Document Document Title
US08888529B2 Electrical connector having common ground shield
An electrical connector assembly includes a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector that can be mated so as to establish an electrical connection across the electrical connectors at a mating region. One of the electrical connectors includes a perforated common ground shield at the mating region that reduces crosstalk while substantially matching impedance at the mating region to a desired impedance of the electrical connector assembly.
US08888526B2 Coaxial cable connector with radio frequency interference and grounding shield
A radio frequency interference (RFI) and grounding shield for a coaxial cable connector is disclosed. The shield comprises a circular inner segment and at least one arcuately shaped pre-formed cantilevered annular beam attached to the circular inner segment by a joining segment. The at least one pre-formed cantilevered annular beam extends angularly from a plane of the circular inner segment. The at least one pre-formed cantilevered annular beam applies a spring-force to a surface of the surface of a component of the coaxial cable connector establishing an electrically conductive path between the components. The at least one pre-formed cantilevered annular beam comprises an outer surface with a knife-like edge that provides a wiping action of surface oxides on component surfaces of the coaxial cable connector and allows for unrestricted movement when the coaxial cable connector is attached to an equipment connection port of an appliance.
US08888524B2 Modular power adapter assembly
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a modular power adapter assembly for a portable electronic device. According to one example embodiment, the assembly includes a power adapter housing and an extender member connected to the adapter housing at a first end region thereof. Furthermore, a plug adapter is configured to receive power and removably attach to a second end region of the extender member. A cable is attached to the adapter housing to supply power to a connected portable electronic device.
US08888523B2 Extension apparatus for power outlet
An extension apparatus of a power outlet includes a main body and a socket. The main body includes a plug portion and an extension plug portion. The plug portion defines three through holes. The extension plug portion defines three blind holes. Three first metal pieces are mounted in the through holes. Three second metal pieces are mounted in the blind holes and coupled to the first metal pieces. The socket is plugged into the extension plug portion to be coupled to the plug portion. When a first plug is plugged into the plug portion, electrical power is fed to a second plug.
US08888521B2 In-line sealed electrical connector apparatus having a connector apparatus position assurance device, and locking method thereof
A connector apparatus position assurance device ensures that a male connector assembly and a female connector assembly of an in-line sealed electrical connector apparatus of the present invention remain engaged. The connector apparatus position assurance device has contiguous parts that engage various parts of a retention clip of the male connector assembly at different levels of insertion of the connector apparatus position assurance device into the male connector assembly. The insertion of the connector apparatus position assurance device is also accomplished at various stages (i.e., from pre-lock position to final lock position) depending on the insertion level of the female connector assembly into the male connector assembly. Consequently, the effect of the level of insertion of the female connector assembly ensures that the male and female connector assemblies remain engaged.
US08888510B2 Single-piece shield can
Shields for connector adapters that may provide for easy assembly, good RF isolation, and low spacing tolerance. One example may include integrated location features to align a shield to a printed circuit board. The shield may be formed of a single piece of metallic or otherwise conductive material, such as stainless steel.
US08888507B2 Board-to-board connector
A board-to-board connector made in the form of the combination of a male connector and a female connector is disclosed to include an electrically insulative connector body including a long rectangular mating part, a receptacle part and a plug part respectively located at two opposite sides of the long rectangular mating part, a recessed receiving chamber defined between the long rectangular mating part and the receptacle part and a recessed mating chamber defined between the long rectangular mating part and the plug part, terminal grooves located at the receptacle part, a positioning protruding member located at the plug part and a recessed mating chamber surrounded by the long rectangular mating part and the positioning protruding member, first conducting terminals respectively mounted in the terminal grooves, and second conducting terminals mounted in the positioning protruding member of the plug part of the electrically insulative connector body.
US08888504B2 Multilevel interconnection system
A male connection component (120) for connection with a correspondingly configured female connection component (140) having a recess (144) extending into a main surface (170) of a female Substrate (142) of the female connection component (140), wherein the female connection component (140) comprises a plurality of electrically conductive female contacts (146) which are electrically decoupled from one another and are arranged at different height levels with regard to the main surface (170) of the female Substrate (142), the male connection component (120) comprising a male Substrate (102), a Protrusion (104) protruding from a main surface (160) of the male Substrate (102) and comprising a plurality of electrically conductive male contacts (106) which are electrically decoupled from one another and are arranged at different height levels with regard to the main surface (160) of the male Substrate (102), wherein the male connection component (120) is adapted for connection with the female connection component (140) so that upon connection, each of the plurality of electrically conductive male contacts (106) is brought in contact with one of the plurality of electrically conductive female contacts (146) for providing electric contactation at different height levels, wherein the male Substrate (102) forms at least part of one of a chip, a chip package and a circuit board.
US08888502B2 Electrical connector with dual contact halves
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing having a plurality of passageways and a number of contacts restricted in the insulative housing. Each contact includes an upper contact half sliding in the passageways and a lower contact half supporting the upper contact half. The upper contact half has three curve sections and the lower contact half has two curve sections. When a force is applied to the upper contact half, the upper and lower contact halves are wiping each other and both are deflectable in vertical and transverse directions.
US08888499B2 Bicycle wheel spinner stand for retail display
A display system includes a bicycle wheel rotatable about an axle, a lighting device secured to the wheel for rotation with the wheel, and a stand device having an attachment location where the axle of the wheel is attached to support the wheel so that the wheel can rotate relative to the stand device. The stand device includes a drive roller engaging the wheel to rotate the wheel and a motor rotating the drive roller. A distance between the attachment location and the drive roller can be adjusted so that the stand device accommodates different sizes of wheels. The motor and the drive roller can be secured to the stand device at a fixed location while the wheel is mounted to a pivoting portion of the stand device so that gravity pivots the wheel in a direction to engage the wheel with the drive roller.
US08888497B2 Emotional web
Methods and systems are provided for association of various online elements with emotional states. A set of emotional states may be generated or obtained, and particular online elements may be assigned to particular emotional states of the set, such as with emotional states that are reflected or represented by or in the online elements. Online elements can be of various types, such as, for example, Web sites, blogs, articles, online events, online activities, online messaging, etc. User association or interaction with online emotional state-associated online elements can be used in classifying users into particular emotional states.
US08888496B1 System and method for evaluating job candidates
Human resource system for collecting and analyzing survey data from reference providers identified by a job candidate for use by an employer. The system sends an electronic communication to the reference providers to request completion of survey questions and electronically receives the survey data from the reference providers, preferably through webpages. An analysis module combines the received survey data from the reference providers and generates a confidential candidate report for an employer which excludes identification of any ratings or comments by any reference providers. The system also generates customized interview probe questions for use during job interviews and coaching tactics for use after the hiring, based on the weak areas that have been identified from the completed surveys in order to assist the hiring manager to bring the new hires up to speed quickly and effectively.
US08888488B2 Method for pre-operative visualization of instrumentation used with a surgical guide for dental implant placement
The invention relates to manufacturing a surgical guide to be placed in a patient's mouth. The patient's mouth is scanned to obtain surgical-region scan data at a region where an implant is to be located. The patient's mouth is also scanned in the opened position to acquire dental conditions opposite from the surgical region so as to obtain opposing-condition scan data. A virtual model is developed using the surgical-region scan data and the opposing-condition scan data. Using the virtual model, a surgical plan is developed that includes the location of the implant to be installed in the patient. A virtual surgical guide is also developed based on the surgical plan. The dimensions of instrumentation to be used with the surgical guide are checked to ensure they will fit within the mouth by use of the opposing-condition scan data. After checking, final surgical-guide manufacturing information is obtained for manufacturing the surgical guide.
US08888480B2 Three-dimensional printing system and equipment assembly
A three-dimensional printing system and equipment assembly for the manufacture of three-dimensionally printed articles is provided. The equipment assembly includes a three-dimensional printing build system, an optional liquid removal system and an optional harvester system. The build system includes a conveyor, plural build modules and at least one build station having a powder-layering system and a printing system. The equipment assembly can be used to manufacture pharmaceutical, medical, and non-pharmaceutical/non-medical objects. It can be used to prepare single or multiple articles.
US08888469B2 Pump with an elastic membrane and hydraulic control
A hydraulically-controlled diaphragm pump including a pump chamber formed between a pump head and a pump body, a constant volume intermediate hydraulic chamber formed in the pump body and including a piston driven with reciprocating motion inside the intermediate chamber, a leak compensation volume for compensating leaks from the intermediate chamber being connected thereto by a top-up channel via a free check valve that is not rated and that passes fluid towards the working chamber. The check valve and at least a portion of the compensation volume are housed in a body fitted to the pump body at the high point of the intermediate hydraulic chamber in the working position of the pump.
US08888450B2 Sculpted fan housing
The described embodiments relate generally to optimizing airflow in a computer system. By modifying the external surface of centrifugal cooling fan enclosures the pressure drop associated with airflow moving around the enclosures can be reduced. This is generally accomplished by rounding off hard edges from the outside of the cooling fan enclosure as well as forming cover surfaces rather than simply using flat cover surfaces. In some cases this can also involve modifying the shape of the fan inlet, or even contouring the shape of the cooling fan blades to allow air to flow more easily through the computer enclosure.
US08888448B2 Method for the manufacture of a circular revolution thermomechanical part including a titanium-based load-bearing substrate lined with steel or superalloy, a turbomachine compressor housing which is resistant to titanium fire obtained according to this method
A method for manufacture of a compressor housing which is resistant to a titanium fire (burning titanium). A circular blank made of steel, or steel alloy, or superalloy which is incombustible in the presence of a titanium fire is hydroformed against a circular blank made from titanium or titanium alloy.
US08888441B2 Segmented seal assembly
Systems and devices for sealing portions of a rotary machine are disclosed. In one embodiment, a seal assembly element includes: a head flange; an axial neck connected to the head flange, wherein the axial neck includes a mating flange extending circumferentially from a distal end of the seal assembly element, the mating flange configured to form a multidirectional seal with a recessed portion of a complementary seal assembly element; and a set of axial seal teeth connected to the axial neck.
US08888435B2 Industrial robot with overlapping first hand and second hand during time of linear transport
An industrial robot is provided with the first hand, the second hand, the arm and the main unit section. The base end portion of the first hand and the base end portion of the second hand are joined to the front end portion of the arm such that they overlap with each other in the top-bottom direction. The first hand and the second hand are independently rotatable with respect to the arm and also rotatable about the common center of rotation with respect to the arm in the view from the top-bottom direction. Also, the first hand and the second hand are formed being bent in the view from the top-bottom direction, and also formed to have line symmetry about a predetermined imaginary line passing through the center of rotation in the view from the top-bottom direction.
US08888427B2 System for preventing rotation of fasteners
A system for preventing rotation of fasteners is provided that includes secondary locking devices. The system may include multiple fasteners that extend parallel to each other and may be arranged in a generally circular pattern. Multiple secondary locks may be arranged concentrically outside of the fasteners and have radially extending teeth so that teeth of adjacent secondary locks engage each other for preventing rotation of the fasteners. The secondary fasteners may have central openings that are larger than the fasteners to allow for substantial back-and-forth rotational movement, which may be between about 5 to 20 degrees of travel, of the secondary locks upon the fasteners before being stopped by the engagements of the secondary locks and fasteners. Inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the secondary locks may have different axes of symmetry which may allow the secondary lock teeth to be arranged asymmetrically relative to the fasteners.
US08888422B2 Locking system for roll-off containers
A locking system including a lock box and a locking bar. The locking bar configured as an elongated member which engages a loading hook of a roll-off container. The locking bar including at least one hole defined therethrough and configured to engage a hasp of a lock. The lock box has an opening defined therethrough and is configured to receive a first portion of the length of the locking handle so that when the locking handle is engaged with the hook a second portion of the length of the locking handle projects from the lock box. This second portion includes at least one of the aforementioned holes and functions to receive a locking hasp. An alternative locking system including a locking sleeve preventing engagement of a bar of a roll-off storage container.
US08888421B1 Pickup trunk
A pickup trunk is provided for a pickup truck having a bed with side walls and a tailgate. The pickup trunk includes a holder to receive cargo therein. A manually adjustable retainer mechanism is for retaining the holder with the cargo in a stationary position on a back portion of the bed between the side walls of the pickup truck adjacent to the tailgate, so as to allow for easy access and retrieval of the cargo from the holder when the tailgate is opened.
US08888419B2 Long reach spindle drive systems and method
A tool (100) for working the internal bore of a tube comprises a motor (10), having a housing with a rotary output; a housing sleeve (14a) and shaft (22); a first bearing housing (16), having a rotatably journalled first spindle (102), mounted on the housing sleeve; and an end sleeve and shaft connected to a tool head. The motor output drives, along a common axis (1), the housing shaft, first bearing spindle, end shaft and tool head. A change mechanism (56,58) is in the tool head to change direction of said drive to transverse said common axis. An output (60) is adapted to receive a tool bit. Gauge means (18,18′) is disposed on said tool head and is adapted, in use, to bear against the bore of the tube and maintain the tool head located radially with respect to the tube axis; and support means (24,24′) is disposed on one or more of said housing shaft, first bearing housing and end sleeve adapted, in use, to bear against the bore of the tube and support the tool. A long length of tool can work the inside of long tubes.
US08888413B2 Transition coupling between cylindrical drive shaft and helical pile shaft
An improved transition coupling for a helical soil pile assembly transfers a compression load between two coupled shaft segments with little or no compression loading on the bolts that fasten the parts together. The coupling body has a shaft-receiving socket that extends axially into the body from one end to a socket bottom that axially abuts the end of one of the shafts. The body also has at least one shoulder between its ends that extends laterally outward and faces toward the end remote from the socket. A cylindrical portion of the body, which fits closely within the hollow end of the other shaft, extends axially toward the socket end up to the shoulder, which is adapted to abut the end of that shaft. At least one pair of aligned transverse holes in the body is adapted to receive a fastener.
US08888405B2 Road roller
A road roller is described comprising a front carriage and a rear carriage, which are interconnected by an articulated swivel joint, wherein the front carriage and the rear carriage each comprise a front carriage frame and a rear carriage frame. The front carriage frame and/or the rear carriage frame consist of beams including a main beam, which extends horizontally along the longitudinal median plane of the road roller and at one end of which the articulated swivel joint is disposed, and comprises two side beams diverging from the free end of the main beam to form a “V”. Disposed thereon are the supports for supporting the drums, wherein the side beams are upwardly oriented.
US08888403B2 Combination gravel spreader/paver geo-textile fabric installer apparatus
A gravel spreader/paver apparatus and method for transporting and spreading gravel and other base materials, onto a surface, such as a roadway, including a hopper portion for receiving base material from a separate machine, such as a dump truck; attachment brackets for attaching the apparatus to machinery for providing movement to the apparatus; a roll of geo-textile fabric secured onto the apparatus; base material, such as gravel, in the hopper portion for being delivered on the geo-textile fabric as the fabric is unrolled from the apparatus while the apparatus is moving forward; an adjustable moldboard mounted on the apparatus for spreading the base material to a pre-determined, precise depth; the moldboard adjustable to multiple positions, to control the amount, depth, and width of the material being spread; adjustable plates for allowing the base material to be spread onto the sub-base at predetermined widths, depths and slopes.
US08888391B2 Lip balm with spherical surface and method for producing
A lip balm applicator product comprises upper and lower portions that are connectable together to define the applicator product being of a substantially spherical shape. A support platform is located in the lower portion and accommodates a quantity of lip balm having an arcuate surface. A lip balm comprises a composition of waxes and oils in solid form and formed to have an arcuate surface. The composition is formed to have the arcuate surface using a hot pour process. A method of manufacturing a lip balm comprises providing a receptacle having a concave arcuate surface. A lip balm material in a heated, liquefied phase is poured into the receptacle. Once poured, the heated, liquefied phase is allowed to solidify such that a surface of the solidified lip balm material has an arcuate configuration that corresponds to the concave arcuate surface of the receptacle.
US08888379B2 Electronic device
There is provided an electronic device which includes a housing, an opening formed in the housing, a light receiving unit which is disposed inside the housing and is configured to receive an optical signal which enters through the opening, and an optical path changing unit which changes, to guide to the light receiving unit, a travelling direction of at least one of a first optical signal arriving from a first direction in respect to the housing and a second optical signal arriving from a second direction in respect to the housing, the first and second directions being opposite each other.
US08888374B1 Bearing with antiskid design
A bearing with antiskid design used in combination with a circular spline to form a harmonic drive, and the circular spline is provided with an inner toothed portion, the bearing includes: an elliptical gear plug, a flexible ball bearing, and a flexible spline. Between the flexible ball bearing and the flexible spline are disposed a first and second antiskid members, and the arrangement of the first and second antiskid members prevents the axial slippage between the flexible ball bearing and the flexible spline, thus improving stability and transmission accuracy of the harmonic drive.
US08888372B2 Sensor-carrier cap for a bearing of a wheel hub
A sensor-carrier cap for a bearing of a wheel hub, the cap being made of plastic material and having a bottom wall arranged transversely to a central axis and providing a seat for accommodating a sensor, a cylindrical mounting wall extending axially from one side of the bottom wall around the axis; snap locking means projecting in a radially outer direction from the cylindrical wall, for locking the sensor-carrier cap on a tubular appendage of a wheel hub-bearing.
US08888371B1 Cooling-enhanced bearing assemblies, apparatuses, and motor assemblies using the same
Cooling-enhanced bearing assemblies, apparatuses, and motor assemblies using the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, a bearing assembly may include a plurality of superhard bearing elements distributed circumferentially about an axis. Each of the superhard bearing elements may have a bearing surface. The bearing assembly may further include a support ring that carries the plurality of superhard bearing elements. The support ring may include at least an upper surface, an inner surface, and an outer surface. A plurality of cooling features may be arranged on at least one of the upper surface, the inner surface, or the outer surface of the support ring.
US08888368B2 Roller retaining chain
A roller retaining chain includes a carrier belt extending along a longitudinal direction and multiple holes are defined through the carrier belt so as to respectively receive a roller therein. A retainer is located between any two adjacent holes and each of the retainers includes a first part and a bottom part. The first/second part has a first/second face facing the hole. Each of the first and second faces has a guide member and each guide member has a guide face which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The two respective guide faces are located on the same plane. Each of the guide faces has an inclined stop face extending therefrom so as to retain the roller in the hole. Each roller is in contact with the two guide faces to prevent from being tilt.
US08888366B2 Hydrostatic guide device and machine tool using the hydrostatic guide device
A hydrostatic guide device includes: a fixed member having vertical guide faces; a movable member having vertical slide faces; a fluid supply device; a hydrostatic pocket to which a first fluid pressure based on a dimension of a gap is applied, and that urges the movable member with a first urging force; and a hydraulic pocket to which a second fluid pressure based on a dimension of a gap is applied, and that urges the movable member with a second urging force. A variation of the second fluid pressure is smaller than a variation of the first fluid pressure. When the first urging force and the second urging force are balanced with each other in a horizontal direction, the gap between the vertical guide face and the vertical slide face becomes a set value.
US08888364B2 Anatomical imaging system with centipede scanning drive, bottom notch to accommodate base of patient support, and motorized drive for transporting the system between scanning locations
An imaging system including a scanner for scanning an object and creating an image of the same; and a transport mechanism mounted to the scanner for moving the scanner, wherein the transport mechanism includes a gross movement mechanism for transporting the scanner between scanning locations; and a fine movement mechanism for moving the scanner precisely, relative to the object being scanned, during scanning of the object; wherein the gross movement mechanism comprises at least one motorized wheel.
