Document Document Title
US08632399B2 Gaming system having a common display, a first bonus game or a first bonus game paytable and an option to purchase a second bonus game or a second bonus game paytable with relatively expected higher values
A gaming system including a plurality of gaming devices and a shared or a common secondary display associated with the gaming devices. In one embodiment, the shared display is adjacent to one or more of the gaming devices of the gaming system. The gaming system includes at least one primary game and at least one secondary or bonus game. The bonus game is associated with a plurality of average expected payouts or values. In one embodiment, the bonus game that is played on the secondary display is associated with a higher average expected payout or higher values than the average expected payouts or values of the bonus game played on the individual gaming devices. When the player places a designated wager, they qualify to play the game on the secondary display and thus qualify for a chance to win the higher awards.
US08632392B2 Systems and methods for enabling remote device users to wager on micro events of games in a data network accessible gaming environment
A method and system for micro-betting. A control function can be designated for managing a series of micro-bets with respect to one or more events. The control function can be configured to determine when said series of micro-bets are set and when no more micro-bets among said series of micro-bets can be placed with respect to said event(s). Additionally, a multiple display screen method and system for the placement of micro-bets includes one or more display screens for displaying a micro-betting GUI for placing and managing micro-bets with respect to one or more macro-events and/or micro-events thereof. At least one other display screen can be utilized to provide video of the macro-event and/or micro-event(s). Available micro-bets among said micro-bets can be randomized to prevent cheating.
US08632391B2 Card game machine
An object is to provide a card game machine capable of enhancing gameplay. A card game machine has a game board including a plurality of reader/writers configured to communicate with a semiconductor device which is mounted on a card and capable of wireless communication, and a control device connected to the reader/writer and configured to determine the position or orientation of the card or whether the card is put face up or down based on a signal from the reader/writer. By arrangement of a plurality of reader/writers and RF chips in the game board, not only data of the card but also signal strength can be detected, and the detailed position of an RF chip of the card which is placed on the game board can be specified.
US08632386B2 Select and drag method for a gaming machine
A method for playing a casino gaming device including a select and drag feature is disclosed. In one embodiment, a player selects values for multiple positions or spots on a game of chance, such as a lottery style game. The player initially selects a value in one of the game positions. The player touches a touch-screen display or other input device located above the game position displaying the initially selected value, and then touches any other game position to copy the initially selected value into the other game positions. In one method, the player touches the touch-screen display located above the touch-screen display, and then drags the initially selected value across the remaining game positions with his finger to set the values for the remaining game positions to the initially selected value.
US08632382B2 Vehicle air system assemblies with aircap assemblies
An air system assembly for a vehicle includes a carpet module and an HVAC unit above the carpet module. A floor aircap assembly is associated with the carpet module and has a vertical portion extending upwardly above the carpet module and a horizontal portion extending below the carpet module.
US08632379B2 In-line batching
An installation for processing slaughtered animal parts of slaughtered animals and forming batches each containing one or more slaughtered animal parts includes a conveying system with a single conveying device or with a plurality of conveying devices, at least one slaughtered animal treatment device positioned along the path of the conveying device, a first weighing device for determining the weight of the one or more slaughtered animal parts carried by a product carrier, an installation control device including slaughtered animal part position determining device and memory device, and a batching device which is positioned along the path of the conveying device for forming batches each containing one or more slaughtered animal parts.
US08632372B2 Swimming device for a swimmer or diver
A swimming device for a swimmer or diver is described, which has a monofin, a power transfer element for moving the monofin using muscle power, and a fastening device for fastening the power transfer element to the lower legs of the swimmer. The power transfer element has a lower leg section, a foot section, and a fin section. In order to achieve the highest possible propulsion in the water with the lowest possible use of force, the power transfer element flows dynamically, in cross section in the X-Z level with a longer Z axis and short X-axis.
US08632362B2 Method and system for improving crosstalk attenuation within a plug/jack connection and between nearby plug/jack combinations
This application describes a jack for improving crosstalk attenuation. The jack has a housing, a foil at least partially surrounding the housing, wherein the foil is made up of a first section separated and conductively isolated from a second section by a gap or made up of a first metalized section separated and conductively isolated from a second metalized section by a non-metalized section whereby common mode noise caused by the capacitive coupling between foils of a series of adjacent jacks is reduced.
US08632359B2 Power input terminal block housing and cover
In an embodiment, an apparatus includes a housing and a cover. The housing can include a surface to receive a terminal block to transmit power to an electrical component. A shroud to be inserted within the electrical component can extend away from the housing surface. The cover can have an end for hingedly attaching to the housing. The cover is pivotable relative to the housing between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the cover and the housing together form an enclosure for the terminal block.
US08632358B2 Connection device for a solar module
The invention relates to a connection device (100, 101, 102, 103) for a solar module (400), the connection device (100, 101, 102, 103) having a housing (110, 111, 112, 113) and a contacting means (180), arranged in the housing (110, 111, 112, 113), for contacting a contact element (430) of the solar module (400). The connection device (100, 101, 102, 103) is distinguished by a blind mating connector (120, 150) arranged on the housing (110, 111, 112, 113) without an electrical connection to the contacting means (180), onto which connector a plug-and-socket connector (220, 250) can be plugged. The invention furthermore relates to a solar module with such a connection device (100, 101, 102, 103).
US08632357B2 High data rate electrical connector and cable asssembly
An electrical connector has a first shell, an opposing second shell and a circuit board between the first shell and the second shell. The circuit board has a first side and an opposing second side and includes a plurality of differential pair conductive traces on each side. A first drain wire termination device is provided on the first side and includes at least one separator between at least one of the differential pair conductive traces on the first side and another of the differential pair conductive traces on the first side. A second drain wire termination device is connected to the second side and includes at least one separator between at least one of the differential pair conductive traces on the second side and another of the differential pair conductive traces on the second side.
US08632354B2 Interconnection systems
Interconnection systems are shown that include communication contacts, and a guide. Configurations are shown with a guide that locates a male portion with respect to a female portion and guides their engagement before any communication contacts are engaged. Configurations are also shown with a guide that includes one or more power contacts.
US08632345B2 Low profile connection system
Accordingly, the board-to-board connector of the Present Disclosure comprises a first connector mounted on a surface of a first board and a second connector mounted on a surface of a second board and mating with the first connector. The first connector includes a flat-shaped main body part, a first conductive body placed on the mating surface of the main body part, and a plurality of male terminals protruding from the surface of the first conductive body. The second connector is a flat-shaped material formed from flat-shaped metal, and includes a plurality of female terminals flexibly retaining the male terminals. Positioning of the male and female terminals is accomplished by the male terminals being retained by the female terminals.
US08632344B2 Method of model scaling for an automated essay scoring system
A method and system for customizing an automated essay scoring system are disclosed. Relative weights may be assigned to a plurality of features for a plurality of benchmark essay responses. Based on the relative weights, automated scores may be determined for one or more first essay responses to a first prompt. The automated scores may be scaled based on one or more scoring standards for the first prompt. A scaled automated score may be assigned for a second essay response to the first prompt based on the scaled automated scores for the one or more first essay responses.
US08632343B2 Demonstration mannequin for simulating catheter malposition
A demonstration mannequin for simulating insertion of a catheter or other medical device into the body of a patient is disclosed. The mannequin is useful for training clinicians in the placement of a catheter into the patient's vasculature and includes the ability to provide a malposition scenario in which the catheter is deviated from an intended path within the vasculature, resulting in a simulated malposition thereof. In one embodiment, the mannequin comprises a torso body portion and a simulated vasculature disposed within the body. The simulated vasculature is accessible by a medical device, such as a catheter, which can be advanced within the simulated vasculature. The mannequin further includes at least one diversion element that selectively obstructs a portion of the simulated vasculature to block advancement of a distal end of the catheter along an intended path and instead causes diversion of the catheter, thus simulating a catheter malposition scenario.
US08632319B2 Device for powering the pump of a rocket engine using an inertia wheel
An apparatus for driving a pump for fueling a rocket engine of a space vehicle. The apparatus comprises an inertia wheel and a transmitting device to transmit a rotation of the inertia wheel to the pump. The apparatus further comprises a measuring device to measure the rotation speed of the inertia wheel a clutching device to decouple the wheel and the pump for a speed lower than a pre-determined speed lower, which is lower than the nominal rotation speed of the wheel. The invention is particularly applicable to a space vehicle comprising a rocket engine wherein the fuel supply system comprises at least one pump driven by the apparatus of the invention and a starting device to start the apparatus while the space vehicle is in flight.
US08632315B2 Air motor having ceramic valves
An air motor includes ceramic valves and valve plates to enhance performance and efficiency of the air motor.
US08632314B2 Cooling fan driving device and fan rotational speed control method
The invention reduces waste of flow volume of pressurized oil discharged from a hydraulic pump when the rotational speed of a cooling fan is increased to the target rotational speed. The target rotational speed of the cooling fan is set at a target rotational speed setting portion. An acceleration pattern for increasing the cooling fan to the target rotational speed is set at an acceleration pattern setting portion based on the rotational speed of the cooling fan, the target rotational speed set at the target rotational speed setting portion, and magnitude of force due to inertia of the cooling fan and the hydraulic motor. The rotational speed command value calculation portion controls the pressurized oil to be supplied to the hydraulic motor at a flow rate required. Thus, it is possible to reduce wasted relief flow volume.
US08632309B2 Blade for a gas turbine
A blade is disclosed for a gas turbine including an airfoil, which extends along a longitudinal axis from a blade root to a blade tip, and has a shroud segment at the blade tip. The shroud segment abuts with first and second edges against shroud segments of adjacent blades to form a ring-like shroud. The first and second edges are each provided with a respective side rail on the upper side of the shroud segment. Each of the side rails is subdivided into sections of different height and/or width.
US08632300B2 Energy absorbing apparatus in a gas turbine engine
A gas turbine includes a casing, a first diaphragm assembly, a second diaphragm assembly, and first energy absorbing apparatus. The casing has a radially outer surface and a radially inner surface including an annular slot extending circumferentially therein. The first diaphragm assembly includes a first inner structure, a first outer structure and a plurality of airfoils extending between the first inner and outer structures. The second diaphragm assembly includes a second inner structure, a second outer structure and a plurality of airfoils extending between the second inner and outer structures. The first energy absorbing apparatus engages a first end portion of the first outer structure so as to absorb at least portions of unsteady aerodynamic loads and steady rotational loads generated by the first diaphragm assembly.
US08632299B2 Engine case with wash system
A gas turbine engine includes a structure defining a circumferential passage in fluid communication with an internal passage in at least one strut radially extending into the engine, circumferential passage also in fluid communication with a plurality or nozzles or jets to provide a wash manifold integrated with the engine casing structure. One or more nozzles are provided in the manifold for directing a washing fluid injected into the duct.
US08632297B2 Turbine airfoil and method for cooling a turbine airfoil
According to one aspect of the invention, a turbine includes a first sidewall, an airfoil positioned between the first sidewall and a second sidewall and a first passage in the airfoil proximate a high temperature region, the first passage configured to receive a cooling fluid, wherein the high temperature region is near an interface of the first sidewall and a trailing edge of the airfoil. The turbine further includes a first diffuser in fluid communication with the first passage, the first diffuser configured to direct the cooling fluid to form a film on a surface of the first sidewall.
US08632287B2 Fastener retainer
A fastener retainer is provided capable of retaining a fastener to a part prior to and during assembly. A first portion engages a fastener flange while leaving a fastener head exposed for assembly tool access. A second portion has flanges that engage the edges of the part.
US08632280B2 Mechanically stabilized earth welded wire facing connection system and method
A system and method of constructing a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) structure. A wire facing is composed of horizontal and vertical elements. The system includes a soil reinforcing element having a plurality of transverse wires coupled to at least two longitudinal wires. The soil reinforcing element is coupled to a facing anchor configured such that at least a portion of the facing anchor is inserted through the wire facing and coupled thereto. Multiple systems can be characterized as lifts and erected one atop the other to a desired MSE structure height.
US08632278B2 Mechanically stabilized earth welded wire facing connection system and method
A system and method of constructing a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) structure. A wire facing is composed of horizontal and vertical elements. A soil reinforcing element has a plurality of transverse wires coupled to at least two longitudinal wires where the longitudinal wires are coupled to a coil and a threaded rod is configured to extend through both the vertical facing and the coil. A washer engages the vertical facing and prevents the threaded rod from passing completely through the vertical facing and a nut is threaded onto the threaded rod to prevent its removal from the coil. Multiple systems can be characterized as lifts and erected one atop the other to a desired MSE structure height.
US08632275B2 Excavation machine with a pivotable kelly bar
An excavation machine including —a mast having a longitudinal direction, —a bar presenting a first end provided with an excavation tool, and —a carriage movable along the longitudinal direction of the mast and including a first holder member for holding the bar relative to the carriage, the carriage being suitable for moving the bar along the longitudinal direction of the mast. The first holder member is pivotable relative to the carriage and by the fact that the first holder member presents a locked state in which the bar is prevented from moving in translation relative to the carriage, and an unlocked state in which the bar is free to move in translation relative to the carriage.
US08632273B2 Water draining pipe and draining method thereof
A water draining method comprises water draining adapted for roads, mountains, mountainsides, protective hillsides, retaining walls, grass slopes, airport runways, highways, football fields, grass slopes, stone dams, embankments, landfills, farms, irrigating and draining systems, characterized in that: a. installing receiving members in a pervious bed; b. arranging draining pipes in the receiving members; c. disposing draining ditches on one or two ends of a drain tube; d. drawing excessive water to the draining pipes by using drawing ports of the drain tube and draining the water into the draining ditch via an end portion of the drain tube. Thereby, the present invention allows to obtain rain collecting, impurities filtering, irrigating, draining, anti-leaking, and warning functions.
US08632271B2 Painting apparatus
A painting apparatus comprising a paint module, an applicator assembly having an applicator surface, and a pump, the paint module having a container receiving section, the applicator assembly being fluidly connectable to the container receiving section such that the pump can supply liquid contained in the container receiving section to the applicator assembly, in which the apparatus can operate in a painting cycle where the container receiving section receives a paint container with a supply of paint such that the paint can be supplied to the applicator assembly, and in a cleaning cycle where the container receiving section receives a liquid in the form of a cleaning fluid, such that the cleaning fluid can be supplied to the applicator assembly (FIG. 1).
US08632269B2 Oral care instrument including an oral care agent
An oral care instrument includes at least one oral care agent. In one embodiment, the oral care agent can be provided on one or more surfaces of the oral care instrument or included within cavities within the head or in one or more surfaces of a head. In other embodiment, the oral care agent can be provided in or on a thin slab subsequently bonded onto a surface, or applied as a stable coating. The oral care instrument can also be provided with a wear indicator. The oral care agents can be released during one use, during multiple uses, or throughout the life of the instrument. Water, oral secretions and/or chemicals within the mouth can activate the oral care agents.
US08632266B1 Printer for a mobile device
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for a printing device for use with a mobile device are described herein. The printing device may include an image capture module to capture surface images of a medium and a positioning module to determine positioning information based at least in part on navigational measurements and the captured surface images. A print module of the printing device may cause print forming substances to be deposited based at least in part on the positioning information. A mobile device may include one or more features of the printing device including the image capture module, the positioning module, and the print module. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08632262B2 Laser to fiber optical coupling in photoplethysmography
An embodiment of a laser to fiber coupling apparatus having a substrate 110 that supports a laser mount 120, to which is affixed a submount 130 and laser die 140, and an open slot mount 150, in which a light guide 160 is affixed with an adhesive 170, such that the light from the laser 140 is coupled into the light guide 160. The open slot arrangement permits the light guide to be moved in all six translational and rotational degrees of freedom to maximally couple the light from the laser to the light guide. Other embodiments are described and shown.
US08632261B2 Integrated and sealed opto-electronic device assembly
An opto-electronic device assembly adapted for mounted on a mother board includes a case and opto-electronic devices. The case has multiple cavities opening forwards and downwards. Each opto-electronic device includes an optical engine module and an electrical socket. The optical engine module includes an optical engine, an optical transmission interface and an electrical transmission interface with electrical pads. The electrical socket has a plurality of terminals with one ends contacting with PCB and another opposite ends contacting with the electrical pads. Each electrical transmission interface is removeably assembled in the electrical sockets to complete electrical connection between the substrate and the mother board. The opto-electrical devices are received in the cavities in a condition that the optical transmission interfaces exposes to a front open of the case.
US08632255B2 Bearing assembly
A bearing assembly includes a first bearing comprising a first inner ring and a second bearing comprising a second inner ring. A sleeve-shaped spacer is disposed between and axially separates the first and second inner rings. An adhesive connects the spacer to the first and second inner rings.
US08632254B2 Bearing sump with bi-directional stiffness
A bearing sump includes an annular housing having a first axial length that is substantially equivalent to an axial length of the bearing sump; an annular bearing support disposed concentrically within the annular housing and having a second axial length that is less than about 50% of the first axial length; an annular space between the housing and the bearing support; and first and second axial ribs in the form of annular segments having a central angle of less than about 60 degrees and connecting with both the housing and the bearing support.
US08632246B2 Irradiation system
The present embodiments relate to a system for irradiating a patient. The system for irradiating the patient includes a horizontal guide and a vertical guide. The vertical guide is connected horizontally-adjustably to the horizontal guide. The system also includes a support element that is attached vertically-adjustably to the horizontal guide and a radiation unit including a radiation source. The radiation unit is arranged on the support element. The irradiation system may be expanded by three further degrees of freedom.
US08632243B2 Microfluidic mixing using continuous acceleration/deceleration methodology
The present invention relates to a method for microfluidic mixing in a “lab-on-a-chip” environment. The methodology focuses on constant acceleration and deceleration about a mean angular speed with a rotating disk serving as the mixing platform. The methodology results in good mixing between different fluids.
US08632242B2 Method to impregnate a porous bone replacement material
A method to impregnate a porous bone replacement material (1) with a liquid impregnating agent (5), wherein a) the bone replacement material (1) is or will be enclosed in a chamber (2) with two openings (3, 4) that can be closed, b) the impregnating agent (5) is introduced into the chamber (2) until the bone replacement material (1) is at least partly immersed in the impregnating agent (5), c) one of the two openings (3, 4) will be closed, d) the chamber (2) is evacuated at least partly via the other, open, opening (4, 3), so that the air contained in the pores of the bone replacement material (1) is at least partly removed from it, e) the vacuum produced in the chamber is terminated again by supplying air or a gas through one of the openings (3, 4), and f) the vacuum produced in the pores of the bone replacement material (1) is terminated by the impregnating agent (5) penetrating into the pores of the bone replacement material (1) immersed into the impregnating agent (5).
US08632239B2 Backlight system and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention provides a backlight system of flat panel display device, which includes a back frame and a circuit board; the back frame includes primary assembling pieces and secondary assembling pieces; the primary assembling pieces are of a number of at least two, the at least two primary assembling pieces being connected through joining; the secondary assembling pieces are arranged inside the back frame and joined to the back frame; and the circuit board is releasably mounted to the back frame. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing a backlight system of flat panel display device. Through above arrangement, the back frame mold is made simple in structure and the expenditure of the back frame mold is reduced, and the material used for back frame is saved so as to lower down the manufacturing cost of flat panel display device and also simplify removal and mounting of a circuit board.
US08632229B2 Vehicle headlamp system
A vehicle headlamp system includes a headlamp having multiple control devices and an ECU. Each of the control devices controls a light irradiation condition of the headlamp. The ECU stores vehicle constants, error code information and initialization information corresponding to different types of vehicle, and controls the control devices. When a vehicle type is changed, the ECU selects at least one of the vehicle constants corresponding to the changed vehicle type, clears the stored error code information and the initialization information after selecting the at least one of the vehicle constants, stores initialization information corresponding to the changed vehicle type, and initializes the control devices. The ECU recognizes dependencies between the control devices and, if the control devices include a first control device that is independent, executes normal control by the first control device directly after initializing the first control device.
US08632218B2 Lighting device
A lighting device is provided. The lighting device includes: a light source module mounted on a substrate; a lens unit provided on the light source module and including an accommodating groove accommodating the light source module; a housing unit accommodating the lens unit therein to protect the lens unit from an outside; a supporting unit fixed to the substrate and including a coupling hole having the housing unit coupled thereto to thereby support the housing unit; and a height adjustment unit allowing the housing unit to be vertically-movably coupled to the supporting unit and adjusting a height of the lens unit such that the height of the lens unit is varied.
US08632213B2 Lighting fixture with flow-through cooling
A lighting fixture including a housing having an inner surface and open first and second ends formed by closed-perimeter first and second edges, respectively, and defining an elongate top-to-bottom open space. The first end forms a light opening. A light-emitting arrangement is positioned in the open space. The arrangement includes (a) at least one light emitter positioned for directing light toward the light opening and (b) a heat sink connected to the light emitter(s). The heat sink preferably has a plurality of heat-dissipation surfaces extending away from the light opening. The heat sink is configured and positioned in the open space to facilitate fluid-flow therealong and through the open space.
US08632210B2 LED engine of finned boxes for heat transfer
A light emitting assembly (10) includes a heat sink (12) defined by a plurality of independent sections (14). Each section (14) includes walls (24, 26) extending transversely from the mounting surface (20) to define an open container. Light emitting diodes (52) are disposed at the bottom of each open container. Each section (14) includes first fins (32) extending outwardly from the walls (24, 26) and extending toward the first fins (32) of an adjacent section (14). In one embodiment, the sections (14) can be cantilevered to a planar surface (38) extending longitudinally across an end wall (24) of each section (14). In a second embodiment, the sections (14) can be interconnected by bridges (42) and then vertically mounted to a wall with a mounting bracket (44). The sections (14) can include second fins (34) extending from a heat transfer surface (22) facing opposite the mounting surface (20). The second fins (34) are disposed between the heat transfer surface (22) and the mounting bracket (44).
US08632207B2 LED lighting apparatus and housing
A lighting apparatus and method for making the same are presented. In some aspects the apparatus includes a plurality of LED light sources mounted to a metal circuit board in a housing of the apparatus. In other aspects a light-permissive potting compound is disposed in the space between the LEDs and circuit board and the housing of said apparatus so as to permit exit of light from said LEDs while providing mechanical protection for the circuit board and LEDs and removing heat generated from said LEDs.
US08632206B2 System of, and method for, indirect lighting
A light fixture is configured to provide indirect lighting from a light source through use of a light shield. The light shield blocks a percentage of the light emitted from the light source at a center of the light shield. The light shield decreasing blocks light emitted from the light source along a path between the center and an outer edge of the light shield.
US08632200B2 Light source device and display device
A light source device which can prevent a stress from being generated on each of circuit boards when connected through a connector and fixed to a support body through a fixture, is provided. There are provided a plurality of circuit boards 2 having a light-emitting element 1 mounted on a one surface 2a and disposed apart from each other with a planar direction aligned, a support body 6 positioned on the other surface side of the circuit boards 2 for supporting the circuit boards, and a connector 5 for electrically connecting the adjacent circuit boards 2 to each other. Inserting holes 2c and 2d for inserting a fixture 8 for fixing the circuit boards 2 to the support body 6 are formed on the circuit boards 2 apart from each other, and a dimension of the inserting hole 2c is smaller than that of the other inserting hole 2d.
US08632194B2 Device for controlling temperature of an optical element
A device serves for controlling temperature of an optical element provided in vacuum atmosphere. The device has a cooling apparatus having a radiational cooling part, arranged apart from the optical element, for cooling the optical element by radiation heat transfer. A controller serves for controlling temperature of the radiational cooling part. Further, the device comprises a heating part for heating the optical element. The heating part is connected to the controller for controlling the temperature of the heating part. The resulting device for controlling temperature in particular can be used with an optical element in a EUV microlithography tool leading to a stable performance of its optics.
US08632192B2 Image projection kit and method and system of distributing image content for use with the same
An image projection kit and an imagery content distribution system and method. In one aspect, the invention is a method of distributing projection clip files and/or displaying imagery associated with projection clip files on an architecture comprising: a) storing a plurality of projection clip files on a server that is accessible via a wide area network; b) authenticating a user's identity prior to allowing downloading of projection clip files stored on the server; c) identifying the projection clip files downloaded by the authenticated user; and d) charging the user a fee for the projection clip files downloaded by the user.
US08632179B2 Diagnostic, prescriptive, and data-gathering system and method for macular pigment deficits and other eye disorders
A macular health measurement and storage system comprises a plurality of macular-pigment measurement machine for measuring macular pigment density in humans, a plurality of computers each of which is associated with a corresponding one the macular-pigment measuring machines, and a central host. The plurality of macular-pigment measurement machines include a device for receiving macular pigment data from a patient, at least one data transfer port, and at least one processor that enables the transfer of the macular pigment data from the transfer port. The plurality of computers include a first port coupled to the data transfer port of the corresponding macular-pigment measurement machine for receiving the macular pigment data. Each of the computers includes a second port for transferring patient data. The central host is coupled to the second ports on each of the plurality of computers. The central host includes a storage device for storing the patient data.
US08632176B2 Reading glasses with a book compatible temple and hinge combination
Reading glasses are used as a book mark and are framed so that one temple is longer than the opposite temple. This offset permits one arm of the frame to be inserted into the pages of a book from above as a book mark. The elongated temple accommodates the thickness of the spine so that the lens frame sits flat against the spine. Friction between the pages of the book and the inserted arm keep the glasses in place and prevent them from being misplaced.
US08632175B2 High viscosity heat sensitive ink printing process
A high viscosity aqueous inkjet ink that is useful in ink jet printers. The ink having heat activated colorant solids that are not heat activated during the printing process, and are printed onto a substrate in the form of an image that can be transferred onto a subsequent or final substrate by applying heat and intimate contact between the two substrates. The ink can also be heat activated onto the substrate without further transfer by applying heat at the temperature that is suitable for the activation of the colorant.
US08632173B2 Manifold for a printhead
A printhead assembly is described including multiple printheads, a manifold and multiple inlet tubes. The printheads each include: a fluid inlet to receive fluid into the printhead; and a set of one or more nozzles to deposit fluid on a substrate. The manifold is connected to the printheads and includes: a fluid inlet duct configured to receive fluid for delivery to the printheads; multiple fluid inlet channels for connecting the fluid inlet duct to the printheads; and multiple fluid inlet valves configured to control a flow of fluid from the fluid inlet duct to each of the fluid inlet channels. The inlet tubes each have a proximal end integral to either the manifold or one of the printheads, and a distal end connected to either the manifold or said printhead with a single fluid-tight connection.
US08632168B2 Piezoelectric element, liquid ejecting head, liquid ejecting apparatus, and methods for the manufacture thereof
A piezoelectric element, a liquid ejecting head and a liquid ejecting apparatus that have improved reliability are provided. Methods for the manufacture thereof are also provided. A piezoelectric element includes a vibration plate having a recess in a first surface, a first electrode formed in the recess, a piezoelectric layer formed on the vibration plate and the first electrode, and a second electrode formed on the piezoelectric layer, wherein an upper surface of the first electrode forms a continuous flat surface together with the first surface.
US08632167B2 Liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting apparatus
A piezoelectric element includes a first electrode which is an individual electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and a second electrode which is a common electrode. The piezoelectric element is provided with a piezoelectric active section and a piezoelectric nonactive section so as to face the pressure generating chambers. The piezoelectric nonactive section extends to the outside of the pressure generating chambers. On the piezoelectric layer of the piezoelectric nonactive section, a stress controlling layer is provided which has the same direction of internal stress as internal stress of the second electrode and is electrically insulated from the second electrode.
US08632166B2 Printing device and method of manufacturing a light emitting device
A first pressure generating chamber, which is sealed by a first elastic plate mounted with a first piezoelectric element at one surface, and a second pressure generating chamber, which is sealed by a second elastic plate mounted with a second piezoelectric element at one surface are formed in a casing. The second pressure generating chamber is formed with an opening which is a discharge port. A mixture is discharged from the discharge port. A nozzle formed with an opening jets gas toward a substrate surface, and is provided in the vicinity of the discharge port of the ink head.
US08632165B2 Liquid-ejecting head and liquid-ejecting apparatus
A liquid-ejecting head includes a channel which is in communication with a nozzle opening and which includes a pressure-generating chamber, a circulation channel that serves to circulate a liquid in the channel, and a pressure generator that serves to generate pressure change. The circulation channel has a narrow portion including a first wall and a second wall, the first wall tilting with respect to a forward direction of a liquid flows and serving to gradually decrease the cross-sectional area, the second wall tilting with respect to the flow direction and serving to gradually increase the cross-sectional area. The tilt angle of the first wall with respect to the inner surface of the circulation channel is larger than the tilt angle of the second wall with respect to the inner surface of the circulation channel at the downstream side.
US08632163B2 Liquid ejecting head and method for manufacturing the same
A liquid ejecting head includes a liquid ejecting port for ejecting a liquid and a nozzle layer having a liquid channel communicating with the liquid ejecting port. The nozzle layer has two layers: a first layer at the side of the liquid channel having a resin film formed with an acid and a second layer. The first layer has a smaller static contact angle of water as compared with that of the second layer.
US08632159B2 Mist collection device and liquid ejection device
A mist collection device is adapted to collect a mist of liquid generated by ejecting the liquid from nozzles. A suction section of a suction container includes a suction port having an elongated shape whose length in an arrangement direction of the nozzles is greater than a width in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction. A tube section of the suction container is in communication with the suction section and having a hollow tube shape whose longitudinal direction is parallel to the arrangement direction. An outlet section of the suction container is in communication with an inside of the tube section through a discharge port formed at a lower part of the tube section. A collection container collects the mist by turning it into liquid droplets. A suction device generates an air flow flowing from the suction container to the collection container.
US08632157B2 Inkjet recording device
An inkjet recording device for ejecting ink onto a recording medium to form an image on the recording medium while a recording head is moved with relative movement to the recording medium in a direction along an upper surface of the recording medium, including: a recording head for ejecting ink onto a recording medium; a heating device for heating the recording medium; a conveyance device for conveying the recording medium having been heated by the heating device to under the recording head; and a cooling device which is provided in a state of insulation from the recording head, and has a cooling surface which is cooled to a temperature lower than a temperature of a nozzle surface of the recording head, wherein the cooling surface and the nozzle surface of the recording head are disposed along a direction of the relative movement and to face the recording medium.
US08632154B2 Ink jet recording method and recording apparatus
An ink jet recording method includes a first process in which a coloring ink is recorded on a recording medium using an ink jet head so as to form a first image, a second process in which a background ink is recorded using the ink jet head so as to form a background image that covers the first image, and a third process in which a coloring ink is recorded using the ink jet head so as to form a second image, and a drying process is included between the first process and the third process.
US08632146B2 Printing apparatus, printing method, printing control method, and computer program
A printing head configured to apply white light-blocking ink, specialty gloss ink, and color ink is controlled, and the inks are applied so that the color ink, the specialty gloss ink, and the white light-blocking ink are formed in this order onto a printing medium having light-transmissive properties. When the printing medium is viewed from the surface on which ink has not been formed, a white ink layer is formed behind the color ink layer and the metallic ink layer, and light-blocking properties can be ensured. Because the amount of the metallic ink can be reduced, adequate expression of the color ink can be ensured.
US08632142B2 Undermount-type sliding apparatus equipped with automatic closing device
A undermount-type sliding apparatus having an automatic closing device includes a movable rail provided under a receptacle and a fixed rail slidably coupled to the movable rail. A housing body is disposed on the fixed rail. A guide wall includes a curved guide portion, which has a curved shape and is spaced apart from one end of a housing space. A linear guide portion is connected to the curved guide portion. A rotary stopper is inserted into and guided by the guide wall while being caught by and released from the movable rail. An elastic member is disposed in the housing body, and is elastically coupled to the rotary stopper. In a closing operation, the rotary stopper catches the movable rail, and is thus automatically closed by elasticity. When positioned in the opening direction, the movable rail is released from the rotary stopper to enable an opening operation.
US08632126B2 Vehicle seat
A vehicle seat is provided that includes a seat back frame, a headrest, a pressure receiving member that supports the body of the occupant and moves independently from the headrest, and pivoting members that are disposed in at least one of side portions of the seat back frame, are linked to the pressure receiving member, and can move independently from the headrest under a predetermined impact load. The entirety of the pressure receiving member moves toward the rear of the vehicle under a predetermined impact load that is greater than a normal seating load.
US08632125B2 Headrest device, method of adjusting headrest position, and vehicle seat
There is provided a headrest device including: a headrest main body that is provided at an upper end portion of a seat back of a seat in which a passenger sits; a pressure/flexure detecting section that is provided at a vehicle front side of the seat back; a headrest moving section; and a control section that estimates a current back-set, that is a distance between a head portion of a passenger and the headrest main body in a horizontal direction, on the basis of at least one of pressure and flexure detected by the pressure/flexure detecting section and a predetermined relationship between back-set and the at least one of pressure and flexure, and controls the headrest moving section to move the headrest main body such that the back-set becomes a predetermined amount.
US08632120B2 Universal latch mechanism
A latch mechanism for removably coupling at least one transparent armor assembly being in a vehicle window sill, the at least one transparent armor assembly including a frame that supports at least one transparent armor pane, the latch mechanism includes a latch mechanism assembly, the latch mechanism assembly being selectively operable by a vehicle occupant for effecting release of the at least one transparent armor assembly, such release permitting shifting of the at least one transparent armor assembly from the vehicle window frame to define an egress portal and the latch mechanism having an engaging member for selectively engaging the vehicle window frame, latch mechanism assembly being shiftable relative to the transparent armor assembly frame for accommodating a plurality of varying transparent armor assembly to vehicle window frame relationships. A method for removably coupling at least one transparent armor assembly to a vehicle window sill is further included.
