc.) will also be available to power the electrolyzer. The system also contemplates using passive forms of energy to power a non-mobile system which incorporates an internal or external combustion engine in place of a fuel cell. An oxygen injection control device is employed to control the supply of oxygen to the combustion engine.
US08459206B1	Feed port for a bird feeder A feed port for a bird feeder is disclosed. The feed port includes a body portion having a number of edges defining a first opening through the body portion. A shroud extends from the body portion and depends downwards forming a space rear of the first opening. The shroud further defines a second opening in fluid connection with the first opening. An obstruction extends across the second opening.
US08459202B2	Substrate processing apparatus A gas flow of a gas pipe is indicated before an electromagnetic valve is actually opened, so that the electromagnetic valve can be prevented from being opened or closed by a wrong manipulation or hazards caused by undesired mixing of gases can be avoided so as to improve safety. The substrate processing apparatus includes a state detection unit configured to detect an opening/closing request state and an opening/closing state of a valve installed at a gas pipeline; and a indication unit configured to indicate a gas flow state of the gas pipeline predicted according to the opening/closing request state and a gas flow state of the gas pipeline when the valve is opened, in a way that each state is distinguished.
US08459198B2	Bouyant hull extension providing lateral and longitudinal control for lightweight hulls An improved stern design for many types of small watercraft to eliminate “tail dragging”, porpoising, oversteer and “slide out”, improve longitudinal tracking, and provide faster planing at lower speeds. This hull extension, consisting of two buoyant sponsons extending astern of the motor output, supports the weight of the entire motor propulsion unit, extends the planing surface, shifts the center of buoyancy rearward, resulting in an ability to maintain an even fore-aft keel in a very lightweight hull. Under acceleration and cruising, high pressure under the extensions along with an improved center of gravity keeps the boat from tail dragging. Interior chines formed as part of the inner lower surface of the sponsons provide straight tracking under power, even without other hydrodynamic aids, and provide resistance to oversteer or “slideout” in turns. The long sponson extensions protect an outdrive system from contact at the stern or sides of the boat.
US08459195B2	Self load sensing circuit board controller diaphragm pump A self-priming diaphragm pump is connected to a circuit board which activates the self-priming diaphragm pump at predetermined intervals, e.g., for 1-3 seconds. When the self-priming diaphragm pump is activated, the circuit board senses the amperage draw from the pump's motor and either continues to run the pump or stops the pump depending on the different amperage levels read. If there is water present in the bilge, the motor is working harder, requiring more amperage and circuit board keeps the pump running. If there is no water present for the pump to draw, the amperage load is very low and the circuit board shuts the pump off, retesting it in the predetermined interval.
US08459192B2	Device for gasification and combustion of solid fuel A partition divides an enclosure into an upper space and a lower space, the partition having a hole which provides essentially the only passage for gas to flow from the lower space to the upper space. A reactor tube having open ends is supported by the partition over the hole, and a grate spaced below the hole. A primary air inlet arrangement feeds air into the lower space for gasification of solid fuel on the grate, and a secondary air inlet directs a jet of air toward the inlet end of combustion tube communicating with the upper space and having an open exhaust end outside the enclosure. Product gas formed by gasification of solid fuel on the grate and passing through the reactor tube into the upper space will be drawn into the combustion tube to create a sub-atmospheric pressure in the upper space.
US08459166B2	Obturation of drum cannons A seal is proposed between the drum (2) having a plurality of cartridge chambers (3) and a weapon barrel (1) of a drum cannon, wherein the seal comprises at least one elastically pretensioned obturation ring (4). Each cartridge chamber (3) has an obturation ring (4) for drum-side integration, while one obturation ring (4) suffices for barrel-side integration. The obturation is integrated between the two and is pressed against the face (9) of the weapon barrel (1) or the face of the cartridge chamber (3) that is aligned with the bore axis of the weapon barrel (1) such that immediate sealing occurs even at low gas pressures.
US08459157B2	Brake cartridges and mounting systems for brake cartridges Safety systems for power equipment, components, brake cartridges and mounting systems for brake cartridges are disclosed. The safety systems, components, brake cartridges and mounting systems are specifically applicable for woodworking equipment such as saws. A brake cartridge system may include a key adapted to secure the brake cartridge in a power tool, and a bracket configured to receive at least part of the key.
US08459156B2	Tailstock device for a lathe A tailstock device for a lathe includes a carrier defining an accommodation space for accommodating a hub mount. The hub mount is turnable relative to the carrier and has two angularly displaced stage posts extending radially and outwardly for mounting first and second holders, respectively. By turning of the hub mount, a selected one of the holders is moved to a working position to aligned with a longitudinal axis of a workpiece held thereby. The tailstock device can hold a variety of workpieces, and allow adjustment of the angle and position of a workpiece held thereby.
US08459145B2	Faucet control handle structure A faucet control handle structure includes a control handle and two transforming heads, wherein the control handle has two wedging ribs cross each other at the periphery of an opening of the control handle, and two transforming heads have an inserting slot on one side and a connecting surface on the other side. Two connecting slots cross with each other are recessedly formed at the connecting surface, and the connecting slots are engaged with the wedging ribs of the control handle. According to the disclosed structure, since the control handle's receiving space has detachable transforming heads, the faucet handle in the present invention can be used in different water control bases with different sizes to increase the practicability of the faucet handle, and further increase the convenience during the assembly process.
US08459142B2	Reach adjust for a handlebar-mounted lever assembly A reach-adjustable lever assembly mounted to a handlebar for actuating one of a gear-change and braking device. The lever assembly generally including a support member, a lever pivotably connected to the support member and a reach adjust mechanism. The reach adjust mechanism includes a follower, a cam and a cam seat for retaining the cam in a current user-selectable position. The follower is fixedly supported on one of the support member and the lever and the cam is rotatably supported on the other of the support member and the lever. The cam has a plurality of user-selectable positions. The lever is rotatably biased toward a rest position to position the cam against the follower. The cam and the follower are configured to provide a different rest position of the lever for each of the user-selectable positions.
US08459138B2	System for releasably attaching a disposable device to a durable device A system for releasably attaching a steerable disposable multi-linked device to a durable device may include a disposable portion and a durable portion. The disposable portion may include a connecting member connected to the disposable portion and the durable portion and a steerable multi-linked device. The steerable multi-linked device may include a first link, a plurality of intermediate links, a second link movably coupled to a second one of the intermediate links, and a cable which passes through the first link and intermediate links and extends beyond a first end of the first link. A first one of the intermediate links may be movably coupled to the first link. The durable portion may include an axial member which defines an opening therethrough and a feeder mechanism.
US08459133B2	Linear actuator The swinging operation of a rotary striker turns micro switches and, which detect the position of a piston, ON/OFF. The striker includes a lower-limit switch cam and an upper-limit switch cam. The cams and engage with switch bosses and that move together with the piston. When the piston is positioned at a lower-limit stop position L, the cam becomes engaged with the boss to make the striker swing in the X-direction and pushes a switch button of the switch. When the piston is positioned at an upper-limit stop position U, the cam becomes engaged with the boss to make the striker swing in the Y-direction and pushes a switch button of the switch.
US08459129B2	Device for diluting of a sample The disclosure relates to a device for diluting a sample, comprising an end-piece for dispensing a liquid diluent, means, having an upright extending upwards from the base, for supporting and moving the end-piece relative to the container support between a first position in which the outlet of the end-piece lies above the opening of the container, to allow the diluent to be fed into the container, and a second position in which the outlet is further away from the container. According to the disclosure, the second position of the outlet is to the side of the first, the upright is fixed to the base, and the upright has a cover at the upper end thereof for supporting the end-piece, the cover being rotatable on the upright between the positions, a rotary drive motor for rotating the cover between the positions being housed on the inside of the cover and/or of the upright.
US08459127B2	Flowmeter body with a groove in a flowmeter outlet surface A flowmeter body (100) comprises a flow inlet (102), a flow passage (104) and a flow passage outlet (106). A shedder bar (108) is disposed in the flow passage (104). A sensor (110) couples to the flow passage. The sensor senses flow vortices (148) shed from the shedder bar. A flowmeter outlet surface (114) is joined to the flow passage outlet (106) and extends to an outer rim (116). The flowmeter outlet surface (114) includes an annular groove (118) positioned to interact with local vortices (120, 122) shed from the flow passage outlet.
US08459112B2	Systems and methods for three dimensional sensors Systems and methods for fabricating a multi-axis sensor are provided. In one implementation, a method comprises: fabricating a first die having a first active surface with first application electronics; fabricating a second die having a second active surface with second application electronics and a plurality of electrical connections that extend from the second application electronics to a side surface interface of the second die that is adjacent to the second active surface; aligning the side surface interface to be coplanar with the first active surface; and forming at least one electrical connection between the plurality of electrical connections and the first active surface.
US08459108B2	Angular rate sensor An angular rate sensor includes a metallic core board having a core meal layer made of a metal plate and a wiring layer including a wiring structure, a semiconductor device for detecting an angular rate fixed on the core metal layer, and a cap fixed to the wiring layer. The semiconductor device for detecting an angular rate is disposed in a hollow chamber formed by the cap and the metallic core board. The metallic core board, the semiconductor device, and the cap are molded with resin. Consequently, the angular rate sensor has a packaging structure in which electromagnetic noise resistance and moisture resistance are improved while stress applied to the semiconductor device for detecting an angular rate is reduced.
US08459104B2	Pressure measuring glow plug The invention relates to a pencil-type glow plug, in particular for a self-igniting internal combustion engine. The plug includes at least one plug base with at least one essentially bar-shaped heating element, which projects on one end from the plug base, and at least one measurement element, the heating element and the measurement element being integrally bonded and/or force-locked and/or form-locked.
US08459102B2	Digital Q control for enhanced measurement capability in cantilever-based instruments A digital system for controlling the quality factor in a resonant device. The resonant device can be a a device that includes a cantilever within its system, such as an atomic force microscope. The quality factor can be digitally controlled to avoid noise effect in the analog components. A direct digital synthesizer implemented in a way that provides access to the output of the phase accumulator. That output is a number which usually drives a lookup table to produce a cosine or sine output wave. The output wave is created, but the number is also adjusted to form a second number that drives a second lookup table to create an adjustment factor to adjust the output from the cosine table. The adjusted digital signal than drives a DA converter which produces an output drive for the cantilever.
US08459083B2	Guiding system for a metal strip at a rolling mill outlet A roller guiding system for thin strips (20) at a rolling system outlet which allows a safe guiding without take-off and consequent tipping/folding of the head of the strip and without cobbles even at high feeding speeds. The system of the invention prevents the strip from impacting or sliding on the upper containment devices (8) or on the rollers (4′) by its upwards or downwards movement, thus avoiding possible damages to the surface, such as scratches or lines. Furthermore, such a guiding system acts on the mechanical-aerodynamic phenomenon which causes instability in the head moving by making a self-centering guiding system which is thus suitable for improving the winding quality of the coil itself.
US08459077B2	Manufacturing method for metal member with through hole To form a through hole at one portion of a side wall, of an expanded portion made by plastically deforming one part of a metal tube radially outward, in a portion where the plate thickness gradually changes, a slide tool is withdrawn from inside a punch hole while applying hydraulic pressure to the inside of the side wall. At the instant of commencing withdrawal of the slide tool, the degree of progress in the shearing for the portions of the side wall matching with the two side edges of the punch hole is made different. Then, the timing for moving from shearing to rupture is made to coincide, so that of the side wall, the portions matching with the punch hole, are made reliably into a blank, and are extracted from the side wall.
US08459075B2	Regulation method for a cold-rolling mill train with complete mass flow regulation A cold-rolling train has a plurality of rolling stands and a strip feeding device to which an initial setpoint speed is sent to feed the cold strip to the first stand at an initial actual speed corresponding to the initial setpoint speed. A first setpoint speed is sent to the first stand so that associated rolls rotate. Between the first and next passed-through rolling stand is a thickness detection device detecting a first actual thickness. A base output signal is determined using the first actual and setpoint thicknesses and is used to adjust the first setpoint speed, but not the initial setpoint speed, conforming the first actual to the first setpoint thickness. Between the feeding device and the first rolling stand is an initial thickness detection device detecting an initial actual thickness. The initial setpoint speed is adjusted by a initial feed-forward controller to adjusted a setpoint product mass flow.
US08459069B2	Multi-lock security device and detaching device for use therewith A security device for use in association with a security pin includes a tag body, at least one sensor, a spring lock and a magnetic lock. The tag body has a body aperture formed therein adapted to receive the security pin. The spring lock and magnetic lock are situated within the tag body. The spring lock has a spring lock aperture formed therein and the magnetic lock has a magnetic lock aperture formed therein each in registration with the body aperture. The spring lock and the magnetic lock are each adapted to engage the security pin when in an engaged position and release the security pin when in a released position. The spring lock and the magnetic lock need to both be in the released position to successfully remove the security pin form the security device.
US08459067B2	Modular laundry system with vertical laundry module A laundry system comprises a first laundry appliance, a second laundry appliance, and a vertical laundry module. The vertical laundry module can have a housing with a width less than the width of each of the first and second laundry appliances. The vertical laundry module can have a drawer that slidably opens from a face of the housing and/or a door that opens from the face of the housing. The vertical laundry module can further have an exterior hanging element.
US08459062B2	Apparatus and methods for producing a glass ribbon Apparatus for producing glass ribbon includes a control device configured at least periodic thermal stress compensation of the glass ribbon by independently adjusting operation of a plurality of temperature adjustment elements based on stress characteristic information at least periodically obtained from a stress sensor apparatus. In further examples, methods of producing glass include at least periodically sensing a stress characteristic of a glass ribbon and at least periodically changing a transverse temperature profile of the glass ribbon based stress characteristic information. In further examples, methods include the step of changing a transverse temperature profile of the glass ribbon only if a measured parameter is within an operating range associated with the parameter.
US08459052B2	Refrigerant vapor compression system with flash tank receiver A refrigerant vapor compression system includes a flash tank receiver disposed in the refrigerant circuit intermediate the refrigerant cooling heat exchanger and the refrigerant heating heat exchanger. The flash tank receiver, which receives a liquid/vapor refrigerant mix, also functions as a receiver. A refrigerant charge control apparatus includes at least one sensor for sensing an operating characteristic of the refrigerant circulating through the refrigerant compression device, and a controller operative to selectively adjust a secondary expansion device to increase or decrease the flow of refrigerant passing into the flash tank receiver to provide a circulating refrigerant charge consistent with maintaining a desired system operating characteristic. The sensed operating characteristic is at least one of (a) the vapor refrigerant passing through a refrigerant line from the flash tank receiver to an intermediate pressure stage of the compression device, and (b) the refrigerant discharged from the compression device.
US08459050B2	Injection device The invention relates to an injection device for injecting an injection medium into a volumetric flow of a line system. The injection device comprises a housing with at least one first compartment which is set up to receive an injection medium, and at least one second compartment which is spatially separated from the first compartment, both compartments having an injection unit.
US08459048B2	Gerotor expander for an air conditioning system An air conditioning system is provided with mainly an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser and an energy recovery device. The compressor is fluidly connected to the evaporator to compress low-pressure refrigerant exiting the evaporator to high-pressure refrigerant. The condenser is fluidly connected to the compressor to receive the high pressure refrigerant and dissipate heat therefrom. The energy recovery device is configured to extract work from refrigerant flowing therethrough. The energy recovery device includes a movable expander and a valve. The movable expander has an inlet fluidly connected to the condenser to receive high pressure refrigerant exiting the condenser, an outlet fluidly connected to the evaporator to deliver low pressure refrigerant thereto and a chamber fluidly connected between the inlet and the outlet. The valve is configured to control a flow rate of high pressure refrigerant flowing from the inlet to the chamber.