US08888361B2 Calorific value measuring system and calorific value measuring method
A calorific value measuring system, includes a gas flowing in a pipe; the flow rate controlling device; a temperature measuring element in the pipe; a heater element, in the pipe, producing a plurality of temperatures; a measuring portion measuring a value from a temperature measuring element that is dependent on the temperature of the gas, and a value from the heater element at each of a plurality of temperatures; an equation storage device storing a calorific value equation using values from the temperature measuring element and values from the heater element at the plurality of temperatures as independent variables and uses the calorific value as the dependent variable; and a calorific value portion calculating a value for the calorific value of a gas through substituting a value from the temperature measuring element and a value from the heater element into the independent variables of the calorific value equation.
US08888359B2 Timepiece display mechanism
A timepiece movement including a time-setting stem which is moveable longitudinally and in rotation along a stem axis in a bottom plate, the movement including at least one display control mechanism which includes at least one counter, an arbour of which pivots about a pivot axis. The axis is secant with the stem axis, and pivots in a first jewel, a first external shoulder of which is driven into the bottom plate, and a second external shoulder of which pivotally guides the bore of an intermediate time-setting wheel controllable via the stem.
US08888356B2 Backlight assembly and display apparatus having the same
A backlight assembly that is adapted for use with an image displaying flat panel includes a light guide plate assembly and one or more light sources disposed under the light guide plate assembly. An upper portion of the light guide plate assembly is overlapped by a display area of the flat panel while a lower portion is disposed under the upper portion, and includes light guiding material for redirecting sourced light as well as reflectors for also redirecting light sourced from small, light sourcing areas underneath the upper portion for redistribution into the larger area of light guiding material provided in the upper portion of the light guide plate assembly. The upper portion also has one or more light reflectors. In one embodiment, opposed ones of light sources are angled so they don't shine light directly into one another.
US08888353B2 Backlight module and assembly method thereof
A backlight module includes a light guide plate with at least one light incident surface, and a light source structure arranged at a side of the light guide plate. The light source structure includes a reflection cover and at least one light emitting module. At least one positioning pin is arranged on the reflection cover. The at least one light emitting module is installed on the reflection cover and corresponding to the at least one light incident surface. The at least one light emitting module is fixed on the positioning pin in a rotatable manner, such that the at least one light emitting module can rotate around the positioning pin as an axis when the reflection cover is combined with the light guide plate, so as to allow the at least one light emitting module facing the at least one light incident surface.
US08888341B2 Vehicle door mirror
In a vehicle door mirror, Between a circumferential edge of a mirror body 2 of a reflection mirror unit 1 in which a lighting unit 10 is incorporated and a flange on a circumferential edge 3a of a holder 3, a gap 4 for light emission is provided in a state in which the circumferential edges thereof are partially spaced from each other in a radial direction, and in the gap, a light emitting portion 10L of the lighting unit 10 is secondarily disposed. In this manner, a driver can directly visually recognize light that is emitted from the light emitting portion 10L, and a decrease in reflection area of the mirror body 2, which is caused by forming the gap 4, can be restrained to its required minimum level, making it possible to ensure an effective field of view of the door mirror.
US08888339B2 Light arrangement, method for operating a light arrangement and a motor vehicle
The invention relates to a light arrangement, comprising a motor vehicle light which can be operated in at least two operating modes, as well as further comprising a control mechanism for the motor vehicle light. The invention further relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle light and a motor vehicle.
US08888338B2 Reflective street light with wide divergence angle
A reflective street light with wide divergence angle includes a light device having a light emitter and a total reflection lens. The light rays from the light emitter are reflected to two sides of the total reflection lens and then are refracted outwardly via the refraction surfaces at a maximum angle.
US08888335B2 Lighting system
A lighting system including a track member and a lighting unit supported by the track member 14. The track member includes an elongate base for mounting the track member to a surface, such as a wall, frame, etc. A pair of arms 26 and 30 extend from the base 22 in a common direction and define therebetween a channel 34 for receiving the lighting unit 18. Rotationally interlocking members associated with each at least one of the track member and the lighting unit restrict rotation of the lighting unit relative to the track member when the arm is in a first position. Upon application of a threshold rotational force to the lighting unit, the at least one arm moves to a second position permitting angular adjustment of the lighting unit.
US08888328B2 Light engine
An LED-based high power uniform light engine including an array of LEDs having a common anode and a fill factor which exceeds 0.85, the common anode having heat spreading functionality and an active heat sink which is thermally connected to the common anode.
US08888325B2 Multiple use LED light fixture
An LED light fixture is provided and includes a light engine assembly having a plurality of LED light modules mounted to a printed circuit board. The light engine assembly has a substantially circular periphery. A substantially cylindrical main body portion surrounds the light engine assembly and is sized to define a substantially annular gap between an inner surface of the main body portion and the periphery of the light engine. A plurality of radially extending and circumferentially arrayed fins are positioned rearward of the light engine assembly, and a thermal pad is coupled to and positioned between a rear surface of the light engine assembly and the plurality of fins for transferring heat away from the light engine assembly. The annular gap at least partially defines an air flow path in communication with spaces between the fins. An LED track lighting fixture including the LED light fixture also is provided.
US08888323B2 Lighting device
Lighting device, usable for example with LED light sources, comprises a bowl-shaped body having a base surface with a plurality of mounting studs projecting from the base surface, together with one or more boards for the mounting of light radiation sources, provided with holes for the passage of respective mounting studs. The board has pairs of mounting locations for light radiation sources, each pair being arranged on opposite sides of a respective hole so as to be located on opposite sides of the stud which extends through said respective hole. A plurality of reflectors is provided in order to project the light radiation from the device. The reflectors each have an inlet opening for the light radiation and are capable of being mounted on the mounting studs selectively in one of at least two opposite mounting positions in which the inlet opening is placed at one of said mounting locations.
US08888310B2 Floating illumination device
A floating device that is capable of illumination. In one embodiment, the invention can be a floating illumination device comprising: a housing having a sealed interior cavity and a substantially vertical axis; a power source located within the sealed interior cavity, the power source comprising a first battery and a second battery separated by a gap; and a light source located within the sealed interior cavity and operably coupled to the power source, the light source located within the gap between the first battery and the second battery.
US08888309B1 Lighted electronic device cases
An electronic device case comprises a housing having a pivotable light arm and a receptacle. The light arm may be displaced between a stowed position and a use position. When in the use position, the light arm reduces the amount of glare light and increases the uniformity of light distribution to effectively illuminate the display of the electronic device. The receptacle comprises a lip over-molded to a base. The lip may be formed of a material that is more flexible than a material forming the base.
US08888306B2 Elongated LED lighting fixture
The invention provides an elongated lighting fixture with multiple light emitting diodes (LEDs) arrayed in two groups that are angled to each other. The fixture includes an elongated housing having a pair of side walls with at least one fin to dissipate heat. Each side wall has a support member extending upward at angle from the side wall. A generally transparent cover is connected to the housing and extends between opposed ends of the housing. A first group of LEDs and a second group of LEDs are mounted to the first support member and the second support member, respectively. First and second interconnection board assemblies are affixed to respective support members beneath the group of LEDs. When the first and second interconnection board assemblies are energized by an internal power source, current travels from each interconnection assembly through fasteners to each group of LEDs for illumination.
US08888303B2 Optical sheet controlling external light, display device and method for producing optical sheet
An optical sheet, which can suitably absorb external light over a wide range and can improve a contrast, a display device, and a method for producing an optical sheet. The optical sheet is disposed on an observer side relative to an image light source and includes: a plurality of layers that control light emitted from the image light source to emit the light on the observer side, wherein at least one of the plurality of layers is an optical functional sheet layer which includes prisms being arranged in parallel along the surface of the optical sheet whereby light can be transmitted and wedge portions are arranged in parallel between the prisms whereby light can be absorbed. At least one of the plurality of layers other than the optical functional sheet layer is a light-absorbing layer.
US08888300B2 Illumination unit having at least two solid state light sources in the same wavelength band
An illumination unit includes a plurality of light sources each including a solid-state light-emitting device configured to emit light from a light emission region including a single or a plurality of light-emitting spots. The solid-state light-emitting device includes a single chip or a plurality of chips each emitting light beam. Three or more of the light-emitting spots are provided within the whole light sources, to allow the whole light sources to emit light beams in two or more wavelength bands different from one another. Two or more of the plurality of the light sources include respective light-emitting spots which emit light in the same wavelength band.
US08888299B2 Light source device, method of driving discharge lamp, and projector
A light source device includes a discharge lamp that has a first electrode and a second electrode opposed to each other in a hollow portion in which a discharge medium is enclosed and a driving device that supplies a driving voltage to the first electrode and the second electrode. The driving voltage is applied to the discharge medium through the first electrode and the second electrode such that the discharge medium emits light.
US08888291B2 Polarization optical apparatus having slidable polarization element
A polarization optical apparatus including a reflection-type polarization element for transmitting a predetermined polarization component light. A slidably supported reflection-type optical modulation element is held by a holding member that includes a sliding support surface for slidably supporting the reflection-type polarization element. The reflection-type polarization element is urged toward the sliding support surface while the reflection-type polarization element is enabled to be slid along the sliding support surface.
US08888289B2 Refractometer with a remote wavefront generator
A vision testing method and apparatus are disclosed, the method including generating an image, modulating the wavefront of the image remote from the patient, relaying the modulated wavefront to a plane nearby, on, or within the patient's eye, varying the modulation of the wavefront based upon patient or operator response, and conveying the value of the wavefront modulation to the operator. The apparatus includes devices for generating an image, modulating the wavefront of the image that is physically remote from the patient, optically relaying the modulated wavefront of the image to a plane nearby, on, or within a patient's eye, varying the modulation of the wavefront of the image based upon patient or operator response, and conveying the value of the continuously modulated wavefront to the operator.
US08888286B2 Full-eye illumination ocular surface imaging of an ocular tear film for determining tear film thickness and/or providing ocular topography
Ocular surface interferometry (OSI) devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for measuring a tear film layer thickness (TFLT) of the ocular tear film, including the lipid layer thickness (LLT) and/or the aqueous layer thickness (ALT). The TFLT can be used to diagnose dry eye syndrome (DES). Certain embodiments also include ocular topography devices, systems and methods for deducing corneal shape by capturing an image of a target reflecting from the surface of the cornea. The image of the target contains topography information that is reviewable by a clinician to diagnose the health of the patient's eye by detecting corneal aberrations and/or abnormalities in corneal shape. Certain embodiments also include a combination of the OSI and ocular topography devices, systems and methods to provide imaging that can be used to yield a combined diagnosis of the patient's tear film and corneal shape.
US08888284B2 Field of light based device
The invention teaches a field of light based method and system suitable for non-invasive target analysis, including in vivo analysis. A embodiment of the system comprises a field of light imaging device; an illuminating module consisting of a plurality of light sources that emit light radiation centered on multiple wavelengths; a partially reflective minor positioned to reflect radiation to the target from the illumination module, and from the target to the field of light imaging device; a display; a processing and control module coordinating target position, and the synchronous output of the illumination module with image capture by the field of light imaging device; and an output and storage device.
US08888273B2 Liquid ejecting apparatus
The liquid ejecting apparatus includes a transport unit that transports a medium, an ink jet head that ejects ink onto the medium, and a recording-medium support unit having a support surface on which the medium is supported. The support surface has suction holes, which are located outside a print area in which the ink is ejected.
US08888272B2 Ink jet recording apparatus
A recording apparatus executes recording with a recording head that discharges ink. The recording apparatus includes a platen arranged opposite the recording head and configured to support a sheet, at least one ink receiving portion arranged on the platen and configured to receive ink running off a side edge of the sheet, a suction portion configured to suction fluid from the ink receiving portion, and a supporting member configured to support the sheet at the ink receiving portion to prevent the sheet from sinking into the ink receiving portion.
US08888250B2 Thermal bubble jetting mechanism, method of jetting and method of making the mechanism
A thermal bubble jetting device including a substrate. A superoleophobic, textured surface is positioned on the substrate. The textured surface comprises one or more gaps configured for holding a gas. A receptacle is positioned in fluid communication with the textured surface. Both an inlet and nozzle are in fluid communication with the receptacle. The device includes a heater mechanism configured to expand a gas in the one or more gaps so as to sufficiently increase pressure in the receptacle to force liquid through the nozzle.
US08888245B2 Liquid ejection head having protected orifice plate and method for manufacturing liquid ejection head
A liquid ejection head includes a silicon substrate and an orifice plate disposed on or above the silicon substrate. The silicon substrate has a concave portion formed therein, and the orifice plate is disposed in the concave portion.
US08888240B1 Inkjet printing system with contoured media guide
A printing system comprising an inkjet printhead including at least two inkjet nozzle arrays arranged along a print line, and a media guide having a contoured media guide surface for guiding receiver media along a media path past the inkjet printhead. The inkjet nozzle arrays are separated from each other along the print line by one or more intervening non-printing regions. The media guide surface is contoured such that it is closer to the inkjet printhead for portions of the print line corresponding to the inkjet nozzle arrays than it is for at least some portion of the print line corresponding to the non-printing regions between the inkjet nozzle arrays.
US08888233B2 Device for cleaning wiper elements for an inkjet print head
In a device to clean wiper elements of an inkjet print head of an ink dispenser of a printing apparatus having a chassis, a maintenance station is mounted on the chassis to allow travel of the maintenance station in at least one direction that causes the maintenance station to move past the inkjet print head. The maintenance station carries wiper elements that wipe ink from the surface of the inkjet print head as the maintenance station moves past the inkjet print head. An ink uptake unit is mounted at the chassis at a position past which the maintenance station travels, after traveling past the inkjet print head. The ink uptake unit includes material that transfers ink from the wipers to the material.
US08888230B2 Fluid ejecting apparatus
A fluid ejecting apparatus includes: a fluid ejecting head which includes nozzle rows each having a plurality of nozzles and ejects a fluid onto a medium, the fluid ejecting apparatus being capable of performing a flushing operation in which the fluid is ejected to an absorbing member used to absorb the fluid ejected from the nozzles, wherein the absorbing member is a linear member which extends along the nozzle row and is capable of relatively moving to a position retracted from a flying path of the fluid ejected from the nozzles.
US08888228B2 Ink jet recording method and record
An ink jet recording method includes forming a first image by applying by an ink jet method a glitter ink in which a glitter pigment is dispersed to a first region of a recording medium in which the glitter first image is to be formed, and forming a second image by applying by an ink jet method a color ink containing a coloring material to a second region of the recording medium in which the colored second image is to be formed, the amount per unit area of the glitter ink ejected in an overlapping region in which the first region overlaps the second region being smaller than the amount per unit area of the glitter ink ejected in the first region excluding the overlapping region.
US08888226B1 Crack detection circuits for printheads
Crack detection circuits for printheads are described. In an example, a crack detection circuit for at least one printhead, includes: crack detectors formed on the at least one printhead; switches selectively coupling the crack detectors on each printhead to a communication bus; and a configuration circuit on each printhead coupled to control inputs of the respective switches, each configuration circuit responsive to a crack detection configuration input to control the respective switches.
US08888224B2 Image reading apparatus, image inspection apparatus, printing apparatus, and camera position adjustment method
An image reading apparatus includes two color line cameras and one monochrome line camera and captures a linear imaging area on printing paper. The imaging area is irradiated with illumination light by a line illumination part. When inspecting a printed image, a color image captured with the color line cameras and an original image are compared. An information element image such as a bar code is clipped from a monochrome image captured with the monochrome line camera, and target information indicated by an information element(s) is acquired. In the image reading apparatus, since the color image and the monochrome image are acquired from the same imaging area, it is possible to realize downsizing of the line illumination part and downsizing of the image reading apparatus.
US08888221B2 Recording apparatus
A recording apparatus includes a transport roller that transports a sheet by a predetermined transportation amount along a transportation path, a printing unit that records an image on the sheet being transported in synchronization with driving of the transport roller, a position detecting mechanism that detects whether an installation position is vertical installation or horizontal installation, and a transportation amount correcting unit that corrects a transportation amount depending on the detection result of the position detecting mechanism.
US08888217B2 Inkjet recording apparatus and method, and abnormal nozzle determination method
According to the present invention, the occurrence of an ejection abnormality can be determined at an early stage by using a waveform for abnormal nozzle determination, before an image defect producing a visible density non-uniformity (stripe non-uniformity) occurs due to an ejection defect in an output image recorded by a drive signal having a recording waveform. Consequently, recording stability and throughput can both be achieved.
US08888216B2 Liquid ejection apparatus including controller supplying non-ejection drive signal
The liquid ejection apparatus includes a liquid ejection head, a drive unit, a non-ejection drive controller, and an environment measurement unit. The drive unit selectively supplies an ejection drive signal and a non-ejection drive signal to the actuator. The non-ejection drive controller causes the drive unit to supply the non-ejection drive signal to the actuator within a non-ejection drive period which is at the trailing end portion of the non-ejection period, when the non-ejection period satisfies the predetermined condition. The non-ejection drive controller controls the drive unit so that the length of a blank period is varied based on at least one of the temperature and the humidity measured by the environment measurement unit, the blank period being a period between a point of supplying a final non-ejection drive signal within the non-ejection drive period and the trailing end of the non-ejection period.
US08888210B2 Ink delivery system
An ink delivery system includes a first tank including a fill sensor; a second tank including a fill sensor; a pump configured to pump ink from the first tank to the second tank; a third tank including a fill sensor; a print head in fluid communication with the second tank and the third tank. In an embodiment, the third tank is in fluid communication with the first tank and may be configured to provide a closed loop system, the second tank is in fluid communication with the third tank, and a pressure differential across the print head causes ink to flow through the print head. For some embodiments, pumps may be provided to control pressure differentials and print heads may print at one or more angles.
US08888207B2 Systems, methods and articles related to machine-readable indicia and symbols
A system employs combinations of marking media, each with respective distinguishing spectral characteristics to encode human comprehensible information in, and read human comprehensible information from, machine-readable indicia or symbols. Machine-readable indicia may be a single dot encoding information only in the combinations. Machine-readable symbols may be linear or two dimensional, spatially encoding information in the combinations, as well as spatially. A symbology may map at least the combinations to human-readable symbols or characters. A printer may form indicia or symbols with combinations of marking media. A reader may read indicia or symbols and decode information from at least the combinations of marking media. Different combinations may be visually homogenous, for example gray.
US08888205B2 Printing device, printing method, and medium having recorded program
To provide a technique when printing using a light-shielding ink and a special glossy ink, the printing device includes an affixing part for affixing ink to a printing medium, and a controller for controlling ink volumes of a colored ink, a light-shielding ink having light-shielding properties, and a special glossy ink having special gloss. The controller has a field discriminating part for discriminating an overlap field of a light-shielding ink field and a special glossy ink field; and a part for allowing, in the overlap field, the ink volume of light-shielding ink to be brought lower than the ink volume of the light-shielding ink determined in accordance with the image data, irrespective of the overlap field.
US08888204B2 Inkjet printing apparatus and inkjet printing method
It is an object of this invention to provide an inkjet printing apparatus that can print an image with high uniformity in image clarity and gloss level irrespective of the gradation value of the image. The print head of this invention can eject color inks and an image quality improvement liquid that changes at least the gloss level or image clarity of the image. The print head scans over same print areas of a print medium to form an image and at the same time applies the image quality improvement liquid onto the image. A control unit raises the volume of the image quality improvement liquid applied to unit areas in a relatively subsequent scan to the volume of the image quality improvement liquid applied to unit areas in a relatively preceding scan at a rate that corresponds to the volume of the color ink applied to the unit areas.