US08632119B2 Fold out camping trailer
Disclosed is a fold out camping trailer which is generally in a tear drop shape, and which expands from a towing or storage configuration into a sleeping or camping configuration. The camping trailer is split into two sections, and the two sections pull apart to extend and provide sleeping space. The frame to which the two sections are attached has a telescoping portion which allows the two body sections to expand.
US08632114B2 Composite tonneau cover of pick-up truck
A composite tonneau cover of a pick-up truck is disclosed. The composite tonneau cover has at least one frame section and is releasably secured on a side wall of a cargo bed of the pick-up truck. Each of the frame section comprises: a flexible cover material; a rigid metal panel covered by the flexible cover material and having at least two end edges; and a plurality of outer rails covered by the flexible cover material. Each of the outer rails has an inner side formed with an installation groove, and each of the end edges of the rigid metal panel is inserted into the installation groove of one of the outer rails. Thus, the composite tonneau cover can provide dual advantages of hard-top type tonneau cover and soft-top type tonneau cover.
US08632111B2 Apparatus and method for facilitating handling pipe
An apparatus for handling a pipe having a body, the body defining an open throat that is adapted to receive a pipe, a plurality of jaws hingedly mounted to the body that are adapted to engage a pipe while preventing the pipe from engaging the body, each of the jaws defining a concave portion that is adapted to engage the pipe, the apparatus further including respective over-center mechanisms that are arranged between and operatively coupled to the body and each one of the plurality of jaws, each respective over-center mechanism being adapted to inhibit a respective one of the plurality of jaws from closing when jaws are open and to inhibit a respective one of the plurality of jaws from opening and disengaging from a pipe when the jaws are closed on the pipe.
US08632110B2 Gripping device
The invention relates to a gripping device for picking up and transporting a product. An elastic belt that is provided on the gripping device lies against a surface section of the product when the product is picked up by the gripping device. The elastic belt can thereby be pressed against the surface section of the product by at least one spring element in order to hold the product securely in the gripping device during transport.
US08632101B2 Method for securing a coloured opaque object
The invention relates to a method for securing a colored or uncoloured translucent or opaque object (1), in which a sticker (2) is affixed to the back of the object (1), said sticker comprising: a substrate including a watermark or pseudo-watermark (4) which is sufficiently transparent to allow the object (1) to be seen through the watermark or pseudo-watermark (4); and a luminescent agent which is positioned at least partially over the watermark or pseudo-watermark (4) between the watermark or pseudo-watermark (4) and the object (1).
US08632100B2 Security element
The present invention relates to a security element (16) for security papers, value documents and the like, having a microoptical moiré-type magnification arrangement for depicting a moiré image (84) having one or more moiré image elements (86), having a motif image that includes a periodic or at least locally periodic arrangement of a plurality of lattice cells (24) having micromotif image portions (28, 28′, 28″), for the moiré-magnified viewing of the motif image, a focusing element grid (22) that is arranged spaced apart from the motif image and that includes a periodic or at least locally periodic arrangement of a plurality of lattice cells having one microfocusing element (22) each, wherein, taken together, the micromotif image portions (28, 28′, 28″) of multiple spaced-apart lattice cells (24) of the motif image each form one micromotif element (50) that corresponds to one of the moiré image elements (86) of the magnified moiré image (84) and whose dimension is larger than one lattice cell (24) of the motif image.
US08632098B2 Improvements relating to steering assemblies
An adjustable steering column assembly includes a first shroud portion comprising an outer tube, a second shroud portion which comprises an inner tube, and a clamp mechanism that includes a part that is fixed relative to the outer tube, the first and second shroud portions being releasably engaged by the clamp mechanism to selectively permit an amount of relative movement between the first and second shroud portions that is required during adjustment of the steering column assembly, the assembly further including an energy absorbing member which includes a strap that interconnects the inner tube and the part of the clamp bolt assembly, the assembly being so arranged that upon collapse the inner tube moves relative to the clamp assembly whereupon the energy absorbing member is deformed beyond its elastic limit, thereby absorbing energy in the system to control the collapse of the assembly.
US08632079B2 Snowskate and a tip for a snowskate
A snowskate, comprising: an upper deck having a first tip at one end of the snowskate, the upper deck having an upper surface for supporting a user while riding the snowskate; a lower deck having a second tip at the one end, the lower deck having a lower surface for contacting snow upon which the snowskate is ridden by the user; and, one or more trucks for mounting the upper deck above the lower deck; wherein the second tip extends above the first tip at the one end to thereby reduce the snow from gathering between the upper and lower decks when the snowskate is ridden in the direction of the one end.
US08632072B2 Puzzle with polycubes of distributed and low complexity for building cube and other shapes
An assembly puzzle comprising different polycubes that can be arranged to form a cube comprising sixty-four unit cubes. Included in the puzzle are polycubes of a sufficiently distributed complexity to allow meaningful hints to be given without actually providing a solution. Furthermore, the polycubes can be arranged in different configurations to build a wide variety of shapes other than a cube.
US08632069B2 Image forming device with recarrying path
An image forming device, comprising: a main body; an image formation unit; and a re-carrying path along which a sheet-like medium on which the image has been formed is carried again to the image formation unit. In this configuration, the re-carrying path comprises: a first path formed to extend downward; a bending part formed to bend from a lower end of the first path toward an upstream side of the image formation unit; and a second path formed to extend from the bending part toward the upstream side of the image formation unit. A pair of re-carrying rollers which carry the sheet-like medium are provided on the second path. A recessed part formed to be recessed downward with respect to a common tangential line of the pair of re-carrying rollers is provided on the second path between the bending part and the pair of re-carrying rollers.
US08632067B2 Post-processing device and image forming apparatus
A post-processing device includes a transport section transporting a sheet transported at a predetermined speed from an upstream side toward a downstream side; a load section on which the transported sheet is loaded; an aligner aligning the loaded sheet; an alignment controller performing control such that the aligner performs the alignment process on the sheet transported from the transport section to the load section for every predetermined number of sheets; and a transport controller controlling the transport section by causing the transport section to transport the sheet at a reduced speed for the every predetermined number of sheets so that the sheet transported at the reduced speed reaches the load section after the aligner completes the sheet alignment process that is performed on a previous sheet transported immediately prior to the sheet after the previous sheet is loaded on the load section.
US08632066B2 Paper sheet cassette and image forming device
A paper sheet cassette includes a paper sheet containing part for loading and containing paper sheets, a pair of side edge positioning members provided so as to move toward or away from each other in a width direction of the paper sheets for determining a position of the paper sheets in their width direction, an interlock mechanism for synchronously moving the pair of side edge positioning members toward or away from each other, a latch member which is movable along with a first member of the pair of side edge positioning members and is provided with a lock tooth portion formed thereon, and a lock member which has a latch claw which can be brought into or out of engagement with the lock tooth portion and is movable along with a second member of the pair of side edge positioning members.
US08632064B2 Positioning apparatus with lockable joints and method of use
A positioning system having a base, a manually movable end effector and a first joint interposed between the base and the end effector is disclosed. The first joint may comprise a proximal portion and a distal portion coupled together by magnetic attraction and configured to be intermittently separated by a pressurized gas cushion. The first joint may be configured to be changeable between a movable state and a fixed state. In the movable state, the proximal and distal portions are separated by the pressurized gas cushion and are movable relative to each other. In the fixed state, the proximal and distal portions contact each other and relative movement is thereby impeded.Methods of precisely positioning an end effector may include providing a device having a base, a first joint located distally from the base, and an end effector located distally from the first joint. The first joint may have two portions separated by a gas cushion, the first joint allowing the end effector to be movable with respect to the base. The method may further comprise manually positioning the end effector, and removing the gas cushion to cause the two joint portions to contact each other, thereby locking the end effector in the precise location in which it was positioned.
US08632055B2 Combined car jack and lug wrench assembly
A combined car jack and lug wrench assembly is provided that includes a driving lever configured to be used both to engage a driving head for operating a hydraulic system of the car jack and to be used as a spanner of a lug wrench assembly. The assembly can include a car jack body, a socket storage assembly disposed on the body for housing wrench sockets, and a lever storage assembly disposed on a sidewall of the body configured to secure the driving lever along a sidewall of the body, when not in use.
US08632050B2 Electromagnetic actuating unit
An electromagnetic actuating unit for a hydraulic valve with a housing and a closure element. The housing at least partially delimits the electromagnetic actuating unit in relation to the surroundings. The closure element is arranged within an introductory opening of the housing. A sealing-means receptacle is formed on a boundary surface between the housing and the closure element. Furthermore, at least one first channel leads into the sealing-means receptacle and is open towards the surroundings of the actuating unit. A sealing element, which is arranged in the sealing-means receptacle is placed into the sealing-means receptacle via the first channel.
US08632043B2 Seat shell with integrally formed latch handle holder and fore-aft position adjustment assembly
A fore-aft adjustable vehicle seat formed of a plastic seat shell having an integrally formed latch handle recess molded into the shell that pivotally receives and retains a latch having a handle at one end and that is disposed in pivotal engagement with the shell at its opposite end. The latch is provided by an elongate bar that is spring biased outwardly into a slide plate engaging position that opposes fore-aft seat movement. A preferred latch handle recess includes a recessed latch seating channel integrally molded into the shell in communication with a latch receiver pocket integrally molded into the shell in which one end of the latch bar is pivotally received with engagement between the latch bar and shell defining a pivot about which the latch is biased by a coil spring outwardly toward a seat position adjustment opposing position where the latch bar releasably engages the slide plate.
US08632041B2 Portable cradle
A cradle for a portable terminal is disclosed. The cradle may include a bottom portion, a first support portion, and a second support portion. The bottom portion may have a frictional surface on top and bottom surfaces thereof. The first support portion may be located at one side end of the bottom portion and may face the bottom portion. The first support portion may have resilience for deformation and can support a portable terminal. The bottom portion, the first support portion, and the second support portion can support the cradled portable terminal.
US08632032B2 Inverted airfoil pylon for an aircraft
An aircraft including a wing and a pylon, wherein the pylon provides an airfoil inverted for an airfoil of the wing, and an improvement and method for improved flight dynamics for 20 and 30 Series LEARJET® is provided. The improvement includes an increased distance between a leading edge of a wing and an intake of an engine of the aircraft, which reduces drag and increases lift for improved flight dynamics of the aircraft. The inverted airfoil of the pylon negates an influence of the pylon on flight dynamics for improved overall flight dynamics of the aircraft. The method includes steps of removing an original engine from an original pylon, removing the original pylon from the fuselage of the aircraft, and mounting a new pylon in a new location adjacent to the fuselage, wherein the new location is aft of the original location.
US08632031B2 Systems and methods for attenuation of noise and wakes produced by aircraft
Systems and methods for reducing the trailing vortices and lowering the noise produced by the side edges of aircraft flight control surfaces, tips of wings and winglets, and tips of rotor blades. A noise-reducing, wake-alleviating device is disclosed which incorporates an actuator and one or more air-ejecting slot-shaped openings coupled to that actuator and located on the upper and/or lower surfaces and/or the side edges of an aircraft flight control surface or the tip of a wing, winglet or blade. The actuation mechanism produces sets of small and fast-moving air jets that traverse the openings in the general streamwise direction. The actuation destabilizes the flap vortex structure, resulting in reduced intensity of trailing vortices and lower airplane noise.
US08632030B2 Sensing retracting leading edge in automatic towel dispenser
Dispensing towels includes, using a motor assembly configured to cause a leading edge of the toweling to be extended from a housing of the dispenser and to cause the toweling to be subsequently retracted back into the housing, (a) the step of extending the toweling exterior of the housing for grasping by a user; and (b) subsequent thereto, the steps of (1) retracting the toweling into the housing the motor assembly; (2) sensing a leading edge of the toweling, using a sensor, while retracting the toweling; and (3) ceasing retracting of the toweling into the housing the motor assembly as a function of sensing the leading edge of the toweling using the sensor. The toweling is advanced by the motor assembly such that a line of perforations in the toweling, along which the user tears the toweling, is located downstream of the sensor.
US08632022B2 Spray guide
A spray guide is disclosed herein for implementation a spray assembly comprising a spray wand and a spray nozzle. The spray guide includes an arm having a first end and a second end. A mechanism is used for removably attaching the first end of the arm to the swivel angle head, so that the arm will extend over the swivel angle head and the spray nozzle. A wheel is also provided. Another mechanism is provided for rotatably connecting the wheel to the second end of the arm. When an edge of the wheel is placed in a corner joint between a wall and a ceiling and the spray want manually moved therealong, the wheel will rotate in the corner joint to allow paint to be evenly sprayed from the spray nozzle onto an area of the wall adjacent to the ceiling. Also disclosed herein is a spray nozzle assembly for use with a handheld sprayer. Further, a spray guide designed for minimizing overspray is also disclosed herein.
US08632019B2 Automatic flow regulation sprinkler for gardening
An automatic flow regulation sprinkler for gardening includes a base having a linking first water way and second water way on opposite sides thereof. Two outer ends of a transverse axle tube communicates the first water way and the second water way respectively. The transverse axle tube has at least one water outlet. A mobile tube has a front water way, water outlet, and an outer transverse water way communicating the front water way. The outer transverse water way pivoted to the transverse axle tube so as to rotate freely. The outer transverse water way has a regulating portion arranged around the transverse axle tube so as to block the water outlet of the transverse axle tube. Therefore, water flow can be regulated based on the angle of elevation of the mobile tube.
US08632001B1 Method of transmitting electronic signature during a financial transaction
A system operates to carry out financial transfers in response to data read from data bearing records. A cell phone having a camera stores in memory indicia corresponding to account data from a plurality of magnetic stripe cards. A user can operate the phone to select one of the accounts stored in the memory. The memory further includes a scanned user-identifying written signature. The user can use the phone during an item purchase to wirelessly transmit each of an item's identifier captured by the camera, selected account data, and the user signature.
US08631995B2 Method and device for mirrors position adjustment of a solar concentrator
The present invention consists of developing a technology with different processes to realize an optimal solar approach using a solar concentrator where distance screws are used that, when moving, allow the positioning of the mirrors whereby the reflected solar beam is directed to a focal point; the advantage of these processes is that each movement of the screws involves adjusting the position of all the neighboring mirrors, which allow a perfect alignment and adjustment of the mirrors.
US08631985B2 Respiratory face mask dispensed from continuous roll and method for making the same
A respirator mask dispensing system is provided. It includes a carrier material and a plurality of respirator masks mounted in parallel on the carrier material by an adhesive. The carrier material is deformed between adjacent ones of the plurality of respirator masks, the deformation being configured to assist in the tearing of the carrier material at points of deformation. The carrier material with the plurality of respirator masks as mounted therein is wound on the central core member to provide a continuous roll The adhesive bonds more strongly with the respirator masks than the carrier material such that when an individual respirator mask is removed from the carrier material the adhesive will separate from the carrier material and remain attached to the individual respirator mask.
US08631979B1 Clothes hanger
The clothes hanger includes a “U” shaped member that rotates along a horizontal axis with respect to an outer hanger member. The outer hanger member includes the hanger hook atop of which to enable the clothes hanger to hang from a hanger rod. The clothes hanger is adapted to enable a plurality of lingerie items or other small items from a single clothes hanger. The “U” shaped member is comprised of two vertical members that attach to the outer hanger bracket, and a horizontal member. The vertical members each include a plurality of hook members that are rotatable engaged thereon, and which rotate about a vertical axis to enable an end user to hook various items on the plurality of the hook members. The “U” shaped member is able to rotate with respect to the outer hanger bracket along a horizontal axis.
US08631977B2 Closure for a container
The present invention relates to a closure for a container, in particular for a fluid product, with a first part having an outlet opening, and with a second part having a carrier section, which carries a closing surface, wherein said first part and said second part are arranged movably against each other at least between a first position and a second position, and wherein, in said first position, said outlet opening is closed by said closing surface, while, in said second position, the outlet opening is open, wherein the first part confines a first cavity, through which the product can be transferred out of the container to the outlet opening and said carrier section, in said second position, is arranged at least partially within said first cavity. The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing said closure.
US08631970B2 Multi-chamber material dispensing system and method for making same
Material dispensing systems and methods for make such systems are described. The material dispensing systems employ a collapsible container having at least two distinct chambers, and is at least partially surrounded by an elastically deformable band. The band stretches as the container is filled with a flowable composition, thereby creating potential energy which can then be used to dispense the composition in lieu of a propellant and/or pressurized container.
US08631963B2 Side action insert/skeletal stiffening ribs
A container comprising a finish, a sidewall portion extending from the finish, a base portion extending from the sidewall portion and enclosing the sidewall portion to form a volume therein for retaining a commodity, and an outwardly directed rib member.
US08631951B1 Corncob holder field
The corncob holder field is a set including a plurality of corncob holders, and a device resembling rows of cornstalks. The corncob holders resemble mini ears of corn and each include a pair of pins used to pierce each end of an ear of corn in order to hold the ear when consuming. The pins of the corncob holders are inserted into pin holes located on the cornstalks so as to provide a means of storage when not in use. Each cornstalk located on the device can store a pair of corncob holders, and when storing said corncob holders shall resemble a cornstalk in which ears of corn are sprouting there from.
US08631950B2 Test tube management device
A sample tube holder (10) having a generally flat elongate flexible body (12) and one or more of sets of non circular apertures (16) each having a length dimension and a width dimension perpendicular to the length dimension, in the body, each set having two or more apertures (16) arranged in a line such that each set of apertures defines at least one inner portion (30) between adjacent apertures (16) of the set and at least one outer portion (32) adjacent each aperture at the end of the line extending away from the respective inner portion.
US08631946B2 Composite semipermeable membrane and method for producing same
A composite semipermeable membrane comprising a porous support membrane on which a separating functional polyamide layer resulting from the polycondensation reaction of polyfunctional aromatic amines with polyfunctional acid halides is formed, wherein the separating functional polyamide layer has carboxy groups, amino groups, phenolic hydroxyl groups, and azo groups, wherein XA, the ratio of the amino groups (molar equivalent of the amino groups/(molar equivalent of the azo groups+molar equivalent of the phenolic hydroxyl groups+molar equivalent of the amino groups)) on a feed water contact surface of the separating functional polyamide layer (an A surface), is in the range 0.5 or less, and XB, the ratio of the amino groups (molar equivalent of the amino groups/(molar equivalent of the azo groups+molar equivalent of the phenolic hydroxyl groups+molar equivalent of the amino groups)) on a permeate-side surface of the separating functional polyamide layer (a B surface), i.e., the opposite side to the A surface, is in the range of 0.5 to 1. The present invention provides a composite semipermeable membrane that achieves a balance between high solute removal properties and a high permeate flow rate and has high organic-solvent resistance, and a method for producing same.
US08631940B2 Plastic dumpster
A unitary plastic container, which is optionally used for waste collection comprises a base, a front wall, a back wall and two opposing side walls, each wall extending upwardly from the base to define an open container top and an interior container volume. Each side wall has an outwardly extending sidewall portion which is outwardly offset relative to the rest of the container side wall. In each outwardly extending sidewall portion, an elongated cutout, indentation or channel is present. The elongated channel has a forward opening, a rearward opening and an elongated side opening extending from the forward opening to the rearward opening. The elongated channel lies within the interior container volume and divides the outwardly extending sidewall portion into two areas: an upper outwardly extending sidewall portion and a lower outwardly extending portion. The outwardly open elongate channel may be fitted with a reinforcing sleeve.
US08631939B2 Package for consumer product
A package comprising an externally visible face. The externally visible face comprises indicia, the indicia having disposed thereon a relatively glossy or shiny coating. The externally visible face is embossed in a portion corresponding to the indicia. The externally visible face comprises an additional coating surrounding the indicia, the additional coating being relatively non-glossy. The indicia is non-alphanumeric.
US08631933B2 Bottle cap
A bottle cap containing different kinds of materials is coupled with a container inside an exterior material. The container is divided into a sealing portion coupled with a bottle neck and an operation part coupled with the exterior material. When the exterior material constituting the bottle cap is coupled with the bottle neck, the bottle cap is perpendicularly coupled to the bottle neck together with the container. Also, the side portion of the exterior material is sealed with a series of mechanical device along a screw thread or screw groove after the bottle cap is coupled with the bottle neck. When the exterior material is raised along the bottle neck by opening the bottle cap, materials stored in an inner storage space of the container fall into and are mixed inside the bottle.
US08631922B2 System, apparatus, and method for object edge detection
A system, apparatus, and method for detecting overlapped items in a sequence of items moving along a conveying path based on rigidity and thickness contour measurements.
US08631916B2 Apparatus for the parking lock of an agricultural vehicle
An apparatus for the parking lock of a vehicle, in particular, of an agricultural tractor. The apparatus comprises a parking lever mechanically linked to a braking lever by a cinematic chain. The braking lever comprises a tooth apt to engage at least a braking element vehicle. The braking lever is provided with a yielding device placed in correspondence to its own hinge. The yielding device is able to ease the engagement of the tooth with a gap comprised between two teeth of a driveline gear in order to guarantee a reliable parking lock of the vehicle.
US08631911B2 Retaining plate for the hand brake lever of a drum brake during initial assembly for generating a lasting initial tension of the Bowden cable
A drum brake for motor vehicles is described, comprising a hydraulically actuable service brake and a parking brake that is actuable mechanically by means of a Bowden cable, wherein a lasting initial tension of the Bowden cable is to be ensured. For the initial assembly, a retaining plate interlocks the hand brake lever with the web plate of the secondary shoe against the force of the resetting spring. After assembly of the Bowden cable and adjustment of the initial tension of the hand brake cable the interlock is cancelled by pulling powerfully on the hand brake stem. If over the years the hand brake cable stretches, a design-determined initial tension is constantly maintained by the continuous force of the resetting spring.
US08631892B2 Load and/or transport cart
A load and transport cart includes, under a loading platform, a triangular steering plate and, therebelow, a front part of a footboard, wherein the steering plate has a bore, an annular-segment shaped groove, an elongated hole and two opposing first ball heads. The first ball heads each lie in an articulated manner in a respective bearing at one end of a respective steering lever and, at the other end of each lever is a bearing for a respective further ball head of a respective triangular swinging fork on a stub axle of which a respective front wheel is rotatably mounted, wherein each of the swinging forks is rotatably mounted on the loading platform via pivot pins, and wherein the steering axis is located in front of an imaginary axis and can be deflected to the left or right by the steering angle of 45°.
US08631890B2 Electric construction machine
The object of the present invention is to provide an electric construction machine capable of efficiently cooling the battery mounted on the swing structure. To achieve the object, there is provided an electric construction machine in which a battery storage room 11 is formed in the swing structure 3 and a plurality of batteries 231 as electric power sources are arranged in the battery storage room 11, comprising: a battery storage structure 23 storing the batteries 231 and having an air flow channel through which air can flow upward from a lower part of the battery storage structure 23; a covering sheet 26 entirely covering the top and side faces of the battery storage structure 23; and a duct 27 for discharging the air, one end of which is arranged in an upper part of the covering sheet 26.
US08631870B2 Snubbing tubulars from a SAGD well
For SAGD operations, an apparatus and method of stripping and cooling tubing is provided by a cooling chamber where tubing and associated equipment can be safely exposed to a coolant fluid before significant handling. A telescoping chamber with a work window permits cables to be detached from tubing during stripping. Coolant may be Nitrogen or similarly inert fluid.
US08631867B2 Methods for cooling measuring devices in high temperature wells
A method for monitoring a fracturing operation in a target well comprising extending a seismic sensor in a tubing string to a first position in an well offset from the target well. A coolant fluid is circulated through the tubing string for a predetermined time. The tubing string is retracted to a second uphole position such that the cooled seismic sensor is exposed in the offset wellbore. A seismic signal emitted during the fracturing operation of the target well is sensed in the offset well.
US08631866B2 Leak detection in circulated fluid systems for heating subsurface formations
A method of treating a subsurface formation includes circulating at least one molten salt through at least one conduit of a conduit-in-conduit heater located in the formation to heat hydrocarbons in the formation to at least a mobilization temperature of the hydrocarbons. At least some of the hydrocarbons are produced from the formation. An electrical resistance of at least one of the conduits of the conduit-in-conduit heater is assessed to assess a presence of a leak in at least one of the conduits.
US08631864B2 Durability of downhole tools
An apparatus for downhole operation. The apparatus comprising a support body having a surface located in a borehole and a coating on an at least a portion of the surface of the support body. The coating is an inert material selected for reducing friction and corrosion.
US08631849B2 Transfer tool
A transfer tool A in the present preferred embodiment is provided with a refill 3 including a reel section 31 for holding a transfer tape T therein, a transfer head 35 capable of transferring a transferring material attached to the transfer tape T onto a transfer target, and a support plate 34 having the reel section 31 fixed thereto and being integrated with a base end 351 of the transfer head 35, wherein a engaging section 5 capable of prohibiting a relative turn between the base end 351 and each of a first case member 1 and a second case member 2 is provided between the base end 351 and each of the first case member 1 and the second case member 2.
US08631848B2 Apparatus and method for producing waterproof structural corrugated paperboard
Two paper webs saturated with an A-phase phenolic resins and dried to a B-phase are conveyed through separate low melting point metal alloy baths, one web after being corrugated, to convert the resin to a fully cured C-phase, whereafter the webs are joined to form a waterproof single face corrugated web.
US08631847B2 Pneumatic tire
Protruding ridges on a surface of a side wall portion extending in a tire radial direction for a predetermined range in the tire radial direction and being provided in a plurality in a row arrangement in a tire circumferential direction, wherein the ridges are formed continuously in the predetermined range from a first edge in the tire radial direction to a second edge; and characters are formed by the ridges including reference parts provided on a reference line that connects the first edge in the tire radial direction to the second edge, and curved parts that depart from and return to the reference line by bending or curving.
US08631845B2 Motorcycle tire for running on rough terrain
A motorcycle tire for running on rough terrain comprises a tread portion provided with a plurality of blocks including a cut block. The cut block is provided with a U-shaped cut so as to define a sub part of the cut block surrounded by the cut and a main part of the cut block outside the cut. The top surface of the sub part and the top surface of the main part are displaced from each other in a normal direction to the tread surface, and an exposed outside wall surface of the sub part and an exposed outside wall surface of the main part are displaced from each other in a lateral direction parallel with the tread surface, wherein the exposed outside wall surface of the sub part is defined as extending radially inwardly from the edge of the top surface of the sub part, and the exposed outside wall surface of the main part is defined as extending radially inwardly from the edge of the top surface of the main part and positioned on each side of the exposed outside wall surface of the sub part.
US08631844B2 Variable compliance wheel
A system for adjusting the compliance of a wheel is provided. In one embodiment, wheel segments are adjusted, causing the stiffness of the wheel to change. Such adjustments can be made while the wheel is rotating, allowing the wheel compliance to be changed while a vehicle is in motion.
US08631839B2 Apparatus for bottling multi-component beverages
An apparatus for filling liquids and in particular beverages into containers, including a filling device for filling the liquid into the containers, including a liquid line which supplies the liquid to the filling device, wherein the liquid in the liquid line flows in a first flow direction and wherein a flow measuring device is disposed in the liquid line, which flow measuring device determines the quantity of the liquid passing through the flow measuring device in the first flow direction. According to the invention, the flow measuring device is designed in such a way that it also determines the quantity of the liquid passing through the flow metering device in a second flow direction which is opposite to the first flow direction.
US08631834B2 Spin improvement string tool
The spin improvement string pliers is a pivotally secured together plier device used to manually restructure and roughen the surface of a synthetic or a polyester string on a strung tennis racquet by means of plastic deformation. The line grids on the pliers depress the string, leaving a series of indentations on the string surface that increases the friction between the string and the ball so that the tennis player can more easily generate top or under spin on a tennis ball.
US08631830B2 Semi-disposable pre-conditioned air supply hose conduit and connectors for attaching end portions of the same
A tubular fluid conduit which is especially adapted for use in supplying pre-conditioned air to an aircraft being serviced, wherein the tubular conduit may be fabricated as a thermoplastic extrusion having a constant diameter dimension, whereby a first end portion may be fluidically connected to a large diameter supply conduit while a second end portion may be fluidically connected to a small diameter use conduit as a result of spiral wrapping the second end portion around the use conduit. Alternatively, the tubular conduit may be fabricated as a thermoplastic extrusion having repetitive sections with each section comprising relatively large diameter and relatively small diameter portions.
US08631827B2 Fluid flow control device
A fluid flow control device that controls a flow of fluid within the flow control device has a flow path to convey the fluid. A cross-sectional area of the flow path varies along the flow path. At least a portion of the length of the fluid flow control device includes an active surface capable of influencing the fluid flow through the flow path to cause vortical motion of the fluid within the fluid pathway.
US08631818B2 Vertical float valve assembly
A vertical float valve for use in a fluid reservoir. The vertical float valve able to open and closed based upon the level of fluid within the fluid reservoir. The vertical float valve having a body portion. The body portion attached to a float portion via a four bar (4-bar) linkage.
US08631805B2 Method for making up the nails and article for the implementation of the method
The invention relates to a method for making up the nails which consists in adhesively bonding, to the nail, an article comprising a prethermoformed backing composed of at least one first noncrystalline thermoplastic material having a softening temperature T3I and at least one second noncrystalline thermoplastic material not having a softening temperature of less than or equal to TSi, and then heating the article applied to the nail so as to soften the said at least one first noncrystalline thermoplastic material for the purpose of completing the matching of the article to the profile of the nail.
US08631793B2 Nasal respiratory mask system and connection/disconnection means used therein
The present invention relates to a nasal respiratory mask system comprising: a nasal mask that is tightly attached to the face of a user and serves as means for leading positive-pressure breathing gas to the nose of the user, a frame to keep the nasal mask at a predetermined position, and a headgear that is mounted on the head in order to attach the nasal mask tightly to the face; wherein, the headgear comprises, on the tip thereof, a headgear strap for adjusting the length of the headgear, the headgear strap comprises a headgear fastener that serves as means for connection/disconnection with the frame, the frame comprises a fastener catch that engages with the headgear fastener, and the fastener catch comprises an axisymmetric guide whose (rotation) axis is the insertion direction of the headgear fastener. The present invention provides a nasal respiratory mask system with which a headgear can be easily connected at the beginning of wearing, twisting of the headgear during wearing is prevented, and disassembly upon daily washing is easy.
US08631792B2 Cushion for a patient interface
A respiratory mask is provided having an outer shell coupled to a cushion for the delivery of a gas to a user. The cushion of the respiratory mask has at least one pleat disposed in the cushion in order to provide varying degrees of flexibility and support about the cushion.
US08631780B2 Balancing arrangement for minimizing bending stress in a power cutter arm
A power cutter powered by a single cylinder internal combustion engine, the power cutter including: a tool unit having at least one tool, which can be rotated about an axis of rotation; a drive unit including an engine, the engine including an engine cylinder having a cylinder bore centerline, a piston, a crankshaft with a crankshaft axis of rotation and a flywheel, the crankshaft running in a counter clockwise direction as seen towards the flywheel; a cutter arm attached to the drive unit in its inner end and its outer end carrying the tool unit, a centerline of the cutter arm essentially follows a connection line between the axis of rotation of the tool and the axis of rotation of the crankshaft.
US08631773B2 Valve timing adjuster
A valve timing adjuster for an internal combustion engine adjusts valve timing. The valve timing adjuster includes a housing, a vane rotor, a regulation device, a fluid route, and an opening/closing control device. The regulation device regulates a rotational phase of the vane rotor relative to the housing to a regulation position located between a full advance position and a full retard position. The fluid route is communicated with a specific chamber that is at least one of an advance chamber and a retard chamber. The fluid route extends via a radially inner part to be communicated with atmosphere. The radially inner part is located radially between the specific chamber and a rotation center. The opening/closing control device opens and closes the fluid route.
US08631770B2 Mitigating the effect of siloxanes on internal combustion engines using landfill gasses
A waste gas combustion method that includes providing a combustible fuel source, in which the combustible fuel source is composed of at least methane and siloxane gas. A sodium source or magnesium source is mixed with the combustible fuel source. Combustion of the siloxane gas of the combustible fuel source produces a silicon containing product. The sodium source or magnesium source reacts with the silicon containing product to provide a sodium containing glass or sodium containing silicate, or a magnesium containing silicate. By producing the sodium containing glass or sodium containing silicate, or the magnesium containing silicate, or magnesium source for precipitating particulate silica instead of hard coating, the method may reduce or eliminate the formation of silica deposits within the combustion chamber and the exhaust components of the internal combustion engine.
US08631766B2 Horseback riding animal cradle
Disclosed is a horseback riding animal and article carrier attachable to a horse saddle. The device comprises a housing having upstanding sidewalls, a plurality of securement straps and an elastic contact pad. The housing is an open enclosure having upstanding sidewalls, a base and an open upper to support a pet or a plurality of personal items therein. Along the underside of the base and extended along a forward side of the housing is a contact pad that bears against a horse croup and the backside of a horse saddle cantle. An upstanding, horizontal and diagonal strap are provided along the sides of the housing connect to a saddle strap connectable to a saddle girth along both sides of the horse. The straps are length adjustable to tension the straps and draw the housing toward the horse and the saddle during use.
US08631763B2 Pet feeding dish and system
A pet feeding system that includes a dish assembly configured to regulate intake of food by a pet, such as a cat. The dish assembly includes a housing and a cooperating food-dispensing receptacle that dispenses food into a food-receiving chamber within the housing permitting a pet to access food in the chamber through at least one feeder port that only permits a paw of the pet to reach within the housing to get some food, while preventing direct access to the food by the head or muzzle of the pet. A lip can be provided adjacent the feeder port that provides an obstacle to free withdrawal of the food out of the feeder port.