US08459044B2	Thermochemical reactor for a cooling and/or heating apparatus A thermochemical reactor (1) for a cooling and/or heating includes at least one reagent unit (2) which, using chemical combination, can absorb a gas stream originating from a tank and which, using the reverse chemical reaction, can desorb the gas stream due to a rise in temperature. The reagent unit (2) is disposed in a container (3) that has walls, at least some of which are equipped with diffusers (7) for distributing the gas stream. In addition, the reagent unit (2), which can be heated, is of the type that can expand during absorption of the gas stream and retract during desorption of the gas stream. Moreover, at least some of the walls are mobile walls, which can accompany the longitudinal movement of the reagent unit (2), to enable successive deformation phenomena.
US08459040B2	Rear hub cooling for high pressure compressor In one exemplary embodiment, a gas turbine engine includes a turbine and a high pressure compressor. The high pressure compressor includes a last stage having a last stage compressor blade and a last stage vane. The gas turbine engine includes a first flow path through which bleed air flows to the turbine and a second flow path through which air from the last stage of the high pressure compressor flows. The bleed air in the first flow path exchanges heat with a portion of the air in the second flow path in a heat exchanger to cool the air in the second flow path. The cooled air in the second flow path is returned to the high pressure compressor to cool the high pressure compressor.
US08459022B2	Wastegate plug A mono-block arm and plug for closing a wastegate opening includes a shaft portion and a plug portion extending from the shaft portion where the plug portion includes a feature configured to change shape responsive to application of force to close a wastegate opening to enhance sealing of the wastegate opening. Various other examples of devices, assemblies, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
US08459020B1	Wave and water energy converter mounted on bridge supports Highway bridge supporting structures that stand in large bodies of water are usefully employed in a novel manner in this invention to inexpensively extract energy from the water under the bridge using new and established apparatus. Alternate energy producing systems from water waves, currents and tides suffer from cost disadvantages incurred in designing and erecting expensive structures that hold them firmly on the ground under the water against fierce wind and water forces. This invention ingeniously uses existing or new bridge structures for mounting water-borne-energy to electricity conversion systems at much reduced cost. The invention will make water energy conversion systems more affordable and will turn existing and new bridge supporting structures into dual-use systems that can not only support bridge decks above but also produce useful renewable energy from the water below; today, bridge structures are not used in this manner.
US08459018B2	Hydrodynamic torque converter A hydrodynamic torque converter with a pump, a turbine and a stator, having an increased thickness on the suction side of blade profiles of blades in the stator relative to the pressure side of the blades, in order to reduce the pump torque of the torque converter at low to medium speed ratios without influencing the other features of the characteristic diagram.
US08459014B2	Mounting structure for NOx reduction device for construction machine A mounting structure for an NOx reduction system for a construction machine is provided for relaxing restrictions on a space for the arrangement of the NOx reduction system. The mounting structure includes a urea-water SCR catalyst for reducing and purifying nitrogen oxides emitted from an engine, a urea water spray device for spraying urea water into an exhaust passage of the engine, a urea water feeder for feeding the urea water to the urea water spray device, a first urea-water tank and second urea-water tank for storing the urea water to be guided to the urea water feeder, and a controller for controlling drive of the urea water spray device and urea water feeder. A counterweight is provided with a cavity formed therein, the urea water feeder, first urea-water tank, second urea-water tank and controller are integrally arranged as an assembly arranged in the cavity of the counterweight.
US08459008B2	Working machine An exhaust gas treatment filter removes particulate matter from exhaust gas of a diesel engine. The particulate matter which accumulates on the filter is removed by a manual regeneration system that can simply be controlled.After a manual regeneration switch 22 is shifted to an ON-position, a load control section 66 keeps at least one of the revolution speed N of an engine 1, the displacement volume q and discharge pressure P of a hydraulic pressure pump 11 at a corresponding first target value (N1, q1, or P1) or second target value (N2, q2, or P2) depending on a temperature of the cooling water in relation to a flame-out prevention temperature T1. A regeneration control section 67 starts the compulsory regeneration after the manual regeneration switch has been shifted to the ON-position and when the cooling water temperature is equal to or higher than T1.
US08459005B2	Method and device for diagnosing a particle filter A method for diagnosing a particle filter arranged in the waste gas line of an internal combustion engine has the steps of: executing at least one fuel injection, measuring HC emission in the waste gas line in the direction of flow of the waste gas behind the particle filter, and diagnosing a defect of the particle filter based on the measured HC emission.
US08459003B2	Exhaust gas after-treatment having reduced rhodium depletion In a method for the after-treating of an exhaust gas from a preferably direct-injection and/or spark-ignition internal combustion engine, the exhaust gas is fed through a catalytic converter system connected downstream of the internal combustion engine. The system has at least one catalyst with a noble metal depletion having at least the elements palladium and rhodium which are present in a weight ratio of >5:1, 6:1, 7:1, 8:1, 9:1, 10:1, 11:1, or 12:1. In the new European driving cycle, the catalyst exceeds a temperature TK of 300° C., 450° C., 550° C., 600° C. within a time interval of 30 s, preferably 20 s, especially preferably 10 s after starting the engine, and/or the cumulative untreated emissions of hydrocarbons not exceeding 0.05 g/km and/or of nitrogen oxides not exceeding 0.04 g/km within a time interval of 10 s, preferably 20 s, especially preferably 30 s after starting the engine, and/or the engine achieving at least the emissions limit values of EU standard 4, preferably EU standard 5.
US08458998B2	Rotary lawn mower cutting blade A rotary lawn mower cutting blade with reduced drag and improved cutting ability includes a central mounting section, intermediate sections, and outboard sections along a common longitudinal axis and disposed about a common center of rotation. The outboard sections includes downward and inward projecting sections. The cutting blade also preferably includes cutting edges on the full extent of the leading edge of the outboard section including the downward and inward projecting sections. Additionally, the outer section can be twisted slightly to enhance airflow upward.
US08458987B2	Insulating plate/studded plate with adhesive absorbent qualities A studded plate (1) of layer (2) of a polymeric material where an adhesive material (3,4) in the form of a woven or non-woven material is attached on each side of the layer (2).
US08458985B2	Fastener-receiving components for use in concrete structures Fastener-receiving components are disclosed for use in a structure fabricated from a curable material (e.g. concrete, other cementitious materials or other curable materials). The fastener-receiving component comprises: one or more fastener-receiving channels, each fastener-receiving channel defined by a pair of longitudinally and inwardly extending sidewalls and comprising one or more break-through elements which extend longitudinally and transversely between the sidewalls for receiving fasteners that penetrate therethrough; and one or more anchor features that define one or more corresponding concavities shaped to receive liquid material when the structure is formed and to prevent outward movement of the fastener-receiving component when the liquid material cures. Kits and methods are provided for using the fastener-receiving components.
US08458979B2	Interior panel attachment system An attachment system for coupling together two airplane sections includes an attachment section securing one of the airplane sections and a mount section affixed to the other section. The attachment section includes a top, a bottom, a first end, and a second end. Coupled to the top are two clamp sections, whereby at least one of the clamp sections is moveable. Coupled to the bottom is a pair of buttons. The mount section includes a top and a bottom, such that the mount bottom couples to the second airplane section. The mount section further includes a track coupled to the mount top, wherein the track includes an open end having outwardly tapered edges and a closed end. The one of the buttons slides into the track for coupling the attachment section to the mount section.
US08458972B1	Method and apparatus for securing non-load bearing walls A method and apparatus for securing non-load bearing interior walls in a wood frame structure in a manner that allows for vertical deflection of the frame includes a plurality of sleeved fastener assemblies, each having a threaded fastener extending through a shorter outer sleeve with an enlarged diameter head. The fasteners hold interior non-load bearing walls in place through a predrilled hole in the top plates of the walls, while being capable of accommodating limited vertical movement caused by vertical deflection of the building frame during construction and beyond.
US08458970B2	Base support for wind-driven power generators Disclosed are apparatus and corresponding methodology for providing a base support, such as including concrete, and used such as for a wind-driven generator. Precast concrete cylinders are stacked in place upon a platform that may be partially precast and partially cast in place during assembly and supported, in certain embodiments, by plural concrete legs, the other ends of which are supported on a unitary or subdivided concrete foundation. In other embodiments, the platform may be supported by ribbed concrete panels. The concrete cylinders are glued together using an epoxy and then secured by an internal vertical post tension system extending from the platform to the upper most cylinder. Different types of concrete are used between upper and lower sections of the stacked cylinders. The lower section uses reinforced concrete while the upper section used ultra high performance fiber reinforced concrete.
US08458967B2	Roofing and siding products having receptor zones and photovoltaic roofing and siding elements and systems using them The present invention relates generally to roofing or siding products. The present invention relates more particularly to roofing or siding products for use with photovoltaic elements, and to photovoltaic systems that include one or more photovoltaic elements joined to a roofing or siding substrate. In one embodiment, a roofing product includes a rigid roofing or siding substrate having a top surface, the top surface having one or more receptor zones thereon, each receptor zone being adapted to receive one or more photovoltaic elements, each receptor zone having a different surfacing than the area of the top surface adjacent to it.
US08458963B2	Device for a bending moment deficient strut connection A device for a diagonal strut connection between a pipe (12) and an adjacent structure (14) including at least two diagonal struts (16), in which horizontal and vertical forces in the pipe are transmitted to the diagonal strut by means of a first set of shear forces along the attachment of the diagonal strut (16) to the pipe (12) and via a second set of shear forces along the attachment of the diagonal strut to an annular plate (18) surrounding and projecting radially from the pipe (12), the central axis of the diagonal strut (16) extending through or close to the intersection of the resultants of the first and the second sets of shear forces.
US08458962B2	Wall unit having concealable service outlets A modular patient room includes a plurality of modular wall panels or units having various configurations. Some wall units have a wall panel structure with a horizontally extending service cavity. A service structure is coupled to the wall panel structure for rotation about a horizontally extending first axis between a first position within the service cavity and a second position extending outwardly from the service cavity. A plurality of service outlets are carried by the service structure.
US08458960B2	Head curtains for dock shelters or dock seals Head curtains for dock shelters or dock seals are disclosed. An example dock apparatus disclosed herein includes a first weather barrier and a second weather barrier. The first and second weather barriers are positioned laterally of a doorway of a loading dock and compressible by a vehicle. The lateral weather barriers include inner surfaces that are to bulge toward each other in response to the vehicle compressing the lateral weather barriers. A head curtain is at least partially positioned between the lateral weather barriers and being engagable by the vehicle, the head curtain having a lateral stiffness such that in response to the vehicle engaging the head curtain and compressing the lateral weather barriers, the head curtain becomes pinched between the bulging inner surfaces to restrict a vertical movement of the curtain.
US08458946B1	Bipod adapter for firearm An adapter for connecting a bipod to a Picatinny rail of a firearm may include a base having upper and lower portions. The upper portion may include a generally planar surface with longitudinal edges. The lower portion may include a cylinder having a through bore. First and second support members may be disposed along the longitudinal edges. The first support member may define a female mating configuration of one side of the Picatinny rail. A locking bar may be detachably connected to the upper portion of the base. The locking bar may have an interior surface. A leaf spring may be fixed to an underside of the upper portion of the base. The interior surface of the locking bar and the second support member may define a female mating configuration of another side of the Picatinny rail.
US08458943B2	Adjustable framed picture hanger back A picture frame having an adjustable back assembly enabling vertical, horizontal and rotary adjustment of the frame position on a wall is described. The frame back is sized to fit into a recess in the picture frame back, and includes an inner plate, an outer plate having an opening, an intermediate plate frictionally held between said inner and outer plates and slidable therebetween. The intermediate plate has an outer face and is smaller than the outer plate and larger than the outer plate opening. A first hanger member is secured to the outer face of the intermediate plate and extends outwardly through the opening. A second hanger member is attachable to a wall and can be joined to the first hanger member to mount the picture frame on the wall. The picture frame can be pushed up or down or rotated to adjust the picture frame position.
US08458941B2	Shipment labels and related methods Shipment labels and related methods are described. An example method includes printing a return address on a first label layer of the label and printing a delivery address on a second label layer of the label adjacent the first label layer. The example method also includes coupling the first label layer and the second label layer on at least a portion of a container. The second label layer releasably covers at least a portion of the first label layer so that the return address is not fully visible when the second label layer is releasably coupled to the container.
US08458940B2	Garment tag A garment tag is provided that includes a band having a first opening for attaching to a first fastener of a garment and a second opening for attaching to a second fastener of the garment, the band having a first display portion that displays printed information regarding the garment at a fold in the garment when the garment is in a folded state. The first and second fasteners may be buttons and the first and second openings may be slots. The first display portion may be defined by two creases in the band, the creases being spaced apart by the approximate width of the garment fold. The band may also be pre-folded at the creases.
US08458938B2	Self-contained illuminated bus signal A bus stop sign and notification device is powered by an electric circuit that includes a solar panel and battery mounted in a battery box on a bus shelter or vertical support pole. The vertical support secures first and second signs and first and second illuminators for information dissemination and visual attraction. Long lasting light-emitting diodes in various colors are mounted on an adjustable or swivel hood that is used to aim the lights. The lights can include a flashing strobe light for attracting the attention of a bus driver at a distance. A reflector shield on the pole can protect wires and reflect different color light when the sign is illuminated and attract attention to the sign at night. The illuminators are activated by a button switch by bus passengers for reading the signs and notifying a driver to stop for passengers.
US08458937B2	Tradeshow display formed of banner stands A banner stand having an upright display mode and a collapsed transport mode, the banner stand comprising a banner presenting graphics thereon, a base and a post extending upwardly from the base, a support member selectively operably coupleable with the post to support the banner in an upright display mode, feet selectively changeable from a transport position to a operative position have an exposed alignment surface that cooperates with another such alignment surface on an adjacent banner stand to angularly and positionally control the respective banner stands to position as desired the respective banners. Tops of the banner stands may be coupled, such as by magnets, to further support and control the spacing and positioning of the banners.
US08458932B2	Optical illusion device An apparatus for creating a visual display. The apparatus includes a mirror element and a framing element. The mirror element has a curved reflective surface and a printed primary image contacting the reflective surface. The framing element is spaced apart from the mirror element and includes a background image element positioned to face toward the reflective surface. The framing element also includes a transparent view port that is positioned opposite the primary image so as to provide a line of sight through the framing element to the reflective surface and the primary image. The apparatus further includes a lens sandwiched between the mirror and framing elements, such as a lens with a cylindrical body, formed of a transparent or translucent plastic, ceramic, glass, or other material. The apparatus may include a light source that transmits light into the lens or onto the primary image or the background images.
US08458926B2	Rowing shoes A rowing shoe (1) of adjustable length has a shell (2) divided into heel- and toe-sections (4, 9) carried by parts (6, 7) of an elongate chassis (5). The chassis-part (7) carrying the toe-section (9) slides on a head (21) of chassis-part 6 which is fixed to the foot-stretcher of the boat. A lever (30) pivoted on the chassis-part (7) projects forwardly from the toe-section (9) and has a slotted projection (29) engaged with one of a series of teeth (31) of the head (21) to restrain sliding of chassis-part (7). Depression of lever (30) releases the restraint by lifting projection (29) clear of the teeth (31), so allowing length-adjustment of the shoe (1) to a size indicated through a window (3) on an extension (24) of a plate (23) carried with the chassis-part (7). Release of the lever (30) allows the projection (29) to engage a tooth (31) and hold the adjusted size, urged by pressure of the rower's foot. A wide strap (11) which extends over the instep of the shoe is secured on the outside flank by fabric-fastening (15). The strap (11) covers any gap between heel- and toe-sections (4, 9), and a flap (16) of the heel-section (4) extends under this with its free end towards the inside flank of the shoe to assist along with the strap (11) in lifting the heel-section (4) with the rower's heel during rowing.
US08458921B2	Insulation work apparatus An insulation work tool is disclosed that is marked for measurement and comparison with charts thereon for different ratios and grades of pipes, clamps, and insulation as used in the insulation industry, and includes other devices for determination of the proper relationships of dimensions of the insulation, pipes, clamps, and sheet metal, as well as other functions.
