Document	Document Title
US08500589B2	Hybrid electric vehicle powertrain with an enhanced all-electric drive mode A hybrid electric vehicle powertrain is disclosed. A gearing assembly mechanically couples an engine, an electric motor and an electric generator. During all-electric drive using the motor as a power source with the engine off, a clutch in the gearing assembly isolates elements of the gearing assembly from a power delivery path to vehicle traction wheels. A clutch may be used also to provide smooth engine starting torque when the generator acts as an engine starter motor.
US08500583B2	Aircraft starter generator A starter generator has an electric rotating machine having a rotating shaft and designed to carry two reverse operations—motor and generator. A first clutch is connected between the rotating machine and the first rotating shaft for transmitting rotations of the rotating machine to the first rotating shaft. A second clutch is connected between the rotating machine and the second rotating shaft for transmitting rotations of the second rotating shaft to the rotating machine. A continuously variable transmission is provided for changing the number of rotations transmitted from the second rotating shaft to the rotating machine. The rotating machine is supplied with electric power to rotate the rotating shaft, or the number of rotations of the rotating shaft is kept constant by controlling a transmission ratio of the continuously variable transmission.
US08500582B2	Plate-link chain A plate-link chain for a motor vehicle drive system including conical pulleys. The chain includes a number of link plates hingedly connected with each other by rocker members. The rocker members extend transversely to the longitudinal direction of the chain and within openings in the link plates. The rocker members and link plates bear against each other along curved contact surfaces to transmit power. Rocker member pairs roll against each other on facing curved rolling surfaces at a contact point that moves from an upper area above the center of mass of the rocker member cross section to a lower area below it. The ratio of the distance from the end of the upper area to the center of mass and the distance from the end of the lower area to the center of mass lies in a range of from about 1.1 to about 2.
US08500580B2	Torque sensor for a belt-driven conical-pulley transmission A torque sensor for a belt-driven conical-pulley transmission. A first ramp surface is rigidly connected to a shaft of a conical disk pair, and a second ramp surface is rigidly connected to a sensing piston surrounding the shaft and axially and rotatably movable relative to the shaft. Balls are positioned between and in contact with the ramp surfaces and with a guide surface rigidly connected with an axially movable disk. The guide surface is so configured that the contact points of a particular ball with the ramp surfaces, the contact point of that ball with the guide surface, and the center point of that ball lie in a radially oriented plane.
US08500557B2	Gaming system, apparatus and method of performing a game A game gaming system (10) comprises a gaming device (12) for at least part of a game at a first location (14) and an image capturing device (16) coupled to be in communication with a communications network (18) for capturing images of the gaming device. At least one output device (22) coupled to be in communication with the communications network is provided at one or more second locations (24) remote from the first location and a communication device (21) is provided at each of the first and one or more second locations. The at least one output device (22) displays the images of the gaming device enabling participants of the game at the one or more second locations to view the gaming device at the first location and at least one randomly selected participant participates in the game via the communication devices (21).
US08500555B2	Input device and game device provided therewith An input device is provided which can be caused to function as an output device as well. A game guitar controller (10) comprises: a set of fret buttons (37R-37P) each of which is operated in a state held by a player during a play; a triaxial acceleration sensor (40) that is provided on one of the two sides of the set of fret buttons (37R-37P) and that can detect accelerations; and a vibration motor (41) that is provided on the other of the two sides of the set of fret buttons (37R-37P) and that can generate vibrations.
US08500549B2	Gaming machine having payout for insurance and control method thereof A slot machine executes rescue pay when a value Ta of a unit game counter reaches Ta max.
US08500546B2	Method and apparatus for directing a game in accordance with speed of play In accordance with the present invention, a gaming device such as a slot machine calculates a speed of game play, and in turn determines a pay schedule based on the speed of game play. The pay schedule for higher speeds of game play typically provides a higher payout percentage, which attracts players and provides an incentive to play faster and for longer periods of time. The greater speed of play and time period of playing may actually increase revenues derived from the gaming device even though the payout percentage is higher. Speed of game play may be calculated by measuring the number of games played in a predetermined time period, or the time elapsed between games. The gaming device may select a payout table from a plurality of payout tables based on this speed. Alternatively, the gaming device may determine a multiplier based on the speed of game play, and adjust a base payout table in accordance with the multiplier.
US08500536B2	Slot machine game with selection bonus game having modifier symbols A slot machine has a player selection bonus game where a player selects concealed gamepieces from a group to reveal the value of the gamepiece. The preferred game has a burger building theme in which the game rules are related to building one or more hamburgers, and the hidden gamepieces represent burger ingredients. A particular selection allows the player to win larger prizes for future selections. Other designated selections may modify future selections still further (2× and 3× multipliers for double-decker and triple-decker bun selections). Certain gamepieces may change their function based on the context or state of the bonus game.
US08500532B2	Machine-implemented method of handling hand tiles/cards of a virtual player during a tile/card game and gaming apparatus A method performed by a gaming apparatus is provided for handling hand tiles of a virtual player during a tile game. The tile game is played using plural virtual playing tiles from which the hand tiles are drawn. The gaming apparatus stores a preference parameter set associated with the virtual player and including tile points of the respective virtual playing tiles and combination points of various permissible combinations of the virtual playing tiles. During a turn of the virtual player, the gaming apparatus computes priority points of the respective hand tiles according to the preference parameter set, and then, makes the virtual player discard one of the hand tiles that is selected according to the priority points.
US08500526B2	Variable set point all-electric pressure relief valve and control, independent from the automatic cabin pressure control system A system for maintaining a desired cabin pressure in an aircraft includes a cabin-pressure control sub-system; a pressure relief valve for operation in event of failure or malfunction of the subsystem; a pressure relief valve actuator for operating the pressure relief valve; and a pressure relief valve control (PRVC) for producing commands for operation of the pressure relief valve actuator responsively to a first set of signal indicative of aircraft altitude and to presence of cabin-to-ambient pressure differential (ΔP) that varies from a desired ΔP by a predetermined amount.
US08500511B2	System and method for toy adoption and marketing Provided are a method and computer system that provide a virtual world. A server of the computer system includes a storage subsystem that stores two or more items of different personalized information about multiple different users, including different user identifications and passwords associated with the user identifications respectively representing the users. The server computer system is programmed to accept login credentials including a user identification and password and validate the login credentials. The server computer system is also programmed to control formation of a first user account and storage of the first user identification and first password. The storage subsystem stores information about registration codes that have not yet been entered. Further, the server computer system is programmed to accept entry of one or more of the registration codes that have not yet been entered and, based on entry of the registration codes, to associate stored information indicative of the one registration code with the first user identification.
US08500486B2	Electrical plug connector The invention relates to an electrical plug connector, in particular to an electrical pin or socket connector, for a data transmission interface in the automotive field, having: a plug connector member (100) and a keyed mounting member (200) which can be mounted on the plug connector member (100) and which ensures correctly oriented insertion of an electrical counter plug connector on the electrical plug connector (1), the plug connector member (100) having a mounting projection (120) such that a wall (2) can be clamped between the mounting projection (120) and the keyed mounting member (200).
US08500474B2	Cable/harness test connector A wiring analyzer system with a zero-insertion-force (ZIF) connector/receiver interface. An electrical connection is made by inserting a male connector into a female receiver slot. During insertion into the female receiver slot, the male connector experiences minimal, if any, resistive force. The female receiver comprises a set of opposing spring contacts designed to pinch both sides of the wafer, making contact with the male connector. A pair of elongated plates has several sections cut out to correspond with each female slot such that when the male connector is inserted between the spring contacts the wafer passes through both plates. In order to create the necessary pinching action, a force is exerted on the plates, causing them to move a distance in opposite directions. This motion brings the plates into contact with the spring contacts, squeezing them together against the wafer and creating a firm contact.
US08500470B2	Plug connector having a releasing mechanism and a connector assembly having the same A connector assembly includes a receptacle (200) having a latching tab (2) defining a latching hole (21) and a plug connector (100). The plug connector includes a housing (1) having a latching nose (111) for latching with the latching hole and a releasing mechanism. The releasing mechanism includes two resisting beams (53) disposed on the housing and having two protrusions (531), a puller (71), and an operator (72) having two guiding portions (722) projecting toward and in front of the protrusions. The guiding portions slide beneath the protrusions, in response to a rearward movement of the puller, to tilt the resisting beams upwardly and lift the latching tab from a latched position to a released position for releasing the latching nose from the latching hole.
US08500469B2	IC card connector In a card accommodation portion, an upper section (14U) provided with contact terminals (16ai) electrically connected to an SD card (SDC) detachably attached and a lower section (14D) provided with contact terminals (18ai) electrically connected to an HG-Duo card (22) or a Duo card (23) detachably attached are formed in a stacked manner.
US08500468B2	Protective housing assembly and connector A connector, comprises a connector assembly; a main housing having an internal chamber for receiving therein the connector assembly; and a housing cover which mates with the main housing to cover the internal chamber. The main housing includes an opening at one end of the main housing with a removable and retractable cover permitting access to the internal chamber. A mating connector is connected to the connector assembly, the mating connector including a fastening tab; and the fastening tab including a main tab that is interlocked with the removable cover to prevent the mating connector from unintentionally disconnecting from the connector assembly. A protective housing assembly is also disclosed.
US08500467B2	Flash drive with swivel cover A swivel-type portable flash device includes a C-shaped swivel cover that rotates (swivels) relative to a housing between an open position in which a plug connector is exposed for insertion in a host system, and a closed position in which the plug connector is covered and protected by the swivel cover. The swivel cover is permanently rotatably connected to the housing by ring-shaped protrusions that are movably engaged inside corresponding recessed ring-shaped grooves formed in upper/lower walls of the housing, whereby the swivel cover is manually rotatable relative to the housing between the opened and closed positions. The swivel cover includes locking structures (e.g., locking notches) disposed on the ring-shaped protrusions, and the housing includes second locking structures disposed in the recessed ring-shaped grooves, where the first and second locking structures prevent rotation of the swivel cover when the plug connector is closed.
US08500459B2	Receptacle with a cavity for receiving a plug with a recess for receiving a component An electrical connector is provided with a plug portion having an upper surface on which electronic components can be disposed, and a receptacle portion for mounting on a circuit board. In the plug portion, a central recess is formed, which extends downwardly within the body of the receptacle portion so that the electronic components are disposed at least partially within the central recess. The plug portion has, on its lower surface side, plug side contacts that serve as electrical contacts with a terminal of the receptacle portion, and has a protruding portion for engaging the connector receptacle portion. The plug side contacts and the protruding portion are positioned outside of the central recess higher than a bottom plate portion which forms a bottom of the central recess.
US08500455B2	Magnetic connector having improved grounding member A magnetic connector includes an insulative housing having a chamber, a first contact retained in the chamber, a magnetic element having a receiving hole recessed rearwards from a front face thereof for accommodating the housing therein, and a grounding member exposed outside of the magnetic element to surrounding the magnetic element. The grounding member covers the front face of the magnetic element for mating with a counterpart contact. The grounding member exposed outside of the magnetic element and covers the front face for facilitating reliable interconnection with a counterpart contact.
US08500454B2	Electronic apparatus An electronic apparatus includes: a first connector; a second connector; a first electronic unit connectable to the first connector; a second electronic unit connectable to the second connector; and a printed circuit board that includes the first connector and the second connector between a first extended center line toward a unit board of the first electronic unit and a second extended center line toward a unit board of the second electronic unit on a first side of the printed circuit board when the first and second electronic units are connected to the first and second connectors, respectively.
US08500453B2	Apparatus and method for impact activity learning system An apparatus and method for impact activity learning includes a touch sensing element and display operating in accordance with a controller and display driver together with a sound circuit and image projector. The entire system housed in an impact receiving object such as a punching bag or floor mat. The user is prompted by a set of displayed image segments in response to which the user punches or otherwise impacts the apparatus to elicit an audible and visual response from the apparatus.
US08500452B2	Interactive education system for teaching patient care A patient simulator system for teaching patient care is provided. The system includes a patient simulator. The patient simulator includes a patient body comprising one or more simulated body portions. The one or more simulated body portions include at least one simulated finger that is configured to interface with a pulse oximeter to simulate an oxygen saturation of the patient simulator. In some instances, the simulated finger is further configured to interface with the pulse oximeter to simulate a pulse rate of the patient simulator. In some embodiments, the simulated finger may be calibrated to accurately interface with a particular pulse oximeter. Methods of utilizing the patient simulator systems, including the simulated finger for interfacing with a pulse oximeter, are also provided.
US08500444B2	Rotary kiln and battery material manufactured by the rotary kiln A rotary kiln includes a cylindrical shell that rotates about its own axis and that has a heat treatment chamber provided radially inward of the shell. In the rotary kiln, a heat treatment is performed on a process material in the heat treatment chamber to manufacture a battery material. The shell is made of a carbon material. Since the shell is made of a carbon material, the rotary kiln can suppress contamination of metal scale, which adversely affects the battery material, into the battery material.
US08500443B2	Method and device for purging gas production furnace A fluidized bed gasification furnace has a fluidized bed formed and a freeboard section F above a bed material so as to produce a produced gas by a reaction of raw material with a gasifying agent and take out the produced gas through the freeboard section. Upon shutdown of the furnace, inert gas is fed from below to the furnace for purging of gas in the fluidized bed with inert gas while steam is supplied to a freeboard section above the fluidized bed to purge a gas in the freeboard section with steam.
US08500442B2	Combustion gas analysis A chemical analysis method for determining the concentration of carbon monoxide, gaseous water and gaseous hydrocarbon in a combustion gas. The method includes the following steps: (a) directing wavelength modulated light from a single tunable diode laser at a wavelength in the range of from 2 to 2.5 micrometers through the combustion gas to a light detector to produce an absorption profile of the combustion gas (b) digitizing the adsorption profile of the combustion gas; (c) storing the digitized adsorption profile in a digital computer; (d) processing the digitized adsorption profile in the digital computer to produce an output from the computer indicative of the concentration of carbon monoxide, gaseous water and gaseous hydrocarbon in the combustion gas.
US08500431B2	Electrospinning control for precision electrospinning of polymer fibers The present invention includes embodiments that generally relate to methods and devices for control of electrospinning processes. Some embodiments include constant current electrospinning jets. Other embodiments include pressure control using a system of valves in fluid communication with the electrospinning fluid. Still other embodiments include control of one or more physical parameters.
US08500429B2	Method and means of lining a manhole An apparatus and method is provided for lining the wall of a manhole. The apparatus may include a liner assembly, which includes an expansion device, an auxiliary bladder, a primary bladder, and a liner. The auxiliary bladder is first inflated near the top of the manhole. Next the primary bladder may be expanded to press the liner against the wall of the manhole. The liner, being impregnated with a resinous material, is pressed against the wall until the resinous material cures and hardens. The expansion device, auxiliary bladder, and primary bladder are then removed from the manhole. The result is a repaired manhole wall.
US08500418B2	Internally supplied air jet cooling for a hydraulic pump A compressed gas powered machine is provided. The machine includes: an outlet and a hollow member fluidly connected to the outlet and configured to receive gas expended from the machine through the outlet the hollow member defining holes oriented to allow the gas contained in the hollow member to blow on various parts of the machine.
US08500408B2	Efficient wind turbine blades, wind turbine blade structures, and associated systems and methods of manufacture, assembly and use Wind turbine systems and methods are disclosed herein. A representative system includes a wind turbine blade having an inner region that has an internal load-bearing truss structure, and an outer region that has an internal, non-truss, load-bearing structure. In particular embodiments, the truss structure can include a triangular arrangement of spars, and/or can include truss attachment members that connect components of the truss without the use of holes in the spars. Spars can be produced from a plurality of pultruded composite members laminated together in longitudinally extending portions. The longitudinally extending portions can be connected at joints that interleave projections and recesses of each of the spar portions. The blades can include fan-shaped transitions at a hub attachment portion, formed by laminated layers and/or a combination of laminated layers and transition plates.
US08500405B1	Industrial stator vane with sequential impingement cooling inserts A turbine stator vane for an industrial engine, the vane having two impingement cooling inserts that produce a series of impingement cooling from the pressure side to the suction side of the vane walls. Each insert includes a spar with a row of alternating impingement cooling channels and return air channels extending in a radial direction. Impingement cooling plates cover the two sides of the insert and having rows of impingement cooling holes aligned with the impingement cooling channels and return air openings aligned with the return air channel.
US08500394B2	Single channel inner diameter shroud with lightweight inner core An inner diameter shroud for receiving an inner diameter base portion of a rotatable vane in a gas turbine engine has a single piece channel and a core. The channel has a leading edge wall, an inner diameter wall, a trailing edge wall, a radial outer surface, and at least two axial projections. The axial projections prevent radial movement of the core. The core has an outer radial surface that generally aligns with the radial outer surface of the channel. The core is movable in the channel in a circumferential direction and is configured to rotatably retain the inner diameter base portion of the rotatable vane.
US08500384B2	Cargo loader for an aircraft with an articulate scissor assembly This invention concerns an aircraft cargo loader comprising a deck platform; a front and a rear wheel assembly units; and a scissor assembly extending under the platform for supporting it and move it between an open and close position. The scissor comprises a first and a second elongated arm pivotally connected by a swivel joint. Each of the first and second elongated members have an upper end pivotally attached to the deck platform and a lower end pivotally connected to the rear and front wheel assembly unit respectively. One of the first and second elongated members is articulated and comprising an upper segment pivotally connected to a lower segment. The loader comprises a first controllable actuator to move the scissor assembly between the open and close positions and a second controllable actuator to actuate the upper segment relative to the lower segment so as to tilt the deck platform longitudinally.
US08500377B2	Container data center A container data center includes a container, and two spaced cabinets arranged in the container. A supporting apparatus is connected between the cabinets. The supporting apparatus includes two connecting members and an operation member. The first ends of the connecting members are fixed to the corresponding cabinets. The second ends of the connecting members are connected to opposite ends of the operating member. The operating member can be lengthened or shortened by rotation.
US08500374B2	Cutting tool and cutting insert having clamping recess therefor A cutting insert includes opposing first and second major surfaces and two side surfaces extending therebetween, two side abutment surfaces, each located on a respective side surface and a clamping recess which opens out to the second major surface and/or to the insert front surface. The side abutment surfaces converge towards the first major surface and the side surfaces converge in a direction away from an insert front surface which extends between the major surfaces and the side surfaces. The clamping recess does not extend beyond a mid plane, which is located midway between the first and second surfaces.
US08500368B1	Underpinning pile assembly and process for installing such pile assembly An underpinning pile assembly for supporting a structure upon the earth has at least one steel pipe with an interior passageway, a concrete pile segment positioned above the steel pipe, and a cable extending through an interior passageway of the steel pipe and through the interior passageway of the concrete pile segment. A locking assembly is connected to the cable and affixed within the steel pipe. This locking assembly includes a collar having an outer surface affixed to an interior wall of the lowermost pipe. The cable is affixed within an interior of the collar. A pair of wedges secure the cable within the interior of the collar.
US08500353B2	Draw-out type solid marker A draw-out solid marker includes a cylindrical shell, a rotary member thread-fastened to the rear end of the shell; a movable member thread-fastened to the rotary member in the shell to move forward/backward from the shell by rotating the rotary member; a cylindrical solid core connected to the front of the movable member to move forward/backward with the movable member and having an elliptical, rectangular, or triangular cross-sectional shape; and a cap coupled to the front end of the shell in order to apply various patterns in accordance with the position of the front end.
US08500340B2	Optical ferrule assembly An optical ferrule assembly is disclosed. The optical ferrule assembly comprises a ferrule body, a notch part, a retainer and an annular member. The ferrule body includes an optical fiber loading hole extending therethough in a longitudinal direction. The notch part is formed in the ferrule body and has a flat surface which receives the optical fiber loading hole. The retainer is arranged in the notch part and has a lower abutting surface opposing to the flat surface and an inclined abutting surface formed on one end side of the lower abutting surface. The annular member fits on an outer periphery of the ferrule body. When the annular member is brought into contact with a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the retainer on one end side thereof, the inclined abutting surface is opposed to the flat surface, and the lower abutting surface is inclined to the flat surface and separated from the flat surface. When the annular member is brought into contact with the whole of the outer peripheral surface of the retainer, the inclined abutting surface is inclined to the flat surface and separated from the flat surface, and the lower abutting surface is opposed to the flat surface.
US08500339B2	Locking device and method for use with a multi-fiber push on (MPO) connector module to prevent the MPO connector module from being decoupled from a receptacle A locking device is provided that is configured to be attached to the MPO connector module and placed in a locking state that prevents the MPO connector module from being decoupled from the receptacle. The locking device may be a locking clip that is configured to be inserted into a keying slot formed in an MPO connector module. When the locking clip is inserted into the keying slot and placed in a locking state, the locking clip prevents the MPO connector module from being decoupled from the receptacle. If the locking clip is placed in an unlocking state, a tool or fingers can be used to extract the locking clip from the keying slot, thereby making it possible to decouple the MPO connector module from the receptacle.
US08500338B2	Steering knuckle with pre-sealing A steering knuckle, which is provided for receiving an outer ring of a wheel bearing, and a wheel bearing arrangement with such a steering knuckle. The sealing arrangements of the wheel bearing has a pre-seal, which is designed as a labyrinth seal to provide sealing for an appropriate gap geometry. To this end, the steering knuckle has a collecting channel, which captures liquids and dirt particles and discharges them at the periphery. The hearing seal can be changed by this measure, so that savings are possible with a minimum of sealing action of the conventional sealing arrangement and with greatly reduced friction torque. Overall, the sealing action, which is now achieved by the bearing seal and the pre-seal together, is increased or remains at least at the same level while manufacturing costs are reduced.
US08500334B2	Slide bearing A slide bearing has at least one bearing shell for accommodating a component to be supported. The at least one bearing shell has a device for monitoring a bearing gap between the bearing shell and the component to be supported. The bearing shell is provided with a slide surface that has an elevation along each of its curved edge regions.
US08500330B2	Packaging bag and manufacturing method thereof A packaging bag is provided with a bag body and thermoplastic resin-made reinforcing members provided at the outer edge of the bag body. A window is provided in each reinforcing member. In forming the packaging bag, the bag body is placed between a pair of molds respectively having recesses to clamp these two molds so that a corresponding pair of the recesses are opposed to each other. Thereafter, in order to form the reinforcing members at the outer edge of the bag body, melted or softened thermoplastic resin is injected to fill cavities formed by the recesses of the thus clamped molds. Each of the cavities of the molds is formed so as to coincide with an outer shape of the corresponding reinforcing member. A projection extends from the bottom face of each recess at a part of the cavity corresponding to a part of each reinforcing member on which the window is provided. The outer edge of the bag body placed between the two molds is placed inside the cavities in a state of being held between the two projections.
US08500329B2	Medical examination or treatment device A medical examination or treatment device including a C-arm operable to be moved along a trajectory on a holder is provided. First magnet elements or magnetic field generation elements are provided on the C-arm, and second magnetic field generation elements are provided on the holder. The first magnet elements or magnetic field generation elements and the second magnetic field generation elements interact with one another to establish a magnetic field guiding the C-arm in a non-contact manner. The magnetic field moves the C-arm along the trajectory.
US08500319B2	Light source module and illuminating device A light source module includes a housing receiving a light source. The housing includes a transparent light emitting plate with a micro structure positioned on an outer surface thereof. The micro structure includes a number of first and second light guide projectors. The first light guide projectors are positioned at a middle part of the outer surface, the second light guide projectors are positioned at two end parts of the outer surface. The first and second light guide projectors extend along the outer surface and are perpendicular to each other, cross-sectional surfaces of the first light guide projectors perpendicular to the extending direction of the first light guide projectors are semi-circular-shaped, and cross-sectional surfaces of the second light guide projectors perpendicular to the extending direction of the second light guide projectors are triangular-shaped. An illuminating device including the light source module is also provided.
US08500318B2	Light guide plate and manufacturing method thereof The present invention provides a light guide plate and a manufacturing method thereof. The manufacturing method firstly forms a plurality of spherical recesses arranged at intervals on a light-emitting surface of a light guide plate body when the light guide plate body is formed by pressing, and then applies a diffuser particle with corresponding shape on a surface of each of the spherical recesses, so as to complete the manufacture of the light guide plate. When being mounted in a backlight module, the light guide plate benefits the backlight module of reducing the use of diffuser films, so as to reduce the thickness and weight of the backlight module.
US08500310B2	Indication plate Disclosed herein is an indication plate including: a plate member including a light-transmitting material; and an indication part provided at a surface on one side with respect to the thickness direction of the plate member, wherein the indication part includes a light-shielding part including a light-shielding material and covering the surface on one side, and a convex portion including the light-transmitting material, the convex portion projecting from the surface on one side and being exposed from the light-shielding part; the convex portion has a circumferential surface projecting from the light-shielding part, and an end face connecting tip portions of the circumferential surface to each other, and a metallic foil having a light-transmitting property is attached to the end face.
US08500306B2	Slim type backlight unit with through-hole adhesive heat dissipating means A backlight unit of the invention is reduced in thickness, weight and manufacturing costs but improved in heat releasing efficiency. In the backlight unit, a flexible printed circuit board has at least one through hole perforated therein. An LED package is disposed on a top portion of the flexible printed circuit board corresponding to the through hole. The backlight unit of the invention employs the flexible printed circuit board in place of a metal printed circuit board as a means to conduct current to the LED package. This produces a slimmer and lighter backlight unit and also saves manufacturing costs. In addition, the LED package is directly bonded onto a bottom plate by a heat conducting adhesive, thereby ensuring heat generated from the LED package to be released more quickly.
US08500304B2	LED bulb An LED bulb includes a connector for electrically connecting with a power supply, a heat sink disposed on the connector, an LED module mounted the heat sink, and an envelope secured to the heat sink and covering the LED module. The heat sink includes a tubular body, a plurality of first fins extending outwardly from an outer circumference of the tubular body, and a plurality of second fins extending inwardly from an inner circumference of the tubular body.
US08500292B2	Panel display module and manufacturing method thereof A panel display module and a manufacture method thereof are disclosed. The panel display includes a backlight module, a display panel, a clear cover, and reinforced glue. The backlight module has a light source module and a frame that positions the light source module and other elements to provide structural protection. The display panel is disposed on the light exiting side of the light source module. The clear cover is disposed on one side of the display panel opposite to the light source module. The reinforced glue is distributed encircling the frame and adheres respectively to the frame and to the portion of the clear cover protruding over the display panel. The reinforced glue has a first side adhering onto the frame and a second side adhering onto the clear cover.
US08500285B2	Projection type display apparatus A projection type display apparatus includes: an illumination optical system which has a first array lens and a second array lens each of which has a plurality of lens elements having a plurality of rectangular shape openings and arranged in a matrix form; an illumination light source device which has one or more light sources having a polarization degree not smaller than 50% and one or more polarizers for transmitting one type polarized light and reflecting other type polarized light. At least one set of the light sources are arranged so that the polarization directions of light fluxes having high polarization degrees may be perpendicular to each other, the light fluxes are combined by the polarizer, condensed to a single region by a light-flux condensing element, and then directed toward another illumination optical system located in a subsequent stage.
US08500270B2	Structure and method for face form retention in plastic eyeglasses and eyeglass frames Structure and method for face form retention in eyeglasses and eyeglass frames for substantially preventing creep from altering the face form. The method comprises providing an eyeglass frame front having a space in the bridge region for receiving a metallic strip, providing the metallic strip having a width approximately matching the width of the space in the eyeglass frame front and a thickness that is less than its width, and fastening the metallic strip in the space in the bridge region so that the width of the metallic strip rigidifies the eyeglass frame front to retain its face form. Various specific methods and structures are disclosed.
US08500266B2	AB block copolymer dispersants having an ink vehicle soluble block The present disclosure provides a aqueous colorant dispersion comprising a colorant and a polymeric dispersant, wherein the polymeric dispersant is a block copolymer comprising an A block and a B block, wherein the A block is a segment having a block size of about 5 to about 18 units, is substantially free of hydroxyethylmethacrylate, and comprises at least 50% by weight of a monomer, having the following structure: CH2═CRC(O)O(CHR1CH2O)nR2, wherein R and R1 are H, or methyl; R2 is alkyl of 1-4 carbon atoms or phenyl; and n is about 1 to about 20; and the B block is a segment comprising an ionic monomer and at least one hydrophobic monomer; and wherein the dispersant is neutralized. The disclosure further pertains to an aqueous ink jet ink comprising this aqueous colorant dispersion. Still further, the disclosure pertains to a method of printing that provides images with the requisite optical density and chroma needed for emerging ink jet applications.
US08500263B2	Inkjet printing method and inkjet printing apparatus An inkjet printing method and an inkjet printing apparatus are provided which can realize equal smoothness in both a printed area and in a non-printed area and produce a printed material having a uniform glossiness over the entire printed image. To this end, the clear ink is applied in two phases—a first phase that makes the print medium impenetrable by applying highly penetrative clear ink to the print medium stepwise or intermittently in a small volume at a time and a second phase that applies in a short period of time a greater volume of clear ink than that applied in the first phase of clear ink application. With this process, a clear ink layer of a uniform thickness is formed in both the printed area and the non-printed area on the surface of the print medium made impenetrable by the first phase.
US08500262B2	Inkjet recording device An inkjet recording device, wherein air can be retained in an ink supply pipe by using a simple structure without applying substantial changes to the inkjet recording device, a variation in an ink supply pressure is mitigated by the retained air, and ink can be ejected with high stability. An inkjet recording device is provided with an inkjet head for ejecting ink, an ink flow path for supplying the ink, which is supplied from an ink supply source, to a pressure chamber of the inkjet head and having at least a portion thereof constructed from an ink supply pipe, and an air retaining member inserted in the ink supply pipe, with the ink allowed to pass through the air retaining member, and retaining air in at least a portion of a space formed between the air retaining member and the inner surface of the ink supply pipe.
US08500255B2	Manufacturing method of liquid ejecting head, liquid ejecting head, and liquid ejecting apparatus A manufacturing method produces a liquid ejecting head including first and second flow path members having liquid flow paths that communicate with each other. An integrally-molded member is surrounds the second flow path member on the second flow path member side of the first flow path member to join the first and second flow path members together. A holding process defines a space portion for forming the integrally-molded member in a frame section. The frame section is brought into contact with a contact surface of a recessed portion in the face of the second flow path member opposite the first flow path member, with the first and second flow path members contacting each other such that the liquid flow paths communicate with each other. A molding process fills the space portion with resin, thereby molding the integrally-molded member, and joins the first and second flow path members together.
US08500247B2	Nozzle assembly having polymeric coating on moving and stationary portions of roof A nozzle assembly for an inkjet printhead. The nozzle assembly includes: a nozzle chamber including a roof having a nozzle opening and a moving portion movable relative to a stationary portion of the roof. An actuator is configured to displace the moving portion relative to the stationary portion and cause ejection of ink through the nozzle opening. A polymeric coating covers the moving portion and the stationary portion. The polymeric coating is absent from a gap between the moving portion and the stationary portion.
US08500241B2	Image recording apparatus There is provided an image recording apparatus including: a casing; a carriage unit which is movable in the casing in a scanning direction intersecting with a transporting direction of a medium; a liquid jetting head mounted on the carriage unit; and a controller which controls the carriage unit and the liquid jetting head so that the carriage unit reciprocates within a predetermined range in the scanning direction under a condition that the liquid jetting head jets the liquid to the medium, and that the carriage unit moves to a cartridge exchange position under a condition that the mounted liquid cartridge is to be changed, the cartridge exchange position being adjacent to the exchange port and being located outside the predetermined range in the scanning direction.
US08500240B2	Image forming apparatus, method of suctioning liquid from nozzles of recording head and computer readable information recording medium An image forming apparatus includes a recording head configured to have a nozzle face on which nozzles that discharge liquid droplets are formed; a cap configured to cap the nozzle face of the recording head; a discharge path configured to be connected to the cap; a suction pump configured to be provided in the discharge path and be made of a tube pump; and an atmosphere opening part configured to open an airtight space, created when the nozzle face is capped by the cap, to the atmosphere. The atmosphere opening part is configured to communicate with the inside of the cap at a position higher than a surface of liquid discharged into the cap, and a check valve configured to prevent a flow of the liquid toward the cap from the suction pump is provided in the discharge path.
US08500237B2	Liquid ejecting apparatus A liquid ejecting apparatus, including a head and a capping mechanism which includes: a surrounding member including a lip that surrounds the head and a diaphragm which closes a space between the lip and the head and which outwardly biases the lip; a guide fixed to the head; a holder which surrounds the head and to which the lip is fixed; a moving mechanism configured to move the guide and the holder relative to each other such that the capping mechanism is placed in one of a hermetically sealed state and a non-hermetically sealed state; and a restraining member which is provided on one of the holder and the guide and which is configured to restrain outward deformation of the lip by contacting the other of the holder and the guide, when the capping mechanism is placed in the hermetically sealed state.
US08500232B2	Head chip for ink jet type image forming apparatus A head chip for an ink jet type image forming apparatus with an improved cooling structure is disclosed. The head chip includes a plurality of nozzles to eject ink, a plurality of heaters for ink ejection to apply heat to ink so that the ink is ejected through the plurality of nozzles, and a cooling channel to circulate a refrigerant around the plurality of heaters for ink ejection.
US08500226B2	System for sensing capacity state of liquid container A system for sensing a predetermined pressure change at a port of a liquid container for supplying liquid to a printer, the system having a liquid delivery apparatus connected to a liquid container via a fluid line and a sensing arrangement connected to the fluid line, wherein the liquid container has an internal fluid pressure changing member configured so that contact with liquid being delivered by the liquid delivery apparatus causes the predetermined pressure change in the fluid line, and the sensing arrangement is configured to sense the predetermined pressure change in the fluid line.
US08500225B2	Reinforcing component for refrigerator The reinforcing component for a refrigerator, which is formed by mixing a base material as a synthetic resin material and a supplement component formed by arranging reinforcing fibers according to a pultrusion method, and combined with one or more portions of on one portion of an inner side of an outer case of the refrigerator to contact with foam, a corner of the bottom of the refrigerator or in a mechanic chamber of the refrigerator, an outer plate or an inner plate of a door of the refrigerator, and the interior of a side wall forming an inner space of the refrigerator can reduce the weight of the refrigerator while maintaining the strength.