US08631747B2 Height adjustment device for imaging apparatus
A height adjustment device for an imaging apparatus includes a driving shaft, first and second moving bodies and a driving device. The driving shaft is configured to rotate in a main body of an imaging apparatus. The driving shaft has first and second spiral grooves defined on a peripheral surface thereof such that the first spiral groove has a first pitch along the driving shaft and a second spiral groove has a second pitch different from the first pitch along the driving shaft. The first moving body has a screw thread engaged with the first spiral groove of the driving shaft. The second moving body has a screw thread engaged with the second spiral groove of the driving shaft The driving device rotates the driving shaft.
US08631742B2 Method for operating presses
In a working method using a device for operating presses including a ram and a die, such as forming presses or cutting presses, for example multiple-die presses for large workpieces, transfer presses, multi-ram transfer presses, such forming presses or cutting presses also being arranged in press lines, smaller ram strokes result in optimized freedom of motion of the press, in place of the existing large freedom of motion, the acceleration and speed of the ram are at most maintained, or reduced, while parts output is increased, and smaller paths are made possible due to dynamic ram stroke and transfer movements. To this end, the work process of the ram stroke of presses is controlled according to a curve that follows the function f(x)=a(0)/2+a(1)*cos(1*x) +...+.
US08631735B2 Pneumatic booster
There is provided a pneumatic booster, comprising: a front shell; a rear shell; a housing formed as that respective openings of the front shell and the rear shell are integrally connected to each other, and a power piston arranged in the housing so as to divide an interior of the housing into a constant-pressure chamber on the front shell side and a working-pressure chamber on the rear shell side, wherein thrust force of the power piston generated by pressure difference between the constant-pressure chamber and the working-pressure chamber is applied to inputted force transmitted from a brake pedal to an input rod so as to obtain combined force, the combined force being outputted with a given boost ratio from an output rod, and wherein a thickness of the front shell is made to be thinner than a thickness of the rear shell.
US08631730B2 Apparatus for cutting and ejecting noodles, and noodle scraper
A noodle scraper including a plate body having a bent section extending along a longitudinal direction; a plurality of first scraping tines having a longest tine-length; and a plurality of second scraping tines having a tine-length which is shorter than that of the first scraping tine, wherein the plurality of first and second scraping tines are alternately provided at one of the long sides of the plate body in a comb form; the second scraping tine including a tine-base or tine-middle section; and the tine-base or tine-middle section is formed in a folded or curved shape, a tine-edge section of the first or second scraping tine including a face that is sloped in a vertical cross-section orthogonal to a direction in which the tine-edge section extends.
US08631728B2 Radial centering surface of a stator core
A method for manufacturing a radial centering surface on an outer circumference of an annular laminated core of a stator comprises the steps of forming a stator with a hollow cylinder from strip-shaped laminations, preloading the stator axially before and during cutting, creating centering surfaces on an outer circumferential of the stator by using at least two cutting tools.
US08631727B2 Machine tool
A machine tool includes a spindle side position measuring unit measuring a spindle axial position in a spindle radial direction relative to a first reference position and a tool side position measuring unit measuring the position of a tool post relative to a second reference position. The spindle side position measuring unit includes a first scale extending in the spindle radial direction and a first readout unit, one of a base end portion of the first scale and the first readout unit is disposed at a spindle axis and the other of the base end portion of the first scale and the first readout unit is disposed at the first reference position. One of a base end portion of a second scale and a second readout unit is disposed on the tool post and the other is disposed at the second reference position.
US08631726B2 Torque limiting engine rotation tool
A torque limiting engine rotation tool for rotating a crankshaft of an engine, where the engine rotation tool is configured to be operated with a socket wrench or non-impacting tool and is configured to engage an accessory drive pulley bolt or any other bolt that causes the crankshaft to rotate, includes a socket body. The socket body has a driving portion coupled to a bolt-torquing portion with a shear pin. A receiving recess is defined by the driving portion and is configured to receive the socket wrench or non-impacting tool. A female socket recess is defined by the bolt-torquing portion and is configured to engage the bolt. The amount of torque applied by the socket wrench or non-impacting tool to the bolt is limited by the shear strength of the shear pin.
US08631725B2 Ratchetable open-ended wrench
A ratchetable open-ended wrench includes a handle H for a hand to grasp, a wrench head 100 located on one end of the handle, and a fastener room 160 located in the wrench head 100 for accommodating a workpiece W to be rotated. The wrench head 100 further includes a first jaw 110 having a first driving wall 114, a second jaw 120 having a second driving wall 124 facing the first driving wall 114, an inner wall 126 extending from the second driving wall 124 into the second jaw 120, a fastener-jaw room 128, an auxiliary jaw retracting opening 13, an auxiliary jaw 140 capable of longitudinally sliding into the auxiliary jaw retracting opening 130 in an elastic way, and an auxiliary jaw limiting member 150 coupled to a limiting slot 148. The auxiliary jaw 140 further includes an exterior end 142 having a pillow 142 in contact with the driving wall 126 and a pushing surface 144 for working together with the first jaw 110 to grip the workpiece W under operation, an interior end 146, and a limiting slot 148.
US08631723B2 Ratchet wrench being conveniently assembled
A ratchet wrench includes a handle having a receiving hole, a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted in the handle, a direction controller pivotally mounted in the handle and provided at a periphery thereof with a guide groove, a pawl connected with the direction controller and engaged with the ratchet wheel, and a positioning member. When the direction controller is in a first position, a positioning ball of the positioning member is slidable to the receiving hole of the handle through the guide groove. When the direction controller is turned to a second position, the positioning ball is supported by a spring and engaged with a positioning notch of the direction controller so as to hole the direction controller in position.
US08631714B2 Multifunctional specimen box
A modified multi-function specimen box is provided. The modified multi-function specimen box includes a box body (1). A box cover (2) is disposed on an opening of the box body (1). A fixed rotary spindle (4) is disposed on the box cover (2). The fixed rotary spindle (4) is capable of freely rotating with respect to the box cover (2). A sampling spoon (5) is disposed at the bottom of the fixed rotary spindle (4). A filter screen (3) is disposed in an inner cavity of the box body (1) in a direction perpendicular to the box cover (2), and the filter screen (3) divides the box body (1) into a liquid addition cavity (11) and a liquid suction cavity (12). The present invention achieves the dilution, uniform mixing, and filtration of a specimen.
US08631709B2 Pressure transducer structures having a plurality of conductive traces for curved surfaces
A novel flexible transducer structure is suitable for attaching to curved surface such as the leading edge of an aircraft wing. The structure comprises a thin flexible sheet of an insulating material with a leadless transducer secured to the sheet. The sheet is then placed over the curved surface and assumes the curvature of the surface. The transducer secured to the sheet provides an output of pressure according the pressure exerted on the sheet. The sheet basically is fabricated from a thin material such as Kapton and is flexible so as to assume the curvature of the surface with the transducer being exposed to pressure applied to the curved surface. The sensor in conjunction with the flexible sheet allows pressure to be measured without disturbing the air flow patterns of the measuring surfaces and because of its construction, is moisture resistant over a large variety of atmospheric conditions.
US08631696B2 Apparatus and method for monitoring tanks in an inventory management system
A method includes lowering a sensor unit in a tank, where the tank is capable of receiving a material. The method also includes determining a first distance between the material and the sensor unit and determining a second distance between the sensor unit and a main unit that lowers the sensor unit. In addition, the method includes determining a level of the material in the tank using the first and second distances. The method could further include calibrating the sensor unit to compensate for variations in a medium within the tank, where the sensor unit transmits wireless signals through the medium to determine the first distance. Determining the first distance could include using an ultrasonic measurement technique, and determining the second distance could include using a non-contact servo measurement technique.
US08631687B2 Indenter assembly
An indentation assembly for sub-micron testing includes an indentation tip and a tip holder coupled with the indentation tip. The tip holder includes a first thermal conductivity and a first coefficient of thermal expansion. A tip holder mount configured for coupling with a transducer and the tip holder, the tip holder mount having a second thermal conductivity greater than the first thermal conductivity, and the tip holder mount has a second coefficient of thermal expansion greater than the first coefficient of thermal expansion. The tip holder mount has a mount length, and the tip holder further has a tip holder length greater that the mount length. The tip holder remotely positions the tip holder mount relative to the indentation tip. The tip holder length, volume and the first thermal conductivity cooperate to throttle heat transfer through the tip holder prior to reaching the tip holder mount.
US08631686B2 System to measure the absorptive capabilities of porous materials used in oil spill remediation
Traditional porous material testing does not provide a measure of how well the porous material will perform in oil spill conditions. We disclose a new system that can analyze and determine the absorptive capability and oil-selectivity of a porous material in a moving mixture of oil and water, under different environmental conditions of pressure and wind. Our system allows the porous material under test and the mixture of oil and water to experience complex motion trajectories, and we measure the absorption capacity as well as the rate of oil absorption under different environmental conditions.
US08631685B2 Method and apparatus for extended time and varying environment measurements of single particles in microfluidic channels
Methods and apparatus for improving measurements of particle or cell characteristics, such as mass, in Suspended Microchannel Resonators (SMR's). Apparatus include in particular designs for trapping particles in SMR's for extended measurement periods and for changing the fluid properties within the SMR during the extended periods. Methods include techniques to provide for cell growth over time and over time in response to changing fluid properties to aid in determining parameters such as drug resistance and drug susceptibility.
US08631681B2 Apparatus and method of calculating a wheel speed by using a tire force sensor and chassis control system using the same
An apparatus for calculating a wheel speed is described herein which includes a tire force sensor, a time measurement unit, an angular velocity calculation unit and a wheel speed calculation unit. The tire force sensor outputs a signal in accordance with an amount of modification of a bearing. The time measurement unit measures a time interval between peak values of the signal output from the tire force sensor. The angular velocity calculation unit calculates an angular velocity by dividing an angle between balls positioned within the bearing by the time interval measured by the time measurement unit. The wheel speed calculation unit calculates the wheel speed by multiplying a distance from a center of the bearing to a center of the ball by the angular velocity calculated by the angular velocity calculation unit.
US08631675B2 Method and apparatus for forming flanges during hot-forming
A method for hot-forming and hardening a sheet-metal component with flanges in a cooled forming tool and an apparatus for carrying out the method are disclosed. A heated sheet-metal blank is inserted in a forming tool having a hollow form, with the sheet-metal blank projecting over the hollow form in marginal regions. The sheet-metal component formed from the sheet-metal blank is hardening of in the hollow form. A first flange having an X-bending axis is formed in a first marginal region with an auxiliary tool, and a second flange having a Y-bending axis is formed in a second marginal region with the auxiliary tool. The auxiliary tool has a plurality of dies, and the X- and Y-bending axes are not collinear and may be orthogonal to each other. Bending axes with a substantially perpendicular mutual orientation can be produced simultaneously in a single forming step.
US08631663B2 Power failure controller for an electronically controlled expansion valve in a refrigeration system
The present application relates to a power failure controller for an electronically controlled expansion valve in a refrigeration system. The valve is controlled by a valve controller configured to close the valve as a part of a power-up routine when the valve controller is first powered-up from a powered-down state. The power failure controller includes a circuit configured to allow the valve controller to enter the powered-down state when a power failure is detected and to subsequently provide power to the valve controller from a capacitor bank coupled to the circuit so that the valve controller conducts the power-up routine and closes or mostly closes the valve.
US08631656B2 Gas turbine engine combustor circumferential acoustic reduction using flame temperature nonuniformities
A gas turbine engine combustor includes an annulus with one or more circular rows of burners and a means for providing a number of equiangular spaced apart flame temperature nonuniformities around the annulus during engine operation. The number of the flame temperature nonuniformities being equal to a circumferential acoustic mode to be attenuated in the combustor (i.e three, five, or seven). Fuel lines and/or water lines in supply communication with the burners and metering orifices in a portion of the fuel lines and/or the water lines may be used to produce the flame temperature nonuniformities. The annulus of the burners may have an equal number of equiangular spaced apart first and second arcuate segments of the burners and a means for operating the burners in the first segments and operating the burners in the second segments at different first and second flame temperatures respectively.
US08631654B2 Burner system and method for damping such a burner system
A burner system is provided that includes at least two adjacent burners that are separate from each other. Each of the two burners has at least one combustion chamber and a head end. The head end includes at least a fuel injection and a fuel-air premix. Each burner has a cap with a cap side and cap upper side, wherein at least the cap upper side is arranged ahead of the head end, seen in the direction of flow. In this manner, a burner plenum is formed between the cap upper side and the head end. The at least two burner plenums thus formed have an acoustic connection. A method for damping such a burner system is also provided.
US08631646B2 Methods and systems for variable displacement engine control
Methods and systems are provided for selecting a group of cylinders for selective deactivation, in a variable displacement engine system, based at least on a regeneration state of an exhaust catalyst. The position of one or more valves and throttles may be adjusted based on the selective deactivation to reduce back-flow through the disabled cylinders while also maintaining conditions of a downstream exhaust catalyst. Pre-ignition and knock detection windows and thresholds may also be adjusted based on the deactivation to improve the efficiency of knock and pre-ignition detection.
US08631642B2 Regeneration assist calibration
A power system comprising an engine that produces exhaust, a fuel system that injects a fuel into the engine, an aftertreatment system that treats the exhaust, and a controller. The aftertreatment system includes an oxidation catalyst that converts NO from the engine into NO2, a particulate filter that traps soot from the engine, and a sensor that provides an indication of the amount of soot in the particulate filter. The controller increases an engine fuel injection pressure when the amount of soot in the particulate filter is above a threshold.
US08631639B2 System and method of cooling turbine airfoils with sequestered carbon dioxide
A turbine power generation system with enhanced cooling provided by a stream of carbon dioxide from a carbon dioxide source and a method of using a stream of carbon dioxide to cool hot gas path components. The turbine power generating system includes a compressor, a combustor, a turbine, a generator, and at least one shaft linking the compressor and turbine and generator together such that mechanical energy produced from the turbine is used to drive the compressor and the generator. Carbon dioxide that is sequestered from the exhaust of the turbine may be stored and injected back into the turbine to cool hot gas path components of the turbine.
US08631637B2 Auxiliary power unit fire enclosure
A fire enclosure for an auxiliary power unit having a hot zone formed by a gas turbine comprises an annular fire enclosure body, an axial expansion joint and a radial expansion joint. The annular fire enclosure body is configured to encapsulate the hot zone. The fire enclosure includes a first end and a second end. The axial expansion joint is connected to the first end. The radial expansion joint is connected to the second end.
US08631636B2 Shackle assembly
A shackle assembly includes a shackle body having two shackle arms extending from a bridge portion which is fixed to the two arms and connects the two arms to each other. A shackle pin can be mounted to the shackle arms and connects the two shackle arms in the mounted state. At least one pocket is formed in at least one of the shackle arms and/or the shackle pin, in which pocket a strain sensing element is received and fixedly attached to the bottom or wall of the pocket for detecting a shackle load acting on the shackle assembly. The pocket is a hole going partially through the shackle arm or going partially through the shackle pin, and the strain sensing element is a strain gauge which is attached to the wall or bottom of the hole.
US08631616B2 Precast wall panels and method of erecting a high-rise building using the panels
Precast wall systems and methods for constructing a high-rise building using the precast wall system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a plurality of interconnected precast panels, each having a top end plate, a bottom end plate, a plurality of vertical bars disposed between the end plates and a cementitious material encasing the vertical bars and defining a plurality of sides of the respective panel. A first of the precast panels has a first column member half defining a right side of the first panel, a second of the precast panels has a second column member half defining a left side of the second panel such that, when the right side of the first precast panel and the left side of the second precast panel are disposed horizontally adjacent to each other, the first column member half and the second column member half collectively form a column member.
US08631612B2 Facing panel
The present invention relates to a facing panel, on the long side surfaces of which there are connecting or locking elements (5, 6) that are different or which complement each other along the two parallel long side edges (4, 4′) of the facing panel (1, 1′) so that the long side edges (4, 4′) of two facing panels (1) with different locking elements can be connected to one another. On the visible surface (7) of the facing panel (1, 1′) there is a single stripe (2) that is parallel to and spaced apart from one of the two long side edges (4, 4′); the color of said stripe (2) is darker than the color of the remaining visible surface, one and the same connecting or locking element (6) being formed along the long-side edge (4) of the facing panel (1, 1′) to which the stripe (2) runs parallel or to which it is close, one and the same connecting or locking element (6) being formed on the opposite long-side edge (4′), this being complementary to the connecting or locking element (5) or lockable thereto.
US08631611B2 Fortified flashing laminate
A fortified flashing laminate includes an uncured thermosetting polymeric layer having a top surface and a bottom surface. A first layer of vulcanized adhesive tape covers at least a portion of the bottom surface of the polymeric layer, and a second layer of vulcanized adhesive tape covers a portion of the first layer of vulcanized adhesive tape to form a fortified area. The size and positioning of the second layer of vulcanized adhesive tape may be selected to fortify known vulnerable areas of flashing laminates.
US08631605B1 Multi-pane insulated glass unit assembly incorporating a pet door
A glass assembly for a dwelling having a first pane and a second pane integrated together with at least one spacer for encapsulating an inert gas forming an insulated glass unit. The first and second panes define an outer periphery and an internal periphery. The internal periphery defines a pet channel and the two panes have openings for receiving a pet door. A pet is enabled to pass from one side of the glass assembly, through the glass assembly, and exiting on the other side of the glass assembly while the inert gas is maintained within the insulated glass unit.
US08631599B2 Merchandise labeling
A unitary sheet-like merchandise labeling article that has a labeling tag flatly conjoined along a unifying flat bond zone with a flexible elastic layer that extends away from the tag and includes an elastic fastening loop. The loop sides that define the loop are wider than the thickness of the elastic layer. Further, the flexible elastic layer that extends away from the tag has a thickness greater than the thickness of the tag and has a dispersion zone adjacent the unifying flat bond zone. The dispersion zone allows dissipation of elastic loop in-line stretching forces sufficiently to reduce transmission of such forces into the bond zone.
US08631598B2 Light emitting sign and display surface therefor
A light emitting sign comprising a plurality of blue LEDs operable to generate blue excitation light and a light emitting display surface comprising a light transmissive substrate and at least one phosphor overlaying at least a portion of one face of the substrate. The phosphor is configured to absorb at least a portion of the blue light generated by the LEDs and, in response, to emit light of a selected color other than blue. Regions of the display surface intended to generate blue light do not include the phosphor.
US08631591B2 Replaceable traction cleat for footwear
Adjustable traction is provided in a traction cleat by selectively restricting or not the amount of flexure permitted for a dynamic traction element on the cleat. Restricting flexure is alternatively achieved by an adjustably positionable ring or by rotating the cleat to align the dynamic element with different shoe sole topographical features. A dual locking post is provided to reduce the surface area required on the cleat hub for locking structures. The cleat is formed in a two shot molding process that permits elongations of the dynamic traction elements without sacrificing the integrity of the cleat structure.
US08631588B2 Footwear with a sole structure incorporating a lobed fluid-filled chamber
A fluid-filled chamber for an article of footwear and a method for manufacturing the chamber are disclosed. The chamber may be incorporated into a sole structure of the footwear and includes a central area and a plurality of lobes extending outward from the central area. The lobes are in fluid communication with the central area and are formed from a first surface, a second surface, and a sidewall. The sidewall joins with the first surface with the second surface to seal the fluid within the chamber, but no internal connections are generally utilized to join interior portions of the first surface with interior portions of the second surface. The fluid within the chamber may be air at a pressure that is approximately equal to an ambient pressure.
US08631586B2 Energy efficient clothes dryer and child safety barrier therefor
A clothes dryer includes a hollow housing having a hinged door. A perforated drum is mounted for rotation within the housing and in alignment with the door aperture and is rotatable by an electric motor. An electrically operable oil-filled radiator is positioned within a bottom portion of the hollow housing and below the rotating drum and is connectable to a source of conventional household electrical power for generating radiant heat upon supply of the electrical power. The heat rises through the perforated rotating drum for drying wet clothes contained therein. The invention also provides a novel child safety device which is positioned within the door aperture for preventing passage of the child therethrough.
US08631585B2 Home laundry drier
A home laundry drier (1) having a casing (2), a laundry drying tub (3) housed inside the casing (2), and a hot-air generator (5) for circulating hot air into the drying tub (3) along a drying circuit (4). The drier (1) has an air filter (11) fitted stably, but easily removably, inside a pocket (12) located along the drying circuit (4). And the filter (11) has a first mesh (18) defining a mesh wall of the filter (11), and the openings (18a) of which are sized to filter fluff/fibers of a size greater than or equal to a first size threshold (S1); and a second mesh (19) defining another mesh wall of the filter (11), and the openings (19a) of which are sized to filter fluff/fibers of a size greater than a minimum second size threshold (S2) lower than the first size threshold (S1).
US08631577B2 Method of fabricating integrally bladed rotor and stator vane assembly
A method of fabricating an integrally bladed rotor of a gas turbine engine according to one aspect, includes a 3-dimensional scanning process to generate a 3-dimensional profile of individual blades before being welded to the disc of the rotor. A blade distribution pattern on the disc is then determined in a computing process using data of the 3-dimensional profile of the individual blades such that the fabricated integrally bladed rotor is balanced.
US08631575B2 Gas turbine rotor assembly methods
Method of assembling a rotor assembly of a gas turbine engine having a plurality of components. The method comprises in one aspect calculating the bending forces due to the mass distribution along the rotor. In another aspect, an optimization routine iterates different rotor arrangements, comparing the calculated bending moments to determine a set of component positions that minimizes the bending forces.
US08631574B2 Method for molding products adapted for use in different applications
A method is provided for forming intake manifolds for an internal combustion engine and for fastening such manifolds to the engines. The method includes: molding a plurality of identical ones of the intake manifolds, each one of the intake manifolds being molded with at least one hollow projection extending outwardly from an outer surface of the manifold, each one of the projections being molded with a cap at the distal end to seal the distal end of the hollow projection; removing the cap at a selected one or ones of the projections while leaving the cap on unselected one or ones of the projections; fastening each one of the intake manifolds to a corresponding one of a plurality of internal combustion engines; and for each one of the fastened intake manifolds, attaching a hose or hoses to the distal end or ends of the selected one or ones of the plurality of projections.
US08631573B2 Piston for an internal combustion engine and method for its production
A method for the production of a piston has the following method steps: (a) providing a blank of a piston base body, having an outer joining surface, an inner joining surface and a circumferential lower cooling channel part that runs between the two joining surfaces, (b) providing a blank of a piston ring element, having an outer joining surface, an inner joining surface and a circumferential upper cooling channel part that runs between the two joining surfaces, (c) forming a circumferential widened region on at least one joining surface, the widened region extending toward the related cooling channel part, (d) connecting the blank of the piston base body with the blank of the piston ring element by way of their joining surfaces, by friction welding, to produce a piston blank, and (e) machining the piston blank further and/or finish-machining it to produce a piston.
US08631565B2 Method for manufacturing a solar module
A method for manufacturing a solar concentrator cell module assembly within an integrated circuit process, which solar concentrator cell module assembly includes at least one solar device and which solar device includes one printed circuit board and one Fresnel lens. A printed circuit board is assembled according to a pre-defined circuit board base design layout that allows pick and place of a single solar concentrator cell chip onto a circuit board base. Connections are provided for the solar concentrator cell chip in a serialized or a parallelized arrangement on the circuit board base, and a plurality of openings are formed in the circuit board base below a backside of the solar concentrator chip to enable attachment of cooling fingers. A solar device based on a solar device layout is assembled using the assembled circuit board base and one Fresnel lens, the solar device having a solar concentration ratio by modifying the solar device surface versus the solar cell surface and covering a full extension of the circuit board base, which circuit board base provides means for interconnecting a plurality of the solar devices to one another to form the solar concentrator cell module assembly.
US08631562B2 Methods of making nanotube switches
An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit for protecting a protected circuit is coupled to an input pad. The ESD circuit includes a nanotube switch electrically having a control. The switch is coupled to the protected circuit and to a discharge path. The nanotube switch is controllable, in response to electrical stimulation of the control, between a de-activated state and an activated state. The activated state creates a current path so that a signal on the input pad flows to the discharge path to cause the signal at the input pad to remain within a predefined operable range for the protected circuit. The nanotube switch, the input pad, and the protected circuit may be on a semiconductor chip. The nanotube switch may be on a chip carrier. The deactivated and activated states may be volatile or non-volatile depending on the embodiment.
US08631561B2 Method for electrically connecting an energy source to a head of a disk drive
The present invention generally relates to fabricating a bond pad for electrically connecting a laser diode to a slider and a TAR head in a HDD. The bond pad is deposited on a surface of the head that is perpendicular to the air bearing surface (ABS). The head is diced and lapped to expose the bond pad on a top surface of the head and mounted on a slider. The laser diode and a sub-mount may be coupled to the top surface of the slider—i.e., the surface opposite the ABS—by connecting to the bond pads. Specifically, both the laser diode and the sub-mount have electrodes thereon that are perpendicular to the bond pads. Conductive bonding material is used to bond the laser diode and the sub-mount to the bond pads.
US08631554B2 Blind rivet nut setting device
The device includes pneumatic and hydraulic cylinders, a switch valve connecting the pneumatic cylinder either to an outlet channel or a pressure supply, and an actuating element to switch the switch valve into a second position connecting a control line, open to the environment until closed by reaching a setting limit, to a pressure supply via a throttle and the switch valve. A pressure control valve having a control chamber connected to the pressure supply is structured so that pressures in the control chamber and the control line act on first and second control surfaces in the first and second switch position directions, respectively. The actuating element relieves pressure on the control chamber to move the pressure control valve into the second switch position to connect a motor line and switch channel of the switch valve to the pressure supply, which switches the switch valve into the first position.
US08631552B2 Plate joint for a parts fixture made of carbon fiber composite
A plate joint for joining two plates together includes a first plate and a second plate, with each of the first plate and second plate having a first edge and an opposite and generally parallel second edge. The first plate and second plate are connected together in a generally orthogonal orientation relative to each other with a finger joint defined by a notch in each plate which interlock with each other. The first edge of the first plate and the first edge of the second plate each have a groove therein which axially align with each other in and end-to-end manner. A locking pin is press fitted into the grooves in each of the first plate and the second plate.
US08631546B2 Security system hard tag clamp and clamping method
A security tag that includes a mechanism for preventing the unauthorized removal of a security tag from its article. The security tag includes a housing having a clamp axis. A clamp is contained within the housing. The clamp is rotatable about the clamp axis from a locked position to an unlocked position. The clamp includes a lock region lockable to the housing, and a release region. The mechanism prevents the security tag from being removed from its article unless the lock region is unlocked from the housing and a force is applied to the release region.
US08631538B2 Dry vacuum cleaner with spot cleaning
A vacuum cleaner has a cleaning powder distribution system and an actuator connected to the powder distribution system for selectively dispensing powder from the powder distribution system to soiled spots on a floor surface. In addition, a cleaning fluid distribution system is adapted to selectively distribute a liquid cleaning solution to the soiled spot. A propellant, in the form of an aerosol or compressed gas can be used to distribute the cleaning powder to the floor. A method of cleaning a spot on a surface comprises applying a selected volume of fluid cleaning solution to a selected area on the surface to be cleaned, applying a selected amount of cleaning powder to the selected area and extracting the applied cleaning solution and cleaning powder from the selected area on the surface to be cleaned.
US08631527B2 Laundry treating appliance with tumble pattern control
An apparatus and a method of operating a laundry treating appliance treating laundry according to a cycle of operation having by determining a parameter indicative of a change in packing density of the laundry in a treating chamber and taking an operating action based on the determined parameter.
US08631524B2 Hospital bed
A patient support incorporates a lying surface and at least one siderail on at least one side of the support. The siderails are operable between a raised position, an intermediate position, and a lowered position. The siderails are biased along a first range of motion by a first biasing member, and are biased along a second range of motion by a second biasing member. In the intermediate position, the siderails may define a gap through which a patient can ingress or egress the bed. In the raised and intermediate positions, the siderails may define gaps between each other and/or between the siderails and a headboard and footboard, that are sufficiently small to prevent accidental egress, and sufficiently large to prevent pinching and entrapment.
US08631523B1 Back-scratching and washing device for use in a shower
The back-scratching and washing device for use in a shower includes a base that attaches to a smooth surface for use within a shower and features a plurality of interchangeable parts that attach to the base to perform a plurality of uniquely different skin engaging services. The interchangeable parts comprise rubber nodules, Loofahs, spring-loaded scrubbers, and bristled nodules. All of the interchangeable parts attach to the base via a spring pin located on a back of said part that engages one of an array of holes located on a front of said base. The device can be used to engage any part of a body, but is chiefly used for the back and hard to reach areas of said body. An array of suction cups located on a back of the base ensure secure attachment of the device to a smooth surface during engagement by an end user.
US08631512B2 Eye protectors
An eye protector (16) is provided for mounting to a protective helmet (10) of the type worn by a firefighter or other emergency worker. The protective helmet (10) has a brim (14), and the eye protector (16) includes a bracket (20) mounted to the brim (14), an eye shield (18) movable between a storage position extending along the brim (14) and a usage position extending downward from the brim (14) to shield the eye of a wearer, a hinge (22) to connect the eye shield (18) to the mount bracket (20) for movement between the storage and usage positions, a spring (36) engaged with the eye shield (18) and the mount bracket (20) to resist movement of the eye shield (18) from the storage position and from the usage position, and at least one torsion member (38,50) engaged with the eye shield (18) at a location spaced from the spring (36). The at least one torsion member (38,50) applies a force to the eye shield (18) that urges the eye shield (18) toward the brim (14) in the storage position.
US08635709B2 Method for operating an installation using data protected against unauthorized use
A method and a device for operating a technical installation using data from a third party are provided, the data being protected against unauthorized use. A first and a second rights object are used for protecting the data, the first rights object specifying an authorized use of the data with a variable not defined in respect of its value and the second rights object defining a value for the variable.
US08635704B2 Digital data file management method and recording medium for recording digital data file management program thereon
The digital data file management method reads a header of the digital data file stored on an external medium. Based on the read header, the digital data file is selectively uploaded and/or managed.
US08635697B2 Method and system for operating system identification in a network based security monitoring solution
A method and system for providing network based malware detection in a service provider network is disclosed. Transmission control protocol (TCP) packets defining originating from an access device coupled to the service provider network defining a TCP session between a computing device coupled to the access device, and a destination coupled to the service provider network are received. An operating system identifier (OS ID) associated with the TCP session and the computing device is determined. If malware is present in the TCP session and an associated malware ID is determined by comparing a malware signature to the one or more TCP packets. An alert identifying a network address associated with the access device, the malware ID and the OS ID associated with TCP session that generated the alert can then be generated.
US08635693B2 System and method for testing network firewall for denial-of-service (DoS) detection and prevention in signaling channel
A device may measure a first performance, associated with legitimate traffic without attack traffic, of a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-based protection device implementing authentication; measure a second performance, associated with legitimate traffic and attack traffic, of the SIP-based protection device implementing authentication; and measure a third performance, associated with legitimate traffic and attack traffic, of the SIP-based protection device implementing authentication and return routability filtering. The device may also measure a first performance associated with legitimate traffic of a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-based protection device implementing rate-limiting filtering; measure a second performance associated with legitimate traffic and attack traffic of the SIP-based protection device implementing scheme filtering; and measure a third performance associated with legitimate traffic of the SIP-based protection device not implementing rate-limiting filtering without attack traffic.
US08635686B2 Integrated privilege separation and network interception
Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to receive an attack request comprising operating system privilege use instructions associated with a gateway and slave process exploit code instructions. The attack request may be contained by processing the request as a user associated with an assigned slave module processing on the gateway. The slave module is prevented from connecting to or scanning any internet protocol address and port that is not specified in a policy database having network interception policy rules and file system privilege rules associated by a key comprising a slave module operating system identifier associated with the slave module. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08635679B2 Networked identity framework
A system and method provide a framework for networked identity management in a user-centric model by providing the ability for a user to delegate permissions to release identity information, by enabling a mechanism for releasing one of a requested plurality of data sets and by providing facilities for the retrieval of identity information from an external server. Anonymization of identity data is enabled through the use of an anonymizer system that can optionally be integrated with an identity store such as a homesite.
US08635669B2 Method and system for execution monitor-based trusted computing
A system and method to ensure trustworthiness of a remote service provided by a service provider. The method includes monitoring runtime dependencies invoked during execution of a service transaction associated with the remote service, the service transaction being requested by a service requester. The method further includes determining whether a deviation exists between the runtime dependencies and a trusted list of dependencies associated with the remote service. The method also includes blocking execution of the service transaction based on determining that the deviation between the runtime dependencies and the trusted list of dependencies exists.
US08635667B2 Electronic apparatus and terminal
According to one embodiment, an electronic device connected to an authentication device through a first communication network, and further connected to another electronic device through a second communication network, wherein the electronic device executes authentication of the electronic device and another electronic device by data delivery/receipt conforming to a predetermined procedure between the electronic device and the authentication device through the first communication network, and data delivery/receipt between the electronic device and another electronic device through the second communication network.
US08635666B2 Anti-phishing system
The present invention provides both method and apparatus for enhancing a user's network security. For example, it may be used to prevent phishing attacks being effected via the internet. A number of legitimate network addresses along with associated data are stored. Subsequently, analysis is carried out on any data transmitted between the user and a remote site to determine if the transmitted data is related to the stored data. If it is found that the data is related, user access to the remote site is denied unless the remote site's address is one of the stored network addresses. This provides more security than was previously available since it protects the user against attacks from sites that were not previously known to pose a threat.
US08635662B2 Dynamic trust model for authenticating a user
A system that that dynamically authenticates one or more users is described. During operation, the computer system determines a trust level for a user, where the trust level is a function of elapsed time since the user previously provided authentication information. Next, the computer system calculates a transaction risk level based on a type of user transaction performed by the user. Then, the computer system requests additional authentication information from the user based on the trust level and the transaction risk level.