US08458917B1	Multi-axis level A multi-axis level is disclosed having a body member with two side members forming a right angle therebetween. The body has a length extending in a longitudinal direction. The multi-axis level also includes a bubble housing coupled to the body member. One or more bull's eye bubble levels are coupled to the bubble housing, which is oriented in a plane normal to the longitudinal direction. Additionally, a tubular bubble level is coupled to the bubble housing. A tube of the tubular bubble level has a length that is oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction.
US08458911B2	Electric shaver An electric shaver includes a rod-shaped body part, a head part, and a link mechanism. The head part projects from one end portion of the body part and is swingably attached to the body part with a support base between the body part and the head part. The head part includes a shaving portion and a drive mechanism. The shaving portion is elongated in a direction orthogonal to a projecting direction of the head part and has paired blades configured to operate relative to each other. The drive mechanism is configured to drive at least one of the paired blades. The link mechanism includes two link arms each connected to the support base and the head part respectively at connecting axes parallel to a longitudinal direction of the shaving portion. The link mechanism is configured to support the head part on the support base swingably.
US08458909B2	Fluid dispensing hair removal device A hair removal device is provided, comprising a handle and a collapsible reservoir suitable for containing a fluid to be dispensed during use of the hair removal device, the hair removal device additionally comprising a container enclosing the collapsible reservoir, a fluid outlet adapted to allow fluid to exit both the collapsible reservoir and the container, an orifice adapted to allow air to flow in or out of the container, and a suction device, adapted to suck fluid out of the collapsible reservoir through fluid outlet. The container can be rigid, deformably rigid, or a combination of both.
US08458903B2	Method of producing an elastic plate member for a liquid jet head A method for producing an elastic plate for a liquid jet head, which includes etching a rolled metal plate based on a rolling direction of the rolled metal plate, to form an etched portion and a non-etched portion on the rolled metal plate. The thickness of the etched portion is thinner than the thickness of the non-etched portion and the rolling direction is substantially perpendicular to a long side of the rolled metal plate.
US08458900B2	Wiring substrate having columnar protruding part A method of making a wiring substrate having at least one interconnection layer includes forming a first metal layer on a surface of a support member having at least one columnar through hole that exposes the surface of the support member, forming a columnar metal layer that fills the columnar through hole, forming an insulating layer on the columnar metal layer and on the first metal layer, forming an interconnection layer on a first surface of the insulating layer electrically connected to the columnar metal layer through the insulating layer, and forming, by removing at least an entirety of the support member and an entirety of the first metal layer, a protruding part including at least part of the columnar metal layer protruding from a second surface of the insulating layer opposite the first surface, and serving as at least part of a connection terminal of the wiring substrate.
US08458897B2	Vehicle assembly line A vehicle assembly line includes a plurality of carriers that support respective vehicle bodies to which vehicle underbody parts, which are parts that are fitted to the vehicle bodies from below the vehicle bodies, are fitted, and convey the vehicle bodies along the vehicle assembly line. The carriers support the vehicle bodies in such a manner that the longitudinal direction of each of the vehicle bodies is perpendicular to the conveyance direction in which the vehicle bodies are conveyed.
US08458895B2	Assembly for positioning a rotor retaining ring An assembly for positioning a retaining ring includes a mandrel having an outer diameter smaller than an outer diameter of a rotor. The assembly also includes a seal assembly for sealing a circumferential retaining ring around the mandrel or the rotor, the seal assembly comprising a pair of seal plates situated around opposing ends of the retaining ring. Further, the assembly includes a hydraulic expansion device for providing a fluid pressure for hydraulically expanding the retaining ring until an inner diameter of the retaining ring is greater than the outer diameter of the rotor. Furthermore, the assembly includes a displacement device for providing axial movement of the seal assembly and the retaining ring.
US08458893B2	Method for assembling a magnetic component Generally, methods and processes for assembling magnetic components are presented herein. More specifically, conductors are wound around a substantially hollow bobbin. Portions of the conductors may be temporarily positioned outside the bobbin through slots in the flanges of the bobbin during the assembly process. Insulating layers may be wrapped around the conductors. The center legs of a pair of magnetic core halves may be inserted into the bobbin. The base of the magnetic core halves may have a passage to allow a conductor to pass therethrough at a height less than the height of the base.
US08458887B2	Homogenization and heat-treatment of cast metals A method of casting a metal ingot with a microstructure that facilitates further working, such as hot and cold rolling. The metal is cast in a direct chill casting mold, or the equivalent, that directs a spray of coolant liquid onto the outer surface of the ingot to achieve rapid cooling. The coolant is removed from the surface at a location where the emerging embryonic ingot is still not completely solid, such that the latent heat of solidification and the sensible heat of the molten core raises the temperature of the adjacent solid shell to a convergence temperature that is above a transition temperature for in-situ homogenization of the metal. A further conventional homogenization step is then not required. The invention also relates to the heat-treatment of such ingots prior to hot working.
US08458884B2	Method for forming a duct An apparatus for forming a duct includes a bending apparatus and a support apparatus. The bending apparatus includes a table, a cut off beam, and a leaf hinged to a forward edge of the table. The cut off beam is movable toward and away from the table to clamp or release a metal web being fed forward across the table and the leaf. The cut off beam repeatedly clamps the metal web to the table while the leaf pivots toward the cut off beam to form a duct section. The support apparatus includes a cross rod movable along pivoting support arms. As the metal web is bent to form the duct section, the support arms and the cross rod are moved to internally support the duct section.
US08458883B2	Method of assembling inner diameter grinding tool A tool for grinding an inner diameter even when holders having grindstones are axially connected. A gap enclosed by the inner peripheral surface of a divided tool holder, a draw bar and O-rings is formed in a state in which the draw bar is inserted into a tool holder in which a plurality of divided tool holders are connected in series. A filler is filled into the gap to fix a support bush to the divided tool holder. An adjustment screw of each arm held circumferentially away from each other on the divided tool holder is turned to adjust a distance between a pin and the arm, and the radial projecting amount of each of grindstones is adjusted. The projecting amount is adjusted such that the plurality of grindstones rotate along the same rotational trajectory and the center of the rotational trajectory corresponds to the axis of the draw bar.
US08458882B2	Method for assembling a tampon applicator A method of assembling a tampon applicator includes providing a barrel with internal ridges that define a guide channel having an effective diameter. The method includes providing a plunger that has a finger flare with a circular shape and a flare diameter that is at least 15% larger than the effective diameter of the guide channel. The method includes assembling the plunger and the barrel by pushing the finger flare into the guide channel and deforming the finger flare into a non-circular shape while moving the finger flare through the guide channel. The method includes moving the finger flare out of the plunger end of the barrel and reestablishing the circular shape of the finger flare.
US08458870B2	Needle for a textile machine A needle (15) for a textile machine, in particular a felting needle or fork needle. A working section (17) extends along a longitudinal axis (16) and has a needle point (18). Adjoining the working section (17) are a lower shank section (20) and an upper shank section (25), both said shank sections extending coaxially with respect to each other along the longitudinal axis (16). Adjoining the upper shank section (25), there is provided a needle foot (30) that has a holding means (32) extending in a straight line in a transverse direction (31) transversely to the longitudinal axis (16). The diameter (E) of the upper shank section (25) is both greater than the diameter (D) of the lower shank section (20) and greater than the mean width of the holding means (32).
US08458858B2	Hinge plate A hinge plate had a part that can be attached to a frame or a door panel. The part has two hinge rollers that are spaced apart from one another. Sleeves are disposed in the hinge rollers so as not to rotate. A pin that is inserted into the sleeves bridges the distance between the hinge rollers. The pin has a pin head as well as a connector end for attachment of a pin screw. The pin head and the head of the pin screw attached to the pin are disposed countersunk within the hinge rollers. The pin screw has a collar that is fitted into the sleeve with a wedge fit.
US08458857B1	Blocking closure of a passageway A device includes a base attachable to a first side of a door; a swing arm coupled to the base, the swing arm including a bracket flange configured to extend across an edge of the door between the first side of the door and a second side of the door opposite the first side of the door; and a biasing member coupled between the swing arm and the base and configured to urge the swing arm from a retracted position in which the bracket flange is adjacent the edge to an extended position in which the bracket flange is apart from the edge.
US08458853B2	Steam cleaner including a quick release coupling for a cleaning tool A steam cleaner that includes a cleaning tool having a first cleaning surface configured to contact the surface being cleaned and a second cleaning surface configured to contact the surface being cleaned. The steam cleaner further includes a coupling operable to removably couple the cleaning tool and a conduit. The coupling includes a locking member movable from an engaged position to a disengaged position. The cleaning tool is coupled to the conduit for movement with the conduit when the locking member is in the engaged position and the cleaning tool is removable from the conduit when the locking member is in the disengaged position. The coupling further includes an actuator manually movable from a locked position to an unlocked position to move the locking member from the engaged position to the disengaged position, and a biasing member that biases the actuator toward the locked position.
US08458847B2	Cleaning device affixed to a footwear and method thereof A device comprising a cleaning device operably attached to a mounting device, wherein the mounting device is configured to engage a footwear, wherein the cleaning device facilitates the cleaning of equipment, such as a golf club. Furthermore, a method of cleaning a golf club comprising providing a cleaning device, wherein the cleaning device has a first end and a second end, coupling the first end of the cleaning device and the attachment device, wherein the attachment device and a mounting plate form a mounting device, and wherein the mounting device is configured to engage a footwear is also provided.
US08458846B2	Device for dental and/or oral care The invention relates to a device for dental and/or oral care, especially a tooth brush, comprising a preferably rod-shaped tool support to which a cleaning tool, especially a bristle field, can be fastened. The tool support is configured as a composite body that comprises an enveloping body from a first material, preferably plastic material, and a functional body from a second material, preferably metal, which is embedded in the enveloping body. The dental and/or oral care device is characterized in that the functional body is configured in at least some sections thereof as a trelliswork girder frame that has longitudinal girders substantially extending in the longitudinal direction of the tool support and a plurality of cross-girders. The enveloping body is especially transparent so that the functional body is visible through the enveloping body.
US08458844B2	Medical tube cleaning apparatus Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed for the cleaning of an endotracheal tube while a patient is being supported by a ventilator connected to the endotracheal tube for the purpose of increasing the available space for airflow or to prevent the build up of materials that may constrict airflow or be a potential nidus for infection. In one embodiment, a mechanically-actuated endotracheal tube cleaning device is configured to removably receive a visualization member to provide cleaning of the endotracheal tube under direct visualization.
US08458841B2	Brush head for a toothbrush The invention relates to a brush head for a toothbrush. The brush head has a brush disc (3) mounted in a rotatable fashion on a brush body (2) and a channel (7) with an opening for the application of a cleaning product and a composite part (6) that serves as a valve (12) for opening the channel (7) and as a rotational bearing for the brush disc (3). The composite part (6) comprises a tube (8) made of hard material on the one end thereof and is connected to the channel (7) there. The valve (12), which is made of an elastic material, is disposed on the other end of the composite part (6). The tube (8) of the compound part (6) is connected to the brush body (2) in a stationary fashion, for example, pressed into the brush body (2). The brush disc (3) is mounted in a rotatable fashion on the tube (8). The valve (12) is preferably designed as a slotted valve with a slot (13).
US08458839B2	Apparatus and method for replacing a bridge using a pre-cast construction techniques A method and apparatus for replacing a bridge using pre-cast materials, including steel piles, steel reinforced concrete caps, and metallic male and female connectors. The pre-cast materials can be formed to precise standards in a controlled factory environment before being brought to the worksite for the bridge replacement project. Further, the male and female connectors provide for a quick and robust way to connect the caps to the piles without the use of welding between the piles and the caps.
US08458836B2	Encapsulated mattress with integrated pillow A method of integrating a pillow, including stuffing, within an encapsulated mattress having a core and covering surrounding the core is disclosed. A mattress for use in institutions, such as correctional facilities, detention centers, rehabilitation centers, hospitals and the like, includes a core formed of a padding material, a pillow adjoining the core, the pillow containing stuffing, and a covering surrounding the core and the pillow. Also disclosed is a mattress including a core formed of a padding material, a pillow adjoining the core using a sleeve, the pillow containing stuffing, the sleeve retaining the pillow to the core, and a covering surrounding the core and the pillow.
US08458833B2	Laterally rotating patient support apparatus A patient support apparatus comprises a lower frame, a lift mechanism, a drive mechanism, and an upper frame. The lower frame includes a lift drive configured to at least one of expand and contract the lift mechanism. The lift mechanism is pivotably coupled with the lower frame to rotate about a rotational axis. A drive mechanism is coupled between the lift mechanism and the lower frame. The drive mechanism is configured to rotate the lift mechanism about the rotational axis. The upper frame is supported on the lift mechanism and responsive to the rotation of the lift mechanism to rotate a patient about the rotational axis.
US08458830B1	Sleep mat with encompassing cushion A body enveloping sleeping device has a generally pear shaped body member that has a mat, cushioned or uncushioned, that is encompassed by a cushion about the mat's outer periphery with a pocket formed between the mat and the cushion on an interior area of the device. A scalloped pillow is located atop the cushion at the cushion's wide end. At least one side opening is located in the body member for allowing the user's arms to pass therethrough. A blanket is attached, fixedly or removably, to the body member.
US08458815B1	Athletic glove with inner grip An improved sports glove, of the type that includes a membrane that is generally configured to be worn on a wearer's hand so that the interior surface of the membrane comes in contact with the glove wearer's hand, has the improvements of a plurality of sensitizing elements that are attached to the membrane's interior surface for sensitizing the portion of the glove wearer's hand that adjoins these elements so as to enhance the wearer's ability to handle a piece of sports equipment.
US08464358B2	Portable identity rating Portable on-line identity verification technology includes, for example, portable widgets with an identity rating, and other on-line identification verification icons and identity rating scores.
US08464355B2	Method and device for exchanging digital content licenses Exchange of Digital Rights Management protected content between two devices without the need for a third party. Each user marks a license as unusable and the devices the trade licenses. A user then instructs the device to import the received license. The device verifies that a license has been rendered unusable and only then erases the unusable license and enables the device to use the new license. The content associated with a license may be traded before or after the license exchange, and may also be downloaded from a third party. Also provided is a device for exchanging licenses.
US08464347B2	Software updating apparatus, software updating system, alteration verification method and alteration verification program Provided is a software update apparatus including an install module group (130) composed of a plurality of install modules. Each of the install modules receives, from an external server (200), a replacement protection control module (121) for updating a protection control module (120) having a function of verifying whether a predetermined application has been tampered with. Each of the install modules simultaneously running is verified, by at least another one of the install modules simultaneously running, as to whether the install module has a possibility of performing malicious operations.
US08464342B2	Adaptively selecting electronic message scanning rules The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for adaptively selecting electronic message scanning rules. Embodiments of the invention relate to dynamically (and potentially unpredictably) varying the depth/thoroughness of classifying electronic messages to protect against undesirable message content (e.g., SPAM, viruses, digital leakage, etc.). A minimum effectiveness is maintained and, when available resources permit, can be exceeded to provide increased protection. An optimal subset of available message classification rules can be selected on a per message basis. The selection of rules is based on available system resources, minimum desired effectiveness (e.g., defined in a Service Level Agreement (“SLA”)), and rule characteristics. Feedback loops can be used to optimize selected classification rule subsets.
US08464337B2	Switching an application, user, and security context based on device orientation A computer is adapted for changing one or more of the application, security, or user contexts based on the orientation of a component, such as a monitor. Changing the context responsive to the reorientation allows two or more users to use the same hardware to complete a transaction requiring at least two perspectives, for example, buyer and seller. In the background, transaction end points may be changed as well as establishment of a secure channel for supporting confidentiality of a user and their personal information. The computer so equipped may be applicable to many situations involving two parties, such as hospitals, personnel/human relations, banking, government benefits, and retail.