US08888202B2 Pull-out mechanism for a drawer
A pull-out mechanism for mounting a drawer in a drawer cavity of a piece of furniture. The mechanism may include an upper pull-out rail with a substantially U-shaped cross-section affixed to the drawer and may optionally include a lower rail with a substantially U-shaped cross-section affixed to a wall in a drawer cavity. The mechanism may also have an intermediate rail, which is disposed between the upper rail and the lower rail, or alternatively may support the upper rail while attaching to the wall. One or more bearing holders provided with at least one ball bearing and a plurality of rollers or wheels supports the upper rail and optional lower rail in a mounted relationship with the intermediate rail.
US08888200B2 Slide assist mechanism and draw-in unit
A slide assist mechanism includes a case attached to one of a main body or a moving body; a slider disposed freely slidably in the case; a latch supported by the slider so as to be switched between a standby position which locks in a corresponding portion of the case and a draw-in position which releases the locking; a draw-in unit including an urging device; and an operation member attached to the another of the main body or the moving body and switching the latch from the standby position to the draw-in position, or switching the latch from the draw-in position to the standby position. When the latch is switched from the standby position to the draw-in position, due to an urging force which has been accumulated in the urging device, the slide assist mechanism allows the moving body to move from a first position to a second position on a main body side through the operation member. In the slider, the urging device is disposed on a lower surface side, and also one end in a sliding direction includes an attachment device for the urging device.
US08888190B2 Dynamic seating components for wheelchairs
A wheelchair includes a pivotable mechanism. The pivotable mechanism allows for a pivoting movement about an axis defined by an interface between adjacent components. These components may be (a) a seat member and a back member, (b) a seat member and a footrest, (c) a foot rest and a footplate support, (d) a baseplate and a footplate, or (e) a back member and a headrest.
US08888183B2 Chair
A chair has a supporting frame, a seat portion for supporting an occupant, and a back portion for supporting the back of a seated occupant. The portion is reclinable relative to the supporting frame between a generally upright position and a generally reclined position. A preference control is operatively engaged between the back portion and a chair component, wherein displacement of the back portion toward the generally reclined position causes displacement of the chair component. The preference control is adjustable to vary the amount of displacement of the chair component caused by a given amount of displacement of the back portion toward the generally reclined position.
US08888179B1 Tube-expansion energy attenuating system
Designs and methods are provided for an energy attenuating device. In one exemplary embodiment the device comprises an elongated metal tube having an expanded portion at a first end thereof, and an unexpanded portion extending from the expanded portion to a second end, wherein the first end is attached to a fixed structure. A mandrel is disposed in the expanded portion of the elongated metal tube, having a diameter greater than the inside diameter of the unexpanded portion of the metal tube. A tension member is attached to the mandrel and extends out of the second end of the metal tube.
US08888177B2 Vehicle seat
A vehicle seat comprises: a base frame (side frame 4, pipe frame 5) which constitutes at least left and right lower portions of a seat back frame; a force-receiving member (bracket 7) disposed adjacent to a left or right outer side of the base frame, and configured to receive a load from outside in a lateral direction; and a load transmission part configured to transmit the load from the force-receiving member to a side laterally opposite to that on which the force-receiving member is provided, wherein the force-receiving member has a shape with a closed cross section, and a portion of at least one of an upper wall (72) and a lower wall (74) separate from front and rear ends thereof provides an uneven shape (stepped profile 72a, 74a).
US08888163B1 Utility vehicle screen
A removable and re-attachable screen for a utility vehicle (UTV) for providing protection from debris to a driver and passenger while allowing airflow into the cab area. The screen includes a frame made of flexible material and a meshed flexible screen secured to the frame. The frame has a plurality of securement devices for securing the frame to a roll cage of a utility vehicle. Further, the securement devices are secured to at least a front top bar of the roll cage and at least two side bars of the roll cage. The screen can be further made of fiberglass material, thereby providing durable and long lasting protection.
US08888162B2 Universal accessory mounting system for two-wheeled and three-wheeled vehicles
A universal accessory mounting system for at least one of a two-wheeled vehicle and a three-wheeled vehicle including a rider area and a steering assembly including a steering tube, includes a vertical panel located in front of the rider area and aft of the steering tube, and a plurality of standard attachment features mountable to the vertical panel for mounting a plurality of different storage option accessories to the vertical panel.
US08888161B1 Vehicle seat with multi-axis energy attenuation
Methods and apparatus are provided for an energy attenuating seat assembly with multi-axis energy attenuation. In one embodiment the seat assembly comprises a seat with a back, a first energy attenuating support comprising a first seat guide, and a first energy attenuating link, the first energy attenuating support operatively disposed in a first direction with respect to the seat. The exemplary seat assembly further comprises a second energy attenuating support comprising a second seat guide, and a second energy attenuating link, the second energy attenuating support operatively disposed in a second direction with respect to the seat.
US08888154B2 Sod roll pickup mechanism
A sod roll picker including a pair of right facing spear bar assemblies and a pair of left facing spear bar assemblies. Each of the right and left facing spear bar assemblies includes a spear bar, a plurality of spears secured to the spear bar, and a guide roller disposed on each end of the spear bar assembly. The picker also includes a base frame having a pair of sidewalls connected by a pair of end walls. Each end wall includes a pair of right guide paths configured to receive the guide rollers of the right facing spear bar assemblies and a pair of left guide paths configured to receive the guide rollers of the left facing spear bar assemblies. The picker also includes a right spear bar linkage interconnecting the right facing spear bar assemblies and a left spear bar linkage interconnecting the left facing spear bar assemblies.
US08888153B2 Post hole digger
According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a pair of shaft portions each comprising a handle slidably coupled to a base. Each handle includes a first impact surface and each base includes a second impact surface. The handles are slidable relative to the bases such that the first impact surfaces of the handles impact the second impact surfaces of respective bases. The apparatus also includes a pair of blades each coupled to the base of a respective one of the shaft portions to form respective halves of the apparatus. Further, the apparatus includes a pivot connection that pivotally couples the halves together at a location between the bases and blades of the respective halves such that movement of the handles away from each other moves the blades toward each other, and movement of the handles toward each other moves the blades away from each other.
US08888148B2 Integrated snap and handling feature
An integrated snap and handling apparatus is provided. The apparatus may be capable of being assembled with and disassembled from a mating component without damage. The apparatus may include a pair of features that provide an intuitive and easy user interface for removal, handling and installation. The pair of features may allow a user to use a pinching motion to engage and disengage the apparatus from the mating component without the use of a tool. The integrated snap and handling apparatus may provide for low removal forces when the user interface is properly actuated while resisting high separation forces when the user interface is not properly actuated. The integrated snap and handling apparatus may be incorporated into a wide variety of assemblies and devices. For example, the integrated snap and handling apparatus may be incorporated into a cooling duct for the control of airflow around an electronic component.
US08888142B2 Releasable connector for an off-shore oil installation
A connector for an off-shore oil installation is provided. The connector is configured for connecting first and second tubular elements having a common axis along which a releasable connection is made by a ball-type connector that is axially engageable and that presents an inner cylindrical sleeve and an outer cylindrical sleeve. The first tubular element constituting an inner connection element terminating at a downstream end and being received in a complementary region of the outer second tubular element. The connector includes a laminated ball joint having a center of rotation situated on the common axis and secured to one of the tubular elements.
US08888134B2 Mounting unit for sub-frame in vehicle
A mounting unit for a sub-frame of a vehicle is provided. The mounting unit is used for engaging a front side member with the vehicle's sub-frame. The mounting unit includes a welding seat that is formed as a groove on a lower side of the front side member. The mounting unit further includes a mounting nut assembled with the front side member, a welding flange integrated with an external circumference and a head of the mounting nut and inserted into the welding seat to be combined with the welding seat, and a member seat that is formed outside the welding flange and with which a fender upper connecting member is combined.
US08888130B2 Lawn care vehicle with rear wheel steering assembly
A riding lawn care vehicle may include a frame and a steering assembly. Wheels of the riding lawn care vehicle may be attachable to the frame. The steering assembly may include a steering wheel operably coupled to rear wheels of the riding lawn care vehicle via a cable system. The cable system may include a first cable portion, a second cable portion and a pulley assembly. The first and second cable portions may each contact a steering column pulley at respective first ends of the first and second cable portions. The steering column pulley may be configured to pull a corresponding one of the first cable portion or the second cable portion based on a direction of rotation of the steering wheel. The first and second cable portions may each be in operable communication with a steering disc at respective second ends of the first and second cable portions. The steering disc may provide translation of movement of the first cable portion and the second cable portion into corresponding movement of the rear wheels. The pulley assembly may be configured such that each pulley of the pulley assembly handles both the first cable portion and the second cable portion as the first cable portion and the second cable portion are conveyed from the steering column pulley to the steering disc to translate motion of the steering column pulley to the steering disc.
US08888129B2 Inflation method and apparatus for an airbag
An airbag device includes an airbag comprising foam bulk at least partially surrounded by a flexible membrane, the airbag compressible from a second volume to a first volume; a locking mechanism for maintaining the airbag compressed to the first volume; a one-way valve openable to deliver air to the airbag when the locking mechanism is released; and wherein when the locking mechanism is released, the airbag expands.
US08888127B2 Protective device for protecting an occupant of a vehicle, a seat, and an associated vehicle
A protective device (10) for protecting an occupant (7) of a vehicle (1), said protective device comprising an airbag (11) and inflation means (12) for inflating said airbag (11), the inflation means (12) being connected to the airbag (11) via a feed pipe (13) for feeding inflation fluid for the purpose of inflating the airbag (11) under predetermined conditions. This protective device further comprises expulsion means (20) for expelling said fluid, which expulsion means co-operate with at least one water detection means (15) so as to act when water is detected to remove said fluid resulting from inflation of the airbag (11), said airbag (11) being provided with a peripheral elastic strap (50) for optimizing the deflation of said airbag (11) when said expulsion means (20) allow said fluid to be removed from the airbag (11).
US08888123B1 Folding structure of baby stroller and method for folding the baby stroller
A folding structure of a baby stroller and includes two respective links which are connected to two lower ends of two handles. The links are connected to two front frames and pivotably connected with two respective slides which are pivotably connected to an X-shaped connection frame which is pivotably connected to two rear frames. When folding the baby stroller, the two handles are pushed downward to activate the slides by the links, the slides then activate the connection frame to pull the rear frames to let the stroller stand up. The handles are almost not overlapped with the front frames so as to reduce weight.
US08888121B2 Towing vehicle guidance for trailer hitch connection
Apparatus and a method for its use to assist an operator of a towing vehicle in backing the towing vehicle accurately into a position in which parts of a hitch can be mated to connect the towing vehicle with a trailer. A camera in a towing vehicle module provides the towing vehicle operator a video image of the trailer and a target mounted on it. A beam of light from the towing vehicle module and falling on the target is visible in the video image to show when the towing vehicle approaches and reaches a position in which the hitch can be mated.
US08888117B2 Suspension systems and methods for bicycles
A bicycle seat suspension assembly has a parallelogram pivoting linkage connecting the frame with the seat. The parallelogram linkage has a frame link, seat link, upper link, and lower link. An upper spring assembly pivotally engages the frame link on one end and extends up to pivotally engage the upper link. A lower spring assembly pivotally engages the frame link on one end and the lower link on the other end. The suspension assembly is movable between an uppermost position wherein the upper and lower spring assemblies are pre-compressed, and a second position wherein the upper and lower spring assemblies are further compressed. In some embodiments one or both of the spring assemblies have a compression spring that can be swapped out with another compression spring to adjust the spring rate of the assembly.
US08888115B2 Bicycle seat tube
A bicycle seat tube assembly and seat post can be arranged to reduce vibrations that originate at the bicycle wheel and are transmitted to the rider of the bicycle. Desirably, a saddle is configured to be supported by a seat post which connects to a bicycle frame at the seat tube assembly. An open cavity can be formed between the seat tube assembly and the seat post. The open cavity can be configured to allow the system to act as a spring. Further, spring stiffness can be adjusted to reduce vibrations and increase damping.
US08888112B2 Hand trolley
A hand trolley including a main body and a lifting platform movable relative to the main body for lifting a load by a foot force applied by a foot of an operator.
US08888111B2 Mobile storage unit
A mobile storage unit is disclosed. The mobile storage unit comprises at least two structural frames, a seat portion coupled to the at least two structural frames, a handle assembly coupled to the seat portion, a bottom panel coupled to the at least two structural frames whereby a storage area is created below the seat portion, above the bottom portion and between the at least two structural frames and at least two wheels coupled to the bottom panel. Through the use of the present invention, the potential for back problems that are associated with the use of the traditional backpack is eliminated. Additionally, the mobile storage unit provides an easily accessible storage area for the user/student in the case where no locker is provided. Furthermore, the mobile storage unit incorporates a seat portion which allows a user to utilize the mobile storage unit as a seat in situations where one is needed yet not available.
US08888109B2 Load carrying apparatus
A load carrying apparatus (10) comprising a body (12) and a roller arrangement (18, 22) to allow the apparatus to be moved along the ground. The load carrying apparatus includes a bearer arrangement (34, 36) movable relative to the body between a ground engaging condition in which the bearer arrangement can engage the ground and a retracted condition in which the bearer arrangement is retracted. The load carrying apparatus includes shielding members on the body, separate from the bearer arrangement, the shielding members (28) extending around the roller arrangement. In one embodiment, the load carrying apparatus comprises a combination dolly-pallet.
US08888107B2 Motorcycle
An object of the present invention is to stabilize a rider's driving position in spite of a change in vehicle height. Provided is a motorcycle 1 that adjusts a vehicle height by interlocking a rear-wheel-side vehicle height adjusting operation based on controllable actuation of a hydraulic jack 41 provided in a rear suspension 10, with a front-wheel-side vehicle height adjusting operation based on controllable actuation of a hydraulic jack 141 provided in a front fork 110.
US08888102B2 Gaming tables having a table top exchangeable insert
A gaming table comprises a table top having a top and a bottom surface adapted to receive an exchangeable insert. For instance, the top surface is configured to receive gaming accessories and defines an exchangeable insert bed. A base is connected to and configured to support the table top. A table top exchangeable insert is configured to be located within the exchangeable insert bed, wherein the insert includes a securing structure, for releasably securing the table top exchangeable insert to the table top to provide the ability to conveniently change the insert as desired.
US08888095B1 Processing apparatus of cards and sheets
A processing apparatus of cards, etc., includes a stacker, which can lead a card overflowed from a main stacker automatically to an extension stacker. The apparatus includes a stacker provided by a main stacker, an extension stacker at the downstream side of the main stacker, and a switching mechanism for switching discharge of the card from the main stacker to the extension stacker. The switching mechanism includes a stopper to which a tip of the card overflowed from the main stacker is contacted and stopped, and a switching slope switching the discharged card from a main stacker discharging posture to an extension stacker discharging posture. When the card overflows from the main stacker, the card is contacted with the stopper and the switching slope is automatically switched to the extension stacker discharging posture, and the card next to the overflowed is discharged to the extension stacker with a correct order.
US08888093B2 Position detection device for detecting sheet position, conveyance device, and image formation device with threshold determination unit
A threshold for detecting a position of a lateral edge of a sheet is more accurately determined, whereby the accuracy of detection of the lateral edge position of the sheet is improved. A line sensor includes a plurality of element blocks. Each element block includes a plurality of pixels. The threshold for detecting the lateral edge position is determined based on a light level and a dark level of signals output from an element block that is actually used to detect the lateral edge position of the sheet.
US08888090B2 Switchable note-picking device
A switchable note-picking device (1) used at a note inlet of a note processing device comprises a note-bearing platform (17), a note-picking mechanism (13) for picking notes on the note-bearing platform (17) and a note-classifying mechanism (11) for classifying the picked notes. The note-classifying mechanism (11) comprises a note-classifying shaft (112) and a note-classifying wheel fixed on the note-classifying shaft (112). The switchable note-picking device (1) further comprises a driving component (15) for driving the note-picking mechanism (13) hidden below the note-bearing platform (17) to be exposed out of the note-bearing platform (17) and contact with the notes. By the driving component (15), the note-picking mechanism (13) is exposed out of the note-bearing platform (17) when picking notes and hidden below the note-bearing platform (17) when being free from picking notes, so that the switchable note-picking device (1) can stop deposition and deposit a specified amount of notes.
US08888084B1 Saw horse pipe clamp
A saw horse pipe clamp preferably includes a support rod, a first mounting bracket, a second mounting bracket, a slidable clamp jaw, a tightening clamp jaw, a clamp housing, a clamp screw and an angular adjustment device. The first mounting bracket is attached to a first end of a saw horse and the second mounting bracket is attached to a second end of the saw horse. The support rod is rotatably retained in the first mounting bracket. The clamp jaws are slidably retained on the support rod. The clamp housing is secured to an end of the support rod. The clamp housing is rotatably retained by the second support bracket. The clamp screw is threaded into the clamp housing and an end of the clamp screw is rotatably engaged with the tightening clamp jaw. The angular adjustment device is tightened to prevent rotation of the clamp housing.
US08888083B2 Movement device having linear motor
A movement device includes: a linear motor including a mover and a stator and moving a movement body including the mover in one axial direction; a rotational motor having a rotor and included in the movement body; and a control device. The rotation axis of the rotor passes through the center of gravity of the movement body and intersects a plane including the center of gravity and the path of movement of the mover. The control device controls the rotation of the rotor so that the counter rotational torque which compensates at least a part of rotational torque acting on the movement body due to the movement of the mover is generated in the rotor.
US08888079B2 Apparatus for improved vibration isolation
A vibration isolator having an upper housing defining an upper fluid chamber, a lower housing defining a lower fluid chamber, a piston resiliently disposed within the upper housing and the lower housing, a tuning passage defined by the piston, for providing fluid communication between the upper fluid chamber and the lower fluid chamber, a tuning fluid disposed within the tuning passage, the upper fluid chamber, and the lower fluid chamber. A reservoir in fluid communication with the upper fluid chamber for providing pressurization control of the vibration isolator. An expanded accumulator region for providing Increased pressure retention during maintenance and operation of the vibration isolator.
US08888075B2 Device for adding fluid to a liquid
Device for adding a fluid to a liquid, for example of gas and/or particles to liquid metal. A rotor is rotated immersed in the liquid, comprising a hollow rotational body 10 with a first inner annular wall 16 with at least one radial opening 18 from a central, cylindrical chamber 19 and with an opening directed downwards. The rotational body is carried by a generally vertical shaft 12 which is connected to a powering unit and which may be arranged to lift the rotational body out of, respectively lower it into the liquid. Outside the central annular wall 16 of the rotational body 10 a further annular wall 14 which forms an annular chamber 17 is arranged, which communicates with the central chamber through the one or more radial openings 18. Advantages are achieved by that the one or more of the radial openings 18 are arranged in the lower part of the inner annular wall 16 of the rotational body, in a area which projects down under the surrounding additional annular wall 14.
US08888067B1 Thermoplastic liner for casting textures and objects into poured wall
A re-useable liner that can be used to make textures as well as secure and seal objects within a form for a poured wall. The liner and the method of making the liner by thermoforming layers which comprises a polyolefin foam sheet, a thermoplastic elastomer, and a polyolefin plastic sheet into a form liner that can imprint various shapes and textures into a poured wall or can be thermoformed into a liner which includes a plurality of joints which can secure objects in a form for a poured wall. The joints between the objects can be formed to be semicircular or flat and also with a variety of textures. The invention includes, a cavity between layers in the joint to allow maximum flexibility of oversized objects, an expansion/contraction absorption device, a channel along the bottom of the grout joint that allows the material layers to stretch, a built in mechanism to attach the apparatus to metal forms using magnetic sheets, an adhesive layer on the edges in order to make the liner larger by joining together one liner to another using an adhesive on the sides and the variable horizontal and vertical joint widths within the liner to make the wall panel look natural.