US08635661B2 System and method for enforcing a security policy on mobile devices using dynamically generated security profiles
A system and method for enforcing security parameters that collects information from a source relating to a mobile device (104). Based on the collected information, an identity status for the mobile device (104) is determined that uniquely identifies the mobile device (104) and distinguishes it from other mobile devices. The identity status of the mobile device (104) can be determined when the mobile device (104) connects to a computing node source (102) or when the mobile device (104) accesses a resource (124) within the network. A security profile based on the identity status of the mobile device (104) is generated and the security profile is applied to the mobile device (104).
US08635651B2 Identifying ancillary information associated with an audio/video program
A system communicates video information including television content associated with a plurality of channels and ancillary information. Information may be transmitted with the ancillary information that is indicative of the type of content included in the ancillary information. This provides the user, in one embodiment of the present invention, with a visual indication of the type of information that accompanies television content. This helps the user to decide whether the user wishes to view the ancillary information and provides the opportunity to select that enhancement for viewing.
US08635640B2 System, method and computer program product for verifying triggers in a video data stream
A method is disclosed for logging triggers in a video data stream the method including but not limited to monitoring a video data stream at an multimedia processor end user device; receiving from a data distribution server, the video data stream at the multimedia processor end user device; detecting a trigger in the video data stream at the multimedia processor end user device; logging a time for the trigger detected in the video data stream in a trigger log at the multimedia processor end user device; and sending the trigger log an advertising verification system in the data distribution system for correlating the time the trigger occurred with an Advertising Schedule.
US08635634B2 Seamless multiple format metadata abstraction
For seamlessly abstracting metadata in multiple formats, an abstraction module converts first metadata of an incoming object and additional metadata for the incoming object from an annotation map contained by the first metadata into a common format useable. The additional metadata is not part of an original format of the first metadata. A communication module communicates the converted metadata to an adapter in the common format, the adapter processing the first metadata and the additional metadata independent of the original format of the first metadata.
US08635630B2 Application lifetime management
In a computing device running multiple applications, a check is made as to whether a threshold value of multiple threshold values has been met. Each of the multiple threshold values is associated with a characteristic of one of the multiple applications or a characteristic of a resource of the computing device. If the threshold value has not been met, then the multiple applications are allowed to continue running on the computing device. However, if the threshold value has been met, then one or more of the multiple applications to shut down is selected based at least in part on the characteristic associated with the threshold value that has been met, and the selected application is shut down.
US08635615B2 Apparatus and method for managing hypercalls in a hypervisor and the hypervisor thereof
In one embodiment, an apparatus for managing hypercalls in a hypervisor having an interrupt handler and a schedule is described. A deferrable low-overhead hypercall (DLH) module is configured to assign a separate DLH queue to each of a plurality of virtual machines when the virtual machine is initialized. Each entry in the separate DLH queue represents a hypercall routine. When one of the virtual machines notifies the interrupt handler of at least a deferrable hypercalls to be executed, the scheduler selects at least a virtual CPU (VCPU) and assigns them to the virtual machine to run on at least a physical CPU (PCPU). The DLH module executes the at least a deferrable hypercall inserted in a DLH queue assigned to the virtual machine before restoring the VCPU context to the virtual machine having the at least an assigned VCPU.
US08635611B2 Creating virtual applications
Embodiments are provided to create a virtual application or suite of virtual applications. In an embodiment, a system is configured to create a virtual package which includes information that can be used in a hosted virtual application environment. The system can provide bits of a virtual package based in part on user demand for an application or certain application functionality. In one embodiment, a system includes a sequencer component which can create a virtual package which includes information associated with setup-time and run-time changes made to a computing device. The sequencer component can use a number of extensible markup language (XML) files to create the virtual package. Other embodiments are available.
US08635609B2 Software certification and update process
An update service is provided for maintaining software of one or more users, or an enterprise. On behalf of users or enterprises, the update service collects information from various software vendors about the certification and updates for their software. Dependencies or issues between the software are determined based on the information collected from the software vendors. A set of applicable updates for particular users or enterprises may then be determined based on the dependencies or issues. The update service may then broker various aspects of the delivery and installation of these updates.
US08635603B2 Handling debugger breakpoints in a shared instruction system
A debugger debugs processes that execute shared instructions so a breakpoint set for one process will not cause a breakpoint to occur in the other processes. A breakpoint is set by recording the original instruction at the desired location and writing a trap instruction to the shared instructions at that location. When a process encounters the breakpoint, the process passes control to the debugger for breakpoint processing if the breakpoint was set at that location for that process. If the trap was not set at that location for that process, the cacheline containing the trap is copied to a small scratchpad memory, and the virtual memory mappings are changed to translate the virtual address of the cacheline to the scratchpad. The original instruction is then written to replace the trap instruction in the scratchpad, so the process can execute the instructions in the scratchpad thereby avoiding the trap instruction.
US08635597B2 Method for determining the processing order of modules in a function plan and electronic data processing system for carrying out the method
There is described a method for determining the processing sequence of components of a function plan for a sequentially operating automation system. Each component is allocated a component code in a reversible unambiguous manner and, while the components have a signal input and output connection, these should be applicable to a number of various function plans and thus minimize the reaction time of an automation system to process signals. The above is achieved, whereby the signal path in the function plan commences at an initial component in a recursive procedure in the forward direction and returns in the backward direction. A given set of propagation rules for the forward direction and for the backward direction are defined, the components reached in the course of a forward propagation are allocated to a sequence list, the list elements of which include the component codes and during each run through the recursive loop the sequence list obtained on the previous run is updated by means of the current sequence list.
US08635587B2 Automatic restoration of tool configuration while navigating layers of a composition
A selection of a layer is received from a plurality of layers of a composition. A tool type and one or more tool setting(s) are obtained based at least in part on the selected layer, where in the event the selected layer was previously selected at least once, the obtained tool type and tool setting(s) were in use a last time the selected layer was selected. A tool is automatically configured using the obtained tool type and tool setting(s), where the tool is associated with manipulating the composition.
US08635585B2 Capturing information accessed, updated and created by processes and using the same for validation of consistency
Techniques for extending a process model with specification of information consumed. A receiving operation receives specification of process information consumed by a process implementation of the process model. Another receiving operation receives specification of activity process information consumed by activities employed by the process implementation of the process model. The information consumed is information that is or needs to be used without being passed through exposed interfaces. A generating operation automatically generates an extended process model using a computer processor. The extended process model includes specification of exposed interfaces, the process information consumed by the process implementation, and the activity information consumed by the activity implementation. Further embodiments includes techniques for identifying information inconsistencies in the extended process model if the information consumed not available as called for by the extended process model.
US08635583B2 Standard cells having transistors annotated for gate-length biasing
A standard cell library is disclosed. The standard cell library contains cells wherein at least one transistor in at least one cell is annotated for gate length biasing. Gate length biasing includes the modification of the gate length, so as to change the speed or power consumption of the modified gate length. The standard cell library is one used in the manufacturing of semiconductor devices (e.g., that result as semiconductor chips), by way of fabricating features defined on one or more layouts of geometric shapes. The annotations serve to identify which ones of the transistor gate features are to be modified before using the geometric shapes for manufacturing the semiconductor device.
US08635577B2 Timing refinement re-routing
A design tool can automatically improve timing of nets of a fully routed physical design solution. Nets of a netlist are evaluated against a plurality of re-routing criteria to identify the nets that satisfy at least one of the plurality of re-routing criteria. For each of the nets that satisfy at least one of the plurality of re-routing criteria: several operations are performed. The net is globally re-routed to determine a new global route for the net. Those of the nets that are within a given distance of the new global route are identified. The net is detail re-routed in accordance with the new global route without regard to those of the nets within the given distance of the new global route. Those of the nets within the given distance of the new global route are re-routed after completion of the detailed re-routing of the net.
US08635567B1 Electronic design automation tool for guided connection assistance
A method of circuit design includes receiving a user input selecting a first interface of a circuit block of a circuit design as a source interface in creating a connection within the circuit design and selecting a second interface of the circuit design as a candidate destination interface for the connection using a processor. The method further includes determining compatibility between the second interface and the first interface and indicating compatibility of the second interface with the first interface for the connection.
US08635564B2 Parameter optimization for circuit design
Methods for optimizing design parameters of a circuit are disclosed. In one aspect, an optimization problem includes one or more performance specifications that represent an exponent of a design parameter to be optimized. Various parameters of passive and active circuit devices may be efficiently and accurately optimized as a result. In another aspect, linear performance specifications are included for accurately calculating voltages. In yet other aspects of the invention, three special types of convex optimization problems are disclosed for enabling the above use of exponents of design parameters which provide efficient and accurate calculations of a virtually unlimited array of circuit parameters and performance characteristics.
US08635560B2 System and method for reducing power consumption in an electronic device having a touch-sensitive display
A system and method for reducing power consumption in an electronic device by controlling the transition of the electronic device from a sleep mode to a full power mode. The electronic device comprises a main processor a touch-sensitive overlay, and an overlay controller. A sequence of touch inputs on the touch-sensitive overlay are detected and captured using the overlay controller while the main processor is in the sleep mode. A subset of the sequence of touch inputs is processed using the overlay controller to determine that the sequence of touch inputs corresponds to a coarse model of a pre-determined wake-up gesture prior to transitioning the electronic device from the sleep mode to the full power mode.
US08635558B2 Method and device for generating a procedural map from an external parameter such as an image characteristic
Method to generate a procedural map (50) having a tree structure (40) comprising a plurality of levels (43), each one with at least one node (41) to which is associated at least one parameter, comprising the steps consisting in: providing a tool for parameter setting adapted to parameterize the tree corresponding to the map to provide and adapted to be connected to at least one external source of parameters; receiving, via the tool for parameter setting (or generation of procedural maps) the parameters of the map to be provided; at least one of said parameters coming from an external source; processing said parameters, in order to generate said map; Such a map comprises parameters and a structure allowing it to provide “special” effects in the field of image processing.The invention further provides a tool for generation and/or modification for the implementation of said method.
US08635555B2 Jump, checkmark, and strikethrough gestures
Techniques involving gestures and other functionality are described. In one or more implementations, the techniques describe gestures that are usable to provide inputs to a computing device. A variety of different gestures are contemplated, including an activate gesture, a fill gesture, a level gesture, a jump gesture, a checkmark gesture, a strikethrough gesture, an erase gesture, a circle gesture, a prioritize gesture, and an application tray gesture.
US08635550B2 GUI for goal programming and goal weighting in optimization based applications
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to mathematical programming for optimization based applications systems and provide a method, system and computer program product for providing an interface for generating and customizing optimization-based applications. A method for providing an interface for generating and customizing optimization-based applications can include generating an initial user interface having an objectives and sequences panel, the objectives and sequences panel can include a basic objective table, an aggregate objective table and an objective sequence table in a goal programming and goal weighting controller module executing in memory by a processor of a host computer. The method also includes rendering in the basic objective table a list of goals with corresponding indexes provided by the optimization application. The method further includes receiving selection of a subset of objectives to generate a new aggregate objective in the aggregate objective table.
US08635548B2 Configuring a page for drag and drop arrangement of content artifacts in a page development tool
A method, system and apparatus for configuring a page for drag and drop arrangement of content artifacts can include populating a content artifact registry with a plurality of content artifacts, each of the content artifacts defining a draggable and droppable form of a particular type of page content. The method further can include defining a drop zone within the page to receive a dragged and dropped one of the content artifacts, the drop zone defining a consumable type of page content and an action to undertake when consuming a dropped one of the content artifacts having a particular type of page content consistent with the consumable type of page content.
US08635547B2 Display device and display method
A display device of present invention includes an operation input portion from which operation information is input by a user, a selection portion that selects a predetermined region on a display screen based on the operation information, and a scroll portion that scrolls the display screen in a state where a position of the selected predetermined region is held at a predetermined position.
US08635537B1 Multi-level architecture for image display
A system and method for providing the dynamic display of content is provided. A network resource, such as Web page, can include a plurality of dynamic content modules. Depending on the available display area and additional display criteria, each dynamic content module displays a subset content. Each dynamic content module corresponds to an integration of multiple layers of content, such as text, graphics and image rendering information.
US08635534B2 Reservation of resources and deployment of applications using an integrated development environment
Systems and methods to reserve resources is provided. In exemplary embodiments, a selection of a profile from a user is received. A dynamic graphical user interface is generated, using one or more processors. The dynamic graphical user interface allows the user to configure a topology based on the selected profile. The dynamic graphical user interface provides input fields in which the user may select a resource. An indication of the selected applicable topology property for configuring the topology is received. A topology is automatically generating based in part on the selected applicable topology property.
US08635532B2 User interface to automatically correct timing in playback for audio recordings
Exemplary embodiments of methods to automatically correct timing of recorded audio in GUI are summarized here. One or more controls to adjust resolution of timing and degree of correction for the audio are displayed. The resolution of timing relates to heats on a grid and is affected by the degree of correction. The degree of correction is mapped to a time interval at each beat along the grid. Next, a user manipulation of one or more controls selecting a resolution and a degree of correction is received. Correction of timing is performed according to the selected resolution and degree of correction. Correcting of timing may include aligning a transient of the audio to the beat by compressing or stretching a portion of the audio. Compressing or stretching the portion of the audio depends on a length of the portion relative to a distance between adjacent beats.
US08635530B2 Statistical filtering of data using graphical user interfaces in information technology systems
Statistical filtering of data using graphical user interfaces in information technology systems. One embodiment comprises generating a graphical statistical representation of a data set and displaying the graphical statistical representation on an electronic display. One or more manipulable graphical elements are also displayed in conjunction with the graphical statistical representation, wherein the manipulable graphical elements represent one or more statistical ranges for the graphical statistical representation. Based on user adjusting one or more of the manipulable graphical elements specifying one or more adjusted statistical ranges, the data set is filtered to correspond to the graphical statistical representation within the one or more adjusted statistical ranges.
US08635526B2 Target advertisement in a broadcast system
The disclosure is directed to an access terminal. The access terminal includes a display configured to enable a user to view a presentation having content, and a processing component configured to receive the presentation and select an advertisement to insert into the content of the presentation before the presentation is provided to the display for viewing by the user.
US08635523B2 Layout editing device and computer program product
A layout editing includes a display portion, an operation portion, a template storage portion, a template acquiring portion that acquires a similar template, an area displaying portion that displays a candidate area on the interactive screen, a setting determination portion that determines whether the candidate area that is displayed will be set on the interactive screen, a object disposing portion that sets the candidate area as the image object area and disposes the object in the set image object area, and an image generating portion that generates image data that describe the image for which the layout has been edited.
US08635519B2 System and method for sharing content based on positional tagging
Systems and methods for sharing digital content based on positional tagging on a digital platform. For example, in one embodiment, the systems and methods generally include: (a) providing a first user with an interface to tag content on a first digital platform; (b) creating a positional identifier that identifies the location of the tagged content on the first digital platform; and (c) posting, on a second digital platform, a link to the first digital platform. When a second user on the second digital platform activates the link on the second digital platform, the second user is directed to the first digital platform. The systems and methods thereafter include: (d) identifying when a second user has accessed the first digital platform via the link on the second digital platform; and (e) highlighting the tagged content on the first digital platform.
US08635514B2 Error control in memory storage systems
A method includes calculating a first syndrome of a codeword read from a memory location under a first set of conditions and calculating a second syndrome of the codeword read from the memory location under a second set of conditions. The method also includes analyzing the first and second syndromes and applying one of the first and second syndromes to the codeword to find the codeword having a minimum number of errors.
US08635508B2 Systems and methods for performing concatenated error correction
A system and method is provided for performing concatenated error correction. In one implementation, an apparatus for encoding data includes an outer encoder to generate a code word corresponding to received input data and a parity circuit to compute parities of logical cells of data, the logical cells of data being obtained from the code word and having a first logical cell. The apparatus also includes an inner encoder to generate an error correction bit for the first logical cell based on a first parity corresponding to the first logical cell, and to insert the error correction bit in the first logical cell.
US08635506B2 Data transmission/receiving method in multimedia broadcast multicast service system and apparatus thereof
Provided is a Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS); and, more particularly, a data transmission/receiving method in a multimedia broadcast multicast service system, and an apparatus thereof. The data transmitting method in the MBMS system includes the step of checking a terminal receiving data provided from the MBMS and the step of determining whether there is error report feedback on retransmission of the data according to the number of the detected terminals.
US08635504B2 Communications under active and inert state machine sequences
The present disclosure describes using the JTAG Tap's TMS and/or TCK terminals as general purpose serial Input/Output (I/O) Manchester coded communication terminals. The Tap's TMS and/or TCK terminal can be used as a serial I/O communication channel between; (1) an IC and an external controller, (2) between a first and second IC, or (3) between a first and second core circuit within an IC. The use of the TMS and/or TCK terminal as serial I/O channels, as described, does not effect the standardized operation of the JTAG Tap, since the TMS and/or TCK I/O operations occur while the Tap is placed in a non-active steady state.
US08635498B2 Performance analysis of applications
Embodiments of methods and systems for analyzing performance of an application are provided. In that regard, an embodiment of a method for analyzing performance, among others, comprises collecting performance metric data from the application over time; segmenting the performance metric data into time segments representing sets of contiguous time samples which exhibit similar performance metric behavior; determining the presence of an anomaly in a time segment; and correlating the anomalous segment with other data available to the system to determine the cause of the anomaly.
US08635490B2 High availability for network security devices
In one example, a backup intrusion detection and prevention (IDP) device includes one or more network interfaces to receive a state update message from a primary IDP device, wherein the state update message indicates a network session being inspected by the primary IDP device and an identified application-layer protocol for the device, to receive an indication that the primary device has switched over or failed over to the backup device, and to receive a plurality of packets of the network session after receiving the indication, each of the plurality of packets comprising a respective payload including application-layer data, a protocol decoder to detect a beginning of a new transaction from the application-layer data of one of the plurality of packets, and a control unit to statefully process only the application-layer data of the network session that include and follow the beginning of the new transaction.
US08635485B2 Computer and control method thereof
A computer includes a CPU and a system unit, and further includes a power source which generates source power, a system driving power generator which converts the source power to system power and which provides power to the system unit, a CPU driving power generator which outputs driving power to drive the CPU, and a controller which selectively supplies the source power or the system power to an input terminal of the CPU driving power generator according to an operation mode of the CPU. Thus, a computer adjusts a level of power supplied to a CPU driving power generator according to a CPU mode and improves power efficiency, and includes a control method thereof.
US08635467B2 Integrated circuit with logic circuitry and multiple concealing circuits
An integrated circuit comprises logic circuitry, organized in a multi-level hierarchy of modules. The integrated circuit comprises multiple sensing circuits. In operation, each sensing circuit senses an instantaneous current consumption IC of a respective one of the modules that draws current entirely through that sensing circuit. The integrated circuit comprises a concealing circuit for each of the sensing circuits. In operation, the concealing circuit receives as input a voltage VC corresponding to the sensed instantaneous current consumption IC of its respective module, and the concealing circuit dissipates an instantaneous power PL such that an instantaneous power sum PTOTAL of the instantaneous power PL and the instantaneous power PC to be dissipated by its respective module is substantially independent of activity of its respective module.
US08635461B2 Retrieval and display of encryption labels from an encryption key manager certificate ID attached to key certificate
A method, system and program in which a certificate identifier (ID) is associated with an encryption certificate. In certain embodiments, the certificate ID is stored in a cartridge memory (CM). Thus, keystore or key manager administrators can trace keystore locations, versions of keystores, etc. when a cart cannot locate a correct key. This certificate ID, as it is stored on the cartridge memory, is viewable by all.
US08635459B2 Recording transactional information relating to an object
A unique identifier on a tag of an object is read. Transactional information relating to the object is recorded and used to encrypt the unique identifier into a code. The code is then written into memory of the tag such that the code records the transactional information.
US08635451B2 Techniques to strengthen one-time pad encryption
Apparati, methods, and computer-readable media for strengthening a one-time pad encryption system. A method embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of encrypting plaintext (1) with an OTP key (2) in an XOR operation to produce ciphertext (3); and obfuscating the ciphertext (3) with an AutoKey (4) in an XOR operation to produce AutoKeyed ciphertext (5), wherein the AutoKey (4) is a reusable key.
US08635447B1 Managing certificates between software environments
A method is used in managing certificates between software environments. In a Flex operating environment, a certificate store is maintained that is accessible to a Java operating environment. In the Flex operating environment, certificates from the Flex and Java operating environments are caused to be validated and stored in the certificate store.
US08635427B2 Data storage control on storage devices
An object of the present invention is to improve the usage efficiency of a storage extent in a storage system using the Allocation on Use (AOU) technique. A controller in the storage system allocates a storage extent in an actual volume to an extent in a virtual volume accessed by a host computer, detects any decrease in necessity for maintaining that allocation, and cancels the allocation of the storage extent in the actual volume to the extent in the virtual volume based on the detection result.
US08635424B2 Storage system and control method for the same
An externally-connected volume of a main storage is correlated to an AOU volume inside of an external storage. The AOU volume is allocated with a not-yet-used page in a pool in accordance with data writing. When a command is issued to the externally-connected volume for formatting or others, a first controller in the main storage converts the command into a format command or an area deallocation command with respect to the AOU volume in the external storage. As such, the external AOU volume is subjected to a write process in its entirety, thereby being able to prevent any unnecessary page allocation. With such a configuration, the storage system of the present invention can use pages in the pool with good efficiency.
US08635418B2 Memory system and method for passing configuration commands
A memory system is provided. In the system, there are first and second sets of dynamic random access memories (DRAMs) and a system register. Each DRAM has at least a first and a second addressable mode register, where the binary address of the second mode register is the inverted binary address of the first mode register. The system register has an input configured to be coupled to a controller, an output coupled to the first set of DRAMs via first address lines and an inverted output coupled to the second set of DRAMs via second address lines. The system register is configured to receive mode register set commands including address bits and configuration bits at the input and to output the mode register set commands non-inverted via the output to the first set of DRAMs and in inverted form via the inverted output to the second set of DRAMs.
US08635414B2 System and method for allocating memory resources
System and method for allocating memory resources are disclosed. The system utilizes a bus system coupled to a plurality of requestors and a plurality of memory systems coupled to the bus system. Each memory system includes a memory component and a memory management module including a value that represents access rights to the memory component. The memory management module is configured to receive an access request from a first requestor of the plurality of requestors and to grant access to the memory component only if the value indicates that the first requestor has access rights to the memory component. The memory management module is configurable to change the value to give the access rights to the memory component to a second requestor of the plurality of requestors.
US08635406B2 Data processing apparatus and method for providing target address information for branch instructions
A data processing apparatus and method have a processor for executing instructions, and a prefetch unit for prefetching instructions from memory prior to sending those instructions to the processor for execution. A branch target cache structure has a plurality of entries, where the cache structure comprises an initial branch target cache having a first number of entries and a promoted entry branch target cache having a second number of entries. During lookup operation, both the initial entry branch target cache and the promoted entry branch target cache are accessed in parallel. For a branch instruction executed by the processor that does not currently have a corresponding entry in the branch target cache structure, allocation circuitry performs an initial allocation operation to allocate one of the entries in the initial entry branch target cache for storing the branch instruction information for that branch instruction.
US08635404B2 Data transfer systems with power management
A controller for transferring data between a host and a storage medium includes a data transfer unit and a control unit. The data transfer unit transfers data according to control commands from the host if the data transfer unit is enabled. The control unit coupled to the data transfer unit receives a status signal indicating whether the storage medium is coupled to a socket of the controller. The control unit provides interruption signals to the host. Power and a clock signal for the control unit are disabled if the status signal indicates that the storage medium is decoupled from the controller.
US08635400B2 Storage system having a plurality of flash packages
A storage system 100, which has a plurality of flash packages 230, has a function for minimizing the imbalance of the number of deletions of each block inside the flash package 230 and a block-unit capacity virtualization function, and efficiently manifests lessening of the imbalance of the number of deletions and reduction in the data storage capacity for the entire storage system 100 by having functions for calculating the number of deletions and the data occupancy of each flash package 230, and for transferring data between the flash packages 230 on the basis of the values of these number of deletions and data occupancy.
US08635390B2 System and method for a hierarchical buffer system for a shared data bus
The present invention provides a system and method for controlling data entries in a hierarchical buffer system. The system includes an integrated circuit device comprising: a memory core, a shared data bus, and a plurality of 1st tier buffers that receive data from the memory. The system further includes a 2nd tier transfer buffer that delivers the data onto the shared data bus with pre-determined timing. The present invention can also be viewed as providing methods for controlling moving data entries in a hierarchical buffer system. The method includes managing the buffers to allow data to flow from a plurality of 1st tier buffers through a 2nd tier transfer buffer, and delivering the data onto a shared data bus with pre-determined timing.
US08635379B2 Data storage device and method of operating the same
A data storage device includes a data storage device controller configured to control a storage medium, and a tag duplicate check unit to determine, when a frame is received from an initiator, the initiator, tag information, and a type of the sent frame and providing an interrupt to the data storage device controller if a same frame type and same tag information are received from a same initiator.
US08635375B2 Remote F—ports
Disclosed techniques allow for devices of a SAN to login to an F_port of a different switch than the switch to which the device is physically connected. These techniques allow moving some of the capability from an edge switch to another switch in the fabric, with the edge switch transporting incoming frames from the device to the other switch and thence across the SAN to the destination device, and similarly transporting outgoing frames from the more-capable switch to the edge switch for delivery to the device connected to the edge switch. In some embodiments, the edge switch may determine the other switch to which the device should login based on properties of the other switch.
US08635370B2 Blade server and switch blade
A blade server is capable of being mounted with a plurality of operation blades, a plurality of switch blades, and I/O blades. The operation blades have CPUs that emit packets for the I/O blades. The switch blades include a crossbar that selects two or more of the plurality of operation blades, comparators that compare two or more packets emitted by CPUs that the two or more operation blades selected by the crossbar are provided with, and a further crossbar that transfers the compared packets to the I/O blades based on comparison results of the comparators.
US08635361B2 Transaction acceleration using application-specific locking
A data access request from an application for access to a data resource is received from a first application. The data access request is analyzed to identify application-specific behavior indicating a type of data access for the data resource. The WAN acceleration functionality of a first device is configured for network traffic optimization based on the type of data access for the data resource. The analysis of the data access request may be based on attributes of the data access request, the data resource, and/or an access control restriction. The network traffic optimization may be adapted to optimize network traffic to a first portion of the data resource that is different than a second portion of the data resource associated with the data access request or to a second data resource separate from the data resource associated with the data access request.
US08635359B2 File format for synchronized media
Metadata defining decoding and rendering instructions for media content to be co-rendered in a media presentation is divided and distributed as track fragments (15, 16) provided in different media container files (11). Track fragment adjustment information (20) is included in at least one such track fragment (15) in order to define rendering timing relationships between media content portions defined by the track fragments (15, 16) in a current media container file (11). The rendering timing relationships enable a correct time alignment of the playback of the media content to be co-rendered to achieve a synchronized media presentation. The track fragment adjustment information (20) is particularly advantageous in connection with tuning in or a random access in a stream of media container files (1, 11) comprising fragmented metadata.
US08635358B2 High data rate interface
A data Interface for transferring digital data between a host and a client over a communication path using packet structures linked together to form a communication protocol for communicating a pre-selected set of digital control and presentation data. The signal protocol is used by link controllers configured to generate, transmit, and receive packets forming the communications protocol, and to form digital data into one or more types of data packets, with at least one residing in the host device and being coupled to the client through the communications path. The interface provides a cost-effective, low power, bi-directional, high-speed data transfer mechanism over a short-range “serial” type data link, which lends itself to implementation with miniature connectors and thin flexible cables which are especially useful in connecting display elements such as wearable micro-displays to portable computers and wireless communication devices.
US08635357B2 Dynamic selection of parameter sets for transcoding media data
An iterative operation is performed at a computing device to identify a parameter set for an initial segment. A parameter set for an initial segment includes a plurality of encoding parameters and values assigned to the encoding parameters. The initial segment is re-encoded using the parameter set, thereby generating a transcoded segment. In some embodiments, the transcoded segment is transmitted to a client computing device that presents media represented by the transcoded segment.
US08635356B2 Method for supporting scalable progressive downloading of video signal
Disclosed is a method for enabling scalable progressive downloading of video signals. In the method, when a server transmits scalably encoded content data to a client, the server transmits some of the content data from a head of the content data to a tail of the content data according to transmission conditions, and transmits some of residual data of the content data having not been transmitted in the prior process. When scalably coded transmission content data is reproduced, the transmission content data are stored in a storage means as a file, the content data is read, decoded and output. Further, the recorded content data are read while an area having no recorded content data is skipped based on a specific code in the file.
US08635353B2 Reception according to a data transfer protocol of data directed to any of a plurality of destination entities
A data processing system arranged for receiving over a network, according to a data transfer protocol, data directed to any of a plurality of destination identities, the data processing system comprising: data storage for storing data received over the network; and a first processing arrangement for performing processing in accordance with the data transfer protocol on received data in the data storage, for making the received data available to respective destination identities; and a response former arranged for: receiving a message requesting a response indicating the availability of received data to each of a group of destination identities; and forming such a response; wherein the system is arranged to, in dependence on receiving the said message.
US08635350B2 IP device discovery systems and methods
A method for Internet Protocol (IP) device discovery implemented in a control network having a gateway device, a router, and an IP device at a location. A location management system including a IP device at a location having an IP address assigned by a router at the location. A gateway device for managing a set of two or more local management devices at a location.
US08635347B2 Apparatus and method for synchronized networks
An apparatus and method for network routing is provided. Synchronized networks are disclosed which enable fast connection set up and release in a tiered hierarchy of circuit switched nodes. Nodes in the network aggregate and disaggregate data according to a transform algorithm allowing for dynamic frame and frame segment sizing. Connections within the network are organized by paired connections performing aggregation and disaggregation according to control vectors.
US08635336B2 Systems and methods for categorizing network traffic content
A method for categorizing network traffic content includes determining a first characterization of the network traffic content determining a first probability of accuracy associated with the first characterization, and categorizing the network traffic content based at least in part on the first characterization and the first probability of accuracy. A method for use in a process to categorize network traffic content includes obtaining a plurality of data, each of the plurality of data representing a probability of accuracy of a characterization of network traffic content, and associating each of the plurality of data with a technique for characterizing network traffic content. A method for categorizing network traffic content includes determining a characterization of the network traffic content, determining a weight value associated with the characterization, and categorizing network traffic content based at least in part on the characterization of the network traffic content and the weight value.
US08635326B1 Mobile gateway having reduced forwarding state for anchoring mobile subscribers
In general, techniques are described for aggregating, within a network device, internal forwarding routes for multiple control protocols and allocating next hops for the routes among individual service units of a decentralized control plane for the network device. The techniques may also include aggregating internal forwarding routes for data protocols and allocating next hops for the routes among individual forwarding units of a decentralized data plane for the network device. In one example, a mobile gateway includes a plurality of subscriber management service units that present a uniform interface to nodes within a mobile service provider network. An allocation manager apportions a control protocol session identifier namespace into a plurality of contiguous, non-overlapping protocol session identifier ranges and allocates the ranges among the service units. The service units execute the control protocol by utilizing respective allocated ranges, which the aggregate internal forwarding routes use to identify the associated service units.
US08635314B2 Use of IPv6 in access networks
An apparatus may include a port to receive a ranging request from a cable modem and a processor in communication with the port. The processor may assign a service identifier to the cable modem, match the service identifier with a link layer address of the cable modem, receive a router advertisement and comparing the source link layer address from the router advertisement to the link layer address of the cable modem, and determine if the link layer address of the cable modem is the same as the source link layer address.
US08635306B2 System and method for display device character input
Methods and apparatus are provided for providing character input to a display device. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting a user selection of an application which allows for character input by a user, launching a receiver application by the display device, and detecting a transmission from a user device by a messenger application of the display device, the transmission identifying at least one graphical character based on user operation of a user device. The method may further include displaying the at least one graphical character.
US08635305B1 Mechanisms for providing differentiated services within a web cache
Methods and apparatus for providing differentiated services with respect to data processing provided by a cache engine. Requests that are received into a cache engine are associated with a particular service level. Processing of the request by the cache engine is then based on the request's particular service level, and may be prioritized based on the request's particular service level, or may be based on the number of hits for such object by clients having the particular service level. When the cache engine does not contain the requested object, the request may be forwarded to a selected origin server, based on the service level of the request. When a response is received from an origin server into the cache engine, processing of such response may also be based on the object request's service level, as well as a priority of the object of the response.
US08635304B2 System and method for using resources of a computer system in conjunction with a thin media client
A computer system including a processor and a memory for retrieving digital media content, storing the digital media content in the memory, and providing the digital media content to a thin media client is provided.
US08635298B2 System and method for linking terrestrial mail over a network
A system and method for linking terrestrial mail to the global computer network, e.g., the Internet, are provided. The system and method of the present disclosure will enable a user, e.g., a sender and/or recipient of a document, to link all types of terrestrial mail to the global computer network, e.g., the Internet, so that they can digitally access, reply and/or utilize the content of the mail. The system and method provides for receiving an identifier associated with a terrestrial document; accessing an electronic version of the terrestrial document using the received identifier; creating a reply to the accessed document; and forwarding the reply to a sender of the terrestrial document. The reply document can be forwarded by e-mailing the reply to the sender, faxing the reply to the sender and/or printing the reply and delivering the printed reply by a terrestrial delivery service.
US08635294B2 System, method and program product for proactively provisioning emergency computer resources using geospatial relationships
An emergency response system, method of responding to emergencies and a computer program product therefor. Networked provider computers are distributed over a geographical area that includes multiple regions with at least one providing computing capability to each region and each region receiving emergency response resources during emergencies from an emergency response computer. During any local emergency the area emergency response computer provides a local response and notifies other emergency response computers for other regions that are potentially affected by the emergency.