US08464334B1	Systems and methods for computer network defense II This invention discloses a technique of computer network defense. The technique is called Random IP-Security (RIP-Sec) 30, and it may preferably be deployed in the gateway 18 and other routers 20 of a computer network. The RIP Sec 30 technique uses a unique randomization of the existing artifacts of a data packet. These artifacts of a data packet are IP addresses of the packet. The unique randomization is able to substitute one value of the artifact with another exactly identical value of the artifact, that is, an IP address is replaced by another IP address, where the replaced IP address have no relationship to the original IP address, they having been derived from a unique randomization process of the original data.
US08464330B2	Agent device, image-forming-device management system, image-forming-device management method, image-forming-device management program and storage medium An agent device is connected with one or more image-forming devices in a local network having a firewall provided therein. A management device carries out remote management of the image-forming devices in the local network through the Internet. The agent device includes a command receiving unit which starts connection with the management device and receives a management command from the management device via the firewall, the command being sent by the management device in response to the connection. An image-forming-device communication unit receives device-state information of a corresponding one of the image-forming devices according to the management command. A command response transmitting unit transmits the device-state information to the management device through the Internet.
US08464321B2	Method for assigning network addresses, network and network node thereof A method for assigning network addresses is provided. When a mobile node (MN) moves to an access domain (AN) of a visited network, the method, in the visited network, includes: receiving a network access request sent by the MN; determining a home network of the MN according to user information of the MN, and sending an authentication request to the home network for authenticating the MN; receiving an authentication response returned by the home network, where the authentication response includes a local home of address (L-HoA) for identifying the AN where the MN is currently located; and assigning a local care of address (L-CoA) to the MN, where the L-CoA identifies position information of the MN in the current AN. Correspondingly, a network and a network node are provided. Thus, technical solutions can implement address assignment when the MN moves.
US08464320B2	System and method for providing authentication continuity A computer-implemented method may include receiving first monitored information relating to a user at a time of initial user authentication with a particular application or resource. It may be determined that a second authentication is required at a second time subsequent to the time of initial user authentication. Second monitored information may be captured at the second time. The second monitored information may be compared to the first monitored information to determine whether continued authentication is maintained. Access to the particular application or resource when it is determined that continued authentication is not maintained.
US08464317B2	Method and system for creating a protected object namespace from a WSDL resource description A method and system is presented to parse a WSDL description and build a hierarchical protected object namespace for authorization of access to the resource, wherein the protected object namespace is based on the abstract part of a WSDL but can be used to assist in authorization decisions for multiple different concrete bindings of this WSDL, wherein the concrete binding/request is based on the WS-Addressing endpoint reference.
US08464308B2	Method for processing a channel request in an IPTV system A method for processing a channel change request in a television system operating according to the IP protocol. This method is implemented in a digital decoder of the subscriber and its purpose is to avoid overloading the access network in the case of burst zapping and avoid penalizing the reactivity time of the system in the case of simple zapping. In the case of reception of a burst of channel change requests separated by a time interval less than the duration of the predetermined timeout (Ttempo), the digital decoder transmits, to the access network of the system, two physical channel change requests, one for the first channel change request and the other for the last channel change request of the burst.
US08464307B2	Integrated digital broadcasting receiver system An audiovisual processing system comprises a signal receiving circuit and a host device. The signal receiving circuit comprises a tuner and a demodulator. The tuner generates a tuned signal based on a radio frequency signal. The demodulator generates a digital signal based on the tuned signal, generates a frequency down-converted signal based on the digital signal, generates an audio processing signal based on the frequency down-converted signal in an audio processing mode, generates a demodulated video signal based on the frequency down-converted signal in a video processing mode, generates an output signal based on the audio processing signal in the audio processing mode, and generates the output signal based on the demodulated video signal in the video processing mode. The host device receives the output signal, and generates a demodulated audio signal based on the output signal in the audio processing mode.
US08464300B2	Systems and methods for receiving device health management Various embodiments facilitate the management of receiving device health. One embodiment provides a receiving device health manager that identifies receiving devices having degraded operational states, based on operational state data received from those receiving devices. The receiving device health manager may further determine and initiate corrective actions with respect to the identified receiving devices, based on information about customers associated with the receiving devices and/or about the receiving devices themselves. In one embodiment, a corrective action may include a customer service contact to schedule a receiving device repair visit by a technician. This abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an abstract, and it is submitted with the intention that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US08464297B2	Apparatus, systems and methods for identifying a video of interest using a portable electronic device Systems and methods are operable to identify videos of interest using information acquired by a portable electronic device. An exemplary embodiment receives the acquired information pertaining to a video of interest, wherein the acquired information was acquired by the portable electronic device; determines an identity of the video of interest based upon the acquired information; and communicates the video of interest to a media device.
US08464296B2	Series reminders and series recording from an interactive program guide An interactive media guidance system with program series reminder and recording capabilities is provided. The system allows a user to set a reminder or schedule a recording for a single episode or for each episode of a program series. Options may be provided that allow the user to schedule reminders/recordings for episodes on all or selected channels for some or all episodes including reruns, new episodes, network or syndicated episodes, on all or only on selected days.
US08464286B2	Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed, which facilitates a terminal to be used in further consideration of user's convenience. The present invention includes displaying a channel list in which receivable channels including at least one pay broadcast channel are listed, receiving a broadcast viewing authority for watching the pay broadcast channel from a broadcast viewing authority server via a broadcasting network or an internet network, storing the received broadcast viewing authority, and updating the stored broadcast viewing authority each time a broadcast mode is entered. Accordingly, when the broadcast viewing authority is updated in the mobile terminal to prevent illegal copying or piracy of the broadcast viewing authority, the terminal user needs not to temporarily stop viewing the corresponding broadcast. Moreover, each time the mobile terminal enters a broadcast mode, an old broadcast viewing authority is deactivated and a new broadcast viewing authority is received. Therefore, the illegal copying or piracy of the broadcast viewing authority stored in the mobile terminal can be basically prevented.
US08464283B2	Disc tray body insert-molded with a motor base and a disc drive using the same A disc drive including a tray, a housing configured to receive the tray, a pickup device installed on the tray, and a spindle motor including a rotator having built therein a permanent magnet, a stator including a magnetic coil, and a rotation axis supporting portion that is configured to support a rotation axis of the rotator and fixed to the tray.
US08464279B2	Domain event correlation A system is provided for dynamically identifying and correlating network domain events. The system includes a network domain and a plurality of managed objects in the network domain. A management server is in communication with the managed objects. The management server can receive domain events from at least one of the managed objects. A management module on the management server maintains a topology of managed objects in the network domain. A rule knowledge base is in communication with the management server. The rule knowledge base includes correlation rules for identifying and correlating domain events. A correlation module utilizes a processor to correlate the domain events with the topology using the correlation rules to identify an interaction between the managed objects and the domain events.
US08464272B2	Inter-process communication methods and apparatus for building scalable/redundant telecommunications systems A messaging entity within a messaging system may facilitate registration with the messaging system by software components. The messaging entity may facilitate unicast communication between registered software components. The messaging entity may facilitate registration for multicast events by software components. The messaging entity may facilitate multicast communication between registered software components.
US08464271B2	Runtime dependence-aware scheduling using assist thread A runtime dependence-aware scheduling of dependent iterations mechanism is provided. Computation is performed for one or more iterations of computer executable code by a main thread. Dependence information is determined for a plurality of memory accesses within the computer executable code using modified executable code using a set of dependence threads. Using the dependence information, a determination is made as to whether a subset of a set of uncompleted iterations in the plurality of iterations is capable of being executed ahead-of-time by the one or more available threads in the data processing system. If the subset of the set of uncompleted iterations in the plurality of iterations is capable of being executed ahead-of-time, the main thread is signaled to skip the subset of the set of uncompleted iterations and the set of assist threads is signaled to execute the subset of the set of uncompleted iterations.
US08464264B2	Information processing apparatus and method of controlling same There is disclosed an information processing apparatus and method for executing a workflow having a plurality of steps (and corresponding method). The information processing apparatus registers the workflow having a plurality of steps and manages a start parameter for indicating a condition for starting each step included in the workflow and an end parameter that is generated at an end of the each step. The apparatus determines a second step for following a first step based on the end parameter of the first step and the managed start parameters.
US08464260B2	Configuration and association of a supervisory virtual device function to a privileged entity A hardware device interface supporting transaction authentication is described herein. At least some illustrative embodiments include a device, including an interconnect interface, and processing logic (coupled to the bus interface) that provides access to a plurality of functions of the device through the interconnect interface. A first transaction received by the device, and associated with a function of the plurality of functions, causes a request identifier within the first transaction to be assigned to the function. Access to the function is denied if a request identifier of a second transaction, subsequent to the first transaction, does not match the request identifier assigned to the function.
US08464259B2	Migrating virtual machines configured with direct access device drivers In one or more embodiments of the invention, migration of a virtual machine includes identifying a hardware resource which is accessed directly by a device driver of the virtual machine and generating an emulation of the hardware resource to simulate the hardware resource as experiencing an error. The current state of the virtual machine can then be transmitted to the destination host computer, wherein the current state includes the emulation which simulates the hardware resource as experiencing an error. In at least one embodiment, generating the emulation includes defining the error as one that triggers a reset of the hardware resource after migration of the virtual machine from the source host computer to the destination host computer.
US08464253B2	Apparatus and method for providing services using a virtual operating system Provided are an apparatus and method for providing services using a virtual operating system (OS). The apparatus classifies virtual resources into a plurality of mutually exclusive regions and manages the virtual resources based on the provides services regions. The plurality of provides services regions include a virtual region whose resources are stored in and used on an external storage, and an overlay region whose resources refer to host resources. The apparatus uses the region information for virtual resources and a list of resources accessed for each application process to manage the virtual resources.
US08464243B2	Updating client node of computing system During execution of an existing scheduling computer program on a client node, an update computer program and a self-describing automatic installation package are downloaded to the client node from a logical depot node implemented on an existing management server. Therefore, advantageously, no physical depot node or other additional computing device is needed for the client node to update itself. Execution of the update computer program is spawned on the client node from the existing scheduling computer program. As such, the update computer program inherits root access to the client node and security credentials to the management server from the scheduling computer program—advantageously, then, a user does not have to perform any laborious configuration of the client node in order to update the node. The client node ultimately updates itself using the self-describing automatic installation package, which includes all the information needed for the client node to update itself.
US08464231B2	Method and apparatus for accessing a production forming a set of rules for constructing hierarchical data of a structured document A method and apparatus access a production among first and second groups of productions. The productions form rules for constructing hierarchical data of a structured electronic document. The first group is associated with a first group of events, each production being defined for an event type and contextual information including a name associated with an element in the hierarchical data. The second group is associated with a second group of events distinct from the first group of events, the events of the second group describing the hierarchical data of the structured electronic document. The device determines whether an event is of the first group including determining whether the event in question is defined by a name associated with an element in addition to an event type, and predicts a production from the second group that is associated with the event is determined to be of the first group.
US08464214B2	Apparatus, method and system for building software by composition The present invention is related to the field of real-time software, and, more specifically, to an apparatus, method and system for building complex high-performance software by composition.
US08464213B1	Customized control building A system and method is disclosed for creating a reusable control from various applications or portions of applications. Using a pre-existing application or one specifically developed for the control, a developer programmatically declares which functionalities of the original application are to be included in the new control. This control building logic becomes a part of the application code. On execution of the application with the added control building logic, the native code that will re-create the control functionality is automatically generated. The control developer may now extend the generated code using simple Object Oriented Programming (OOP) inheritance to add properties and parameters that will control its behavior. The resulting control may then be referenced by other developers when creating a new software application.
US08464210B1	Software development and testing environment The invention is directed to method of generating database encoded software for controlling operation of a data processing device. The method comprises providing a formal language specification representative of source code for the software, translating said formal language specification into data suitable for storing in database structures and in a form suitable for being queried by a database query language and storing said data in database structures of a database. The method includes using a software development tool in a software development and testing environment to manipulate the database encoded software using a database query language such as SQL and XQuery to develop new software features. The query language can also be used to control replication and/or synchronization of the database encoded software with the contents of a data processing device control program database by way of installing said control program on said device or upgrading the control program software of said device.
US08464206B2	Method and system for managing enterprise content A method and system for providing a consistent flow documents and data content across different organizational units of a company or agency where the documents and data come from different enterprise systems and data stores but are related to linked processes that share models for organizing the content in the business context and in a format that enables a user to relate the content to the process step or steps they are performing. The system includes a network service that enables a configuration utility to automatically discover the objects and metadata and provides for a mapping of selected fields of the metadata to regions displayed in the user interface view with provision for filtering the data by mapping selected fields to a user input form. Thereby, a business analyst can create solutions without writing and maintaining complex program logic for each combination of presentation environment, enterprise system and data store.
US08464200B1	Thermal relief optimization An approach is in which a dynamic thermal relief generator retrieves a circuit board file that identifies power plane thru pin locations and a power plane layer. The dynamic thermal relief generator selects one of the power plane thru pin locations and creates a thermal relief pattern that includes thermal relief shapes that identify conductive material voids on a power plane layer to exclude substantially conductive material. The dynamic thermal relief generator determines that one of the conductive material voids affects one or more proximate signal tracks and, in turn, automatically adjusts the thermal relief pattern accordingly.
US08464197B2	Multi-threaded global routing A method is described for routing a semiconductor chip's global nets. The method includes identifying a subset of the global nets and routing the subset of global nets using multiple threads, where, each of the global nets within the subset are routed by one of the threads in isolation of the subset's other global nets. The method further includes identifying a second subset of the global nets and routing the second subset of global nets using the multiple threads, where, each of the global nets within the second subset are routed by one of the threads in isolation of the second subset's other global nets but in respect of the routes of first subset of global nets.
US08464181B1	Floor selection on an interactive digital map A digital map of a geographic area is displayed via a user interface, and a 3D representation of a multi-story building located in the geographic area is displayed on the digital map. The 3D representation includes multiple stacked, individually selectable floor maps corresponding to the floors of the multi-story building. A scrolling gesture that includes a motion in a direction substantially along a vertical axis of the 3D representation of the building is received. In response, the floor maps are consecutively activated, and visual attributes of the activated floor map are changed relative to every other floor maps in the 3D representation, so that no more than one of floor maps is activated at one time.
US08464179B2	Math menu user interface on a calculator A system comprises a processor and a keyboard coupled to the processor. The keyboard comprises a mathematical function key and an arrow key. When the mathematical function key is pressed, the processor causes the display to display a sequence of math functions or math menu choices upon a user repeatedly pressing the arrow key. For each math function displayed on the display, the processor concurrently also causes the result of the math function to be displayed without the user pressing another key.
US08464173B2	Device, method, and graphical user interface for manipulating user interface objects A computing device with a touch screen display simultaneously displays on the touch screen display a plurality of user interface objects and at least one destination object. The computing device detects a first input by a user on a destination object displayed on the touch screen display. While continuing to detect the first input by the user on the destination object, the computing device detects a second input by the user on a first user interface object displayed on the touch screen display. In response to detecting the second input by the user on the first user interface object, the computing device performs an action on the first user interface object. The action is associated with the destination object.
US08464170B2	2D editing metaphor for 3D graphics A system combines 2D and 3D modeling in rendering shapes and includes: a 3D modeling factory to generate a 3D model of selected shape parameters or features; a front face factory to generate 2D text and text effects, and some 2D shape effects; a ground plane factory to generate effects that are rendered on a ground plane of a shape; and a rasterizer/compositing engine to combine 2D and 3D effects generated by the front face factory, ground plan factory, and the 3D modeling factory.
US08464165B2	Multi-way video conferencing user interface A videoconferencing application includes a user interface that provides multiple participant panels, each of which is displayed with perspective with the panels appearing to be angled with respect to the user interface window. The participant panels display live video streams from remote participants. A two-way layout provides two participant panels for two remote participants, each of which is angled inwardly towards a center position. A three-way layout provides three participant panels for three remote participants, with a left, center and right panel, with the left and right panels angled inwardly towards a center position.