US08888064B2 Coil retainer and method of use
A coil retainer is configured for securing a metal coil to a support surface using tension lines. The coil retainer includes a core insert extending about an arc and configured to be inserted into a hollow core of the metal coil so that an exterior of the core insert supports an inner surface of the coil along a portion of the inner surface. A coil side containment wall extends along the arc of the core insert and projects radially outward from the core insert. The coil side containment wall is configured to support a flat side of the metal coil. A cross beam extends across the arc of the core insert. Attached to the cross beam is at least one chain guide configured to guide a tension line over the cross beam and at least one chain mount configured to secure a tension line to the coil retainer.
US08888062B2 Display mounting apparatus
The present invention is directed to a display mounting apparatus for mounting a flat screen television monitor or the like to a wall. The mounting apparatus provides four degrees of freedom for the flat screen display in lateral translation, tilt, swivel and pan directions. The combination of two two-link arms, counterbalancing torsion springs and friction mechanisms provides for ±20 degrees in the tilt and swivel directions.
US08888055B2 Stake for bag mouth holder and opener
A stake for keeping a bag mouth holder and opener and refuse bag in combination secured to the ground in a fixed position whereby the bag mouth holder and opener has the general shape of a rectangular perimeter of a hyperbolic paraboloid to which the stake can be removably attached or integrally connected such that the stake can be driven in to the ground when the bag mouth holder and opener is positioned in the mouth of a bag.
US08888052B2 Vehicle detection system
A vehicle detection system is provided for tracking, detecting, and monitoring vehicles. The system and methods of the present invention are suitable for on-track and roadway vehicles. In particular the present invention provides an improved and cost effective system and methods for tracking, detecting and monitoring locomotives and on-track vehicles.
US08888049B2 Kite ground station and system using same
A kite system with a ground station adapted for airborne power generation. The kite system may include a kite which includes one or more airfoils which have mounted thereon a plurality of turbine driven generators. The turbine driven generators may also function as motor driven propellers in a powered flight mode, which may be used during take-off, which may include aspects of vertical take-off and landing. A perch adapted to facilitate the take-off and landing may be used as part of the system. The perch may pivot such that the pivot is oriented towards the tension direction of the tether.
US08888045B2 Apparatus for a no touch lavatory door
A no touch lavatory has a first sensor outside the lavatory that is operable to cause a motor assembly to open the door of the lavatory in response to a person making a motion in close proximity to the first sensor, a second sensor inside the lavatory that causes the motor assembly to close the door and causes a lock to lock the door in response to the second sensor detecting the person entering the lavatory, and a third sensor inside the lavatory that causes the lock to unlock the door and causes the motor assembly to open the door in response to the third sensor detecting a motion made by the person inside the lavatory.
US08888042B2 Emergency vision apparatus
An emergency vision apparatus for providing an operator in a station visual access to information during a vision-obscuring emergency, comprises an expandable first enclosure filled with clear air, the first enclosure having front and rear transparent panels to allow an operator visual access through the first enclosure to a first source of information disposed in front of the front panel; an expandable second enclosure filled with clear air, the second enclosure having a rear panel and a transparent front panel for being disposed in proximity to a second source of information; a first camera disposed at the rear panel of the second enclosure, the camera being directed toward the front panel to image the second source of information through the second enclosure front panel; and a first display operably connected to the camera, the display being operably associated with the first enclosure to be visible to the operator through the first enclosure rear panel.
US08888039B2 Method and device for the lateral stabilization of an aircraft
The stabilizing device (1) comprises auxiliary stabilizers (6) which are mounted on the horizontal tailplane (2) of the aircraft and which generate a lateral stabilizing effect when brought into a deployed position.
US08888035B2 Morphing aircraft
A morphing aircraft that is achieves multi-modality location and camouflage for payload emplacement The morphing aircraft includes a substantially cylindrical fuselage including a shape configured as a packaging container with a first end and a second end A set of wings is coupled to the fuselage The set of wings includes a first position where the set of wings is extended outwards from the fuselage and a second position where the set of wings is retracted inwards towards the fuselage A tail is coupled to the second end of the cylindrical fuselage The tail includes a first position where the tail is extended outward from the fuselage and a second position where the tail is retracted inward towards the fuselage A propeller is mounted to the first end of the fuselage An engine is mechanically coupled to the propeller The engine is enclosed within the fuselage and powers the propeller.
US08888032B2 Tape cartridge
A tape cartridge includes: a first flange member including a first hub portion and a first flange portion; a second flange member including a second hub portion slidably fitting to the first hub portion and a second flange portion, and forming a reel winding a tape in a combination with the first flange member; an engagement portion in which a first through-hole is opened and that is located on a back side of a surface of the second flange portion facing the first flange portion so as to engage with a drive unit included in an external tape driving device; a first protrusion provided to the first hub portion so as to be exposed from the first through-hole and push up the first flange member and space the first flange portion and the second flange portion apart from each other by contacting the drive unit.
US08888021B2 Fuel injector
A fuel injection valve includes: a swirl chamber having an inner peripheral wall formed to be gradually increased in curvature toward a downstream side from an upstream side; a swirl passage, through which a fuel is introduced into the swirl chamber; and a fuel injection port opened to the swirl chamber, wherein the swirl chamber and the swirl passage are formed so that a side wall of the swirl passage connected to a downstream end side of the swirl chamber, or an extension thereof is made not to intersect a downstream side portion of the inner peripheral wall of the swirl chamber, or an extension thereof.
US08888017B2 System, method, and apparatus for delivering highly atomized diesel exhaust fluid to an exhaust aftertreatment system
A system includes a cylindrical blend chamber having two inlets and one outlet. The outlet is fluidly coupled to a transfer line, and a nozzle is positioned downstream of the transfer line. The nozzle is fluidly coupled to an exhaust stream of an internal combustion engine. The system further includes a first inlet fluidly coupled to a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) stream, and a second inlet fluidly coupled to an air stream. The DEF stream and the air stream intersect at a divergent angle.
US08888013B2 Dispensing means
According to the invention there is provided dispensing means having a housing 16 and a spray dispenser 13, the housing 16 having a first part and a second part, the housing being formed such that when it is in use the first part can be secured to a building construction above ground level such that the second part faces away from the first part, there being a space within the housing, the spray dispenser 13 adapted for detachably fitting to the housing within the space, the spray dispenser having a spray emitting portion 14 and a spray material storage portion 15, the spray emitting portion 14 and the spray material storage portion 15 being detachable with respect to one another, the dispensing means being formed such that when it is operational the spray dispenser 13 can, from substantially within the housing 16, automatically release a spray of the spray material to an area outside of the housing.
US08888008B2 RFID antenna module and electronic apparatus
According to one embodiment, an RFID antenna module includes an insulating substrate, a loop coil antenna and a magnetic part. The antenna is provided on the insulating substrate. The magnetic part is provided on the insulating substrate to be positioned behind the antenna. The insulating substrate is bent such that the antenna is directed in a plurality of directions.
US08888005B2 Uniquely identifiable drug dosage form units
The present invention provides products, systems, and methods for the unique identification of individual drug dosage form units. The invention includes: random integrated optical identification marking of an individual drug unit; a lack of direct surface-to-surface contact between a marking instrument and the drug unit, i.e., deposition of a mark; drug unit image data based on the identification mark; a secondary product identifier associated with the individual drug unit; and comparing the marked drug unit to drug unit image data.
US08888004B2 Finger sensing device including differential measurement circuitry and related methods
A finger sensing device may include an array of finger sensing pixels to receive a user's finger adjacent thereto. Each finger sensing pixel may include a finger sensing electrode. The finger sensing device may include a finger drive electrode configured to couple a drive signal through the user's finger to the array of finger sensing pixels. The finger sensing device may also include differential pixel measurement circuitry coupled to the array of finger sensing pixels and configured to generate a plurality of interpixel difference measurements for adjacent pairs of the finger sensing pixels.
US08888000B2 Card reader with multiple functions and a method for implementing the same
The invention discloses a method for implementing a card reader with multiple functions and a card reader therewith. The method includes that a card reader determines whether a card is inserted in the slot of the card reader and whether the card reader is online; if no card is inserted in the slot, the card reader performs operation to generate a one-time password; if a card is inserted in the slot and the card reader is online, the card reader performs corresponding operation on the card according to the card operating requirement, while if a card is inserted in the slot and the card reader is offline, the card reader performs operation with the card to generate a Token; otherwise, to end the process. The card reader includes a power module, an input/output module, a determining module, an operating module, and a performing module. With good common performance, the card reader provided by the invention performs as smart card reader and verification whether a card is inserted in the card reader or not, which overcomes the shortcomings that the card reader in the prior art has simplex function.
US08887993B2 Barcode access to electronic resources for complex system parts
A system is provided for access to system-related resources for complex-system parts. The system includes a barcode reader and front-end engine coupled thereto. The barcode reader is configured to scan a barcode located on a complex-system part. The barcode encodes links to respective system-related resources for the complex-system part, including software-based systems and/or electronic documents. The barcode reader, then, is configured to decode the links from the barcode. The front-end engine is in turn configured to generate a portal that identifies the complex-system part, and that includes the links decoded from the barcode. The front-end engine is also configured to cause display of the portal in a graphical user interface through which the links are navigable to access the respective system-related resources for the complex-system part.
US08887988B2 System and method of owner application control of electronic devices
Systems and methods of owner application control of an electronic device are provided. Owner application control information is stored on the electronic device and/or one or more remote servers. Owner application control information is consulted to determine if one or more required applications are available for execution on the electronic device. If not, one or more required applications not available are downloaded and installed. This could be in a manner transparent to the user of the electronic device. If one or more required applications are not available on the electronic device, the device can be functionally disabled in whole, or in part, until one or more required applications are available.
US08887986B2 Container for receiving vouchers and method for closing container having a housing part and a cover for receiving vouchers
The invention relates to a container (10) for holding notes of value, which comprises a housing part (12) and a cover (14) for closing an opening of the housing part (12). The cover (14) has a closing element (34) which is movable in at least one unlocking direction (P1) and which in a locked state is engaged with an engagement area (48) of the housing part (12) that is complementary to the closing element (34). The closing element (34) is movable in unlocking direction (P1) into an unlocked state for unlocking. Further, the container (10) comprises a rotatably mounted retaining element (58) which, in a first position of the container (10), is arranged such that the closing element (34) is movable in unlocking direction (P1) from the locked state into the unlocked state for unlocking. In a second position of the container (10) that is inclined by at least a minimum angle of inclination with respect to the first position, the retaining element (58) is rotated due to its gravity relative to the housing part (12) such that a retaining area (64) of the retaining element (58) prevents a movement of the closing element (34) from the locked state into the unlocked state.
US08887984B2 Tray for supporting containers and a blank for making the same
A blank for forming a tray includes a bottom panel, end panels, and side panels. A first divider panel assembly is defined within the bottom panel and an end panel. The first divider panel assembly includes an upper panel defined within the end panel and an inner panel defined within the bottom panel. The upper panel is configured to be at an angle to the bottom panel, and the inner panel is configured to be at an angle to the end panel in an erected configuration. A second divider panel assembly is defined within the bottom panel and a side panel. The second divider panel assembly includes an upper panel defined within the side panel and an inner panel is defined within the bottom panel. The panels of the second divider panel assembly are configured similarly to the panels of the first divider panel assembly in the erected configuration.
US08887982B2 Hand formed reinforced polygonal containers and blanks for making the same
A blank of sheet material for forming a polygonal container includes a bottom panel, two opposing side panels each extending from a side edge of the bottom panel, and two opposing end panels each extending from an end edge of the bottom panel. The blank also includes a foldover panel that is configured to lock the container in at least a partially formed position. The blank further includes a reinforcing panel assembly that includes an outer reinforcing corner panel extending from the first side panel, an outer reinforcing end panel extending from the outer reinforcing corner panel, an inner reinforcing end panel extending from the outer reinforcing end panel, an inner reinforcing corner panel extending from the inner reinforcing end panel, and an inner reinforcing side panel extending from the inner reinforcing corner panel.
US08887981B2 Temporary adhesive for component bonding
A rosin composition includes a gum rosin, an emulsifier, a randomizing additive and a bonding agent. This rosin composition may be used as a temporary or permanent adhesive for the soldering of components. The rosin composition may be temporary as it is easily removed from a surface without damaging the surface.
US08887970B2 Portable electronic module having a holder
A portable electronic module including a portable electronic device and a holder applied to hold the portable electronic device is provided. The portable electronic device includes a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a display unit disposed on the first surface, wherein a connecting unit is disposed on the second surface. The holder includes a first body having a first connecting portion and a first wearing portion and a second body having a second connecting portion suited to connect with the first connecting portion and a second wearing portion, wherein the first body is suitable to connect with the second body. At least one of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion is suitable for connecting with the connecting unit, and a wearing space is formed to wear for users by the combination of the first wearing portion and the second wearing portion.
US08887966B2 Elevator control for inductor pump
An inductor pump system comprises a fluid activated ram, an inductor pump platen, a fluid activated motor and a fluid control. The inductor pump platen is driven by the fluid activated ram. The fluid activated motor is coupled to the platen. The fluid control comprises an inlet for receiving a source of pressurized fluid, a first circuit and a second circuit. The first and second circuits are configured to receive pressurized fluid from the inlet. The first circuit comprises a switching valve connected to the inlet; an actuator line connected to the ram and the switching valve; and a blow-off line connected to the inductor pump platen and the switching valve. The second circuit is connected to the inlet to receive pressurized fluid and to the motor.
US08887960B2 Dispensing station
A dispensing cabinet for dispensing bulk materials such as laundry detergent, fabric softener and bleach is disclosed. The cabinet has an upstanding housing having a base and defining an enclosure for receiving a plurality of liquid containers. The cabinet also includes a face panel pivotably mounted to the housing adjacent the base and including a shelf extending into the hollow enclosure. The face panel defines apertures through which lateral dispensing nozzles unitary with each container, are inserted. The containers are mounted for pivotal movement together with the face panel for ready servicing.
US08887957B2 Device for opening and dispensing contents of packets
A device for opening a sealed flexible packet and for dispensing its contents has a flexible body that allows a user to dispense a product from a sealed packet with the use of only one hand. The device has a body with a flexible a flexible outer wall defining a slot into which a user can place a sealed packet. The inner surface of the body has blades that pierce the packet when the body is squeezed around the packet. Further squeezing of the body causes the contents of the packet to be dispensed through openings in the body. The body is spring biased to a position to facilitate loading a packet, unloading the packet after dispensing the product, and replacing it with a sealed packet, all with the use of only one hand. Tabs at the end of the body help keep it upright during loading and unloading.
US08887954B2 Compact spray device
An automatic discharge device includes a housing retaining two containers therein. An actuator arm is attached to the housing and movable between first and second positions. A drive unit is provided for automatically moving the actuator arm into one of the first and second positions in response to a signal from at least one of a timer, a sensor, and a manual switch. The movement of the actuator arm actuates a valve stem of one of the two containers in one of the first and second positions. The actuator arm is adapted to spray fluid disposed in an interior of the two containers.
US08887951B2 Unitary extractor system for products in dispensing machines
Unitary extractor system for products in dispensing machines for food and drinks, the products being deposited in corresponding compartments of a series of trays, which present a centrally open laminar base, with a belt provided with a plurality of toothed projections being fitted in relation to the open central part of the laminar base, the unitary extractor system for the product to dispense being defined by a single pusher (10) secured to a belt (5) provided with a plurality of projections, this securing being materialized by means of a rotary arm of the pusher restrained by a spring, with its lower end being positioned between two curved projections of the belt (5), the pusher (10) remaining in its initial position backed on to the product (11) that is most internal of all the products aligned in the corresponding compartment (3) of a tray (2), each of the compartments (3) presenting in its upper part a pair of lateral strips (6) converging towards the center.
US08887949B2 Foldable food container
A foldable food container includes a container body which is made of silicone material and formed with a receiving chamber and an upper open end, and a cover which is engaged on the top peripheral edge cover. A reinforced frame is built in a top peripheral edge of the open end of the container body, and on the top peripheral edge is provided at least one elastic nip portion. The reinforced frame is located below the peripheral edge of the cover, and a peripheral edge of the cover is engaged in the at least one nip portion of the top peripheral edge and pushed against the top peripheral edge of the container body by the nip portion, so that the open end of the contain body is sealed with the cover in an airtight manner.
US08887932B2 Shelving unit and method for assembling the shelving
A method of assembling a shelving unit uses corner posts each having opposing inner and outer surfaces having mating slots therein at shelf engaging locations. Shelves have parallel slats spaced apart along the length of a front and rear connecting rod adjacent opposing ends of each shelf. The outer two slats on each opposing side of each shelf are squeezed inward of one of the connecting rods to spread distal ends of those slats in order to insert those distal ends into the mating slots in the opposing sides of the corner posts.
US08887931B2 Produce display stand
A monolithic display stand for the point-of-sale display of produce manufactured out of a closed cell foam material and of solid construction, with a raised central region and vertically oriented divider panels. The display stand is used in a retail setting by first being placed onto a table or other means of support, and then having produce placed onto the top surface, among and between the divider panels. The divider panels hold the produce onto the device, with the raised central region providing a visually pleasing support for the produce, while the foam construction of the stand protects the produce from damage.
US08887928B2 Frame and frame coupling member
A frame includes a first frame member that has a first opening at an end portion thereof; a second frame member that has a second opening at an end portion thereof; a first frame coupling member that comprises a first projection that fits into the first opening and a second projection that fits into the second opening; and a second frame coupling member that couples to the first frame coupling member, wherein: the first frame member and the second frame member are located so as to be sandwiched between the first frame coupling member and the second frame coupling member when the first frame coupling member and the second frame coupling member are coupled to each other.
US08887922B2 Screen deck assembly
A screen deck assembly has an elongated connecting member for securing screen panels to a vibratory machine. The connecting member has a first end and a second end, a body, a transverse arm contiguous with and generally perpendicular to the body, and a radial dome top extending above the transverse arm such that a locking channel is formed between the transverse arm and the radial dome top. A screen, which has a locking profile that corresponds to the locking channel in the connecting member, is detachably secured to the connecting member by sliding or pressing the locking profile into the locking channel.
US08887913B2 Grommet matrix
A dental case including a substrate having a plurality of holes therein and a grommet matrix. The grommet matrix including a plurality of grommets each having a groove. The plurality of grommets are interconnected outside of said groove and the plurality of grommets are located at predetermined positions corresponding to the plurality of holes.
US08887909B2 Protective encasing for a mobile computing device
An encasing for a mobile device is disclosed. The encasing includes a front portion including a discontinuous surface area configured to receive a bottom surface of the mobile device, a back portion opposite the front portion, and side portions configured to convexly couple to side surfaces of the mobile device. The side portions include a side region comprising a moveable flap configured to rotate when inserting and removing the mobile device.
US08887901B2 Conveyor sprocket assembly
A conveyor sprocket assembly generally includes a support shaft, at least one conveyor sprocket slidably engaging the support shaft, and an abutment stop positioned adjacent the conveyor sprocket. The abutment stop is configured to be removed to allow the conveyor sprocket to slide axially along the support shaft.
US08887896B1 Liquid tight reciprocating floor construction
A liquid-tight reciprocating floor construction or system includes a plurality of longitudinal sub-deck sections having at least one longitudinal guide beam and at least one longitudinal valley. A first longitudinal side edge of one longitudinal sub-deck section is preferably in a mating relationship with an adjacent second longitudinal side edge of another longitudinal sub-deck section. An internal sealing structure is preferably positioned between adjacent first and second longitudinal side edges to form a longitudinal liquid-tight sub-deck joint therebetween.