US08500221B2	Traveling apparatus and braking control method for the traveling apparatus A parallel two-wheeled vehicle including a braking mechanism to directly brake two wheels that includes: a body; a pair of drive units coaxially mounted to the body; a T-shaped handle to be gripped by a passenger; a longitudinal inclination detecting device of the body; and a brake lever. A brake detecting device detects operational information of the brake lever. The body includes: a vehicle speed detecting device to determine a vehicle speed based on a relative angular velocity between the body and the wheels, which is detected by the drive units and based on an angular velocity detected by the longitudinal inclination detecting device; a target speed setting device to set a target vehicle speed based on an output of each of the brake detecting device and the vehicle speed detecting device; and a stabilization control device to control the vehicle to stably follow the target angle/target angular velocity/target vehicle speed. Further, powder brakes are incorporated in the drive units, respectively.
US08500217B2	Vehicle braking appartatus In a vehicle braking apparatus, a pressure control valve is controlled according to a brake operation amount of a brake pedal to thereby regulate hydraulic pressure and supply it to wheel cylinders. By controlling the pressure control valve by using hydraulic pressure output from a master cylinder as pilot pressure, the hydraulic pressure can be regulated and supplied to the wheel cylinders. A master cut valve capable of opening and closing a first hydraulic pipe that supplies the hydraulic pressure from the master cylinder to the wheel cylinders is provided. An external pressure supply pipe that supplies the pilot pressure to the pressure control valve is connected to the first hydraulic pipe on a side of the master cut valve closer to the wheel cylinders.
US08500204B2	Knock-down furniture assembly A ready to assemble article of furniture includes a connecting assembly to enable shipment of the article in a partially assembled condition. By the use of the connecting assembly, the user can quickly assemble the article of furniture. The connecting assembly includes brackets which are attached to the disassembled components of the article of furniture. The brackets are mateable with each other during the assembly process to secure the components together.
US08500196B2	Child seat having a crush zone A child safety seat is provided. The safety seat includes a generally L-shaped shell having a seat bottom and a seat back, a harness assembly carried by the shell for restraining an occupant in the seat, a restraining member for receiving a latching assembly for securing the safety seat into a support position on a vehicle seat in a manner, and at least one area of predetermined reduced material thickness formed into the shell in the rearward portion of the seat bottom. The area of reduce material thickness defines a crush zone of reduced capacity to resist a downward movement-induced load on the seat bottom indicative of the sudden forward travel deceleration of the vehicle.
US08500194B2	Seat occupant detection circuit isolation from seat heating circuit using a common mode choke An occupant detection system including a seat assembly comprising a seat cushion having a seating surface, a heating element adjacent the seating surface, said heating element formed of electrically conductive material, a heating circuit electrically coupled to the heating element, said heating circuit configured to supply an electrical current to the heating element effective to generate heat by the heating element, an occupant detection circuit electrically coupled to the heating element, said occupant detection circuit configured to detect an occupant presence near the heating element, and an isolation circuit interposed between the heating circuit and the heating element, said isolation circuit configured to prevent the heating circuit from influencing the occupant detection circuit, said isolation circuit comprising a common mode choke. The common mode choke is arranged so current or charge from an excitation signal for detecting an occupant that is received by the heating circuit is replaced so the excitation signal can used to accurately detect an occupant.
US08500192B2	Whole glass roof for a motor vehicle The invention relates to a glass roof for a motor vehicle essentially forming an entire roof surface between the front and rear vehicle-roof cross members. The glass panel can be connected fixedly to the vehicle body and can have one or several cutout openings fitted with an openable glass pane.
US08500190B1	Trailer assembly roof bow A roof bow for a trailer body for use with a commercial motor vehicle is provided, including a top wall, a floor, and a pair of side walls cooperating to define a cargo space, and a plurality of supports each extending substantially across the trailer body between the side walls. The top wall includes an interior surface and an exterior surface, and the supports are connected to the exterior surface of the top wall such that at least a substantial portion of the interior surface of the top wall is generally smooth. The roof bow has a uniform cross-sectional shape along its length and having a crown joining with side walls and a pair of attachment pads, the bow forming an interior cavity with the pads having inwardly extending leg extensions.
US08500181B2	Vacuum lifting tool A suction lifter comprises a suction cup to be placed against a fixing surface and having a deformable suction disc, the suction lifter being designed for forming a hollow space subject to a partial vacuum between the suction disc and the fixing surface, wherein the suction disc is arranged between the suction cup and the fixing surface, wherein the suction cup further has a circumferential cup rim surrounding the hollow space, and wherein a circumferential supporting area of an upper side of the suction disc facing the cup rim is supported against the cup rim under a vacuum condition. The suction cup rim and/or the suction disc rim are provided with projections which under a vacuum condition of the suction lifter and under a shearing force exerted on the suction disc impede a lateral displacement of the suction cup rim with respect to the suction disc rim.
US08500173B2	Medical-engineering coupling mechanism for connecting two medical instruments A medical-engineering coupling mechanism for connecting two medical instruments having a coupling plug and a coupling socket for inserting the coupling plug, so that the coupling socket and the coupling plug can be secured to one another by at least one spring-loaded notching connection. To produce a medical-engineering coupling mechanism that is easy to manipulate and ensures a secure notching connection of the components that are to be connected to one another, it is proposed with the invention that the notching connection consists of at least two notching hooks that are positioned on one of the components and are in active engagement with at least one spring element configured as a spring washer, and at least one notching recess positioned on the other component for insertion of the at least two notching hooks.
US08500171B2	Fluid distributor and collection device with collapsible laterals and knuckles A lateral for use in connection with a fluid distributor and collection device is provided. The lateral includes an elongated tubular conduit having a first end and a second end, a plurality of slots disposed along at least a portion of the conduit, and a connecting mechanism disposed proximate to the second end. Each of the slots is angled relative to the conduit to redirect a flow of fluid exiting the conduit.
US08500166B2	Strap retention device and airbag device Provided are a strap retention device that can improve the ability to reliably cut a strap, and an airbag device. A strap retention device includes an anchor having a retaining portion for retaining a first end of a strap, and a flat portion in contact with a back surface of the strap; a strap restraint member joined to the anchor for restraining movement of the strap in a width direction; a cutter for cutting the strap on the flat portion; a squib for applying a driving force to the cutter to move the cutter in a direction of the flat portion; and a housing accommodating the cutter and the squib and joined to the anchor.
US08500162B2	Inflatable curtain airbag with an integrated pillar guide Inflatable curtain airbags deploy smoothly with an integrated pillar guide that minimizes interference with a vehicle pillar. The integrated pillar is a thin piece of semi-flexible, semi-rigid material housed in a pocket that is coupled to a curtain airbag.
US08500159B2	Airbag for a vehicle occupant restraint system and method for producing an airbag An airbag for a vehicle occupant restraint system is provided. The airbag comprising a first and a second chamber, which can be inflated for the protection of a vehicle occupant; having an outflow element with an outflow duct via which the gas can flow out of the first chamber when the internal pressure in the first chamber exceeds the internal pressure in the second chamber and which can be compressed under the action of the internal pressure in the second chamber such that an outflow of gas out of the second chamber is counteracted, when the internal pressure in the first chamber is lower than the internal pressure in the second chamber, the outflow element has a two-layer material piece and the outflow duct is formed by folding in a portion of the material piece between the material layers of the material piece.
US08500154B2	Removable axle method incorporated within a collapsable motorcycle trailer A motor cycle trailer as shown in FIG. 1. wherein the axle item 1 can be easily removed by a locking pin arrangement without the use of tools, this enables collapsing of the trailer for storage purposes to be carried out within an acceptable time scale.
US08500153B2	Folding joint of golf bag cart A folding joint of a golf bag cart includes a main body fixed onto a cart frame and having a chamber formed inside the main body and a long slot formed on both sides of the chamber separately. A driving block is installed in the chamber of the main body. A spring installed at an upper end of the driving block, and a latch rod is disposed on both sides of the driving block separately. Two rotating members, each has an upper end coupled to the cart frame, a lower end coupled to the main body, and a slide slot with a latch slot formed on the slide slot. Thus, the folding joint can be folded or unfolded to secure the cart frame automatically, to provide a simple and convenient operation.
US08500142B1	Wheel assembly for a golf bag The present invention is may be used for attaching wheels to a golf bag. A bottom plate may have a side member attached at a first edge to extend upwardly. A strap of rigid material may be attached to the top surface of the bottom plate generally parallel to the first edge. A flat bar with an upwardly extending attachment member may be slidably inserted between the strap and the bottom plate to extend outwardly from a second edge that is opposed the first edge. A band of flexible material may be routed through a first band slot in the attachment member and a second band slot in the side member. An axle bracket with a rotatable axle with a wheel rotatably attached at each end is attached to the side member.
US08500139B1	Attachable scooter A scooter 1 is disclosed that may be linked to a child buggy or perambulator 100. A linking mechanism 200 is also disclosed for releasably linking the scooter 1 to the child buggy 100 thereby allowing the scooter 1 to be used as a scooter 1 or instead, to be linked to a buggy 100 and used in a linked configuration. The combination of a child buggy 100 and scooter 1 using the linking mechanism 200 is described along with a method of use of the mechanism 200.
US08500135B2	Rollerski or skate with braking system and method for braking said sports item A wheeled sport item, such as a roller ski or a roller skate, is suited to be applied to the foot of a user in order to allow the foot to slide in relation to the ground according to a movement direction parallel to the foot. The sport item includes an elongated body associated with two wheels; a platform associated with the elongated body, defining a supporting surface for the foot; and a brake for braking the wheels. The item also includes a connector for connecting the platform to the elongated body, which defines a rotation axis orthogonal to the supporting surface, in order to allow a rotation of the foot, and a controller sensitive to the rotation of the foot for the operation of the brake.
US08500131B2	Exhaust manifold gasket An exhaust manifold gasket having at least two layers and a series of tabs and recesses. The gasket has a first outer layer and a second outer layer each with an outer surface, an inner surface, two bolt hole flanges, and a central aperture. The surfaces are bounded by an outer perimeter portion, with locator tabs and recesses. A first inner layer having an outer surface, an inner surface, two bolt hole flanges, and a central aperture. The surfaces are bounded by an outer perimeter portion with two sets of foldable tabs. The first inner layer also has a bead circumferentially around the central aperture. A second inner layer may be provided having an outer surface, an inner surface, two bolt hole flanges, and a central aperture. The surfaces are bounded by an outer perimeter portion with foldable tabs and recesses, and a bead circumferentially around the central aperture.
US08500114B2	Sheet feeding apparatus and image forming apparatus A sheet feeding apparatus and an image forming apparatus are provided. When sheets are adsorbed to an adsorption conveyance belt, a suction shutter is switched from a block position to block a negative pressure to an adsorption position to adsorb the sheets by the negative pressure. When the sheets conveyed in an overlapping manner reaches a predetermined number and the next sheet is adsorbed, the timing to switch the suction shutter to the adsorption position is delayed compared to the timing at which a preceding sheet adsorbed in advance and a subsequent sheet overlap.
US08500100B2	Line retrieval system and method A line retrieval system comprises a retrieval device having a radially magnetized magnet adapted to be magnetically coupled to an object disposed on an opposite side of a structure for drawing the object in a desired direction relative to the structure.
US08500095B1	Electric floor jack device The electric floor jack device provides the advantages of a typical floor jack, and more still. The device includes a frame with wheels and casters, like a typical floor jack and also lift arms and lift lever, with pivot, also like a typical floor jack, including lift block and lift pad. The handle offers an advantage not enjoyed by floor jacks known. Further advantages provided by the device include screw shaft lift of the lift arms. The screw shaft lift of the lift arms enables the use of the electric motor. Further, as opposed to the pumped vertical lift, and difficult-to-control lowering typical of most floor jacks, the screw lift provides smooth, predictable operation, whether up or down. Further, the existing removable battery pack is like many used with other currently marketed tools, and provides recharging and interchangeability advantages enjoyed by many other tools.
US08500093B2	Plug assembly with plug head attachment A plug assembly includes a plug stem having a plug stem base, a plug head, and a fastening mechanism for fastening the plug stem base to the plug head, the fastening mechanism comprising at least two retainer clamps that surround and provide an interference fit between the plug stem base and the plug head. A method of replacing or attaching a plug head to a plug stem includes providing a plug stem having a plug stem base, providing a plug head, providing a fastening mechanism comprising at least two retainer clamps, and coupling the fastening mechanism around the plug stem base and the plug head to provide an interference fit between the plug stem base and the plug head.
US08500092B2	Secondary seat for gas regulator A fluid regulating device includes a valve disc and a valve port adapted to provide a secondary seal during an obstructed closing operation, whereby the valve disc directly engages a housing component of the valve port to maximize the integrity of the secondary seal and advantageously reduce the size and complexity of existing valve ports. The valve port comprises a housing and a cartridge slidably disposed in the housing. The valve disc directly engages a primary seat carried by the cartridge during a normal closing operation. During an obstructed closing operation, however, the cartridge is pushed into the housing such that the valve disc directly engages a secondary seat carried by the housing at a location that is downstream of the cartridge.
US08500088B2	Container and pharmaceutical product An anesthetic container includes a receptacle for holding the anesthetic and having a wall defining an interior space and a passage in fluid communication with the interior space. The container also includes a valve assembly that is attachable or is attached to the receptacle to control flow of anesthetic through the passage in the receptacle to a vaporizer. The valve assembly has a closed configuration when the flow of anesthetic from the receptacle is limited and an open configuration when the flow of anesthetic is enabled. The valve assembly is constructed so that at least the surface of any component of the assembly that will come into contact with the anesthetic on its storage or passage from the receptacle to the vaporizer is made of a metal or low-density polyethylene, and provides a fluid-tight seal to prevent the escape of the anesthetic without the use of a gasket in the closed configuration.
US08500077B2	Telescoping assembly for a CPU holder A telescoping assembly for use with a CPU holder including a mounting track with mounting holes for securing the mounting track to the underside of a generally horizontal surface such as a desk; runners disposed in the mounting track; a telescoping track, adapted for insertion into the mounting track and to engage with the runners therein; a pivoting member, adapted for engagement with the telescoping track and to engage with a CPU holder, the pivoting member comprising a track engagement member and a CPU holder engagement member being joined for 360° rotation about a vertical axis therethrough; and wherein the telescoping track is adapted for translation along the mounting track from a retracted position to an extended position, and when the telescoping track is in the extended position a CPU retained in the CPU holder is positioned past the edge of the generally horizontal surface.
US08500070B2	Personal spacecraft The present invention relates to a spacecraft structure that comprises a flat-wide body center fuselage, right and left side arch-wings and rocket propulsion power plant compartments, wherein the arch-wing is anchored to the fuselage via a foldable hinge mechanism. The fuselage structure is constructed as a single solid structure body of the spacecraft. A top portion at the rear of fuselage comprises a jet propulsion power plant to provide thrust during take-off from the airport. Both the left and right side arch-wings are anchored to a front and a rear portion of the center fuselage structure. Both the front and rear wing portions enable spacecraft lift and superior maneuverability during flight. The spacecraft is air tight and water tight and includes floatation devices.
US08500063B2	Hydraulic apparatus for aircraft actuators A pump unit installed inside a wing, and a panel body constituting part of a wing structure portion forming a surface structure of the wing are provided. The pump unit includes a backup hydraulic pump that can supply pressure oil to an actuator when a loss or reduction occurs in the function of an aircraft central hydraulic power source and an electric motor that drives this pump. Except for at least the panel body, the wing structure portion is formed from fiber reinforced plastics. The panel body is formed of a metallic material.
US08500060B2	Aircraft with a pressurized vessel An aircraft comprising a fuselage, a vessel associated with the fuselage, a propulsion system associated with the fuselage, and a lift system. The vessel is capable of storing a pressurized gas compressed to a density that allows the aircraft to operate under water. The lift system is capable of providing the aircraft lift to fly in air.
US08500058B2	Paper roll fixing device of printer A paper roll fixing device of a printer includes a first supporting base, a second supporting base, a first fixing member and a second fixing member. The first fixing member comprises a rotatable first fixing slab. The second fixing member comprises a rotatable second fixing slab. When the first fixing slab and the first fixing slab are pushed by a paper roll, the first fixing slab and the first fixing slab are rotated to the position without stopping the paper roll from entering or leaving the space between the first supporting base and the second supporting base. As a consequently, the paper roll can be smoothly introduced into or removed from the paper roll fixing device. By the paper roll fixing device, the paper roll can be introduced into or removed from the paper roll fixing device with a single hand or in a single step.
US08500057B2	Method and apparatus for threading a fibrous material web in a winder A method of adhesive-free threading of a fibrous material web for winding around a winding body includes the steps of diverting the fibrous material web in the circumferential direction of the winding body, guiding the fibrous material web with its unfolded leading edge ahead in the direction of a nip formed between the winding body and a drum and catching the leading edge of the fibrous material web by interaction with the fibrous material web and/or the winding body. An apparatus for adhesive-free threading of a fibrous material web for winding around a winding body has a diverting device for diverting the fibrous material web in the circumferential direction of the winding body and a mechanical guide for guiding the fibrous material web with its unfolded leading edge ahead in the direction of a nip formed between the winding body and a drum.
US08500054B2	Infusion set improvements A method and device for adjusting the unstored length of tubing directed to improving the use of infusion sets that deliver fluids to a user. The device includes a storage module and other features for adjusting, storing and securing the length of the tubing. The method of adjusting the length of the tubing to a desired length typically comprises removably attaching the tubing to the adjuster, adjusting the tubing by wrapping the tubing around a hub or post of the adjuster, and fixing the length of the unstored tubing by attaching the tubing to a securing device such as a friction structure or fastener.
US08500049B2	Shredder thickness with anti-jitter feature A shredder includes a housing having a throat for receiving at least one article to be shredded, and a shredder mechanism received in the housing and including an electrically powered motor and cutter elements. The shredder also includes a detector that is configured to detect a thickness of the at least one article being received by the throat, and a controller that is configured to operate the motor to drive the cutter elements to shred the at least one article and to set a flutter threshold higher than the predetermined maximum thickness threshold, if the detected thickness is less than a predetermined maximum thickness threshold. The controller is also configured to thereafter continuously detect the thickness of the at least one article being inserted into a throat of the shredder; and to perform a predetermined operation responsive to the thickness detector detecting that the thickness of the at least one article is greater than the flutter threshold.
US08500048B2	Process and apparatus for drying and powderizing material An apparatus for drying and powderizing organic material. The apparatus includes at least one chamber including: an intake adapted to receive warm air and the material into the at least one chamber, and an outlet adapted to transport warm air and powder out of the at least one chamber; at least one rotatable drive shaft in the at least one chamber adapted to rotated; and at least one blade assembly on the at least one drive shaft. The blade assembly includes a blade hub about the rotatable drive shaft and at least one blade coupled to the blade hub, wherein the at least one blade is adapted to powderize the material to expose a surface of the material to the warm air so that moisture in the material evaporates into the warm air.
US08500043B2	Device for spraying on pigmented liquids In a device for spraying on pigmented liquids by means of an air flow comprising a base body, a spray nozzle disposed at the front side of the base body, said spray nozzle having a needle acted upon by a spring disposed in the center thereof, a compressed air inlet and an adjacent compressed air duct, an inlet for a pigmented liquid, with a controllable compressed air flow supplied via the compressed air duct being guided past an inlet for the pigmented liquid where it is loaded with droplets of liquid, said droplets of liquid being discharged by the spray nozzle as long as the compressed air flow is maintained, it is provided that the nozzle (5) and the needle (12) are positioned in a nozzle carrier (10), with the nozzle carrier (10) being provided with the inlet (17) for the pigmented liquid, and with the nozzle carrier being removable or replaceable, respectively, as a whole.
US08500038B2	Gas splattered fluid display A fluid display includes a fluid source, a gas source, and a light source. The fluid source coherently emits fluid along a first trajectory. The gas source emits gas along a second trajectory that intersects the first trajectory. The light source is directed toward the intersection of the first trajectory and the second trajectory. The second trajectory may intersect the first trajectory at an oblique angle. The fluid source and/or the gas source may emit intermittently. The fluid source may emit a laminar jet or spherical fluid globules. The gas source may intermittently emit a gas vortex. The gas may be a flammable gas. The fluid may be water and the gas may be air. The fluid display may provide a “water sparkler” effect.
US08500034B2	Temperature controller for direct mounting to the object to be controlled An integrated solid-state temperature controller that is mountable to an object the temperature of which is controlled by the solid-state temperature controller, or is mountable in a space in which the temperature is controlled by the solid-state temperature controller. The solid-state temperature controller able to withstand and continue to operate in extremes of temperatures at which the object or space is controlled, and able to withstand and continue to operate in extremes of temperatures of the object or space when the temperature is not being controlled.
US08500027B2	High speed optical code reading In an optical code reader, at least a selected one of AGC processing and automatic focus control is performed in parallel with optical code decoding. Preferably, the selected process is initiated ahead of any signal which initiates decoding. Preferably, the selected process is performed periodically and independently of any signal which initiates decoding. In an embodiment, decoding and the selected processes are performed by different first and second processors, respectively, which operate in parallel, and the second processor performs the selected process without the first processor exercising any control over the performance of the selected process.
US08500023B2	System and method for providing sufficient illumination quality for barcodes captured with a color image sensor A barcode scanner device for reading a target barcode having a plurality of feature sections in a first color and a plurality of background sections in a second color. The device comprises: a light source for providing incident illumination onto the target barcode during reading of the target barcode, the light source having a plurality of independently selectable color wavelengths; a photodetector for receiving at least a portion of the incident illumination when reflected off the target barcode as reflected illumination, the reflected illumination used by the photodetector to capture a first color image of the target barcode when a first color wavelength is selected as the incident illumination and to capture a second color image of the target barcode when a second color wavelength is selected as the incident illumination.
US08500014B2	System and method for quality management utilizing barcode indicators A quality management system for products including a multiplicity of barcoded quality indicators each operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedance of at least one threshold by at least one product quality affecting parameter, a barcode indicator reader operative to read the barcoded quality indicators and to provide output indications, the barcoded quality indicators being readable by the barcode indicator reader at all times after first becoming readable, including times prior to, during and immediately following exceedance of the at least one threshold by the at least one product quality affecting parameter, and a product type responsive indication interpreter operative to receive the output indications and to provide human sensible, product quality status outputs.
US08500001B2	Barcode recognition method A barcode recognition method is provided for recognizing a barcode to derive effective barcode information thereof. The barcode includes a plurality of segments. In the method, every time the barcode is scanned and recognized, any segment, in which a barcode information fragment carried therein is able to be derived, is recorded as an effective segment. And then the effective segments are selected and combined to generate a plurality of segment combinations. The information carried by the segment combinations is respectively verified by the checksum thereof, so as to find out the segment combination, which is successfully verified by the checksum thereof, to be the effective combination. Every time the barcode is scanned and recognized, only part of the segments of the barcode has to be successfully recognized, and the effective segments derived are combined and verified, so as to quickly recognize the barcode.
US08499996B2	Method for the quantitative determination of soldering agent residues A method for quantitatively determining flux material residues remaining on a heat exchanger after a preceding soldering process is provided. To this end, a fluid is applied to the heat exchanger, wherein the remaining quantity of flux material on the heat exchanger after the preceding soldering process is derived from the concentration of soldering agent in the fluid.
US08499990B2	Landing net holster The present invention provides a stabilized belt mounted fish landing net holster for anglers. The holster includes a belt-mounted base to which a cylindrical sleeve, which holds the handle of a landing net, is mounted in a vertical plane when the holster is worn on the belt of an angler or mounted to other gear such as back packs. The holster keeps the landing net secure, out of the way while fishing or walking and is easily withdrawn for use.
US08499987B2	Support element for a carry strap A strap has an extension element and a support element. The extension element joins with an article, such as a bag, backpack, or purse. The support element is secured to the extension element and has a plurality of sipes that enhance the flexibility of the strap. In another configuration, the support element has a central area formed from a foam that is more compressible than a foam forming end areas. In yet another configuration, the support element has a wedge-shaped cross-section.
US08499983B2	Tank having a piston pressurized by hot gas The tank comprises a variable volume chamber containing a liquid and defined by a wall; and a piston suitable for moving in the tank under thrust from powder gas at a temperature much higher than that of the liquid in order to decrease the volume of the chamber. The tank also comprises a deformable elastomer membrane pressed against a face of the piston outside the chamber, the membrane being suitable for thermally protecting the wall and for providing sealing between the piston and the wall.
US08499975B2	Refrigerator beverage flavor dispenser with flavor strength adjustment A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet, a door for providing access to within the refrigerator cabinet, and a beverage dispenser. The beverage dispenser may be positioned at the door. The beverage dispenser includes a water source for supplying water, a beverage flavor source containing a flavor medium and having a flavor source opening with and adjustable size, and a user interface. The user interface is connected to the beverage flavor source to control the amount of flavor medium dispensed by the beverage flavor source through the flavor source opening. The amount of flavor medium dispensed will determine the flavor strength of a flavored beverage after the flavor medium has mixed with water or another liquid.
US08499967B2	Methods and apparatus for dispensing solid articles An apparatus for dispensing solid articles includes a housing and at least one vacuum source. The housing defines a hopper chamber to hold the articles and a dispensing channel fluidly connected to the hopper chamber. The dispensing channel has an inlet and an outlet defining a dispensing flow path therebetween. The vacuum source is adapted to provide a vacuum pressure and induce a gas flow in the housing. The apparatus is configured to generate a forward drive gas flow from the vacuum pressure and induced gas flow, and the forward drive gas flow conveys articles through the dispensing channel along the dispensing flow path in a direction from the inlet to the outlet to dispense the articles.
US08499963B2	Culinary article having a corrosion-resistant and scratch-resistant non-stick coating The present disclosure relates to a culinary article including a metal substrate having a concave inner face intended to be placed on a side in which food can be introduced into the article and a convex outer face intended to be placed facing a heat source. The inner face being coated in succession, starting from the substrate, with a hard enamel base, which is rough and contains no lead or cadmium, and then with a non-stick coating covering the hard layer. The present disclosure also relates to a method of manufacturing such an article.
US08499961B1	Egg caddy system An egg caddy system for holding eggs in an immobilized position featuring a base with a plurality of egg protrusions disposed in the top surface. The egg protrusions may be arranged in a linear fashion or in parallel sections or groups. A flange extends downwardly and perpendicularly from the bottom surface of the base and forms a T-shaped cross-section. The flange can be inserted between two surfaces such as countertops, sinks, and stoves.
US08499949B2	Color coding lock A locking device having at least one first segment, at least one second segment situated so as to be capable of being moved relative to the first segment, at least one first segment and at least one second segment being capable of assuming at least one first and at least one second position relative to one another, and at least one segment having at least one indicator area that can be substantially permanently modified in at least one physically perceivable property, wherein a movement that is required in order to open and/or close the locking device immediately moves the position of at least one first segment relative to at least one second segment at least temporarily from the first position into the second position, and effects the modification of the physically perceivable property.
US08499945B2	Crane, in particular mobile crane with a narrow track and enlarged supporting base A mobile crane includes an undercarriage with a middle section and two parallel crawler carriages; a superstructure on which a boom is mounted, the superstructure being connected to the undercarriage by a rotary joint; two longitudinal outriggers connected to the undercarriage and extending in the longitudinal direction between the crawler carriages; and two transverse outriggers connected to the undercarriage and extending outside the crawler carriages. One of the longitudinal outriggers has an end with a transverse beam supported by spaced apart outrigger cylinders which provide an extended tipping edge to further stabilize the crane.
US08499943B1	Decorative magnetic tool holding apparatus and method of holding scissors A magnetic tool holding apparatus having: a) a plastic molding having a front tool holding side portion, a similarly dimensioned rear side portion and a peripheral edge extending between the front and rear side portions; b) a magnetic receptor opening, dimensioned to closely receive and tightly hold a magnet, extending from and the rear side portion of the plastic molding, but said opening not extending entirely through the molding to the front side portion; c) wall attachment means on the rear wall side of the molding for attachment to a wall; and, d) a magnet for insertion within the magnet receptor opening. A method of holding scissors on a wall adjacent to where one is standing and working comprising the following steps: a) obtaining an apparatus as described above; b) positioning and turning screws adjacent into a wall adjacent to where one is working; c) mounting the apparatus on the wall so that the heads of the screws are received in keyhole pockets on the apparatus; and, d) touching the scissors against front side portion of the apparatus. The scissors are then magnetically held thereby.
US08499930B2	Undergarment hanger An undergarment hanger suspending by a hanger or hook; thin and dual sided receiving pouches with side access openings for storing a wide range and sizes of undergarment clothing, accessories, and swimsuits. In addition, the shape of the undergarment hanger reduces creases and dimples formed on the stored article of clothing and the like. Fabric or other material may be provided adjacent the top, bottom and side access openings to rigidize the undergarment receiving pouches.
US08499924B2	Chip component carrying method and system, and visual inspection method and system A method and a system for stabilizing the sight line of a chip component being carried on two discs, for stabilizing delivery of the chip component between the two discs, and improving and stabilizing the inspection accuracy in the visual check of the chip component. This is achieved by employing a mechanism for carrying the chip component while supporting it on the horizontal plane of the first rotary disc and then carrying the chip component while suction-holding it on the vertical plane of the second rotary disc. When the chip component is carried on the first rotary disc, the upper surface and one side face of the chip component are imaged by first and second cameras. When the chip component is carried on the second rotary disc, the lower surface and the other side face of the chip component are imaged by third and fourth cameras.
US08499922B2	Chip discharge device of machine tool Scraping plates include: a first scraping plate 11 attached to chains 10, with an end surface 11c′ thereof facing a receiving plate 14 being deviated from an attachment point c′ where the first scraping plate 11 is attached to the chains 10, by a distance L1 to an opposite side of an advance direction a of the chains 10; and a second scraping plate 12 attached to the chains 10, with an end surface 12c′ thereof facing the receiving plate 14 being deviated from an attachment point d′ where the second scraping plate 12 is attached to the chains 10, by a distance L2 smaller than the distance L1 of the first scraping plate 11 to the opposite side of the advance direction a.
US08499919B2	Machine for the production of pharmaceutical products A machine for the preparation of pharmaceutical products has a pocket conveyor, mobile along a loop-shaped path and provided with a plurality of pockets, each adapted to receive and withhold a respective container, and a transfer device for transferring the containers with a rectilinear motion between the respective pockets and at least one operating station for executing an operation on the containers themselves.
US08499914B2	Arrangement for shifting at least two freewheels An arrangement for coupling at least two freewheels independent of an associated shaft of a gear mechanism comprises at least one shifting device that comprises an actuation device and a shifting device. The shifting device can be axially displaced with the actuation device that is arranged at least partially in the shaft.
US08499913B2	Shape memory alloy actuator system and method An actuator assembly may comprise a housing, a shaft, a shape memory alloy (SMA) torque tube, and first and second unidirectional bearings. The SMA torque tube may rotate the shaft. The first unidirectional bearing may limit rotation of the shaft relative to the SMA torque tube to a first direction. The second unidirectional bearing may prevent rotation of the shaft relative to the housing along a second direction opposite the first direction.
US08499912B2	Torque converter with lock-up clutch A torque converter for an automatic transmission includes a first fluid flow path for supplying a fluid to a pump cavity, a second fluid flow path for removing the fluid from the pump cavity, and a third fluid flow path for supplying a hydraulic signal to a lock-up clutch. The third fluid flow path is separate and distinct from the first fluid flow path and the second fluid flow path. A sleeve divides a stepped axial bore in the turbine output shaft into an inner stepped axial bore cavity, which is part of the third fluid flow path, and an outer stepped axial bore cavity, which is part of the first fluid flow path. The torque converter further includes an isolator assembly having a twenty degree rotational travel dampening distance.
US08499903B2	Suspension device In a suspension device (S) comprising a motion transforming mechanism (T) for transforming a linear motion of a linear motion member (1) into a rotational motion of a rotating member (2) and a motor (M) connected to the rotating member (2) in the motion transforming mechanism (T), an air spring (AS) is provided, the air spring (AS) including a tubular air chamber (22) connected to the motor (M), an air piston (37) connected to the linear motion member (1) and being tubular and smaller in diameter than the air chamber (22), and a diaphragm (27) interposed between the air chamber (22) and the air piston (37), a stopper (38a) is provided on an outer periphery of the air piston (37), and a stopper seat (46) is provided on an inner periphery of the air chamber (22) so as to be put in abutment against the stopper (38a) upon maximum extension of the suspension device involving relative separation of the air chamber (22) and the air piston (37) with respect to each other.
US08499894B2	Lubrication structure for multi-speed transmission A lubrication structure for a multi-speed transmission has a lubrication structure in which a gear shaft is provided with cam guide grooves in an inner cavity thereof. A lubricating oil is introduced into the inner cavity by way of oil feed introducing holes which are bored in one end portion of the gear shaft so as to provide communication between the inside and the outside of the gear shaft. The lubricating oil is led in the axial direction along the inner peripheral surface of the inner cavity by axial oil feed grooves formed by cutting along the inner peripheral surface of the inner cavity in parallel to the cam guide grooves. The lubricating oil is led out to the engagement switch-over mechanism by radial oil feed holes bored in radial directions so as to communicate with the axial oil feed grooves at axial-direction positions where pin members are located.
US08499892B2	Integrated rotary valve A system in some embodiments includes a machine block comprising features configured to support moving machine components within a lubricating fluid, wherein the machine block includes an integral valve block configured to route the lubricating fluid through a first filter without a second filter and configured to route the lubricating fluid through the second filter without the first filter. Further embodiments include a method that includes switching circulation of a lubricant between a first filter and a second filter in response to an angular position of a valve disposed in a valve block integral to a machine block having moving components lubricated by the lubricant.
US08499851B2	Fixed structure of an eccentric rod, and vibration generator An electric toothbrush as a vibration generator is provided with a case, a motor, an eccentric rod, a stem, and an oral hygiene member. The eccentric rod has an eccentric weight portion and a rod portion connected to a drive shaft of the motor. The angle between the first central axis of the eccentric weight portion and an extension line, defined by extending the second central axis of the rod portion towards the eccentric weight portion, is greater than 0 degrees and equal to or less than approximately 10 degrees in a state in which one end of the eccentric rod is not inserted into a shaft receiving portion. In this way, a fixed structure of an eccentric rod and a vibration generator are obtained which reduce noise generated by vibration when run at high as well as at low rotation speeds.