US08464161B2	Managing permissions in a collaborative workspace An approach for managing permissions in a collaborative workspace involves providing a permissions user interface presentation without loosing a context associated with a collaborative workspace user interface presentation. The permissions user interface presentation visually organizes a set of workspace members into two or more permission level categories. The permissions user interface presentation also allows a user to efficiently add new workspace members from a local system or an alternative system.
US08464146B2	Image forming system including an image form apparatus, and method to provide local user interface using the same A method to provide a local user interface using an image forming apparatus including storing at least one of at least one first web application corresponding to each function of the image forming apparatus and a second web application provided by a third party, receiving a request for access to a local user interface from the at least one printing control apparatus, and identifying whether to display the at least one web application having an individual context, generating the local user interface according to the identification results, providing the printing control apparatus with the generated local user interface, and independently driving the web application of the image forming apparatus according to a web application selected by the printing control apparatus. Accordingly, a plurality of web applications can be controlled independently, so the user's convenience can be improved.
US08464137B2	Probabilistic multi-tier error correction in not-and (NAND) flash memory Error correction in not-and (NAND) flash memory including a system for retrieving data from memory. The system includes a decoder in communication with a memory. The decoder is for performing a method that includes receiving a codeword stored on a page in the memory, the codeword including data and first-tier check symbols that are generated in response to the data. The method further includes determining that the codeword includes errors that cannot be corrected using the first-tier check symbols, and in response second-tier check symbols are received. The second-tier check symbols are generated in response to receiving the data and to the contents of other pages in the memory that were written prior to the page containing the codeword. The codeword is corrected in response to the second-tier check symbols. The corrected codeword is output.
US08464132B2	Method for accessing flash memory and associated memory device A method for accessing a flash memory includes: writing a data stream into at least a page of at least one data block of the flash memory, where each page of the data block includes an identity code; reading at least one identity code of the page; and determining a specific page according to at least the identity code, where the specific page is a last page that the data stream is written to before the flash memory is disconnected from a power source.
US08464129B2	ROM list-decoding of near codewords Certain embodiments of the present invention are methods for the organization of trapping-set profiles in ROM and for the searching of those profiles during (LDPC) list decoding. Profiles are ranked by dominance, i.e., by their impact on the error-floor characteristics of a decoder. More-dominant trapping-set profiles contain information about both unsatisfied check nodes (USCs) and mis-satisfied check nodes (MSCs), while less-dominant trapping-set profiles contain information about only USCs. Trapping-set profile information is organized into a number of linked, hierarchical data tables which allow for the rapid location and retrieval of most-dominant matching trapping-set profiles using a pointer-chase search.
US08464128B2	Breaking unknown trapping sets using a database of known trapping sets In one embodiment, an LDPC decoder attempts to recover an originally-encoded LDPC codeword based on a set of channel soft-output values. If the decoder observes a trapping set, then the decoder compares the observed trapping set to known trapping sets stored in a trapping-set database to determine whether or not the observed trapping set is a known trapping set. If the observed trapping set is not known, then the decoder selects a most-dominant trapping set from the trapping-set database and identifies the locations of erroneous bit nodes in the selected trapping set. Then, the decoder adjusts the channel soft-output values corresponding to the identified erroneous bit nodes. Adjustment is performed by inverting some or all of the hard-decision bits of the corresponding channel soft-output values and setting the confidence value of each corresponding channel soft-output value to maximum. Decoding is then restarted using the adjusted channel soft-output values.
US08464122B2	Data processing apparatus and data processing method The present invention relates to a data processing apparatus and a data processing method which can improve the tolerance to errors of data. A demultiplexer 25 replaces, in accordance with an allocation rule for allocating code bits of an LDPC code to symbol bits representative of symbols, mb bits from among the code bits and sets the code bits after the replacement as symbol bits of b symbols. For example, when m is 12 and b is 1, where the i+1th bits from the most significant bit of the 12×1 code bits and the 12×1 symbol bits of one symbol are represented as bits bi and yi, replacement for allocating, for example, b0 to y8, b1 to y0, b2 to y6, b3 to y1, b4 to y4, b5 to y5, b6 to y2, b7 to y3, b8 to y7, b9 to y10, b10 to y11 and b11 to y9 is carried out. The present invention can be applied, for example, to a transmission system for transmitting an LDPC code and so forth.
US08464116B2	Logic 1 and 0 formatter inputs for parallel scan paths The disclosure describes a novel method and apparatus for allowing response data output from the scan outputs of a circuit under test to be formatted and applied as stimulus data input to the scan inputs of the circuit under test. Also the disclosure described a novel method and apparatus for allowing the response data output from the scan outputs of a circuit under test to be formatted and used as expected data to compare against the response data output from the circuit under test. Additional embodiments are also provided and described in the disclosure.
US08464112B2	Wrapper selection circuits with selection and enable inputs A test architecture accesses IP core test wrappers within an IC using a Link Instruction Register (LIR). An IEEE P1500 standard is in development for providing test access to these individual cores via a test structure called a wrapper. The wrapper resides at the boundary of the core and provides a way to test the core and the interconnections between cores. The test architecture enables each of the plural wrappers in the IC, including wrappers in cores embedded within other cores, with separate enable signals.
US08464105B2	Method of multiuser precoding and scheduling and base station for implementing the same The present invention provides a method of multiuser precoding and scheduling, comprising: feeding channel state information (CSI) and statistic properties of CSI error back to a base station (BS) from a user equipment (UE); generating multiuser precoding matrix and scheduling scheme by the BS, according to the feedback CSI and the statistic properties of CSI error; and performing multiuser precoding and scheduling on user data by using the generated multiuser precoding matrix and scheduling scheme.
US08464104B2	Mobility of versioned workload partitions A versioned workload partition (WPAR) can be migrated from a source machine to a destination machine. Each thread associated with a process executing within the versioned WPAR is frozen. For each thread associated with the process, an error number associated with the thread is received in response to freezing execution of the thread and at least a current state of the thread is determined as checkpoint information associated with the thread based, at least in part, on the error number associated with the thread. The checkpoint information associated with the one or more threads is provided to the destination machine. The checkpoint information is used at the destination machine to reconstruct the process within a destination versioned WPAR on the destination machine.
US08464088B1	Multiple channel bonding in a high speed clock network Various methods and structures related to clock distribution for flexible channel bonding are disclosed. One embodiment provides a clock network in physical media attachment (“PMA”) circuitry, a specific type or portion of system interconnect circuitry, arranged in pairs of channel groups. In one embodiment, clock generation circuitry blocks (“CGBs”) in each pair of channel groups receives outputs of multiple phased locked loop circuits (“PLLs”) which can be selectively utilized by the CGBs to generate PMA clock signals. In another embodiment, the CGBs can also select output of a clock data recovery (“CDR”)/transmit PLL circuitry block in one of the channels of a channel group of the pair of channel groups. In one embodiment, first groups of connection lines couple circuitry in a channel group pair such that a designated CGB in each channel group pair can provide clock signals to one or more of the channels in the channel group pair. In one embodiment, second groups of connection lines connect channels in one channel group pair to channels in other channel group pairs such that one or more channels across the channel group pairs can receive a clock signal generated by a CGB in a designated channel. These and other embodiments are described more fully in the disclosure.
US08464086B2	Software-based power capping The present invention relates to power consumption, and specifically an apparatus, method, and computer readable medium to manage and control power consumption in computer systems. Specifically, the present invention manages power consumption by controlling the types of threads that are executed by the processor. The present invention monitors the resources of the system to determine the power consumption of the system. If the power consumption is too high, the present invention issues more low power threads to be executed by the processor.
US08464081B2	System and method for communication using an AC signal from a powered device A system and method for communicating information using Layer 1 from a powered device to power source equipment via Ethernet. In one embodiment, Layer 1 information such as power management, classification, temperature, and disconnect information is transmitted from a powered device to power source equipment using an AC signal that has a cycle defining a first time period during which the AC signal is turned on and a second time period during which the AC signal is turned off. A type of information being sent by the powered device can be determined based on characteristic on/off times of the AC signal cycle.
US08464076B2	Born encrypted optical data A device for generating a born encrypted optical file includes a photovoltaic matrix for converting an optical image into a digital file. The digital file is a collection of digital data that has not been processed by any image processing logic and thus cannot be used to directly generate a reproduced image of the object. An encryption logic converts the digital file into an encrypted digital file that can be exported from the device to an authorized device to create a decrypted digital file. This decrypted digital file is capable of being used by a display logic to display an image of the object.
US08464071B2	Trusted storage systems and methods Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a trusted database system that leverages a small amount of trusted storage to secure a larger amount of untrusted storage. Data are encrypted and validated to prevent unauthorized modification or access. Encryption and hashing are integrated with a low-level data model in which data and meta-data are secured uniformly. Synergies between data validation and log-structured storage are exploited.
US08464061B2	Secure wireless link between two devices using probes A secure wireless communication link (pairing) between two devices can be established using cleartext wireless transmissions between devices not joined to a network (“probes”). One device can broadcast a first probe indicating that it is seeking to establish a pairing. The other device can respond with a second probe, and the two devices can establish a shared secret, e.g., by exchanging further information using additional probes. Thereafter, either device can send a message to the other by encrypting the message using a cryptographic key derived from the shared secret; encrypted messages can also be sent within probes. The receiving device can extract an encrypted message from a probe and decrypt it using the cryptographic key. The encrypted message can include credentials usable by the receiving device to join a wireless network.
US08464053B2	Systems, methods, and media for retransmitting data using the secure real-time transport protocol Systems, methods, and media for retransmitting data using the SRTP are provided. In some embodiments, methods for retransmitting data using the SRTP are provided. The methods include: receiving at least one data unit associated with a media session; determining the index of the at least one data unit; determining the session key of the media session using the index; authenticating the at least one data unit using the session key; and retransmitting the at least one data unit.
US08464052B2	Systems and methods for providing security to different functions Methods and systems are provided that use smartcards, such as subscriber identity module (SIM) cards to provide secure functions for a mobile client. One embodiment of the invention provides a mobile communication network system that includes a mobile network, a mobile terminal, a server coupled to the mobile terminal via the mobile network, and a subscriber identity module (SIM) card coupled to the mobile terminal. The SIM card includes a first key and a second key. The first key is used to authenticate an intended user of the mobile terminal to the mobile network. Upon successful authentication of the intended user to the mobile network, the mobile terminal downloads a function offered from the server through the mobile network. The second key is then used by the mobile terminal to authenticate the intended user to the downloaded function so that the intended user can utilize the function.
US08464042B2	Performance adjustment apparatus and method of information processing apparatus A performance adjustment apparatus connected to an information processing apparatus includes a performance adjustment unit that controls operation processing performance of an operation processing apparatus of the information processing apparatus based on a specified performance adjustment value, a performance type list information management unit that manages performance type list information comprising a plurality of pairs of a performance type and a performance adjustment value, a performance type specification unit that specifies a performance type in the performance type list information managed by the performance type list information management unit and changes the performance type, a performance adjustment value setting unit that obtains a performance adjustment value corresponding to the performance type specified by the performance type specification unit from the performance type list information management unit, and sets the obtained performance adjustment value in the performance adjustment unit.
US08464037B2	Computer system comprising a secure boot mechanism on the basis of symmetric key encryption A CPU, a computer system and a secure boot mechanism are provided in which a symmetric encryption key may be incorporated into a non-volatile memory area of the CPU core, thereby substantially avoiding any tampering of the encryption key by external sources. Moreover, pre-boot information may be internally stored in the CPU and may be retrieved upon a reset or power-on event in order to verify a signed boot information on the basis of the internal symmetric encryption key. Furthermore, the BIOS information may be efficiently updated by generating a signature using the internal encryption key.
US08464032B2	Microprocessor integrated circuit with first processor that outputs debug information in response to reset by second processor of the integrated circuit A microprocessor integrated circuit includes first and second processors. The first processor is configured to detect that the second processor has not retired an instruction for a predetermined amount of clock cycles and to responsively reset the second processor. The microprocessor integrated circuit also includes microcode. The second processor is configured to execute the microcode in response to a reset of the second processor. The microcode is configured to read debug information within the microprocessor integrated circuit and to output the debug information external to the microprocessor integrated circuit in response to determining that the reset was performed by the first processor.
US08464029B2	Out-of-order execution microprocessor with reduced store collision load replay reduction An out-of-order execution microprocessor for reducing load instruction replay likelihood due to store collisions. A register alias table (RAT) is coupled to first and second queues of entries and generates dependencies used to determine when instructions may execute out of order. The RAT allocates an entry of the first queue and populates the allocated entry with an instruction pointer of a load instruction, when it determines that the load instruction must be replayed. The RAT allocates an entry of the second queue when it encounters a store instruction and populates the allocated entry with a dependency that identifies an instruction upon which the store instruction depends for its data. The RAT causes a subsequent instance of the load instruction to share the dependency when it encounters the subsequent instance of the load instruction and determines that its instruction pointer matches the instruction pointer of an entry of the first queue.
US08464024B2	Virtual address hashing Embodiments include methods, apparatus, and systems for virtual address hashing. One embodiment evenly distributes page-table entries throughout a hash table so applications do not generate a same hash index for mapping virtual addresses to physical addresses.
US08464019B2	Apparatus for dynamically migrating LPARS with pass-through I/O devices, its method, and its program A dynamic migration apparatus of a system logically divides hardware resources of a physical machine to configure a plurality of logical partitions using the pass-through I/O method and performs migration on the logical partitions. The apparatus makes a setting so that the same I/O device used in a migration source logical partition continues to be used in a migration destination logical partition when migration is performed.
US08464012B2	Method for controlling access to a data file of an IC card A method is for controlling access to a data file of an IC card and may include storing a plurality of access conditions to be evaluated for accessing the data file, and enabling access to the file if the access conditions are satisfied. The method may further include ordering the access conditions to be evaluated in a Reverse Polish Notation inside a memory queue of the IC card, and evaluating the access conditions starting from a head of the memory queue.
US08464008B1	Command cancellation channel for read-modify-write operation in a memory Some of the embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus comprising a command cancellation channel (CCC) including a plurality of stages, the CCC configured to receive a first memory address of a sequence of memory addresses and a corresponding first modification command, determine that at least a first stage of the plurality of stages includes the first memory address and a corresponding second modification command, and erase the first memory address or cancel the second modification command while shifting the first memory address and the second modification command from the first stage to a second stage. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08464006B2	Method and apparatus for data transmission between processors using memory remapping Provided are a method and apparatus for efficiently transferring a massive amount of multimedia data between two processors. The apparatus includes a first local switch, which connects a virtual page of a first processor element to a shared memory page, a second local switch, which connects a virtual page of a second processor element to the shared memory page, a shared page switch, which connects a predetermined shared memory page of a shared physical memory to the first or second local switch, and a switch manager, which remaps a certain shared memory page of the shared physical memory that stores data of a task performed by the first processor element to the virtual page of the second processor element. Accordingly, since memory remapping is used, the massive amount of multimedia data can be transmitted by changing a method of mapping a memory, unlike a case when multimedia data is transmitted by using a memory bus.
US08464002B2	Burst-based cache dead block prediction The present disclosure generally relates to cache memory systems and/or techniques to identify dead cache blocks in cache memory systems. Example systems may include a cache memory that is accessible by a cache client. The cache memory may include a plurality of storage locations for a first cache block, with a most recently used position location in the cache memory. A cache controller may be configured to predict whether the first cache block stored in the cache memory is identified as a dead cache block based on a cache burst of the first cache block. The cache burst may comprise a first access of the first cache block by a cache client and any subsequent contiguous accesses of the first cache block following the first access by the cache client while the first cache block is in a most recently used position of the cache set.
US08463994B2	System and method for improved media identification in a storage device Systems and methods are provided for improved identification of removable storage media. A scanner may be used to read an identifier, such as a barcode, on a removable storage media. In the event that the scanner reads the identifier incorrectly due to a defect in the barcode, such as a damaged label, misaligned identifier, or because the scanner is incapable of reading the identifier type or the scanner's field of view is incorrect, a media management component receives the scanned identifier data and matches it to a known set of media identifiers to create a subset of matching identifier data. A closest matching media identifier may be identified from the subset of matching identifier data. An index may be updated with information indicating the closest matching media identifier and a location of the removable storage media.