US08887893B2 Work system
A work system according to embodiments includes a robot and work stations. The robot performs a predetermined work on a workpiece as a work target. The work stations are places where the predetermined work is performed on the workpiece. The robot performs conveying of the workpiece between the work stations.
US08887878B2 Variable position anchor assembly for adjusting brake shoes in a drum brake
An anchor assembly is provided that permits adjustment of the brake shoes in a drum brake to account for wear. The assembly includes first and second adjuster shafts each having a plurality of threads and first and second pilot connectors. The pilot connectors each have a plurality of threads in engagement with the threads of a corresponding adjuster shaft. The pilot connectors each engage one end of a corresponding brake shoe. Rotation of each adjuster shaft causes longitudinal movement of a corresponding pilot connector in engagement with a corresponding brake shoe along an axis to adjust a position of the brake shoe.
US08887877B2 Drum brake with automatic shoe clearance adjustment apparatus
To provide the drum brake with the automatic shoe clearance adjustment apparatus to reduce the cost of the drum brake as reducing the number of components. The first engagement portion is provided between the brake lever and the strut body to engage the brake lever and the strut body without operating the service brake, and the second engagement portion is provided also to engage the brake lever and the strut body while automatically adjusting the shoe clearance.
US08887876B2 Brake shim having lubricant compartment
A shim for a disc brake pad is provided. The shim is formed of a generally planar metal sheet that has a plurality of curved or bent edge tabs extending out from its edges thereof to engage the brake pad. A centrally disposed raised area is provided on the shim. The raised area serves as a compartment for lubricant when the shim is retained on the brake pad. The raised area has at least one lubricant access port to allow lubricant to be introduced into the compartment without removing the shim from the brake pad. A disc brake pad assembly having the shim is also provided. A method of lubricating the assembly via the access port is also provided.
US08887875B2 Caliper body of a disc brake
A caliper body (1) for a disc brake unusually capable of high structural performance and low bulk, said caliper body comprising at least one connection bridge (6) arranged straddling the connection disc of an elongated attachment side portion with an elongated non-attachment side portion; in which said elongated portions have an outer surface (13, 14) opposite the disc substantially inclined and rounded towards the disc in the radially outward direction so that the caliper body (1) viewed in the tangential or circumferential direction has a bulk with a rounded outer surface like a tortoise shell.
US08887873B2 Elevator device
In an elevator device, a signal diagnosis device includes: a signal input section to which a sensor signal from a sensor is input; a disconnection detecting section for outputting a diagnosis signal for detecting disconnection to the sensor and detecting a state of a signal turned back at the sensor to be input so as to detect whether or not disconnection of the signal from the sensor occurs; a switch for turning ON/OFF an input of the signal to the disconnection detecting section; and a disconnection-detection diagnosis section for operating the switch to diagnose whether or not the disconnection detecting section functions normally. Further, a car is stopped when occurrence of the disconnection is determined by the signal diagnosis device or when an abnormality is detected by the disconnection-detection diagnosis section.
US08887872B2 Method of determining state of charge of energy storage system
A method of determining state-of-charge (SOC) of a battery includes changing the SOC of the battery over a portion of a full SOC range to assure operation defined by open circuit voltage (Voc) of the battery following a known Voc-SOC profile; determining a Voc value; and estimating SOC of the battery based upon the Voc value and the known Voc-SOC profile.
US08887865B2 Device of assistance for a user of a ladder
In a ladder assistance device, a cable pulled by a controlled driving apparatus is laid in a loop along the height of the ladder, the user being attached to the cable by a lanyard, a sensor element detecting movements along the ladder, a control element controlling the driving apparatus. A remote control activates or deactivates assistance and allows user weight input, the remote control remaining in the reach of the user and including a stop button deactivating assistance and two activation buttons for activation of assistance, one each for “up”/“down”. A memory stores sets of control values for assistance level(s) for each direction of movement, corresponding to at most two levels in the steady state of the assistance. The program of the control element allowing: the selection that corresponds to the user weight, the activation which is only obtained by the activation buttons of the remote control.
US08887855B2 Hydraulic four-wheel-drive work vehicle
At least one of first and second hydraulic motor units that drive first and second wheels is of a variable displacement. A volume adjusting mechanism thereof is operated by an electric motor in accordance with manual operation or automatic operation based on difference in turning radius between the first and second wheels. A control device that controls the electric motor includes normal mode that operates the electric motor in accordance with the manual operation or the automatic operation and torque-up mode that fixes the variable displacement hydraulic motor to a first volume larger than a standard volume, and activates the torque-up mode at idling state in which a power source is in operating state and a pump-side volume adjusting mechanism is in neutral state and shifts the torque-up mode to the normal mode when a traveling speed reaches a first speed.
US08887850B2 Cover device
A cover device is provided for an engine compartment of a motor vehicle, with at least one, in particular extensive, attenuator, at least a first section of which rests and/or abuts against at least one first engine compartment element situated in the engine compartment, and with at least one fastener, with which the attenuator can be secured or is secured directly or indirectly to the vehicle body, the at least one engine compartment element and/or at least one second engine compartment element situated in or on the engine compartment, in particular in a movable manner.
US08887847B2 Louver for a motor vehicle radiator
A servo drive for the set ring of a louver for a motor vehicle has a self-locking gear motor, the output shaft of which is coupled with a control crank. The end of the control crank turned away from the output shaft is connected by way of a link in a toggle-like manner with a positioning rod that is longer by a multiple of its length, of which the end turned away from the control crank is coupled with the set ring. A housing that protects the crank drive extends along the circumference of the set ring and is fastened on the radiator frame together with a servo drive housing.
US08887843B2 Hybrid electric vehicle and method for managing heat therein
A hybrid electric vehicle includes an internal combustion engine and an electrical power storage unit. The engine and power storage unit are configured to provide motive power for the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a heater core in fluid communication with the engine, power storage unit and vehicle's cabin.
US08887837B2 Cutting structures for fixed cutter drill bit and other downhole cutting tools
A downhole cutting tool may include a tool body; a plurality of blades extending azimuthally from the tool body; and a plurality of cutting elements disposed on the plurality of blades, the plurality of cutting elements comprising: at least two non-planar cutting elements comprising a substrate and a diamond layer having a non-planar cutting end, wherein at least one of the at least two conical cutting elements has a positive back rake angle or positive side rake angle, and at least one of the at least two non-planar cutting elements has a negative back rake angle or a negative side rake angle.
US08887835B2 Drilling apparatus
A drilling apparatus including a hydraulically powered hammer having a piston to impact a drill bit; a shuttle valve to control reciprocation of the piston; and an accumulator for hydraulic fluid; at least one drill rod having a first connection valve for connection of the drill rod to the connection valve of the hammer; and a second connection valve for connection of the drill rod to the first connection valve of a like drill rod or to a rotation device. The piston and shuttle valve are positioned substantially in-line to the axis of movement of the hammer. The accumulator is positioned proximate to the shuttle valve; and the first connection valve, and second connection valve having at least one poppet valve positioned proximate to a corresponding valve seat.
US08887831B2 Transmission for power tool with variable speed ratio
A power tool includes a housing, a motor contained in the housing, an output shaft extending proximate a front of the housing, an end effector coupled to the output shaft and configured to hold an accessory; and a transmission disposed in the housing between the motor and the output shaft. The transmission includes a variable ratio gear set configured to transmit power from the motor to the output shaft at a substantially variable speed ratio. The transmission may further include a constant ratio gear set configured to transmit power from the motor at a substantially constant speed ratio. The transmission may be automatically or manually shiftable between a first mode where it transmits power through the constant speed ratio gear set and a second mode where it transmits power through the variable speed ratio gear set.
US08887798B2 Hydraulic stabilizer for use with a downhole casing cutter
A downhole stabilizer includes a radial expansion assembly deployed about, and configured to rotate substantially freely with respect to, a tool mandrel. The expansion assembly preferably includes at least one stabilizer block configured to extend radially outward from the mandrel into contact with a wellbore casing string. When deployed between uphole and downhole cones, the stabilizer block preferably includes a plurality of angled splines configured to engage corresponding splines disposed on the cones. Relative axial motion between the stabilizer block and the cones causes a corresponding radial extension or retraction of the block.
US08887795B2 Heat exchanger and water heater including the same
There is provided a heat exchanger and a water heater having the heat exchanger including a uniform thickness of tin plating layer on the inner surface of a water feeding pipe. The heat exchanger H includes copper pipes 8 and 10 disposed in a casing 1 as a water feeding pipe 4 and a turbulent flow generator 13 disposed in the copper pipes 8 and 10. The turbulent flow generator 13 has a copper plating layer 14 on the surface portion thereof. The tin plating layers 17 and 18 are disposed on the inner surface of the copper pipes 8 and 10 and the surface of the turbulent flow generator 13.
US08887790B2 Wind lock configuration for overhead roll-up doors
An overhead roll-up door assembly for a vertically moving door to permit and prohibit access to an opening, the door assembly having a pair of spaced apart, parallel side columns for vertically guiding a door panel, the door panel having at least one wind lock attached proximate each marginal edge of the door panel, each of the wind locks having an angled portion facing the interior of the opening having a first durometer and a substantially rectangular portion having a second durometer different from the first durometer, the wind locks engaging the side column to prevent disengagement of the door panel from the side columns when a wind load is applied to the door panel.
US08887781B2 Vacuum adsorption control mechanism device, film pasting device, method of pasting film, and display device
An object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum suction control mechanism apparatus capable of accurately bonding a film to a bonding object with a simple structure. A vacuum suction control mechanism apparatus according to the present invention includes a first member including a plurality of suction holes formed in a surface thereof, the plurality of suction holes being connectable to a decompression source, and a second member capable of contacting the plurality of suction holes, the second member being movable relative to the first member, wherein the second member includes connecting member connecting some of the suction holes, the number of which corresponds to a relative position between the first member and the second member, to the decompression source.
US08887775B2 Spill avoidance system and method
A system, for preventing overflow in a tank, fillable via a nozzle, includes a fill passage connecting the storage tank to an external atmosphere. An adjacent passage has a lower end disposed at a predetermined level within the storage tank and an upper end communicating with a hole in the fill passage. A vent passage connects the adjacent passage to the external atmosphere, and a valve is disposed in the vent passage, permitting the flow of air through the vent passage and prohibiting the flow of liquid through the vent passage.
US08887770B1 Vessel fill control method and apparatus
Methods and systems for filling a container with material to a desired level are provided. In particular, a container to be filled is associated with a funnel. The funnel occupies a selected or reserved amount of the container volume. Moreover, the volume of the funnel is less than the reserved volume of the container. Accordingly, by filling the container and the attached funnel to the top of the funnel, and then removing the funnel, the container is filled to less than a maximum level.
US08887769B1 Rechargeable tire inflator with adaptable hose holder
The present disclosure describes a structure for a wall-mountable tire inflator that includes a housing having a variable pressure pump motor and rechargeable battery therein, a face, a backside opposite the face, four sides extending between the face and the backside, and an opening sized to receive a post of an air hose support tray. The backside of the housing may include at least one wall mounting element adapted to couple with a wall mount structure extending from a wall. The tire inflator may also include a coiled air hose extending from the housing, a light bar pivotally coupled to the housing. The detachable air hose support tray may include an annular channel on a side surrounding a raised central projection, a post extending radially from the support tray, and a wall mounting aperture extending through a portion of the support tray.
US08887762B2 Quick connect coupling with nested ball valves
A quick connect coupling includes female and male assemblies. The female and male assemblies include first and second valves, respectively, operable between open and closed positions. The male assembly connects to the female assembly by axial movement and relative rotation, wherein the male assembly disconnects from the female assembly by relative rotation and axial separation, wherein relative rotation of the assemblies moves the second valve between the open and closed positions. Moving the second valve from the closed to the open position allows the first valve to be movable from the closed position to the open position and moving the first valve from the closed to the open position limits relative rotation between the assemblies and prevents disconnection. Disconnection can only occur when the first valve has been moved to the closed position. Disconnection moves the second valve from the open to the closed position.
US08887761B2 Valve opening and closing mechanism
A valve opening and closing mechanism includes: an input shaft 2 driven by a power source; two or more output shafts 5, 6 respectively including valves 3, 4; power transmission members that transmit power from the input shaft 2 to the respective output shafts 5, 6 with varying a phase of the power; and preload application members that apply preloads respectively to the output shafts 5, 6 and the power transmission member in opposite directions. The output shafts 5, 6 may be separated from the power transmission member.
US08887758B2 Solenoid valve control device
A solenoid valve control device is provided with: a first relay connected in series to a drive coil of a solenoid valve between output terminals of a rectifier circuit; a photocoupler configured to output a voltage of a GND level when a current equal to or greater than a predetermined level is flowing in a contact in the first relay and output a voltage of a V5 level when the current equal to or greater than a predetermined level does not flow in the contact in the first relay; and an integration circuit configured to smooth an output voltage Va1 from the photocoupler. When an output voltage from the integration circuit is not greater than a first threshold value, a microcomputer detects that the first relay is in an on state.
US08887756B2 Shutoff valve in backflow prevention device
A backflow prevention device including an upstream shutoff valve configured to allow a user to control the water flow stream through the housing. The upstream shutoff valve includes an obstruction. The obstruction is configured to prevent water flow at a first position and allow water flow at a second position. The obstruction is also configured to rotate about an axis of rotation between the first position and the second position. The upstream shutoff valve also includes a seal. The seal is configured to sealingly engage a sealing surface in the housing at the first position. All points of engagement between the obstruction seal and the sealing surface are located downstream of the axis of rotation of the obstruction.
US08887744B2 Rinsing apparatus and rinsing method for polycrystalline silicon lump
A rinsing apparatus for polycrystalline silicon lump which is obtained by cutting or breaking a rod of polycrystalline silicon, including: a wash basket having a plurality of through holes, which carries the polycrystalline silicon lump; a wash tank in which the wash basket is provided therein, in which rinse water is continuously supplied from a water supply port which is arranged at a bottom part of the wash tank; an inner cage having a plurality of openings which is smaller than the through holes of the wash basket at a bottom part thereof, provided in the wash tank, in which the wash basket is stored therein; and a swing device holding and swinging the wash basket in the inner cage, and: an overflow part which recovers the rinse water overflowed from an upper portion of the wash tank is provided at the wash tank.
US08887743B2 Chemical delivery system and platform
A chemical delivery system capable of handling a variety of concentrated chemicals in such a manner as to reduce the amount of service required to maintain the system. The system should be able to accurately and consistently deliver an appropriate quantity of concentrated chemicals as needed by the application where the system is utilized. Additionally, the system is configured such that the system occupies as little space as necessary.
US08887739B2 Hair iron
The present invention relates to a hair iron including: one pair of bodies rotatably hinged to each other; heat plates disposed on the bodies; and supporting means, each being disposed between one of the bodies and one of the heat plates in such a manner as to support the longitudinal center of each heat plate. Accordingly, each supporting means is disposed between each body and each heat plate to support the longitudinal center of each heat plate, so that the pair of heat plates is evenly contacted with each other according to the seesaw principle, thereby allowing the heat and pressure generated from the heat plate to be applied uniformly to hair.
US08887734B2 Control program for controlling electromagnetic radiation for cross-linking eye tissue
A control program for controlling a source of electromagnetic radiation, with which a cross-linking in eye tissue of a patient is implemented by means of a photosensitiser introduced into the tissue in order to bring about a change in the eye tissue with reference to its form and/or one of its mechanical properties, the control program having been produced with the following steps: a) measurement data with reference to the patient and the eye are acquired, b) with the measurement data and treatment parameters, which involve a predetermined auxiliary control program for controlling the source of electromagnetic radiation, an outcome with reference to the change in the eye tissue obtained with these treatment parameters is simulated in a computer, c) the change simulated in this way is compared with a change in the eye tissue to be achieved, d) when step c) yields a sufficient agreement between the simulated change and the change in the eye tissue to be achieved, the auxiliary control program applied in step b) is chosen as the control program to be generated, and e) when in step c) the comparison does not yield a sufficient agreement between the simulated change and the change in the eye tissue to be achieved, at least one of the treatment parameters in step b) is/are modified and steps b), c) and d) are then performed again therewith.
US08887732B2 Method and devices for prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers
Method and devices for the prevention and treatment of pressure ulcers are described in which a portable support assembly may be worn by a bed-stricken individual around particular regions of the body where pressure ulcers tend to form. The portable support assembly may generally include one or more individual fluid filled pods which are enclosed entirely within an inner fluid pad localized along a central portion. Both the one or more pods and inner fluid pad are then enclosed entirely by another layer of fluid within an outer fluid pad which extends over the entire assembly. Each of the fluid layers may be secured to an outer shell which is relatively stiffer than the fluid layers and may restrict or limit the expansion or movement of the fluid pods and/or fluid pads.
US08887731B2 Pessary device
A pessary having a main stem and an inflatable bladder disposed about the proximal larger diameter section of the main stem. The main stem further provides a distal smaller diameter portion having a cap at its distal tip and a check valve disposed there under. The check valve communicates with a central fluid passage that may extend into the proximal larger diameter section of the main stem. Secondary fluid passages connect the central fluid passage to the inflatable bladder volume disposed about the outer circumference of the proximal larger diameter section of the main stem. The main stem provides support to the pelvic structures and the inflatable bladder acts to hold the device in position. At least one void through the proximal larger diameter portion of the main stem allows bodily material to pass from the vagina through the pessary device thereby decreasing the amount of vaginal discharge.
US08887730B2 Dual-lumen tracheal tube with assembly portion
The present disclosure describes systems and methods having a dual-lumen tube with an assembly end. The assembly end may be molded and coupled to an extruded portion of the tube to form a complete dual-lumen tube. The assembly end may form the distal portion of the dual-lumen tube, which may simplify the manufacturing process by eliminating cutting and shaping steps involved in forming the distal ends of the ventilation lumens. The assembly end may be molded or otherwise formed so that the distal portion is not cut to length. In addition, the assembly end may include addition functionality, such as a camera apparatus or one or more sensors.
US08887724B2 Oxygen sensor seat assembly, oxygen sensor assembly, and anesthesia machine
An oxygen sensor seat assembly, an oxygen sensor assembly, and an anesthesia machine are disclosed.
US08887723B2 Device for filtering breathing gas
A device (FV) for filtering breathing gas has a housing (G) with a gas inlet (GE), a gas outlet (GA) and a filter (F), which is arranged in a first housing section (G1) formed between the gas inlet (GE) and the gas outlet (GA). The housing (G) has a second housing section (G2) gas-tightly separated from the first housing section (G1) with at least one first wall (W1, W2, W3), which establishes a thermal contact with a wall (W1, W2, W3) of the first housing section (G1). The second housing section (G2) has an opening on an outer side of the housing (G).
US08887716B2 Supraglottic tube for inserting a larynx mask
A supraglottic tube is provided, which despite certain softness has high compressive strength in the proximal distal direction and an adjustable radius of curvature. The supraglottic tube includes at least three lumens. A guiding lumen is located between a respiration lumen and a esophageal lumen. The lumens are separated from each other by separating walls. A guiding means, which includes a pressure element and a tractive element, is located in the guiding lumen. A tractive force can be applied to the tractive element by way of a feed connector and an adjustment unit, in which the pressure element is supported, whereby the radius of curvature of the supraglottic tube can be adjusted.
US08887713B2 Vaccine nebulisers
The invention provides a method of selecting a nebulizer device to be used to deliver a vaccine comprising selecting a nebulizer capable of producing a plurality of vaccine particles having the following particle droplet size distribution: (i) Dv10: 2.0+/−0.2 μm (ii) Dv50: 5.0+/−0.5 μm (iii) Dv90: 10.0+/−1.0 μm (iv) a mean mass aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) of 4.5 to 8.0 μm This allows the selection of, for example, commercially available nebulizers, previously used for drug delivery, for vaccine delivery. This considerably reduces the work required to identify suitable nebulizers. Nebulizers identified by the methods of the invention are also claimed.