US08499850B2	Screwdriving power tool with an axially operated percussion mechanism The screwdriving power tool includes a hollow spindle (8) rotatably supported in the tool housing (4) and driven by a motor (26), a clutch (30) that rotatably connects and disconnects the hollow spindle (8) with and from the motor (26), respectively, in engagement and disengagement positions of the clutch (30), a screwing-in spindle (6) connected with a chuck (10) for a working tool (12) and connected with the hollow spindle (8) for a joint rotation therewith and for an axial displacement relative thereto, and a percussion mechanism (14) for applying a pulsed axial force to the screwing-in spindle (6), with the clutch (30) being brought into its engagement position by the screwing-in spindle (6) by being displaced against a biasing force of the clutch springs (40, 44), and being locked in its engagement position.
US08499847B2	Landing pad with a built-in fire suppressor A landing pad with an inbuilt fire suppressor that includes at least one first interlocking unit. The interlocking unit includes a landing surface, wherein the landing surface includes openings distributed thereon; and at least one interlocking mechanism located along its periphery. The interlocking mechanism is adapted to interconnect with a corresponding interlocking mechanism from another interlocking unit. A hollow chamber is located beneath the landing surface such that the hollow chamber is in fluid communication with the openings. A heat conductive layer is arranged to span across the hollow chamber thereby subdividing the hollow chamber into an upper section and a lower section. The upper section is in fluid communication with the openings. The heat conductive layer is adapted to dissipate heat from a localized point thereon to over the entire heat conductive layer.
US08499840B2	Downhole release joint with radially expandable member A downhole releasable tubular connection includes a joint between two tubing strings, wherein one of the two tubing strings is radially expanded and plastically deformed by an expansion device. When the expansion device is moved adjacent to the joint, a threaded connection mechanism in the joint reacts to the radially outward forces of the expansion device and releasably expands, thereby decoupling the tubing strings.
US08499835B2	Well service compositions for consolidation of particulates in subterranean coal seams A method of agglomerating coal particles in a subterranean formation having a coal seam, comprising the steps of providing (a) a fluid having an aqueous medium and a first collector and/or a frother; (b) pumping the fluid into the formation and (c) contacting coal particles in the formation thereby agglomerating the contacted coal particles.
US08499834B2	Milling tool for establishing openings in wellbore obstructions A milling tool which includes a nose cutting portion, a cutting section having a plurality of hardened cutters and a shaft portion. A wear pad is disposed on the cutting section and shaft portion. Upon the shaft portion, the wear pad extends radially outwardly to an engagement diameter that exceeds the maximum cutting diameter of the cutters.
US08499825B2	Method for manufacturing heat transfer member, power module, vehicle inverter, and vehicle The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a heat transfer member which method allows peel-off and cracking possibly caused by thermal expansion to be inhibited. That is, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a heat transfer member 10, the method at least including a step of forming metal powder into a coating film 12 on a surface of a base material 11 by spraying the metal powder in a solid state onto the surface of the base material 11 together with compressed gas. In the film forming step, a spraying pressure at which the metal powder is sprayed onto the surface of the base material 11 is set so that the coating film 12 has a porous structure.
US08499824B2	Heat sink A heat sink assembly comprises a base having one or more slots, and further comprises one or more fins, each having an end configured for insertion into a respective one of the slots. Each fin end has a first surface that is configured for conformally engaging a first slot sidewall for good thermal conduction from the base into the fin, and has a second surface configured for cold welding to a second slot sidewall for good mechanical fastening of the fin to the base. The combined thermal bonding and cold-welding engagement are produced by pressing the fin ends of the fins into the base slots at a controlled pressing rate. Further, leading and/or trailing edges of the fins may be beveled to improve airflow directed edgewise across the fins.
US08499814B2	Chain locking device for window blind chain The invention is a chain locking mount for mounting the roller chain portion of a roller blind to a support surface such as a wall or window frame. The mount is configured to prevent the chain from being operated when the mount loosens from the support surface. The mount includes a housing with an aperture formed therein which is dimensioned to permit the roller chain to pass through the aperture. The mount further includes a lock member mounted adjacent the aperture, the lock member being movable between a locked position wherein the chain is prevented from moving through the aperture and an open position wherein the chain is free to move through the aperture. The mount is secured to the surface by a screw, the screw being coupled to the lock mechanism to retain the lock member in its open position when the screw is tightened to the surface. The lock member is biased towards its locked position so that the lock member moves towards its locked position when the screw is loosened from the surface.
US08499804B2	Cable lock bag A bag includes a body portion defining a pouch having an open end and a strengthening rib. A strap of the bag has a first end connected to the body portion adjacent a first side of the open end, and a locking mechanism is connected to the body portion adjacent a second side of the open end. The locking mechanism is arranged to releasably engage a second end of the strap such that the bag can be connected to immovable objects to prevent theft of the bag. Further, a closing mechanism is disposed on the body portion and arranged to close the open end. The closing mechanism has a moveable head that is arranged to engage the second end of the strap when the strap is engaged with the locking mechanism, such that unauthorized access to the contents of the open end is prevented when the bag is locked.
US08499802B2	Fuel pump nozzle with manually operated switch lever and hold-open aid A fuel pump nozzle for delivering fuel, with a manually operated switch lever which is movable between a closed position, in which there is no delivery of fuel, and an open position, in which fuel is delivered, wherein the switch lever is biased by a restoring spring in the direction of the closed position and automatically returns to the closed position when the manual force applied declines, wherein the pump nozzle is provided with a hold-open aid which reduces the force required to hold the switch lever in a particular open position compared to the forces required to hold the switch lever open in other open positions.
US08499784B2	Lock valve in particular for a strip processing unit An air-lock valve (1), especially for a band processing plant, provided for closing a gap-like opening (3), traversed by a flexible band substrate (4), between two different plant sections, featuring at least one moveable sealing body (7), cooperating with a sealing surface (5), when it closes said opening (3), and eventually said band substrate (4) is being firmly mounted between said body (7) and sealing surface (5) during the closing operation of said air-lock valve (1), is characterized, according to the invention, in that the sealing surface (5) surrounds opening (3) in frame-like fashion, and in order to close opening (3), said body (7) may be pressed in such a fashion upon sealing surface (5) and/or upon band substrate (4), traversing said opening (3), that it obstructs said opening (3) at least due to indirect juxtaposition at the edges of said sealing surface (5).
US08499783B2	Gate valve with seals A gate valve for mounting in a pipeline comprises a valve body and a gate mounted in the valve body so as to be movable between an open position, and a closed position where a valve opening formed in the valve body is closed by the gate. The gate comprises two opposed faces spaced from the transverse plane of the gate, at least one face being provided with at least two seals that each extend around the face one seal being located within the periphery of the other such that both seals, when the gate is in the closed position, seal against a seat of the valve body to seal against the pressure of fluid acting on the gate in use. In one embodiment, a gate has four seals in total, two on the upstream gate face and two on the downstream gate face.
US08499781B2	Flush control valve core assembly A flush control valve core assembly is provided including a valve core body, a back spring accommodated in the valve core body, a valve piece and a valve shaft. The valve piece includes a discharge hole. A portion of the back spring extends as a pin structure, which is able to slidably move in the discharge hole. The pin structure is formed by a free end of the back spring horizontally bending towards the center, and then bending downwards vertically. The back spring of the flush control valve core assembly has a smaller size, which is more reliable and more easily mounted.
US08499780B2	Cassette system integrated apparatus A cassette integrated system. The cassette integrated system includes a mixing cassette, a balancing cassette, a middle cassette fluidly connected to the mixing cassette and the balancing cassette and at least one pod. The mixing cassette is fluidly connected to the middle cassette by at least one fluid line and the middle cassette is fluidly connected to the balancing cassette by at least one fluid line. The at least one pod is connected to at least two of the cassettes wherein the pod is located in an area between the cassettes.
US08499768B1	Nail tool holder and kit A nail tool holder includes a container having a container base and a lid assembly that together form a storage chamber for nail tools. The container preferably includes a cleaning solution at the bottom of the chamber, means for supporting at least one nail tool from the lid assembly so that the nail tool can be supported at a handle thereof and with the lid assembly including an intermediate piece and a cover piece. A support bar extends outwardly from a container sidewall in a pivotal manner.
US08499763B2	Connector for coupling a tracheal tube to an auxiliary device Various embodiments of a connector assembly are provided to removably couple a proximal end of a tracheal tube to components associated with a ventilator or an anesthesiology machine. The disclosed embodiments include a compression fitting, which creates an airtight seal between walls of the tracheal tube and components of the compression fitting, thus allowing air to flow to and from a patient.
US08499758B2	Inhalation device The present invention relates to an inhalation-activatable device for administration of medicament in powder form to the respiratory system of a patient.
US08499757B2	Dry powder inhaler and system for drug delivery A breath-powered, dry powder inhaler, a cartridge, and a pulmonary drug delivery system are provided. The dry powder inhaler can be provided with or without a unit dose cartridge for using with the inhaler. The inhaler and/or cartridge can be provided with a drug delivery formulation comprising, for example, a diketopiperazine and an active ingredient, including, peptides and proteins such as insulin and glucagon-like peptide 1 for the treatment of diabetes and/or obesity. The dry powder inhaler is compact; can be provided in various shapes and sizes, colors, and comprises a housing, a mouthpiece, a cartridge placement area, and a mechanism for opening and closing the medicament cartridge. The device is easy to manufacture, provides a pre-metered single unit dose, it is relatively easy to use, and can be reusable or disposable.
US08499742B2	Valve train of internal combustion engine A valve train of an internal combustion engine having a swing of a link mechanism that is stabilized to stabilize the operating characteristics of an engine valve. A camshaft is provided together with a valve operating cam pivotally supported by the camshaft so as to operatively open and close an engine valve. A link mechanism allows a drive cam rotated integrally with the camshaft to swing the valve operating cam, and a drive mechanism swings the link mechanism, wherein opening and closing of the engine valve are started in a buffer section of the valve operating cam, and opening/closing timing of the engine valve is controlled by the drive mechanism swinging the valve operating cam via the link mechanism, without the provision of a buffer transition section and a buffer constant-speed section encountered at the time of transiting from a base circle to a cam lobe of the drive cam.
US08499734B2	System and method for controlling torque during engine start operations in hybrid vehicles A control system for a hybrid vehicle that includes an internal combustion engine and an electric motor includes an engine speed control module, an air pressure control module, and an engine torque control module. The engine speed control module increases engine speed during a first calibration period based on a driver torque request and a predetermined torque threshold. The air pressure control module decreases intake manifold pressure (MAP) of the engine during a second calibration period based on the driver torque request and the predetermined torque threshold. The engine torque control module starts the engine during a period after the first and second calibration periods by activating N of M cylinders of the engine, wherein N is based on the driver torque request and the predetermined torque threshold.
US08499727B1	Parallel cycle internal combustion engine The disclosed invention includes a heat engine where combustion, expansion, and compression are independent, continuous, parallel cycles. Compression and expansion ratios are continuously controllable variables. The disclosed engine includes a crankcase situated between two axially-aligned, opposed cylinder blocks. Each opposed cylinder block contains four zero-clearance cylinders. An oscillating piston head separates each cylinder into external expansion and internal compression chambers. A single connecting rod rigidly connects the piston heads of opposed cylinder pairs, and articulates with a central, linear-throw, planetary crank mechanism. A single, rotary disk valve mates with each external expander face of the paired, opposed cylinder blocks and regulate all expansion and exhaust functions. Controllable intake and outlet valves, integrated within each internal compressor face of the paired, opposed cylinder blocks and regulates intake, compression, and regenerative engine braking functions. A separate combustion chamber with heat regeneration capabilities and at least one compressed-air storage reservoir are included.
US08499723B2	Coupled generator and piston engine to generate electrical power and heat A drive combination for generation of electrical power and heat includes a piston engine coupled to a generator. A connecting rod of an engine body of the engine is directly linked to an overhung crank, and the crank is a component of a generator shaft of the generator, so that the generator shaft forms the crankshaft of the engine body.
US08499717B2	Rotary parlour with delivery lines A portable apparatus (1) for milking of animals (11-16) which are permitted to go loose is described. The apparatus (1) comprises a plurality of stalls (2) with at least one local milk tank (4) in each stall. The apparatus (1) comprises at least two separate lines (19, 20) arranged to receive the milk from the local milk tanks (4) in dependence of the quality of the milk.
US08499707B2	Rescue boat A multi-purpose boat has a two angle V hull with a rounded fore-aft profile and slightly convex deck. The hull has steeply angled edge portions and shallowly angled center portions. The edge portions are sufficiently sloped away from vertical to allow the boat to be lifted and not pushed by waves. The rounded fore-aft profile allows the boat to slide over waves, especially during a beach entry. The boat includes a keel having a horizontal base and separating downward from the hull at the fore and aft of the boat to resist yawing. The dry weight of the boat is about 25 pounds with a foam core with a resin coating and the keel is preferably hollow and includes ports to allow water to enter the keel to add about 25 pounds after entering the water. Approximately four inches of freeboard is provided separating riders from cold water and predators.
US08499706B2	Approaching and retaining device, in particular for a boat door An approaching and retaining device, in particular for a boat door, includes a fixed assembly adapted to be associated with a frame and a mobile assembly adapted to be associated with a wing. The fixed assembly includes a nib which can slide freely in a first through hole of the mobile assembly; structure for automatically operating an actuator connected to the nib in a manner to determine an approaching movement of the wing towards the frame and a compression force against an elastic element positioned between the frame and the wing. The mobile assembly includes an external element rigidly secured to the wing; an internal strike adapted to be inserted into a second through hole of the main body, the internal strike including a transversal hole adapted to house the nib; and a threaded pin which allows the internal strike to move relative to the external element.
US08499701B2	Large load carrier A plastic large load carrier has a base that accommodates the loads, support feet arranged at least at the corner regions of the underside of the base, and a double-walled frame surrounding the base. The inner wall and the outer wall of the frame are interconnected by vertical webs and strip-shaped protective profiled elements each being provided between two respective support feet in the lower frame area, wherein the rear of the protective profiled element is supported against the inner wall of the frame. The protective profiled element is a plastic part, on the one longitudinal edge of which an insertion strip for inserting into the gap between the inner wall and the outer wall of the frame is formed, and forms a unit with the profiled element.
US08499693B2	Method and apparatus for optically programming a projectile A system for optically programming an in-flight projectile fired from a weapon comprises a fire control device and a controlled projectile. The fire control device comprises an optical transmitter and the projectile comprises a fuze, an optical collector and an optical sensor. The transmitter transmits optical signals to the in-flight projectile in order to program the circuit of the fuze disposed in the projectile.
US08499681B2	Actuating mechanism for fluid displacement and pressurizing device A fluid displacement device, particularly for use of the device to pressurize balloon catheters, or the like. The device includes a plunger which is displaceable through a housing, and an actuating mechanism which engages the plunger. The actuating mechanism includes a nut member that is biased into engagement with a threaded portion of the plunger. The device has a press-to-release feature wherein the plunger is instantly releaseable by simply depressing a control surface to overcome a restorative spring force. Subsequently, the plunger can be translated using macro movements (i.e., by pushing or pulling the plunger).
US08499669B2	Methods and apparatus for singulating micro-well tape An apparatus (10) for singulating micro-well tape includes a tape drive (12) and a cutting assembly (14). The micro-well tape is advanced into and passes between upper and lower tape retainers (44, 45), with the upper tape retainer (44) including a groove (441) into which a raised ridge (451) of a multiplicity of ridges (450) of the bottom tape retainer (45) extends, with the rows of wells moving between adjacent ridges (450) in a movement direction. When a bar code on the micro-well tape is detected by a sensor 24, a knife blade (30) mounted on a slide block (32) is moved vertically to cut the micro-well tape. The new leading edge of the micro-well tape pushes the cut micro-well tape which is deflected by the raised ridge (451).
US08499666B2	Dual pawl ratchet mechanism and reversing method A dual-pawl ratchet wrench mechanism is disclosed having a stop mechanism for limiting over-travel of a reversing lever for selecting drive directions. In one form, the wrench mechanism includes a ball and spring assembly that cooperate with recesses to define proper positions for the reversing lever, and one or more ramps are provided between the recesses to promote tactile feel and to promote the reversing lever being rotated to a proper position. In some forms, the stop mechanism is formed on a stationary portion, such as a spacer or the wrench body, and a portion of the reversing lever. The design simplifies manufacturing, such as by simplifying assembly and minimizing the need for securements. Additionally, the reversing lever is assembled with the mechanism in a manner to improve sealing.
US08499665B2	Torsion control hammer grip A manually operable impact tool is provided that includes an elongated rigid handle and an impact head disposed at one longitudinal end portion of the handle structure. A cushioning grip is disposed over a second longitudinal end portion of the handle structure. The cushioning grip includes an inner layer of thermoplastic rubber having a Shore A durometer in the range of about 10 to about 40, and an outer layer of thermoplastic rubber disposed over the inner layer having a Shore A durometer in the range of about 55 to about 90.
US08499664B2	Axle shaft cover plate with bearing assembly A cover plate for a drive assembly that includes a bearing housing having a bearing cavity, a thrust bearing axially disposed within the bearing cavity that includes a cup, cone and plurality of rollers disposed between cup and cone raceways, a thrust plate with an axle engaging surface disposed perpendicular to a central axis and coupled for rotation to the cone. The cover plate may be connected to a final drive housing of a final drive that includes a plurality of gears operatively connected to an axle shaft, the end of the axle shaft positioned to rotationally engage the thrust plate and cone.
US08499657B2	Transmission for work vehicle A multi-shaft transmission is mounted on a work vehicle for performing loader work, and includes a power transmission mechanism for transmitting power from an input shaft through a countershaft to an output shaft. A shifting part shifts a drivetrain from the input shaft to the output shaft. The power transmission mechanism includes a forward clutch and a reverse clutch for forward-reverse shifting, and a plurality of speed stage shifting clutches for changing speed stages, wherein at least one of the forward clutch and the reverse clutch has a plurality of speed region shifting clutches. The shifting part shifts only one clutch among the plurality of speed stage shifting clutches and the plurality of speed region shifting clutches to change speeds when a plurality of speed stages are used in be loader work.
US08499656B2	Eight speed dual clutch transmission A transmission is connectable to an input member and includes an output transfer gear, first and second shaft members, first and second countershaft members, a plurality of co-planar gear sets, and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. The torque transmitting devices include a plurality of gears, synchronizer assemblies and a dual clutch assembly. The transmission is operable to provide at least one reverse speed ratio and a plurality of forward speed ratios between the input member and the output member.
US08499648B2	Gas meter A gas meter comprising a housing (2) with a gas inlet connection (5) and an inflow chamber (16) which is arranged downstream of the latter and into which gas flows via an inflow opening (14), arranged downstream of which inflow chamber (16) is a measuring section (19) arranged upstream of a gas outlet connection (6) and having a measuring device (20), in which the gas flow is measured, wherein projecting into the inflow chamber (16) there is a tube (15) which merges into the measuring section (19) or forms the latter and runs substantially perpendicularly to the gas flow direction through the inflow opening (14) and overlaps the inflow opening (14), at least in a certain section.
US08499647B2	Electromagnetic flow meter A noise eliminating circuit is provided between a sample hold portion and an A/D converting portion. In the noise eliminating circuit, a DC flow rate signal is sent from the sample hold portion through a buffer to one input terminal of an operational amplifier as a first input signal, and through a high-pass filter and a buffer to the other input terminal of the operational amplifier as a second input signal. The high-pass filter passes, as a noise component, a signal of higher than a specific frequency included in the DC flow rate signal. The operational amplifier calculates the difference between the first input signal (the flow rate signal component+the noise component) and the second input signal (the noise component), and outputs this difference (the flow rate signal component) to the A/D converting portion as the DC flow rate signal.
US08499644B2	Vehicle collision stress wave sensor A sensor configured to detect a stress wave propagating through a vehicle frame member caused by a vehicle collision is provided. The sensor includes a sensor body configured to be rigidly coupled to the vehicle frame member, a first strain sensing device and a second strain sensing device attached to the sensor body. The sensor body is configured to exhibit stress in response to transverse and torsional stress wave propagating along the vehicle frame member. The first strain sensing device generates a first signal indicative of stress in the sensor body and the second strain sensing device generates a second signal indicative of stress in the sensor body. A first end portion of the sensor body is characterized as trapezoidal prism shaped and a second end portion of the sensor body is characterized as trapezoidal prism shaped.
US08499632B1	Characterizing anomalies in a laminate structure A method for inspecting a laminate structure may include transmitting a lamb wave through a selected portion of the laminate structure from an actuator at a predetermined location on a surface of the laminate structure. The method may also include receiving the transmitted lamb wave at a sensor at another predetermined location on the surface of the laminate structure. The method may additionally include detecting and characterizing an anomaly in the laminate structure based on the received lamb wave.
US08499614B2	Field gas chromatograph with flame ionization The invention relates to a field gas chromatograph with flame ionization for the analysis of a gaseous mixture of hydrocarbons, extracted, in particular, from oil drilling mud. Said mixture consists of a fraction of heavy hydrocarbons (beyond pentane) dissolved in mud in gaseous form. Said field gas chromatograph is made up of two independent analysis circuits, dephased by half a cycle and synchronized one with the other. Said analysis circuits are comprised of at least one sampling cell in a preferred design layout, at least one capillary separation chromatography column, at least one flame ionization detector, and at least one electrometer for the conversion of an electrical current, collected by the flame ionization detector, into a voltage signal describing a chromatogram.
US08499613B2	Integrated chemical sensor for detecting odorous matters A cartridge-like chemical sensor is formed by a housing having a base and a cover fixed to the base and provided with an input opening, an output hole and a channel for a gas to be analyzed. The channel extends in the cover between the input opening and the output hole and faces a printed circuit board carrying an integrated circuit having a sensitive region open toward the channel and of a material capable to bind with target chemicals in the gas to be analyzed. A fan is arranged in the housing, downstream of the integrated device, for sucking the gas after being analyzed, and is part of a thermal control system for the integrated circuit.
US08499612B2	Hydrogen gas detection using single palladium nanowires Devices and methods for fast, sensitive hydrogen gas detection using a single palladium nanowire. In one embodiment, a hydrogen sensor comprises a palladium nanowire extending between metal contacts. The palladium nanowire is not subject to fracturing when exposed to hydrogen. The nanowire is able to rapidly and reversibly detect hydrogen as a resistance increase down to 2 ppm with excellent reproducibility and baseline stability at room temperature.
US08499609B2	Method and apparatus for processing individual sensor devices To process a plurality of sensor devices, such as humidity sensors or gas sensors, the sensor devices are run through a testing station and a turret handler. In order to increase throughput of the testing station, several test cycles are operated simultaneously in a phase-shifted manner. The sensor devices are e.g. sequentially fed onto trays of the test station, on which they are assembled in batches. Each batch is subjected to a test cycle. After the test cycle, the sensor devices of a batch are sequentially fed back to the turret handler.
US08499603B2	Modular rolling mill A modular rolling mill has a mill pass line along which products roll. The rolling mill comprises first gear units arranged along a first line parallel to the mill pass line. Each first gear unit is driven individually by a motor and has a pair of mechanically interconnected first shafts. Second gear units are arranged along a second line between and parallel to the first line and the mill pass line. Each second gear unit has a pair of mechanically interconnected second shafts. Rolling units are arranged along the mill pass line, which are driven by an input shaft and has a pair of roll shafts carrying work rolls. First couplings connect the first shafts of each first gear unit to second shafts of two successive gear units, and second couplings releasably connect the second shafts of the second gear units to the input shafts of two successive rolling units.
US08499598B2	Electromagnetic forming of metallic glasses using a capacitive discharge and magnetic field An apparatus and method of uniformly heating, rheologically softening, and thermoplastically forming metallic glasses rapidly into a net shape using a rapid capacitor discharge forming (RCDF) tool in combination with an electromagnetic force generated by the interaction of the applied current with a transverse magnetic field. The RCDF method utilizes the discharge of electrical energy stored in a capacitor to uniformly and rapidly heat a sample or charge of metallic glass alloy to a predetermined “process temperature” between the glass transition temperature of the amorphous metal and the equilibrium melting point of the alloy in a time scale of several milliseconds or less, at which point the interaction between the electric field and the magnetic field generates a force capable of shaping the heated sample into a high quality amorphous bulk article via any number of techniques including, for example, injection molding, dynamic forging, stamp forging, and blow molding in a time scale of less than one second.
US08499592B2	Washer/dryer The present invention relates to the items required to be close by while the washer/dryer (1) operates and which are stored in different places by the user can be stored on the washer/dryer (1) by saving space thereby providing easy access.
US08499583B2	Method of manufacturing magnetic-disk glass substrate and method of manufacturing magnetic disk A process for producing a glass substrate for magnetic disk through chemical strengthening operation, in which the distribution of compressive stress is uniformed at a surface layer portion of the glass substrate to thereby, while preventing failures such as head crash and thermal asperity, realize a low flying height of magnetic head, attaining high-density information recording. In particular, the provided glass substrate for magnetic disk is suitable for application to compact magnetic disks for portable information equipment. The chemical strengthening operation includes the first step of bringing the glass substrate into contact with a first treatment solution (chemical strengthening treatment solution) containing first ions with an ionic radius larger than those of ions within the glass substrate and either the second and subsequent steps of bringing the platy glass into contact with treatment solutions containing second and subsequent bivalent ions, or the second and subsequent steps of bringing the glass substrate into contact with second and subsequent chemical strengthening treatment solutions containing second and subsequent ions exhibiting an ion exchange rate with ions within the glass substrate greater than that of the first ions to thereby decelerate the ion exchange.
US08499580B2	Air conditioner A centrifugal fan mounted in an air conditioner has the following relationship: outer diameter of a side plate of the centrifugal fan>outer diameter of the blade rear-edge part on side-plate side>diameter of the blade rear-edge part on main plate side>outer diameter of the main plate. In the centrifugal fan, the blade rear-edge part is positioned inside from a straight line connecting the connection point between the blade rear-edge part and the main plate, to the connection point between the blade rear-edge part and the side plate, as viewed from the rotation axis. The blade rear-edge part has a shape such that the distance from the rotation axis becomes larger from the main plate toward the side plate.
US08499571B2	Drive unit for automatic ice maker A drive unit for an automatic ice maker may include a drive part provided with a motor for driving an ice tray and an ice detecting member, a position detecting device for detecting positions of the ice tray and the ice detecting member, a control section for controlling drive of the motor on the basis of detection signals of the position detecting device, and a unit case in which the control section, the drive part, the position detecting device are accommodated. The automatic ice maker may be installed in an ice making compartment of a refrigerator.
US08499567B2	Hybrid fuel tank inerting system A self-regulating system for reducing concentration of hydrocarbon vapor in a container may be performed by introducing air into the container and extracting a mixture of air and vapor from the container. The extracted mixture may be compressed with a compressor to produce a flow of compressed mixture of air and vapor. The compressed mixture may be passed through an oxidation reactor that may be either catalytic or thermal to produce a flow air and CO2. A turbine may be driven with the flow of air and CO2. The compressor may be driven with the turbine. Extraction from the container may continue until vapor concentration is low enough so that flow of CO2 and air from the reactor is insufficient to drive the turbine.
US08499555B2	Charge-cooled valve A valve for use with a turbocharger is disclosed. The valve may have a valve element movable to selectively direct a flow of fluid. They valve may also have a control portion connected to move the valve element, and a cooling portion configured to receive a pressurized cooling medium from the turbocharger.
US08499554B2	Stable power-output device with a linear long-shaft driven by waves A stable power-output device driven by waves includes buoys and a scaffold with the buoys, guiding tracks and rotating shafts installed. The scaffold floats on the waves, and wheels are installed at two sides of the buoys. Each two of the roller wheels are sandwiched between the related guiding track and the related side of each buoy, so that the roller wheels and the guiding tracks can work together. Guiding devices are installed on top of the buoys, and rotating shafts are connected to the guiding devices and float horizontally on the waves. Ratchets are installed on the short shafts in contact with the guiding devices. A shaft connector is adapted to connect each two of the rotating shafts together and form a long shaft.
US08499544B2	Turbogenerator with cooling system A turbogenerator having a gas turbine engine powering generator and a cooling system and an annular heat exchanger powered by a fan disposed across an outer fan duct of the engine. Fan variable inlet and outlet guide vanes may be used to vary power between the fan and the generator which are drivenly connected to a low pressure turbine. Inner and outer portions separated by a rotating shroud of the fan are disposed in annular inner and outer fan ducts respectively. A directed energy weapon may be powered by the generator and cooled by the cooling system. A refrigeration apparatus may be operably disposed between the annular heat exchanger and the directed energy weapon for cooling the directed energy weapon and conditioning power electronics for the weapon. The refrigeration apparatus may include a vapor cycle cooling system and a cold storage containing a phase change material.
US08499542B2	Flow balancing valve A flow balancing valve for a multistage combustor includes a first pressure feedback line, a first burn line, and a first metering port fluidly connected to the first fuel injector. The flow balancing valve further includes a second pressure feedback line, a second burn line, and a second metering port fluidly connected to the second fuel injector. A metering land is located between and defines sizes of the first metering port and the second metering port. An increase in pressure differential between the first pressure feedback line and the second pressure feedback line causes a compensatory movement in the metering land to balance fuel flow for the first fuel injector and the second fuel injector.
US08499535B2	Device for packaging products in a foil package A device for packaging products in a foil package includes a feeder for continuously supplying a foil web from a supply roll to a corner forming unit. The corner forming unit includes a curved deforming edge for deforming the flat foil web to a curved foil web having a reduced width, a deformer for forming a profile in the curved foil web, a roller for flattening the foil web, with the reduced width of the foil web at least substantially being maintained and overlapping sections being formed at the location of the profile, and a sealer for sealing the overlapping sections. The deforming edge and the deformer form part of an exchangeable unit. The sealer is movable along at least one guide, with the corner forming unit comprising aligning elements associated with the sealer, which aligning elements cooperate with further aligning elements associated with the deformer for correctly positioning the sealer relative to the deformer.
US08499528B2	Balustrade having metal balusters with ornamental ends A metal baluster is provided which has first and second metal segments, where each of these metal segments comprises a first end and a second end. The first ends of the first metal segments include extension portions from mating engagement with one another and the second end of each metal segment is adapted for attachment to the underside of an elongated handrail or to a tread or floor. The second end of each of the metal segments further comprises an ornamental portion which is proximate the elongated handrail or the tread or the floor. Connection apparatuses provided for securing the engagement of the extension portions of the first metal segment and the second metal segment. In another embodiment, a metal baluster of the present invention may comprise three metal segments where the first two metal segments are adapted for attachment to the underside of an elongated rail or to tread or floor and has an ornamental portion proximate the first end. These first and second metal segments are joined together by a third metal segment which has two ends which are adapted from mating engagement with the second ends of the first and second segments. A balustrade is also provided which comprises a plurality of balusters as described above.
US08499521B2	Mechanical locking of floor panels with vertical snap folding and an installation method to connect such panels Floor panels (1, 1′) are shown, which are provided with a mechanical locking system on long and short edges (5a, 5b, 4a, 4b) allowing installation with vertical snap folding that could be accomplished automatically without tools and where the short edge (4a, 4b) locking system comprises a tongue (10) made in one piece with the panel.
US08499505B2	Pultruded trim members The present invention is an improved method of making cornice assemblies and other trim members utilizing the process of pultrusion. The cornice assemblies and the other trim members made by the method of the present invention exhibit superior strength to weight ratios, low expansion and contraction due to changes in temperature and humidity, as well being less labor intensive to install.
US08499496B2	Sliding door system A door is secured in spaced relation to a wall panel by a support assembly which includes a tubular housing secured to the wall and an elongate guide bar secured to the door at its bottom. The door is retained, at its top, between extruded aluminum abutments which allow the door to slide with respect to the wall panel, but prevent the door from pivoting about the guide bar.
US08499494B2	High traffic flow robotic entrance portal for secure access Electro-mechanical and electronically controlled access devices are described for controlling access to a building, premises or area in a secure manner such that a subject who is deemed ineligible for access will be barred entry and may be optionally retained. The devices can contain multiple rotatable door panels, which can be positioned behind one another. The door panels can be controlled by mechanized arms or other control devices in order to control the passage through the device. The direction of flow through a device according to these embodiments is electronically controlled and may be changed at any point in time. At any instant in time, the flow through the device is unidirectional. Multiple devices can be stacked together to form clusters, which can be controlled according to traffic, time of day, or other factors.
US08499483B2	Butt with recoil pad for a shoulder-held firearm Butt with recoil pad for a shoulder-held firearm, with the butt comprising a recoil pad, characterized in that the recoil pad is mounted on the butt by means enabling the position of the recoil pad to be adjusted with respect to the butt so as to be able to personalize the position of the recoil pad for the shooter with respect to an average position in which the recoil pad is primarily located in the extension of the butt.
US08499481B2	Breech plug A muzzle loading firearm has a barrel with a bore on a bore axis, and has a muzzle end and a breech end. A frame is connected to the barrel, and has a breech face. The frame moves between an open position in which the breech face is away from the breech end of the barrel, and a closed position in which the breech face abuts the breech end of the barrel. A breech plug is removably attached to the barrel, and is connected to the barrel by way of interrupted, or multistart threads, or locking lugs. The breech plug may have a rear face that abuts the breech face when the frame is closed, so that a primer contained in a primer pocket in the rear of the breech plug is fully supported on all sides.
US08499480B2	Electrostatically mounted display system for magnetic tokens Apparatus and associated methods involve a system to electrostatically mount a display system with a number of visible indicators that define regions and magnetically mount a number of tokens that correspond to the defined regions. In an illustrative example, the display system may include a flexible vinyl carrier of between 0.004 and 0.010 inches which may be sufficient thickness to facilitate removal of air bubbles but sufficiently thin to support magnetic tokens on a wide variety of target surfaces. One surface of the carrier may provide a retention force generated by electrostatic forces between the first surface and a target surface. In an example implementation, the target surface may be the exterior of a residential appliance. An opposite surface of the carrier may include visible indicia, for example, of a map.