US08463993B2	Translating memory modules for main memory A translating memory module is disclosed including a printed circuit board, at least one memory integrated circuit coupled to the printed board, and at least one support chip coupled to the printed circuit board and coupled between the edge connector and the at least one memory integrated circuit. The at least one support chip includes a bi-directional translator to translate between a first memory communication protocol for the at least one memory integrated circuit and a second memory communication protocol for a memory channel differing from the first memory communication protocol. The second memory communication protocol to communicate data, address, and control signals over the memory channel bus to read and write data into the memory of the translating memory module.
US08463991B2	Intra-device data protection in a raid array A system and method for intra-device data protection in a RAID array. A computer system comprises client computers and data storage arrays coupled to one another via a network. A data storage array utilizes solid-state drives and Flash memory cells for data storage. A storage controller within a data storage array is configured to identify a unit of data stored in the data storage subsystem, wherein said unit of data is stored across at least a first storage device and a second storage device of the plurality of storage devices, each of the first storage device and the second storage device storing intra-device redundancy data corresponding to the unit of data; and change an amount of intra-device redundancy data corresponding to the unit of data on only the first storage device.
US08463990B2	Method and apparatus to perform automated page-based tier management of storing data in tiered storage using pool groups A storage controller performs: evaluating the pool groups based on a preset rule in order to determine an evaluation result for each pool group; using the evaluation results among the pool groups to determine which pool group is to be selected for performing allocation against portions of the one storage volume in response to receiving an instruction for rearrangement of data in the tiered storage, the instruction including a requirement to be satisfied in selecting a plurality of tiers within a pool group based on access characteristics for performing allocation against portions of the one storage volume, analyzing the pool groups according to the requirement to determine whether any of the pool groups is appropriate to possess the one storage volume for storing the data; and selecting the tiers within the pool group based on the access characteristics.
US08463979B2	Non-volatile storage devices, methods of addressing, and control logic therefor Non-volatile storage devices and methods capable of achieving large capacity solid state drives containing multiple banks of memory devices. The storage devices include a printed circuit board, at least two banks of non-volatile solid-state memory devices, bank switching circuitry, a connector, and a memory controller. The bank switching circuitry is integrated onto the memory controller and functionally interposed between the banks of memory devices and the front end of the memory controller. The bank switching circuitry operates to switch accesses by the memory controller among the at least two banks.
US08463967B2	Method and device for scheduling queues based on chained list The present invention discloses a method for scheduling queues based on a chained list. The method includes the following steps: setting the number of addresses in a queuing chained list not less than the number of queues, and partitioning the queuing chained list into different queuing sub-chained lists according to the priorities of the queues, wherein the number of the addresses in the queuing sub-chained list is not less than the total number of the queues whose priorities correspond to the queuing sub-chained list; setting for each queue a queuing chained list identifier identifying whether the each queue has queued in the queuing chained list; determining whether a queue satisfying queuing criteria has queued in the queuing chained list according to the queuing chained list identifier of the queue before the queue is added to the queuing chained list; if it has queued, adding is not processed, otherwise, the queue is added to the end of the queuing sub-chained list which corresponds to the priority of the queue, and the queuing chained list identifier of the queue is modified to an identifier identifying the queue has already queued in the queuing chained list. The present invention also discloses a device for scheduling queues based on a chained list. The present invention ensures impartiality when queues having the same priority are scheduled.
US08463959B2	High-speed interface for daisy-chained devices A plurality of devices are operated by storing at a device a first ID number received at a first port of the device and a second ID number received at a second port of the device. The device receives a data command through at least one of the first and second ports. The data command has a command ID number. The device executes the data command when at least one of the command ID number is equal to the first ID number when the data command is received at the first port and the command ID number is equal to the second ID number when the data command is received at the second port.
US08463952B1	Device connections and methods thereof A first device port and a second device port are connected using a first cable and a second cable. The first device port and the second device port use a divisible number of lanes, X for communication. The first cable uses X′ lanes, where X′ is less than X. The second cable uses X-X′ lanes, where X-X′ is also less than X. If the first cable is disconnected or fails, then the second cable is used after a failover operation.
US08463942B2	Method and system for geo-targeted content delivery A method and server for providing geo-targeted content delivery are provided. The method may include receiving, by a web server, a request for information from an Internet user; determining, by the web server, a geographic location of the Internet user; and tailoring information provided to the Internet user based at least in part on the geographic location of the Internet user. Determining the geographic location of the Internet user may involve obtaining a route through the Internet to a target host for an IP address associated with the Internet user, wherein the route may include one or more intermediate hosts; deriving a geographic location of one or more of the intermediate hosts within the route; and automatically determining the geographic location of the Internet user by analysis of the route and the geographic location of the one or more intermediate hosts.
US08463934B2	Unified system area network and switch A network switch, based on the PCI EXPRESS protocol, is disclosed. The switch includes a processor, local memory and a plurality of non-transparent bridges. By configuring the non-transparent bridges appropriately, the network switch can facilitate a number of different communication mechanisms, including TCP/IP communication between servers, server clusters, and virtualized I/O device utilization. For example, the network switch may configure the non-transparent bridges so as to have access to the physical memory of every server attached to it. It can then move data from the memory of any server to the memory of any other server. In another embodiment, the network switch is connected to an I/O device, and multiple servers are given access to that I/O device via virtualized connections.
US08463918B2	Loss tolerant protocol for remoting desktop graphics In various embodiments, remote presentation encoding techniques may be modified in such a way that the data can be transmitted over transports without guaranteed packet delivery. In one embodiment, the desktop graphics data may be encoded in individual frames, each frame comprising self-contained graphics elements that fit in a small number of User Datagram Protocol (UDP) protocol data units (PDUs). The PDUs may then be sent to the client on a separate lossy link instead of the lossless link. On the client side, the client may detect which graphic elements within a frame were “lost” as a result of dropped UDP packets and request a refresh from the server through the lossless channel.
US08463905B2	Drift visualization A system for drift visualization of change data of a data center is disclosed. The data center includes a plurality of configuration items. The system includes a management server in communication with the data center. The management server includes an agent configured to collect the change data from one or more of the plurality of configuration items. A change datastore in communication with the management server is provided to store the change data. A data extractor in communication with the change datastore retrieves the change data and provides a filtered subset of the change data to a display. A policy datastore enables the data extractor to filter the change data based on data center policy violations. The visualization depicts multiple dimensions of change-related data for the items in the data center in a unique and concise manner.
US08463902B2	Work unit adapter for content processing with third party network elements A method including receiving a work flow for the ingestion, transformation, and distribution of content, wherein the work flow includes one or more work unit tasks; retrieving work unit task information pertaining to the one or more work unit tasks; identifying one or more network elements to execute one of the one or more work unit tasks based on the work unit task information; translating the work unit task information from a format used by one or more devices to another format that is used by the one or more network elements based on one of an object adapter pattern or a class adapter pattern; and send the translated work unit task information to the one or more network elements.
US08463896B2	Dynamic portal creation based on personal usage Methods, media and systems are provided for generating a dynamic web portal in a wireless network, and the portal is based on personal usage. An initialized portal contains no web content. Systems include one or more network elements configured to monitor requests for resource components, to generate web portals, and to dynamically update the portals based on the requests for resource components. Data structures embodied on a computer-readable media are included for storing numerical data regarding the requests and for storing a plurality of portals. The dynamic web portal is updated to contain component resources from visited web pages, each having a respective universal resource locator (URL) or portion of code with which it is associated. Requests for resources are monitored and added to a web portal when a specified threshold is surpassed so that an updated web portal can be presented.
US08463894B2	Performance monitoring web console for distributed transaction service A computer-implemented system to support performance monitoring of distributed transaction service can comprise one or more distributive transaction monitoring infrastructures, wherein each distributive transaction monitoring infrastructure contains at least one local monitor server that receiving monitoring data from one or more distributive transaction monitoring processes; a central monitor server that accepts monitoring data from one or more distributive transaction monitoring infrastructures and stores monitoring data into a database; and a web application that communicates with the central monitor server and provides interaction with a user.
US08463893B2	Automatic playlist generation in correlation with local events Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for content providers, such as musicians, to register upcoming events, such as concert events, upload songs, etc. Users of a social network service may then browse venues and content providers. Upon selecting one of the providers, the social network service retrieves the songs registered by the content providers into a playlist for the user. In some embodiments, users may search an area to find and create a playlists of multiple content providers. The user could thus create a playlist by venue, by day, etc. In addition, each of these created playlists can be shared with others on the social network service. The social network service may also auto-generate playlists based on genre, date, artist, etc. A stream of the songs may then be delivered to the user according to the playlist they choose and the various music services that they subscribe.
US08463886B2	Method and apparatus for distributed computing, and computer product A network-segment-determining unit determines network segments including servers to be involved in a distributed processing, based on configuration information stored in a configuration information database (DB). A data dividing unit divides data based on information on the network segments determined by the network-segment-determining unit. A data transfer unit transfers the data divided by the data dividing unit to each of the network segments.
US08463885B2	Systems and methods for generating management agent installations Embodiments relate to systems and methods for installation of management agents on target machines. In embodiments, a central management server can scan a managed network to identify different types and configurations of target machines. Different types of target machines may require different types of management agent software in order to invoke different types of management services, such as configuration management or performance monitoring services. The necessary types of management agent may depend, for instance, on the operating system and/or applications installed on individual targets. In embodiments, different types or classes of management agents can register or communicate with different types of remote management servers. The management agent(s) on individual targets can thereby initiate and manage the installation of agents or other resources that may be needed to register to the remote network services, without a requirement to install or use specific package management tools for specific products.
US08463879B2	Method and apparatus for automatic verification of a machine-readable map of networked devices Embodiments of the invention provide a method and an apparatus for automatic verification of a machine-readable map of networked devices. In one method embodiment, the present invention accesses a machine-readable map. Additionally, validation rules are accessed in a machine-readable format. A validation step is performed, wherein the validation step comprises comparing the validation rules in machine-readable format with the machine-readable map. A report of a result of the validation step is then generated. In so doing, a verification of a machine-readable map of networked devices occurs automatically.
US08463873B2	Streaming client system base images Embodiments provide systems, methods, apparatuses and computer program products configured to provide alternative desktop computing solutions. Embodiments generally provide client devices configured to utilize one of a local base image and a base image stored remotely, with a user-specific overlay image remotely storing user specific data. The clients are configured to download and store the base image locally.
US08463860B1	Scenario based scale testing Various example embodiments are directed to scale testing based on scenarios. A computer system may receive a scenario, which may comprise a plurality of scenario objects including, a first host, a second host, a plurality of transports, a plurality of variables and a plurality of steps. The computer system may also receive a pattern. The scenario may be processed to generate a processed scenario. The computer system may execute a first track including executing a plurality of concurrencies of the processed scenario according to the pattern.
US08463857B2	Notification of internet service events using instant messaging service Disclosed is a notification system and method using messenger. The system includes a messenger system for controlling instant message transmission, monitoring messenger user state change, and transmitting user state change information; an external service system for monitoring occurrence of events and generating notification message indicating occurrence of the events; and a synchronization server for receiving the user state change information from the messenger system, providing the received user state change information to the at least one external service system, receiving the notification message from the at least one external service system, and transmitting the notification message to the messenger system. The external service system receives the user state change information from the synchronization server and manages messenger user online information, in case of the event occurrence.
US08463848B2	System and method of transmitting data over a computer network including for presentations over multiple channels in parallel A system and method of transmitting data via a computer network to a plurality of end-users. Transmission of successive data units may be prompted by human-operated and/or automated central control. Successive arrays of data units may be transmitted over a plurality of channels, in parallel. Each end-user chooses which channel or channels to receive and may change channels at will. Transmission of successive arrays may coincide with successive occurrences during the course of a live event. Data units also may be transmitted over one or more channels asynchronously with transmissions over other channels. Controller-prompted transmissions, received passively by end-users, also may be integrated with a facility for end-users to browse data sources in a self-directed sequence and pace.
US08463846B2	File bundling for cache servers of content delivery networks Data access time in content delivery networks is improved by storing files in cache servers as file bundles. A cache server determines that multiple files are requested by the same client based on information available in the request including the IP address of the client, a URL of a webpage referring to the file, and/or a cookie stored at a client. The cache server stores multiple files requested by the same client on the hard drive as a file bundle with meta data associating the files with one another, such that they can be accessed together. A future request from the client for a file in a file bundle results in multiple files from the file bundle being loaded in the memory. If the client requests another file from the file bundle, the file is accessed directly from the memory instead of the hard drive, resulting in improved performance.
US08463844B2	Portlets in non-portal pages Provided herein are systems, and methods for use therewith, for creating a portlet that can be inserted into an external web page that is outside a portal framework. A portal product is adapted to create one or more portlets that are made available to consumers by a producer. The portal product automatically assigns a URL to the one or more portlets to be inserted into an external page separate from the portal product.
US08463842B2	Content acquisition apparatus, content acquisition method and content acquisition program The present invention provides a music purchasing/transfer system allowing contents to be acquired in a remarkably efficient manner. In the system, a content acquisition apparatus, and method and program thereof are provided. The apparatus includes a content storage section used for storing contents; an output section for outputting the identification of every content that can be presented by a Content providing apparatus for presenting contents; and a content acquisition section for acquiring a content, which is identified by a content identification selected by carrying out an operation to select one of identifications output by the output section, from the content providing apparatus, wherein the output section outputs identifications of contents not stored yet in the content storage section as identifications different from other identifications output as identifications of other contents already stored in the content storage section.
US08463836B1	Performing mathematical and logical operations in multiple sub-cycles Some embodiments provide a reconfigurable IC. This IC includes a set of reconfigurable circuits for performing a mathematical operation in more than one reconfiguration cycle. To perform the mathematical operation when at least one operand has n bits, the reconfigurable circuits performs a first sub-operation on m of n bits in a first reconfiguration cycle, and a second sub-operation on p of n bits in a second reconfiguration cycle. The reconfigurable IC also includes at least one storage element for storing at least a portion of the results of the first sub-operation for use during the second reconfiguration cycle in the second sub-operation.
US08463834B2	Floating point multiplier with first and second partial product shifting circuitry for result alignment A floating point multiplier includes a data path in which a plurality of partial products are calculated and then reduced to a first partial product and a second partial product. Shift amount determining circuitry 100 analyzes the exponents of the input operands A and B as well as counting the leading zeros in the fractional portions of these operands to determine an amount of left shift or right shift to be applied by shifting circuitry 200, 202 within the multiplier data path. This shift amount is applied so as to align the partial products so that when they are added they will produce the result C without requiring this to be further shifted. Furthermore, shifting the partial products to the correct alignment in this way in advance of adding these partial products permits injection rounding combined with the adding of the partial products to be employed for cases including subnormal values.
US08463833B2	Filtering method and apparatus of low complexity fir filter, and recording medium thereof A filter method and an apparatus of a low complexity Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filter, and a recording medium thereof are provided. A filtering method of the low complexity FIR filter includes filtering input signals using 2N-ary filters by dividing 2N-ary filter coefficients into even filter coefficients and odd filter coefficients; filtering using a (2N+1)-th filter and the input signals; and adding up a filtering result of the 2N-ary filters and a filtering result of the (2N+1)-th filter. Hence, by reducing the computations of the FIR filter, the FIR filter with the optimal performance can be realized.
US08463831B2	User association of a computing application with a contact in a contact list Methods and systems may be provided for user association of a computing application with a contact in a contact list. A view of one or more contacts of the user may be transmitted to a user, the view including a first contact. A request may be received from the user to associate an application with the first contact. A revised view may be transmitted to the user responsive to the received request, the revised view including a user-selectable mechanism for invoking the application on the first contact. The user may be redirected to a user interface of the application subsequent to the user selecting the user-selectable mechanism associated with the contact in the revised view, and the redirection may include transmission of information associated with the user and information associated with the first contact.