US08635291B2 Communication device and method for overriding a message filter
A communication device and method for overriding a message filter are provided. A first message is transmitted from the communication device to a communication network, the first message associated with a filtering override condition stored at a memory device. A second message is received from the communication network, the second message meeting a filtering condition stored in the memory device such that an alert device is not triggered to provide an alert of second message. The second message us determined to be received in response to the first message associated the filtering override condition, and in response, the alert device is triggered to provide the alert of the second message.
US08635284B1 Method and apparatus for defending against denial of service attacks
A method for processing packets that includes receiving a packet from a network, analyzing the packet to obtain packet information used to determine to which temporary data structure to forward the packet, if a first list includes the packet information forwarding the packet to a first temporary data structure, and processing the packet from the first temporary data structure, and if the first list does not include the packet information forwarding the packet to a second temporary data structure, processing the packet, wherein processing the packet comprises: sending a first test to a source of the packet using the packet information, placing the packet information on the first list, if a successful response to the first test is received, and placing the packet information on a second list, if an unsuccessful response to the first test is received.
US08635268B1 Content notification
Disclosed are various embodiments of systems and methods for content notification. For example, in some embodiments, a method includes the step of storing a network page in a memory in a client computing device. The network page includes a list of item representations associated with a plurality of items. Each item representation is associated with a respective one of the items. The method further includes the step of rendering the network page using the client computing device. The network page includes a content notification component in a visible portion, and the content notification component is visible in a viewport. The content notification component provides notification to a user of at least one non-visible portion of the network page.
US08635265B2 Communicating between a server and clients
Communication occurs between at least one server and a plurality of clients. Client-side connections are established between a traffic manager and clients, in response to clients making requests to communicate with a server. Server-side connections are created and maintained between the traffic manager and the server in order to service the client requests. At least one of the server-side connections is reused to service a client request.
US08635264B2 Automatic and dynamic information handling system personalization
Information handling systems personalized by addition of a physical component, such as lid having an emblem that attaches to a portable information handling system, have software associated with the physical component automatically applied by interacting with an entitlement network location. An identifier associated with the physical component is automatically read by the information handling system and sent to the entitlement network location to retrieve entitlements for the use of software at the information handling system.
US08635255B2 Methods and systems for automatically customizing an interaction experience of a user with a media content application
An exemplary method includes generating an interaction feed corresponding to a user of at least one access device, the interaction feed comprising data representative of an interaction of the at least one access device with one or more media content applications, updating metadata within a storage facility with the interaction feed, and automatically customizing an interaction experience of at least one of the user and another user with a media content application in accordance with the metadata. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
US08635253B2 Decorated model architecture for efficient model-driven application development
A computer-executable application is provided with access to resources generated using a principal model. A decoration model associated with the principal model is instantiated for use by the application. The application is provided with access to an object of the decoration model responsive to a request by the application to access an object of the principal model. The decoration model object corresponds to the principal model object.
US08635250B2 Methods and systems for deleting large amounts of data from a multitenant database
A bulk delete for remote database access is provided. A delete request is received over an API for a multitenant database. The delete can be for either a soft delete or a hard delete, where hard delete allows the system to skip use of a recycle bin. Multiple batch jobs are created to implement the delete request, and the batch jobs are executed asynchronously with respect to the request until the request is satisfied. Results for each batch job can be stored and provided to a client to indicate results of the delete operation.
US08635248B2 Providing localized individually customized updates from a social network site to a desktop application
A method of providing updates from a social network to a desktop application is provided. An update is created in an application and if the application has permission, it creates an entry in a recent activity queue. The queue is then subject to analysis to reduce the number of entries in the queue. Subscribers that have permission to receive updates from the publisher and the publishing application then receive updates from the publisher.
US08635247B1 Namespace and storage management application infrastructure for use in management of resources in a storage system environment
A namespace and storage management (NSM) application includes an infrastructure configured to enable efficient management of resources in a storage system environment. The NSM application executes on a NSM console and interacts with an NSM server to integrate namespace management and storage management in the storage system environment. The NSM server, in turn, interacts with one or more remote agents installed on host machines in the environment to convey application programming interface (API) function calls that enable remote management of the resources.
US08635246B1 Method to enable continuous availability of database applications during system upgrade
Methods, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for upgrading a system while keeping applications continuously available. The upgrade of such a system which consists of several database applications requires an outage for the complete system due to the fact that database objects (e.g. tables, indexes or views) are structurally adjusted or the content of database tables is changed. To overcome this limitation there is provided a method. The method comprises in setting up a temporary failover framework in the same database to allow end-user read and write access to database tables which are not changed during the upgrade outage. The database applications based on these tables are thus made continuously available.
US08635243B2 Sending a communications header with voice recording to send metadata for use in speech recognition, formatting, and search mobile search application
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for sending a communications header with the voice recording to send metadata for use in speech recognition, formatting, and search in searching for web content on a mobile communication facility comprising capturing speech presented by a user using a resident capture facility on the mobile communication facility; transmitting a communications header to a speech recognition facility from the mobile communication facility through a wireless communications facility, wherein the communications header includes at least one of device name, network type, audio source, display parameters for the wireless communications facility, geographic location, and phone number information; transmitting at least a portion of the captured speech as data through the wireless communication facility to a speech recognition facility; generating speech-to-text results utilizing the speech recognition facility based at least in part on the information relating to the captured speech and the communications header; and transmitting text from the speech-to-text results along with URL usage information configured to enable a user to conduct a search on the mobile communication facility.
US08635217B2 Collections of linked databases
This invention is generally directed to one or more methods or systems relating to inferential networks. This invention is further directed to methods and systems for making and using inferential networks. Still further, this invention is generally directed to making one or more inferential networks by using data generated from directed searches of collections of linked databases.
US08635216B1 Enhancing network information retrieval according to a user search profile
An enhancement to a search engine is disclosed for prioritizing search results obtained from an information search engine such as those accessible via a network (e.g., the Internet and/or a corporate intranet). In response to a user search query, the enhanced search engine of the invention prioritizes the search results using stored information indicative of network sites: (a) previously visited by the user, and/or (b) to which the user has indicated an interest (or disinterest) in the content thereof. Additionally, the invention prioritizes the search results using stored information indicative of other users that are determined to have similar searching interests. Thus, since the stored information can dynamically change, repeated performances of the same search can present different initial, more user customized, portions of the search results.
US08635211B2 Trend analysis in content identification based on fingerprinting
Fingerprint-based content identification is described. Bin-counting detects linear trends based on data points that are generated from a set of query fingerprints, which are extracted from a query content item and a matching set of corresponding reference content items that are extracted from a reference content item. RANSAC may detect trends based on confidence scores that are computed for multiple candidate content items. The trends detected for the candidate content items are compared against a threshold in order of decreasing confidence score until a trend that satisfies the threshold is found. A ranking-based mechanism for fingerprint-based content identification may use a bin-counting or RANSAC-based trend detection mechanism to identify duplicate or multiple reference content items that all match the same query content item.
US08635192B2 Method of automatically geotagging data
A handheld electronic device, such as a GPS-enabled wireless communications device with an embedded camera, automatically geotags a set of data, such as a digital photo, video, notes, or a blog, with a textual plain-language description of the current location. When the data is generated, the current location of the device is determined, e.g. using a GPS receiver. A textual plain-language description of the current location is then generated, e.g. by reverse geocoding the GPS position coordinates or by correlating the current time with a calendar event from which language descriptive of the event can be extracted. This textual plain-language description is automatically generated and written into a tag or metadata file associated with the photo or other set of data. By automatically geotagging data with textual plain-language descriptions that go beyond mere coordinates of latitude and longitude, data can be searched and managed more efficiently.
US08635184B2 System and method for providing long-term storage for data
A system for storing files comprises a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to break a file into one or more segments; store the one or more segments in a first storage unit; and add metadata to the first storage unit so that the file can be accessed independent of a second storage unit, wherein a single namespace enables access for files stored in the first storage unit and the second storage unit. The memory is coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.
US08635180B2 Multiple hash scheme for use in a pattern matching accelerator
A pattern matching accelerator (PMA) for assisting software threads to find the presence and location of strings in an input data stream that match a given pattern. The patterns are defined using regular expressions that are compiled into a data structure comprised of rules subsequently processed by the PMA. The patterns to be searched in the input stream are defined by the user as a set of regular expressions. The patterns to be searched are grouped in pattern context sets. The sets of regular expressions which define the pattern context sets are compiled to generate a rules structure used by the PMA hardware. The rules are compiled before search run time and stored in main memory, in rule cache memory within the PMA or a combination thereof. For each input character, the PMA executes the search and returns the search results.
US08635172B1 Dynamic techniques for evaluating quality of clustering or classification system aimed to minimize the number of manual reviews based on Bayesian inference and Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) techniques
Performance of the machine learning technique is assessed using Bayesian analysis where previously grouped documents belonging to a machine-assigned class or cluster are presented to a human rater and the rater's assessment is fed to the Bayesian analysis processor that updates a Beta bionomial model with each document. The model represents the precision probability associated with the class or cluster under test. Monitoring the precision probability, the technique enforces a set of stopping rules corresponding to an acceptance/rejection assessment of the machine learning apparatus. A Markov Chain Monte Carlo process operates on the model to infuse the processing of each subsequent class or cluster with knowledge from those previously processed.
US08635159B1 Self-service terminal limited access personal identification number (“PIN”)
A method for operating an electronic self-service device is provided. The method may include using an electronic receiver module to receive electronic data from the self-service device. The electronic data may include information regarding a limited access personal identification number (“PIN”). The method may further include using an electronic computational module to test the PIN using a plurality of algorithms. The testing preferably determines whether the PIN corresponds to one of a plurality of stored PIN offset values. The method may also include identifying an algorithm that obtains a correspondence between the PIN and one of the plurality of stored PIN offset values. The method may further include using an electronic transmitter to transmit a signal corresponding to the algorithm used to obtain the correspondence and receiving an electronic authorization message that comprises instructions. The instructions may provide limited access authorization information.
US08635158B1 Student loan repayment system
A student loan repayment system for accumulating money using a client device, a computing cloud, and a network, wherein a cloud data storage contains computer instructions for presenting a student loan holder interface, creating a student profile, forming an account for accumulating money linked to another account, enabling the student loan holder to input goals, and enabling the student loan holder to make and receive deposits into the account for accumulating money. The deposits can include an amount of money selected by the student loan holder, an amount of money repaid by not purchasing a product or service, an amount of money repaid by purchasing a lower priced product or service, a similar product with a rebate, another promotional incentive for purchasing a product, or an amount of money associated with a non-monetary goal.
US08635154B2 Environment customization based on location
A user's location is automatically transmitted to a network, and the network automatically customizes one or more environments, such as by customizing communication devices, other types of devices, or the like, based on the detected location and on profile information. Customizing an environment may include enabling services, such as setting up a public telephone or hotel telephone with a user's home base telephone settings and/or services, and/or may include disabling functions, such as disabling long-distance service when the user is away from home.
US08635152B2 Multi tenancy for single tenancy applications
A mechanism is provided for deploying software applications in a cloud computing environment. An administrator is provided an interface for allowing a software application that is designed for a single tenant to be used by a plurality of users. An aspect of the invention is to provide a mechanism for quickly and easily giving multi-user qualities to a single tenant application like autoCAD. As such, multiple users can access the application without the need to download and install a version locally on their system. The system is able to determine the period of time for which an application is in use for a given user, because every application is run on a resource that is part of the cloud environment. Therefore, it is possible for the application provider to charge for the application in a usage-based model—e.g. by the hour, or day—without any re-engineering of the existing application.
US08635145B2 Method, apparatus and interface for transaction toggling
A method for submitting transactions from an automated trading tool to an electronic exchange. The method includes defining a proximity limit and automatically generating a transaction for a tradeable object. The method further includes applying the proximity limit to the transaction. When the transaction falls within the defined proximity limit, the transaction is submitted to the exchange. An apparatus and interface for transaction toggling based on proximity limits are also provided.
US08635144B2 Confidential block trading system and method
Methods and systems for facilitating trading of securities, preferred methods comprising receiving a first buy or sell order from a first user; calculating a block price range; determining that said first order is reasonably priced; transmitting to a second user a notification that a reasonably priced order is present, but without notifying said second user of the side; receiving a second order from said second user, wherein said second order is a contra to said first order and nearly matches but does not cross said first order; transmitting a contra order notification to said second user after said second order is received, said contra order notification indicating that a nearly matching contra order is active; receiving a third order from said second user, said third order being a contra to said first order and crossing said first order; and executing a trade comprising said first order and said third order.
US08635141B2 Method and system for multiple portfolio optimization
Methods and systems for optimizing a plurality of portfolios, each portfolio including one or more shares of one or more tradable assets, and may include the steps of: receiving asset data associated with the plurality of the portfolios; receiving one or more optimization constraints including at least one global constraint defining a constraint to be applied across an aggregate of the plurality of portfolios; for each portfolio, optimizing the asset data based on the one or more optimization constraints to create optimized portfolio data; aggregating the optimized portfolio data to create aggregate optimized asset data; determining if the aggregate optimized asset data satisfies the at least one global constraint; and only if the at least one global constraint is satisfied, outputting the optimized asset data.
US08635134B2 Systems and methods for optimizations involving insufficient funds (NSF) conditions
Systems and methods for optimizations involving insufficient funds conditions are provided. An identification of a first account of a customer of a financial institution may be received by a financial system comprising one or more computers. The first account may be a deposit account at the financial institution. Interest income and non-interest income attributable to one or more of a plurality of accounts, including the first account, that the customer has with the financial institution may be analyzed by the financial system. Based at least in part on the analyzed interest income and non-interest income, a recommended next action associated with the first account may be determined by the financial system. The recommended next action may be associated with an actual or potential insufficient funds (NSF) condition associated with the first account.
US08635133B2 System and method for relativistic statistical securities trading
A system comprising a processor configured to calculate a location for a server along a communication link between a first trading center and a second trading center based at least in part on a property of the communication link. The server may be configured to send first trade instructions for trading a first financial instrument to the first trading center and send second trade instructions for trading a second financial instrument to the second trading center.
US08635131B1 System and method for managing a transaction protocol
The invention teaches a system and method for managing a transaction account using the BIN number included in a transaction account number. The transaction account number is provided to a transaction account issuer configured to retrieve the BIN number from the transaction account. A portion of the BIN number, called the BIN identifier, is retrieved by the transaction account issuer and used to locate a corresponding use or issuer-defined transaction processing protocol stored on the account issuer system. The account issuer may then process the transaction request in accordance with the protocol located.
US08635126B2 Casino operations management system
A system, computer program and computer-based method for managing casino operations. The system provides for employee management and information storage and retrieval for a significant number of casino operations. The system includes an attendance controller that receives, stores and displays attendance information for casino personnel. Casino personnel are issued cards that uniquely identify them and monitor them in the fulfillment of their roles. Players may also receive these types of cards, which can be used to record their casino activity and reward them for playing. The system provides for managing financial transactions between the player and entity. Touch screen devices, resident at casino tables, may be used to request and manage the table.
US08635124B1 Message based generation of item listings
According to various exemplary embodiments, an electronic text message is received from a source telephone number, the electronic text message including content describing a product item. A seller of the product item is identified, based on the source telephone number, and the product item is identified, based on the content included in the electronic text message. Thereafter, a draft version of an item listing is automatically generated, where the item listing lists the product item as being for sale by the seller on a marketplace website.
US08635121B2 User segmentation for listings in online publications
A method and a system segmenting a user viewing listings in online publications to render the listing according to a rule received from a seller. For example, the system receives one or more listings submitted by a seller. The listing comprises one or more modifiable parameters. The system also receives a rule from the seller, the rule associated with a first listing of the one or more listings. A profile is associated with a user based on data collected about the user. The first listing is rendered to the user based on the profile associated with the user and the rule by modifying the one or more parameters.
US08635099B1 Method and system for providing surveys
A method and system for providing a survey comprises an incentive module, a survey determination module, a timing module, and a survey interface module. The incentive module determines a dynamic incentive for a panelist. The dynamic incentive is associated with the survey. The survey determination module provides the survey to the panelist. The timing module determines a survey time and if the panelist may perform another survey in a remaining time. The survey interface module provides a graphical representation of the survey to the panelist.
US08635098B2 Determining a community rating for a user using feedback ratings of related users in an electronic environment
Community ratings are determined for users of an electronic marketplace. In a typical configuration, the community rating of an individual reflect the individual's reputation in the electronic community (e.g. feedback rating) as well as the reputations of the users the individual sponsors and the reputations of each user they sponsor, and so on. Various methodologies are provided for determining a community rating, such as aggregating feedback ratings, or weighting or thresholding these feedback ratings.
US08635096B2 Method and system for adapting a production flow schedule for a production process
A method and system are disclosed for adapting a production flow schedule for one or more production processes, each having one or more process steps that use power for the execution thereof. An exemplary method includes identifying at least one availability time window in which there is a predetermined minimum power availability within a predetermined optimization time period based on a piece of availability information which indicates a forecast power availability during the optimization time period; providing an indication of one or more flexible process steps, which can be executed in a plurality of alternative time windows within the optimization time period; and for each of the flexible process steps, temporally rearranging the corresponding flexible process step into one of the corresponding alternative time windows if the rescheduling is within the availability time window in order to obtain an adapted production flow schedule.
US08635094B2 System and method for dynamically configuring user interface components of a collaborative space based on mapping rules and user roles
A method for role-based personalization of a collaborative space can include generating a collaborative space utilizing role information for an interacting user that has been defined by an underlying business process model in a workflow. For example, the step of generating a collaborative space can include parsing the workflow to extract a role model, generating a collaborative space domain model from the role model, selecting a plurality of user interface components based upon the role model, organizing the selected user interface components in the collaborative space, and rendering the collaborative space.
US08635089B1 Systems and methods for administration of prescription drug benefits
The invention relates to the administration of prescription drug formulary information. A list of drugs that a particular prescription drug plan will pay for in whole or in part is called a formulary. The invention involves the use of information and customizable rules associated with formularies, combined with information from patient medical records, to generate custom, dynamic formularies applicable to specific patients, groups of patients, or both. Depending on the choice of rules and the other information, this may help payers control prescription drug costs by encouraging the use of less-expensive drugs when medically appropriate, but without impairing the freedom of prescribers to prescribe specific drugs according to their professional judgments. Some embodiments may also be adapted to generate and store data about the use and functioning of the embodiments or aspects of them and to generate reports containing some or all such data in response to queries.
US08635082B2 Method and system for managing inventories of orthopaedic implants
A system and method for managing inventories of orthopaedic implants includes receiving a medical image of a bone of a patient from a healthcare provider, performing a digital templating procedure on the medical image to determine an orthopaedic implant for use with the bone of the patient; transmitting the digital templated medical image to the healthcare provider, and shipping the orthopaedic implant to the healthcare provider in response to an electronic approval of the digital templated medical image received from the healthcare provider. Implant constraint data may also be received from the healthcare provider and used in determining the orthopaedic implant. In addition, a number of orthopaedic implants having a range of different sizes based on the size of the determined orthopaedic implant may be shipped to the healthcare provider. In some embodiments, the healthcare provider may perform the digital templating procedure on the medical image.
US08635074B2 Interactive voice response interface, system, methods and program for correctional facility commissary
An interactive voice response system for a correctional facility commissary is described. The system is configured to receive incoming communications from an inmate to the correctional facility commissary. The system detects violations of facility restrictions to orders for commissary goods at more than one point in time, and allows comprehensive review and editing of pending orders for commissary items.
US08635059B2 Providing alternative translations
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for presenting alternative translations. In one aspect, a method includes receiving source language text; receiving translated text corresponding to the source language text from a machine translation system; receiving segmentation data for the translated text, wherein the segmentation data includes a first segmentation of the translated text, the first segmentation dividing the translated text into two or more segments; receiving one or more alternative translations for each of the two or more segments; presenting the source text and the translated text to a user in a user interface; and in response to a user selection of a first portion of the translated text, displaying, in the user interface, one or more alternative translations for a first segment to which the first portion of translated text corresponds according to the first segmentation.
US08635055B1 Composite signal configuration element for modeling environments
In a modeling environment, a composite signal configuration element is provided. The composite signal configuration element configures one or more signals of a composite signal having a selectable grouping of the one or more signals. Configuring signals of a composite signal allows for the selectable creation, editing, and separation of composite signals. In some embodiments, hierarchical composite signals may be selectably created edited or separated into individual signals. In certain embodiments the composite signal configuration element may include additional functionality for performing operation on the composite signal.
US08635051B1 System and method for pressure-dependent demand optimization for leakage detection
In one embodiment, a hydraulic simulation model corresponding to a real-world hydraulic network is loaded in a hydraulic modeling and simulation application executing on a computer system. The hydraulic simulation model represents leakages as pressure dependent emitter flow at selected nodes (leakage nodes). Optimization criteria include a specified maximum of possible leakage nodes. A genetic algorithm (GA) generates trial solutions for an optimization, each trial solution representing locations for leakage nodes and corresponding emitter coefficients. A hydraulic analysis is performed for the trial solutions to generated model-simulated results. The model-simulated results are compared to field-observed data for the real-world hydraulic network to generate goodness-of-fit values. The process is repeated until a particular goodness-of-fit value is achieved or a maximum number of iterations is reached. Predicted locations for leakage nodes from a particular selected trial solution are then displayed to a user.
US08635048B2 Methods for characterizing vibration of a rack structure
A system for characterizing vibration of a rack structure having at least one hard disk drive disposed therein and a vibration exciter operatively associated with the rack structure includes one or more computers. The one or more computers are configured to command the vibration exciter to provide vibration input to the rack structure and to command a plurality of reads from the at least one hard disk drive such that, for each of the plurality of reads, data stored on the at least one hard disk drive is retrieved from the at least one hard disk drive. The one or more computers are also configured to obtain read rate information related to the plurality of reads and to identify at least one resonant frequency of the rack structure based on the read rate information.
US08635046B2 Method and system for evaluating analyte sensor response characteristics
Apparatus, method, system and kit for receiving a plurality of continuous analyte sensor values for corresponding reference analyte values, calculating a rate of change value for the continuous analyte sensor values, defining a plurality of data range windows of the reference analyte values, evaluating the corresponding continuous analyte sensor values, the rate of change values, the reference analyte values, and/or a plurality of corresponding difference values for the plurality of data range windows, and determining a best fit based on the evaluation of the plurality of data range windows are provided.
US08635044B2 Transient thermal modeling of multisource power devices
Embodiments of systems and methods for improved measurement of transient thermal responses in electronic systems are described herein. Embodiments of the disclosure use the known thermal transfer function of an electronic system to generate an equivalent resistor-capacitor (RC) network having a dynamic response that is identical to a given power excitation as the actual electronic system would have to that power excitation. Using the analogy between thermal and electrical systems, a Foster RC network is constructed, comprising a plurality of RC stages in which resistors and capacitors are connected in parallel. Subsequently, the analog thermal RC network is converted into an infinite impulse response (IIR) digital filter, whose coefficients can be obtained the Z-transform of the analog thermal RC network. This IIR digital filter establishes the recursive relationship between temperature output at the current time step and measured power input at the previous time step. Using this IIR digital filter, temperature response subject to arbitrary time-dependent power can be calculated in very small amount of time compared with prior art methods.
US08635040B2 Signal measuring device and signal measuring method
A signal measuring device, comprises one set, or a plurality of sets, of measuring unit(s) measuring an object of measurement in synch with a driving clock signal for measurement and outputting result of measurement as first data, and a timing identification unit which, in accordance with a measurement-start command, outputs a value, which differs every period, as second data in synch with a reference signal having a prescribed period and a speed lower than that of the driving clock signal; and a storage unit collecting and successively storing the first data and the second data as one set in synch with the driving clock signal.
US08635028B2 Rapid detection of viable bacteria system and method
An improved system and method is provided for detecting viable bacteria in a suspension sample. A sample of a suspension in which bacterial presence is suspected is collected from a source and a portion of the sample transferred to a microfluidic unit. A series of analysis signals at different frequencies are applied to the sample portion. An impedance is measured via a signal analyzer for the sample portion for each of the analysis signals to define an impedance data set. An initial bulk capacitance value is determined for a model circuit based on the impedance dataset. After a predetermined time period, a new bulk capacitance value is determined for on another portion of the sample. The difference between the new bulk capacitance and the initial bulk capacitance value is compared to a threshold value to determine if viable bacterial is present in the sample.
US08635027B2 Common protein surface shapes and uses therefor
A method of determining common three-dimensional structural features of protein surfaces is provided, as is use of representations of these common structures in molecular database searching and in designing focused molecular libraries. The method is particularly concerned with the analysis and representation of protein surfaces such as b-turns, loops and contact surfaces. In one form, the method identifies common locations and orientations of amino acid side-chains, simplified as Cα-Cβ vectors. In another form, the method identifies common regions of surface charge represented by grid points in three-dimensional space. Further provided are common three dimensional structural features of proteins that can be used to search molecular databases for the purposes of identifying molecules that match these common three dimensional structural features. The common three dimensional structural features can also be used to focus de novo molecular generation to produce libraries containing molecules that have these common three dimensional structural features. Libraries of these structurally-related molecules may then be produced for the purposes of drug discovery.
US08635020B2 GPS location and favorite prediction based on in-vehicle meta-data
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for automatically entering favorite locations into a navigation system is provided. The method according to one embodiment includes receiving information regarding a location from an object within a vehicle using a navigation system. An identifier to the information and the information and identifier are stored in the navigation system. The user may retrieve the information from the navigation system using the identifier. The information from the objects may be received in various wireless formats, including RFID, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
US08635015B2 Enhanced visual landmark for localization
The different illustrative embodiments provide a localization apparatus comprising an identification signal and an orientation controller. The identification signal is for recognition by a localized machine for utilizing the localization apparatus as a location point. The orientation controller is configured to control an orientation of the identification signal dependent upon an orientation of the localization apparatus in a defined environment.
US08635012B2 Optimization of travel routing
Travel routes for a vehicle from a first location of the vehicle to a second location are generated. Different alternative travel routes are calculated from a first location to a second location selected by a user for a specific vehicle in a navigation system. For each of the different alternative travel routes, both estimated emissions of the specific vehicle and also estimated fuel consumption of the specific vehicle when following each of the different alternative travel routes are computed. Subsequently, each of the different alternative travel routes are presented to a user in the navigation system in connection with corresponding estimated emissions and fuel consumption for each of the different alternative travel routes.
US08635011B2 System and method for controlling a vehicle in response to a particular boundary
A system and method for controlling a vehicle in response to the presence of one or more vehicle boundary. According to various embodiments, a system is provided that automates end-turns and sequence execution in real-time based on approaching boundaries. In various embodiments, no pre-planning is required once boundaries and a turn pattern have been defined. Once these items are defined, the system creates end-turns based on what type of boundary is approaching and the turn path prescribed. The system determines what vehicle functions to execute based on pre-recorded sequences and executes the turns and the sequences automatically based on the location and speed of the vehicle and its relationship to various boundaries.
US08635010B2 Navigation system with accessory control mechanism and method of operation thereof
A method of operation of a navigation system includes: obtaining a device state having a current location, a current speed, and a current heading for locating a device; identifying an anticipated maneuver point for estimating a future location of the device on a thoroughfare with the anticipated maneuver point calculated from the current location and the current heading; determining an expected maneuver at the anticipated maneuver point; and generating an accessory control for manipulating an accessory on the device for the expected maneuver at the anticipated maneuver point.
US08635006B2 Control systems and methods for estimating engine coolant heat loss
A control system for an engine includes an air calculation module that determines, based on a plurality of first coolant temperatures sensed during a period of engine operation, a first cumulative mass of intake air combusted by the engine during the period that corresponds to an estimated amount of heat dissipated by a cooling system of the engine during the period, and that determines, based on the first cumulative mass, a second cumulative mass of intake air of the engine that is required to raise a temperature of the engine from an initial temperature at a start of the period to a target temperature. The control system further includes a control module that selectively adjusts one of a diagnostic condition and an operating condition of the engine based on the second cumulative mass. A related method for controlling an engine is also provided.
US08635002B2 Control method for a coupling in the powertrain of a motor vehicle
A method of controlling at least one coupling in a powertrain of a motor vehicle includes the steps of: determining at least one slip value which represents an instantaneous slip between different axles of the motor vehicle or between different wheels of an axle; forming an absolute value of the slip value which corresponds to the amount of the slip value; summing the absolute value or a substitute value derived therefrom to a last-formed slip sum value to form an instantaneous slip sum value; comparing the instantaneous slip sum value with a slip sum threshold value: and generating a control signal for actuating the coupling if the instantaneous slip sum value reaches or exceeds the slip sum threshold value.
US08634996B2 Method of cooling a dual clutch transmission
A method of cooling a dual clutch transmission is provided. The transmission has first and second input clutches alternately engagable to transfer torque to an output member along first and second input shafts, respectively, at various speed ratios dependent upon engagement of synchronizers. The method includes determining a currently established speed ratio by determining which of the input clutches and synchronizers are currently engaged and which of the input clutches and synchronizers are currently open. One of the open synchronizers is then engaged during the currently established speed ratio to cause the open input clutch to rotate at a speed greater than the speed of rotation of the engaged input clutch, thereby creating a fan cooling effect.
US08634987B2 Control apparatus for electric vehicle
A creep travel capability of an electric vehicle is secured when an abnormality occurs in a brake sensor. When an accelerator operation amount reaches 0% in a low vehicle speed region, a target creep torque is set, whereupon a motor-generator is controlled toward the target creep torque. The target creep torque is reduced as a brake pedal is depressed in order to suppress heat generation and the like in the motor-generator during vehicle braking. Hence, in an electric vehicle in which the target creep torque is varied in accordance with the brake operation amount, when an abnormality occurs (step S11) in a brake sensor for detecting a brake operation amount, a preset prescribed creep torque is employed as the target creep torque regardless of the brake operation amount (step S15). The prescribed creep torque is set at a required magnitude for securing the creep travel capability.
US08634986B2 Friction-based state of health indicator for an electric power steering system
A method for determining a state of health (SOH) value for an electric power steering (EPS) system in a vehicle includes estimating a first Self-Aligning Torque (SAT) value using a tire dynamics model, which includes modeled dynamics in the linear region of a lateral force acting on the vehicle tires. The method also includes estimating a second SAT value using an extended state observer and nominal parameters for the EPS system, and calculating a variance between the first and second SAT values. The controller monitors a progression of the calculated variance over a calibrated interval using the controller to thereby determine the SOH value, and automatically executes a control action using the SOH value. An EPS system for a vehicle includes a steering wheel, torque and angle sensors, a rack and pinion assembly, a steering motor, and the controller. A vehicle is also disclosed having the same controller.
US08634979B2 Drive device and drive control method for electric bicycle
A drive device and a drive control method for the electric bicycle are disclosed. The drive device of the electric bicycle is equipped with a power supply/storage unit, a compact motor, an inclination sensor, a brake actuation sensor, a pedal-rotating speed sensor and a drive control module. The drive device performs integrated calculations using the inclination information of the inclination sensor, the brake actuation information of the brake actuation sensor and the pedal-rotating speed information of the pedal-rotating speed sensor, so the drive control modules instructs the compact motor and the power supply/storage unit to quickly enter an auxiliary drive mode for rotating wheels of the electric bicycle, or to enter an energy recovery mode for storing electrical energy generated by the compact motor.
US08634977B2 Drive controller for cargo handling vehicle
A drive controller for a cargo handling vehicle including an engine, a generator motor, a cargo handling pump, a cargo handling actuator, a travel motor, and a battery. The drive controller includes an engine control unit, a rotation speed detection unit, a deviation calculation unit, and a power generation control unit. The engine control unit controls the engine in accordance with a command rotation speed. The rotation speed detection unit detects an actual rotation speed of the engine. The deviation calculation unit calculates a rotation speed deviation of the command rotation speed for the engine and the actual rotation speed of the engine. The power generation control unit controls the generator motor in accordance with the rotation speed deviation so as to limit power generated by the generator motor to drive the travel motor.
US08634974B2 Using predicted movement to maintain optical-communication lock with nearby balloon
A balloon may include an optical-communication component, which may have a pointing axis. A pointing mechanism could be configured to adjust the pointing axis. The optical-communication component could be operable to communicate with a correspondent balloon via a free-space optical link. For example, the optical-communication component could include an optical receiver, transmitter, or transceiver. A controller could be configured to determine a predicted relative location of the correspondent balloon. The controller may control the pointing mechanism to adjust the pointing axis of the optical-communication component based on the predicted relative location so as to maintain the free-space optical link with the correspondent balloon.
US08634973B2 Multi core vehicle management multi core manager system and method
A computerized method for transmitting data between a multi core vehicle management system and a vehicle system. The method can include receiving, at a vehicle management system computer, a vehicle system request message from a requesting vehicle management system component. The requesting vehicle management system component can be one of a plurality of vehicle management system components, and the vehicle system request message can have a destination vehicle system component. The method can include generating a sanitized vehicle system request message based on the requesting vehicle management system component and the destination vehicle system component. The sanitized vehicle system request message can be transmitted to said destination vehicle system component.
US08634970B2 Apparatus and method for vessel traffic management
An apparatus for vessel traffic management mounted in a vessel creates vessel sailing information including a current location and an identifier of the vessel in accordance with a navigation plan to a destination of the vessel; calculates an estimated time for arriving at the destination based on a distance between the current location and the destination and a sailing speed; and calculates an estimated entry time of entering a target area within the destination based on a distance between the current location and the destination and the sailing speed. The vessel sailing information, the estimated arrival time, and the estimated entry time are transmitted to a local control center, and the sailing of the vessel is controlled using a vessel traffic condition at the target area, provided from the local control center.