US08887697B2 Efficient combustion of hydrocarbon fuels in engines
This invention relates to a system and a method for achieving efficient combustion of hydrocarbon fuels in internal combustion engines to enhance the engine performance with reduced fuel consumption and emissions, comprising at least an infrared radiation source emitting infrared at wavelengths covering at least a portion of 3-20 micrometers wavelength range for exciting the hydrocarbon fuel and a hydrogen source providing hydrogen gas to be burned along with the infrared-excited hydrocarbon fuel in engine cylinder. The hydrocarbon fuel can be any of hydrocarbon-based fuels, including methane, propane, gasoline, ethanol, diesels, biodiesels, and renewable fuels, that are used to power internal combustion engines. The expectation is to provide an effective means of improving hydrocarbon fuel efficiency in engines for better engine performance with increased torque and power, improved fuel economy, and reduced exhaust emissions.
US08887693B2 System and method for estimating turbocharger compressor inlet air flow rate
A system and method are provided for estimating the flow rate of air entering an air inlet of a turbocharger compressor. A first pressure value corresponds to pressure at or near the air inlet of the compressor, and a second pressure value corresponds to pressure at or near the air outlet of the compressor. A temperature value corresponds to a temperature at or near the air inlet of the compressor, and a speed value corresponds to an operating speed of the turbocharger. The flow rate of air entering the air inlet of the turbocharger compressor is illustratively estimated as a function of the first pressure value, the second pressure value, the temperature value and the speed value.
US08887692B2 Systems and methods for decreasing torque fluctuations during cylinder deactivation and reactivation
A control system for an engine includes a first spark control module and a second spark control module. The first spark control module retards spark timing for M of N cylinders of the engine to a first spark timing during a period before deactivating or after reactivating the M cylinders, wherein M is an integer greater than or equal to one, and wherein N is an integer greater than M. The second spark control module advances spark timing for (N−M) active cylinders of the engine to a second desired spark timing during the period before deactivating or after reactivating the M cylinders, wherein the second spark timing is greater than the first spark timing.
US08887690B1 Ammonia fueled mobile and stationary systems and methods
A piston engine is operated to close an exhaust valve, close an intake valve, and inject ammonia into a cylinder at a start of a compression motion of a piston before substantial compression occurs. The ammonia may be injected into the cylinder as a liquid. The ammonia may be pressurized sufficiently to prevent boiling of the ammonia at a temperature of the engine. A mixture of ammonia and air may be compressed sufficiently to obtain compression ignition of the ammonia. An amount of air in the cylinder during compression may be limited to limit combustion temperatures to below the temperatures for formation of NOx. Air may be injected into the cylinder after ignition of the ammonia and during combustion. The exhaust valve may be closed at a time to trap a predetermined amount of exhaust gas in the cylinder.
US08887684B2 Idling stop apparatus and method for disabling idling stop function
An idling stop apparatus is provided which can prevent a voltage of a battery from being lowered even when a microcomputer is reset. In an idling stop apparatus when a reset condition is established, reset information indicating that the reset condition is established is stored in a latch circuit and a microcomputer disables an idling stop function when the reset information is stored. The reset information is stored in the latch circuit even when the microcomputer is being reset or even after the microcomputer is reset. Accordingly, the microcomputer after the reset can disable the idling stop function. As a result, it is possible to prevent the voltage of the battery from being lowered due to the idling stop function.
US08887683B2 Compact electromagnetic plasma ignition device
A quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator for producing corona discharge plasma from is presented. The quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator has a folded cavity made of opposing concentric cavity members that are nested together to form a continuous cavity ending in a aperture. A center conductor with a tip is positioned in the cavity. The folded cavity advantageously permits the coaxial cavity resonator to resonate at a lower operating frequency than an unfolded quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator of the same length. Embodiments of the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator use narrower apertures to reduce radiative losses, and include center conductors that are reactive load elements, such as helical coils. When a radio frequency (RF) oscillation is produced in the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator, corona discharge plasma is formed at the tip of the center conductor. The corona discharge plasma can be used to ignite combustible materials in combustion chambers of combustion engines.
US08887678B2 Lubricating structure for internal combustion engine
There is provided a lubricating structure for an internal combustion engine which has a crankcase, a cylinder block, a cylinder head housing a valve driving device, and a cam housing provided on an upper portion of the cylinder head to support an intake-side camshaft and an exhaust-side camshaft, the lubricating structure including: a main oil passage formed in the cam housing; an oil passage formed in an outer wall upper portion of the cylinder head so as to communicate with the main oil passage; and a pipe connection portion formed so as to allow an external oil pipe to be connected to the oil passage from an outside.
US08887677B2 Sintered stator-cover unit and camshaft adjuster
A stator-cover unit (1) for a camshaft adjuster (31), which is produced in one piece from a sintered material, including a stator (3) and a locking cover (5) which has a slot (17) for rotationally locking a rotor (33). According to the invention, the sintered material has at least in the region of the slot (17) a Vickers hardness of 400 HV to 850 HV. The invention further relates to a camshaft adjuster (31) having such a stator-cover unit (1) with the aforementioned properties, in which a rotor (33) having a number of radially outwardly extending rotor vanes (35) is positioned. The stator-cover unit (1) is simple to produce. A separate insertion part for the slot (17) is not required.
US08887657B2 Film forming system and method using application nozzle
According to one embodiment, a film forming system includes: a stage including a placement surface on which an object to be coated is placed; a rotating mechanism rotating the stage in a rotational direction along the placement surface; an application nozzle discharging a material onto the object placed on the stage for application; a moving mechanism relatively moving the stage and the application nozzle along the placement surface in a cross direction crossing the rotational direction; a controller performing a control to rotate the stage on which the object is placed through the rotating mechanism while relatively moving the stage and application nozzle along the placement surface in the cross direction through the moving mechanism and applying the material to the object on the stage through the application nozzle; and a cleaning apparatus cleaning the application nozzle.
US08887652B1 Sail propulsion device for cargo and tanker vessels
The sailing space frame of the present invention is supported by three hulls, a rudder hull a dagger board hull and an outrigger hull. The space frame also includes two mast assemblies, a fore spar, and a crew's quarters. The space frame can couple with a vessel propelled by a fossil fueled engine, and convert the combined space frame/vessel into an efficient sailing vessel that does not require fossil fuel for the trans-ocean portion of its voyage between ports. The outrigger provides sufficient stability to the sail propelled vessel so that it can carry a large enough sail area to supplant the use of the fossil fueled engine on the open ocean between ports. When entering or leaving a port the vessel uses its own engines for propulsion.
US08887651B2 Agricultural fumigation using a multilayer film including a PVDC vapor barrier
Methods for fumigating soil include providing a fumigant including at least one volatile substance into or onto soil and applying over the soil a multilayer polymeric film to form a vapor barrier between the fumigant-treated soil and the atmosphere to at least partially contain the fumigant. The multilayer film includes at least one barrier layer comprising at least one vinylidene chloride polymer and protecting layers on each side of the barrier layer. The multilayer film preferably has at least one UV protecting layer and optionally at least one reflective layer.
US08887640B1 Electro-mechanical fuze for hand grenades
A safety fuze includes a magneto striker generator (MSG) as its a power generation source. The MSG provides energy to energize an electronic unit and a safety and arming device. The safety fuze allows safety and arming of military hand grenades, with a fully out-of-line explosive initiator and an integrated power generation means, for improving safety and performance. The MSG includes a striker and a receiving bobbin that houses a conductive coil. The striker comprises a permanent magnet that is mounted on a pivot mechanism for allowing a rotational displacement of the permanent magnet, into the bobbin, in order to generate an electrical current. As the permanent magnet is being inserted inside the bobbin, the magnetic flux change induces an electric current in the coil, creating the necessary energy for the fuze operation.
US08887639B2 Inflatable bag with burst control envelope and gas generator
A rupturable bag assembly comprises an inflatable bag which parts at a target internal pressure to produce an acoustic shock wave having a minimum target noise level at a prescribed distance. The inflatable bag comprises inner and outer walls. The inner wall has greater elasticity than the outer wall. Both inner and outer walls are constructed from first and second disk shaped sections with the first and second sections being sealed along outside perimeters. The second section of the inner wall carriers a heat resistant shield on one face. An inflation port assembly provides a chamber for a fuel source and flame abatement elements between the fuel source and an inlet port to the rupturable bag.
US08887638B1 Gun disabling exploding bullet
A capsule is configured to have the outward appearance of a cartridge for a firearm and the capsule is designed to explode within a chamber of a firearm and disable the firearm when fired from the firearm. The capsule includes a casing; a bullet shaped container; a high explosive and a primer. The casing is made to fit within a firing chamber of the firearm. A bullet-shaped container holds a high explosive and fits within the casing to give an outward appearance of an ordinary bullet in a regular cartridge for that firearm. The primer is accessible to a firing pin of the firearm acting on the casing. The primer includes a small charge of a mixture in contact with the high explosive such that when the primer is struck by the firing pin of the firearm, the primer causes the high explosive to detonate disabling the firearm.
US08887636B2 Printing material web processing machine
A printing material web processing machine, in particular a web-fed rotary offset press, has at least one press cylinder for printing the web, a dryer disposed downstream of the press cylinder, which guides the web along a path, and at least a first pull roll disposed downstream of the dryer to convey the web along the path with a given tensile stress. The web processing machine further has a first apparatus disposed downstream of the press cylinder and upstream of the dryer for separating the web from the press cylinder, and a second apparatus for driving the first pull roll, which drives the first pull roll at a rotational speed that is reduced as compared with the rotational speed of the press cylinder.
US08887635B2 Method for cleaning inking units in offset printing presses
An offset printing press and a method for cleaning inking units in offset printing presses include emptying and subsequently refilling ink fountains of individual inking units of the printing units with ink sequentially one after the other. Immediately after the emptying of a first ink fountain, a washing operation for an associated inking unit is started even before remaining ink fountains have been emptied. After a respective further one of the remaining ink fountains has been emptied, the washing operation for a respective further inking unit is started and refilling of the first ink fountain is started while washing operations for one or more of the further inking units are still running.
US08887634B2 Methods for printing a printed output of a press and variable printing
A method of printing a printed output of a press comprising ink on a print medium applies ink to a surface, places individually controlled drops of aqueous solution onto the print medium in a drop pattern, and transfers ink from the surface to areas of the print medium that are free of aqueous solution to produce the printed output of the press. A method of variable printing is also disclosed.
US08887629B2 Retainer unit and wire binding machine comprising several such retainer units
A retainer unit for use in a wire binding machine in order to retain and subsequently release a wire during the tightening thereof around one or more objects. The retainer unit comprises: a wire retaining member pivotable, under the action of a press force exerted by a wire, from an advanced wire retaining position to a retracted wire releasing position; a blocking mechanism moveable from a blocking position, in which it prevents the wire retaining member from being pivoted to the wire releasing position, to a non-blocking position, in which it allows the wire retaining member to be pivoted to the wire releasing position. The blocking mechanism is arranged to move to the non-blocking position under the effect of said wire when the wire reaches a given inclination towards a wire contacting part of the wire retaining member. The invention also relates to a wire binding machine comprising several such retainer units.
US08887628B2 Liquid food heating, stirring and foaming cup
A cup device for heating, stirring and foaming liquid foods comprises a cup, a cup lid, a handle, a stirrer, a motor drive disk, a plurality of magnets, an electric motor, a hot plate, a boil dry thermostat, a thermostat, a micro switch, a transformer, a controller, a heating base, a button, a button circuit board, connecting wires and bolts. The controller controls the work of the hot plate and the stirrer to input air into liquid foods, and therefore producing a lot of foams. The cup can be separated from the heating base, which enables it to be cleaned by a dishwasher. The stirrer turns along with the electric motor by magnetic attraction. The stirrer of removed cup will not naturally get off. The heating base only supplies power when the cup is put on it and it automatically cuts off power supply when the cup is removed.
US08887624B2 Beverage brewing apparatus
A beverage brewing apparatus, the brewing apparatus having an infusion chamber for housing material to be percolated and for receiving pressurized water; a beverage outflow conduit connecting the infusion chamber to the outside; and a valve located between an inlet portion and an outlet portion of the outflow conduit; the valve being a three-way valve having an inlet communicating with the infusion chamber via the inlet portion of the outflow conduit; a first outlet communicating with the outlet portion of the outflow conduit; and a second outlet communicating with the outside.
US08887621B2 Reciprocating compressor
A reciprocating compressor including an oscillation-type piston mechanism is provided with a piston ring which is mounted in a piston ring groove to seal a space between a piston and a cylinder. A ring groove other than the piston ring groove is provided at an outer periphery of the piston on a side away from the piston ring groove and closer to a crank shaft. A guide ring, which is inhibited from radial movement and shaped like a skirt opened toward the crank shaft, is mounted in the ring groove. Thus, the oscillation-type reciprocating compressor is adapted to maintain long-term durability even under high-pressure compression condition and to prevent heat propagation to a large end portion.
US08887615B2 Firearm having dual barrels
Disclosed is a firearm having dual barrels comprising a firearm body which is equipped with a small caliber barrel and a large caliber barrel; a selector installed on one side of the firearm body to select the type of bullet and the mode of firing; a fire control system installed on the firearm body to enable aiming the target through detecting the target both at day and night time; a firearm switch unit installed on the firearm body to transmit the information on the firing of the bullet; a fuse setter installed on the firearm body to transmit the control signal of the fire control system to the fuse of the explosive bullet which is introduced into the large caliber barrel; and a sensor device unit installed on the firearm body to transmit the position of the selector and sensed firing signal to the fire control system.
US08887614B1 Stacked buoyant payload launcher
A submarine buoyant payload launcher system includes support rails extending longitudinally along an interior surface of a submarine missile capsule. A plurality of hold downs are spaced along the length of each rail and are retractable into the support rails. Once a payload is in position within the rails, the hold downs adjacent to the top end of the payload are rotated to their closed position, so as to contact the payload. Another payload can then be loaded within the rails until the payload contacts with the closed hold downs. As in the case of the first payload, the hold downs adjacent to the top end of this next payload are rotated to their closed position. Multiple payloads can be loaded within the rails in this manner.
US08887600B2 Anti-abrasion open end quick turn wrench
An anti-abrasion open end quick turn wrench is suitable for rotating a fastener with a head portion and includes: a body and an assistant engaging member. When the head portion of the fastener is completely engaged in the engaging slot, the wrench is provided with anti-abrasion concaves to provide enough room to prevent the open end wrench from interfering with the angles of the head portion of the fastener, and consequently preventing abrasion of the head portion of the fastener. Meanwhile, at least three lateral surfaces of the head portion of the fastener will be clamped by the wrench, when one or two of the clamped four lateral surfaces of the fastener is damaged or worn out, the fastener still has at least two intact lateral surfaces clamped by the open end quick turn wrench, so it can still be rotated by the wrench.
US08887599B2 Socket extension
A socket extension and related methods of utilizing a socket extension that improves upon conventional designs through the use of a shaped body allowing the socket extension to be manipulated with an appropriate tool at any point along the shaped body. Through the use of the shaped body, a user is provided multiple engagement points such that interference due to the proximity of other structures or other accessibility issues can be overcome. In addition, the shaped body presents the opportunity to utilize a plurality of tools on the same socket extension when additional force/torque is necessary to loosen and/or tighten a bolt.
US08887589B2 Twin clutch transmission
A twin clutch transmission for a large horsepower vehicle having a compact size and a high transmission efficiency is obtained. In a twin clutch transmission, there are provided an input shaft, an odd-numbered level speed change mechanism 30, an even-numbered level speed change mechanism 60, a synchronizing speed change mechanism 100, and an output mechanism 90. The speed change mechanisms 30 and 60 include transmission gear trains 32 and 62, main clutches 34 and 64 for selectively transmitting the powers of the transmission gear trains 32 and 62 to the transmission shafts 40 and 70. The synchronizing speed change mechanism 100 includes synchronizing gear trains 110 and 120 for coupling the rotation of the odd-numbered level transmission shaft 32 with the rotation of the even-numbered level transmission shaft 62, and synchronizing clutches 112 and 122 for selecting coupling by this synchronizing gear train.
US08887582B2 Piezoelectric vibration type force sensor and robot apparatus
Provided is a piezoelectric vibration type force sensor including a vibration body including a disk-shaped piezoelectric material and a pair of drive electrodes, for vibrating in a radial direction of the piezoelectric material when an AC voltage is applied to the pair of drive electrodes, a substrate to be brought into contact with a surface on one side of the vibration body, an elastic member that is disposed to be brought into contact with a surface on another side of the vibration body, and a holding member including a contact portion and a loose-fit portion that loosely fits in the hollow through hole. The holding member fixes the contact portion and the loose-fit portion to the substrate so that movements of the vibration body in a vibration direction and in a direction orthogonal to the vibration direction are restricted for positioning.
US08887581B2 Load-measuring bearing unit
A bearing unit (20) for measuring forces exerted on the bearing unit, comprising an inner member (3) concentrically arranged around an outer member (2), at least one rolling element bearing (4, 5) and at least one load measuring device (8, 9) with a cylindrical bore. The load measuring device (8, 9) is mounted to one of the members (3) and supports the rolling element bearing (4, 5) relatively to this member (3). The rolling element bearing (4, 5) is mounted to the other of the members (2) and supports this member (2) relatively to the load measuring device (8, 9). Thus, a force acting on the bearing unit is transferred from one of the inner and outer members (2, 3) to the other of the inner and outer members (2, 3) via the at least one load measuring device (8, 9). According to the invention, the at least one load measuring device (8, 9) and the at least one rolling element bearing (4, 5) are arranged laterally to each other in a radial gap between the inner and outer members (2, 3).
US08887576B2 Submersible electronic sensor
The invention provides a submersible, electrically-powered sensor assembly that incorporates a flexible seal assembly having operative and non-operative electrical traces of a uniform vertical height for carrying clamping loads and avoiding signal loss along a signal carrying trace due to compression of the flex seal, minimizing fluid leak paths between two flange surfaces, providing stability in compression, and enabling electrical communication in an environment having an operating fluid.
US08887573B2 MEMS vacuum level monitor in sealed package
A vacuum sensor for sensing vacuum in a sealed enclosure is provided. The sealed enclosure includes active MEMS devices desired to be maintained in vacuum conditions. The vacuum sensor includes a motion beam anchored to an internal surface in the sealed enclosure. A driving electrode is disposed beneath the motion beam and a bias is supplied to cause the motion beam to deflect through electromotive force. A sensing electrode is also provided and detects capacitance between the sensing electrode disposed on the internal surface, and the motion beam. Capacitance changes as the gap between the motion beam and the sensing electrode changes. The amount of deflection is determined by the vacuum level in the sealed enclosure. The vacuum level in the sealed enclosure is thereby sensed by the sensing electrode.
US08887570B2 Contact detection
A method provides detecting a contact state between at least one driver/operator of a vehicle and a control input device designed to control the vehicle, where a frequency spectrum is calculated from sensors detected movement signals based on which the contact state between the control input device and the driver/operator is determined.
US08887567B2 Double-ended tuning fork with outrigger excitation
An accelerometer includes a base, a proof mass flexibly connected to the base, and a double-ended tuning fork (DETF) coupled to the proof mass and the base. The DETF includes a base attached to the accelerometer base, an outrigger that extends from a first side of the base, and two tines that extend from a side of the outrigger that is opposite the first side of the base. The accelerometer also includes a drive mechanism that generates opposing forces in different halves of the outrigger, thereby causing the tines to oscillate. An excitation voltage applied to metallized traces on the outrigger at the base of the DETF cause the tines to resonant. The alternating strains generated at the root of the tines excite the tines themselves at their resonant frequency without the requirement of complex metallization applied to the tines.