US08499479B2	Portable advertising platform A portable advertising system well suited for outdoor advertising at night includes a body adapted to be secured to a transportation vehicle and may include a universal attachment system for that purpose. An advertisement may be displayed on an advertising surface mounted on the body. An illumination source is directed towards the advertising surface and may be integrated into an electronic display unit or may be directed at an advertising sheet such as a vinyl sheet. When the advertising sheet is used, a sheet tension system typically maintains tension on the sheet, and an openable protective cover may protect the sheet when not in use. The illumination source may be controlled based on environmental light conditions, sheet tension and/or position of the protective cover. The body may be part of a cargo container such as an ISO container suited for securing to a railroad car or other vehicle.
US08499463B2	Saw box for preventing chain shot from a broken sawchain A saw box for preventing chain shot from a broken sawchain of a chainsaw, the saw box including a stationary shield that covers a rear section of the saw. The shield has an end surface that extends between an outer surface and an inner surface of the shield and has such hardness and is designed with a convex curvature of such a radius that one part of the broken sawchain that comes to an external location during operation of the saw can slide around the end surface in an essentially unhindered manner in a direction towards the inner surface.
US08499455B2	Method of establishing wind power generator using the leading rail The present invention relates to a method for installing a land wind power generator by using lead rails, and the method includes the steps of: locating a lower support having an insertion protrusion, a horizontal stepped surface, and a ground anchor, under the ground; locating a pair of posts of a tower crane and a cage for each post at the horizontal stepped surface of the lower support, ascending a nacelle assembly and an overhead crane, and locating an intermediate support by means of an outside crane; and locating the lead rails along the ground and the front surface of the intermediate support and ascending an upper support along the lead rails by means of the overhead crane. Next, after a nacelle base, a support frame, the lead rails, and the tower crane are disassembled from the located positions, a plurality of propellers connected to rollers located inside a rotary part of the nacelle assembly are lifted by means of a winch and are inserted into a plurality of coupling grooves of the rotary part. The method of this invention has relatively low installation costs and provides more effective and rapid installation processes to advantageously reduce the construction period.
US08499439B2	Positioning apparatus and pressing apparatus A positioning apparatus has a pilot holder having a hold face, a positioning pin having a tapered tip and supported by the pilot holder so that the tapered tip protrudes from the hold face of the pilot holder, a pad having a pad face that opposes the hold face of the pilot holder, and a movable member having a stop face that opposes the positioning pin and a relief hole for avoiding the tapered tip of the positioning pin from hitting the stop face, the movable member resiliently supported on the pad. The pilot holder and the pad in which the thin plate material is set between the hold face and the pad face relatively move to insert the tapered tip of the positioning pin into the positioning hole of the thin plate material. The stop face is flush with or protruding from the pad face of the pad.
US08499435B2	Method of manufacturing a thin-film magnetic head A thin-film magnetic head is constructed such that a main magnetic pole layer, a lower shield layer, an upper shield layer and a thin-film coil are laminated on a substrate. A method of manufacturing the thin-film magnetic head has a lower shield layer forming step. This step comprises a step of forming a first lower shield part in a lower shield planned area, including a planned line along the medium-opposing surface, a step of forming a partial lower seed layer having a partial arrangement structure in which the partial lower seed layer is arranged on a lower formation zone except a lower exception zone including the planned line, a step of forming a second lower shield part on the partial lower seed layer.
US08499427B2	Expansion anchor setting apparatus Objects of the present invention provide an attachment for power tools that places and sets expansion anchors. One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a new and improved attachment apparatus for a rotary-hammer type drill, the attachment including a first anchor setting end, a second attachment end, and a handle portion connecting the setting end to the attachment end. The attachment apparatus can be efficiently and easily mounted to the rotary-hammer type drill to simplify the installation of expansion anchors.
US08499426B2	Methods of making thin film capacitors An apparatus including a first electrode; a second electrode; a first and second ceramic material disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, the second ceramic material having a greater electrical conductivity than the first ceramic material. A method including forming a first ceramic material film and a different second ceramic material film on a first electrode; and forming a second electrode on the second ceramic material film to form a capacitor structure having the first ceramic material film and the second ceramic material film disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the first ceramic material has a conductivity selected to dampen undesired oscillations in electrical device operation to which the capacitor structure may be exposed. An apparatus including a first electrode; a second electrode; and a composite dielectric including a plurality of dielectric films including a different Curie temperature.
US08499425B2	Urn with front and rear interchangeable decorative panels An urn with one or more removable and replaceable panels which allow for placement of an image, such as by laser engraving, to be done on the removable panel. The panel may be custom engraved and added to a partially complete urn. An urn with an extended base.
US08499419B2	Releasable tie A releasable tie includes a locking head and a strap body. The locking head includes a base plate, a pair of first side walls, a second side wall, and an operating rod. The operating rod is disposed above a window of the base plate, has a first top surface, and is bilaterally connected to the first side walls via connecting members. At least one first engaging tooth is provided at a predetermined depth extending vertically downward from the first top surface. The first engaging tooth has a second top surface which defines a first tooth depth. The operating rod includes an arm extending toward the strap body. The strap body has a bottom surface formed with plural second engaging teeth engageable with the first engaging tooth. The second engaging teeth have a predetermined tooth pitch smaller than the predetermined depth and a second tooth depth smaller than the first tooth depth.
US08499406B2	Microfiber sweep mopcloth cleaning device The present invention relates to a microfiber sweep mopcloth cleaning device, is comprised of a receptacle member of a fabric strap loop along with a pair of Velcro® strips, permanently sewed into a square microfiber terry cloth and affixes and gives an adjustable custom fit to most any size, design, shape or angle of an ordinary nylon household broom, without the worry of shifting, twisting or falling off and ultimately keeps a broom a broom, only allocating the ability to sweep and wipe clean substances, wet, dry, gooey or otherwise on today's old and new surfaces, meticulously and with precision and accuracy like never before, eliminating multiple cleaning tools and supplies, saving time, money and the environment, ultimately bringing joy and making the task of housekeeping fun and addictive for everyone. “A gift for those who love to clean and one for those who have to.”
US08499402B1	Articulating toothbrush An articulating toothbrush is disclosed that has a flexible bristle head the bristles of which may be changed between flat, concave and convex states for best brushing the fronts and backs of teeth. The change is quickly and easily made by a user of the brush by applying a force to the handle toward or way from the bristled head. The handle comprises an upper handle portion and a lower handle portion that are parallel to each other and slide with alongside each other when the user applies a linear force to the handle. Locking means are provided with the upper and lower handle portions to hold them in a position to which they are moved by applying a force to them.
US08499398B2	Surface cleaning apparatus A surface cleaning apparatus with a removable compartment is provided that allows a dust cup in the removable compartment to be emptied while minimizing handling by the user. The removable compartment is removably secured within the surface cleaning apparatus. The removable compartment can be removed by activating a first trigger device. The dust cup can be emptied by activating a second trigger device.
US08499397B2	Oral care implement with customizable element An oral care implement with an oral care region having cleaning elements for engaging oral tissue and a body for gripping the implement including a handle with a front and a removable faceplate is described. The removable faceplate may be transparent or translucent and may also include design features. The faceplate may provide protection to a user inscription surface on one of the surfaces of the handle which is may be configured to receive user indicia that may later be removed and further indicia provided.
US08499380B2	Portable and collapsible cot structure A portable and collapsible cot structure comprises a fabric web, a frame, and a plurality of folding legs pivotally attached to the frame. The cot structure is collapsible to a bundled condition to minimize the amount of space taken up by the structure during storage and transportation. The cot structure includes at least one locking assembly pivotally connected to a leg assembly for maintaining the cot in an open, set-up condition, wherein the locking assembly must be unlocked before the cot structure can be collapsed. The locking assembly includes a first pedal for locking the assembly and a second pedal for unlocking the assembly. Preferably, a downward force can be applied to operate either pedal, thereby facilitating quick and easy set-up and break down of the cot structure without compromising safety, consuming too much time, or requiring undue effort.
US08499377B2	Automatically adjustable bunk Automatically adjustable bunk apparatus are described that can be used, for example, in applications in which space is limited, such as, for example, boats and recreational vehicles. The automatically adjustable bunk apparatus can be configured in an extended bunk configuration or a space saving retracted configuration. The automatically adjustable bunk apparatus have a substantially horizontal portion and an adjustable portion either of which can be configured to be movable between a retracted position and an extended position. When the automatically adjustable bunk apparatus is in its retracted configuration, the adjustable portion is positioned outside the plane of the horizontal portion, and when the automatically adjustable bunk apparatus is in its extended position, the horizontal portion and the adjustable portion form a substantially flat surface.
US08499376B2	Drain plug A drain closure device for a vessel having an interior surface and a drain hole defined in the interior surface. The drain closure device includes a drain plug configured to be telescopically received in the central throughshaft defined in the insert sleeve. The drain plug is moveable between a first contacted ceiling position and a second expanded, drain position. The drain plug includes a seal member that is attached to the first end and a connection member located on a second end. The connection member is configured to releasably engage with at least one lateral shoulder or a suitable lateral projection member associated with the drain opening when the drain plug the use position.
US08499373B2	Anchor arrangement for swimming pool An apparatus and kit for installing an object in a swimming pool are provided. Included are a receptacle, one or more gaskets, and a top deck anchor. The receptacle holds a substance such as concrete, to which the top deck anchor is attached. The gasket is attached to the top of the receptacle. A method of installing an object into a swimming pool is also provided.
US08499371B1	Inflatable toilet shelter A portable toilet for marine craft securely located on the deck of a boat and including an inflatable privacy cover. The toilet includes a seat assembly and a box-shaped housing for a portable toilet. The boat seat assembly includes a boat seat, a boat seat back, and a support brace, made up of first and second support members hinged together. The first member connects the boat seat back to the second support member. The inner surface of the second support member defines a seat receiving portion for the boat seat. An inflatable cover is coupled to the boat seat housing and defines a pressurizable interior. A fan forcing air from an exterior of the inflatable toilet shelter to the pressurizable interior operatively inflates the inflatable cover. The inflatable toilet shelter can also have a swivel attached to the bottom for allowing the toilet to be vertically pivoted.
US08499369B2	Tank water conservation system A water conservation device for use within a toilet is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the device includes a connector having a base adapted for connectivity and placement adjacent to a traditional pole assembly and proximate to an opening valve within a tank of the toilet. In at least one embodiment, the device includes a flexible pressure arm integrally formed with the connector base and adapted to couple to the opening valve within the tank of the toilet and adapted to provide a pressure to the opening valve to lessen overall water utilized in each flush of the toilet and thereby conserve water. The water conservation device is adapted for either a total or partial flush of the toilet as selected by a user.
US08499367B2	Cooling garment having phase change material in its extremity portions A cooling garment comprises a phase change material and at least one of: at least one leg portion and at least one arm portion. The phase change material may have a transition temperature between solid and liquid phases of between about 60° F. to about 90° F. The at least one arm portion has the phase change material disposed therein, and the at least one leg portion has the phase change material disposed therein. The arm and leg portions may be attached to a torso portion and shorts portion, respectively, and may be removable therefrom. The cooling garment may include a sensor configured to indicate a cooling capacity of the phase change material. A portable container having a reactivation substance stored therein may be provided to reactivate the phase change material. In one embodiment, the portable container is part of a self-contained breathing apparatus. In another embodiment, the phase change material is submerged in the reactivation substance in the container.
US08505109B2	Measuring probe device for a probe microscope, measuring cell and scanning probe microscope The invention relates to a measuring probe device for a probe microscope, in particular a scanning probe microscope, with a measuring probe holder and a measuring probe arranged on the measuring probe holder, which is set up for a probe microscopic investigation of a sample, wherein on the measuring probe holder, a measuring probe chamber is formed, which receives the measuring probe at least partially and is open on a side away from the measuring probe holder, and is configured to receive a liquid surrounding the measuring probe. The invention also relates to a measuring cell for receiving a liquid sample for a probe microscope, a scanning probe microscope with a measuring probe device and a scanning probe microscope with a measuring cell.
US08505107B2	Cloud server and access management method A cloud server stores information, such as a location data range, IP addresses, account names, and passwords of authorized clients. When receiving an access request from a client, the cloud server determines if location data of the client falls within the location data range and an IP address, an account name, and a password of the client matches corresponding information of any authorized client. If the location data of the client falls within the location data range and an IP address, an account name, and a password of the client match information of any authorized client, the cloud server determines that the client is an authorized client and permits the client to access the cloud server.
US08505100B1	User account level anti-malware exclusions Exclusions to anti-malware scanning are managed at a user account level. On a computer on which an anti-malware product provides anti-malware scanning, at least one user account to exclude from the anti-malware scanning is specified. Specifying a user account to exclude can comprise adding the name of the user account to the exceptions policy of the anti-malware product. Specified user accounts are excluded from the anti-malware scanning. Excluding a user account from anti-malware scanning comprises excluding all applications that are run by the specified account. Non-specified user accounts and applications run by the non-specified user accounts, are allowed to be scanned. User accounts to exclude from the anti-malware scanning can comprise virtual user accounts. When a virtual user account is excluded from the anti-malware scanning, the system service associated with the virtual user account is excluded.
US08505094B1	Detection of malicious URLs in a web page Detection of malicious URLs in a Web page retrieved by a computer user is based in a backend security service or upon the user's computer. The HTML code download by the user is first scanned to detect any embedded links such as URLs found in frames or scripts. Features related to the layout of such a URL (position, visibility) are identified. Features related to the referring nature of the URL (page rank of parent, page rank of child) are identified. Features indicating the relevancy between the content of the parent Web page and the content of the Web page identified by the embedded URL identified. Each set of features is transformed into a binary vector and these vectors are fed into a decision engine such as a classifier algorithm. The classifier algorithm outputs a score indicating whether or not the suspect URL (and the Web page to which it links) is malicious or not. The user may be warned by a display message.
US08505089B2	Image forming apparatus and control method for image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes a display unit, a login information storage unit, a login information reception unit, a login authentication unit, an authorization limitation information storage unit, an execution instruction reception unit, a control unit and an execution permission determination unit. The authorization limitation information storage unit stores functions permitted to be executed by the logged-in user and a default user, who is a non-logged-in user. The control unit executes a function in accordance with an execution instruction received by the execution instruction reception unit. The execution permission determination unit determines whether the function indicated in the received execution instruction is a default function that is permitted to be executed by the default user, causes the control unit to execute the function if the function is the default function, and displays the login screen on the display unit if the function is not the default function.
US08505084B2	Data access programming model for occasionally connected applications Portions of a computing environment (such as a user's mesh) may restrict accessing to particular types of access by particular applications. The computer may support applications executing within a virtual environment (such as a web browser) by brokering such access through a token-based system. When an application requests a particular type of access (e.g., writing to a particular data object), the computer may contact an authorization server with the credentials of the application to request the specified access, and may receive and store an authorization token. The computer may then access the computing environment with the authorization token, and may return the results to the application within the virtual environment. Additional features may further support such applications; e.g., a programmatic interface may be provided in a familiar language, such as JavaScript, whereby applications can request access to particular data objects and identify authorized access capabilities.
US08505083B2	Remote resources single sign on Exemplary techniques for enabling single sign-on to an operating system configured to conduct a remote presentation session are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a user credential can be encrypted using an encryption key generated by a remote presentation session server and sent to a client. The client can send the encrypted user credential to the remote presentation session server. The remote presentation session server can decrypt the user credential and use it to log a user into an operating system running on the remote presentation session server. In addition to the foregoing, other techniques are described in the claims, the detailed description, and the figures.
US08505077B2	Acquisition of authentication rules for service provisioning Described are methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products for providing authentication for service provisioning. One or more executable authentication rules are provided for determining access by a user to one or more services. At least a first executable authentication rule is selected from the one or more executable authentication rules. The first executable authentication rule is for determining access by the user to at least a first service from the one or more services, wherein selecting the first executable authentication rule is based on: a characteristic of the user, a characteristic of a request, a characteristic of an acquisition point, or any combination thereof. A rules credential is generated. The rules credential includes the first executable authentication rule.
US08505070B2	Separate script context to isolate malicious script Various embodiments provide an ability to isolate execution of trusted content and/or script from execution of untrusted content and/or script. Separate contexts and/or execution environments can be used for the trusted content and untrusted content, respectively. A trusted context and/or execution environment associated with execution of trusted content can be configured to enable access to sensitive resources associated with a computing device. An untrusted context and/or execution environment associated with execution of untrusted content can be configured with limited and/or no access to the sensitive resources. Alternately or additionally, data generated within the untrusted context can be transferred to the trusted context in a benign manner.
US08505069B1	System and method for updating authorized software Disclosed are system, method and computer program product for updating software programs on a computer. The system detects an attempt by an update process to execute on the computer and retrieves information about authorized category of software programs to determine whether the detected update process is authorized. When the update process is authorized, the system (i) designates the update process as trusted process, (ii) allows the update process to download on the computer an update object, (iii) and designates the update object as a trusted object. The system then detects an attempt by an installation process to install the update object, and determines from the policy whether the detected installation process is associated to authorized category and related to the trusted update process. When the installation process authorized and related to the trusted update process, the system allows the trusted installation process to install the trusted update object.
US08505058B2	Synchronization and automation in an ITV environment A synchronization mechanism embeds synchronization triggers into a television signal or stream at regular intervals. The triggers include an accurate representation of the time in which the triggers were embedded. A receiving device decodes the triggers and synchronizes its internal timer based on the triggers. In this regard, the receiving device obtains a reference time from the internal timer and computes an offset between the reference time and the trigger time. The computed offset is then applied to the reference time. With the receipt of each new trigger, the application compares the trigger time to a new reference time with the most recently computed offset value applied. If there is any variance between these two values, the application creates a new smoothed offset.
US08505055B2	Enhanced simultaneous recording in multi-room digital video recorder A computing device receives from a user, a request to simultaneously record two or more programs from a content server onto the computing device and initiates a streaming video session between the computing device and a video client. The computing device provides, to the video client, recording parameters for one of the programs and then receives, via the streaming video session, a video stream from the video client. The video stream includes the one of the programs from the content server based on the recording parameters that is then recorded by the computing device.
US08505043B2	Method and apparatus for providing metadata of content, and method and apparatus for limiting content usage authority Provided are a method and apparatus for limiting a content usage authority scope of a client by using metadata in an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) service. The method performed by a metadata server adds control information to the metadata and transmits the metadata, wherein the content usage authority scope of the client is defined in the control information. The client of a user limits a content control operation according to a user input by using the control information extracted from the metadata.
US08505042B2	Methods and apparatus for identifying viewing information associated with a digital media device Methods and apparatus for identifying viewing information associated with a digital media device are disclosed. In an example method, data conveyed via a data bus communicatively coupled to a processor and a data storage device associated with the digital media device is monitored. Event information associated with the digital media device is extracted from the data and the viewing information is identified based on the event information.
US08505038B2	Method and system for enhancing MS exchange (MAPI) end user experiences in a split proxy environment A split proxy is configured for managing asynchronous MAPI communications between a client and a server by establishing a queuing structure for MAPI messages that make up the communications. The MAPI messages are subsequently exchanged between the client and the server using the queuing structure. Multiple remote procedure calls (RPCs) underlying the MAPI messages may be grouped together in batches for exchange between proxies of the split proxy. Also, when the client logs off from the server, a MAPI keep-alive process allows updates received at the server to be pre-populated to the split proxy for transfer to the client when it reestablishes a connection.
US08505036B2	Unified application programming interface for a process control system network An application programming interface schema, method and system for communicating between first and second application programming interfaces within a process control system includes processing a call from a first application programming interface for a data request, translating the data request from the first application programming interface into one or more methods of a unified application programming interface, and implementing the one or more methods of the unified application programming interface with a second application programming interface. A first unified layer receives a transmission request from a proprietary application programming interface, and translates the transmission request into one or more methods of a unified application programming interface. A second unified layer implements methods of the unified application programming interface with the wireless network application programming interface.
US08505030B2	Coordinating resources using a volatile network intermediary The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for coordinating resources using a volatile network intermediary. Embodiments provide a mechanism for an network intermediary to facilitate a state coordination pattern between an application and a communication medium when the communication medium does not support the state coordination pattern. In some embodiments, receiving applications can make use of this network intermediary by changing the receive location. However, the receiving application may not be able to distinguish the network intermediary from a native implementation of the state coordination pattern. Further, the network intermediary does not require deployment of a persistent or durable store to coordinate state between receiving applications and the original communication medium.
US08505027B2	Elective data sharing between different implementations of a software product The present invention is directed to a system and method for selectively sharing data between different implementations of the same software program in a network environment. The program implementations are otherwise independent with each executing its own private memory space in a single computer or on multiple computers in the network. The present invention enables a first implementation of a program to borrow or utilize data collected, derived or otherwise utilized by a second implementation of the same program.
US08505020B2	Computer workload migration using processor pooling An event calling for a migration of a workload from a source processor set of processing units to a target processor set of processing units is detected. Processes of the workload are allocated to a second processor set of processing units so that some workload processes are executed on the source processor set and some workload processes are executed on a second processor set of processor units. Then, some workload processes are allocated to the second processor set so that no workload process is executing on the source processor set and at least some of said processes are executing on the second process set. The second processor set can be the target processor set or an intermediate processor set from which the workload is migrated to the target processor set.
US08505016B2	Enhanced shortest-job-first memory request scheduling In at least one embodiment of the invention, a method includes scheduling a memory request associated with a thread executing on a processing system. The scheduling is based on a job length of the thread and a priority step function of job length. The thread is one of a plurality of threads executing on the processing system. In at least one embodiment of the method, the priority step function is a function of ┌x/2n┐ for x<=m and P(x)=m/2n for x>m, where x is the number of memory requests in a memory request queue and n and m are integers. In at least one embodiment of the method, the priority step function is a function of 2n×┌ log2(x)┐, where x is the number of memory requests in a memory request queue and n is an integer.
US08505009B2	Managing exclusive access to system resources Presented is a method of managing exclusive access to a resource. The method includes determining anticipated wait time, for a task to obtain exclusive access to a resource, and processing the task, depending on the anticipated wait time required to obtain exclusive access to the resource.
US08505008B2	Portable information terminal having control for executing a task via dedicated access points, and method for controlling execution of a task in a portable information terminal via dedicated access points First, one or more tasks each representing process contents of transmission or reception of data are set. Next, an access point is searched for, and a connection to the access point is performed if the access point is found. Then, before the one or more tasks are executed via the access point, an execution control parameter, for at least one of the one or more tasks, which indicates at least one of an execution instruction, whether or not to execute the task, and an execution priority, is obtained in accordance with an access point identifier. Then, transmission or reception of data is performed via the access point by executing at least one of the one or more tasks on the basis of the execution control parameter.
US08505007B2	Method and system for instantly creating an IT environment A method to provide instant duplication of the machine images of an IT environment. The method is implemented by a system that includes a management server to oversee all operations, a storage controller, at least one host target machine of the IT Environment and at least one simple storage disk controlled by the storage controller. The method includes configuring each host target machine to access a logical drive as its hard drive, managing by the storage controller of the information inside each logical drive and storing the information on each of the at least one disks. The method also includes implementing the storage controller of two duplication algorithms. A third algorithm is provided for choosing between the first and the second duplication algorithms for each of the at least one disk elements in the IT environment.
US08504996B2	Method and computer programming product for detecting memory leaks The invention relates to a method for detecting memory leaks produced by a program running on a computer, wherein during a program run, for each allocation of a memory region at least one information item concerning the performed allocation is entered in an allocation list and a check is made as to whether the allocation list contains a stored reference pattern of information that is typical for one or more memory leaks, and after a stored reference pattern is found the program run is paused, or a memory leak thus detected is associated with the region of the running program whose processing resulted in the most recent entry in the allocation list. The invention further relates to a computer programming product which carries out the method when the computer program is executed on a computer.
US08504994B2	System and method for software diagnostics using a combination of visual and dynamic tracing A software system is disclosed that provides remote troubleshooting and tracing of the execution of computer programs. The software system includes an information-gathering module that gathers run-time information about program execution, program interaction with the operating system and the system resources, monitors user actions and captures screen output, and passes the gathered information to an information-display module, the gathered information allowing a support technician (e.g., a software developer, a help desk person, etc.) to see the user interactions with the program and corresponding reactions of the system, and/or to remotely view environment variables, file access operations, system interactions, and user interactions that occur on the user's computer and locate failed operations that cause execution problems.
US08504993B2	Virtualization of micro-code patches for probe less debug In some embodiments a method includes storing a micro-code patch stub in a micro-code patch memory, storing a micro-code patch corresponding to the micro-code patch stub in a system memory, in response to an event and in response to the stored micro-code patch stub, loading the stored micro-code patch from the system memory to the micro-code patch memory, and processing the micro-code patch from the micro-code patch memory. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08504992B2	Method and apparatus for establishing a quality of service model In general, methods and apparatus for implementing a Quality of Service (QoS) model are disclosed. A Quality of Service (QoS) contract with an initiating network device may be satisfied. A request may be received from the initiating network device in a first time less than or equal to an ordinal number times an arrival interval. The ordinal number signifies a position of the request among a group of requests. The request that has been serviced may be returned to the initiator in a second time less than or equal to a constant term plus the ordinal number times a service interval.
US08504987B2	System and method for supporting an object oriented scripting tool An object-oriented scripting tool uses a XML file for software development and domain management. The XML file includes at least a first tag that defines a scripting class in an object-oriented scripting language. The scripting class includes at least one method, which is defined in a second tag in the XML file. A generic software development and domain management script can be encapsulated into a general scripting class, which can be extended into individual scripting class for specific software development and domain management task.
US08504981B2	Application development support device, program, and recording medium The development of an application that includes a user interface (UI), which has a specific UI screen that is directly called through an external link and displays an execution result of a specific service, is realized without coding operations. Before constructing a UI using a first tool, condition starting buttons, which respectively correspond to a plurality of services that can be provided by programs generated using a second tool and which are respectively added call programs for calling corresponding service, are generated. When a specific condition starting button is placed in a UI screen under construction and the conversion for a unconditional starting is instructed, an attribution is changed so that the button becomes invisible and the specific condition starting button is changed to a unconditional starting button by changing a call program so that the call program is unconditionally executed when the UI screen is called through a link.
US08504973B1	Systems and methods for generating a test environment and test system surrounding a design of an integrated circuit Systems and methods for generating and using a test environment and a test system surrounding a design are described. The systems and methods may involve using a same application software for creating a design and for receiving a selection to generate the test environment and the test system. In response to receiving the selection, the systems and methods may execute a verification tool to create the test environment and test system. Moreover, a user may not fill in templates of components of the verification tool. The verification tool is integrated within the application software.
US08504967B2	Configurable power switch cells and methodology In one embodiment, a configurable power switch cell methodology may include designing multiple power switch cells which may be assembled to form a set of power switches such as a power switch segment. The power switch cells may all be designed to occupy the same amount of integrated circuit area, in an embodiment. Accordingly, one cell may be readily replaced by another, even late in the design process, without disturbing the placement of surrounding circuitry. In an embodiment, the power switch cells may include the interconnect layers that connect between cells, and abutting the power switch cells may automatically connect the interconnect between cells. Accordingly, swapping one power switch cell for another may be accomplished by placing the cell. No routing work may be required.
US08504966B2	Method and device for reordering scan chains considering plan groups Reconfiguration methods and devices are disclosed for scan chains with the planned unit taken into consideration, the one method comprising a first phase reconfiguration and second phase reconfiguration. The first phase reconfiguration first classifies a number of scan chains, wherein scan chains with the starting point and the ending point in the same planned unit are classified as a first aggregation of scan chains; scan chains with the starting point and the ending point not in the same planned unit are classified as a second aggregation of scan chains; and scan chains with both the starting point and the ending point at the same top level are classified as a third aggregation of scan chains. In sequence the scan chains within the first aggregation are reconfigured, then the scan chains within the second aggregation are reconfigured, and finally the scan chains within the third aggregation are reconfigured.
US08504958B2	Method and apparatus for thermal analysis Some embodiments of the invention provide a method for performing thermal analysis of an integrated circuit (“IC”) design layout that includes numerous circuit modules. The method divides the IC design layout into a set of elements, where at least one element includes several wires. The method computes a set of conductivity groups of values for the set of elements. The method identifies a temperature distribution for the IC design layout based on the set of conductivity groups of values. In some embodiments, each of these elements corresponds to a particular portion of a particular layer of the IC design layout. Each element includes several nodes. Each conductivity group of values is defined by entry values. Each entry value describes how heat flow at a particular node of the element is affected by a temperature change at another particular node of the element.
US08504957B2	Automated identification of power and ground nets in an integrated circuit netlist A computerized method of automatically identifying nets that are statistically likely to be power or ground nets in a complex integrated circuit design. The method, which does not require a-priori information, operates by determining electrical properties of each device or device terminal that is coupled to an analyzed net, and creating a mathematical description of overall electrical properties of these various devices. The method will then compare this mathematical description with at least various preset mathematical descriptions of power nets or a ground nets. If the mathematical description fits, the invention will at least provisionally determine that said analyzed net is a power net or a ground net. The invention may also determine likely voltages for these various power nets.
US08504951B2	Dose-data generating apparatus, dose-data generating method, and manufacturing method of semiconductor device According to one embodiment, generating virtual data by mirroring data based on a dimension measurement result in a measurement region on an inner side of a shot region to a non-shot region on an outer side of a shot edge, and calculating dose data of the measurement region and a non-measurement region based on data in the measurement region and the virtual data are included.
US08504942B2	Icon-based facilitation of service task performance The performance of service tasks on behalf of individuals (such as clients) among agents in a service industry, such as a home healthcare services industry or a lodging service industry, may be difficult due to the quantity, variety, and details of such service tasks. A service task facilitator device may be devised that facilitates the performance of service tasks by such agents in a convenient manner. A service task coordinating system may also be devised for coordinating the performance of service tasks among such agents through the administration of such service task facilitator devices. The service task facilitator devices and coordinating system communicate with users (including agents) through a lexicon of icons of predominantly pictorial form chosen to describe the nature and details of the service tasks within the service industry. The use of a lexicon of pictorial icons facilitates such communication in an easily recognizable and language-independent manner.
US08504940B1	Smooth hardware accelerated scrolling Disclosed herein are methods and systems for displaying animated objects smoothly on a mobile device. A scrollable list may be displayed on a touch sensitive display device, and a user may make a gesture on the device to cause the list to appear as an animated scrolling list. The user may then make a halting gesture to cause the list to stop. While the list is animated, a screen distance adjustment value is calculated to determine the time taken for a command to be executed by a graphics processing unit. The list may then stop at a location corresponding to the a current position of the list and taking into account the screen distance adjustment value.
US08504926B2	Model based avatars for virtual presence An image generating system for simultaneous visual representative display of multiple computer users is disclosed. The method and apparatus includes hardware, software, and a system for generating various images for one or more users of a connected computer system, and imposing them onto the systems and ultimately the visual display of each user's system. The images, which may be known as avatars, may be static images, animated 2D, and/or animated 3D images. The images are simultaneously displayed on the outputs of each user. Each user may react and interact with the images of the other users through their own image.
US08504922B2	Enhanced user navigation to previously visited areas in a media environment Described herein is technology for, among other things, performing navigation in a media environment. The technology involves the presenting a user with only a portion of the previously visited pages or areas as he or she moves to previously visited pages or areas. As the user moves around the media environment, the movements are recorded for use when requests are received for previously visited areas or pages. As the user moves to previously visited areas redundant pages or areas are skipped. Thus, the user's forward and backward navigation are different and the user moves backward more easily, quickly and efficiently.
US08504919B2	Portable cross platform database accessing method and system A user manages a database or other application through a remote graphical user interface on a server device through a client device. A cross platform database translation module resides on the client device. The client device may also store cross platform authentication, configuration, and report generating modules for validating a user id and presenting database results in a desirable format. The modules on the client device request applications from a server device, may request validation from an authorization server, may configure embedded devices, and may query a database. The database may reside on a server, on the client device, or on another device.
US08504915B2	Optimizations for hybrid word processing and graphical content authoring Embodiments provide interactive computer-implemented rich heterogeneous content authoring features. In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes an interaction model that uses an input state associated with a user operation and an electronic page interface to provide an interactive authoring experience. In one embodiment, a note taking client can include an interaction model used in part to automatically control aspects of an electronic note page. Other embodiments are included and available.
US08504913B2	Client-side components Generating web pages dynamically at a client is disclosed. In some embodiments, when a web application or other code determines that a page is to be displayed, a set of components required to generate the page dynamically at the client is determined. Any components not already available at the client is obtained from a server. In some embodiments each component includes a display portion and may include one or both of a set of binding declarations and a logic portion. The components are parsed at the client and used to generate the page dynamically at the client, e.g., by generating associated portions of the document object model (DOM), retrieving JavaScript™ or other functions/classes and linking them to the respective portions of the DOM to which they correspond, and using the browser to render the page so created.
US08504908B2	Computer-implemented methods displaying, in a first part, a document and in a second part, a selected index of entities identified in the document Disclosed is a computer-implemented method of presenting data which has been automatically extracted from a digital representation of a document to a curator for review, the extracted data comprising annotation entity data concerning one or more instances of entities which have been identified in the digital representation of a document, the annotation entity data comprising data specifying the location of the identified instances of entities within the digital representation of a document, the method comprising the steps of (i) displaying in a first region of a display screen a user selectable portion of the digital representation of a document with said instances of entities which are specified by the annotation entity data as being located within the displayed portion of the digital representation of a document highlighted at the location specified by the annotation entity data; (ii) displaying in a second region of the display screen a list of a plurality of instances of entities which have been identified in the digital representation of a document, at least one of the listed instances of an entity having a user selectable user interface element associated therewith; and (iii) responsive to a user selecting the user selectable user interface element associated with an instance of an entity, adjusting the portion of the digital representation of a document which is displayed in the first region to include the location within the digital representation of a document where the instance of an entity associated with the selected user interface element is located.