US08634967B2 Electrohydraulic pressure control arrangement and method for pressure control
An electrohydraulic pressure control arrangement comprises a proportional pressure valve and a control loop structure. The control loop structure has a control path through which an actuating variable is fed to an actuating input of the proportional pressure valve starting from a setpoint pressure value. A pressure sensor detects an actual pressure value at a connection of the proportional pressure valve. A system model of a pressure valve assigns an estimated pressure value to the setpoint pressure value, and a subtraction element determines a control error as the difference between the estimated pressure value and the actual pressure value. A weighting element subjects the control error to a weighting operation and thus determines a weighted control error. The weighting element is designed such that relatively large control errors are attenuated to a greater extent than relatively small control errors.
US08634965B1 Computer-based method for power system state estimation
A method of power system state estimation for accurately identifying topology errors, parameter errors and measurement value errors for power networks in real-time. The system divides measured data into a base set and a redundant set. The system status is calculated using the base set. A residual vector of the redundant set is computed based on the system status. A matrix is calculated utilizing these sets. A threshold is utilized to decide the abnormal residuals of the redundant set. Colinearity between the residual vector and columns in the matrix are used to decide if base set measurements corresponding to the columns in the matrix are potentially bad data. An iterative process replaces bad data in the base set with measurements in the redundant set having smaller residuals, terminating upon removal of bad data. Topology errors and parameter errors may then be identified using the bad data in the redundant set.
US08634964B2 Method for actuating valves for controlling a flow path and machines, especially medical treatment machines
A method for the control of valves for flow path control, in particular in a medical treatment machine, having a plurality of processes for the manufacture of flow paths by control of a group of valves, with each process claiming a group of valves suitable for its carrying out for itself so that other processes cannot change the switching state of these valves and with each process itself making a decision on the release of the valves claimed by it. In addition, a method is provided for monitoring the then current and/or scheduled state of a plurality of valves in the flow path control, determining the connections resulting from the switching state of the valves, and comparing the resulting connections with a predetermined number of non-permitted connections.
US08634962B2 Method and apparatus for efficiently coordinating data center cooling units
Systems, apparatus, and methods for controlling environmental maintenance modules (e.g. HVAC units) using sensors are provided. Values measured by the sensors can be used to determine a change in operation levels of the modules to keep the sensor values within a desired range. For example, a stopped module can be increased or started for more cooling when a sensor temperature is too hot. The module predicted to have the greatest effect on the temperature of hot sensor can be started. A transfer matrix, which provides a relation between a change in operation level and resulting sensor changes, can be used to perform the above predictions. As another example, a module can be stopped (or otherwise have an operation level decreased), if the sensor temperatures are within range, and the decrease in operation level is predicted not to cause an out-of-range condition.
US08634959B2 Apparatus and method detecting a robot slip
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for detecting slip of a robot. The robot periodically repeats a pattern movement in the order of a uniform motion, a decelerating motion, and an accelerating motion, or in the order of a uniform motion, an accelerating motion, and a deceleration motion. The occurrence of slip of the robot performing a pattern movement is determined by comparing a first acceleration of the robot measured by an acceleration sensor and a second acceleration of the robot measured by an encoder.
US08634953B2 Method and equipment for flatness control in cooling a stainless steel strip
The invention relates to a method and equipment for controlling flatness of a stainless steel strip in connection with cooling after annealing in a finishing line. The strip (1) is first in the direction of the strip movement (2) cooled feeding at least one cooling medium through at least one group of feeding devices (5, 6) located transversally to the direction of the strip movement for the whole width of the strip (1), the amount of the cooling medium being adjusted utilizing the recorded and predetermined data (7) of desired temperature of the strip for flatness, the temperature of the strip is then determined (8) and after the temperature determination a further step of cooling is carried out feeding at least one cooling medium through at least one group of feeding devices (9) located transversally to the direction of the strip movement (2), when the determined value of temperature is different from the predetermined value of temperature, before the flatness is controlled using a control device (11) containing a plurality of flatness control units (12) and locating transversally to the direction of the strip movement (2).
US08634946B2 Apparatus and method for calculating a fingerprint of an audio signal, apparatus and method for synchronizing and apparatus and method for characterizing a test audio signal
For calculating a fingerprint of an audio signal, the audio signal is divided into subsequent blocks of samples. For the subsequent blocks, one fingerprint value each is calculated, wherein fingerprint samples of subsequent blocks are compared. Based on whether the fingerprint value of a block is higher than the fingerprint value of a subsequent block or not, a binary value is assigned, wherein information about a sequence of binary values is output as fingerprint for the audio signal.
US08634941B2 System and method for multi-channel control system
In accordance with an embodiment, a system has a pulse width modulation controller configured to successively activate each of a plurality of channels in its own individual channel time slot. The system also has a sampling multiplexer configured to successively sample a signal derived from each of the plurality of channels during each individual channel time slot. Each individual time slot has an individual sampling sequence.
US08634939B2 Method and system for vehicle speed control
Methods are provided for controlling a vehicle speed during a downhill travel. Based on the estimated grade of the downhill travel and further based on an input received from the operator, different combinations of an engine braking torque and a regenerative braking torque are used to maintain the vehicle speed during the downhill travel. A battery rate of charging is also adjusted based on the duration or distance of the downhill travel, as indicated by the operator input.
US08634938B2 Method for safely parameterizing an electrical device
A method for safely parameterizing an electrical device, wherein a parameter input by a user on a control unit is transmitted to the electrical device and stored therein with write protection, the stored parameter is transmitted back to the control unit and displayed at the control unit for confirmation by the user, and the user confirmation is transmitted to the electrical device. In accordance with the invention, the stored parameter is transmitted back together with the name of the parameter, with a code generated by the device and in a data format which cannot be processed by the control unit. The returned parameter, the name of the returned parameter and the code are displayed for the user on the control unit, and the confirmation is checked in the electrical device to determine whether the confirmation contains the code.
US08634936B2 Medical leads and related systems that include a lumen body that is joined to a lead body and that has multiple filar lumens
Medical leads include a lumen body at an end of the lead, and the lumen body includes multiple filar lumens. The lumen body is joined to a lead body, and electrical connectors are longitudinally spaced along the lumen body. Filars within the filar lumens are directed through filar passageways within the lumen body to attach to the electrical connectors on the lumen body. The filar passageways may be aligned with the filar lumens, and slots within the electrical connectors may be aligned with the filar passageways to facilitate assembly. The lumen body may provide additional stiffness to the end of the lead where the lumen body is located to facilitate lead insertion into the medical device. The filar lumens of the lumen body may have a longitudinally straight configuration so that the portions of filars within the filar lumens are held in a longitudinally straight configuration.
US08634935B2 Transcoronary sinus pacing system, LV summit pacing, early mitral closure pacing, and methods therefor
A transcoronary sinus pacing system comprising a sheath having a lumen, a pacing catheter having a pacing needle, wherein the catheter can be advanced within the lumen and placed in the LV summit, and a right ventricular pacing device. A LV summit pacing device. An early mitral valve closure pacing device configured to operate with a right ventricular apex pacing device. A method for implanting a pacing device at a target coronary sinus tissue location, wherein the target can be the posterior LV summit. A method for achieving early closure of a mitral valve. A method for using visualization devices such as fluoroscopy or ultrasound and/or catheter features such as a radiopaque marker to locate a target location for LV pacing and to avoid piercing an artery or the pericardium when anchoring the LV pacing electrode.
US08634926B2 Clinic based instrument system for remote processing and access to implanted systems information
A system for accessing implantable medical device (IMD) data is provided including an interrogation appliance to retrieve data from an IMD and transfer the data to a processor. The processor converts the device data to a viewable form that is transferred by the processor to a data destination. The data destination may be an electronic mail address, a secure web site, a facsimile number or the interrogation appliance. The data is presented in a viewable form at the data destination either on a display or by printing. Any number of interrogation appliances may be communicatively coupled to the processor for converting IMD data and providing the IMD data back to a data destination in a viewable form for use by a clinician.
US08634924B1 MEMS implanted acoustic sensor
A system and method for a Micro Electro-Mechanical System acoustic sensor, or MEMS acoustic sensor, to be used as an implanted microphone for totally implantable cochlear implants or middle ear implants is presented. The MEMS acoustic sensor comprises a coupler that attaches the sensor to an inner part of the ear, a MEMS acoustic sensor that converts acoustic vibrations into a change in capacitance, and a low-noise interface electronics circuit chip that detects the change in capacitance in the MEMS acoustic sensor, creates an signal representing a portion of the acoustic vibrations, and transmits the signal to one or more other devices, such as a cochlear implant. A method of fabrication enables the MEMS acoustic sensor to be fabricated as a small, less than 1 mm3, light weight, less than 30 mg, device suitable for implantation on a structure of the middle ear.
US08634920B2 Device for perineum reeducation
The invention provides a perineal rehabilitation device comprising an applicator that is either an endocavity applicator (100) or an annular applicator (100′), locally supporting a charging electrode (104, 105) and at least one stimulation electrode (101, 102) respectively on its periphery or on its inside face, and including at least one energy storage unit that is rechargeable via the charging applicator (104, 105), the applicator (100, 100′) including at least one microprocessor for executing an electrical stimulation program, the device being characterized in that the applicator (100, 100′) is controlled by a control module (200) in the form of a remote control connected to the applicator (100, 100′) by a wireless connection and including a user interface for enabling the user to input operating data for the applicator (100, 100′) and a control unit for controlling the applicator (100, 100′) by sending control signals thereto, the applicator (100, 100′) being suitable for receiving control signals for modifying the intensity of stimulation while it is in operation and for modifying its ongoing operation as a function of such control signals.
US08634912B2 Dual-chamber leadless intra-cardiac medical device with intra-cardiac extension
A leadless intra-cardiac medical device includes a housing that is configured to be implanted entirely within a single local chamber of the heart. A first electrode is provided on the housing at a first position such that when the housing is implanted in the local chamber, the first electrode engages the local wall tissue at a local activation site within the conduction network of the local chamber. An intra-cardiac extension is coupled to the housing and configured to extend from the local chamber into an adjacent chamber of the heart. A stabilization arm of the intra-cardiac extension engages the adjacent chamber. A second electrode on the intra-cardiac extension engages distal wall tissue at a distal activation site within the conduction network of the adjacent chamber.
US08634907B2 Intraocular iontophoretic device and associated methods
The present invention includes methods and devices for delivering an active agent into the eye of a subject. One such device may include an anode assembly having an anode housing and an anode configured to electrically couple to a power source, the anode assembly being configured to contact and remain against a surface of the eye. The device may also include a cathode assembly having a cathode housing and a cathode configured to electrically couple to the power source, the cathode assembly being configured to contact and remain against the surface of the eye. Additionally, the device may include at least one active agent reservoir functionally associated with at least one of the anode assembly and the cathode assembly.
US08634905B2 Detection apparatus and detection method
The present invention provides a detection apparatus, including: signal outputting means configured to output signals of a frequency band within which the difference in electric characteristic between different tissues of a living organism is higher than a predetermined level individually to two or more electrodes; impedance detection means configured to detect, from each of the electrodes, an impedance of the living organism disposed in quasi-electrostatic fields generated individually from the electrodes in response to the outputs; and colloid detection means configured to detect presence or absence of colloid in the inside of the living organism in response to the differences between the detected impedances.
US08634894B2 Electrode for prolonged monitoring of laryngeal electromyography
Laryngeal surface electrodes are devices designed to hold a conductive surface against the vocal cords in order to pick up small electrical signals from the muscle known as electromyographic signals. Several embodiments of a laryngeal electromyography tube include a conductive electrode surface that is painted, screen printed or otherwise applied directly onto the body of an endotracheal tube, such that the final device has no raised surfaces which can injure the vocal cords. These endotracheal tube with integral laryngeal surface electrodes can be safely used placed for prolonged, continuous monitoring during surgery, after surgery and during intensive care treatment intubation without a need to remove and replace the tube at these various stages of treatment. In one embodiment, one electrode contacts the vocal cords and a second electrode contacts the tongue.
US08634889B2 Configurable physiological measurement system
A physiological measurement system has a sensor, a processor, a communications link and information elements. The sensor is configured to transmit light having a plurality of wavelengths into a tissue site and to generate a sensor signal responsive to the transmitted light after tissue attenuation. The attenuated light can be used by the system to determine a plurality of physiological measurements. The processor is configured to operate on the sensor signal so as to derive at least one physiological parameter after which of the plurality of physiological measurements the system is configured to or capable of measuring.
US08634878B2 User application initiated telephony
Systems and methods for initiating telephony calls are presented. In one example, a user selection of a desired application item is received at a computing device and a dial number associated with the desired application item is transmitted from the computing device to a wireless headset. The dial number is received at the wireless headset and a call is responsively initiated by transmitting the dial number from the wireless headset to a mobile phone device.
US08634874B2 Base station and method for improving coverage in a wireless communication system using antenna beam-jitter and CQI correction
A base station and method are described herein that improves the coverage in a fixed-beam wireless communication system by using antenna beam-jitter and Channel Quality Information (CQI) correction. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of: (a) modifying a beam by introducing a beam-jitter in a beam-forming pattern; (b) receiving an estimated channel quality information, CQI, from a user terminal; (c) accounting for effects of the beam jitter on the estimated CQI to obtain a jitter-adjusted CQI estimate; (d) and using the jitter-adjusted CQI estimate during user scheduling for a future transmission to the user terminal.
US08634868B2 Uplink selection using sounding reference signals in radiocommunication systems
Systems and methods allow for uplink selection using sounding reference signals in radiocommunication systems. A method for selecting at least one antenna to receive uplink transmissions from a user equipment (UE) from among a plurality of antennas includes the steps of: assigning a sounding reference signal (SRS) resource to the UE, receiving one or more reports from antenna devices having said plurality of antennas, which reports indicate receipt of an SRS on said assigned SRS resource, and selecting the at least one antenna based on said one or more reports.
US08634866B2 Folded monopole variable signal coupler
A signal coupler for coupling wireless signals out of and into a waveguide system is described. The signal coupler includes an input output connector, an outer conductor coupled to the input output connector, and a radiator section, wherein the radiator section is configured to rotate about a center axis of the outer conductor. A wireless distribution system, including a waveguide with a hollow cross-sectional structure and a signal coupling device, is also described. A wireless distribution system, including a waveguide with a hollow cross-sectional structure and a plurality of signal coupling devices, is also described. A method of operating a wireless distribution system is also described. The method includes providing a wireless distribution system and inserting a first group of wireless signals in a preselected bandwidth into the waveguide.
US08634862B2 Cross-architecture flight tracking system
A cross-architecture flight tracking system helps an individual keep track of the status of an airline flight. A subscriber receives status updates intelligently and in real time based on the individual's accessibility over an instant messaging client. The system facilitates the status updates by maintaining and listing the flight as a contact in the individual's instant messaging client contact list, processing status updates from the airline, and dynamically passing the status updates to the subscriber through a channel that will successfully deliver the message.
US08634860B2 Location determination using cached location area codes
Methods, program products, and systems for location determination using cached location area codes are described. A mobile device can store a set of location area codes (LACs) of a cellular communications network on the mobile device. Each LAC can represent a location area of the cellular communications network that encompasses at least a predetermined number of cells. Each LAC can be further associated with an estimated geographic area. The estimated geographic area can be defined as a circle centered at a location and having a radius representing an uncertainty of the location. The mobile device can determine a current LAC of the mobile device based on a wirelessly received signal. The mobile device can determine a current location of the mobile device by performing a lookup in the stored set of LACs using the current LAC.
US08634859B2 Location based services with multiple transmission methods
A location-based service system for providing messages to a recipient and, in particular, to transmission methods and systems for providing location data of a device to a location-based service system. A method of updating a location of a mobile device includes determining a location of the mobile device and, based on Internet accessibility of the mobile device, transmitting the location via Internet communication when Internet access is available and via SS7 communication when Internet access is unavailable.
US08634855B2 System and method for sharing location information
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a portable communication device having a controller to request location information from one or more non-portable wireless access points, receive one or more location coordinates from the one or more non-portable wireless access points, determine which of the one or more non-portable wireless access points is closest to the portable communication device according to one or more wireless signals generated by the one or more non-portable wireless access points, and record the location coordinate supplied by the closest non-portable wireless access point. Each of the one or more non-portable wireless access points can determine its location coordinate with a location receiver. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08634854B2 Method and apparatus for providing location information of device through home network
A method and an apparatus for providing information of a device to other devices through the home network are provided. The method includes: generating relative location information indicating that a first device is present in a vicinity of a second device if a remote control signal for the second device is received; and providing the relative location information as location information of the first device to at least one other device belonging to the home network. Accordingly, the user can acquire location information of devices belonging to the home network. Therefore, it is possible to easily identify the correspondence of devices visually recognized by the user to the device list obtained as a result of the search.
US08634849B2 Methods and apparatus for mobile device based location determination in a communications system
Methods and apparatus related to determining location of mobile devices based on signals and/or location history information received from other mobile devices are described. In various embodiments mobile devices monitor signals from other devices. Mobile devices store signal measurement information along with time stamp information and information identifying the device from which a measured signal was received. In various embodiments a mobile communications device which determines its location with reasonable accuracy, e.g., to within a predetermined distance or some other accuracy metric, transmits location history information indicating one or more past locations, and optionally the device's current location, and the times it was at the indicated locations. Reliability information is communicated with the time and location information in some embodiments. A device receiving the location history log can determine and/or refine its understanding of its own location and the location of other devices at different points in time.
US08634846B2 Method and system for determining a location of a mobile device based on a plurality of location samples
A mobile device may be operable to receive three or more location samples for the mobile device from each of three or more resources. Two or more valid location samples may be selected based on an accuracy indicator associated with each of the received location samples. A location of the mobile device may be determined utilizing the selected two or more valid location samples. A region around each of the received location samples may be determined based on the accuracy indicator and a condition of a geographic environment that is associated with each of the received location samples. Two or more valid location samples among the received location samples may be selected in instances when at least a portion of the region of each of the selected valid location samples overlaps with at least a portion of the regions of each of other selected valid location samples.
US08634845B2 Network and method for optimizing cell reselection by using an estimation of mobility of a mobile terminal
The mobile telecommunications network (n) has at least one mobile terminal (1) registered therewith. The network (n) has an active communication state with the mobile terminal (1) and an inactive communication state with the mobile terminal (1). Means Q; V for calculating an indication of the movement of the mobile terminal (1) within the network (n) in each of the states is provided. One embodiment is characterized in that, when the communication changes from a first of the states to a second of the states, the mobility indication calculated in the first of the states is used in the second of the states. In another embodiment, the indication of movement of the mobile terminal is calculated periodically at a time interval (CMCL). A value (DRX Cycle Length) which determines this time interval (CMCL) is transmitted by the network (n) to the mobile terminal (1). This second embodiment is characterized by including means for varying the time interval (CMCL) in dependence upon an indication of movement of the terminal (1).
US08634843B2 Methods and apparatus for RF channel selection in a multi-frequency network
Methods and apparatus for RF channel selection in a multi-frequency network. A method includes identifying selected local operations infrastructures (LOIs) and their neighboring LOIs, generating a neighbor description message (NDM) that identifies the selected LOIs and their neighboring LOIs and associates a descrambling sequence identifier with each RF channel of the selected LOIs and their neighboring LOIs, and distributing the NDM over the selected LOIs. An apparatus includes a message decoder to receive an NDM that identifies RF channels of a first LOI and neighboring LOIs, and wherein each RF channel is associated with a descrambling sequence identifier, and processing logic to detect content acquisition failures, determine a list of RF channels and their associated LOIs that carry desired content, and select a selected RF channel that is associated with a selected LOI that carries the most additional content among the associated LOIs.
US08634839B2 Dynamic policy server allocation
A policy control architecture and method for dynamically allocating policy servers to mobile devices is described herein. The policy control architecture introduces a new policy control element called the policy server control function. The policy server control function dynamically allocates policy servers to mobile subscribers when the mobile subscribers attach to an access network. In some embodiments, the policy server control function may also deallocate policy servers when mobile subscribers detach from all access networks to make the policy server resources available for other mobile devices.
US08634837B2 Wireless terminal device, control method and control system
A cellular telephone device includes: a synchronization unit that establishes synchronization with a base station of a CDMA system beforehand to obtain synchronization information for establishing synchronization with the base station; a storage unit that stores the synchronization information; and a switching unit that establishes synchronization with a base station in a calling zone of the CDMA system corresponding to a calling zone of an LTE system based on the synchronization information, in a case in which a communication request occurs in the CDMA system in a state where a location registration is performed in the LTE system.
US08634829B2 System and method for IMSI list based VLR resilience
A system and method for moving wireless subscribers previously registered with a failed source MSC/VLR or SGSN to a new target MSC/VLR or SGSN in GSM and UMTS networks, using super-charger technology. The present invention allows mobile subscriber IMSIs to be transmitted to a new target MSC/VLR or SGSN before a source MSC/VLR or SGSN fails. Upon failure of the source MSC/VLR or SGSN, the addresses of the source MSC/VLR or SGSN serving the transmitted IMSIs are updated in an HLR and are associated with the addresses of the new target MSC/VLR or SGSN using MAP location update procedures. In another embodiment of the present invention, the addresses of the source MSC/VLR or SGSN servicing mobile subscribers are updated in an HLR to the addresses of the new target MSC/VLR or SGSN without the need for mobile subscribe IMSIs.
US08634826B1 Use of in-vehicle femtocell as basis to limit operation of in-vehicle wireless communication device
A method and corresponding system for use of a femtocell in a vehicle (an “in-vehicle femtocell”) to help limit operation of a wireless communication device (WCD) positioned in the vehicle. In one implementation, registration (or registration attempts) of one or more WCDs with an in-vehicle femtocell may be used as a basis to trigger limitations on certain WCD functions in a vehicle, such as to prevent a WCD from providing text-messaging service for instance. In another implementation, a WCD may receive a signal from an in-vehicle femtocell and in response to the signal, the WCD may register with the femtocell to be served with wireless communication service by the femtocell. In addition to registering with the femtocell, the WCD may limit certain of its own functions while it is in the vehicle and being served with wireless communication service by the femtocell.
US08634819B2 Wireless communications during a wireless communications device reboot
A wireless communication device has first processing circuitry and second processing circuitry that are separate from one another. The wireless communication device transfers first wireless communications to a wireless network using the first processing circuitry. The wireless communication device identifies a reboot condition for the first processing circuitry and responsively provides a geographic location of the wireless communication device to the second processing circuitry and displays a user interface for communications using the second processing circuitry. The wireless communication device reboots the first processing circuitry while the user interface for communications is displayed. The wireless communication device transfers second wireless communications to the wireless network using the second processing circuitry while rebooting the first processing circuitry. The second wireless communications may comprise emergency communications including the geographic location of the wireless communication device.
US08634815B2 System and method for reflecting information from participants
An approach is provided for a method including initiating an information distribution session based on instructions from a first participant of a plurality of participants. The method also includes assigning access information and a passcode to the information distribution session, receiving posting information sent from two or more active participants of the plurality of participants using the access information with the passcode, and transmitting to the active participants the posting information of other active participants.
US08634812B1 Phoneword dialing in a mobile communication device having a full keyboard
A method of dialing a phoneword using a mobile communication device that has full keyboard, which maps numbers to letters differently than on standard telephone keypads. The method detects the prefix of the phoneword and proceeds to display a message on the mobile communication device to indicate that a pre-determined key needs to be pressed before entering letters of the phoneword. The method can also display for selection, candidate phonewords that correspond to a partial entry of the phoneword.
US08634780B2 Terminal, method, and wireless communication for power saving
Provided are a terminal for power saving, a power saving method of the terminal, and a wireless communication system for power saving. A receiving terminal may receive scheduling information associated with data transmission and reception of a transmitting terminal. The receiving terminal may directly communicate with the transmitting terminal by referring to the scheduling information.
US08634777B2 Pairing with directional code sequence
Disclosed are various embodiments of pairing with a directional code sequence. In one embodiment a method includes discovering that a user device is within proximity of a pairing device. A directional code sequence based upon variations in the position of the user device is obtained and a communication link is established between the user device and the pairing device in response to the directional code sequence. In another embodiment, a system includes a user device and a pairing device configured to establish a communication link with the user device in response to a sequence of position variations of the user device. In another embodiment, a method includes obtaining a sequence of characters corresponding to a directional code sequence from a pairing device and transmitting a signal from a user device to the pairing device from a sequence of positions corresponding to the sequence of characters.
US08634770B2 Portable terminal device
The present invention offers a portable terminal device in which, the jitter control unit controls the transmission buffer unit in such a manner as not to output the audio data buffered in the transmission buffer unit to the Bluetooth communication unit when the main control unit determines that the content that is to be subjected to a reproduction process contains video data, and when an underflow arises at the transmission buffer unit, and abandons the audio data that is not output to the Bluetooth communication unit at the time indicated by the time management unit.
US08634767B2 Method and system for utilizing EHF repeaters and/or transceivers for detecting and/or tracking an entity
A plurality of repeater devices may utilize extreme high frequency (EHF) interface to detect and/or track entities that may be located within the plurality of repeater devices. Each of the plurality of repeater devices may transmit EHF signals that may enable identification of the transmitting repeater device. Identification of the transmitting repeater devise may comprise use of unique information and/or transmission parameters. Each of the plurality of repeater devices may determine characteristics of received EHF signals to enable determining presence and/or location of entities within the plurality of repeater devices. These characteristics may comprise identity of transmitting repeater devices, signal power, signal amplitude, delay of signal, and/or reception angle. Non-extremely high frequency (non-EHF) connections may be utilized within the plurality of repeater devices to coordinate and/or update detection and/or tracking of entities within the plurality of repeater devices.
US08634760B2 Polarization re-alignment for mobile terminals via electronic process
A system for allowing ground terminals, mobile or stationary, to dynamically and electronically re-align signal polarizations to match that of incoming signal polarizations from transmitting sources. An adaptive re-orientation technique utilizes a cost minimization function to determine the difference between actual orientation values and desired orientation values. Calculations of satellite and ground terminal orientations and bearings to create weighting components allow a mobile ground terminal to electronically realign itself to the signals of a transmitting source, thereby eliminating the need for physically re-orienting the antenna array through mechanical processes.
US08634759B2 Timing offset tolerant karaoke game
Game processing apparatus comprises means for indicating successive target actions to be executed by a user, each target action having an associated target time of execution; and scoring logic in which detected user actions are compared with the target actions, the storing logic comprising: an input arrangement by which user actions may be detected; means for comparing a detected sequence of user actions with a sequence of target actions; and means for detecting a timing offset between the sequence of user actions and a corresponding sequence of target actions; in which the comparison of subsequent user actions with respective target actions is arranged to apply the timing offset as a relative displacement between the detected user actions and the target times.
US08634752B2 Fixing device that fixes a toner image on a recording material
A fixing device fixing a toner image on a recording material includes a first blowing section that blows air against a leading edge of the recording material that has passed through a nip portion formed by a heated fixing member and a pressing member kept in pressure contact with the fixing member, and a second blowing section that blows air against the recording material that has passed through the nip portion, wherein an air speed of air blown out from a first blowing outlet is higher than that of air blown out from a second blowing outlet, wherein an air flow amount from the first blowing outlet is less than that from the second blowing outlet, and wherein the first and second blowing outlets are arranged at a same positional height next to one another along a rotational axis of the fixing roller.
US08634750B2 Cam driving mechanism, and belt transporting apparatus and image forming apparatus therewith
A cam driving mechanism has: a cam; a motor which drives the cam; a gear train which transmits, while reducing the speed of, the output of the motor to the cam; a pulse disk which is formed integrally with a gear coupled in the gear train and in which a plurality of slits are formed at equal intervals; a home position detecting member which is arranged coaxially with the pulse disk so as to be rotatable independently thereof and which, by meshing with another gear coupled in the gear train, rotates at a lower rotation speed than the pulse disk; and a cam position detecting sensor which has a detecting portion including a light-emitting portion and a light-receiving portion, the cam position detecting sensor detecting the amount of driving of the cam based on the number of slits of the pulse disk that have passed through the detecting portion, the cam position detecting sensor detecting the home position of the cam based on the timing with which the home position detecting member shields the detecting portion.
US08634744B2 Image forming device and toner cartridge mounted therein
An image forming device includes: a main casing; a retaining member; a plurality of developing units; a plurality of toner cartridges; and an operation unit. The retaining member is configured to be movable in a first direction between an accommodated position and a pulled-out position. The retaining member includes a first side plate and a second side plate extending in the first direction and disposed in confrontation with and spaced apart from each other in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The developing units are retained in the retaining member. The toner cartridges have one-on-one correspondence to the developing units and are configured to be mountable in or detachable from the retaining member when the retaining member is located at the pulled-out position. Each toner cartridge includes a casing formed with a cartridge opening, and a cartridge shutter configured to be movable between an open position for opening the cartridge opening and a closed position for closing the cartridge opening. The operation unit is provided in the retaining member and configured to be pivotally movable in an imaginary plane parallel to the first direction and the second direction. The operation unit is interlocked with the cartridge shutter while the toner cartridge is mounted in the retaining member to move the cartridge shutter between the open position and the closed position in accordance with the pivotal movement of the operation unit.
US08634743B2 Detachable body and image forming apparatus
In an image forming apparatus defined herein, in case the opening/closing member is rotationally moved from the opened position toward the normal position, when the detachable body main unit is at a restricted position between the attached position and the separated position, the restricting portion is contacted with the restricted portion to be moved between the opening/closing member and the detachable body main unit, so as to restrict a rotational movement of the opening/closing member to the normal position, and, when the detachable body main unit is at the attached position, the restricting portion and the restricted portion that is being rotated are separated from each other to enable the opening/closing member to be rotationally moved to the normal position, and, in case the opening/closing member is moved to the normal position, the restricted portion is housed in a space between the detachable body main unit and the opening/closing member.
US08634741B2 Laser printer cleaning cartridge device and method
A cleaning cartridge insert is provided for removing residual paper debris and toner from a laser printer in between printer cartridge removal and replacement. The cartridge comprises a modified laser printer cartridge with an internal cavity lined with an adhesive foam tape, a plurality of air inlet tubes and a drive roller having an adhesive outer surface. With the lid of the printer cartridge loading cavity is in an open state, the cartridge is placed therein into a working position, as would a replacement cartridge. Compressed air is then forced into the nozzles of the air inlet tubes, stirring paper dust, residual toner and debris from the interior of the printer and onto the foam tape adhesive within the cavity of the cartridge device. The lid is then closed, which initiates the drive roller for cleaning debris from the bias transfer roller via rotation during the machine initializing stage. The present invention is intended as a preventative maintenance device for laser printers, prolonging their useful life and the increasing service intervals wherein a specialist is required for maintenance and cleaning.
US08634740B2 Fixing device and image formation device
A fixing device includes an endless belt with a resistance heating layer, a pressure roller fitting loosely in a belt circulation path, and a pressing roller pressing the pressure roller through the belt to form a fixing nip with a belt surface, and thermally fixes an unfixed image by passing a recording sheet through the fixing nip, comprises: a pair of annular electrodes provided circumferentially and sandwiching a sheet-passing region of the belt surface; a first power supply member pressurizing a given one of the electrodes; and a second power supply member positioned closer to the fixing nip than the first power supply member, also pressurizing the given one of the electrodes, and supplying power to the resistance heating layer in cooperation with the first power supply member, wherein the pressing force applied by the first power supply member is weaker than that applied by the second power supply member.
US08634736B2 Method and apparatus for fixing a toner image before a fixing unit reaches a ready temperature
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit configured to form a toner image on an image bearing member according to printing information; a transfer unit configured to transfer an unfixed toner image formed by the image forming unit onto a printing sheet; a fixing unit configured to heat the unfixed toner image carried on the printing sheet and fix the unfixed toner image on the printing sheet; a temperature measuring unit configured to measure the temperature of the fixing unit; and a quick-print processing unit configured to cause, when printing is started, even if the temperature of the fixing unit measured by the temperature measuring unit does not reach a ready temperature, the image forming unit to perform an image forming operation on the basis of a low process speed for enabling the fixing in the fixing unit, which is lower than a normal process speed corresponding to the ready temperature.
US08634735B2 Image forming apparatus and control method thereof
An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming part which picks up a recording medium at a predetermined pickup timing and forms an image at a predetermined printing speed; and a controller which accelerates the timing for picking up the recording medium in advance of the predetermined pickup timing, and which lowers the printing speed so as to allow the printing operation to take place at a lower fusing temperature during warming up from a cold start in order to shorten the first print output time (FPOT).
US08634721B2 Method, system, and apparatus for optical communication
An optical communication method includes outputting an optical data signal in which a signal amplitude of a non-data area that is an area other than a data area is made higher than a signal amplitude of the data area, to a predetermined receiver, receiving an optical input including the optical data signal with the predetermined receiver, detecting each of the signal amplitude of the non-data area and the signal amplitude of the data area of the optical input, creating a threshold for encoding the data area based on the signal amplitude of the data area, determining whether the optical data signal is received, based on the signal amplitude of the non-data area, and outputting a data signal in which the data area is encoded by using the threshold of the optical data signal, when it is determined that the optical data signal is received.
US08634715B2 System and method for demand aggregation in optical networks employing shared ring protection
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for demand aggregation is provided. The method may include routing demands in a ring network such that a length for each routed demand does not exceed a route length maximum, and a load imbalance at each node in the ring network is minimized. The method may also include maximizing optical line card sharing by assigning routed demands sharing common ends to the same wavelength.
US08634704B2 Apparatus and method for storing and providing a portion of media content to a communication device
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a mobile device having a controller to present media content provided by an interactive television (iTV) network, select a function during presentation of the media content to store at least a remaining portion of the media content, wherein the function is selected when the presentation of the media content is to be interrupted, store the media content in a memory location of the mobile device, select the function to retrieve the remaining portion of the media content from the memory location, and present the remaining portion of the media content. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08634700B2 Information processing apparatus and method, program and recorded medium with improved retrieval
An information processing apparatus records a AV stream, clip information and play list information. The information processing apparatus includes generating a start address information of a domain in which system time clock in the AV stream is continuous, and generating information correlating time information in the AV stream and data address information in the AV stream.