US08887565B2 Balancing device having additional bearing
A device for measuring the rotational imbalance of a specimen, having a spindle unit with a spindle, which is embodied to hold the specimen and to allow it to rotate at a testing speed, a holder suspension by means of which the spindle unit is anchored to the machine base in pendulum fashion such that the imbalance forces occurring during the measurement operation are able to move the spindle unit back and forth in a predetermined measuring direction M, and a sensor arrangement that detects at least one imbalance parameter occurring in the measuring direction M during rotation of the spindle, wherein the spindle unit is supported by means of at least one auxiliary bearing that is only able to transmit forces in the direction of a normal N to the measuring direction M.
US08887564B2 Method for predicting initial unbalance in a component
A method for predicting initial unbalance in a component comprising one or more elements, the method comprising: defining a statistical distribution of a mass moment weight of each of the one or more elements; restricting the statistical distribution to a selected range; and calculating an initial unbalance of the component for the restricted distribution of the one or more elements.
US08887563B2 Transducer and method for manufacturing same
The present invention relates to a transducer and a method for manufacturing same, and more particularly, to a transducer and to a method for manufacturing same, in which a first liquid and a second liquid are supplied such that, at the boundary therebetween, a deformation-generating part, including a perforated structure having one or more holes therein, is formed, and the effect of external pressure is negated by the action between the liquids.
US08887557B2 Fractionation of de-asphalted oil of vacuum resid using preparative high performance liquid chromatographic separations
Two quantitative separation approaches to fractionate de-asphalted oils (DAOs) into seven classes of compounds (saturates, 1-4+ ring-aromatics, sulfides, and polars). In the first step (named as “SGS”) of present invention, the DAO of a petroleum vacuum resid is separated in to four classes of compounds, namely saturates, aromatics, and sulfides. In this first step of separation, about 3 grams of a DAO can be separated. Whereas in the second step (named as “ARC” separation) of invention, only less than 300 mg of the aromatic fraction obtained in “SGS” (described above) can be further fractionated at very low temperature (about −40 degrees centigrade) into 4 fractions, namely 1-ring, 2-ring, 3-ring, and 4+-ring aromatics. The present invention protocol is suitable for a wide range of compositionally different DAOs of petroleum vacuum resids.
US08887555B2 Viscometer
The viscometer provides a viscosity value (Xη) which represents the viscosity of a fluid flowing in a pipe connected thereto. It comprises a vibratory transducer with at least one flow tube for conducting the fluid, which communicates with the pipe. Driven by an excitation assembly, the flow tube is vibrated so that friction forces are produced in the fluid. The viscometer further includes meter electronics which feed an excitation current (iexc) into the excitation assembly. By means of the meter electronics, a first internal intermediate value (X1) is formed, which corresponds with the excitation current (iexc) and thus represents the friction forces acting in the fluid. According to the invention, a second internal intermediate value (X2), representing inhomogeneities in the fluid, is generated in the meter electronics, which then determine the viscosity value (Xη) using the two intermediate values (X1, X2). The first internal intermediate value (X1) is preferably normalized by means of an amplitude control signal (yAM) for the excitation current (iexc), the amplitude control signal corresponding with the vibrations of the flow tube. As a result, the viscosity value (Xη) provided by the viscometer is highly accurate and robust, particularly independently of the position of installation of the flow tube.
US08887543B2 Tube flaring tool
A tool kit including a clamping structure formed of dual clamping bodies that define a cylindrical projecting member when the clamping bodies are united, a force transfer adapter, a substantially cylindrical force applying member having a tapered end and an elongated yoke having a longitudinal bore defined therein, wherein the first end of the yoke and the cylindrical projecting member have cooperating features for facilitating a non-permanent engagement with one another when the dual clamping bodies are united, and wherein the second end of the yoke and the force applying member include cooperating features for facilitating the gradual application of force to the force transfer adapter.
US08887542B2 Motor drive mechanism for an electronic deadbolt lock
An apparatus including a motor that has a rotatable output shaft extending outward from the motor and defining a rotational axis. The apparatus also includes a coupler that is coupled to the output shaft for rotation therewith, and a coil spring that is coupled to the coupler without external attachment means such that rotation of the coupler is transferred to the coil spring.
US08887540B2 Laundry drum for a laundry treatment machine
A laundry drum on the one hand is to exhibit the advantageous features of structures of the prior art distributed in the circumferential direction, which protrude from the cylinder shape of the drum casing accommodated in the laundry drum, but at the same time however create the basics for their embodiment for advantageous influencing of the laundry movement within the laundry drum during its rotational movement. To this end structures are inventively formed from ring-shaped protrusions distributed in the circumferential direction.
US08887536B2 Odor supply apparatus and washing/drying machine having the same
Disclosed are a fragrance supply apparatus and a washing/drying machine having the same, wherein the washing/drying machine comprises a fragrance supply apparatus installed in a washing/drying machine body for collecting clothes to be treated such that a fragrance solution contained therein is uniformly effused by a pressure difference to be supplied into the clothes within the washing/drying machine body, whereby the fragrance solution can be supplied at a desired time so as to prevent an unnecessary consumption thereof, and also prevent an occurrence of a deviation of an effused amount due to an amount of the fragrance solution contained in the fragrance supply apparatus.
US08887534B2 Puncture resistant, optionally cut and abrasion resistant, knit garment made with modified knit structure
A knit fabric having a modified knit structure, having a front layer of knit fabric and a back layer of knit fabric, wherein the front layer and back layer are joined together by rows of tuck stitches formed from a yarn having no more than 3% elongation and wherein the knit fabric is puncture resistant, and optionally cut and/or abrasion resistant, and a protective garment made therefrom.
US08887533B2 Apparatus and method for controlling moisture in the manufacture of glass fiber insulation
Apparatus, systems and methods for monitoring and controlling the amount of moisture introduced into the forming hood area in the manufacture of mineral fiber insulation products. Moisture from coolant liquids, binder dispersions and binder diluents are all introduced deliberately into a forming hood; ambient moisture and water from combustion are additional sources. A series of global variable control valves, one for each fluid system; as well as individual variable control valves for each fiberizing unit are provided with associated meters. Sensors monitor fibrous pack conditions and ambient conditions and provide inputs to the valve control system. A specific 3-ring liquid dispensing system is also disclosed.
US08887529B2 Method and apparatus for cutting glass ribbon
A process and apparatus for cutting a continuous glass ribbon involving the use of edge restrainers such as suction cups and clamps connected to an actuator of a robot tooling through a flexible linkage capable of reciprocal motion in the direction of the ribbon velocity. The use of the flexible linkage reduces peak pulling-force when the glass ribbon is pulled or pushed laterally to during bending and separation along a pre-formed score-line. The invention can be advantageously used in the bottom of the draw of a vertical down-draw forming process.
US08887524B2 Refrigerating apparatus
A refrigerating circuit in which a compressor, a gas cooler, a first pressure reducing unit and an evaporator are successively annularly connected to one another via pipes includes a second pressure reducing unit and a liquid receiver between the gas cooler and the first pressure reducing unit, and the liquid receiver is connected to the suction port of the compressor via a pipe. Then, the opening/closing degree of the second pressure reducing unit is controlled in accordance with a pressure difference between the discharge-side pressure of the compressor and the suction-side pressure thereof, whereby the amount of the refrigerant to be circulated is increased when the refrigerating ability runs short, and the excessive refrigerant is received in the liquid receiver when the refrigerating ability becomes excessive, so that the amount of the refrigerant to be circulated can be adjusted.
US08887507B2 Traversing fuel nozzles in cap-less combustor assembly
A combustor includes a central fuel nozzle assembly and a plurality of outer fuel nozzle assemblies, each of the plurality of outer fuel nozzle assemblies having a center body and an outer shroud, the plurality of outer fuel nozzle assemblies being configured to abut one another in a surrounding relationship to the central cylinder such that no gaps are present between any two abutting ones of the plurality of outer fuel nozzle assemblies. One or more of the plurality of fuel nozzle assemblies may traverse axially back and forth according to embodiments of the invention.
US08887505B2 Carbon dioxide recovery system and method
Provided are high-pressure, medium-pressure, and low-pressure turbines; a boiler to generate steam for driving the turbines; a carbon dioxide recovery unit including an absorber that reduces carbon dioxide in combustion flue gas from the boiler by a carbon dioxide absorbent and a regenerator that regenerates an absorbent; a first auxiliary turbine that extracts steam from an inlet of the low-pressure turbine and recovers power by the steam thus extracted; a first steam delivery line to supply discharged steam from the first auxiliary turbine to a reboiler of the regenerator as a heat source; and a controller that controls driving of the first auxiliary turbine while keeping pressure of the discharged steam to be supplied to the reboiler within a tolerance range for the reboiler's optimum pressure corresponding to a fluctuation in an operation load of the boiler.
US08887501B2 Wave power plant
The invention relates to a wave power plant, comprising at least one float or pontoon (1) or a plurality of interconnected floats or pontoons (2). The float or pontoon (1) is shaped or the interconnected floats or pontoons (2) are disposed asymmetrically relative to the advancing direction of waves, such that the float or pontoon (1) or a member (3) linking the interconnected floats or pontoons is set in a gyrating motion in response to the buoyancy of a succession of waves advancing in said direction. The wave power plant includes elements (5, 6, 7; 9, 10) for converting the gyrating motion into a rotational motion for power take-off.
US08887499B2 Electronic high hydraulic pressure cutoff to improve system efficiency
A method for overpressure control in a hydraulic system having multiple hydraulic pumps, with each hydraulic pump being connected by a respective hydraulic circuit for actuating a single respective hydraulic actuator, includes actuating a first variable displacement hydraulic pump, the first hydraulic pump being fluidly linked by a first hydraulic circuit to a first hydraulic actuator for powering the first hydraulic actuator. Upon detecting a pressure that exceeds a predetermined threshold pressure, the flow rate of the first hydraulic pump is electronically modified to a second flow rate lower than the first flow rate whereby the pressure in the first hydraulic circuit is reduced to a pressure that is below the predetermined threshold pressure.
US08887490B2 Rich burn internal combustion engine catalyst control
A catalyst system may include a catalyst and a first sensor that detects contents of gases entering the catalyst and reports the contents of the gases entering the catalyst to an emissions control module. A second sensor and a third sensor may detect contents of gases exiting the catalyst and report the contents of the gases exiting the catalyst to the emissions control module. The emissions control module may determine an air-fuel ratio based on the contents of gases entering the catalyst and the contents of gases exiting the catalyst. The emissions control module may instruct an air-fuel regulator to operate an engine using the air-fuel ratio.
US08887485B2 Three spool gas turbine engine having a clutch and compressor bypass
An adaptive cycle gas turbine engine is disclosed having a number of features. A fan arrangement is provided having counter-rotating fan stages, one fan stage is operable to be clutched and decoupled from the other stage. A high pressure compressor bypass is also provided. A clutch is provided to at least partially drive an intermediate pressure compressor with a high pressure turbine when the high pressure compressor is bypassed. A partial bypass of the high pressure turbine may be provided.
US08887482B1 Active flow control with pulse detonation actuators
Concepts and technologies described herein provide for the creation of a high speed actuating fluid flow utilizing one or more pulse detonation actuators. According to one aspect of the disclosure provided herein, an actuating flow trigger is detected with respect to a high speed airflow over an aerodynamic surface. In response, a pulse detonation actuator is activated and a resulting high speed actuating flow is directed into the high speed airflow to alter at least one attribute of the high speed airflow.
US08887475B2 Leveling and aligning device for installing tiles
This invention relates to a leveling and aligning device for installing tiles and which comprises a wedge for leveling the tiles and a main body; more specifically, the main body has a supporting base and at least one vertical member extending along an axis substantially perpendicular to the base and connected to the supporting base along a preferential fracturing line; the first vertical member has an opening extending from the supporting base, designed to receive the leveling wedge, and a contact portion designed to engage with the leveling wedge; the first vertical member comprises at least one pair of first side tabs having a thickness greater than the thickness of the first vertical member.
US08887473B1 Fire and water resistant expansion joint system
A fire resistant and water resistant expansion joint system comprises a compressed lamination of fire retardant infused open celled foam, one coat of an elastomeric waterproofing or water resistant material on the lamination, and another coat of an intumescent material on an opposing surface of the lamination, thereby providing fire resistance in one direction and water resistance in the opposite direction. The intumescent material may be further coated with a similar elastomeric material, thereby providing fire resistance in one direction and water resistance in both directions. In the alternative, the compressed lamination may comprise first and second opposing layers of intumescent material thereon each having a respective layer of elastomeric material to provide both water resistance and fire resistance in both directions.
US08887469B2 Slant wall block and wall section including same
A wall block comprises an upper surface and an opposed lower surface. A front face and an opposed back face, and a first side face and an opposed second side face, are disposed between the upper surface and the lower surface. The first side face and the second side face generally extend from the front face to the back face. The block includes one or more features that define a horizontal alignment direction. The front face extends from the first side face to the second side face generally along a direction that is slanted with respect to the horizontal alignment direction.
US08887465B2 Apparatus and method for construction of structures utilizing insulated concrete forms
An insulated concrete form having spaced sidewalls joined by form ties to define a first interior cavity therebetween for receiving poured concrete, the form ties including interior fastening plates positioned in between the spaced sidewalls. The interior fastening plates provide a backing surface to which forming structures can be easily and efficiently secured to define a second interior cavity in between the forming structure and one of the sidewalls, the second interior cavity having thickness less than the first interior cavity so as to define a form for making a recess in the resulting concrete portion of the wall.
US08887464B1 Metal panel roof recover
The subject invention provides for metal panel roof recover systems which are installed over an existing roof. The existing roof has a support frame which includes an array of spaced purlins running horizontally through the roof and a plurality of interconnected metal panels that are mounted vertically across the array of purlins. The roof recover system comprises individual panel clips, elongated panel clips, and a metal cover. The individual clips are arranged in linear arrays running vertically across the purlins and are mounted to the purlins through the panels of the existing roof. The elongated continuous panel clips extend vertically across and are mounted to adjacent purlins through the panels of the existing roof. The metal cover is attached to the clips and comprises a plurality of metal panels interconnected by vertical standing seams formed on the clips.
US08887454B2 Solar module attachment device and mounting method
A device for attaching a module for collecting energy originating from solar radiation on a structure such as a roof, a façade or a mounting structure of a ground-mounted system, in which the module is provided with at least one fastener on its face designed to be facing the structure. The device includes at least one support secured to the structure by snap-fitting, the fastener and the support being suitable for being coupled to one another for the attachment of the module to the structure.
US08887440B2 Garage door antenna
A system and method for controlling a garage door is presented. An alarm system includes an antenna mounted to a garage door. A signal generator logic generates a periodic signal based on a capacitive value of the antenna. The signal generator logic also provides transmit power to the antenna that is radiated away from the garage door. A detection logic detects if there is a change in a characteristic of the periodic signal caused by movement in proximity of the garage door. Amplification logic amplifies the change of the periodic signal. Alarm detection logic determines if the change is an alarm and an alarm response logic will stop a movement of the garage door when the change is an alarm resulting from movement near the door.
US08887433B2 Decoy spreader
The invention includes a decoy spreader having a central rod with a plurality of arms jointly connected to the central spine. Each arm, and at a plurality of locations on the central rod has at least one decoy attachment location. Preferably, there are at least ten decoy attachment locations. An extender mechanism may be used to help extend the arms or to retract the arms.
US08887417B2 Greeting card with spring loaded slide track audio trigger
An interactive greeting card having a multi-panel greeting card body, a sound module and a molded track contained between two or more panels of the multi-panel greeting card body, and a moveable object which is attached to the molded track through an opening in one or more of the greeting card panels. The moveable object is operative to move from one end of the molded track to the opposite end of the molded track whereby playback of a pre-recorded digital audio file is initiated. The interactive greeting card may additionally contain a small motor which causes movement of a second moveable object and an object launcher which is operative to launch an object along the track and into the air. Other special effects may be included such as lights, additional sounds or movement, or any other special effects which can be incorporated into a greeting card.
US08887412B2 Road position indication for motor grader snow plow
A motor grader includes a tracking system indicating the location of the motor grader relative to a desired snow plowing path. The tracking system may also indicate the location of prerecorded obstacles along the desired snow plowing path.
US08887409B2 Detachable shoe protector
A detachable, flexible shoe protector is disclosed cover for protecting shoes against inclement weather conditions and for protecting carpet and indoor flooring from dirt carried in on shoes used outdoors. In various embodiments, the shoe protectors may be fabricated from transparent or translucent polymers such that the aesthetic appearance of the underlying shoe is still visible. The rigidity and/or thickness of the shoe protector vary from one embodiment to another depending upon the intended use of that embodiment. Some embodiments of the present invention comprise tread to minimize slipping between the shoe protector and an underlying floor or subgrade. Various embodiments of the shoe protector comprise a forward lip and/or an aft cantilevered tab to facilitate ease of use. The shoe cover has a front portion, a rear portion and a sole portion.
US08887400B2 Protective riser guide for scissors
A protective riser guide for scissors is provided in the present disclosure. In certain embodiments, the protective riser guide is integrally formed with an arm of a pair of scissors. In other embodiments, the protective riser guide is removably attached to the exterior surface of a scissor arm. Preferably, the protective riser guide is in the shape of an arc extending away from the interior surface of the arm if the guide is integrally formed with the arm, or from the exterior surface if the guide is removably attached to the exterior surface. Due to the shape and position of the protective riser guide on the arm of a pair of scissors in certain embodiments, the protective riser guide is ergonomic and increases the safety of the operator of the scissors without interfering with the operator's cutting techniques.
US08887393B2 Fabrication of an inkjet printhead mounting substrate
A method of fabricating a mounting substrate forming an ink inlet in a first layer of a first dielectric; forming contact pads on a second layer of a second dielectric; forming a slot through the second layer; forming a window through a third layer of a third dielectric; aligning and laminating the second layer to the first layer such that the ink inlet is aligned with the slot; and aligning and laminating the third layer to the second layer so the contact pads and the slot are exposed through the window; providing a printhead die having: a drop mechanism for ejecting drops; a chamber to contain ink; and adhesively bonding the printhead die to the second layer so that the printhead die is disposed within the window and an inlet feed opening of the printhead die is aligned with the slot through the second layer.
US08887392B1 Apparatus and methods for connecting a drain pan overflow sensor to a ductless mini-split HVAC system
Apparatus useful for connecting a drain pan overflow sensor to the evaporator assembly of a ductless mini-split HVAC system includes at least one carrier extending upwardly from the overflow sensor and at least one connector releasably engageable with the carrier and at least one fin and/or evaporator coil tube of the evaporator assembly.
US08887386B2 Method of manufacturing a chip support board structure
A method of manufacturing a chip support board structure which includes the steps of forming a metal substrate structure, forming a photo resist pattern, etching the metal substrate structure to form a paddle, removing the photo resist pattern, pressing an insulation layer against the paddle, polishing the insulation layer, forming a circuit layer and forming a solder resist is disclosed. The metal substrate structure is formed by sandwiching a block layer with two metal substrate layers, multilayer. The metal substrate structure is etched under control to an effective depth such that each paddle thus formed has the same shape and depth. Therefore, the method of the present invention can be widely applied to the general mass production processes to effectively solve the problems in the prior arts due to depth differences, such offset, position mismatch and peeling off in the chip support board.