US08504907B2	Generating page and document logs for electronic documents A method and system for generating page and document logs for electronic documents. The system includes a plurality of portable electronic devices and a workflow server. The portable electronic devices display a document that receives stroke input and images. A stroke capture device and module generates a log of segments and updates the log in response to a user erasing stroke data. An image capture module captures an image and inserts the image into a document. A logging module generates page metadata for each page within the document and document metadata that includes changes made to the page data. The logging module copies the page metadata and document metadata in response to a request. The copying includes a copy of all the metadata, metadata for selected pages and metadata for redacted content.
US08504906B1	Sending selected text and corresponding media content A server receives a request from a first computing device to send a communication to a second computing device. The request includes data identifying text selected from an e-book. The server identifies media content, such as an audio book or a movie, that corresponds to the e-book. The server extracts a portion of the media content that corresponds to the text selected from the e-book. The server generates a communication that includes media data that enables access to the portion of the media content and sends the communication to the second computing device.
US08504905B1	Audience segment selection A user interface for selecting an audience segment from a pool of tracked entities based on an aggregate similarity of the audience segment to an archetypical audience. A graphical representation illustrating a relationship between a composite index for the audience segment and an audience segment size are displayed to the user. User input indicating the archetypical audience and the audience segment is received by a system and the audience segment is assembled. The composite index and the audience segment size associated with the audience segment, are determined and displayed.
US08504903B2	Data error check circuit, data error check method, data transmission method using data error check function, semiconductor memory apparatus and memory system using data error check function Various embodiments of a memory system are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the memory system may include a semiconductor memory apparatus configured to generate error check signals in a column direction and a row direction of data groups to be transmitted through a plurality of data input/output terminals in a read operation and output the error check signals together with the data groups, and a memory controller configured to control data read/write operations of the semiconductor memory apparatus, generate error check signals by performing error check in a column direction and a row direction of data groups to be transmitted in a write operation, and provide the error check signals to the semiconductor memory apparatus together with the data groups.
US08504902B2	Methods and apparatus for virtually connected communication modes Methods and apparatus enabling a wireless network to implement efficient and robust paging channel operation. In one aspect, the invention permits recovery of a paging channel after a virtual connection failure. A virtually connected UMTS cellular phone that misses a paging notification will no longer be synchronized with its serving radio network, and the resultant loss of synchronization causes a service “blackout” until the devices are resynchronized. Accordingly, in one embodiment, a virtually connected cellular device continuously monitors for fallback messaging, greatly expediting detection and correction of a virtual connection failure. In another embodiment, a virtually connected base station which is unable to page a cellular device in a virtually connected mode continues paging in both virtual connection and fallback modes, thereby provoking an immediate response from the cellular device.
US08504884B2	Threshold voltage techniques for detecting an imminent read failure in a memory array A technique for detecting an imminent read failure in a memory array includes determining whether a memory array, which does not exhibit an uncorrectable error correcting code (ECC) read during an initial array integrity check at a normal read verify voltage level, exhibits an uncorrectable ECC read during a subsequent array integrity check at a margin read verify voltage level. The technique also includes providing an indication of an imminent read failure for the memory array when the memory array exhibits an uncorrectable ECC read during the subsequent array integrity check. In this case, the margin read verify voltage level is different from the normal read verify voltage level.
US08504881B2	Switch device, switch control method and storage system A switch device includes a memory unit for storing therein an error response for each error event to be sent in response at the time of a failure with respect to a control signal that controls a storage device connected to the switch device, an error response output unit for receiving input of the control signal and sequentially outputting each error response stored in the memory unit, an operation information computing unit for detecting an operation of a calculating device, which is connected to the switch device, corresponding to each error response output by the error response output unit and for obtaining, as operation information, a condition defining the operation of the calculating device upon receiving each error response, and an operation setting unit for setting operation condition at the time of a failure based on the operation information.
US08504880B2	Mechanism for facilitating efficient error handling in a network environment In accordance with embodiments, there are provided methods and systems for facilitating efficient error handling in a network environment. A method of embodiments includes receiving a validation request having configuration parameters of error dialogs relating to errors, and validating the configuration parameters and the errors. The validating includes mapping each error with a corresponding dialog. The method further includes transmitting a validating report having results of validation of the configuration parameters and the errors. The validation report is used to assign an order to each error and its corresponding dialog.
US08504879B2	Connection based anomaly detection A system for detecting network intrusions and other conditions in a network is described. The system includes a plurality of collector devices that are disposed to collect data and statistical information on packets that are sent between nodes on a network. An aggregator device is disposed to receive data and statistical information from the plurality of collector devices. The aggregator device produces a connection table that maps each node on the network to a record that stores information about traffic to or from the node. The aggregator runs processes that determine network events from aggregating of anomalies into network events.
US08504874B2	Repair-policy refinement in distributed systems In a distributed system a plurality of devices (including computing units, storage and communication units) are monitored by an automated repair service that uses sensors and performs one or more repair actions on computing devices that are found to fail according to repair policies. The repair actions include automated repair actions and non-automated repair actions. The health of the computing devices is recorded in the form of states along with the repair actions that were performed on the computing devices and the times at which the repair actions were performed, and events generated by both sensors and the devices themselves. After some period of the time, the history of states of each device, the events, and the repair actions performed on the computing devices are analyzed to determine the effectiveness of the repair actions. A statistical analysis is performed based on the cost of each repair action and the determined effectiveness of each repair action, and one or more of the policies may be adjusted, as well as determining from the signals and events from the sensors whether the sensors themselves require adjustment.
US08504870B2	Optimized recovery A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for restoring data. In some embodiments, this includes determining an object to be recovered, determining a representation of the object, and requesting the representation of the object from a data resource system. In some embodiments, the representation of the object is a hash value of the object. In some embodiments, the representation of the object is a segment of the object.
US08504868B2	Computer system with synchronization/desynchronization controller A computer system includes a processor, a submodule connected to the processor, an external access monitor configured to monitor a data transfer between the processor and the submodule, and a synchronization/desynchronization controller configured to synchronize or desynchronize the clock of the processor with respect to the clock of the submodule, depending on the result of the monitoring. Specifically, the processor clock is synchronized to the submodule clock when the frequency of access to the submodule by the processor is high, and the processor clock is desynchronized with respect to the submodule clock when the access frequency is low.
US08504866B2	Supplying hysteresis effect mitigated clock signals based on silicon-test characterized parameter Embodiments of systems and methods are described for reducing the effects of hysteresis in the operation of data processing circuitry. In this embodiment of the invention, adaptive control circuitry is used to reduce the effects of hysteresis. The embodiment disclosed herein provides significant reduction in the effects of hysteresis and, therefore, a significant reduction in the amount of guard band needed to compensate for hysteresis effects in SOI processes and thereby improving the performance/power characteristics of the circuit.
US08504865B2	Dynamic phase alignment A clock signal may be aligned with a data signal by delaying the signals relative to each other until an edge of one signal aligns with an edge of the other signal, and then causing an inversion of the clock signal. A further variation may limit the relative delay period to one-half clock cycle and may use a double inversion of the clock signal.
US08504862B2	Device and method for preventing lost synchronization A method and device for preventing a defect in a CDR circuit from hindering synchronization between connection nodes and for preventing connection failures. The CDR circuit generates a synchronization clock from received data. A connection failure processor performs a connection failure process if synchronization based on the synchronization clock between connection nodes is not established when a first predetermined time from when the reception of the received data is started elapses. A correction processor corrects operation of the CDR circuit if synchronization based on the synchronization clock between connection nodes is not established when a second predetermined time, which is shorter than the first predetermined time, from when the reception of the received data is started elapses.
US08504857B1	Programmable availability for a high availability system A storage system includes a storage array and a host system in communication with the storage array. The storage array has a first module and a second module with electronics configured to provide redundant functionality to the first module. The host system has a processor programmed to associate a power profile with the second module and to cause the storage array at appropriate moments determined by the power profile to power down and restore power to the electronics of the second module while the first module continues to receive power for normal operation. The storage array may be preprogrammed to independently power down and restore power to the electronics of the second module at the appropriate moments. When powered down, the second module temporarily ceases to provide redundant functionality to the first module, thereby reducing availability of the storage array in order to reduce power consumed by the storage array.
US08504842B1	Alternative unlocking patterns Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for receiving, by a computing system that is locked, input from a user that provides an unlocking pattern. During entry of the unlocking pattern, a display of the computing system does not provide a visual indication of an action that will be performed upon the user completing the unlocking pattern. The computing system compares the provided unlocking pattern to a plurality of stored unlocking patterns to determine whether the provided unlocking pattern matches any of the stored unlocking patterns. The stored unlocking patterns are associated with respective actions that are performed upon completion of the respective unlocking patterns. The unlocking patterns are associated with a same level of unlocked security access to the computing system. The computing system responds by unlocking the computing system and performing the action that is associated with the matching unlocking pattern.
US08504837B2	Security model for industrial devices Systems and/or methods are described relating to a security model that provides interoperability with foreign security domains while remaining scalable to small embedded devices. A security token service is provided, which is configured to issue, renew, and/or validate security tokens in response to a token request. A communication protocol, corresponding message structures, and the security tokens are defined in accordance with protocol buffer definitions.
US08504834B2	Method and system for activation of local content with legacy streaming systems A method and system for activation of local content with legacy streaming systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a storage device stores encrypted content. The encrypted content can be preloaded or downloaded into the storage device. To consume the content, a host device using the storage device receives a stream of data from a network. The host device then derives a key from the received stream of data and decrypts the encrypted content using the key derived from the received stream of data. Other embodiments are possible, and each of the embodiments can be used alone or together in combination.
US08504825B2	System and method for providing searchable data transport stream encryption A packetized transport stream for protecting viewing content from unauthorized access and methods for manufacturing and using same. The transport stream includes a plurality of content frames, each having a frame header and a frame payload. Each frame header includes information for handling the content frame; whereas, the frame payload includes selected viewing content for which protection from unauthorized access is desirable. By encrypting only the frame payload, the header remains unencrypted and can be applied to prepare the encrypted frame payload for presentation. The viewing content thereby can be stored in an encrypted format and can be decrypted on-the-fly as the viewing content is needed for presentation. The combination of the unencrypted frame header and the encrypted frame payload advantageously enables the viewing content to be protected against unauthorized use, copying, and dissemination without impairing the presentation of the viewing content.
US08504816B2	Integrated circuit device configuration Various embodiments include an integrated circuit (IC) device having a conductive contact, and a circuit to determine a resistance value of a circuit path between the conductive contact and a circuit node during an initialization mode of the device. The IC device includes a controller to select at least one value of at least one operating parameter of the device based at least in part on the resistance value.
US08504813B2	Network based operating system mobility monitoring whether an operating system is active and selecting a boot profile to boot on a computer platform when operating system is inactive For operating system mobility across heterogeneous computing platforms, a method may include periodically identifying whether an operating system is active until a determination that the operating system is inactive. Upon the determination that the operating system is inactive, one of a plurality of boot profiles that are each stored in association with a respective one of a plurality of computing platforms may be selected. The at least one boot profile may be associated with a target computing platform. The selected boot profile may be used in a booting process for booting the operating system on the target computing platform.
US08504812B2	Mobile terminal and method for controlling accessing of device thereof A mobile terminal and its device accessing control method are disclosed. When power is applied to the terminal, the terminal executes BIOS information. When certain identification information (ID) is received, whether or not the received identification information is registered one. If the inputted identification information is a registered one, a device and/or application is initialized or the use of the device and/or application is prevented and an operating system is booted according to corresponding device setting information.
US08504808B2	Cache memory apparatus having internal ALU A cache memory apparatus includes an L1 cache memory, an L2 cache memory coupled to the L1 cache memory, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) within the L2 cache memory, the combined ALU and L2 cache memory being configured to perform therewithin at least one of: an arithmetic operation, a logical bit mask operation; the cache memory apparatus being further configured to interact with at least one processor such that atomic memory operations bypass the L1 cache memory and go directly to the L2 cache memory.
US08504807B2	Rotate instructions that complete execution without reading carry flag A method of one aspect may include receiving a rotate instruction. The rotate instruction may indicate a source operand and a rotate amount. A result may be stored in a destination operand indicated by the rotate instruction. The result may have the source operand rotated by the rotate amount. Execution of the rotate instruction may complete without reading a carry flag.
US08504806B2	Instruction for comparing active vector elements to preceding active elements to determine value differences The described embodiments include a processor that executes a ValueCheck instruction. In the described embodiments, the processor receives an input vector and a predicate vector, each including N elements. The processor then executes a ValueCheck instruction, which causes the processor to generate a result vector. When generating the result vector, for each element in a set of elements in the input vector for which a corresponding element of the predicate vector is active, the processor determines if at least one of the elements in the set of elements precedes the element in the input vector and contains a different value than the element in the input vector. If so, the processor writes an identifier for a closest preceding active element that contains the different value into a corresponding element of a result vector. Otherwise, the processor writes a zero in the corresponding element of the result vector.
US08504805B2	Processor operating mode for mitigating dependency conditions between instructions having different operand sizes Various techniques for mitigating dependencies between groups of instructions are disclosed. In one embodiment, such dependencies include “evil twin” conditions, in which a first floating-point instruction has as a destination a first portion of a logical floating-point register (e.g., a single-precision write), and in which a second, subsequent floating-point instruction has as a source the first portion and a second portion of the same logical floating-point register (e.g., a double-precision read). The disclosed techniques may be applicable in a multithreaded processor implementing register renaming. In one embodiment, a processor may enter an operating mode in which detection of evil twin “producers” (e.g., single-precision writes) causes the instruction sequence to be modified to break potential dependencies. Modification of the instruction sequence may continue until one or more exit criteria are reached (e.g., committing a predetermined number of single-precision writes). This operating mode may be employed on a per-thread basis.
US08504797B2	Method and apparatus for managing thin provisioning volume by using file storage system In one embodiment, a method of operating block-based thin provisioning disk volumes in a system including a first storage system which is connected via a network to a second storage system comprises, in response to a volume creation request to create a thin provisioning disk volume in the first storage system, recording in the first storage system attribute information of the block-based thin provisioning disk volume; specifying a directory path for the block-based thin provisioning disk volume in a file system in the second storage system; and creating a directory for the block-based thin provisioning disk volume under the specified directory path.
US08504795B2	Method, system, and program for utilizing a virtualized data structure table Provided are a method, system, and program for utilizing a virtualized data structure table such as an address translation and protection table (TPT), for example, in an I/O device. The virtualized data structure table has virtually contiguous data structures but not necessarily physically contiguous data structures in system memory. The data structure table may be accessed in a virtually contiguous manner. In the illustrated embodiment, the table is subdivided at a first hierarchal level into a plurality of virtually contiguous units or segments. Each unit or segment is in turn subdivided at a second hierarchal level into a plurality of virtually contiguous subunits, subsegments, pages or blocks. Each page or block is in turn subdivided at a third hierarchal level into a plurality of physically contiguous table entries. The data structure table may be accessed in a virtually contiguous manner utilizing a set of hierarchal data structure tables corresponding to the hierarchal levels of the data structure table.
US08504793B2	Adaptive memory system for enhancing the performance of an external computing device An adaptive memory system is provided for improving the performance of an external computing device. The adaptive memory system includes a single controller, a first memory type (e.g., Static Random Access Memory or SRAM), a second memory type (e.g., Dynamic Random Access Memory or DRAM), a third memory type (e.g., Flash), an internal bus system, and an external bus interface. The single controller is configured to: (i) communicate with all three memory types using the internal bus system; (ii) communicate with the external computing device using the external bus interface; and (iii) allocate cache-data storage assignment to a storage space within the first memory type, and after the storage space within the first memory type is determined to be full, allocate cache-data storage assignment to a storage space within the second memory type.
US08504791B2	Hierarchical immutable content-addressable memory coprocessor Intercepting a requested memory operation corresponding to a conventional memory is disclosed. The requested memory operation is translated to be applied to a structured memory.
US08504784B2	Scheduling methods of phased garbage collection and housekeeping operations in a flash memory system An embodiment of a non-volatile memory storage system comprises a memory controller, and a flash memory module. The memory controller manages the storage operations of the flash memory module. The memory controller is configured to assign a priority level to one or more types of house keeping operations that may be higher than a priority level of one or more types of commands received by a host coupled to the storage system, and to service all operations required of the flash memory module according to priority.
US08504780B2	Computer, computer system, and data communication method A computer includes first and second processors, first and second I/O devices, a shared memory, and an interrupt controller. The first processor issues a control command for causing the first I/O device to read target data from the first apparatus and store the target data in the shared memory. The first I/O device reads the target data from the first apparatus and, transfers the target data to the shared memory, and generates an I/O complete interrupt. The interrupt controller delivers the generated I/O complete interrupt to the second processor. When the second processor receives the I/O complete interrupt, the second processor issues a control command for causing the second I/O device to read the target data from the shared memory and send the target data to the second apparatus. The second I/O device reads the target data from the shared memory and sends the target data to the second apparatus.
US08504776B2	Device and method for controlling caches Device and method for controlling caches, comprising a decoder configured to decode additional information of datasets retrievable from a memory, wherein the decoded additional information is configured to control whether particular ones of the datasets are to be stored in a cache.
US08504773B1	Storing dynamically sized buffers within a cache A system and method for buffering intermediate data in a processing pipeline architecture stores the intermediate data in a shared cache that is coupled between one or more pipeline processing units and an external memory. The shared cache provides storage that is used by multiple pipeline processing units. The storage capacity of the shared cache is dynamically allocated to the different pipeline processing units as needed, to avoid stalling the upstream units, thereby improving overall system throughput.
US08504769B2	Computing device and method for identifying hard disks A method for identifying hard disks connected to one or more ports of a computing device. The computing device comprises a controller. A first serial-number of each of the hard disks read by the controller is received. A second serial-number corresponding to each drive letter of the hard disk assigned by an operating system of the computing device is read. The first serial-number and the second serial-number is compared to determine associations between the drive letters and the hard disks. The associations are displayed on a display device connected to the computing device.
US08504762B2	Flash memory storage device with data interface A storage device realizing an improvement in rewrite endurance of a nonvolatile memory and an improvement in data transfer rate of write and read operations is provided including a nonvolatile memory; a volatile memory for storing file management information of the nonvolatile memory; a controller for controlling the nonvolatile memory and the volatile memory; and a power supply maintaining unit for supplying power to the nonvolatile memory, the volatile memory, or the controller upon power shutdown. The controller reads the file management information in the nonvolatile memory upon power-on and writes the same in the volatile memory, and read and write operations are performed based on the file management information in the volatile memory, and the file management information in the volatile memory is written in the nonvolatile memory upon power shutdown.
US08504757B1	Method for translating virtual storage device addresses to physical storage device addresses in a proprietary virtualization hypervisor A method to translate virtual storage device addresses to physical storage device addresses without the cooperation of the proprietary virtualization hypervisor is disclosed herein. The method of the present invention allows additional functionality to be added to the I/O processing of a closed/proprietary virtualization hypervisor by third party software or physical storage devices on the basis of individual virtual storage devices.
US08504756B2	System, circuit and method for improving system-on-chip bandwidth performance for high latency peripheral read accesses A system, circuit and method for improving system-on-chip (SoC) bandwidth performance for high latency peripheral read accesses using a bridge circuit are disclosed. In one embodiment, the SoC includes the bridge circuit, one or more bus masters, at least one high bandwidth bus slave and at least one low bandwidth bus slave that are communicatively coupled via a high bandwidth bus and a low bandwidth bus. Further, the bus masters access the at least one low bandwidth bus slave by issuing an early read transaction request in advance to a scheduled read transaction request. Furthermore, the bridge circuit receives the early read transaction request and fetches data associated with the early read transaction request. In addition, the bridge circuit receives the scheduled read transaction request. The fetched data is then sent to the bus masters upon receiving the scheduled read transaction request.
US08504754B2	Identification of types of sources of adapter interruptions A source identification facility is provided that enables identification of the one or more types of adapters requesting an interrupt in order to facilitate processing of the interrupt. The adapter types are accessible to the operating system and are used to tailor processing by the operating system of the interrupt.
US08504753B2	Suspendable interrupts for processor idle management Suspendable interrupts are described that allow a processor to remain in an idle state for a longer period of time. Each suspendable interrupt defines a maximum delay value that specifies the maximum delay software associated with the interrupt can wait between a receipt of an interrupt signal associated with the suspendable interrupt and raising the interrupt for servicing by the software. The delay value allows suspendable interrupts to be masked when a processor is placed in the idle state if they can be dealt with at a next scheduled wake time of the processor, allowing the processor to potentially remain in the idle state for a longer period of time.
US08504750B1	System and method to process event reporting in an adapter Method and system for an adapter is provided. The adapter includes a plurality of function hierarchies, with each function hierarchy including a plural functions and each function being associated with an event. The adapter also includes a plurality of processors for processing one or more events generated by the plurality of functions. The adapter further includes a first set of arbitration modules, where each arbitration module is associated with a function hierarchy and receives interrupt signals from the functions within the associated function hierarchy and selects one of the interrupt signals. The adapter also includes a second set of arbitration modules, where each arbitration module receives processor specific interrupt signals and selects one of the interrupt signals for processing an event associated with the selected interrupt signal.
US08504748B2	Communication slave and communication network system In a communication network system in which a master and a plurality of communication slaves are coupled through a high-potential side bus and a low-potential side bus in a daisy-chain manner, each of the communication slaves includes a control circuit, a resistance element, and a potential difference detecting portion. The control circuit controls communication with the master. The resistance element is inserted into the high-potential side bus at a portion located downstream of a point where the control circuit is coupled with the high-potential side bus. The potential difference detecting portion detects a potential difference between an upstream terminal of the resistance element and the low-potential side bus. The control circuit sets an ID value for communicating with the master in accordance with the potential difference detected by the potential difference detecting portion.
US08504746B2	Analog data generating and processing device for use with a personal computer An interface device (10) provides fast data communication between a host device with input/output interfaces and a data transmit/receive device, wherein the interface device (10) comprises a processor means (13), a memory means (14), a first connecting device (12) for interfacing the host device with the interface device, and a second connecting device (15) for interfacing the interface device (10) with the data transmit/receive device. The interface device (10) is configured by the processor means (13) and the memory means (14) in such a way that, when receiving an inquiry from the host device via the first connecting device (12) as to the type of a device attached to the host device, regardless of the type of the data transmit/receive device, the interface device sends a signal to the host device via the first connecting device (12) which signals to the host device that it is communicating with an input/output device.
US08504744B2	Lock-less buffer management scheme for telecommunication network applications A buffer management mechanism in a multi-core processor for use on a modem in a telecommunications network is described herein. The buffer management mechanism includes a buffer module that provides buffer management services for one or more Layer 2 applications, wherein the buffer module at least provides a user space application interface to application software running in user space. The buffer management mechanism also includes a buffer manager that manages a plurality of separate pools of tokens, wherein the tokens comprise pointers to memory areas in external memory. In addition, the buffer management mechanism includes a custom driver that manages Data Path Acceleration Architecture (DPAA) resources including buffer pools and frame queues to be used for user plane data distributing.
US08504743B2	Information processing system and data transfer method An information processing system includes a master module for outputting a transfer state signal in correspondence to a data read instruction when the data read instruction is successively output plural times, the transfer state signal indicating that at least one data read instruction succeeds some one of the data read instructions; and a memory controller for, when receiving the some one of the data read instructions and the corresponding transfer state signal from the master module, supplying data corresponding to the some one of the data read instructions to the master module, while reading data corresponding to the at least one data read instruction, which succeeds the some one of the data read instructions, from a memory and holding the read data in accordance with the received transfer state signal.
US08504740B2	MILARRS systems and methods An add-on module provides extrinsic management functionality to legacy and other devices. Contemplated modules include: (a) a state agent that provides at least one of the MILARRS function, and (b) a product agent that communicates with the device using at least one serial interface. Implementations are contemplated for both legacy devices that natively provide less than complete MILARRS functionality, and newly developed devices for which the developer desires a ready-made implementation of MILARRS functionality.
US08504734B2	Hybrid tree/mesh overlay for data delivery Hybrid tree/mesh overlays for data delivery involve using a tree overlay network and a mesh overlay network to delivery a data stream via a push mechanism and a pull mechanism, respectively. In an example embodiment, a network node enters a mesh overlay network and attaches to a tree overlay network. In operation, the network node receives data blocks of a data stream over the tree overlay network via a push mechanism. The network node ascertains if a data block is not received over the tree overlay network. If a data block is missing, the network node retrieves the missing data block over the mesh overlay network via a pull mechanism. In another example embodiment, the tree overlay network includes a subset of nodes forming a tree-based backbone. Network nodes that are identified as being stable may join the backbone and provide the data stream to other nodes.
US08504729B2	Intelligent network providing network access services (INP-NAS) An open Information Services network architecture is disclosed which enables multiple business entities to assume specialized roles of access provider, service provider, and service retailer. The disclosed technology provides instant plug-and-play service, decouples access and service networks and provides seamless (single step) access enabling customers to maintain a service account regardless of location. The benefits of the disclosed technology, among others, include: Multi-level and multi-service registration; Broker Services providing customers with a choice of provider; Security Services relating to distribution; Revenue Assurance services, Gentle Reminder/Gentle Touch; Revenue Assurance services pertaining to usage integrity verification upon registration; mobile services derived from G-ISN; and claim benefits pertaining to LNP services derived from G-ISN.
US08504726B2	User targeted medical imaging and information packaging, compression and distribution system A computer-based method and system of distributing biological sample data acquires a digital image of a subject biological sample. The acquired digital image and image capture data are processed according to at least one user. This results in processed image data and capture metadata. The processed image data represents biological sample data of the subject biological sample. A package processing combines the processed image data and capture metadata into a working Package. The method and system enables simultaneous electronic access to the working Package by multiple users, across multiple sectors, in addition to the one user.
US08504722B2	Enhancing DS-lite with private IPV4 reachability A method implemented in a network element to make a first device assigned an IPv4 private address accessible to a second device using Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6), the method comprising receiving an IPv6 formatted data packet, having a virtual IPv6 address as a destination address and having been sent from the second device; determining whether the virtual IPv6 address includes a representation prefix (RP); sending an address map query (AMQ) to a customer premise equipment (CPE), where the CPE stores a mapping between the virtual IPv6 address and a private IPv4 address of the first device; receiving an address map response (AMR) from the CPE with the private IPv4 address corresponding to the virtual IPv6 address; translating the IPv6 formatted data packet into an IPv4 formatted data packet; and sending the translated data packet to the CPE through an IPv4 over IPv6 tunnel.
US08504708B2	Method and system for generic IP multimedia residential gateways A common IP layer client device interface within an IP multimedia gateway (IMG) is configured to connect client devices to broadband IP networks such as the Internet based on determined device capabilities. Broadband IP network interfaces within the IMG are configured to enable communication between the IMG and broadband IP networks based on the determined device capabilities. Content provided by various service managers are communicated with the client devices utilizing the common IP layer client device interface and the configured network interfaces. Network capabilities may be determined during the device and network discovery. Protocol translation, media transcoding and/or dynamic device configuration may be performed based on the determined device capabilities, and based on the determined network capabilities. The IMG may adjust system timing and manage power consumptions for service deployment over corresponding client devices. Information may be routed or distributed by the IMRG among the client devices when needed.
US08504696B2	System and method employing an agile network protocol for secure communications using secure domain names A system for connecting a first network device and a second network device includes one or more servers. The servers are configured to: (a) receive, from the first network device, a request to look up a network address of the second network device based on an identifier associated with the second network device; (b) determine, in response to the request, whether the second network device is available for a secure communications service; and (c) initiate a virtual private network communication link between the first network device and the second network device based on a determination that the second network device is available for the secure communications service, wherein the secure communications service uses the virtual private network communication link.
US08504688B2	System and method for aggregate monitoring of user-based groups of private computer networks A system for aggregate monitoring of private computer networks includes a plurality of monitoring servers for monitoring a plurality of private networks. Each private network has at least one monitoring server configured for monitoring the private network by collecting statuses of devices associated with the private network. A central server is coupled to each of the monitoring servers via a wide area network (WAN) and stores information pertaining to a plurality of users. The information associates each of the users with a group of one or more of the private networks. The central server may receive a request from a remote device via the WAN, determine the group of private networks associated with the requesting user, automatically generate a set of statistics according to only the statuses collected for each private network in the group associated with the requesting user, and send the set of statistics to the remote device.
US08504684B1	Control of data storage system management application activation A method for managing data storage system management applications includes executing, by a client device, a first data storage system management application, receiving, by the client device, an execution instruction for execution of a second data storage system management application, and detecting, by the client device, an installation of a second data storage system management application as part of the client device, the second data storage system management application being distinct from the first data storage system management application. If the second data storage system management application is installed on the client device, executing the second data storage system management application, otherwise retrieving the second data storage system management application from a server device and executing the second data storage system management application.
US08504678B2	Traffic routing based on geophysical location Applications requiring multiple network devices may use geophysical information about the nodes to route traffic. Each device attached to a network may have both a network address and a geophysical location. When an application requires the use of multiple devices, for example restricting content or services in a certain area or for prioritizing content or services in an area, the devices are identified and used based on their geophysical location rather than network addresses.
US08504672B2	Discovery of electronic devices in a combined network Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to discovery of electronic devices in a combined network. An embodiment of a method includes determining an identifier for a first device in a combined network according to a first network protocol, the combined network including a first network using the first network protocol and a second network using a second network protocol, where the identifier is determined based on a unique designation for the first device, and determining addressing information for the first device according to the second network protocol, where determining the addressing information includes establishing a physical address and a logical address for the first device. The method further includes broadcasting one or more messages containing identification information and capabilities of the first device to devices in the first network and to devices in the second network. The first device records and processes information from messages received by the first device, the messages being one or more messages under the first network protocol and one or more message under the second network protocol.
US08504665B1	Management of a device connected to a remote computer using the remote computer to effect management actions The invention facilitates remote management of a computer via a network. Remote management of a device connected to a managed computer can be effected by using the managed computer as a proxy for conducting a management action regarding the connected device on behalf of a remote computer management server.
US08504659B2	Apparatus and method for adaptive multimedia reception and transmission in communication environments The present invention provides a method and apparatus for configuration of adaptive integrated circuitry, to provide one or more operating modes or other functionality in a communication device, such as a cellular telephone, a GSM telephone, another type of mobile telephone or mobile station, or any other type of media communication device, including video, voice or radio, or other forms of multimedia. The adaptive integrated circuitry is configured and reconfigured for multiple tasks, such as channel acquisition, voice transmission, or multimedia and other data processing. In the preferred embodiment, the configuration and reconfiguration occurs to adaptively optimize the performance of the particular activity over time, such as to increase the speed of channel acquisition, increase throughput rates, increase perceived voice and media quality, and decrease the rate of dropped communication sessions.
US08504655B1	Proxy delegation for content delivery Systems and methods of delegating a proxy node for content delivery to a wireless device are provided. A wireless device authenticates with a proxy node, and the proxy node provides to the wireless device a list of content stored on a first content node. If the wireless device requests a second content stored on a second content node, the second content node sends an attachment request to the proxy node, the proxy node associates the second content node with the proxy node, and the proxy node delivers the second content to the wireless device.
US08504654B1	Methods and systems for facilitating a remote desktop session utilizing long polling Examples of methods, systems, apparatus, and machine-readable storage media are provided to facilitate access and control of a remote desktop of a remote machine by a web browser at a client device through a transcoding server without installing proprietary plug-ins or protocols on the client device. A transcoding server may translate user input requests from a web browser into input calls compatible with a remote desktop display protocol. The transcoding server may receive remote desktop drawing commands from the remote machine and translate the remote desktop drawing commands into web browser drawing updates compatible with the web browser. A transcoding server may communicate with a web browser via HTTP and communicate with a remote machine via a remote desktop display protocol. A web browser may be an HTML5 browser. A transcoding server may send drawing coordinates to the web browser via an HTTP header and may use long polling.
US08504653B1	Online shared data environment An online data storage arrangement (or a collection of “digital lockers”) allows online users to share data with other online users. Digital lockers may include a number user created content objects and view objects. A content object comprises a link to one or more data objects that a user may wish to share with others. Such a content object may specify a plurality of permissions that manage what a user can or cannot do with the content object. A content object's permissions may dictate use of the content object when it is shared with other users. A view object is a medium that may be used to share content objects. A user may create a view object that references or includes one or more content objects. Users having authorized access to the view object may use the referenced/included content objects.
US08504648B2	Method and apparatus for storage-service-provider-aware storage system A storage system includes a virtual volume configured on a storage controller and mapping to a physical storage capacity maintained at a remote location by a storage service provider (SSP). The storage controller receives an I/O command in a block-based protocol specifying a logical block address (LBA). The storage controller correlates the LBA with a file name of a file stored by the SSP, translates the I/O command to an IP-supported protocol, and forwards the translated I/O command with the file name to the SSP for processing. In the case of a write command, the SSP stores the write data using the specified file name. In the case of a read command, the SSP enables download of data from the specified file name. In an alternative embodiment, a NAS head may replace the storage controller for correlating the LBA with a file name and translating the I/O command.
US08504636B2	Monitoring communications using a unified communications protocol According to particular embodiments, a communications monitoring system includes agent servers that deploy automated agents into various group communications services and a central server that receives the event data collected by the automated agents using the unified communications protocol. The central server also transmits the event data and any alerts that were determined from the event data to operator interfaces according to operator profiles.
US08504626B2	System and method for content tagging and distribution through email A system and method for content tagging and distribution through email are provided. A user-to-tag record including content tags, each associated with one or more users, is maintained. An incoming email message with a tag address is received. The tag address is processed to identify a content tag, which is applied to the user-to-tag record. Users associated with the identified content tag are determined. The incoming email message is provided to the associated users.
US08504620B2	Dynamic subject information generation in message services of distributed object systems A system, method and medium of sending messages in a distributed data processing network is described, and contemplates receiving a message that includes subject information that is generated based on one or more pre-selected portions as the message is generated. A message delivery system in a client-server environment is also described. The message delivery system includes a server configured to receive a message that includes subject information that is generated based on one or more pre-selected portions as the message is created and configured to forward the message based on the subject information.