US08634696B2 Image reproduction system
An image reproducing apparatus includes: an image storage device that stores image data having been read into the image reproducing apparatus; an image output device that outputs the image data stored in the image storage device to a display device; an image selection device that selects an image from the image data; and an image extraction device that extracts from the image data a plurality of images satisfying a condition equivalent to a condition of the image having been selected by the image selection device.
US08634693B2 Recording apparatus, recording status detection method, program delivery and recording system, and program
A recording apparatus includes: a guide information obtaining section to obtain guide information of a program scheduled to be delivered; a series information obtaining section to obtain series information for specifying a plurality of programs belonging to a series; a program data obtaining section to obtain data of the programs; a program data storage section capable of storing the data of the programs; a program data recording section to store the data of the programs obtained by the program data obtaining section in the program data storage section; a recording history storage section to store information about the programs whose data is stored in the program data storage section, as recording history information; and a detection section to detect a recording status of at least one program belonging to the series intended to be recorded based on the guide information, the series information, and the recording history information.
US08634687B2 Coated plastic cladding optical fiber and optical fiber cable
A coated plastic cladding optical fiber and an optical fiber cable, in which a transmission loss caused when this coated fiber or this fiber cable is bent in a small radius is small, and which can be used sufficiently as a USB cable or a HDMI cable in a high speed transmission, are provided.The coated plastic cladding optical fiber 1 has a cladding layer 3 that is formed on an outer periphery of a core glass 2 made of a quartz glass and formed of a polymer resin whose refractive index is lower than core glass, and a resin coating layer 5 that is formed on an outer periphery of the cladding layer 3 and is formed of a thermosetting resin. Then, a diameter of the core glass 2 is set to 50 to 100 μm, and a relative index difference of the core glass 2 to the cladding layer 3 is set to 3.7% or more.
US08634681B2 Optical fibre cable for distributed fibre sensing
An optical fiber cable for distributed fiber sensing of fluid pressure is disclosed. There are also disclosed a method and an apparatus for distributed fiber sensing of fluid pressure using the optical fiber cable. The optical fiber cable is adapted for distributed pressure sensing, and comprises: one or more optical fibers (120); and a buffer (130) surrounding the one or more optical fibers and adapted to deform asymmetrically under isotropic pressure (P) such that the fiber experiences asymmetric strain changing the birefringence of the one or more optical fibers. The optical fibers incorporated in the cable may be conventional single mode optical fibers. The optical fiber cable may be used to determine a pressure distribution along the length of the cable. The cable, apparatus or method may be used to detect pressures over long distances such as in pipes, pipelines, or wells.
US08634678B2 Phase shifter and electro-optic modulation device including the same
A phase shifter includes an optical waveguide, a plurality of impurity regions and a plurality of electrodes. The optical waveguide receives an optical input signal and outputs an optical output signal. The impurity regions include respective charge carriers. The impurity regions are disposed in contact with the optical waveguide at respective contact surface, where at least one of the contact surfaces has a zigzag pattern. The electrodes are connected to the respective impurity regions. Application of an electrical signal to at least one of the electrodes phase-shifts the optical output signal with respect to the optical input signal. Therefore, the phase shifter may efficiently vary a magnitude of the phase shift of the optical output signal.
US08634674B2 Dynamic sizing and positioning of multiple images
A method of arranging images provides for automated scaling, positioning and organizing of a plurality of images on an image display, which may be transferred to a printed or electronic product design. A plurality of images are analyzed to produce image data. Display parameters determine permissible arrangement of the images. Based on the image data and the display parameters, an arrangement on the image display for each of the plurality of images is defined. The arrangement may be further defined to maximize at least one dimension of the images.
US08634673B1 Method and apparatus for automatically tuning a parameter of an image enhancement algorithm based on an attribute of an original image
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for adjusting parameters of an algorithm for enhancing an image. In various embodiments, the method includes automatically analyzing an image to identify at least one image attribute; based on the at least one image attribute, automatically determining a value of at least one parameter for an image processing algorithm; and applying the value of at least one parameter to the image processing algorithm. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08634669B2 Fast implementation of context selection of significance map
A fast implementation context selection of a significance map includes caching the significance of each coefficient in a buffer, storing an extended significance map in an extended buffer and updating the extended significance map after the significance of a transform coefficient is determined by the encoder or the decoder.
US08634663B2 DVC as generic file format for plenoptic camera
A computer implemented method of storing pixel data corresponding to a pixel is disclosed. A first and a second set of pixel data is determined for the pixel. Parity bits for the first set of pixel data are generated, using error correction. An encoded version of the first set of pixel data including the parity bits is stored. An encoded version of the second set of pixel data is stored, using lossless data compression, for use in decoding the first set of pixel data.
US08634662B2 Detecting recurring events in consumer image collections
A method of detecting recurring events in a digital image collection taken over a pre-determined period of time is disclosed. The method uses a processor for analyzing the digital image collection to produce a two-dimensional representation of the distribution of image capture activity over time and detecting recurring events by identifying spatial clusters in the two-dimensional representation.
US08634651B2 Methods and apparatus for locating target patterns in an image
Methods and apparatus for efficiently locating QR code finder patterns and/or code QR alignment patterns in an image are described.
US08634649B2 Backlit scene type detection
Systems and methods for backlit scene detection are described. The method includes performing a pre-test on an electronic image to determine that the electronic image does not include a disqualifying characteristic. Next, the method includes performing a type test on the electronic image to determine an image type of the electronic image from a first set of predetermined backlit image types. Next the method includes performing a post test on the electronic image to determine that the image darkness density does not exceed a predetermined density. Finally, the method includes performing a second post test on the electronic image to determine that the electronic image is one of a second set of predetermined backlit image types or that the edge percentage of the electronic image exceeds a predetermined percentage.
US08634648B2 Reporting informational data indicative of a possible non-imaged portion of a skin
Described embodiments include a system, method, and program product. A described system includes a circuit that extracts a human-perceivable feature included in each medical skin image of a plurality of medical skin images. Each medical skin image includes a respective portion of a region of interest of a surface of the skin of the individual human, and was acquired by a handheld device. A circuit determines a substantial correspondence between (x) a human-perceivable feature included in a border region segment of a selected medical skin image and (y) a human-perceivable feature included in each medical skin image of the plurality of medical skin images other than the selected medical skin image. A circuit gathers the determined substantial correspondences. A circuit outputs informational data indicative of a possible non-imaged portion of the region of interest of the skin of the individual human adjacent to the selected medical skin image.
US08634646B2 Method and system for recommending photographs
Method for recommending photographs chosen from a set of digital photographs, comprising: a tagging step for tagging the digital photographs according to determined objective parameters obtained from their own features and determined subjective parameters obtained from users' behaviour toward said photographs; a tuning step for obtaining a tuning score scoret for each photograph by weighing their objective and subjective parameters according to a relevant function; starting from the tuning score of each photograph, obtaining a total score scoreTOTAL for each photograph; provide the at least one user with the photographs recommendation according to the total score scoreTOTAL of each photograph.
US08634644B2 System and method for identifying pictures in documents
A system and method to identify pictures in documents. An image representing a page of a document is received. The image is analyzed to identify text objects in the page. A masked image is generated by masking out regions of the image including the text objects in the page. Groups of pixels in the masked image are identified, wherein a respective group of pixels corresponds to at least one picture in the page. When there is one or more groups of pixels, regions for pictures are identified based on the one or more groups of pixels. Metadata tags for the pictures are stored, wherein a respective metadata tag for a respective picture includes information about a respective bounding box for the respective picture.
US08634641B2 Color processing apparatus and computer readable medium for color processing
A color processing apparatus includes a generating unit that generates correction information to a second white point from luminance information of a first white point, which is a white point of color information of a given processing target, and luminance information of a target white point, and a color correcting unit that performs a color correcting process on the color information of the processing target using the correction information to the second white point generated by the generating unit.
US08634638B2 Real-time action detection and classification
The present invention relates to a method and system for creating a strong classifier based on motion patterns wherein the strong classifier may be used to determine an action being performed by a body in motion. When creating the strong classifier, action classification is performed by measuring similarities between features within motion patterns. Embodiments of the present invention may utilize candidate part-based action sets and training samples to train one or more weak classifiers that are then used to create a strong classifier.
US08634636B2 Systems and methods for removing a background of an image
An image such as a depth image of a scene may be received, observed, or captured by a device. A grid of voxels may then be generated based on the depth image such that the depth image may be downsampled. A background included in the grid of voxels may then be discarded to isolate one or more voxels associated with a foreground object such as a human target and the isolated voxels associated with the foreground object may be processed.
US08634629B2 Estimating risk of future bone fracture utilizing three-dimensional bone density model
A novel approach for analyzing a patient's body part of interest to assess bone strength and/or risk of future fracture includes obtaining a priori information regarding the body part of interest, performing X-ray absorptiometric scans of the patient's body part of interest and collecting X-ray absorptiometry data from the scans, constructing a three-dimensional model of the patient's body part of interest, by utilizing the a priori information along with the X-ray absorptiometric data, and performing measurements of various geometric parameters on the three-dimensional model for determining geometric and structural properties.
US08634626B2 Registration of 3D tomography images
Disclosed are methods and apparatus for analyzing medical image change, particularly bone changes, either bone gain or loss. Disclosed also are methods and apparatus for bone registration of computed tomography (CT) images. These new methods and apparatus significantly improve the efficiency of current matching procedure.
US08634625B2 Method for the reduction of image artifacts, in particular of metal artifacts, in CT image data
A method is disclosed for the reduction of image artifacts, in particular metal artifacts, during the generation of computed tomography image data of an object. In at least one embodiment of the method, two CT image data sets are generated with different medium x-ray energies. By way of a weighted combination of the two CT image data sets, a new image data set is calculated. The weighting factor employed in the weighted combination is here selected in such a way that the image artifacts in the new CT image data set are significantly reduced compared with the image artifacts in the two original CT image data sets. In this way it is possible in a simple manner significantly to reduce in particular metal artifacts in CT images.
US08634623B2 Correction of artifacts in time-of-flight MR angiography
In a method and magnetic resonance (MR) apparatus for correction of artifacts in time-of-flight (TOF) MR angiography, MR signals are acquired in a target volume with the TOF MR angiography technique to generate multiple MR angiography images, pixels with background signal are identified in the angiography images by separation of these pixels from noise and vessel pixels, a signal profile of the pixels with background signal is determined across the target volume, and the MR signal of a predetermined set of pixels of the target volume is normalized with the signal profile of the pixels with background signal.
US08634621B2 Method and apparatus for obtaining panoramic images
The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for obtaining panoramic images in which cervical effect is corrected in such a manner that the uniform contrast is shown. According to the apparatus and the method, the method comprises the steps of: obtaining a preceding frame image by irradiating radiation on one certain section of an image layer trace on which the tooth trace of a subject is embodied; calculating a gray scale average value of pixels that are included within a predetermined reference region of the preceding frame image; comparing the calculated gray scale average value with a gray scale reference value that is calculated from a prepared sample image, and generating a radiation correction value corresponding to a difference value therebetween; and obtaining a succeeding frame image by irradiating strength-adjusted radiation on one section that is adjacent to the other section of an unknown layer trace, according to the calculated radiation correction value.
US08634620B2 Method for supplying a 3D X-ray image data record for a moving object with highly absorbent material
A method is provided for supplying a 3D X-ray image data record for a moving object. The said object contains highly X-ray radiation-absorbent material. A correction is made in respect of the highly absorbent material in 2D forward projections obtained from a 3D-X-ray image data record. The forward projections are calculated using 3D motion fields, which are derived from original 2D X-ray image data records.
US08634618B2 Method and system for surgical planning
A method for surgical planning is disclosed. A set of related two-dimensional (2D) anatomical images or 3D images is displayed. A plurality of anatomical landmarks are identified on the set of anatomical images. A three-dimensional (3D) representation of a parent prosthesis is scaled to match a scale of the 2D anatomical images based at least in part on a relationship between the anatomical landmarks. A 2D representation of the scaled 3D parent prosthesis is displayed on at least one of the 2D anatomical images. A system for surgical planning is also disclosed. The system has a prosthesis knowledge-based information system, a patient anatomical-based information system, a user interface, and a controller. The controller has an anatomical landmark identifier. The controller also has a prosthesis-to-anatomical-feature relator. The controller is configured to display a set of related two-dimensional (2D) anatomical images from the patient anatomical-based information system on the user interface.
US08634616B2 Method, apparatus, and computer program product for acquiring medical image data
A method of acquiring medical image data with at least one region of interest with a predefined freely shaped geometry comprising the following steps: acquiring a first set of medical image data, identifying at least one anatomical landmark in the first set of image data, determining the at least one region of interest with a trained pattern recognition module using the at least one anatomical landmark.
US08634592B2 System and method for predicting object location
A system for predicting object location includes a video capture system for capturing a plurality of video frames, each of the video frames having a first area, an object isolation element for locating an object in each of the plurality of video frames, the object being located at a first actual position in a first video frame and being located at a second actual position in a second video frame, and a trajectory calculation element configured to analyze the first actual position and the second actual position to determine an object trajectory, the object trajectory comprising past trajectory and predicted future trajectory, wherein the predicted future trajectory is used to determine a second area in a subsequent video frame in which to search for the object, wherein the second area is different in size than the first area.
US08634583B2 Device and method for applying a vibration signal to a human skull bone
Hearing losses caused by deficiencies in a person's outer or middle ear may be compensated for by converting received sounds to vibrations and transmitting the vibrations to the skull bone (2). Bone-conduction hearing devices (27) may transmit such vibrations transcutaneously or percutaneously. In both cases, a precise determination of the magnitude of the vibrations applied to the skull bone (2) is needed for determining the person's bone-conduction hearing thresholds as well as for calibrating the hearing devices (27). The present invention provides a device (1, 27, 37) and a method, which allow determination of the applied vibrational force with better precision than prior art devices and methods. This is achieved by placing an accelerometer (21) on the countermass (11) of the vibrator (1) that generates the vibration signal. The accelerometer (21) thus provides an acceleration signal representative of an acceleration of the countermass (11), from which acceleration signal the vibrational force may be determined precisely and reproducibly.
US08634581B2 Method and device for estimating interference noise, hearing device and hearing aid
In order to enable better estimation of dynamic interference noise, a device and a method for estimating interference noise provide a value for the power density of a total signal, containing a wanted signal and the interference noise to be estimated, in a current time window. The value of the total signal is compared with an estimated value, multiplied with an amplification factor, of interference noise from a time window prior to the current time window and the smaller of the two values from the comparison is used as a preliminary estimated value for the interference noise in the current time window. A codebook estimated value for the interference noise in the current time window is also provided. Finally, the larger of the preliminary estimated value and the codebook estimated value is used as the estimated value for the interference noise in the current time window.
US08634573B2 Registration of devices using a wireless home entertainment hub
A method for controlling presentation of data through a wireless home entertainment hub in a home entertainment system includes obtaining a registration for one or more source devices and for one or more sink devices. An indication is received at the wireless home entertainment hub that at least one of the source devices has become active. An instruction is transmitted to the sink devices to receive data from the at least one active source device. An indication is transmitted to at least one active source device that at least one of the sink devices is ready to receive data.
US08634560B1 Time-based secure key synchronization
A server device initiates a traffic encapsulation key (TEK) re-key sequence for a group virtual private network (VPN), based on an upcoming expiration time for an existing TEK. The server device sends, via a push message during a first time period immediately after the initiating, a new TEK to members of the group VPN. The server device receives, during a second time period that immediately follows the first time period, a pull request, for the new TEK, from one of the members of the group VPN, and sends, to the one of the members, the new TEK, where the re-key sequence transitions all the members of the group VPN from the existing TEK key to the new TEK key before the expiration time for the existing TEK.
US08634554B2 Method to enforce by a management center the access rules for a broadcast product
A method to enforce by a management center access rules for a broadcast product accessed by an access key, the management center managing a plurality of Boolean positive and negative attributes, comprising the steps: associating one positive Boolean attribute to a receiver entitled to the attribute and loading the same; associating one negative Boolean attribute to a receiver not entitled to the attribute and loading the same; defining at least a second broadcast encryption scheme for the negative Boolean attributes and associating each negative Boolean attribute corresponding decryption key material; expressing access conditions on a product as a Boolean expression by combining at least one positive Boolean attribute and at least one negative Boolean attribute by at least one Boolean conjunction or disjunction; generating and broadcasting at least one cryptogram to a receiver, encrypting the access key with the two combined broadcast encryption schemes according to the Boolean expression.
US08634546B2 Signal processing device, echo canceller, and signal processing method
If K=4N, wherein K is a number of subbands and N is a decimation ratio, an analysis filter process unit 21 is used to perform an analysis filter process for every N samples of real-valued input data and output K samples of real-valued data. A GDFT/SSB modulation batch process unit (81) performs a GDFT process and an SSB modulation process on the outputted data by using a real-valued matrix calculation using a (K/2)×K real-valued matrix to output 1 sample×(K/2) channel of real-valued subbands data. Moreover, an SSB demodulation/inverse GDFT batch process unit (82) performs an SSB demodulation process and an inverse GDFT process on 1 sample×(K/2) channel of real-valued subbands data by a real-valued matrix calculation using a K×(K/2) real-valued matrix and outputs K samples of real-valued data. The outputted data is subjected to a synthesis filter process by a synthesis filter process unit (24) to output N samples of real-valued data.
US08634543B2 One-to-one matching in a contact center
A queueless contact center is described along with various methods and mechanisms for administering the same. The contact center proposed herein provides the ability to, among other things, achieve true one-to-one matching. Solutions are also provided for managing data structures utilized by the queueless contact center. Furthermore, mechanisms for generating traditional queue-based performance views and metrics for the queueless contact center are proposed to help facilitate a smooth transition from traditional queue-based contact centers to the next generation contact centers described herein.
US08634537B2 Method of routing calls from a contact center
A method and apparatus are provided for routing calls from a contact center. The method includes the steps of providing a SIP presence server within the contact center that only provides presence information in support of outgoing calls from agents of the contact center, receiving a presence message by the SIP presence server identifying a communication port of an client and routing a call from an agent of the contact center to the client based upon the received registration message.
US08634536B2 System and method of providing ringback video
A system and method of providing ringback video are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a connection request at an originating serving call session control function (S-CSCF) network element. The connection request indicates that a caller device has placed a call to a destination device associated with a ringback video service subscriber. The method also includes receiving a plurality of naming authority pointer (NAPTR) records at the originating S-CSCF network element from a telephone number mapping (ENUM) server. The NAPTR records include a plurality of ringback video uniform resource indicators (URIs) associated with the destination device. The method also includes modifying the connection request to include the plurality of ringback video URIs and sending the modified connection request to a terminating S-CSCF that communicates with the destination device.
US08634534B1 Call recovery
A system for call recovery, according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a first device, a second device, a switch and a failover device. The first device, second device and failover device are communicatively coupled to the switch. The switch has a first communicative connection with a first device and a second communicative connection with a second device. The first and second communicative connections form a call between the first and second devices. The switch determines a recovery rule for the call and identifies the failover device based on the recover rule. The switch determines a call failure event during the call between the second device and the first device. The failover device builds a new communicative connection to the switch so that the failover device is communicatively coupled to the switch responsive to the call failure event, and connected on a call with the second device.
US08634528B2 System and method for control of communications connections and notifications
A method and system for selectively establishing a communications connection between an origin and destination in a communications network based on one or mediations rules and one or more lists of prohibited and exempted destination identifiers including preferences either in real-time using a control unit or with a pre-check using an analysis unit while also providing notification messages associated with the allowed or designated allowed communications connections.
US08634527B2 Method and apparatus for detecting network and service performance degradations using call detail records
A method and apparatus that employ the use of CDRs to effectively monitor and proactively respond to network or service events that impact performance within a network are disclosed. For example, the method receives a plurality of call detail records (CDRs), wherein each of the plurality of call detail records comprises a plurality of fields. The method determines a n-field rule signature from each of the call detail records (CDRs), and analyzes the n-field rule signatures from the plurality of call detail records (CDRs) for detecting at least one network performance problem.
US08634516B2 Energy subtraction imaging system, X-ray imaging apparatus, and computer readable recording medium
An energy subtraction radiographic imaging system for providing energy subtraction images of an object includes an X-ray radiation source configured to generate X-rays having various energy levels transmitting through the object, a radiation imaging apparatus configured to operate in association with operation of the X-ray radiation source for receiving X-rays transmitted through the object, the radiation imaging apparatus including a first imaging device, a second imaging device and an attenuating element disposed between said first imaging device and the second imaging device, the attenuating element configured to substantially absorb the X-rays at lower energy levels and substantially allowing transmission of the X-rays at higher energy levels so that said second imaging device substantially receives the X-rays at higher energy levels.
US08634508B2 Selection circuit with only idel, capture, shift, and update states
Data is communicated through two separate circuits or circuit groups, each having clock and mode inputs, by sequentially reversing the role of the clock and mode inputs. The data communication circuits have data inputs, data outputs, a clock input for timing or synchronizing the data input and/or output communication, and a mode input for controlling the data input and/or output communication. A clock/mode signal connects to the clock input of one circuit and to the mode input of the other circuit. A mode/clock signal connects to the mode input of the one circuit and to the clock input of the other circuit. The role of the mode and clock signals on the mode/clock and clock/mode signals, or their reversal, selects one or the other of the data communication circuits.
US08634505B2 Method and apparatus for channel and noise estimation
A technique for performing channel and noise estimation for a MIMO transmission sent from multiple transmit antennas to multiple receive antennas is described. Samples are obtained from multiple receive antennas for a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmission sent from multiple transmit antennas. Channel estimates are derived by correlating the samples with at least one pilot sequence. Signal, noise and interference statistics are also estimated based on a cross product of the samples. Equalizer weights are derived. The correlating includes multiplying a sample vector for a chip period and a complex conjugated pilot chip for the chip period offset by a delay.
US08634499B2 Method and apparatus for performing blind signal separation in an OFDM MIMO system
A method and apparatus for performing blind signal separation in an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system are disclosed. A transmitter generates a plurality of spatial streams of data and transmits the spatial streams via a plurality of transmit antennas. A receiver receives the transmitted spatial data streams with a plurality of receive antennas and generates a plurality of receive data streams. The receiver performs a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) on each of the receive data streams to generate a plurality of frequency domain data streams. The receiver then performs a blind signal separation on the frequency domain data streams to recover spatial streams transmitted by the transmitter. The blind signal separation may be performed by using an independent component analysis (ICA) in the complex domain. The blind signal separation may be performed individually for each OFDM subcarrier.
US08634492B2 Transmitter and receiver for ultra-wideland OFDM signals employing a low-complexity CDMA layer for bandwidth expansion
A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving high-bandwidth OFDM signals, while limiting the complexity of the OFDM signal processing is described. Bandwidth expansion is achieved by repetition of whole OFDM symbols with the polarity of repetitions determined by a long PN code. This technique ensures a perfectly white spectrum. Use of zero-suffix OFDM symbols allows a large tolerance to multipath channels, even while maintaining a single, low-rate RAKE finger for despreading in the receiver.
US08634475B2 Method and apparatus for decoding/encoding a video signal using a reference picture list for inter-view prediction
The method includes receiving a multi-view video stream including a random access picture, which includes a random access slice. The random access slice references only a slice corresponding to a same time and a different view of the random access picture. Type information indicating whether the random access slice is predicted from one or two reference pictures is obtained, and a reference picture list is initialized using view number information and view identification information included in obtained initialization information according to the type information. The initialization information is obtained based on a value indicating decoding order between the plurality of views. The initialized reference picture list is modified based on modification information representing how to assign an inter-view reference index in the initialized reference picture list. A prediction value of a macroblock in the random access picture is determined based on the modified reference picture list, and the macroblock is decoded using the prediction value.
US08634468B2 Method of decoding a current image block
In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining reference picture information, and determining at least one reference picture of the current image block from the reference picture information. The reference picture information indicates a reference picture type of the reference picture. The reference picture type is based on temporal distance between a current picture including the current image block and the reference picture. At least one motion vector of the current image block is obtained according to the reference picture type. This obtaining step includes obtaining a motion vector of a co-located image block, and generating the motion vector of the current image block based on the motion vector of the co-located image block and the reference picture type. The current image block is decoded by motion-estimating the current image block using the motion vector of current image block.
US08634466B2 Video decoder plus a discrete cosine transform unit
A video encoder and a decoder analyze the spatial content video data in an H.264 stream using the discrete cosine transform (DCT). Although the DCT is computed as part of the H.264 encoding process, it is not computed as part of the decoding process. Thus, one would compute the DCT of the video data after it has been reconstructed by the video decoder for video post-processing or enhanced video encoding. A method for accelerating the computation of the DCT at the decoder side when transmitting intra-mode macroblocks uses information computed by the encoder and transmitted as part of the H.264 video stream.
US08634463B2 Apparatus and method of enhanced frame interpolation in video compression
Aspects include systems and methods of improving processing in an encoder in a multimedia transmission system. Other aspects include method and systems of processing in a decoder in a multimedia transmission system. For example, one aspect includes a method and apparatus of reduced encoding size in an encoder by encoding in terms of an interpolated frame. Other aspects include decoders configured to decode video signals encoded with reference to an interpolated frame.
US08634462B2 Quantization for hybrid video coding
Method for coding a video signal using hybrid coding, comprising: reducing temporal redundancy by block based motion compensated prediction in order to establish a prediction error signal; performing quantization on samples of the prediction error signal or on coefficients resulting from a transformation of the prediction error signal into the frequency domain to obtain quantized values, representing quantized samples or quantized coefficients respectively; calculating a quantization efficiency for the quantized values; calculating a zero efficiency for a quantization, when the quantized values are set to zero; selecting the higher efficiency; and maintaining the quantized values or setting quantized values to zero, for further proceeding, depending on the selected efficiency.
US08634453B2 Frame and carrier synchronization for unbursted packetized transmissions using constant-amplitude continuous-phase frequency-modulation
A system and method for performing frame and symbol timing synchronization on samples of a received signal that includes a series of frames. Each frame includes a known preamble and payload data. A start-of-frame time is estimated by scanning the received signal samples for the self similarity of two successive preambles. A carrier frequency offset (CFO) is estimated by maximizing a correlation between a magnitude spectrum of the received signal and a magnitude spectrum of a known preamble model. A fine estimate for the CFO is determined by computing a phase difference between samples separated by p repetitions of the base pattern for various values of index p, and computing a slope of a least squares affine fit to the phase differences. Additional operations are performed to find an optimal symbol starting point, to perform carrier phase synchronization and to detect the start of payload data.
US08634451B1 MIMO-OFDM receiver processing
A device includes circuitry configured to receive orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols of a training sequence, and circuitry configured to correlate training samples of the OFDM symbols to determine a frequency offset and configured to provide the determined frequency offset to perform frequency offset compensation for at least one multiple-in-multiple-out (MIMO)-OFDM frame to correct samples of training symbols in the at least one MIMO-OFDM frame. The correlated training samples correspond to a number of receive antennas through which the training sequence was received.
US08634450B2 Adaptive error correcting code for data communications over a plastic optical fibre
An efficient coding and modulation system for transmission of digital data over plastic optical fibers is disclosed. The digital signal is coded by a three-level coset coding. The spectral efficiency of the system is configurable by selecting the number of bits to be processed in each of the levels. The first level applies to the digital data a binary BCH coding and performs coset partitioning by constellation mapping and lattice transformations. Similarly, second level applies another binary BCH coding, which may be performed selectably in accordance with the desired configuration by two BCH codes with substantially the same coding rate, operating on codewords of different sizes. The third level is uncoded. The second and third levels undergo mapping and lattice transformation. After an addition of the levels, a second-stage lattice transformation is performed to obtain a zero-mean constellation. The symbols output from such three-level coset coder are then further modulated.
US08634449B2 Systems and methods for establishing a diagnostic transmission mode and communicating over the same
Upon detection of a trigger, such as the exceeding of an error threshold or the direction of a user, a diagnostic link system enters a diagnostic information transmission mode. This diagnostic information transmission mode allows for two modems to exchange diagnostic and/or test information that may not otherwise be exchangeable during normal communication. The diagnostic information transmission mode is initiated by transmitting an initiate diagnostic link mode message to a receiving modem accompanied by a cyclic redundancy check (CRC). The receiving modem determines, based on the CRC, if a robust communications channel is present. If a robust communications channel is present, the two modems can initiate exchange of the diagnostic and/or test information. Otherwise, the transmission power of the transmitting modem is increased and the initiate diagnostic link mode message re-transmitted to the receiving modem until the CRC is determined to be correct.
US08634443B2 Laser diode and method of manufacturing the same
A laser diode has a plurality of structures, each of which having a function of scattering, absorbing or reflecting stray light, disposed in a region along an optical waveguide, wherein at least one of said structures is formed in each divided region obtained by equally dividing said region along said optical waveguide into three or more parts in the longitudinal direction of said optical waveguide.
US08634433B2 HSDPA system with reduced inter-user interference
In a wireless network (100) with HSDPA-enabled user equipment devices (130), the base transceiver station (120) transmits to each HSDPA-enabled UE information regarding allocation of HSDPA codes and associated modulation techniques for other HSDPA-enabled UEs. Using this additional control information, each UE configures decision feedback filter of its equalizer to reduce inter-user interference. The additional control information may be transmitted in a packet (300) that includes a CRC portion (310) with the packet's CRC masked by a common ID, which is known to the HSDPA-enabled UEs. To reduce the number of bits needed to transmit the additional control information, the HSDPA codes used with a particular modulation technique are allocated consecutively. For each modulation technique, only the beginning code and the total number of codes need be known to the UEs. The number of codes used with each modulation technique may be allowed to change once in several TTIs.
US08634432B2 System and method for subcarrier allocation in a multicarrier wireless network
A base station for use in an OFDM network capable of communicating with a plurality of subscriber stations in a coverage area of the OFDM network. The base station transmits to a first subscriber station in a first subband of subcarriers from a first transmit antenna and transmits to the first subscriber station in a second subband of subcarriers from a second transmit antenna. The first and second subbands comprise different subcarriers. The base station also transmits to a second subscriber station in the first subband of subcarriers from the second transmit antenna and transmits to the second subscriber station in the second subband of subcarriers from the first transmit antenna.
US08634429B2 Communication system and method
An apparatus comprising a wireless modem for use at a terminal, the modem being adapted to connect to the terminal via a first connection, and to connect via a second, wireless connection to a gateway between a wireless cellular network and a further, packet-based network. The modem is operable to connect to the gateway via the second connection using a point-to-point link protocol that does not require a physical address for the gateway, and is operable to connect to the host terminal via the first connection using a point-to-multipoint link protocol that supports point-to-multipoint connection and does require a physical address for the gateway. The modem is configured to intercept a message being conveyed between the gateway and the terminal, to generate a substitute address that identifies an interface of the modem, and in response to intercepting the message to communicate the substitute address to the terminal.
US08634424B2 Methods and apparatus for efficient providing of scheduling information
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate efficiently providing scheduling information from an access terminal to a base station to enable effectuating scheduling decisions. Access terminals may transmit scheduling information in bifurcated requests. For instance, coarse scheduling information may be transferred utilizing a dedicated out-of-band channel, and fine scheduling information may be transmitted over an in-band channel.
US08634416B2 Receiving apparatus for digital broadcasting signal and receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus thereof
In a digital broadcasting signal receiving/recording/reproducing apparatus, a recorded program can be immediately reproduced without performing complicated operations. Only a desired program and information related to the desired program are separated to be extracted from the digital broadcasting signal. Then, the separated/extracted broadcasting signal is supplied to a recording/reproducing apparatus. In the recording/reproducing apparatus, the supplied broadcasting signal is recorded, and the recorded program can be immediately reproduced without complicated manipulating operations during the signal reproducing operation.
US08634409B2 System and method for coordinating between multiple telephony channels
A system comprising: an IP telephony interface communicatively coupled to an IP telephony service; a secondary telephony interface communicatively coupled to a secondary telephony service; and a telephone connection module to select between the IP telephony service and the secondary telephone service based on one or more specified telephony connection conditions.
US08634405B2 System and method for synchronizing phases and frequencies of devices in multi-user, wireless communications systems
A system and method for synchronizing the phases and frequencies of devices in multi-user, wireless communications systems are provided. A primary beacon signal is transmitted by a destination node in a wireless communications network to a plurality of source nodes. Secondary beacon signals are also exchanged between the source nodes. Using the primary and secondary beacon signals, the nodes generate local phase and frequency estimates which are used to control local phases and frequencies of the source nodes. The source nodes then transmit common information to the destination at carrier frequencies based on the estimated local frequencies and phases, so that the phases and frequencies of the transmitted information are synchronized to facilitate coherent combining of the bandpass signals at the destination. Phase and frequency synchronization can be applied to wireless communications systems having any number of source nodes, and effects of Doppler shifts and moving platforms are accounted for. Acoustic and radio-frequency signaling can be utilized.
US08634402B2 Distributed access point for IP based communications
An apparatus for Internet-Protocol based communications in a wireless network includes a network interface, a controller, and memory. The interface receives a series of multicast data packets. The controller identifies one or more receiving nodes in the wireless network requesting data corresponding to the series of multicast data packets and determines that the effective unicast rate for one or more unicast data packets exceeds a minimum data rate of the series of multicast data packets using an 802.x protocol. The memory stores instructions that may be executable by a processor. Upon execution of the instructions by a processor, the received series of multicast data packets is converted into one or more unicast packets, the execution and conversion occurring in response to instructions received from the controller. A system for Internet-Protocol based communications in a wireless network implements such an apparatus in the context of an access point.