US08463822B2	Data merging in distributed computing A data merging method for distributed computing uses a configuration file to guide the insertion of computational results obtained by distributed nodes into a database table, and to merge the computational results inserted in the database table. The configuration file is established according to the task splitting conditions of distributed computing. The method uses a data merging server to import and host the configuration file and create a database table corresponding to the configuration file. Each distributed node inserting its distributed computational result into the database table after completing the respective distributed computing task, while the data merging server merges the data in the database table. An interface standard applicable to various uses and various distributed computing tasks may be used such that the user only needs to establish a job-specific configuration file based on the interface standard.
US08463817B2	User-defined classifieds A system and method for creating and classifying listings within user-defined marketplaces. An information database in communication with an information application comprises a plurality of marketplaces and a plurality of listings respectively classified within the plurality of marketplaces. The marketplaces stored in the information database may be either pre-defined or user-defined. User-defined marketplaces are created based at least in part on information supplied by an access device in communication with the information database.
US08463816B2	Method of administering a knowledge repository The method of administering a knowledge repository described herein establishes combining data input with concurrent data analytics in order to improve the quality and relevance of data entries.
US08463799B2	System and method for consolidating search engine results Embodiments of the invention relate to query processing and consolidation of query results. Multiple queries may be submitted to one or more search engines, with each query having the same or different returned query items with the same or different sorting arrangement of the returned query items. The returned query items are consolidated into a single sorted set, with the sort being based upon a logical assessment and comparison of the multiple returned query items.
US08463792B2	Identifying software Software installed on a computer network is often inconsistently, or even incorrectly, identified. The same software may be identified in different ways. A catalogue of standardized identifiers is provided. The actual identifiers of software installed on the network are accessed and they are mapped to the standardized identifiers of the catalogue. The standardized identifiers are used to manage the installed software, monitor license compliance and/or, monitor maintenance agreements amongst other uses. Data relating to the use of the software may also be obtained and associated with the identification data. The usage data together with the standardized identifiers allows managers to more reliably manage software on the network. For example un-used software may be un-installed and licenses cancelled or reallocated.
US08463791B1	Method and apparatus for creation of web document titles optimized for search engines Embodiments of the present invention further provide systems and methods for creating question and document titles representing the relevant content of the question or document and optimized for a search engine where the title is of the appropriate character length such that search engines will view and index the entire title.
US08463789B1	Event detection Some embodiments provide a method for identifying an event for a particular category. The method classifies several documents as relevant to several different categories. The method identifies a number of documents relevant to the particular category for a current time period and a background time period. Based on a comparison of the number of documents from the current time period relevant to the particular category and the number of documents from the background time period relevant to the particular category, the method identifies an event for the category for the current time period. Some embodiments calculated a score for the event, and normalize the score based on an average number of documents relevant to each of a set of related categories including the particular category.
US08463787B2	Storing nodes representing respective chunks of files in a data store To provide a data store, nodes representing respective chunks of files are stored in a predefined structure that defines relationships among the nodes, where the files are divided into the chunks. The nodes are collected into plural groups stored in persistent storage, where some of the nodes are collected into a particular one of the groups according to a locality relationship of the some of the nodes.
US08463780B1	System and method for providing a personalized media service A system and method for providing a personalized media service. In one aspect, the system includes an on-demand system, a plurality of subscriber devices, and a network to which the on-demand system and the subscriber devices are coupled so that the on-demand system and the subscriber devices can communicate with each other. The on-demand system enables a user to create one or more personalized media channels by enabling the user to specify his/her media preferences for each channel. The on-demand system includes a media server for streaming media to the plurality of subscriber devices. The media is preferably implemented using a video-on-demand to server.
US08463773B2	Social media organizer for instructional media A social media organizer for instructional or educational content may maintain one or more media clips relating to used-defined educational or instructional topics. In one implementation, a device may maintain user-created sets of media clips, where the media clips in a set of media clips include instructional media clips that relate to a particular subject. The device may further receive rankings from users relating to a quality of the sets of media clips and determine one or more of the sets of media clips that match a user search request. Additionally, the device may provide an interface that provides commands for the user to control playback of the media clips.
US08463765B2	Method and system for creating vertical search engines with cloud computing networks A method and system for creating vertical search engines with cloud computing networks. The cloud computing networks include a cloud communications network using public networks, private networks, community networks and hybrid networks. The cloud communications network provides on-demand vertical search services, broadband network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity and measured electronic services for vertical search engines. The method and system dramatically improve a vertical search engine infrastructure used by searchers by providing vertical electronic information using less bandwidth and less processing cycles via the cloud communications network than via a non-cloud communications network. Custom vertical search engines can be created by a user with QR bar codes and other types of bar codes and other types of custom information.
US08463758B2	Network registry and file cleaner A cleaning application that can clean at least one of one or more files and a registry of a computer is provided. The cleaning application can be remotely deployed over a network to one or more computers. The cleaning application can include an administrator cleaning module and a user cleaning module. The administrator cleaning module can automatically scan a network and detect one or more computers. The administrator cleaning module can then remotely deploy the user cleaning module to one or more selected computers of the network. Once the user cleaning module is deployed on a computer, the administrator cleaning module can remotely manage the user cleaning module over the network. In particular, the administrator cleaning module can instruct the user cleaning module to clean at least one of one or more files and a registry of the computer.
US08463753B2	System and method for extended media retention The present invention provides systems and methods for extending media retention. Methods are provided in which a set of aging preferences are obtained. Data elements of a data set stored on storage media are evaluated against the aging preferences to determine whether each of the data elements satisfy the aging preferences. Each of the data elements that is determined to satisfy the aging preferences is aged. Aging can include freeing a portion of storage media, previously used to store a data element, for other storage usage.
US08463750B2	System and method for matching and assembling records A system and method for matching and assembling records is provided. One embodiment of the invention assembles records by applying a method for grouping records based on matching fields, assembling a new record as a composite of the matched records, and then repeating the grouping, matching and assembly steps in a cascade where the matching, grouping and assembly steps are modified as a function of the cascade step and the assembled records created in earlier steps.
US08463749B2	Method, system, and apparatus for providing resilient data transfer in a data protection system A method for transmitting records of changes to data from a production location to a storage location is provided. The method stores in a log, records of changes to data stored at a production location. Those records are transmitted and a transmitted records checkpoint is generated that is transmitted at the end of the transmitted records. A records checkpoint confirmation is received and the plurality of transmitted records are purged from the log.
US08463746B2	Method and system for replicating data Methods, computing environments, and computer program products are provided for replicating data. Point-in-time copy parameters are generated at a primary host site. A side file entry having the point-in-time copy parameters and a track information field (TIF) associated with the point-in-time copy parameters is generated. The side file entry is transferred to a secondary host site. A point-in-time copy process is performed at the secondary host site based on the point-in-time copy parameters and the TIF.
US08463745B2	Encapsulation of multiplicity and sparsity in multidimensional query execution systems Provided are techniques for processing a multidimensional query. For each multidimensional expression in the multidimensional query, the multidimensional expression is evaluated to generate a representation that includes an evaluation context, a degeneration status, and condensed value storage that does not store data that would be replicated due to degeneration, and the representation is stored.
US08463743B2	Shared composite data representations and interfaces Embodiments described herein provide information management features and functionality that can be used to manage information of distinct information sources, but are not so limited. In an embodiment, a computing environment includes a client that can be used to access data from distinct sources and generate a data composition representing aspects of accessed and other data and/or relationships of the distinct sources. In one embodiment, a client can include data composition and conflict resolution presentation features that can be used to manage one or more data compositions and/or source interrelationships. Other embodiments are available.
US08463742B1	Managing deduplication of stored data Managing data in a data storage system includes: receiving data to be stored in the data storage system; computing values corresponding to different respective portions of the received data; generating identifiers corresponding to different respective portions of the received data, with an identifier corresponding to a particular portion of data including the computed value corresponding to the particular portion of data and metadata indicating a location where the particular portion of data is being stored in the data storage system; storing at least some of the identifiers in an index until the index reaches a predetermined size; and in response to determining that a first identifier corresponding to a first portion of data, received after the index reached the predetermined size, was not already stored in the index before the first portion of data was received, storing the first identifier in the index and designating for removal at least a second identifier corresponding to a second portion of data to be removed from the index such that the index does not exceed the predetermined size.
US08463739B2	Systems and methods for generating multi-population statistical measures using middleware Embodiments relate to systems and methods for analyzing data extracted from a set of data sources. A set of applications such as online analytical processing (OLAP) applications can access the combined data of a set of data sources via an aggregation engine. The set of data sources can be configured with diverse dimensions and associated data. In general the data sources may not be expected to reflect a strictly consistent structure. In embodiments, the aggregation engine can combine or aggregate the set of data sources using common dimensions or data points, and build an index into a transform table reflecting a combined mapping. An OLAP or other application can then perform statistical computations, searches, sorts, and/or other operations on the combined mapping, even when the original data sources do not contain identical dimensions or other formats.
US08463735B2	Methods and systems for applications for Z-numbers Generally, decisions are based on information. To be useful, information must be reliable. Basically, the concept of a Z-number relates to the issue of reliability of information. A Z-number, Z, has two components, Z=(A,B). The first component, A, is a restriction (constraint) on the values which a real-valued uncertain variable, X, is allowed to take. The second component, B, is a measure of reliability (certainty) of the first component. Typically, A and B are described in a natural language, for example: (about 45 minutes, very sure). Z-number has many applications, especially in the realms of economics, decision analysis, risk assessment, prediction, anticipation, rule-based characterization of imprecise functions and relations, and biomedicine. Different methods, applications, and systems are discussed. Other Fuzzy concepts are also discussed.
US08463734B2	System implemented by a processor controlled machine for inductive determination of pattern probabilities of logical connectors The invention relates to a system for the inductive determination of pattern probabilities of 16 dyadic logical connectors. Said system is especially useful for technically predicting human behavior, e.g. inclusion fallacies, and is therefore useful for controlling of technical systems and for data mining, search engines or human-machine interfaces. The system can be implemented in software with a processor controlled machine.
US08463728B2	System and method for a reactive and personalized exposure of mobile end-user context to a third party A system and method for a reactive and personalized exposure of user context to a third party comprises information sources, a context discovery module providing the user context based on the information sources, an identification module obtaining an identity of the third party, a personalization engine, and a rendering system rendering and forwarding a reply to the third party, wherein if the identification module obtains the identity, the personalization engine creates a personalized message in accordance with the user context and the identity and the reply is the personalized message, and if the identification module does not find the identity, the reply is a generic message. The context discovery module and the identification module can each comprise an inferencing engine. The inferencing engine can be associated with a policy engine. Policy engines can be associated with each module and/or engine. The personalization engine can comprise a database of special messages.
US08463719B2	Audio classification for information retrieval using sparse features Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, are provided for using audio features to classify audio for information retrieval. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include the actions of generating a collection of auditory images, each auditory image being generated from respective audio files according to an auditory model; extracting sparse features from each auditory image in the collection to generate a sparse feature vector representing the corresponding audio file; and ranking the audio files in response to a query including one or more words using the sparse feature vectors and a matching function relating sparse feature vectors to words in the query.
US08463718B2	Support vector machine-based method for analysis of spectral data Support vector machines are used to classify data contained within a structured dataset such as a plurality of signals generated by a spectral analyzer. The signals are pre-processed to ensure alignment of peaks across the spectra. Similarity measures are constructed to provide a basis for comparison of pairs of samples of the signal. A support vector machine is trained to discriminate between different classes of the samples. to identify the most predictive features within the spectra. In a preferred embodiment feature selection is performed to reduce the number of features that must be considered.
US08463707B2	Dynamic allocation of radio resources in a packet switched communications-system Voice and/or image data packets are transferred by a packet handler between user stations in a GSM-type mobile communications system using a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) data link. Control data for controlling a call is stored in a data store accessible by the packet handler. The control data identifies call participants and the identity of a participant who has currently seized the call. A mobile station capable of video conferencing is operable in a half-duplex video conferencing mode, in which intermittent transmission of video data is controlled by depression of a transmit button.
US08463694B2	Method and system to enable a fixed price purchase within a multi-unit online auction environment A method includes presenting to a buyer a multi-unit auction, permitting the buyer to bid one or more of a price and a number of units in the auction, and permitting the buyer to re-bid in the auction. The auction includes a rule that prevents the buyer from reducing the price in the re-bid, and the auction further includes a rule that prevents the buyer from reducing the number of units in the re-bid.
US08463686B2	System for real time continuous data processing for investment portfolios A real time continuous data inputting, processing, scanning and displaying system for financial data and inputting variable boundaries of data for a variety of desired data characteristics. The process displays when the data characteristics fall outside their respective variable boundaries. Real time financial markets data and conventional data inputs are input into the system which is comprised of conventional and new computer processor enabled processes, clusters of central processing units, a report writer, terminal device, data disk, and interface. The data disks and real time financial market data and conventional data inputs and outputs are continuously referenced during the scanning process for exceptions to the boundaries of desired data characteristics.
US08463685B2	Masuda stick chart generation and display apparatus A stock price chart generation and display apparatus is provided to make future predictions, easily represent prediction results in chart form, provide users with information needed to grasp buy/sell timing using the resulting chart, and make predictions without depending on data on price changes and the like. The stock price chart generation and display apparatus includes Masuda stick curve generating and drawing unit which generates and draws short-term, medium-term, and long-term Masuda stick curves related to daily sticks, weekly sticks, or monthly sticks; and Masuda future stick curve generating and drawing unit which generates and draws short-term, medium-term, and long-term Masuda future stick curves related to the daily sticks or weekly sticks, in which the Masuda future stick curve generating and drawing unit includes medium-term Masuda future daily stick curve generating and drawing unit which generates and draws a medium-term Masuda future daily stick string of a predetermined number of days after today.
US08463675B1	System and method for operating an exchange traded fund that makes distributions from sources including capital in the fund to provide a stable or minimum distribution A system and method manages an ETF having shares traded on an exchange, having been provided by the ETF via an authorized participant. The ETF provides a distribution to such shareholders according to a set of distribution rules, which are published in advance. The distribution is paid using income derived from the capital assets of the ETF. If such income is insufficient to pay the distribution according to the rules, the capital assets of the ETF are used to pay the distribution to the shareholders to the extent that income is insufficient to pay the distribution according to the distribution rules.
US08463674B2	System and method for distributing mobile gift cards A system and method for distributing mobile gift cards is described. One embodiment, a computer-server-based method, receives a selection of a merchant with which to associate a mobile gift card, receives an indication of a monetary amount for the mobile gift card, receives an electronic payment for the monetary amount, applies the monetary amount to the mobile gift card, associates the mobile gift card with a recipient's phone number, and transmits a notification of the mobile gift card to a mobile device associated with the recipient's phone number, the computer server acting as a server-side wallet for the mobile gift card, the mobile gift card being usable, through interaction with the computer server, by the recipient for the purchase of goods from the merchant associated with the mobile gift card.
US08463673B2	User feedback in semi-automatic question answering systems A system applies rules to a set of documents to generate codes, such as billing codes for use in medical billing. A human operator provides input specifying whether the generated codes are correct. Based on the input from the human operator, the system attempts to identify which clause(s) in the rules which were relied on to generate the particular code are correct and which such clause(s) are incorrect. The system then assigns praise to components of the system responsible for generating codes in the correct clauses, and assigns blame to components of the system responsible for generating codes in the incorrect clauses. Such blame and praise may then be used to determine whether particular code-generating components are insufficiently reliable. The system may disable, or take other remedial action in response to, insufficiently reliable code-generating components.