US08504617B2	System and method for wireless gaming with location determination In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a system and method for wireless gaming with location determination are provided. In a particular embodiment of the present invention, the system includes a gaming server; a wireless network at least partially covering a property, the wireless network comprising a plurality of signal detection devices; and a gaming communication device operable to transmit and receive gaming information to and from the gaming server via the wireless network. A location of the gaming communication device on the property may be determined based upon a signal received by the plurality of signal detection devices from the gaming communication device. Based upon the location of the gaming communication device on the property, a predetermined functionality of the gaming communication device may be enabled.
US08504611B2	System and method for digital picture frame syndication A system and method for synchronizing feeds for multiple digital picture frames. Pictures are received. Each of the pictures is associated with one or more feeds. One or more of a number of digital picture frames are designated to receive each of the one or more feeds. User preferences are received for delivering the one or more feeds. The one or more feeds are communicated to the one or more digital picture frames designated to receive the one or more feeds.
US08504608B2	System and method for re-publication of information in a network-based communication system Methods, devices, and computer program products facilitate communications between two or more network entities that utilize Session Initiation Protocol. To this end, an Event State Compositor may force an Event Publication Agent to provide update information as deemed necessary by the Event State Compositor. The update of the publication information may be carried out by initiating an update triggering mechanism that is addressed to the Event State Compositor and comprises information that specifically identifies a particular publication. Such a triggering mechanism may be initiated when a predefined condition associated with the Event State Compositor's local policies is satisfied.
US08504601B2	FIR filter with reduced element count A finite impulse response (FIR) filter having a differential output and capable of having negative coefficients, and a method of designing the filter, is disclosed. In contrast to the prior art, in which two output signals requires the use of two identical sets of impedance devices corresponding to the Fourier coefficients that create the desired response of the filter, the described method and system uses only a single set of impedance devices, and thus approximately one-half of the number of impedance devices used in the prior art. This is accomplished by appropriately selecting which resistors contribute to which output, so that a differential output may be obtained that is substantially the same as if impedance devices corresponding to all of the coefficients were used for each signal.
US08504599B1	Intelligent system for database retrieval An intelligent system for database retrieval includes a computing device, an input device, a display device, and a storage device. A user initiates a free-form or structured inquiry of the storage device and the system executes a search for the free-form or structured inquiry and additionally for related knowledge if a free-form inquiry was initiated. The related knowledge search is system initiated and based upon the sensory information of the user and the user's behaviors. The free-form or structured inquiry and related knowledge results are returned to the computing device for formatting in a manner compatible with the user, the user's behavior, and the operating environment. The free-form or structured inquiry and related knowledge results are then displayed on the display device.
US08504597B2	Distributed file system consistency mechanism extension for enabling internet video broadcasting The consistency callback mechanisms employed by local file systems such as NTFS and distributed file systems such as DDS, NFS and CIFS are extended to provide a shared memory foundation for efficiently broadcasting real-time high definition video from a source object to large numbers of viewers via the Internet. Distributed applications such as video viewing client applications establish connections to a common distributed file system object, and then each application registers with the underlying distributed file system to receive notifications whenever the video source modifies the source object. The data required to update images maintained by viewing clients is included in notification messages. The distributed file system employs a network of proxy cache nodes. Proxy cache nodes receive notification messages (complete with image update data) and update their cached images of the source object and then retransmit the notification messages towards the viewing clients using IP multicast techniques. In this manner, the distributed file system's consistency mechanism efficiently employs network resources to enable the real-time distribution of video content streams.
US08504588B2	Automatic study linking for hybrid imaging A method and an apparatus are disclosed for automatically linking at least two medical studies which are associated to different acquisition modalities (CT/PET) and which are subject of post-processing in the context of hybrid imaging. In a preparation phase of at least one embodiment, there is defined a classification scheme according to pre-definable rules, conditions and attributes. In an execution phase for a selected source study of a first modality there is looked for at least one target study of a second modality of the same type according to the rules. Then, the source study is automatically linked to the at least one target study.
US08504582B2	System and methods for unit of measurement conversion and search query expansion A system and methods for unit of measurement conversion and search query expansion are described. The search query expansion may include identifying an initial unit of measurement associated with a property and an initial numeric value for the initial unit of measurement within a search query, automatically forming an expanded search query by expanding the search query to include at least one related unit of measurement associated with the property, and sending the expanded search query to a search engine to search a database. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08504579B1	Filtering a data set using trees on a computing device A computing device configured for filtering a data set is described. The computing device includes a processor and executable instructions stored in memory that is in electronic communication with the processor. The computing device obtains a data set. The computing device also selects nodes from multiple trees to produce a node selection. The computing device further generates a composite filter based on the node selection. The computing device additionally filters the data set based on the composite filter to produce a working data set.
US08504560B2	Method and system for probabilistically quantifying and visualizing relevance between two or more citationally or contextually related data objects In one embodiment a method for probabilistically quantifying a degree of relevance between two or more citationally or contextually related data objects, such as patent documents, non-patent documents, web pages, personal and corporate contacts information, product information, consumer to behavior, technical or scientific information, address information, and the like is provided. In another embodiment a method for visualizing and displaying relevance between two or more citationally or contextually related data objects is provided. In another embodiment a search input/output interface that utilizes an iterative self-organizing mapping technique to automatically generate a visual map of relevant patents and/or other related documents desired to be explored, searched or analyzed is provided. In another embodiment, a search input/output interface that displays and/or communicates search input criteria and corresponding search results in a way that facilitates intuitive understanding and visualization of the logical relationships between two or more related concepts being searched is provided.
US08504547B1	Customizing image search for user attributes Systems, method, and apparatus including computer program products for providing image search results. In some implementations, a method is provided. The method includes receiving from a user a query for images including static images, moving images, and images within multimedia content, identifying at least one of a language attribute and a locale attribute of the user, generating multiple search results, each result corresponding to an image content item that satisfies the query, ordering the search results based at least on click data for image content items that satisfy the query, the click data gathered from users having at least one of the language attribute and the locale attribute, and presenting the ordered search results to the user, including presenting representations of the corresponding image content items.
US08504543B1	Automatic API generation for a web application A system and a method are disclosed for automatically providing an API for a Web-based application. An API processing core receives a call, performs a variety of actions on the call prior to executing it, determines based on the actions whether the call is a valid API call to the currently existing application functionality, and if the call is a valid API call, executes it. The call syntax is constructed primarily out of elements applicable to any Web-based application using the system.
US08504542B2	Multi-row transactions Techniques are provided for more efficient multi-row atomic, consistent, isolated and durable (ACID)-compliant transactions with snapshot isolation semantics (or just “multi-row transactions” for short). In some embodiments, the techniques are implemented in a computing system that includes a client application, a lightweight in-memory lease-based lock service, a multi-row transaction orchestrator, and an underlying database system. The transaction orchestrator implements a read protocol and a write protocol that provides support to the client application for carrying out multi-row transactions against the underlying database system irrespective of whether the database system itself supports multi-row transactions. The transaction orchestrator explicitly maintains transaction-level locks obtained from the lease-based lock service as part of the transaction protocol. Further, the transaction orchestrator is tolerant to lock service failure and unavailability without compromising ACID-compliance and snapshot isolation guarantees to the client application.
US08504535B1	Erasure coding and redundant replication Disclosed are various embodiments for employing an erasure coding storage scheme and a redundant replication storage scheme in a data storage system. Data objects that are greater than a size threshold and accessed less frequently than an access threshold are stored in an erasure coding scheme, while data objects that are sized less than a size threshold or accessed more often than an access threshold are stored in a redundant replication storage scheme.
US08504531B2	System and method for application aware de-duplication of data blocks on a virtualized storage array A system and method for application aware de-duplication (de-dup) of data blocks in a virtualized storage array is disclosed. In one embodiment, in a method of application aware de-dup of data blocks on virtualized storage arrays in a storage area network, a de-dup agent is enabled on each of one or more components of the storage area network. A master list of metadata associated with indexed data is then created and stored in the virtualized storage arrays. One or more sublists of metadata are then created from the masterlist and are stored. Upon receiving a write request from an application residing in the host device, it is determined whether data block being written has an entry in a sublist stored in a host device, and if so, the data block is then replaced with a pointer indicating where the data block is residing in the virtualized storage arrays.
US08504525B2	Data management of aggregrated devices through a television platform An apparatus and method are disclosed. In one embodiment apparatus includes a media aggregation backup unit that can receive a request to perform a backup of a set of media files stored within media storage devices coupled to a home network. The media aggregation backup unit can send information to a remote server, coupled to the Internet that identifies the media storage devices coupled to the home network to the remote server. Also, the media aggregation backup unit can send information to the media storage devices to provide the media storage devices the identity and location of the remote server.
US08504519B1	Determining a preferred modified version from among multiple modified versions for synchronized files A server stores files and manages the synchronization of those files across client devices in accordance with user preferences that may be embodied in change management rules. A first version of a file has been designated to be synchronized across at least a first client and a second client. The first client accesses the first version of the file and creates a first modified version of the file, and the second client accesses the first version of the file and creates a second modified version of the file. When the first and second clients attempt to re-synchronize their respective modified versions of the file, the server determines a preferred version from among the available modified versions of the file according to change management rules. Then, the preferred version is stored by the server and is subsequently served for synchronization across the client devices.
US08504507B1	Inferring demographics for website members Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for providing content based on an estimated actual age. A set of related members is identified for a first member of a social networking website. Each member in the set of related members is connected to the first member in the social network website. Age information for members in the set of related members in the set of related members is examined. When a threshold number of members in the set of related members have an estimated actual age within a certain age range, an actual age of the first member is estimated based on the estimated actual age of the members in the set of related members. Content is provided to the first member based on the first member's estimated actual age. Techniques for performing a sentiment analysis based on an estimated actual age are also described.
US08504506B2	Systems and methods for modeling and analyzing solution requirements and assets Systems and associated methods for capturing and storing asset analysis details are described. Systems and methods provide for building a model of the particular asset requirement for a specific purpose and a model of the range of capabilities that a particular asset can provide. The mapping of these two models allows for the identification of the best asset for a particular solution requirement. An asset match may occur when an asset capability model whose functional and non-functional capabilities subsume the functional and non-functional requirements specified in the asset requirements model.
US08504500B2	Systems, methods, and apparatus for reconstruction of 3-D object morphology, position, orientation and texture using an array of tactile sensors Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided using signals from a set of tactile sensors mounted on a surface to determine the three-dimensional morphology (e.g., size, shape, orientation, and/or position) and texture of objects of arbitrary shape. Analytical, numerical, and/or neural network approaches can be used to interpret the sensory data.
US08504499B2	Constant memory implementation of a phase-model neural network Disclosed are systems, apparatuses, and methods for implementing a phase-model neural network using a fixed amount of memory. Such a phase-model neural network includes a plurality of neurons, wherein each neuron is associated with two parameters—an activity and a phase. Example methods include (i) generating a sequence of variables associated with a probability distribution of phases and (ii) sequentially sampling the probability distribution of phases using a fixed amount of memory, regardless of a number of phases used in the phase-model neural network.
US08504484B2	Apparatus and method for managing a social network A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a system having a controller to collect one or more user-generated comments from each of a plurality of computing devices, detect a correlation in the one or more user-generated comments collected from the plurality of computing devices, and establish a social network between the plurality of computing devices according to the detected correlation. The one or more user-generated comments can be temporally associated with media content presented at the plurality of computing devices. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08504476B2	System and method of certifying a check A system and method of certifying a check which involves a captured image of the check. An example method includes receiving by a first computer a request from a second computer to certify a check from a payer to a payee, the check serving to withdraw funds from an account of the payer, receiving by the first computer an image file containing an image of the check from the second computer, obtaining an account number and an amount from the image file by the first computer, determining using the account number whether funds equal to the amount are in the account, and when funds equal to the amount are in the account, putting a hold on the funds equal to the amount and issuing a certification number and a password by the first computer.
US08504465B2	Fuel offering and purchase management system The present disclosure is directed to facilitating pricing, sales and delivery of a commodity. In one embodiment, a Fuel Offer Generator facilitates the purchase and management of fuel offerings. The Fuel Offer Generator allows Customers interested in securing fuel to obtain an offer for fuel at lock-in prices for various tenors. Fuel Customers may later exercise the fuel offers so their fuel costs are locked-in at desired levels The Fuel Offer Generator may generate hedges to counteract fuel related risks stemming from fuel offer purchases. Ultimately, a customer that purchases a fuel offering can exercise their fuel offering order at a specified price and redeem any difference between the market price for their purchased fuel and the price specified in their fuel offering order. While the Fuel Offer Generator may place various constraints on redemption, it will employ various consumer behavior metrics to establish the pricing of fuel offerings.
US08504461B1	Financial products for incentivizing health improvement A financial instrument, and associated systems and methods, provide direct financial incentives to individual investors to maintain and improve their health. The financial product has a base rate of return which is based on the investor's well-being category or other characteristics. The base rate of return is retrospectively adjusted at the end of the time period based on changes in the investor's well-being category, with improvements in well-being category typically resulting in an increased rate of return. A number of integrated analytic and predictive models are used to determine investor morbidity risk, the well-being categories, investor migration between categories, the investor payouts, and the portfolio allocation for investments underlying the financial instrument.
US08504459B1	Method, system, and computer program product for grading a collateralized mortgage obligation or other asset-backed security The invention relates to a method, system and computer program product for grading asset-backed securities by assigning a relative grade, including one or more of a prepayment risk component and a complexity component, which may take into account one or more of weighted average life, volatility of weighted average life at moderate and stressed yield curve shifts, and complexity, in the absence of price information.
US08504455B1	Acquisition wave management Enhanced systems, processes, tools, techniques and strategies are provided for executing corporate entity changes between or among institutions, particularly with respect to minimizing the negative effects of the corporate change on customers of the institutions. In various embodiments, a method is provided for determining a wave assignment for a customer in connection with multiple waves of the corporate change. The method may include establishing a baseline wave assignment for customers of the acquired institution based on customer account data; determining lines of business associated with the customer account data; and, applying wave assignments to the customer account data in response to the baseline wave assignments and the lines of business, among other potential factors.
US08504449B2	Apparatus and method for managing software applications of a mobile device server A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, which operates in a mobile device server and which has computer instructions to obtain a software application, store a first pairing key in a memory of the mobile device server where the first pairing key is generated by a device of a service provider in response to a review of the software application for compliance with at least one policy of the service provider, and execute a web server application at the mobile device server that is operable to detect a media resource center operably coupled with at least one media device, establish communications with the media resource center and transmit the first pairing key to the media resource center to enable at least a portion of services that are associated with the software application and that utilize the at least one media device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08504444B2	Method and system for increasing advance orders A system and method are described for increasing advance orders for goods or services. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving advance orders for a product with a specified release date from a plurality of buyers and moving up the release date if a goal is met, wherein the goal based at least in part on the number of advance orders received.
US08504443B2	Methods and systems for pricing software infrastructure for a cloud computing environment A software provider system can provide and price software infrastructure for a cloud to a cloud provider based on expected utilization and actual utilization of the cloud. The software provider system can provide the software infrastructure of the cloud and technical support for the software infrastructure under a varying price structure which is dependent on the expected utilization and the actual utilization of the software infrastructure. The software provider system can determine the initial price of the software infrastructure based on the expected utilization of the cloud and a purpose of the cloud. The software provider system can monitor the actual utilization of the software infrastructure, over time, in order to modify the initial price based on the actual utilization of the software infrastructure.
US08504442B2	Bidding on a plurality of products or services with contingencies Bidding on a plurality of items with contingencies. Input may be received from a buyer over a wide area network. The input may specify a plurality of offers for purchase of a respective plurality of items and the offers may be included in a collection of offers. One or more contingencies may be associated with the collection of offers, e.g., in response to user input. The one or more contingencies may specify cancellation of one or more of the plurality of offers within the collection of offers. Input may be received from a seller over the wide area network, specifying an acceptance of a first offer of the plurality of offers in the collection of offers. At least one of the plurality of offers within the collection of offers may be automatically canceled based on the one or more contingencies and possibly the acceptance of the first offer.
US08504437B1	Dynamically selecting and presenting content relevant to user input Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media are provided. One example method includes receiving a textual input that forms a part of a user request, the textual input in the form of a prefix that when complete constitutes the request. The method further includes identifying completions based on the prefix, determining one or more content items associated with each completion, computing initial scores including a score for each content item-completion pair including determining a likelihood that a given completion represents the request and a quality of the content item as compared to the completion, computing final scores including scores for each prefix-content item pair using the initial scores, computing a bid for each content item, running an auction to select a content item based on the bids and final scores, and identifying display data associated with the selected content item.
US08504424B2	Advertising system supporting multi-advertiser system remote advertisement posting A system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption provides customers making online purchases to automatically retrieve and redeem all applicable rebates and coupons during an online purchase. Purchase orders from customers are selectively fulfilled and products are shipped to the customers either by the system for online sales with automatic rebate and coupon redemption or by other merchant or manufacturer environments. The system makes purchases from merchants or manufacturers using all applicable coupons and rebates and then sells the products to the customers, passing the savings to them. The system automatically retrieves coupons and rebates for items in a shopping cart during the activity of an online purchase at an electronic mall or an online merchant site and to retrieve manufacturer's and merchant's coupons prior to an online purchasing activity for subsequent submission to an online merchant during a subsequent purchasing activity.
US08504420B2	Method using advertising as compensation to a promoter for generating new account sign ups of end users for a product or service offering entity A method of using advertising as a means of compensation or incentive for a promoter to generate new account sign ups of end users for a product or service offering entity, wherein advertising for the benefit of the promoter is included in communications between the offering entity and the specific end users obtained by the promoter for the offering entity.
US08504418B1	Incenting answer quality Methods, computer program products, and systems are described for online content management. Online content in the form of answer sets are exposed to a user posing a question to a question and answer service. The question and answer service causes an award amount to be debited from an account associated with the user. The question and answer service receives a user input that (i) selects one or more answers from the answer set, and (ii) specifies a distribution of a portion of the award amount among the selected answers.
US08504412B1	Audit automation with survey and test plan A system automatically executes surveys and control test plans for an audit and consolidates the results for audit issue creation. The system may provide issue remediation workflow. In embodiments, the system allows a user to design an audit, including defining audit task and related surveys and test plans. The user may browse a catalogue of previously defined audit tasks, surveys, and test plans.
US08504408B2	Customer analytics solution for enterprises A method for building an integrated customer analytics solution for an enterprise is provided. The method enables retrieving and processing customer data from data sources available in the enterprise. Further, statistical techniques are generated using the processed data to facilitate analyzing attributes related to the customer. Statistical model outputs are, then, derived using the generated statistical techniques. The statistical model outputs represent metrics corresponding to the analyzed attributes. Furthermore, statistical models are generated corresponding to the statistical model outputs. The statistical models are associated with scores that facilitate to predict likelihood of customer behavior towards products, services and other customer related aspects associated with the enterprise. In addition, reports are generated based on at least one of: the processed data and the one or more statistical model outputs. Finally, the method enables building analytical modules comprising the reports and the statistical models.
US08504404B2	Distance and location-aware scheduling assistance in a calendar system with notification of potential conflicts A method and a system for providing scheduling assistance are described. A computer-implemented method includes extracting from a request for scheduling a meeting a meeting location and a meeting start time in response to the request from a requester. The method includes retrieving, from an event database, event information for a preceding event occurring before the meeting. The event information includes an event location and an event end time. Travel time from the event location to the meeting location is determined, and a potential travel time scheduling conflict is identified when the travel time exceeds a time difference between the event end time and the meeting start time. Notification of the potential travel time scheduling conflict is provided to the requester.
US08504395B2	System for accepting value from closed groups A system for facilitating a sequence of events and comprising a data bank loader operative to set up for each individual event by loading into an event attendee data bank, IDs and pre-paid balance values, for users expected to attend said individual event, a multiplicity of portable receptacles issued to known users and storing a user ID and a pre-paid balance value for a corresponding user, e-cash filling stations incrementing pre-paid balance values of users in an on-site data bank, and mobile service provider workstations reading portable receptacles, accessing the on-site data bank according to the user ID of each portable receptacle, entering into a transaction with a user if his pre-paid balance value accessed from the on-site data bank is positive, and decrementing the transaction's value from the user's pre-paid balance value in the on-site data bank.
US08504388B2	Method and apparatus for fulfilling requests for perishable items Apparatuses, methods, and computer readable medium, for fulfilling a need for at least one perishable item, the method including reserving a plurality of perishable items with at least partially unknown attribute profiles from a supplier; receiving values for at least some of the reserved at least partially unknown attribute profiles, wherein the received values are determined by tests conducted after the reserving step; determining based on the received values which of the plurality of perishable items satisfy the need for the at least one perishable item; and if at least one of the plurality of perishable items does not satisfy the need for the at least one perishable item, unreserving the at least one perishable item of the plurality of perishable items determined not to satisfy the need for the at least one perishable item.
US08504375B2	Conference system, information processor, conference supporting method and information processing method Speech given by a speaker in English is recognized. An upper half of a subtitle display area of a display used by a listener is used as a parallel area and a lower half thereof is used as an original area. In the parallel area, a parallel subtitle in which an original corresponding to a recognition result of the speech and a translation obtained by translating the original into Japanese are displayed in parallel is displayed. In this manner, the original and the translation are both displayed, and in addition, with respect to each word or phrase of the original, an expression obtained by translating the word or phrase is displayed as the translation, and hence, the listener can easily understand the translation and mistranslation can be easily found. Furthermore, in the original area, an original subtitle including an original not translated yet is displayed.
US08504374B2	Method for recognizing and interpreting patterns in noisy data sequences This invention maps possibly noisy digital input from any of a number of different hardware or software sources such as keyboards, automatic speech recognition systems, cell phones, smart phones or the web onto an interpretation consisting of an action and one or more physical objects, such as robots, machinery, vehicles, etc. or digital objects such as data files, tables and databases. Tables and lists of (i) homonyms and misrecognitions, (ii) thematic relation patterns, and (iii) lexicons are used to generate alternative forms of the input which are scored to determine the best interpretation of the noisy input. The actions may be executed internally or output to any device which contains a digital component such as, but not limited to, a computer, a robot, a cell phone, a smart phone or the web. This invention may be implemented on sequential and parallel compute engines and systems.
US08504372B2	Distributed speech recognition using one way communication A speech recognition client sends a speech stream and control stream in parallel to a server-side speech recognizer over a network. The network may be an unreliable, low-latency network. The server-side speech recognizer recognizes a first portion of the speech stream and, if a predetermined criterion is satisfied by the speech recognition result, waits until the speech recognizer has been reconfigured before recognizing a second portion of the speech stream. The speech recognition client receives recognition results from the server-side recognizer in response to requests from the client. The client may remotely reconfigure the state of the server-side recognizer during recognition.
US08504367B2	Speech retrieval apparatus and speech retrieval method Disclosed are a speech retrieval apparatus and a speech retrieval method for searching, in a speech database, for an audio file matching an input search term by using an acoustic model serialization code, a phonemic code, a sub-word unit, and a speech recognition result of speech. The speech retrieval apparatus comprises a first conversion device, a first division device, a first speech retrieval unit creation device, a second conversion device, a second division device, a second speech retrieval unit creation device, and a matching device. The speech retrieval method comprises a first conversion step, a first division step, a first speech retrieval unit creation step, a second conversion step, a second division step, a second speech retrieval unit creation step, and a matching step.
US08504365B2	System and method for detecting synthetic speaker verification Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and tangible computer readable-media for detecting synthetic speaker verification. The method comprises receiving a plurality of speech samples of the same word or phrase for verification, comparing each of the plurality of speech samples to each other, denying verification if the plurality of speech samples demonstrate little variance over time or are the same, and verifying the plurality of speech samples if the plurality of speech samples demonstrates sufficient variance over time. One embodiment further adds that each of the plurality of speech samples is collected at different times or in different contexts. In other embodiments, variance is based on a pre-determined threshold or the threshold for variance is adjusted based on a need for authentication certainty. In another embodiment, if the initial comparison is inconclusive, additional speech samples are received.
US08504340B2	Methods and systems for optimizing the design of aerodynamic surfaces Methods and systems for optimizing the design of aerodynamic surfaces are provided. They include in the design process of an aerodynamic surface of a body which moves through a flow field, the following: preparation of a CFD simulation of said body; resolution of the CFD calculation for specific conditions of the flow field and for obtaining flow lines of the flow on said surface; calculation of at least one geometrical variable of the surface, such as, for example, the normal curvature, according to the direction of said flow lines; and simultaneous visualization of the surface of said body and of at least one geometric variable. Additionally, at least one variable of the aerodynamic flow, such as, for example, a pressure gradient, may be calculated and visualized.
US08504334B2	Simulating the transmission and simultaneous switching output noise of signals in a computer system Methods implementable in a computer system for simulating the transmission of signals across a plurality of data channels (bus) are disclosed. The disclosed techniques simulate the effects of Intersymbol Interference (ISI), cross talk, and Simultaneous Switching Output (SSO) noise by generating Probability Distribution Functions (PDFs) for each. The resulting PDFs are convolved to arrive at a total PDF indicative of the reception of data subject to each of these non-idealities. The total PDF, and its underlying terms, can be indexed to particular channels of the bus as well as to particular logic states. Use of the disclosed technique allows bit error rates and sensing margins to be determined with minimal computation and simulation.
US08504331B2	Aerodynamic model identification process for aircraft simulation process A method is disclosed of identifying or fixing the value of the parameters (aerodynamic data) of a pre-determined set of equations forming the aerodynamic models of an aircraft in various configurations, so as to minimize the variance between the values anticipated by using these aerodynamic data, and reference data in cases of known configurations, includes the use of learning or optimization methods to determine at least one portion of the parameters' values. The method includes storing database data, choosing an optimization method or a neural network method, breaking the identification down into several partial identifications, carrying out successive partial identifications, validating the values found for the aerodynamic model's parameters or iterating the method according to a threshold criterion determined on the value of variances between the reference data and the values measured by the identified model.
US08504328B2	Designing lenses using stress birefringence performance criterion A method for designing an imaging lens having reduced susceptibility to thermally-induced stress birefringence, the imaging lens having first and second groups of lens elements located either side of an aperture stop, the method comprising: defining a set of lens design attributes; defining a set of lens performance criteria including a thermally-induced stress birefringence performance criterion; defining a first set of candidate glasses having a negligible susceptibility to thermal stress birefringence and a second set of candidate glasses having at most a moderate susceptibility to thermal stress birefringence; selecting glasses for lens elements that are located adjacent to the aperture stop from the first set of candidate glasses; selecting glasses for the remaining lens elements from the first or second sets of candidate glasses; and using a computer processor to determine a lens design for the imaging lens.
US08504324B2	System and method for analyzing reliability of electronic device A system and method analyze reliability of an electronic device using a computing device. The method generates a component coding rule for components of the electronic device, establishes a BOM table for the electronic device according to the component coding rule, and generates component codes for the components according to the component data. The method further classifies the components into different component types according to the component codes, and calculates a failure rate for each of the components according to a parameter equation, obtains mean time between failures (MTBF) of the electronic device by calculating a sum of the failure rates of all the components. In addition, the method generates a reliability analysis report of the electronic device according to the MTBF of the electronic device. and outputs the reliability analysis report to an output device.
US08504322B2	Likelihood map system for localizing an emitter A system and a method for displaying an emitter location are disclosed. The system includes a plurality of receivers at different locations in a field. Each receiver generates a receiver signal that depends on the magnitude of a signal from the emitter. The system also includes a processor that receives the receiver signal and generates a likelihood map indicative of an approximation of a probability as a function of position in the field of the emitter location. The likelihood map includes a plurality of receiver maps. Each receiver map includes a probability as a function of position in the field of the emitter location based on the signal magnitude for at least one of the receiver signals. Each receiver map may depend on a ratio of the signal magnitudes from a corresponding pair of the receivers, or on one of the signal magnitudes from a corresponding one of the receivers.
US08504301B2	Sample analyzer, method for displaying analysis result information of a sample and computer program product The present invention is to present a sample analyzer comprising: an analysis result information generator for generating analysis result information including an analysis result of a sample; a display; a display controller for controlling the display so as to display the analysis result information generated by the analysis result information generator; an input receiver for receiving an input of a comment to one of the analysis result information; a memory for storing the comment received by the input receiver; and a determiner for determining whether another analysis result information to be displayed on the display meets with a predetermined condition, wherein the display controller controls the display so as to display the another analysis result information and the comment stored in the memory, when the determiner has determined that the another analysis result information meets with the predetermined condition.
US08504298B2	Facility-around-route retrieval device A facility-around-route retrieval device includes a map disk 3 for storing map data and facility data, a route calculation unit 13 for calculating a route to a destination by using the map data stored in the map disk, a facility retrieval condition setting unit 16 for setting a facility retrieval condition, and a facility-around-route retrieval unit 17 for retrieving, in a case where a facility around the route calculated in the route calculation unit is retrieved in accordance with the condition set in the facility retrieval condition setting unit, the facility present only on a side of a traveling lane of a vehicle of a divided road from the facility data stored in the map disk when the route includes the divided road.
US08504292B1	Indoor localization based on ultrasound sensors In one embodiment, a technique for determining a position of a user inside of a structure is disclosed. Acceleration and orientation data is captured by an inertial motion unit (IMU) affixed to the user. Range data is captured by one or more range finders affixed to the user. An estimate of the user's relative displacement is produced based on the acceleration and orientation data captured by the IMU. A cloud of particles is generated within a model of the structure based on the estimated relative displacement. One or more particle filters are applied to the cloud of particles to eliminate any particles of the cloud of particles that violate physical constraints and to eliminate any particles of the cloud of particles that are inconsistent with the range data. Then a statistical function is applied to the cloud of particles to determine a calculated position of the user.
US08504287B2	Navigation systems and methods An embodiment of the invention provides a navigation system. A global positioning device outputs location information. A map database provides map information according to the location information. An active area recorder determines a viewing-area, and sketches a first active area according to the viewing-area and a first moving track of a positioning pattern corresponding to the location information. An image processing unit receives the map information and the first moving track and generates display data displayed on a display device.
US08504285B2	Method and apparatus of route determination An approach is provided for off-road navigation. A starting point and a destination point to assist a user in navigating are received. A path from the starting point to the destination point using a vector function that represents cost of each area along the path is determined. The cost is based on direction from where the corresponding area is entered by the user.
US08504278B2	Method and system for detecting a fault during catalyst light-off A system and method for controlling engine operation includes a timer module that determines a time period from when a catalyst light-off mode is entered to when an oxygen sensor signal reaches an oxygen sensor threshold and a comparison module that generates an error signal and determines when the time period is above a time threshold.
US08504276B2	Gas turbine engine controls for minimizing combustion dynamics and emissions Embodiments for controlling a gas turbine engine to minimize combustion dynamics and emissions are disclosed. Methods and an apparatus are provided for controlling the gas turbine engine where a compressor inlet temperature is measured and a turbine reference temperature is calculated in real-time and utilized to determine the most-efficient fuel splits and operating conditions for each of the fuel circuits. The fuel flow for the fuel circuits are then adjusted according to the identified fuel split.
US08504275B2	Adaptive cruise control acceleration rate control An adaptive cruise control system for a host vehicle. The adaptive cruise control system includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor is configured to detect a vehicle in front of the host vehicle. The controller receives an indication of the detected vehicle from the sensor and is configured to maintain a speed of the host vehicle at a desired speed, to determine a speed of the detected vehicle relative to the host vehicle, and adjust an acceleration rate of the host vehicle based on the relative speed.
US08504273B2	Coefficient of friction based limitation of the torque of a vehicle control loop A process is provided for limiting a torque or an amount characteristic thereof of a control loop used for stabilizing a vehicle. A coefficient of friction is detected according to the process. The coefficient of friction is estimated by way of vehicle-internal quantities. As a function of the coefficient of friction, a limit value is determined for the torque or the amount characteristic thereof. The torque or the amount characteristic thereof will subsequently be limited to the limit value.
US08504257B2	Work vehicle and method of controlling the same In a work vehicle, a control unit is configured to control a lock-up hydraulic pressure for controlling switching of a lock-up clutch. The control unit is configured to execute a lock-up slippage control for switching the lock-up clutch into a slippage state when the work vehicle starts moving. The control unit is configured to control the lock-up hydraulic pressure based on work instrument load information, pertaining to a load of a work instrument during execution of the lock-up slippage control.
US08504255B2	Controlling a digging operation of an industrial machine Systems, methods, devices, and computer readable media for controlling the operation of an industrial machine including one or more components. A method of controlling the industrial machine includes determining a position of at least one of the one or more components of the industrial machine during a digging operation, determining a hoist bail pull setting based on the position of the at least one of the one or more components and a relationship between component position and hoist bail pull, and setting a level of hoist bail pull to the hoist bail pull setting. The level of hoist bail pull early in the digging operation is greater than the level of hoist bail pull later in the digging operation.
US08504251B2	Interference prevention control device of a machine The present invention provides an interference prevention control device of a work machine, wherein the interference prevention control device is capable of limiting movement of a cab based on a position of a tool and thereby preventing interference of the cab with the tool as well as improving the work efficiency of the work machine. A cab position sensor for detecting a position of a movable cab, as well as a boom angle sensor and an arm angle sensor for detecting a position of a tool at the distal end of the work equipment, are connected to a controller. Solenoid-operated directional control valves for limiting movement of a cab lifting cylinder are disposed in pilot passages of a spool of a pilot-operated control valve, and the solenoids of the solenoid-operated directional control valves are connected to the controller. Based on the positional relationship between the position of the cab (cab interference area) detected by the cab position sensor and the position of the tool detected by the boom angle sensor and the arm angle sensor, the controller controls movement of an actuator of the cab by means of the solenoid-operated directional control valves so as to prevent interference between the cab and the tool.
US08504248B2	Vehicle and its control method To provide a vehicle having high operability and its control method. A vehicle includes a passenger seat on which a passenger rides on, a chassis that support the passenger seat, wheels that move the chassis, a force sensor that outputs a measurement signal according to a force exerted on a seat surface of the passenger seat, a drive unit that drives the passenger seat so as to change an angle of the seat surface of the passenger seat, and a control calculation unit that calculates a reference input used to drive the wheels and the drive unit based on a drive amount of the drive unit, a balanced position posture of the passenger seat, and the measurement signal from the force sensor.