US08634397B2 Allocation of uplink resources
A wireless telecommunications system with mobile terminals, MSs and a Base Station, BS, through which traffic to and from the MSs in a cell, is routed, so that there can be Down Link, DL, traffic from the BS of a cell to the MSs in that cell, and Up Link, UL, traffic from those MSs to the BS. At least part of the UL traffic is contention based, and DL data to an MS must be acknowledged by the MS. The method comprises letting the BS detect MSs in the cell whose DL traffic rate exceeds a certain limit, and also comprises a mechanism for allocating to said detected MSs an UL bandwidth which enables them to acknowledge DL traffic within a certain time period from its reception by the MS.
US08634395B2 Method of performing link adaptation procedure
A method of performing a link adaptation procedure for multi-user transmission in a wireless local area network (WLAN) system is provided. The method includes receiving a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) feedback request transmitted by an access point (AP) to a plurality of stations, estimating an MCS by considering a spatial stream corresponding to the MCS feedback request transmitted to the other stations, and transmitting an MCS feedback response comprising the estimated MCS to the AP. The link adaptation procedure can be performed by considering a wireless communication environment on a real time basis.
US08634393B2 Channel scanning in a network having one or more access points
Techniques are presented for channel scanning in a network having one or more access points. In one embodiment, a first frequency band is scanned to identify a first access point. A channel indicator is received from the first access point. A second frequency band is scanned based on the channel indicator, to identify a second access point. The second access point may be identified based on the channel indicator.
US08634383B2 Method and apparatus for resolving paging monitoring conflicts in multimode wireless equipment
A multimode wireless access terminal is configured to operate in idle mode while registered with a plurality of radio access technologies, for example, a TD-SCDMA network and a WCDMA network, and monitor paging messages, with a reduced likelihood of paging conflicts and missed calls. If the paging conflict is seen at a particular cell, then a cell reselection to another cell may be utilized to change the cell and avoid the conflict. Because the probability of a paging conflict is small due to the short duration of paging indicator messages, the access terminal may have very infrequent paging indicator monitoring conflicts, and when conflicts actually do occur, it is very likely that the UE will find a neighbor cell without conflict.
US08634382B2 Station device and method of checking communication performance thereof
A station device includes an output unit that outputs a massage, a communication unit that communicates with a wireless access point which is movable from one place to another place, a determination unit that determines current communication performance with the wireless access point, a storage unit that stores the determined current communication performance, and a controller that compares the current communication performance with pre-stored previous communication performance and controls the output unit to output a message according to a result of the comparison.
US08634381B2 Session transfer between different access network types
A request is originated by a mobile station, wherein the request contains information relating to both packet-switched communication and circuit-switched communication of data in a session. The request is originated by the mobile station in response to detecting that a transfer is to be performed from a source packet-switched access network to a target network in which different parts of the session is to be communicated in the packet-switched domain and circuit-switched domain. The transfer is completed using the information in the first request.
US08634380B2 Inter-network handover system and method
There is described a method of facilitating handover of a user device between a source base station component in a first communications network of a first network type and a target base station component in a second communications network of a second network type. The method includes determining an identifier of at least one target gateway component connected to the target base station component in the second communications network. A handover request message is then generated in the first communications network, the handover request message incorporating the identifier of the at least one target gateway component. The handover request message is then transmitted to the second communications network. Apparatus for performing this and other related methods is also described, for example eNodeB, gateway and user device components.
US08634378B2 Method and apparatus for ranging in broadband wireless access communication system
An apparatus and operation method of a Mobile Station (MS) for ranging in a broadband wireless access communication system includes receiving information for ranging code hopping from a Base Station (BS). The MS determines a hopping offset value that is a start of a ranging codes group using the information for ranging code hopping. The MS also determines a ranging codes group using the hopping offset value, and randomly selects at least one or more ranging codes among the determined ranging codes group and transmitting the selected ranging codes to the BS.
US08634371B2 Communication apparatus and method of constructing network thereby
When a connection is made to a wireless network constructed by a base station, a request to construct a wireless network in which a wireless communication apparatus operates as a base station is sensed and a determination is made as to whether communication is in progress with a communication apparatus of a network different from the wireless network constructed by the base station. If the request to construct the wireless network is sensed and it is determined that communication is in progress with a communication apparatus of a network different from the wireless network in which the base station is the intermediary, then an attempt is made to construct a wireless network in which the wireless communication apparatus operates as a base station.
US08634358B2 Method and apparatus for multicarrier control in a wireless communication system
The described apparatus and methods may include a controller configured to generate a grant for at least one carrier for transmission on one of a plurality of carriers, and generate feedback for transmission on the one of the plurality of carriers.
US08634354B2 Session establishment in multi-carrier data transmission systems
An access terminal acquires a multi-carrier radio network on an acquisition channel, receives a list of available channels from the network, and hashes to a channel on which the access terminal attempts to establish a session. If the access terminal fails to establish the session, the access terminal selects a new acquisition channel from an acquisition table other than the acquisition table from which the original acquisition channel was selected. The access terminal then repeats the above steps in order to attempt to establish a session, beginning with acquisition on the new acquisition channel. In this way, the number of unsuccessful session establishment attempts resulting from back end network failures is typically reduced, shortening the time to successful session establishment, reducing power consumption by the access terminal, and lessening interference due to unsuccessful attempts to establish a session.
US08634350B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving paging message using band information in wireless communication system
A method and an apparatus for transmitting and receiving a paging message in a wireless communication system are provided. A Base Station (BS) transmits, to a Mobile Station (MS) in an idle mode, a Paging Group IDentification Information (PGID_Info) message including paging group information for a paging group to which the BS belongs, and frequency band-specific paging carrier information for indicating at least one of paging carriers included in each of a plurality of frequency bands operated by the BS. The BS determines a paging carrier for transmitting the paging message among paging carriers included in a frequency band supported by the MS, and transmits the paging message to the MS using the determined paging carrier. By doing so, reception of the paging message in the frequency band supported by the MS is guaranteed, thereby preventing the unnecessary location update procedure.
US08634349B1 Merging for wireless access points
A method for tracking wireless access points from a computing device. The method includes scanning in a first scan to identify wireless access points that are within wireless communication of the computing device, and scanning in one or more subsequent scans to identify wireless access points that are within wireless communication of the computing device. The method also includes creating a group of wireless access points that includes a combination of wireless access points that were identified in the first scan or in the one or more subsequent scans, and providing to a user of the computing device a list of wireless access points that includes members of the group of wireless access points that have been identified in a predetermined period of multiple scans for wireless access points.
US08634344B2 Dynamic internet protocol addressing solutions with network-based mobility
A media access gateway includes a wireless network interface, an address assignment module, a proxy mobility agent module, and a profile module. The wireless network interface establishes a link with a wireless terminal. The address assignment module receives an address request message, including a mobility signal, from the wireless terminal. The proxy mobility agent module selectively transmits a proxy binding update to a local mobility anchor, and receives a proxy binding acknowledgement. The address assignment module transmits an address assignment message to the wireless terminal in response to the mobility signal indicating support or preference for proxy mobility. The address assignment message is based on address information in the proxy binding acknowledgement. The profile module retrieves a profile for the wireless terminal from a server. The address assignment module selectively transmits a second address assignment message to the wireless terminal based on the address information in the profile.
US08634340B2 Method and apparatus for PDCCH allocation in wireless communication system
A method for PDCCH allocation in a network terminal of a wireless communication system is disclosed. The wireless communication system supports Carrier Aggregation, which enables a UE of the wireless communication system to perform transmission and/or reception through multiple carriers. The method includes steps of configuring a plurality of carriers to a UE via an RRC message, and including an information for each configured carrier in the RRC message to indicate a second carrier which carries the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) corresponding to a first carrier, wherein the PDCCH on the second carrier is used to transmit downlink assignment or uplink grant for the first carrier.
US08634332B2 Using joint decoding engine in a wireless device
A method for using a joint decoding engine in a wireless device is disclosed. A first symbol stream and a second symbol stream in a received multiple input multiple output (MIMO) signal is determined. A scaled channel estimate for a wireless transmission channel and a scaled noise covariance of the MIMO signal are also determined. The scaled channel estimate and the first symbol stream are whitened. Max log maximum a posteriori (MLM) processing is performed on the whitened first symbol stream to produce a first data stream. The first data stream may be de-rate matched and decoded to produce a decoded first data stream.
US08634313B2 Method and apparatus that facilitates a timing alignment in a multicarrier system
Aspects are disclosed for facilitating a timing alignment in a multicarrier system. In one aspect, at least one downlink timing associated with at least one downlink carrier is determined, and an uplink timing associated with an uplink group of carriers is ascertained based on at least one downlink timing and a timing offset associated with the uplink group of carriers. Each of the uplink group of carriers is then transmitted within a threshold value of the uplink timing. In another aspect, a downlink communication is transmitted to a wireless terminal via at least one downlink carrier. This embodiment further includes assigning a timing offset to an uplink group of carriers, and providing the timing offset to the wireless terminal via the at least one downlink carrier. An uplink communication is then received via the uplink group of carriers according to the timing offset.
US08634308B2 Path detection in trill networks
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for detecting a path between two nodes. During operation, the system transmits a network-testing request frame, which includes a time-to-live (TTL) field within a Transparent Interconnection of Lots of Links (TRILL) header, from a source node to a destination node. In response to receiving a network-testing response frame sent from an intermediate node, the system increments the TTL value by 1 and re-transmits the network-testing frame to the destination node. In response to receiving a network-testing response frame sent from the destination node, the system determines a path between the source node and the destination node. The network-testing request or response frames is not processed on an Internet Protocol (IP) layer.
US08634306B2 Systems and methods for implementing service operation, administration, and management for hairpinned ethernet services
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a method may include designating one of at least one maintenance point associated with a physical port of a line card as a primary maintenance point, the primary maintenance point comprising either a UP-Maintenance Entity Group End Point (UP-MEP) or one Maintenance Entity Group Intermediate Point (MIP). The method may also include configuring the line card such that the line card stores source addresses of Service Operation, Administration, and Management (SOAM) frames communicated by the primary maintenance point. The method may further include configuring the line card such that the line card does not store source addresses of Service Operation, Administration, and Management frames communicated by maintenance points associated with the physical port other than the primary maintenance point.
US08634302B2 Apparatus for multi-cell support in a network
An apparatus for providing multi-cell support in a telecommunications network is described. The apparatus includes a modem board and a multi-core processor having a plurality of processor cores attached to the modem board. A single partition is defined with all of the processor cores included in it. The single partition is used to execute all control plane functions and all data plane functions. Typically, the multi-core processor is configured to include a core abstraction layer that hides any core specific details from application software running on the processor cores in the single partition and to serve at least three cells in the telecommunications network, each cell having a corresponding uplink scheduler and a corresponding downlink scheduler. In this configuration there is no need to use a hypervisor, since there is only one OS instance running (a potential cost saving).
US08634300B2 Reducing communication delay of video data
According to one embodiment, video data from a video transmitter (110) is received (420) at a network buffer (130). Information that pertains to a network buffer drain rate (14) of the network buffer (1q3) is monitored (430). The network buffer drain rate (140) is a rate that the video data is removed from the network buffer (130). The network buffer drain rate (140) is estimated (440) based on the monitored information. A transmission rate (120) that the video transmitter (110) transmits future video data is adjusted (450) to not exceed an allowed transmission rate (ATR) that is calculated based on the estimation of the network buffer drain rate (140).
US08634295B2 System and method for voice and data communication
A method, device, and system for conducting communication over one or more communication networks. The method comprises determining a number, A, of simultaneously receivable communication paths at a receiving device; and selecting, based on A, a version of data for reception from a plurality of available versions.
US08634279B2 Alarm clock and method for controlling a wake-up alarm
An alarm clock includes at least one sensor for detecting a body activity level of a human being and is provided to produce a sequence of alarm signals. Each alarm signal within the sequence is suppressible on the detection of a predetermined body activity level. The body activity level required to suppress an alarm signal increases with each subsequent alarm signal within the sequence. The body activity level of a human being is detected during said sequence, and a present alarm signal is suppressed when the body activity level presently detected is greater than the predetermined body activity level required to suppress the present alarm signal.
US08634274B2 Spindle for mud pulse telemetry applications
A spindle for a mud pulse telemetry tool includes a seal section having an outer surface for contacting a lip seal of a spindle housing in which the spindle is mounted; a top section attachable to at least part of a valve assembly for generating mud pulses; and a base section having a proximal end attachable to a drive motor for moving the spindle and a distal end attachable to the top section such that the annular seal is fixed between the top and base sections. The seal section can be made of a ceramic material such as yttrium-stabilized zirconia.
US08634266B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device capable of stabilizing power supply by suppressing power consumption as much as possible. The semiconductor device of the invention includes a central processing unit having a plurality of units and a control circuit, and an antenna. The control circuit includes a means for outputting, based on a power supply signal including data on power supply from an antenna (through an antenna) or a load signal obtained by an event signal supplied from each of the units, one or more of a first control signal for stopping power supply to one or more of the units, a second control signal for varying a power supply potential supplied to one or more of the units, and a third control signal for stopping supplying a clock signal to one or more of the units.
US08634264B2 Apparatuses, integrated circuits, and methods for measuring leakage current
Methods, apparatuses, and integrated circuits for measuring leakage current are disclosed. In one such example method, a word line is charged to a first voltage, and a measurement node is charged to a second voltage, the second voltage being less than the first voltage. The measurement node is proportionally coupled to the word line. A voltage on the measurement node is compared with a reference voltage. A signal is generated, the signal being indicative of the comparison. Whether a leakage current of the word line is acceptable or not can be determined based on the signal.
US08634262B2 Word line driving signal control circuit, semiconductor memory apparatus having the same, and word line driving method
A word line driving signal control circuit of a semiconductor memory apparatus provided with a sub-redundancy cell array includes a fuse unit configured to generate a redundancy enable signal in response to a bank active signal and an address signal, and a repair determination unit configured to activate one of a normal word line driving signal, a redundancy word line driving signal, and a sub-redundancy word line driving signal in response to the bank active signal and the redundancy enable signal.
US08634248B1 On-device data analytics using NAND flash based intelligent memory
A NAND Flash based content addressable memory (CAM) is used for a key-value addressed storage drive. The device can use a standard transport protocol such as PCI-E, SAS, SATA, eMMC, SCSI, and so on. A host writes a key-value pair to the drive, where the drive writes the keys along bit lines of a CAM NAND portion of the drive and stores the value in the drive. The drive then maintains a table linking the keys to location of the value. In a read process, the host provides a key to drive, which then broadcasts down the word lines of blocks storing the keys. Based on any matching bit lines, the tables can then be used to retrieve and supply the corresponding data to the host. The system can be applied to perform a wide range of analytics on data sets loaded into the NAND array.
US08634236B2 Phase change memory device, storage system having the same and fabricating method thereof
Provided are a phase change memory device and a fabricating method thereof. The phase change memory device includes a substrate, an interlayer dielectric layer formed on the substrate, first and second contact holes formed in the interlayer dielectric layer, and a memory cell formed in the first and second contact holes and including a diode, a first electrode on the diode, a phase change material layer on the first electrode, and a second electrode on the phase change material layer, wherein the first contact hole and the second contact hole are spaced apart from and separated from each other.
US08634234B2 Embedded magnetic random access memory (MRAM)
A magnetic random access memory (MRAM) cell includes an embedded MRAM and an access transistor. The embedded MRAM is formed on a number of metal-interposed-in-interlayer dielectric (ILD) layers, which each include metal dispersed there through and are formed on top of the access transistor. A magneto tunnel junction (MTJ) is formed on top of a metal formed in the ILD layers that is in close proximity to a bit line. An MTJ mask is used to pattern the MTJ and is etched to expose the MTJ. Ultimately, metal is formed on top of the bit line and extended to contact the MTJ.
US08634220B2 Power conversion apparatus
Technology leading to a size reduction in a power conversion apparatus comprising a cooling function and technology relating to enhancing productivity and enhancing reliability necessary for commercial production are provided. Series circuits comprising an upper arm and lower arm of an inverter circuit are built in a single semiconductor module 500. The semiconductor module has cooling metal on two sides. An upper arm semiconductor chip and lower arm semiconductor chip are wedged between the cooling metals. The semiconductor module is inserted inside a channel case main unit 214. A DC positive electrode terminal 532, a DC negative electrode terminal 572, and an alternating current terminal 582 of a semiconductor chip are disposed in the semiconductor module. The DC terminals 532 and 572 are electrically connected with a terminal of a capacitor module. The alternating current terminal 582 is electrically connected with a motor generator via an AC connector.
US08634218B2 Monolithic AC/DC converter for generating DC supply voltage
An integrated circuit (IC) comprises a rectifier/regulator circuit coupled to receive an ac source voltage and output a regulated dc voltage. The rectifier/regulator circuit includes first and second switching elements that provide charging current when enabled. The first and second switching elements do not provide charging current when disabled. A sensor circuit is coupled to sense the regulated dc voltage and generate a feedback control signal coupled to the rectifier/regulator circuit that enables the first and second switching elements when the regulated dc voltage is above a target voltage, and disables the first and second switching elements when the regulated dc voltage is below the target voltage.
US08634216B2 Communication within a power inverter using transformer voltage frequency
A power inverter may include a transformer serving as an isolation barrier. The power inverter may include a first controller on one side of the isolation barrier. The first controller may encode the frequency of an input voltage of the transformer with one or more operating conditions of a direct current power supply electrically coupled to the inverter. As second controller on the other side of the isolation barrier may determine a frequency associated with an output voltage of the transformer. The second controller may decode the frequency associated with the output voltage of the transformer to determine the encoded operating conditions.
US08634210B2 DC-DC converter including switching frequency control circuit
A DC-DC converter includes a series circuit including a primary transformer coil and a main switch element connected between a power input terminal and a ground terminal. A secondary transformer coil is connected to a rectifying/smoothing circuit including rectification-side and commutation-side synchronous rectifiers, a smoothing capacitor, and a choke coil. The output voltage from the rectifying/smoothing circuit is supplied to a load connected to a power output terminal. An input voltage detection circuit detects the voltage between the power input terminal and the ground terminal, and supplies a detection signal to a VIN terminal of a switching control circuit. The switching control circuit performs PWM control to maintain a constant output voltage output to the load, reduces the switching frequency when the input voltage input to the VIN terminal is low, and increases the switching frequency in accordance with an increase in the input voltage.
US08634208B2 Chip card holding mechanism and portable electronic device
A portable electronic device includes a housing and a chip card holding mechanism assembled within the housing. The housing defines a mounting slot and an unlocking hole adjacent to the mounting slot. The chip card holding mechanism includes a support base assembled adjacent to the mounting slot, a receiving tray and an unlocking assembly. The receiving tray is slidably mounted on the support base and includes a tray body and an operating portion formed at one end of the tray body. The operating portion has a resisting surface. The unlocking assembly includes a cam body rotatably assembled to the housing and a driving member. The cam body forms a cam resisting portion resisting against the resisting surface of the receiving tray. The driving portion is inserted into the unlocking hole for driving the cam body to rotate thereby ejecting the receiving tray.
US08634203B2 Latch assembly for connecting two boards
A latch assembly for securing two boards together includes a male section and a female section. The male section includes a base to be fixed to one board, a tab protruding from a first side surface of the base. The tab includes at least one latching portion protruding therefrom. The female section includes a support block fixed to the other one board and defining a chamber, a movable block slidably retained within the chamber of the support block, and the at least one elastic member is retained within the chamber. The movable block includes a stop portion capable of latching with the at least one latching portion when the movable block is retained in a securing position by the tab. The at least one elastic member applies a push force to the movable block to movably retain the movable block in the normal position.
US08634199B2 Computer mini-card connection assembly
A connection device is used to mount a computer mini-card. The connection device includes a board, an edge connector formed a bottom side of the board, a socket, and a pole. The socket is mounted on a first side surface of the board to connect to the computer mini-card, and is electrically connected to the edge connector. The pole extends from the first side surface of the board to fix an end of the computer mini-card opposite to the socket.
US08634198B2 Connection device of cable management arm
A connection device of a cable management arm includes a fixing frame having a protrusion portion, a connection member having a contact portion, and a locking member pivotably connected to the connection member. The locking member includes a locking portion and a resilient portion which contacts the contact portion of the connection member. When the connection member is pivotally connected to the cable management arm, the fixing frame is fixed to a rail. When the connection member is connected to the fixing frame, the resilient portion provides a force to lock the locking portion to the protrusion portion of the fixing frame so as to securely connect the connection member to the fixing frame.
US08634194B2 Power conversion apparatus
A power conversion apparatus is provided which includes a semiconductor module which include a switching element, a cooler which cools the semiconductor module, and has a pair of cylindrical pipes which introduce a cooling medium to a channel therein or discharge the cooling medium, a frame which holds the cooler, and a pair of clamps which fix the cylindrical pipes to the frame. Each of the clamps has a fastener portion which is fastened to the frame, and a pressing portion which presses the cylindrical pipe toward the frame. Each of the cylindrical pipes is held between a concave support portion, which is formed in the frame, and the clamp. Each of the cylindrical pipes is supported by two support surfaces of the concave support portion and the pressing portion of the clamp at three support points when viewing from the direction in which the cylindrical pipe extends.
US08634190B2 Single fan tray in a midplane architecture
A chassis may include a front section that contains a first electronic circuit board oriented in a first plane, a rear section that contains a second electronic circuit board oriented in a second plane, where the first plane and the second plane are substantially orthogonal, a midplane dividing the front and the rear sections, and a fan tray assembly including a plurality of fans to cool both the first electronic circuit board of the front section and the second electronic circuit board of the rear section.
US08634187B2 Mounting apparatus for PCI card
A mounting apparatus for a PCI card includes an enclosure, a mounting bracket, a securing bracket, and a securing member and a resilient member. The mounting bracket is configured to secure a first end of the PCI card. The securing bracket includes a bracket body and a securing plate. The securing member includes a main body and a securing portion. The main body defines a mounting slot. The securing member is configured to rotate to enable the securing portion to engage the securing plate, and to enable the mounting slot to receive a second end of the PCI card. The resilient member is mounted to the securing bracket and deformed to resist the securing member. The resilient member releases to drive the securing member to move away from the PCI card when the securing portion disengages from the securing plate.
US08634180B2 Multi-layered ceramic capacitor having dual layer-electrode structure
There is provided a multi-layered ceramic capacitor having a dual layer-electrode structure formed by applying a dual layer of electrode paste to the multi-layered ceramic capacitor. The multi-layered ceramic capacitor having a dual layer-electrode structure includes a capacitor body having a preset length and width and having a plurality dielectric layers stacked therein, an internal electrode unit formed on the plurality of dielectric layers and having a preset capacitance, and an external electrode unit including first external electrodes respectively formed on both sides of the capacitor body to be electrically connected to internal electrodes, and second external electrodes formed on the first external electrodes.
US08634179B2 Hot surface re-ignition controller
A hot surface re-ignition controller for use with a transformer for powering a hot surface igniter in a gas appliance. The design includes flame detection circuitry for interfacing with flame detecting electrodes and is completely implemented in analog circuitry to provide reliable operation in harsh environments.
US08634174B2 Gate dielectric breakdown protection during ESD events
Protection circuits, design structures, and methods for isolating the gate and gate dielectric of a field-effect transistor from electrostatic discharge (ESD). A protection field-effect transistor is located between a protected field-effect transistor and a voltage rail. Under normal operating conditions, the protection field-effect transistor is saturated so that the protected field-effect transistor is coupled to the voltage rail. The protection field-effect transistor may be driven into a cutoff condition in response to an ESD event while the chip is unpowered, which increases the series resistance of an ESD current path between the gate of the protected field-effect transistor and the voltage rail. The voltage drop across the protection field-effect transistor may reduce the ESD stress on the gate dielectric of the protected field-effect transistor. Alternatively, the gate and source of an existing field-effect transistor are selectively coupled provide ESD isolation to the protected field-effect transistor.
US08634173B2 Semiconductor apparatus
A semiconductor apparatus includes: first and second power-supply terminals; an internal circuit connected between the first and second power-supply terminals; and a protection circuit connected in parallel with the internal circuit between the first and second power-supply terminals, the protection circuit including: a series circuit that includes a resistor and a first capacitor, and is connected in parallel with the internal circuit between the first and second power-supply terminals; a first MOS transistor that is connected in parallel with the series circuit, and is controlled according to a voltage at a connection point between the resistor and the first capacitor; and a switch circuit that is connected in parallel with the resistor, is turned on in a delayed manner after a power-supply voltage is applied between the first and second power-supply terminals, and changes the voltage at the connection point so that the first MOS transistor is turned off.
US08634167B2 Magnetic head with self compensating dual thermal fly height control
A magnetic head for data recording having a pair of heating elements that self regulate in response to temperature to distribute heat for thermal actuation. The head includes a first heating element located adjacent to the read sensor and away from the writer, and a second heating element located adjacent to the writer. The first and second heating elements have different coefficients of thermal resistance that cause the heating of the second heating element to increase relative to that of the first heating element when the overall temperature increases or when power provided by a power source increases. There, thereby prevents the read sensor from extending too much and possibly contacting the disk.
US08634166B2 Suspension substrate, suspension, head suspension, hard disk drive having a conductive connection section covered by a metallic support layer, method for manufacturing suspension substrate and method for testing continuity of suspension
A suspension substrate according the present invention includes: an insulating layer; a metallic support layer provided on the actuator element's side of the insulating layer. A wiring layer is provided on the other side of the insulating layer. This wiring layer includes a plurality of wirings and a wiring connection section that can be electrically connected with the actuator element via a conductive adhesive. A conductive connection section extending through the insulating layer and configured to connecting the metallic support layer with the wiring connection section of the wiring layer is provided in the connection structure region.
US08634154B1 Disk drive writing a sync mark seam in a bootstrap spiral track
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, and a spindle motor operable to rotate the disk. A bootstrap spiral track is written to the disk, wherein the bootstrap spiral track comprises a high frequency signal interrupted by sync marks. A first sync mark is written while writing a first part of the bootstrap spiral track, and a second sync mark is written while writing a second part of the bootstrap spiral track. A switch between writing the first sync mark and the second sync mark is made in response to a spindle BEMF voltage, thereby generating a sync mark seam in the bootstrap spiral track.
US08634144B2 Evanescent electromagnetic wave conversion methods I
Apparatus, methods, and systems provide conversion of evanescent electromagnetic waves to non-evanescent electromagnetic waves and/or conversion of non-evanescent electromagnetic waves to evanescent electromagnetic waves. In some approaches the conversion includes propagation of electromagnetic waves within an indefinite electromagnetic medium, and the indefinite medium may include an artificially-structured material such as a layered structure or other metamaterial.
US08634142B2 Evanescent electromagnetic wave conversion apparatus II
Apparatus, methods, and systems provide conversion of evanescent electromagnetic waves to non-evanescent electromagnetic waves and/or conversion of non-evanescent electromagnetic waves to evanescent electromagnetic waves. In some approaches the conversion includes propagation of electromagnetic waves within an indefinite electromagnetic medium, and the indefinite medium may include an artificially-structured material such as a layered structure or other metamaterial.
US08634131B2 Spherical aberration correction for non-descanned applications
Spherical aberration is the primary cause of lose of signal while imaging deeper into a sample. Spherical aberration is corrected in the imaging path of a non-descanned detection system (such as a multi-photon microscope). This corrects the illumination spot for artifacts caused by imaging deep into a sample. One exemplary advantage to this instrument is that it allows deeper and brighter imaging.
US08634118B2 Image processing apparatus and computer readable medium
An image processing apparatus includes a read unit and a first correction unit. The read unit reads a document and generates multilevel image data from the document. The first correction unit corrects the multilevel image data contained in a first range predetermined as a color indicating a fluorescent color so as to move the multilevel image data contained in the first range to an outside of a print color range when at least a part of the multilevel image data is contained in the first range.
US08634116B2 Image reading device and image forming apparatus
An image reading device includes a reading unit, a first correcting unit, and a second correcting unit. The reading unit includes multiple read pixel-arrays and converts a signal charge obtained from pixels in each read pixel-array to an electric signal and outputs the electric signal as a read signal of each read pixel-array. The first correcting unit individually delays the read signals of the respective read pixel-arrays output from the reading unit so as to correct misregistration of the read signals. The second correcting unit corrects the misregistration of the read signals of the respective read pixel-arrays corrected by the first correcting unit by performing a two-point interpolation process so that a correction amount for the read signal of one specific read pixel-array among the multiple read pixel-arrays is not smaller than a correction amount for the read signal or signals of the remaining read pixel-array or pixel-arrays.
US08634113B2 Recording media path in a multifunction printer
A multifunction printer includes a) a printing apparatus having: i) a printer chassis having a media input region, a printing region, and a media support element; ii) a carriage configured to move a printhead in a carriage scan direction along the printing region; and iii) a plurality of rollers configured to transport a recording medium from the media input region, across the media support element and to the printing region; and b) a scanning apparatus to convert an image into digitized data, the scanning apparatus including a base that is affixed to the printer chassis, wherein the base of the scanning apparatus comprises a guide for the recording medium.
US08634109B2 Image forming apparatus, and control method and control program thereof
An image forming apparatus has an image carrier carrying an electrostatic latent image, a charging unit charging the surface of the image carrier, an exposure unit forming an electrostatic latent image by irradiating light onto the charged surface of the image carrier, a developing unit developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the image carrier using a developing material, and a transfer unit transferring a developer image onto a printing material. The apparatus has also an image correction unit correcting image data inputted to the exposure unit so as to compensate for deformation in the developer image originating in a form of the exposure unit, and a smoothing processing unit carrying out smoothing of an image by controlling the exposure unit so that dots of a size smaller than one pixel are filled with respect to a white image region of the corrected image data.
US08634102B2 Document processing for handling a document comprising a document element with bundled page elements
Whether all pages have the same print settings is determined before print settings are changed in a print preview, and the setting change is permitted only when all pages have the same print settings. In each layer of XPS data to be processed, whether the print setting information is not added to the element of the layer or whether the print setting information added to the element of the layer is shared by all elements of the layer is determined. A change in the print setting information by the user is accepted if one of the conditions is satisfied. When the print settings are changed, the setting change is not reflected on individual print tickets. The change is reflected on the entire job by adding a print ticket reflected with the setting change on the top element.
US08634098B2 Image processing system and image processing apparatus and method
A scanner that provides WSD standard scan service does not allow the notification and identification by a client PC of scan parameters, such as a resolution and a reading range, that are selected by a user in push scan on a panel, for example, attached to the scanner body. This prevents the push scan with the user-specified scan parameters. Accordingly, an event that temporarily limits the scanning functions is issued to inhibit the specification of parameters excluding user-specified scan parameters from a client PC. Thus, the client PC can instruct the scanning with the user-specified parameters, and the push scan requested by the user can be implemented. The limitation is valid only to the destination client of the push scan.
US08634092B2 Server for relaying print job
A first command receiving unit receives a first command from the printer when a user performs a first operation on the printer for executing printing. A printer recognizing unit recognizes the printer as a first printer that is waiting for a print job based on the first command. A file request receiving unit receives a file request from the terminal device. A first file transmitting unit transmits a first file to the terminal device when the file request receiving unit has received the file request. A first file is a file for displaying on the terminal device a printer specifying screen which includes printer identification information for identifying the first printer. A second command receiving unit receives a second command from the terminal device. A second command is transmitted from the terminal device when the first printer is specified on the printer specifying screen. A job transmitting unit transmits the print job to the first printer specified by the terminal device when the second command receiving unit has received the second command.
US08634084B2 Data processing system and image forming apparatus
A data processing system includes a memory in which a set value based on a compliance requirement is stored for each of plural operating functions provided in an image forming apparatus, and a controller which outputs correspondence data indicating correspondence between the plural operating functions and the set value based on the compliance requirement.
US08634075B2 Scanning analyzer for single molecule detection and methods of use
The invention encompasses analyzers and analyzer systems that include a single molecule analyzer, methods of using the analyzer and analyzer systems to analyze samples, either for single molecules or for molecular complexes. The single molecule uses electromagnetic radiation that is translated through the sample to detect the presence or absence of a single molecule. The single molecule analyzer provided herein is useful for diagnostics because the analyzer detects single molecules with zero carryover between samples.
US08634071B2 System and method of closed carton inspection
An inspection of a closed carton for acceptable content fill may be provided by a transmitting unit and a receiving unit measuring intensity values of electromagnetic waves directed at the carton. A comparison of a reference intensity value to a measured intensity value may indicate whether the closed carton is filled correctly identifying missing contents such as the main product or a missing leaflet that may contain product instructions.
US08634063B2 Wafer with design printed outside active region and spaced by design tolerance of reticle blind
A printed wafer. A design is printed within a peripheral portion of the wafer. The peripheral portion of the wafer is between an outer boundary of an active portion of the wafer and an outer boundary of the wafer. The design may be a copy of a portion of a pattern that exists on a reticle of an exposure apparatus. The pattern may includes pattern elements such that adjacent pattern elements are separated by a spacing of about a sum of a first design tolerance (based on how accurately a reticle blind can be positioned within the exposure apparatus) and a second design tolerance (based on how sharply an edge of the reticle blind can be focused on the wafer by a lens). The design may visible to a naked eye unaided with no portion of the printed design within the active portion of the wafer.
US08634062B2 Actuator system, lithographic apparatus, method of controlling the position of a component and device manufacturing method
An actuator system is provided that is configured to move a component relative to a base of the actuator system. The actuator system may include first and second actuating elements, each including two sections of material that are joined to each other and have different coefficients of thermal expansion. The two actuating elements may be configured such that if the temperature of one is increased it applies a force on the component in a direction that is opposite to the force applied by the other actuating element if its temperature is increased. The actuator system may further include at least one power supply configured to provide independently controllable heating to the first and second actuating elements.