US08463672B2	Method and apparatus for facilitating interim billing for IMS session using time-based interim accounting message to determine interim processing trigger A method and charging system for facilitating interim billing for an IMS session is provided. The method may include receiving time-based interim accounting messages at CDFs from NEs (i.e., CTFs) of an IMS network serving an IMS session, opening or updating interim CDRs for each NE serving the IMS session based on the time-based interim accounting messages, extracting accounting record numbers from the time-based interim accounting messages, the accounting record numbers uniquely identifying the time-based interim accounting message in relation to other interim accounting messages from the corresponding NE for the IMS session, and determining if a partial record closing trigger has been reached for the IMS session, wherein the interim processing trigger is a function of the accounting record number extracted from the time-based interim accounting message for the corresponding NE, an AII value, and a partial record closing threshold.
US08463671B1	Routing architecture for online and offline processing A system, method and computer program product are provided for billing purposes. Initially, a customer is associated with a policy. In use, an event is received that is associated with a customer and a category. It is then determined whether to process the event using an online charging platform or an offline charging platform based on the policy and the category. If it is determined that the event is to be processed using the online charging platform, the event is processed using the online charging platform for authorizing and/or charging the event immediately. On the other hand, if it is determined that the event is to be processed using the offline charging platform, the event is processed using the offline charging platform for billing the user at the end of a billing period.
US08463669B2	System for providing goods and services based on accrued but unpaid earnings A system for interfacing predetermined services to a user at a fixed location includes a processing platform running an operating system. Also included are a plurality of physical system resource interfaces for interfacing with available physical system resources. The physical system resources allow a user to gain access to the predetermined desired services. The system further includes a data store for storing configuration information for enabling the operating system to interface with the available physical system resources through the physical system resource interface associated therewith. A communication resource for interfacing with the operating system allows communication of the operating system with a central office for downloading configuration information to selectively enable ones of the available physical system resources to interface with the operating system through associated ones of the physical system resource interfaces in accordance with the configuration information and the predetermined service selected by a user. A plurality of configurations are stored in the data store, and each is associated with a predetermined service and one or more of the available physical system resources. Each physical system resource interface is uniquely associated with a defined one of the physical system resources.
US08463666B2	Managing consistent interfaces for merchandise and assortment planning business objects across heterogeneous systems A business object model, which reflects data that is used during a given business transaction, is utilized to generate interfaces. This business object model facilitates commercial transactions by providing consistent interfaces that are suitable for use across industries, across businesses, and across different departments within a business during a business transaction. In some operations, software creates, updates, or otherwise processes information related to an assortment plan, a merchandise and assortment planning assortment, a merchandise and assortment planning material, a merchandise and assortment planning product procurement arrangement, a merchandise and assortment planning sales price specification calculation, and/or a merchandise and assortment planning store layout element business object.
US08463665B1	System and method for event-driven inventory disposition A method and system for event-driven inventory disposition are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method may include detecting a disposition event associated with a given one of a number of inventory items. The method may further include evaluating each of a number of disposition channels with respect to the given item in response to detecting the disposition event, and dependent upon the evaluation, selecting a particular disposition channel through which to dispose of the given item. In one particular implementation of the method, detecting the disposition event may include detecting an indication that an expected profitability of the given item is less than a threshold value.
US08463662B2	Methods and apparatus for modeling relationships at multiple scales in ratings estimation Systems and techniques for generating item ratings for a user in order to allow for recommendations of selected items for that user. A set of known ratings of different items for a plurality of users is collected and maintained, and these known ratings are used to estimate rating factors influencing ratings, including user and item factors. Initial user and item factors are estimated and new user and item factors are successively added, with the original rating factors being progressively shrunk so as to reduce their magnitude and their contribution to the rating estimation as successive factors are added. When an appropriate number of user and item factors has been estimated, the rating factors are used to estimate ratings of items for a user, and the estimated ratings are employed to generate recommendations for that user.
US08463659B2	Protection of privacy in connection with shipment of products Disclosed are various embodiments for enhancing protection of privacy of purchaser contact details in connection with shipment of parcels. A shipping label can be generated that includes at least one contact detail that hides an actual contact detail associated with a purchaser. A carrier tasked to ship and/or deliver the product to an address designated by the purchaser can use the at least one contact detail to contact the purchaser. The attempts to contact the purchaser can be logged, and the contact details expired when no longer needed.
US08463654B1	Tour site image capture and marketing system and associated methods The present invention in one aspect is directed to a system and method for capturing a digital image, and preferably a collection of digital images, of a customer in a defined location, such as a museum, a garden, a zoo, a religious institution, a theme park, or any such site known in the art. The system and method provide a customer with a customized pictorial souvenir of a visit to the site. The souvenir can include other elements, such as “stock” images, alone or having had an image of the customer digitally inserted thereinto, and informational material. Embodiments are also provided that employ devices such as “smart,” interactive devices and read only or read/write devices.
US08463651B2	Non-instrumented perishable product tracking in a supply chain There are provided a system, a method and a computer program product for tracking an inventory distribution of a perishable product in a supply chain. The system receives shipment data and point of sale data for the product from every location in the supply chain. The system creates, based on the obtained shipment data and the point of sale data, a network graph that represents a flow of the product in the supply chain. The system identifies an age of unsold inventory of the product at each node of the graph based on the created graph. The system provides a notification to a user at each location that informs the age of the unsold inventory of the product at that location.
US08463649B2	Bidding for a request to reserve a service Methods and corresponding system are provided herewith that, in at least one embodiment, include the act or acts of: determining that a service provided by a restaurant is available for bidding. The service is provided for a particular time and a particular date. The methods and system also include receiving a bid for the service provided by the restaurant, in which the bid is associated with a first amount; storing the bid with a plurality of other bids in a storage device; and comparing the bid with at least one other bid that is submitted for reserving the service. The at least one other bid is associated with a second amount. The methods and system also include determining that the first amount is greater than the second amount; and outputting an indicia that grants the request to reserve the service provided by the restaurant to a highest bidder, in which the first amount submitted by the highest bidder is greater than the second amount.
US08463647B2	Electronic shelf label system An electronic shelf label system according to an embodiment includes a shelf label terminal, an advertisement terminal, and a management server. The shelf label terminal displays shelf label information based on received shelf label data. The advertisement terminal displays advertisement information based on received advertisement data. The management server transmits the shelf label data to the shelf label terminal and transmits the advertisement data to the advertisement terminal.
US08463644B2	Network-based sweepstakes system and method A system and method for automatically enrolling users of a website or other network-based service in sweepstakes. A user of 4 user computer system connects to a host computer system hosting a website or other network-based service and is awarded points for accessing features of the website or service. The points are displayed in real-time on the user's computer and transmitted to a database server, which maintains the user's point totals. The user is then automatically given a number of entries in a sweepstakes based on the number of points he or she has been awarded. Users may also be awarded points for accessing features of websites or services of third-party host computer systems.
US08463642B2	Electronic toll management and vehicle identification Identifying a vehicle in a toll system includes accessing image data for a first vehicle and obtaining license plate data from the accessed image data for the first vehicle. A set of records is accessed. The license plate data for the first vehicle is compared with the license plate data for vehicles in the set of records. Based on the comparison of the license plate data, a set of vehicles is identified from the vehicles having records in the set of records. Second vehicle identifier data is accessed for the first vehicle and for a vehicle in the set of vehicles. Using a processing device, the second vehicle identifier data for the first vehicle is compared with the second vehicle identifier data for the vehicle in the set of vehicles. The vehicle in the set of vehicles is identified as the first vehicle based on results of the comparison.
US08463638B2	Systems and methods for automatic scheduling of a workforce Systems and methods are disclosed for scheduling overtime and time-off for a workforce. In one embodiment, a method of workforce scheduling to handle an expected workload comprises, in an instruction execution system, receiving a first workforce schedule describing existing assignments of a plurality of workers to a plurality of shifts, each of the shifts being associated with a time range and a day; in response to a variance in the expected workload, selecting a modification to the first workforce schedule required to handle the variance in the expected workload during the day; and producing a second workforce schedule that modifies the length of at least one of the plurality of shifts to accommodate the modification to the first workforce schedule.
US08463633B2	Methods and systems for deploying a service workflow in a hybrid cloud environment A service workflow including ordered services is received, and a heuristic utility value is calculated for each service. A best node having a smallest heuristic utility value for a service is selected, and a best node identifier is placed in a node list. If the best node includes a parallel sub-workflow, potential next nodes are identified by generating potential next nodes from a data center that can perform a service associated with the best node with a minimum run-time value. Otherwise, potential next nodes are generated based on a data center associated with the service. A heuristic utility value is determined for each potential next node, and a new best node is selected based on the heuristic utility values. The identifying, determining, and selecting operations are repeated until the best node contains only the last ordered service. Data centers for each ordered service are identified based on the best node.
US08463619B2	Integrated real-time and static location tracking Location tracking systems and techniques are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a memory device and a processor configured to execute a plurality of routines stored in the memory device. The plurality of routines includes receiving of a plurality of patient locations as provided by a respective plurality of location-providing systems from one or more data sources, determination of a resolved patient location by selecting one of the plurality of patient locations based at least in part on a hierarchy of patient locations, and outputting of the resolved patient location. In some embodiments, the location-providing systems may include a real-time location system and a static location system, which may provide a current location and an assigned location, respectively.
US08463600B2	System and method for adjusting floor controls based on conversational characteristics of participants A system and method for automatically adjusting floor controls based on conversational characteristics is provided. Audio streams are received, which each originate from an audio source. Floor controls for a current configuration including at least a portion of the audio streams are maintained. Conversational characteristics shared by two or more of the audio sources are determined. Possible configurations for the audio streams are identified based on the conversational characteristics. An analysis of the current configuration and the possible configurations is performed. A change threshold comprising a minimum number of timeslices for at least one of the current configuration and one of the possible configurations is applied to the analysis. When the analysis satisfies the change threshold, the floor controls are automatically adjusted. The audio streams are mixed into one or more outputs based on the adjusted floor controls.
US08463599B2	Bandwidth extension method and apparatus for a modified discrete cosine transform audio coder A method includes defining a transition band for a signal having a spectrum within a first frequency band, where the transition band is defined as a portion of the first frequency band, and is located near an adjacent frequency band that is adjacent to the first frequency band. The method analyzes the transition band to obtain a transition band spectral envelope and a transition band excitation spectrum; estimates an adjacent frequency band spectral envelope; generates an adjacent frequency band excitation spectrum by periodic repetition of at least a part of the transition band excitation spectrum with a repetition period determined by a pitch frequency of the signal; and combines the adjacent frequency band spectral envelope and the adjacent frequency band excitation spectrum to obtain an adjacent frequency band signal spectrum. A signal processing logic for performing the method is also disclosed.
US08463597B2	Mobile electronic device and associated method enabling identification of previously entered data for transliteration of an input A mobile electronic device and associated method enable the identification of previously-entered textual objects in one or more custom wordlists to identify possible transliterations of textual inputs. Such textual objects can be stored as data in a Pinyin custom wordlist if it is in the nature of Standard Mandarin characters or it can be stored in a BoPoMoFo custom wordlist if it is in the nature of Traditional Chinese characters, or it can be stored in both if it is in the nature of both Standard Mandarin characters and Traditional Chinese characters.
US08463591B1	Efficient polynomial mapping of data for use with linear support vector machines Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for polynomial mapping of data for linear SVMs. In one aspect, a method includes training a linear classifier by receiving feature vectors and generating a condensed representation of a mapped vector corresponding to a polynomial mapping of each feature vector, the condensed representation including an index into a weight vector for each non-zero component of the mapped vector. A linear classifier is trained on the condensed representations. In another aspect, a method includes receiving a feature vector, identifying non-zero components resulting from a polynomial mapping of the feature vector, and mapping the combination of one or more elements of each non-zero component to a weight in a weight vector to determine a set of weights. The feature vector is classified according to a classification score derived by summing the set of weights.
US08463590B2	Algorithms for classification of disease subtypes and for prognosis with gene expression profiling Methods for generating a normalized expression signal for microarray data based on a theoretical distribution at the unit level to produce a normalized expression signal for the single microarray that is independent of other microarrays. The method typically includes receiving microarray data representing a plurality of probe pairs for a single microarray, determining, for each probe pair, differences between intensities of perfect match (PM) probes and intensities of mismatched (MM) probes, determining a difference signal, D, based on the determined differences, and scaling the difference signal, D, to produce an expression signal, DS. The method also typically includes normalizing the expression signal based on a theoretical distribution at the unit level to produce a normalized expression signal for the single microarray that is independent of other microarrays.
US08463589B2	Modifying a virtual processor model for hardware/software simulation A method of transforming a provided virtual processor model to a user virtual processor model. Also a tool, e.g., provided as instructions for operating in a host computer system for converting a provided virtual processor model to a user virtual processor model. Also a method of specifying one or more characteristics of a target processor to transform a provided virtual processor model to a user virtual processor model that when operating in a c-simulation system, simulates the operation of the target processor. For example, a method of specifying one or more characteristics of instructions to transform a provided virtual processor model to a user virtual processor model.
US08463585B2	Apparatus and method for modeling well designs and well performance In one aspect, a method of estimating fluid flow contribution from each producing zone of multi-zone production well is provided, which method may include: defining a wellhead pressure; determining a first inflow performance relation (IPR1) between pressure and fluid inflow rate at a first producing zone and a second inflow performance relation (IPR2) between pressure and fluid inflow rate at a second producing zone; determining a combined performance relation (IPRc) between pressure and fluid inflow rate at a commingle point; defining an initial fluid flow rate into the well from the first zone and an initial fluid flow rate from the second zone; generating a first fluid lift performance relation (TPR1) between pressure and total fluid flow corresponding to the commingle point using the initial fluid flow rates from the first and second production zones and at least one fluid property; and determining contribution of the fluid from the first zone and the second zone at the commingle point using IPRc and TPR1.
US08463581B2	Assembly-based parametric modeler Presently disclosed is a process and system for assembly-based parametric modeling having a single design environment in which the parts, components, and assemblies thereof may be designed concurrently. In embodiments of the present invention, every assembly has a deterministic parametric history supporting both top-down and bottom-up assembly design methodologies. Top-down components may be built in place, reducing the user interaction required to define the attachment and movement characteristics of the assembly. Bottom-up components may be inserted into an assembly using a parametric Insert Component Feature. The process and system also provides the ability to parametrically define the shape of an assembly in multiple orientations that still regenerate deterministically.
US08463576B2	Portable monitoring devices and methods of operating same The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to a portable activity monitoring device adapted to couple to a body of a user, comprising a housing having a physical size/shape that is adapted to couple to the user's body, an altitude sensor to detect a change in altitude of the user and to generate data which is representative of the change in altitude of the user, and processing circuitry to calculate: (i) a number or flights of stairs traversed by the user using the data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user, and (ii) a state of an avatar using the data which is representative of the number or flights of stairs traversed by the user. The device also includes a display to output data which is representative of the state of the avatar.
US08463573B2	Movement monitoring systems and associated methods Systems and methods are disclosed that monitor movement of a person, or of a vehicle ridden by the person, to determine speed, distance traveled and/or airtime of the person or vehicle. Accelerometer-based sensors, pressure sensors or Doppler sensors may be employed in these systems and methods. A liquid crystal display may attach to the person to display speed, distance traveled and/or airtime.
US08463571B2	Performing reliability analysis of signal wires A computer-implemented system, method, and storage device simulate a periodic voltage waveform in a network model of the integrated circuit design. The method then determines resultant current values in each segment of nets of the integrated circuit design resulting from the periodic voltage waveform and performs a Fourier transform of the periodic voltage waveform to generate a frequency domain representation of the periodic voltage waveform. The frequency domain representation comprises multiple Fourier terms, each of the Fourier terms is a frequency that is a multiple of the base frequency. Next, the method performs an AC analysis of the resultant voltage at each frequency of the multiple Fourier terms. The AC analysis provides an electrical current value for each of the frequencies of the Fourier terms for each of the nets. This allows the method to compute a root mean square current through each of the nets based on the AC analysis. Then, the method determines whether the root mean square current for any of the segments of the nets exceeds a current limit, and reports any segment of the nets for which the root mean square current exceeds the current limit.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10