US08504245B2	System for selecting and displaying a pulling out mode of a car from a carport A vehicle system for selecting and displaying a pulling out mode includes a memory for storing predetermined pulling out modes, each pulling out mode stored in association with one or more corresponding parking modes, the pulling out modes indicating manners of pulling a vehicle out of a parking space in accordance with the parking modes. The system further includes a unit that determines a parking mode, a detector for detecting an instruction from a driver, and a selection and display unit for determining a subset of the pulling out modes for displaying as choices for selection by the operator. The system determines a parking mode not only when a vehicle is parked with automatic steering but also when the vehicle is parked with manual steering. By only displaying an appropriate pulling out mode corresponding to a parking mode, selecting an inappropriate pulling out mode can be avoided.
US08504236B2	Proactive low fuel warning system and method A proactive low-fuel warning system provides notifications to a vehicle operator that the energy or fuel remaining in a fuel supply or energy storage device is insufficient to reach a fueling station. When fuel level is too low or the energy stored in a batter is insufficient, the system can be configured to inhibit vehicle operation. Emergency communications can be sent automatically when fuel is depleted, nearly depleted with inclusion of location information by which the vehicles current location can be determined by emergency service providers.
US08504235B2	Apparatus and method for determining seat occupancy An apparatus for determining a seat occupancy includes a load detecting portion attached to a seat portion of a seat for a vehicle and detecting a seat occupancy load, a seatbelt buckling detecting portion detecting an engagement of a buckle of a seatbelt, and a seat occupancy determining portion determining the seat occupancy on the basis of detection signals from the seatbelt buckling detecting portion and the load detecting portion. The seat occupancy determining portion determines a mounted state of a child seat, in which the child seat is placed on the seat and is fixed thereto by means of the seatbelt, in a case where the seat occupancy load changes so as to be increased at a predetermined speed or faster and subsequently so as to be decreased at a predetermined speed or faster, within a time period proximate to a time point when the buckle is engaged.
US08504230B2	Control apparatus for AC electric motor vehicle A control apparatus for an AC electric motor vehicle including a converter that converts an AC voltage input from an AC overhead wire via a transformer into a DC voltage, an inverter that converts the DC voltage into an AC voltage, and a motor that is driven and controlled by the inverter includes: torque-command calculating units that calculate a torque command value of the motor and output the torque command value to the inverter; and a static inverter that supplies electric power to a load mounted on the AC electric motor vehicle.
US08504228B2	Apparatus for managing energy supplied to functional device units realizing a specific function An energy management apparatus is used to manage energy to be supplied to a system. A paid energy resource can be supplied to the system from the outside. The system is provided with two or more functional device units realizing a specific function using the input energy and adapted to satisfy an external request using at least one of the two or more functional device units such that supply of energy to the functional device units can be controlled. In the apparatus, a normalizing section normalizes input energy of each of the two or more functional device units in terms of the cost of the paid energy resource required for producing the input energy. In addition, a determining section determines to which of the two or more functional device units a predetermined quantity of energy should be fed such that the cost incurred in the system can be reduced.
US08504225B2	Determining the remaining service life of a vehicle component Method for determining the remaining service life of a component of a vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, operated on at least one predefined track section of a track network, wherein the remaining service life is determined for a vehicle component of the vehicle mechanically stressed by the interaction between the vehicle and the track section, after a usage interval of the at least one track section, wherein the remaining service life of the vehicle component is determined from a prior loss of service life preset at the beginning of the usage interval for the vehicle component and from a current loss of service life of the vehicle component associated with the usage interval, and wherein the current loss of service life is determined using an actual measured usage of the at least one track section by the vehicle and a relative loss of service life related to the actual usage of the at least one track section, wherein the relative loss of service life has been determined in advance for the at least one track section and at least the type of the vehicle.
US08504214B2	Self-healing power grid and method thereof A method for determining a self-healing power grid status is presented. The method includes receiving respective real-time monitoring data corresponding to one or more power grid components, wherein one or more agents are coupled to the power grid components. The method includes the steps of determining a respective current infectiousness state based upon the received respective real-time monitoring data, determining respective output data based upon the respective current infectiousness state, exchanging the respective output data with one or more neighboring agents, and generating a respective new infectiousness state based upon the respective exchanged output data and a state transition diagram.
US08504212B2	Controller and control techniques for windfarm The disclosed windfarm control system comprising a windfarm and a central controller; the windfarm including plural wind power generators whose rotational speeds are variable, plural aerographs disposed in the vicinity of the wind power generators to measure the directions and powers of the wind at the sites of the generators, and plural local controllers disposed in the vicinity of the wind power generators to control the output of the wind power generators by controlling the rotational speeds of the generators; wherein the central controller calculats the control level which maintains the output of the windfarm constant for a predetermined time period and instructs the local controllers to control the rpm's of the wind power generators in accordance with the control level.
US08504208B2	Mobile object controller and floor surface estimator A total floor reaction force required correction amount by which an error between an observed value of a total floor reaction force acting on a mobile object 101 and a desired total floor reaction force approaches zero is converted to a spring displacement amount of a position/posture of a representative contact surface representative of ground surfaces of the mobile object 101. A correction amount of a displacement amount of each joint of the mobile object 101 is determined by multiplying the spring displacement amount by a pseudo inverse matrix of a Jacobian matrix representing a relation between a change amount of the position and posture of the representative contact surface per unit time and a change amount of a generalized variable vector per unit time. The displacement amount of each joint is controlled according to a corrected desired joint displacement amount obtained by correcting a desired joint displacement amount.
US08504198B2	Robot hand and control system, control method and control program for the same A robot hand has a pipe which is sufficiently flexible to allow a change in the cross-sectional area thereof according to the pressure of a fluid, thereby permitting a higher degree of freedom of the layouts of the pipe and a master cylinder connected through the pipe. Moreover, considerations are given to a change in the cross-sectional area of the pipe caused by a change in the pressure of the fluid in the pipe, thus making it possible to measure the position of a slave piston with high accuracy.
US08504195B2	Method and apparatus for radio-controlled friction drive conveyor system A conveyor system having a conveyor path and friction drive spaced along the path to drive carriers along the path. Each friction drive is controlled by a drive controller, which communicates tracking, routing, and other information directly to other drive controllers within range via a wireless signal. The drive controllers may also directly communicate wirelessly with a central controller. If the central controller or a desired destination drive controller is out of range of a particular drive controller, that drive controller may communicate through other drive controllers until the desired destination drive controller is reached, or a drive controller that is within range of the central controller is reached.
US08504188B2	Device and method for the computer-assisted generation of a manipulator path In a method, device and in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for computer-assisted generation of a manipulator path of a computer-controlled manipulator, a processor is loaded with a virtual tool and generates a virtual tool path based in a virtual component and the loaded virtual tool. The processor is also loaded with a virtual manipulator kinematic and generates a virtual manipulator path based on the virtual tool path and the virtual manipulator kinematic.
US08504183B2	Web browser based remote control for programmable multimedia controller A web browser-equipped device, such as a personal digital assistant, tablet, notebook or other computer, wireless telephone handset or other device, to function as a remote control unit for a programmable multimedia controller. Web pages served by the multimedia controller to the web browser-equipped device present a user interface which may include programmable background motifs, colors and indicators. The user interface also typically includes one or more user-operable buttons whose functionalities are programmable. A method is provided for automatically converting a user interface device configuration for the multimedia controller into web pages suitable for a browser-equipped device.
US08504182B2	Media player A media player has a body, and an operating circuit with speakers. A support is attached to the body for movement between a retracted position, retracted at least partially within the body, and an extended position, extending from the body. The support incorporates a connector for, in the extended position, mechanically connecting and supporting a media playing device adjacent the body and electrically connecting an internal playing circuit of the media playing device to the operating circuit of the media player for operation of the media playing device via the operating circuit of the media player. A holder attached to the body engages the media playing device connected to the support, holding the media playing device in position.
US08504175B2	Using model predictive control to optimize variable trajectories and system control A method and system of predictive model control of a controlled system with one or more physical components using a model predictive control (MPC) model, determining an iterative, finite horizon optimization of a system model of the controlled system, in order to generate a manipulated value trajectory as part of a control process. At time t sampling a current state of the controlled system a cost function minimizing manipulated variables trajectories is computed with the MPC model for a relatively short time horizon in the future, wherein the MPC uses a quadratic programming (QP) algorithm to find the optimal solution, and wherein the QP algorithm is solved using an Active Sets solver (AS) class algorithm with simple constraints based on gradient projection and using Newton step projection. A move of the manipulated value trajectory is implemented and the control process is moved forward by continuing to shift the prediction horizon forward.
US08504165B2	Clock synchronization in an implantable medical device system This disclosure is directed to the synchronization of clocks of a secondary implantable medical device (IMD) to a clock of a primary IMD. The secondary IMD includes a communications clock. The communications clock may be synchronized based on at least one received communications pulse. The secondary IMD further includes a general purpose clock different than the communications clock. The general purpose clock may be synchronized based on at least one received power pulse. The communications clock may also be synchronized based on the at least one received power pulse.
US08504163B1	Cranially mounted stimulation systems and methods An exemplary system includes a stimulator with a hollow lumen extending therethrough and configured to be at least partially disposed within a burr hole in a cranium of a patient, a stimulating member configured to apply a stimulus to a stimulation site within the patient, and coupling member configured to extend at least partially through the lumen and couple the stimulating member to the stimulator. Exemplary methods of applying at least one stimulus to a stimulation site within a patient include implanting a lead with a number of electrodes disposed thereon within a cavity formed by a cranium, implanting a stimulator such that the stimulator is at least partially disposed within a burr hole in the cranium, removably coupling the lead to the stimulator, and applying the at least one stimulus to a stimulation site within the cavity formed by the cranium via one or more of the electrodes.
US08504158B2	Phrenic nerve stimulation during cardiac refractory period A method includes estimating a cardiac signal of a patient, estimating a length of a cardiac refractory period based in part on the cardiac signal and selectively adjusting the length of phrenic nerve electrical stimulation to be delivered to the patient based on the estimated length of the cardiac refractory period. In some examples the method includes delivering phrenic nerve stimulation for approximately the entire refractory period. The phrenic nerve stimulation may be used to treat a variety of breathing disorders.
US08504154B2	Physiological signal amplifier with voltage protection and fast signal recovery A physiological sense amplifier achieves fast recovery times following receipt of a large voltage, such as when a defibrillation pulse is delivered, without blanking. The recovery time may be less than one millisecond when polarization of surrounding tissue or the housing of the device is not present. The sense amplifier uses a feedback network to clamp the input voltage to a gain amplifier at a predetermined value when a predetermined threshold value is exceeded.
US08504146B2	Multi-channel myoelectrical control using single muscle One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that generates multiple control signals from an electromyographic (EMG) signal produced by a single muscle. During operation, the system obtains an EMG signal from a single muscle of a subject. The system then processes the EMG signal to generate two or more independent control signals from the single muscle.
US08504145B2	Biometric information processing device, biometric information processing method, and control program A biometric information processing device has a heart rate detection unit that detects the heart rate of a subject; a relative heart rate calculation unit that calculates a relative heart rate, which is the relative value of the heart rate to the prescribed resting heart rate of the subject; a relative oxygen intake calculation unit that calculates a relative oxygen intake based on the relative heart rate; an oxygen intake estimation unit that estimates the oxygen intake from the relative oxygen intake; and a calorie expenditure calculation unit that calculates calorie expenditure based on the oxygen intake.
US08504143B2	Method and system for measuring heart rate variability The invention provides a method and system for analyzing an ECG signal to diagnose a heart condition of an individual. A sequence HBi of consecutive heart beat durations in an ECG signal is obtained. One or more first parameters are calculated in a calculation involving pairs of HBi and HBi-m, where m is a first predetermined integer and HBi-m is the duration of the heart beat that occurred m heart beats before the ith heart beat. One or more second parameters are calculated in a calculation involving pairs of HBi and HBBi-n, where n is second predetermined integer different from m. A diagnostic parameter is then calculated using the plurality of first parameters and the plurality of second parameters. The diagnostic parameter is compared to a predetermined threshold, and a diagnosis is made based on the comparison.
US08504142B2	Apparatus, method, and computer program for predicting risk for cardiac death An apparatus, a method, and a computer program for predicting a risk for a cardiac death are presented. Early repolarization patterns in leads of an electrocardiogram recorded from a subject are detected if an amplitude of a J-point at a QRS complex and ST segment junction of a lead exceeds a predetermined amplitude threshold. Amplitude patterns of ST segments in leads of the electrocardiogram are also determined. Finally, an elevated risk for a future cardiac death of the subject on the basis of a possible arrhythmia is predicted if early repolarization patterns are detected in at least two leads of the electrocardiogram, and if the ST segments in the at least two leads of the electrocardiogram are determined to have a horizontal or descending amplitude pattern.
US08504141B2	Optical tomographic image generating apparatus and optical tomographic image generating method The present invention relates to an optical tomographic image generating method including: obtaining signals for a plurality of frames; obtaining respective complex number data by performing Fourier transformation of the signals for the plurality of frames; synthesizing the plurality of frames using the respective complex number data; generating a tomographic image based on the synthesized data. This configuration enables easy enhancement of the image quality in an optical coherence tomographic imaging apparatus.
US08504138B1	Method of making and using an apparatus for a locomotive micro-implant using active electromagnetic propulsion The present inventions provide a locomotive implant for usage within a predetermined magnetic field that includes a capsule body; a wireless power receiver disposed within the capsule body; a plurality of switchable conductors having a predetermined pattern within the capsule body, each of the switchable conductors adapted to pass a current along a forward path to thereby create, in the presence of the predetermined magnetic field, a force and assist in moving the locomotive implant; and a controller adapted to receive directional control signals to control the switchable current wires or conductors. Methods of using the same are described.
US08504131B2	Transdermal analyte sensor assembly and methods of using the same A transdermal test sensor assembly adapted to determine an analyte concentration of a fluid sample is disclosed. The assembly comprises a sensor support including at least one reservoir adapted to hold a liquid. The assembly further comprises a test sensor being coupled to the sensor support. The test sensor forms at least one aperture therein. At least a portion of the at least one aperture is adjacent to the at least one reservoir. The assembly further comprises a hydrogel composition positioned on the test sensor. The hydrogel composition is linked to the at least one reservoir via the at least one aperture.
US08504128B2	Method and apparatus for coupling a channeled sample probe to tissue Sampling is controlled in order to enhance analyte concentration estimation derived from noninvasive sampling. More particularly, sampling is controlled using controlled fluid delivery to a region between a tip of a sample probe and a tissue measurement site. The controlled fluid delivery enhances coverage of a skin sample site with the thin layer of fluid. Delivery of contact fluid is controlled in terms of spatial delivery, volume, thickness, distribution, temperature, and/or pressure.
US08504126B1	Mobile phone case and mobile phone and case combination A mobile phone case and a mobile phone case in combination with a mobile phone includes a compartment for receiving a card having magnetic media, and a door covering the compartment. The door is made from a material capable of blocking a magnetic field emitted by a mobile phone to be received in the case.
US08504118B2	System and method for optimizing battery power A wireless communication device, a wireless communication system, and a method for optimizing battery power resources are described. The wireless communication device comprises a rechargeable battery, a control module, and a display. The control module is operatively coupled to the rechargeable battery and is configured to determine a first remaining battery time associated with a first operational mode, and a second remaining battery time associated with a second operational mode. The display operatively is coupled to the control module and is adapted to display both remaining battery times. The wireless communication system comprises antennas configured to communicate using both operational modes. The method comprises accessing a network system, estimating battery metrics based on current battery power, querying a table that associates battery power metrics with different radio access technologies, and generating a table output that displays the remaining battery time associated with each of the wireless technologies.
US08504109B2	Antenna systems with common overhead for CDMA base stations Antenna systems are used for transmitting common overhead channels (pilot, sync, and paging channels) over a whole sector while transmitting and receiving unique traffic channels on individual beams in the sector. Each beam in the sector is transmitted at a frequency offset from other beams in the sector. The offset frequency is chosen such that the effect of cancellation of the pilot channel caused by the summing of signals from multiple beams is minimized. Alternative, each beam in the sector can have a time dependent phase offset relative to each other to minimize the effect of cancellation of the pilot channel caused by the summing of signals from multiple beams. System capacity is substantially increased since the number of traffic carrying beams per sector is increased without using more pilot channel PN offsets. Beams are fixed and the same antennas are used for the overhead channels as the traffic channels, obviating the need for complex algorithms and calibration procedures.
US08504106B2	Smart card and method for managing data of smart card, and mobile terminal Managing data of a smart card that includes a high-capacity memory and a high-speed memory. The high-capacity memory stores information and the high-speed memory stores an index to the information, and hence high-speed access to the high-capacity memory may be provided by referencing the index.
US08504101B2	Multimode wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication method A multimode wireless communication apparatus that supports plural wireless communication systems and switches wireless communication systems to communicate. The apparatus includes a signal processor capable of switching wireless communication systems by plural manners; and a controller that directs to the signal processor a combination of manners of switching wireless communication systems according to a communication environment. The signal processor switches wireless communication systems according to the combination of manners of switching wireless communication systems directed from the controller.
US08504099B2	Communication methods and apparatus relating to cooperative and non-cooperative modes of operation Methods and apparatus for selecting and switching between cooperative and non-cooperative modes of communications device operation are described. Switching between modes may be, e.g., in response to a signal received form another device or in response to another device leaving the area. In cooperative mode operation the communications device acts in a manner that takes into consideration the effect of signal transmissions on other devices, e.g., the device may respond to interference control signaling, resource allocation signals and/or implement other interference management techniques. In the non-cooperative mode the device seeks to optimize its own communications performance without regard to the effect on one or more communications devices which may be in the area, e.g., devices with which it is not communicating. In the non-cooperative mode the device may ignore interference management control signals or transmit signals intended to cause another devices to reduce their transmissions or power output.
US08504085B2	Method of operating a communication device and system,a communication device and a system including the communication device A communication system, such as UMTS, comprises a scheduler (12) in a first station (PS) which is able to control a user equipment (UE1, UE2). The scheduler when operating in a data transmission mode, such as HSUPA (High-Speed Uplink Packet Access) controls the user equipment with combinations of absolute grants (AG) and relative grants (RG). The relative grants serve to adapt a transmission parameter relative to a reference value. The reference value for the relative grant is selected dependent on a property of one or more of the grants. Such a property may comprise the absolute grant being an all process grant or a single process grant.
US08504083B1	Analysis of message service provider quality of service A Short Message Service (“SMS”) provider's quality of service, such as SMS transmission latency and/or success rate, is measured based on collected event data. A notification service initiates SMS message transmissions which are sent through an SMS provider and a carrier before reaching a mobile service on a mobile device. Each SMS message includes a unique identifier. The notification service creates send events recording when each SMS message was sent. The mobile service creates receipt events recording when each received SMS message was received. By determining how many sent messages are received, and aggregated time differences between messages being sent and received, quality of service information can be determined. In some embodiments, quality of service information is determined on a per-SMS provider basis, and/or on a per-location basis.
US08504081B2	Systems and methods for providing communications services using assigned codes A communications service (and components thereof) have one or more communication addresses (e.g. short codes, telephone numbers, IM names/domains, IP addresses, etc.) for receiving text-based messages, a service platform for carry out a number of communication services, and a database of registered subscribers. Subscribers access the database preferably through a web-enabled interface. A subscriber associates a selected communications service with a unique alphanumeric code and conveys the alphanumeric code to other individuals as desired. The individual enters the alphanumeric code as part of a text-based message communicated to the communications address of the service. The service includes logic that receives the text-based messages over the diverse messaging formats and processes the text embedded in each message to extract the alphanumeric code therein. The logic accesses the database to identify the subscriber and communication service that is uniquely associated with the particular alphanumeric code received as part of a given text-based message. The logic then controls the service platform to carry out the communication service that is associated with the alphanumeric code and subscriber. The plurality of communications services supported by the service platform and alphanumeric codes preferably include at least one of voice call functions, voice mail functions, text message functions, text broadcast functions, and media delivery functions.
US08504078B2	Method for ensuring the accessibility of mobile radio devices using an optimized paging mechanism The invention relates to a method for performing a paging call in a cellular mobile communications system, wherein a terminal device is operated in a first radio cell of the mobile communications system provided with radio signals from a radio transmission device, said terminal device being in an idle state, and data to be transmitted to the terminal device are present in a data transmission device of the mobile communications system. The invention is characterized in that upon detection of a loss of service or fault in the radio transmission device, measures for handling the loss of service/fault in said radio transmission device are taken, with the goal of restoring the accessibility of the mobile radio device for which said radio transmission device is the last known radio transmission device.
US08504055B2	Method and arrangement for load balancing in a wireless communication system The present invention relates to methods and arrangements in a wireless communication system that enable a load balancing procedure in a network with HeNB GWs. The problem of the ineffective conventional load balancing procedure when used in a network with HeNB GWs, is addressed by a solution where the HeNB includes (510) an explicit indication of the reason for radio link establishment (load balancing establishment cause) in the S1AP INITIAL UE MESSAGE message (511) used to establish the S1 signaling connection associated with a user equipment to an MME, so that the HeNB GW (550) can perform an accurate MME selection based on the knowledge that the establishment is due to load balancing, i.e. an MME selection that realizes the required inter-MME load balancing.
US08504031B2	Transmission of channel quality indications Indications of desired radio communications downlink characteristics are transmitted via a radio communications uplink from a user equipment to a node of a cellular wireless network, the indications each relating to one or more components of a radio communications link from the node to the user equipment. The indications are transmitted successively at different cycles, and at each different cycle a first parameter is determined, indicating a more preferred number of components and a second parameter is determined, indicating a less preferred number of components. First additional parameters are calculated and transmitted relating to the desired radio communications link quality corresponding to the first parameter and second additional parameters are calculated and transmitted relating to the desired radio communications link quality on the basis of the second parameter. The first and second parameters are each parameters which are variable between different cycles.
US08504029B2	Mobile communication system cell selection in the presence of unacceptable cells A user equipment (UE) cell search involves tuning a demodulation frequency of the UE based on signals received from a first encountered cell and using a non-initial cell search procedure to continue searching for a cell that is qualified for camping on, wherein the non-initial cell search procedure relies on the demodulation frequency being within limits of accuracy that enable successful reception and decoding of received information. Prior to finding a qualified cell, information enabling a first discovered unqualified cell to again be found is saved. After a period of time during which the non-initial cell search procedure has been performed and before the UE's demodulation frequency is beyond acceptable limits of accuracy, the saved information is used to again tune the demodulation frequency based on reading signals from the first discovered unqualified cell. The UE then continues to perform the non-initial cell search procedure.
US08504024B2	Method for implementing an intelligent service and communications system The present application discloses a method for implementing an intelligent service and a communications system and relates to the communications technology field, so that an intelligent service may be performed in a wireless intelligent network (WIN). The method includes: a home mobile switch center (MSC) receives a call routed by a serving MSC, where the call carries a WIN configuration parameter that a home home location register (HLR) delivers to the serving MSC; after determining, according to the WIN configuration parameter of the serving MSC, that the call is a WIN OVERLAY call, the home MSC obtains an intelligent service parameter through a home first network entity; the home MSC implements WIN intelligent service processing according to the intelligent service parameter. The embodiments of the present invention are mainly applied in a WIN.
US08504019B2	Aircraft communications system with data memory cache and associated methods A communications system for an aircraft carrying at least some personnel having personal electronic devices (PEDs) for wireless data communications outside the aircraft includes a ground-based communications network, and an access point in the aircraft for providing a wireless local area network (WLAN) for data communications with the PEDs. An air-to-ground transceiver in the aircraft cooperates with the access point for data communications with the ground-based communications network. An aircraft data memory cache is in the aircraft and cooperates with the access point for storing common data accessible by the PEDs during flight of the aircraft.
US08504018B2	Service routing for communication systems A communication system and method is disclosed. The communication system comprises: a plurality of terminals, including a mobile communication device; and a routing server. The routing server is adapted to use the location of the mobile communication device and to preconfigure the routing of a service to a terminal via an appropriate communication protocol based upon the determined location of the mobile communication device.
US08504017B1	Method, apparatus and computer program product for a user terminal A method including detecting a preference of a user terminal for a predetermined service, detecting that the current RAT does not provide the predetermined service; monitoring whether another PLMN or RAT of the first PLMN is available; upon detecting that no other PLMN or RAT of the first PLMN is available, maintaining connection to the first RAT of the first PLMN until another PLMN or RAT in the first PLMN becomes available; upon detecting that another PLMN or RAT is available, considering the first RAT of the first PLAIN as disabled, and generating an information element to a memory according to which the first RAT of the first PLMN has been marked as disabled, wherein the information element is valid until a predetermined criterion is met and at least beyond a point of time when the user terminal switches to another PLMN and/or to another RAT.
US08504011B2	Method and system for mobility parameter negotiation between base stations The disclosure discloses a method for mobility parameter negotiation between base stations (BSs). A target BS performs a mobility parameter decision and an optimization processing after receiving a mobility parameter modification request message from a source BS. When the processing succeeds, the target BS sends a mobility parameter modification acknowledgement message at least carrying a message type and a source cell ID to the source BS; when it fails, the target BS sends a mobility parameter modification failure message at least carrying a message type, a reason of failure, and the source cell ID to the source BS. A system for mobility parameter negotiation between BSs is also provided. Through the disclosure, the source BS is able to precisely recognize which source cell the mobility handover parameter negotiation is performed to, and further precisely knows which target cell the negotiation message comes from, thereby avoiding the inconsistency of the mobility parameter modification caused by message disorder, improving robustness of the mobility parameter modification and enhancing the network performance.
US08504004B2	Automatic control of rate of notifications for UMTS and other simultaneous voice/data networks A system and method for automatically controlling the rate of updates for data applications running on a mobile device. The method includes monitoring the data applications running on the mobile device, determining the data applications that receive updates to the mobile device, detecting the set-up of a voice call, and adjusting the time between updates based on the detecting step. The detecting step may include detecting an input by a user, detecting a call set-up request by the mobile device, or detecting that the mobile device is positioned near a head of a user. The determining step may include measuring the time between updates to the data application or detecting a signal from the data application indicating that updates may occur or detecting a signal from the data application indicating that automatic updates of the data application are enabled. The adjusting step may include lengthening the time between updates or suspending updates to the data application during a voice call.
US08503995B2	Mobile dynamic advertisement creation and placement A system for targeted delivery of advertising including the steps of: (i) receiving a navigation request from a mobile communication facility including a user selection of a first advertisement displayed on the mobile communication facility; (ii) receiving an indicator input including (a) a geographical location and (b) queries or accesses to content associated with a plurality of other mobile communication facilities within the geographical location; (iii) receiving a business rule; (iv) dynamically creating a second advertisement configured to be displayed on the mobile communication facility based on the navigation request, the indicator input, the business rule, and a rendering capability of the mobile communication facility; and (v) transmitting the second advertisement to the mobile communication facility.
US08503994B1	Automated reply to incoming communications while in motion An automated reply system may automatically reply to incoming communications to wireless mobile communication devices while the devices are moving in conformance with one or more predetermined criteria, such as moving faster than a threshold speed. A communication module may receive auto reply settings, including an auto reply setting indicative of whether automated replies should be sent in response to incoming communications to each device while it is moving in conformance with the criteria. A security module may permit who can change the auto reply settings for each device to be restricted to a person that is not a primary user of the device. An auto reply module may automatically provide a reply communication to each incoming communication to each device that have been set to automatically reply, only while the device is moving in conformance with the criteria.
US08503990B2	Method and system for controlling the operation of movable wireless networks The invention can provide a movable wireless network that is capable of operating in a multiple network environment. The movable wireless network has a coverage area and includes a detector that detects a network event when the coverage area of the movable wireless network overlaps with a coverage area of another wireless network. The invention can further include a controller that changes an operational state of the movable wireless network when the detector detects the network event so that the movable wireless network is able to operate within the coverage area of the other wireless network.
US08503978B2	Real time data usage metering on a mobile station and reconciliation with billable usage measured by a mobile network A data meter client on a mobile station meters data usage by one or more applications and communicates with a network element to reconcile the metered data usage with the current data usage as measured in the network. The client determines whether the metered data usage may be out-of-sync. When it is determined that the locally metered amount may be out-of-sync, the client sends to the network element a query requesting an estimate data current usage, as measured in the network, receives a response containing the current estimate data usage, and reconciles data usage information in its local database. The client updates information displayed in a graphical user interface for a user of the mobile station. The network element can send a notification to the mobile station containing the current data usage so that the client can update and display the current data usage measured in the network.
US08503974B2	Wireless communication device with password protection and related method A wireless communication device (and its related method of operation) includes, if invoked, password protected access to data stored therewithin and/or to normal device operations and further includes duress password checking logic that automatically causes a duress message to be sent if a duress password has been entered. The duress message is preferably sent without maintaining any user accessible indication of such sending. It is also preferred that the password checking logic automatically cause an end-of-duress message to be sent if a normal password is entered after a duress password has been entered. A plurality of different duress passwords may be entered into a duress password portion of data memory in the device.
US08503972B2	Multi-functional remote monitoring system A multi-functional remote monitoring system for use in a mobile surveillance system comprising a host controller, at least one hub transceiver, and at least one remote monitoring transmitter (“RMT”) operable to capture and transmit data, wherein the hub transceiver is operable to communicate to and receive data from the at least one RMT. The hub transceiver and the RMT are adapted for bi-directional transmission and receipt of data, including audio and data signals. The host controller is operable to control the hub transceiver and facilitate communication of the audio and data signals between the RMTs and the hub transceiver.
US08503971B2	System and method for processing MEID data A system, method, computer readable medium, and computer program for processing wireless communication device identification numbers such as MEID numbers 10 in any standard representation (such as decimal or hexadecimal) and converting the wireless communication device identification number 140 to all commonly used forms and representations. This capability ensures older systems and wireless networks are compatible with the latest standards in wireless communication device identification numbers. Additionally, the system can validate the wireless communication device identification numbers 70 and verify/calculate any check digits 100.
US08503968B2	Method and system for power saving in wireless communications A method and a system for wireless communication is provided which involves maintaining a data communication module in a power saving mode, detecting channel reservation for communication on a wireless data channel during one or more reserved time periods, and upon successful data channel reservation, transitioning the data communication module from the power saving mode to an active mode for data communication on the reserved data channel. Preferably, the data communication module is transitioned back to the power saving mode upon completion of data communication on the data channel.
US08503962B2	Implementing a rotating harmonic rejection mixer (RHRM) for a TV tuner in an integrated circuit In one embodiment, an apparatus includes mixer stages each coupled to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal from a corresponding tracking filter each configured for a band of frequencies. Each mixer stage is controllable to mix the RF signal with a divided master clock signal to obtain N multi-phase intermediate frequency (IF) signals, where N is programmable based upon a desired channel frequency. A load network having individual loads to be shared by the mixers can be coupled to the mixer stages, and a shared IF combiner may be coupled to the load network to weight and combine outputs of the load network to obtain a quadrature IF signal. The load network can include multiple loads each to be individually controlled to receive one of the multi-phase IF signals.
US08503952B2	Compensation of an asymmetric frequency response of a radio A method and apparatus of compensating for an asymmetric frequency response of a radio are disclosed. One method includes estimating a slope control signal, the slope control signal indicating a slope of a frequency response of an amplifier chain of the radio. A difference between gain at positive frequencies and gain at negative frequencies of a complex baseband signal is adjusted with the slope control signal, wherein the complex signal includes an I component and a Q component. The adjusted complex baseband signal is frequency up-converted into a radio signal. The radio signal is amplified by the amplifier chain. The amplified radio signal is transmitted.
US08503949B2	Miniature fiber radio transceiver and related method A miniature fiber radio transceiver is disclosed that has an elongated form factor. In some embodiments, the form factor has the dimensions of one half of a millimeter by one half of a millimeter by fifty millimeters to give the transceiver an elongated shape similar to the shape of a single strand of hair. The miniature fiber radio transceiver may also include an energy source in the form of a piezoelectric fiber composite transducer having a plurality of elongated elastic piezoelectric fibers embedded in a composite material. The piezoelectric fibers can scavenge electrical energy from mechanical energy to generate charge pulses that provide the electrical energy for the operation of the transceiver.
US08503947B2	Multi-radio test method and test fixture A method for testing characteristics of a communication device that includes a plurality of modules using a test fixture includes the steps of connecting the communication device to the test fixture, determining if tests to be performed on the plurality of modules can be simultaneously performed, performing the tests to be performed on the plurality of modules for any tests that are determined can be simultaneously performed, calculating a numerical value for each of the plurality of modules if it is determined that the tests to be performed cannot be simultaneously performed, selecting one of the tests based on the calculated numerical value, and performing the selected one of the tests based on the calculated numerical value and suspending the test or tests on the remaining modules of the plurality of modules other than the selected one of the tests.
US08503945B1	Measuring signal strength in a multiple-input multiple-output antenna environment A wireless communication device is operated in a M by N multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) mode. M is the number of antennas transmitting to the communication device from a first base station. N the number of receiving antennas and receivers. M and N are integers greater than one. The wireless communication device is operated in an M by N-1 MIMO mode while a first one of the N receiving antennas and a first one of the N receivers receives wireless communication from a second base station.
US08503944B2	Signal detection apparatus and signal detection method for use in radio station of radio communication system A signal detection apparatus 23 for determining whether a detection target signal is included in a received radio signal, includes: a waveform feature amount calculation unit 31 configured to calculate a waveform feature amount Rxα representing a waveform feature; a test statistic calculation unit 32 configured to calculate test statistic Zxα of each detection target signal by using the waveform feature amount; and a signal decision unit 33 configured to determine presence or absence of each detection target signal by comparing the test statistic Zxα of each detection target signal with a threshold Γ, wherein, under a condition where a specific detection target signal is removed, the test statistic calculation unit calculates a test statistic for a detection target signal which is not removed, and the signal decision unit determines presence or absence of the detection target signal by comparing the calculated test statistic with the threshold.
US08503942B2	Network controlled E-UTRAN neighbor cell measurements The present invention relates to methods and arrangements in a telecommunication system for network-controlled bandwidth for neighbor cell measurements. An appropriate network unit in the serving cell signals measurement bandwidth values to the UE which uses the signal values to perform one or more downlink measurements on the serving as well as the neighbor cells.
US08503938B2	Methods and apparatus for determining, communicating and using information including loading factors which can be used for interference control purposes A wireless terminal receives and measures broadcast reference signals, e.g., beacon and/or pilot signals, transmitted from a plurality of base station attachment points. The wireless terminal monitors for and attempts to recover broadcast loading factor information corresponding to attachment points. The wireless terminal generates and transmits an interference report to a current attachment point, the report based on the results of a measured received reference signal from the current attachment point, a measured received reference signal from each of one or more different attachment points, and uplink loading factor information. In the absence of a successfully recovered broadcast uplink loading factor corresponding to an attachment point, the wireless terminal uses a default value for that loading factor. Generated interference reports are based on beacon signal measurements and uplink loading factors, pilot signal measurements and uplink loading factors, or a mixture of beacon and pilot signal measurements and uplink loading factors.
US08503927B2	Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for utilizing a repeating function to improve quality of service Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for utilizing a repeating function to improve quality of service. According to embodiments, a method for utilizing a repeating function to improve quality of service is provided. According to the method a first mobile cellular device is selected. An instruction is transmitted to the first mobile cellular device instructing the first mobile cellular device. The instruction causes the first mobile cellular device to relay communications between the second mobile cellular device and the cellular service provider. The first mobile cellular device thereby provides the repeating function for the second mobile cellular device.
US08503922B2	Duplex printing apparatus with variable speed section A printer is operable for image formation onto a sheet of a sheet width Lp, with a sheet spacing Lg and a printing transfer speed Vg, a constant speed transferrer makes sheet transfer at the printing transfer speed Vg from a register via the printer to a speed change position, a variable speed transferrer makes sheet transfer from the speed change position to the register, and a transfer controller controls sheet transfer speeds, the variable speed transferrer having sections for sheet transfer, including deceleration and acceleration sections for sheet reversal at the sheet reversing path, and a constant speed section for transfer at a constant transfer speed Vr, the transfer controller determining a circulating sheet number N, executing a calculation of transfer speed Vr employing sheet width Lp, sheet spacing Lg, printing transfer speed Vg, and accelerations, to enable sheet transfer for circulation within a time interval of N×(Lp+Lg)/Vg.
US08503920B2	Image forming apparatus having cleaning blade and method for selecting material of cleaning blade An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying member which carries an image composed of a developer, a lubricant application device which applies a lubricant onto the image carrying member, and a cleaning blade which abuts against the image carrying member to scrape the developer. The cleaning blade is formed of a material whose tensile stress-elongation test shows that the definite integral of a tensile stress with respect to an elongation percentage on an interval between the elongation percentage of zero and the elongation percentage at which the stress is a predetermined value is a predetermined upper limit value or less.
US08503917B2	Roller component with non-constant size of cells and image forming apparatus A roller component includes a layer composed of a foamed rubber material including plural cells formed by gas, the layer being formed into a substantially cylindrical body, wherein a volume of the cells decreases from an inner side of the substantially cylindrical body toward the outside.
US08503908B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus comprising: a rotary body which rotates in accordance with an image forming operation; a rotation shaft of the rotary body; a through hole which is provided in an end portion in an axial direction of the rotation shaft; a stabilizing member which is provided to rotate together with the rotary body and stabilize the rotary body by reducing fluctuations of rotation of the rotary body under inertia, and which has an inserted portion into which the rotation shaft is inserted; a holding member which is disposed so as to be adjacent to the stabilizing member in the axial direction to hold the stabilizing member on the rotation shaft; a through hole which is formed in the longitudinal portion correspondingly to the through hole provided in the rotation shaft; and a clamp member which passes through the through hole provided in the longitudinal portion and the through hole provided in the rotation shaft.
US08503907B2	Image forming apparatus, method of handling the image forming apparatus, and method of packaging the image forming apparatus Disclosed are an electrophotographic image forming apparatus including a detachable development cartridge having arranged therein a photoconductive drum and a developing roller for forming a toner image through a development nip formed between the photoconductive drum and the developing roller. The development cartridge may include a development nip control member that can switch between a first position, in which the development nip control member causes the photoconductive drum to be separated from the developing roller, and a second position, in which the development nip control member causes the photoconductive drum to be in a pressing contact with the developing roller so as to form therebetween the development nip. The development cartridge may be mounted in the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus with its development nip control member being in the first position, separating the photoconductive member from the developing roller. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus may be packaged for distribution with the development cartridge received in the main body thereof where the photoconductive drum and the developing roller are no in contact with each other in the development cartridge as packaged.
US08503902B2	Electrophotographic printer with charging-roller cleaner An electrophotographic printer includes a rotatable member and a carriage rotatable around an axis. Two rotatable chargers are mounted on the carriage, each for charging the rotatable member. A carriage drive rotates the carriage to bring the first charger into contact with the rotatable member and the second charger into operative arrangement with a cleaner, or vice versa. A charger drive rotates the charger in operative arrangement with the cleaner at a speed greater than a selected speed or with a torque greater than a selected torque, and the rotatable member rotates the rotatable charger in contact therewith at the selected speed with the selected torque.
US08503899B2	Image forming apparatus, control method, and control program An image forming apparatus having a display unit for displaying a program which can be executed in the apparatus so as to be identified is disclosed. The apparatus has: an input unit for inputting a program into the image forming apparatus; a display control unit for controlling a process for displaying select keys including a plurality of select keys to instruct a selection of a desired one of a plurality of programs stored in the image forming apparatus onto a display screen displayed on the display unit; and a discriminating unit for discriminating whether the select key to instruct a selection of the program inputted by the input unit can be further displayed onto the first display screen to display the select keys corresponding to the programs registered in the image forming apparatus in response to the input of the program from the input unit or not.
US08503892B2	Developing unit, image forming apparatus, and process cartridge A developing unit includes: a developer carrier; a toner supplying member having a porous surface layer; a toner storage storing therein toner; a stirring member that is rotated to stir the toner; a toner amount detecting unit that detects an amount of the toner; a toner supplying unit that supplies new toner to the toner storage based on a detection result; and a toner removing member that removes the toner carried in the porous surface layer, wherein the toner removing member is arranged in a separable and contactable manner from and with the porous surface layer, and the developing unit has a stirring mode in which the toner removing member is brought into contact with the porous surface layer, and the toner supplying member is rotated while the stirring member is rotated to stir the toner.
US08503885B2	Quantum based information transmission system and method A method and system of data transmission; the method comprising: converting data into qubits; transmitting a first qubit; measuring the first qubit at receiver location; determining whether or not to transmit portions of data from a sequential successive qubit based upon the value of the first qubit measured at the receiver location. The system comprising a sender and at least one receiver, the sender comprising: a converter for converting data into qubits; a modulator for modulating a signal based upon the values of the qubits; a transmitter for transmitting the modulated signal to at least one receiver; the at least one receiver comprising: a detector for measuring the value of at least one qubit; a feedback circuit for transmitting the measured value of the at least one qubit to the sender; whereby the transmission of data for each successive qubit is based upon the value measured for the preceding qubit and the sender utilizes only the data for each successive qubits which correlates to the measured value of the preceding qubit.
US08503884B2	Bidirectional optical transceiver A bidirectional optical transceiver is disclosed. In the bidirectional optical transceiver, by implementing, as a stacked structure, an optical bench in which an optical system and an optical-transmitting module are installed and a multi-layer substrate with good thermal, electrical and high-resistance characteristics in which an optical-receiving module and a driving circuit for driving the optical-transmitting module are installed, thermal, electrical or optical crosstalk is prevented, high-speed transmission of transmission signals is possible through high-speed modulation thereof, and miniaturization is achieved.
US08503883B2	System and method for improved infrared communication between consumer appliances Optical or electrical attenuation is provided at the infrared (IR) receiver of a first device, such as a remote control, together with a commensurate increase in output of the IR transmitter of an appliance, such as a set top box, to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of IR communications with respect to any background infrared radiation, such as radiation from a plasma display screen.
US08503878B2	Flow-subcarrier mapping in optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing Each of a plurality of data flows is classified as having a respective data flow type, and each data flow is assigned to one of a plurality of subcarrier groups, based on the data flow's type, wherein each subcarrier group comprises a respective plurality of subcarriers. First data flows assigned to a first subcarrier group are transmitted exclusively on respective subcarriers in the first subcarrier group, and second data flows assigned to a second subcarrier group are transmitted together on all of the subcarriers in the second subcarrier group.
US08503872B2	Digital imaging method and apparatus A digital imaging apparatus and method by which an auto-focus (AF) operation may be effectively performed during capture of a moving image. The apparatus performs the AF operation during the capture of the moving image when it is determined that a lens is appropriate for capturing the moving image based on received lens information and stops the AF operation during the capture of the moving image when it is determined that the lens is inappropriate for capturing the moving image. When the lens inappropriate for capturing the moving image is mounted, the AF operation may be performed using an additional switch or a manual-focus (MF) operation may be performed.
US08503871B2	Imaging system, mount adaptor, imaging apparatus, and program An imaging system includes an imaging apparatus which is provided with an imaging device and a mount adaptor which adjusts a flange focal length between the imaging apparatus and an interchangeable lens, wherein the mount adaptor is provided with a phase difference focus detection section which performs focus detection from a phase difference and an optical device which splits incident light from the interchangeable lens into incident light of the imaging device and incident light of the phase difference focus detection section, and the imaging apparatus is provided with a contrast focus detection section which performs focus detection from contrast using the imaging device, an adjustment section which adjusts the focus position of the phase difference focus detection section, and an adjustment control section which activates adjustment control of the focus position using detection of the mounting of the mount adaptor and the interchangeable lens.
US08503870B2	Method and device for supplying hot water The invention relates to a method for preparing drinks by supplying hot water for a hot drinks dispenser by means of a liquid transport circuit (2) comprising a heating element (8) provided with a heating resistance, and a pump (14). According to the invention, once a control means (7) has been actuated by a user, a liquid is heated by feeding the heating resistance at a pre-defined average electrical power, the heating of the liquid is maintained, and as soon as the measured temperature is higher than a first pre-determined temperature threshold, the liquid is circulated in the heating element (8), at a constant nominal rate of between 0.5 and 1.5 cl/second, and the average electrical power of the heating resistance (12) is such that the ratio of said power expressed in Watts divided by the nominal rate in centiliters per second is higher than 2000.
US08503865B2	Display device and method for timer recording a broadcast program A method of recording using a timer recording function in a display device is disclosed. More specifically, the display device receives an input data which is a user inputted instruction information for executing a timer recording function. Thereafter, the display device stores the instruction information which includes an instruction for a display recording device to begin and end recording a broadcast program of a certain designated channel at a specified time period in the future. Then, the device determines whether at least two display recording devices are connected to the display device and selects the display recording device for recording the broadcast program. Lastly, the display device transmits control data to the selected display recording device.
US08503864B2	Encoded data recording apparatus and mobile terminal In a mobile terminal provided with an encoded data recording function, there is assumed a condition in which a picture frame transmitted from the terminal of a communication partner is reproduced by means of decoding processing and is displayed on a LCD (34) during wireless TV phone communication. In this condition, when a user carries out a picture recording start operation, display picture data reproduced by means of decoding processing in the multimedia processing section (24) to be displayed on the LCD (34) are recorded in a main recording section (26).
US08503858B2	Machine-implemented method for establishing a playback interface, and computer-readable recording medium for implementing the same A machine-implemented method for establishing a playback interface for a target disc when storing contents of a plurality of original discs into the target disc includes: (A) analyzing each of the original discs for relevant disc information, and recording the disc information of the original discs in a disc information list; (B) analyzing each sequence of each of the original discs for relevant sequence information, and recording the sequence information of the original discs in a playback sequence list; and (C) establishing a playback interface for the target disc according to the disc information list and the playback sequence list.
US08503839B2	Composite subwavelength-structured waveguide in optical systems A waveguide cores consisting of a subwavelength grating permits transmission of light without diffraction in a discontinuous manner, wherein the energy is provided by field hopping between subwavelength material segments of higher index. The use of alternating segments permits design of waveguides having desired effective index, mode confinement factor, birefringence, polarization mode or mode dispersions, polarization dependent loss, thermal sensitivity, or nonlinear optical coefficient. An optical system comprises a waveguide having such a core, clad on at least one side, extending between two ends, and wavelength-limiting optical components in optical communication with the ends.
US08503838B2	Two-part optical coupling system having an air gap therein for reflecting light to provide optical feedback for monitoring optical output power levels in an optical transmitter (TX) A two-part optical coupling system is provided for use in an optical transmitter (TX) module. The two-part optical coupling system has first and second optical parts and an air gap at the interface between the two optical parts. A portion of the light produced by a laser diode of the optical TX module is refracted at the air gap and is coupled by the optical coupling system into an end of an optical fiber. A second portion of the light produced by the laser diode is reflected by the air gap and is coupled by the optical coupling system onto a monitor photodiode of the optical TX. The electrical signal produced by the monitor photodiode may be used to monitor and adjust the optical output power level of the laser diode. Because the air gap is formed at the interface between the first and second optical parts, the process of forming the air gap can be incorporated into the optical coupling system manufacturing process without increasing the cost of the manufacturing process.
US08503837B2	Compact fiber optic positioner with wide frequency bandwidth A device for the positioning of fiber optic output including a base having a hole disposed at a midpoint thereof, a collar having an opening at a midpoint, a plurality of bimorph actuators, each actuator connected to an outer side surface of the base and located at opposite ends, a plurality of flexible beams, each having a first end connected to the collar and a second end connected to a bimorph actuator, a flexible tube inserted in the hole, where a bottom end of the tube is cantilevered at a bottom of the base and a top end of the tube is inserted in the opening of the collar, and a fiber optic embedded in the flexible tube.
US08503833B2	Waveguide grating structure and optical measurement arrangement The present invention describes (bio)chemo-functional waveguide grating structures consisting of at least one (bio)chemo-functional waveguide grating structure unit or at least one (bio)chemo-functional sensor location with beam guidance permitting light beam separation, as well as detection methods for parallel analysis which are marking-free or based on marking.
US08503831B2	Image distribution apparatus and image distribution method The present invention enables image distribution while maintaining privacy, using a simple configuration. An image distribution apparatus which distributes image data to which location information has been added stores information specifying an inhibited area concerning the location information and determines whether or not a location indicated by the location information added to the image data to be distributed falls within the stored inhibited area. If it is determined that the location indicated by the location information falls within the inhibited area, the image distribution apparatus distributes the image data by deleting the location information from the image data to be distributed. On the other hand, if it is determined that the location indicated by the location information falls outside the inhibited area, the image distribution apparatus distributes the image data with the location information added.
US08503830B2	Digital image processing apparatus and method of arranging digital image files used by the same A digital image processing apparatus capable of effective file management during the duplication and movement of a digital image file between digital image processing apparatuses, and a file arranging method used by the digital image processing apparatus. The apparatus stores a digital image file with a name including a serial number under a folder with a name including a part indicating a manufacturing company and a serial number. When the apparatus duplicates or moves a first digital image file stored in a first digital image processing apparatus to a second digital image processing apparatus, the digital image processing apparatus compares a name of a folder containing the first digital image file with a name of a folder of the second digital image processing apparatus, duplicates or moves the first digital image file to the folder, or generates a new folder and duplicates or moves the first digital image file to the new folder.
US08503829B2	Method for providing real-time service of huge and high quality digital image on internet A method for providing real time service of huge and high quality digital image on internet is disclosed, wherein data relevant to a general life such as a general photo, an advertising leaflet, and a pamphlet and professional image data exhibited in an art gallery, exhibition grounds, a pavilion are made into huge and high quality digital image or scanned and photographed to be digital, thereby processing real time service as an interactive browsing form. In the present invention, data are directly made, edited, constructed, and uploaded on internet, thereby providing various additional information with image through hyperlink and processing high quality digital image service on network without speed delay for huge image.
US08503814B2	Method and apparatus for spectrum estimation An apparatus and methods are provided for determining control parameters for image enhancement. In one embodiment a method for determining control parameters includes receiving image data for a first frame and calculating an adaptive threshold value based on the image data. The method includes determining a pixel slope distribution for a pixel window of the image data, wherein the pixel window is selected based on the adaptive threshold value and determining a spectrum estimation coefficient based on the pixel distribution, wherein the spectrum estimation coefficient is determined based on the spectral components of the image data. The method may then include determining one or more control parameters for enhancement of the image data based on the spectrum estimation coefficient, wherein the one or more control parameters relate to filtering parameters for adaptive enhancement of image data.
US08503809B2	Information processing apparatus and method to entropy code upon processing of predetermined number of precincts The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method which make it possible to transmit image data with high quality and low delay. A wavelet transform unit 101 applies wavelet transform to image data using a reversible filter that performs data transform with a reversible method that completely ensures forward direction and backward direction transform. An entropy coding unit 103 encodes coefficient data using a predetermined entropy coding scheme, with a reversible method that completely ensures forward direction and backward direction transform. The present invention is applicable to, for example, an encoding apparatus or a decoding apparatus.
US08503797B2	Automatic document classification using lexical and physical features An automatic document classification system is described that uses lexical and physical features to assign a class ciεC{c1, c2, . . . , ci} to a document d. The primary lexical features are the result of a feature selection method known as Orthogonal Centroid Feature Selection (OCFS). Additional information may be gathered on character type frequencies (digits, letters, and symbols) within d. Physical information is assembled through image analysis to yield physical attributes such as document dimensionality, text alignment, and color distribution. The resulting lexical and physical information is combined into an input vector X and is used to train a supervised neural network to perform the classification.
US08503793B2	Correlation processing apparatus and medium readable by correlation processing apparatus A correlation processing apparatus that obtains a correlation value between an image and a subimage, the apparatus including: N arithmetic circuits, each of the N arithmetic circuits performing an arithmetic operation on a first image pixel value of a first image pixel of the image and a second image pixel value of a second image pixel of the subimage; a rectangular pattern selection circuit selecting a rectangular pattern among a plurality of predetermined rectangular patterns, the rectangular pattern including Q elements, the smallest number of divisions is obtained if the image is divided by the rectangular pattern; a control circuit activating Q arithmetic circuits among the N arithmetic circuits and identifying Q first image pixel values and Q second image pixel values on which the arithmetic operations are performed by the Q arithmetic circuits; and an accumulator accumulating the results of the arithmetic operations performed by the Q arithmetic circuits.
US08503791B2	Methods and systems for content processing Cell phones and other portable devices are equipped with a variety of technologies by which existing functionality can be improved, and new functionality can be provided. Some relate to visual search capabilities, and determining appropriate actions responsive to different image inputs. Others relate to processing of image data. Still others concern metadata generation, processing, and representation. Yet others relate to coping with fixed focus limitations of cell phone cameras, e.g., in reading digital watermark data. Still others concern user interface improvements. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
US08503788B2	Input-handwriting automatic transformation system and method An input-handwriting automatic transformation system capable of automatically transforming handwriting input to a font most similar to the input handwriting, the system including a recognizing unit recognizing handwriting input via an input pad; an extracting unit extracting a font most similar to the input handwriting from fonts stored in a memory; and a transforming unit comparing the font extracted by the extracting unit and the input handwriting and automatically transforming the extracted font to be most similar to the input handwriting.
US08503786B2	Document image generation apparatus, document image generation method and recording medium A character is recognized from an original document image that is obtained, for example, by an image reading apparatus. And a natural language processing is performed on a document configured from the recognized characters. Thus, a translation (supplementary annotation) for a word or a phrase in the document is obtained. Then, a supplementary annotation added document image is generated with an original document image layer configured from an original document image on which a supplementary annotation text layer is superimposed. In the supplementary annotation text layer, the translation is placed at a position corresponding to a position in an interline space near the word or the phrase. Furthermore, in addition to a translation, an underline is placed for a discontinuous phrase.
US08503782B2	Using extracted image text Methods, systems, and apparatus including computer program products for using extracted image text are provided. In one implementation, a computer-implemented method is provided. The method includes receiving an input of one or more image search terms and identifying keywords from the received one or more image search terms. The method also includes searching a collection of keywords including keywords extracted from image text, retrieving an image associated with extracted image text corresponding to one or more of the image search terms, and presenting the image.
US08503781B2	Finding text regions from coloured image independent of colours Methods (1200), apparatuses, and computer program for finding a region containing text in a color bitmap image comprising pixels are provided. Connected components (CCs) are generated (1200) from the color bitmap image by grouping substantially similarly colored and adjacent pixels. Independently of color, which of the connected components are text connected components are determined (1212) dependent upon attributes of the generated connected components. For each text CC) a value is assigned (1214) to each tile that comprises at least a portion of the text connected component. The value indicates the presence of text overlapping the tile. Each tile comprises pixels of the color bitmap image. The region containing text in the color bitmap image is determined (1216) dependent upon the assigned values of the tiles.
US08503778B2	Enhancing photograph visual quality using texture and contrast data from near infra-red images Near infra-red images of natural scenes usually have better contrast and contain rich texture details that may not be perceived in visible light photographs. The contrast and rich texture details form a NIR image corresponding to a visible light image are useful for enhancing the visual quality of the visible light image. To enhance the visual quality of a visible light image using its corresponding near infra-red image, a computer-implemented method computes a weight region mask from the visible light image, transfers contrast data and texture data from the near infra-red image to the visible light image guided by the weighted region mask. The contrast data is computed from the low frequency subbands of the visible light image and corresponding infra-red image after a wavelet transform by matching the histogram of gradient magnitude. The texture data is computed from the high frequency subbands of both images after wavelet transform.
US08503775B2	Image processing method and image processing apparatus One embodiment of the present invention is to provide an image processing method and an image processing apparatus which can also handle data other than a standard color space and can also handle a case in which the color space of an image color adjustment processing section and that of an image color conversion processing section are different from each other. In one embodiment of the present invention, predetermined color conversion is performed on an image in a first color space, and a first color conversion table defined in the first color space is generated. Next, based on the first color conversion table, a second color conversion table defined in a second color space is generated.
US08503772B2	Image processing unit, image processing method, and device for adjusting tone of monotone images by reducing color as a function of brightness An image processing unit is configured to include a monotone image generator which generates a monotone image from a color image and a color reducer which reduces a color of an image by reducing chroma of the image in accordance with brightness of the image. The color reducer adjusts a tone of the monotone image generated by the monotone image generator by reducing a color of a high brightness portion of the image at a higher level than a low brightness portion of the image.
US08503768B2	Shape description and modeling for image subscene recognition A method and apparatus is described here that categorizes images by extracting a subscene and describing the subscene with a top level feature vector and a division feature vector, which are descriptions of edge gradient classifications within rectangular bounding boxes. By filtering subscene feature vectors in images with a Gaussian mixture based model pool (obtained in a subscene modeling phase), the images may be categorized (in an subscene recognition phase) with probabilities relating to each subscene. Higher probabilities are likelier correlations. The device may be a single or multiple core CPU, or parallelized vector processor for characterizing many images. The images may be photographs, videos, or video stills, without restriction. When used real-time, the method may be used for visual searching or sorting.
US08503762B2	Projecting location based elements over a heads up display Methods and systems for projecting a location based elements over a heads up display. One method includes: generating a three dimensional (3D) model of a scene, based on a source of digital mapping of the scene; associating a position of at least one selected LAE contained within the scene, with a respective position in the 3D model; superimposing the projecting onto a specified position on a transparent screen facing a viewer and associated with the vehicle, at least one graphic indicator associated with the at least one LAE, wherein the specified position is calculated based on: the respective position of the LAE in the 3D model, the screen's geometrical and optical properties, the viewer's viewing angle, the viewer's distance from the screen, the vehicle's position and angle within the scene, such that the viewer, the graphic indicator, and the LAE are substantially on a common line.
US08503758B2	Image measurement device, method for image measurement, and computer readable medium storing a program for image measurement An image measurement device capable of recognizing a relative position and easily identifying a measurement result is provided, the device including: a measurement configuration data storage section that holds characteristic amount information, information for portions to be measured, and setting value information; a placement state detection section that detects a position and a posture of each workpiece; an edge detection section that detects an edge of portions to be measured; a pass-fail determination section that calculates size values of the portions to be measured and performs pass-fail determination of the portions to be measured and the workpiece; a measurement result display section that displays a result of the pass-fail determination of the workpiece over the workpiece image; and a workpiece selection section for selecting any of the workpieces. The measurement result display section displays the result of the pass-fail determination for the portions to be measured of the selected workpiece.
US08503756B2	System and method for verifying manufacturing consistency of manufactured items In a method and system for verifying manufacturing consistency of manufactured items, N point clouds of the manufactured items are read. A first point cloud is selected from the N point clouds, and each point of the first point cloud is projected onto a predetermined ideal outline for obtaining a nearest point in the ideal outline of each point of the first point cloud. Intersections of the N point clouds and each line formed by a point in the first point cloud and the nearest point of the point are further determined, and a vertical distance between each of the intersections and the ideal outline is calculated for obtaining a deviation value of each of the intersections. At least one outline is fitted according to the deviation values of each of the intersections and the at least one fitted outline is output to a display device.
US08503746B2	Medical image processing device, medical image processing method, and medical image processing program A medical image processing device etc. which supports work for precisely identifying the area of a diagnosis object from a medical image scanned by a medical imaging apparatus is provided.A CPU (11) of the medical image processing device (1) inputs image data and stores the same in a main memory (12) (S101).Next, the CPU (11) subjects the inputted image data to threshold processing (S102).Next, the CPU (11) stores, in the main memory (12), data obtained by separating the area of the high signal values of the binarized image data into a bone region and an angiographically scanned region (S103).Next, the CPU (11) identifies the contact area of the bone region and the angiographically scanned region from the data stored in the main memory (12) (S104).Next, the CPU (11) emphasizes the contact area stored in the main memory (12) at the S104 and displays the contact area on a display device (15) (S105).
US08503743B2	Image processing system, image processing device and image processing terminal An image processing system includes an image processing device and an image processing terminal which are connected to each other via a network. The image processing device includes a dye-amount estimating unit that estimates a dye amount of a stained sample stained with a predetermined dye based on a stained sample image obtained by capturing a multiband image of the stained sample, for each pixel of the stained sample image; and a dye-amount transmitting unit that transmits the estimated dye amount of the stained sample to the image processing terminal. The image processing terminal includes a dye-amount receiving unit that receives a dye amount of the stained sample transmitted from the image processing device; a pixel-value calculating unit that calculates a pixel value of a display image of the stained sample by using a predetermined dye-amount correction coefficient based on the received dye amount of the stained sample; and an image display unit that displays a display image of the stained sample based on the calculated pixel value of the display image of the stained sample.
US08503740B2	Methods and apparatus for digit swipe sensor data streaming Methods and apparatus for processing biometric digit data variously include scanning a digit in a transverse direction relative to an array of sensor elements, detecting the scanned digit and/or a predetermined characteristic of the scanned digit, outputting from individual sensor elements of the array of sensor elements respective continuous streams of biometric data associated with the scanned digit, discrete sampling the respective continuous streams of data, and reconstructing the discrete sampled data. The discrete sampled data may be directly reconstructed, e.g., in accordance with a reconstruction characteristic associated with detecting and/or discrete sampling the scanned digit, to form a biometric characteristic image associated with the digit. Optionally, the respective continuous streams of data may be stored for later discrete sampling, or discrete sampled data may be stored for later reconstruction to form a biometric characteristic image associated with the digit.
US08503737B2	Visual line estimating apparatus The visual line estimating apparatus 200 comprises: an image inputting section 201 operable to take an image of a human; a visual line measurement section 202 operable to measure a direction of a visual line on the basis of the taken image; a visual line measuring result storing section 211 operable to store therein visual line measuring results previously measured; a representative value extracting section 212 operable to extract a previous representative value; and a visual line determining section 213 operable to judge whether or not a difference between the representative value and the visual line measuring result is lower than a predetermined threshold to determine a visual line estimating result from the representative value and the visual line measuring result.
US08503731B2	Sign language recognition system and method A sign language recognition method includes a depth-sensing camera capturing an image of a gesture of a signer and gathering data about distances between a number of points on the signer and the depth-sensing camera, building a three dimension (3D) model of the gesture, comparing the 3D model of the gesture with a number of 3D models of different gestures to find out the representations of the 3D model of the gesture, and displaying or vocalizing the representations of the 3D model of the gesture.
US08503725B2	Vehicle tracking system and tracking method thereof The present invention discloses a vehicle tracking system and method, and the tracking method comprises the steps of capturing a bright object from an image by the bright object segmentation; labeling the bright object by a connected component labeling method and forming a connected component object; identifying, analyzing and combining the characteristics of the connected component object to form a lamp object by the bright object recognition; tracking the trajectory of the lamp object by a multi-vehicle tracking method; and identifying the type of a vehicle having the lamp object by the vehicle detection/recognition and counting the number of various vehicles.
US08503720B2	Human body pose estimation Techniques for human body pose estimation are disclosed herein. Depth map images from a depth camera may be processed to calculate a probability that each pixel of the depth map is associated with one or more segments or body parts of a body. Body parts may then be constructed of the pixels and processed to define joints or nodes of those body parts. The nodes or joints may be provided to a system which may construct a model of the body from the various nodes or joints.
US08503710B1	Headset with rotatable earpiece A sound delivery device is provided which includes a headband having a first end and a second end, and an earpiece and a speaker are mounted adjacent the first end of the headband. The earpiece is constructed and arranged to be rotatable with respect to the speaker to optimize comfort, fit, and performance. The earpiece can include a cylindrical section constructed and arranged to cooperate with a spherical section of a joint, and arranged to be rotatable with respect to the joint.
US08503704B2	Localisation in a bilateral hearing device system Disclosed is a method and system for allowing a recipient of a hearing aid device, and in one aspect, a bilateral hearing aid system, to locate the source of a sound signal about the recipient. The method uses localization cues in the sound signal and modifies these to provide useable localization cues to generate a stimulating signal for application to the recipient. In one example, a detected localization cue such as an interaural level difference (ILD) is transposed to a lower frequency.
US08503700B2	Piezoelectric acoustic transducer A piezoelectric speaker includes: a chassis having a wall surface including an opening; a plurality of diaphragms including at least a first piezoelectric diaphragm and second piezoelectric diaphragms which vibrate in phases opposite to each other when a voltage is applied; and a joint member which connects the first and second piezoelectric diaphragms in a positional relationship such that the diaphragms are located at positions different from each other in a thickness direction. One of the diaphragms is provided, in the opening of the chassis, to have one surface facing an outside of the chassis and another surface facing an inside of the chassis. The diaphragm functions as a radiation plate which radiates a sound wave by vibrating at an amplitude generated by synthesizing amplitudes of the first and second piezoelectric diaphragms.
US08503699B2	Plate, transducer and methods for making and operating a transducer A plate, a transducer, a method for making a transducer, and a method for operating a transducer are disclosed. An embodiment comprises a plate comprising a first material layer comprising a first stress, a second material layer arranged beneath the first material layer, the second material layer comprising a second stress, an opening arranged in the first material layer and the second material layer, and an extension extending into opening, wherein the extension comprises a portion of the first material layer and a portion of the second material layer, and wherein the extension is curved away from a top surface of the plate based on a difference in the first stress and the second stress.
US08503697B2	Pickup signal processing apparatus, method, and program product According to one embodiment, a pickup signal processing apparatus includes microphones, a sound determining unit, a signal level calculating unit, a setting unit, and a calculating unit. The sound determining unit determines whether pickup signals picked up by the microphones are signals from a neighboring sound source or a background noise signal. The signal level calculating unit calculates the signal levels for the microphones. The setting unit sets a gain value of at least one microphone and reduces a difference between the signal levels for the microphones on the basis of the signal levels for the microphones, when determined that the pickup signal is the background noise signal. The calculating unit multiplies the pickup signal of the at least one microphone by the gain value set by the setting unit.
US08503694B2	Sound capture system for devices with two microphones The perceptual sound quality of desired audio signals (e.g., human voice) captured by an electronic device (e.g., cell phone) are improved by reducing ambient noise according to an algorithm that acts upon audio signals captured from a front and rear direction. More particularly, audio signals captured by two directional microphones pointing in opposite directions (e.g., a front microphone which receives audio signals from a forward direction and a rear microphone which receives audio signals from a rear direction) are classified and subsequently enhanced (e.g., unwanted signals are suppressed) according to a probability of their source (e.g., front, rear, or noise) thereby providing an improved perceptual sound recording than each microphone individually. The resultant signals provide decreased noise since the contribution of the front and rear microphones are taken into consideration and the signal from the more relevant (e.g., in the direction from which sound is coming) microphone is utilized.
US08503692B2	Forming virtual microphone arrays using dual omnidirectional microphone array (DOMA) A dual omnidirectional microphone array noise suppression is described. Compared to conventional arrays and algorithms, which seek to reduce noise by nulling out noise sources, the array of an embodiment is used to form two distinct virtual directional microphones which are configured to have very similar noise responses and very dissimilar speech responses. The only null formed is one used to remove the speech of the user from V2. The two virtual microphones may be paired with an adaptive filter algorithm and VAD algorithm to significantly reduce the noise without distorting the speech, significantly improving the SNR of the desired speech over conventional noise suppression systems.
US08503685B2	Auditory front end customization A method and system for implementing an acoustical front end customization are disclosed. The customization is implemented to optimize the sound level for each individual cochlear implant user. A known audio signal is generated using a sound source and captured by a microphone system. The captured sound signal is sampled at one or more locations along the signal processing pathway, and a spectrum is determined for the sampled signal and the known signal. A ratio of the two spectrums is related to the undesired transformation of the sampled signal, and a digital filter is designed based on the ratio to filter out the undesired transformation.
US08503683B2	Apparatus and method for encoding/decoding signal An encoding method and apparatus and a decoding method and apparatus are provided. The decoding method includes extracting a down-mix signal and spatial information regarding a plurality of channels from an input bitstream, and generating a three-dimensional (3D) down-mix signal by performing a 3D rendering operation on the down-mix signal using the spatial information and a filter, wherein the sum of the number of valid signals of the down-mix signal, the number of valid signals of the spatial information, and the number of valid signals of co-efficients of the filter is less than the number of valid signals of the 3D down-mix signal. Accordingly, it is possible to efficiently encode multi-channel signals with 3D effects and to adaptively restore and reproduce audio signals with optimum sound quality according to the characteristics of an audio reproduction environment.

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