US08887382B2 Method for manufacturing a pendulous accelerometer
The invention relates to a pendulous accelerometer including a pendulous electrode formed in a substrate, at least one counter electrode, and an encapsulation cover. The at least one counter electrode is formed under the cover, and spacers are positioned between the cover and the substrate.
US08887381B2 Method of making a 3-D structure
In one preferred aspects, methods are provided to produce a three-dimensional feature, comprising: (a) providing a nano-manipulator device; (b) positioning an article with the nano-manipulator device; and (c) manipulating the article to produce the three-dimensional feature. The invention relates to production of nanoscale systems that can be tailored with specific physical and/or electrical characteristics or need to have these characteristics modified. Methods and apparatus are presented that can construct three-dimensional nanostructures and can also modify existing nanostructures in three dimensions.
US08887377B2 Method for manufacturing stator core
The method for manufacturing a stator core includes: a punching step in which magnetic segments are punched out of an electromagnetic steel sheet that is coated with an organic insulating coating; a laminating step in which a laminated body is formed by laminating a predetermined number of the punched magnetic segments; a first preheating step in which a welding position on a wall surface of the laminated body is heated locally from a first end to a second end in a direction of lamination to decompose an organic component in the insulating coating thermally at the welding position; and a first welding step in which the welding position at which the organic component in the insulating coating is decomposed thermally is welded from the first end to the second end in the direction of lamination to interconnect and integrate the laminated magnetic segments.
US08887370B2 Rackable fence system
In certain embodiments, a fence system includes a rail having a first surface having one or more apertures. The rail also includes second and third surfaces opposing one another, the first, second, and third surfaces of the rail forming a channel. The second surface and the third surface of the rail have first and second lips, respectively, the first and second lips extending into the channel. The fence system section also includes one or more pickets inserted through corresponding apertures of the first surface of the rail. Each picket has a first connection region located substantially in the channel formed by the first, second, and third surfaces of the rail such that the first connection region is substantially prevented from passing through the corresponding aperture in the first surface of the rail or between the opening defined by the first and second lips of the rail.
US08887360B2 Composite working lathe
A turning tool is arranged at a tool spindle (102) of a composite working lathe (1) to improve working efficiency. A composite working lathe (1) includes a first workpiece headstock (20) placed on a bed (10). A chuck (24) of a workpiece spindle (22) is rotated as holding a workpiece (K.sub.1). A tool headstock (100) arranged at a carriage (50) is rotated about B-axis while being linearly moved in the directions of X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis. The tool headstock (100) operates a mill tool (110) and includes a comb-shaped cutting tool rest (150) having turning tools attached at the opposite side of a housing in a comb-shaped manner, so that turning processing can be performed with tool indexing in a short time.
US08887356B2 Hinged downspout
A hinge is disclosed that can allow a downspout extension to rotate from a horizontal position to a vertical position to allow people to easily access these areas about the downspout extension. In some instances, the hinge includes a first plate positioned on the inner wall surface of a downspout and a second plate positioned on an opposing outer wall surface of the downspout. The first and the second plates can be substantially parallel.
US08887353B2 Repel assembly and method
A repel assembly and method includes an engagement surface having an adhesive plane for securing to an object, a plurality of attachment spikes extending from the engagement surface at an angle transverse to the adhesive plane and a transport surface for supporting a fixture coupled to the plurality of attachment spikes, the fixture being positioned between the engagement surface and the transport surface. The repel assembly further includes an annular ring having an upper and lower ring coupled to the repel assembly, the lower ring having first and second ends spaced by a wiper body such that the annular ring repels debris from contacting and/or collecting on the transport surface.
US08887348B2 Handheld floor treatment device
The invention relates to a handheld floor treatment device, comprising a floor part (1), which has a liquid supply (11), and a liquid in-take (13) and a structurally separated suction unit that contains at least one suction turbine (17). The invention further relates to a handheld floor treatment device, comprising a floor part (1) having a bow (5), which encompasses the floor part (1) at least in some sections and which is connected to the floor part (1) by means of a first joint (4) that can be adjusted in the treatment direction (6), and further comprising a guide part (2) attached to the bow (5), the guide part having a handle (3). The guide part (2) comprises a further joint (8) at the lower end below the center but above the floor part (1), about which joint the guide part (2) can be adjusted transversely to the treatment direction (6) so that the floor part (1) can be rotated by a user (P) parallel to the treatment surface (B) about a vertical axis (A1) of the floor part (1) by at least ±45°, even if the guide part (2) is in a tilted position.
US08887345B2 Cadet
A brush device for cleaning golf devices may include a connection device to connect a rotating shaft and a brush device to connect to the connection device. The rotating shaft may rotate the connection device to rotate the brush device, and the connection device may include a first hub to connect to the rotating shaft. The connection device may include a second hub to connect to the first hub. The connection device may include a ring being connected to the first hub.
US08887335B2 Portable changing table
A portable changing table includes at least one extendable arm assembly moveable between a retracted position and an extended position. The at least one extendable arm assembly is removably securable to a support structure, and it includes a biasing member for urging the at least one extendable arm assembly into the retracted position. The table further includes a latch assembly that is configured to selectively secure the at least one extendable arm assembly in the retracted position. A collapsible frame is hingedly secured to the at least one extendable arm assembly that is moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position. A flexible support member extends across a portion of the collapsible frame in the deployed position.
US08887329B2 Methods of translating hospital chair beds with articulating foot sections
A hospital bed includes a base, a lifting mechanism, a rotating frame configured to rotate horizontally relative to the base, and a patient support surface pivotally secured to the rotating frame. The patient support surface includes a back section, a seat section, and foot section that articulate relative to each other. The patient support surface translates from a bed configuration to a side-egress chair configuration. The foot section includes a plurality of panels that translate relative to each other from a substantially co-planar relationship when the patient support surface is in a bed configuration to a relationship where one of the foot section panels is substantially orthogonal to another foot section panel when the patient support surface is in a chair configuration. A mattress supported by the patient support surface has a retractable foot portion that adjusts its length in response to translation of the foot section panels.
US08887328B2 System for cooling a body useful for reducing the effect of hot flashes
The present invention relates to systems, methods, and devices for treating the effects of menopause. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods, and devices used while sleeping for automatically detecting an imminent hot flash and for preventing and/or controlling the symptoms associated with hot flashes, such as an elevated body temperature, sweating and/or chills so that the person using the system remains sleeping and is not disturbed by the hot flash onset. Preferred embodiments include an automated body cooling system comprising: an elongated cloth bag comprising a lower open-ended chamber for enveloping a person's body and an upper closed chamber for receiving a flow of air from a fan; a fan operably connected with the upper chamber of the bag to provide a stream of air into the bag for over inflating the bag to provide positive pressure; a sensor for detecting at least one of relative humidity, skin temperature, or sternal skin conductance information; and a control module in operable communication with the sensor for receiving and processing the information from the sensor and for turning the fan on and off in response to the information received being above or below a desired set point.
US08887324B2 Water use monitoring apparatus
The present invention is a water use and/or a water energy use monitoring apparatus that is affixed to the hot and cold water supply piping for continuously (or on demand) monitoring displaying the water and water energy (hot vs. ambient) use within a residential or commercial building. A first wire or wireless means is incorporated to communicate with a remote display for viewing by the owner of a commercial building or occupier/resident of a home. A second optional wire or wireless means can be incorporated that can be monitored by civil, commercial, governmental or municipal operators or agencies, using a remote display and/or recorder means or by a secure wire or wireless communication network (e.g. cell phone technology communication means). A third wireless means communicates water parameter data utilizing typical cell tower technology and/or mesh network technology. The water use monitor apparatus includes a power generation, a microprocessor, temperature and water flow sensors, optional water quality sensors, timing circuits, wireless circuitry, and a display means. A first wired or wireless means is designed to electronically communicate water use and water energy use information to a remotely located display for convenient observation by a commercial operator or occupier, or resident. An optional second wireless means is designed to electronically communicate water and/or water energy use information to governmental or municipal operators or agencies.
US08887323B2 Apparatus for electrically triggering water discharge
An apparatus for electrically triggering water discharge is connected to an operating plate (1) and a sensor (31) that is arranged in a rearwards region. The operating plate (1) is transparent or translucent for human visible and infrared light wavelengths and provides at least one indication surface region (42, 43). The indication surface region has a partially transmissive coating (22, 23), behind which are one or more light sources (10, 11) emitting light that is visible to the human eye. At least one signal-transmitter surface region (21) is provided with a coating that is non-transmissive for light that is visible to the human eye and is transparent or translucent for infrared wavelengths, behind which light sources (20), which emit one or more infrared wavelengths, are arranged. At least one sensor surface region (51; 52, 53) is disposed remote from the user and has a coating that is non-transmissive for light that is visible to the human eye and is transparent or translucent for infrared wavelengths, behind which are one or more sensors (31; 32, 33) that are sensitive to infrared wavelengths.
US08887314B2 Needle stick prevention device
The invention (C-Hold Safety Device) is designed to overcome the risk (e.g., needle sticks) currently associated with obtaining blood samples or inserting IV needles using C-Hold and other similar vein or arterial needle penetration procedures. The invention thus overcomes the reason for the prohibition of otherwise safe and efficient procedures for medical needle insertions.
US08893307B2 Information processing system and method for providing authorized content
An information processing system includes: a client executing acquisition and reproduction of contents; a management server providing the client with content selection information applied for acquisition of contents; and a content providing server receiving the content selection information from the client and providing the content selected in accordance with the content selection information, wherein the content selection information includes content identifiers as identifiers of encrypted contents respectively encrypted by different encryption keys and range information indicating data areas of range data which is configuration data of respective encrypted contents, and the content providing server provides the client with an encrypted content formed by combining range data as partial data of the encrypted contents specified by the content identifiers and the range information.
US08893299B1 Content keys for authorizing access to content
A method of authorizing access to content, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, includes receiving a request to access an instance of content. A key registry server may provide user accounts, which identify an authorized user of the instance of content and a parameter for accessing the instance of content. A determination is then made that accessing the instance of content is within the parameter and authorized for the user and access to the instance of content is allowed. The content may be local to the use system or accessed remotely (e.g., over a network). Also, the registry may be remote to the user system or local or both (e.g., with updates periodically made).
US08893296B2 Mobile wireless communications device for validating access to an application based upon a validation request and related methods
A mobile wireless communications device may include a wireless transceiver and a controller coupled to the wireless transceiver. The controller may be configured to determine if an email address is associated with the mobile wireless communications device. The controller may further be configured to wirelessly send a validation request to a validation server based upon the email address, and wait for a validation email to be wirelessly received from the validation server based upon the validation request if the email address is associated with the wireless communications device, and if the validation email is wirelessly received, then validate access an application based upon the validation email.
US08893287B2 Monitoring and managing user privacy levels
Various embodiments pertain to techniques for measuring a user's privacy level as a user interacts with various web services. In various embodiments, entities with which the user interacts are detected and sensitive information shared by the user is logged to determine what a given entity knows about the user. In some embodiments, sensitive information that is shared by a user can be processed using a predictive algorithm to ascertain a user's level of privacy. When a user's identity is predicted by the algorithm, a user can be alerted to the loss of anonymity. In various embodiments, user-defined areas of anonymity can be used to measure a user's definition of privacy. In some embodiments, alerts can also be provided to the user when a new, previously undisclosed, piece of information is shared by the user.
US08893283B2 Performing an automated compliance audit by vulnerabilities
An automated enterprise compliance auditing by vulnerabilities system including an enterprise asset database, a compliance regulation including compliance controls, a known asset vulnerabilities database including details of publicly known asset vulnerabilities, compliance control associating functionality to associate each of a set of audited assets with at least a subset of compliance controls of the compliance regulation, the audited assets being a subset of the enterprise assets, vulnerability mapping functionality to map each compliance control to a subset of the known asset vulnerabilities which may impact compliance of at least one of the audited assets therewith, asset scanning functionality to scan each audited asset to ascertain to which publicly known asset vulnerabilities the audited asset is vulnerable to, and numeric compliance score calculating functionality to, responsive to the associating, mapping and scanning, calculate for each audited asset, a numeric compliance score for each compliance control associated therewith.
US08893281B1 Method and apparatus for predicting the impact of security incidents in computer systems
Systems or methods gathers information within a network of computers regarding the distribution of documents to calculate the impact of a cyber security incident for a given computer. Specific embodiments analyze word usage within data files and to determine that data files are different versions of a document and use presence of documents on a given computer to determine the impact of a security breach at that computer.
US08893276B2 Methods and system for determining performance of filters in a computer intrusion prevention detection system
An intrusion prevention/detection system filter (IPS filter) performance evaluation is provided. The performance evaluation is performed at both the security center and at the customer sites to derive a base confidence score and local confidence scores. Existence of new vulnerability is disclosed and its attributes are used in the generation of new IPS filter or updates. The generated IPS filter is first tested to determine its base confidence score from test confidence attributes prior to deploying it to a customer site. A deep security manager and deep security agent, at the customer site, collect local confidence attributes that are used for determining the local confidence score. The local confidence score and the base confidence score are aggregated to form a global confidence score. The local and global confidence scores are then compared to deployment thresholds to determine whether the IPS filter should be deployed in prevention or detection mode or sent back to the security center for improvement.
US08893273B2 Systems and methods for adaptive model generation for detecting intrusions in computer systems
A system and methods for detecting intrusions in the operation of a computer system comprises a sensor configured to gather information regarding the operation of the computer system, to format the information in a data record having a predetermined format, and to transmit the data in the predetermined data format. A data warehouse is configured to receive the data record from the sensor in the predetermined data format and to store the data in a SQL database. A detection model generator is configured to request data records from the data warehouse in the predetermined data format, to generate an intrusion detection model based on said data records, and to transmit the intrusion detection model to the data warehouse according to the predetermined data format. A detector is configured to receive a data record in the predetermined data format from the sensor and to classify the data record in real-time as one of normal operation and an attack based on said intrusion detection model. A data analysis engine is configured to request data records from the data warehouse according to the predetermined data format and to perform a data processing function on the data records.
US08893261B2 Method and system for VPN isolation using network namespaces
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for providing exclusive access to a virtual private network (VPN) connection to an authorized application. During operation, the system creates a unique network namespace that is different from a default network namespace of a host system. The system then places a pseudo network interface associated with the VPN connection into the unique network namespace. Furthermore, the system places at least one socket for an authorized application into the unique network namespace. The system also precludes unauthorized applications on the host from accessing the unique network namespace, thereby facilitating exclusive access to the VPN connection by the authorized application.
US08893259B2 Systems and methods for fine grain policy driven clientless SSL VPN access
The present disclosure provides solutions that may enable an enterprise providing services to a number of clients to determine whether to establish a client based SSL VPN session or a clientless SSL VPN session with a client based on an information associated with the client. An intermediary establishing SSL VPN sessions between clients and servers may receive a request from a client to access a server. The intermediary may identify a session policy based on the request. The session policy may indicate whether to establish a client based SSL VPN session or clientless SSL VPN session with the server. The intermediary may determine, responsive to the policy, to establish a clientless or client based SSL VPN session between the client and the server.
US08893246B2 Method and system for authenticating a point of access
Rogue or malicious access points pose a threat to wireless networks (32) and the users of these networks. In order to prevent or reduce this threat a method and system is proposed that verifies that an access point (31) is genuine and not rogue before setting up a connection between the access point and a wireless device (34). The authentication is based on comparing an identifier of the wireless device (34) obtained from an authentication server (33, 35) in the wired network to an identifier of a wireless device obtained directly from the wireless device. A comparator (39) in an information server (36) receives the two sets of data and compares the two identifiers and if they match the access point is verified as genuine.
US08893233B2 Referer verification apparatus and method
A referer verification apparatus and method for controlling web traffic having malicious code are provided. In the referer verification method, whether a referer is present in a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) packet is determined. If it is determined that the referer is present in the HTTP packet, Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) are extracted from a referer web page corresponding to the referer. The referer is verified based on a URL corresponding to a referer verification request received from a server and the extracted URLs. A Completely Automated Public Test to tell Computers and Humans Apart (CAPTCHA) verification procedure conducted by a user is performed based on results of the verification of the referer.
US08893230B2 System and method for proxying federated authentication protocols
A system and method that include receiving a service provider identity request through a federated authentication protocol; transmitting a proxy identity request to a configured identity provider; receiving an identity assertion; facilitating execution of a second layer of authentication; determining a proxy identity assertion based on the identity assertion and the second layer of authentication; and transmitting the proxy identity assertion to the service provider.
US08893229B2 Focus-based challenge-response authentication
A method for authenticating an access attempt includes detecting an access attempt by a user device over a network. A challenge-response authentication is provided over the network to the user device. The challenge-response authentication includes an image having a plurality of image objects. The challenge-response authentication is operable to display the image such that at least one of the plurality of image objects is in focus and at least one of the plurality of image objects is not in focus. In response to providing the challenge-response authentication, an authentication response is received from the user device over the network, and it is determined whether the authentication response includes an indication of the at least one of the plurality of image objects that is in focus to determine whether to authenticate or deny the access attempt.
US08893216B2 Security measures for the smart grid
Security is enabled in an electrical system by examining a configuration file for a substation present in the electrical system, where the substation includes one or more electrical devices and one or more network devices. Based on the examination of the configuration file, information is determined on a characteristic of an electrical device that is selected from a group including a type, allowed role of the electrical device and allowed communication modes for the electrical device. Based on the determined information, a basis for controlling the role and communication modes for the electrical device is identified. A security policy is configured in a network device in the substation to incorporate the identified basis. Based on the configured security policy in the network device, communication patterns for the electrical device are allowed that are associated with the allowed role and allowed communication modes for the electrical device.
US08893209B2 Selection of a proxy device for a network
Multiple devices in a user's premises may each be configured to separately communicate with an external network, but the signal strength available to each may vary significantly depending on the wiring of the premises. The disclosure provides methods wherein the various devices may coordinate with one another, and determine which among them has the best signal connection and the most available capacity, and a subset of the devices may be chosen to act as network proxies to relay communications to/from the other devices in the premises.
US08893202B2 Methods, computer program products, and apparatus for providing broadband television service
Methods, computer program products and apparatus for providing broadband television service (BTS) are provided. The method includes receiving a channel selection at a receiver located at a service location. The channel selection is correlated to an Internet address. Data is requested from the Internet address. The request is made to a digital subscriber line (DSL) network via a modem. Video data packets containing live streaming video content are received from the Internet address in response to the requesting. The video data packets are received from the DSL network via the modem. The video data packets are assembled into video signals for display on a television and the video signals are transmitted to the television.
US08893194B2 Personal video recorder systems and methods
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing an interactive television system for recording television programming. The interactive television system may include components for providing personal video recorder (PVR) functionality, such as an interactive television program guide (IPG), PVR extensions, PVR application programming interfaces (APIs), a PVR device, any suitable hardware or software, or a combination thereof. These components may be implemented in, for example, an arrangement having an integrated PVR-compliant device with a PVR device, or in an arrangement having a PVR-compliant device (e.g., a set-top box) coupled to PVR equipment (e.g., a remote PVR server or a PVR sidecar) with a PVR device. The PVR-compliant device may include software and hardware configured to implement the IPG. The PVR APIs may be a library of intelligent vendor-specific and vendor-independent APIs able to determine the type of PVR device being used. The PVR extensions and PVR APIs may be configured to provide a seamless integration of functionality associated with the PVR-compliant device and the PVR device. A full port of the IPG may be implemented in both the PVR-compliant device and the PVR device.
US08893189B2 Differentiated PSIP table update interval technology
An apparatus, method and data structure for generating at least one table in a broadcast environment, are provided. The apparatus includes a generator to generate an event information table (EIT) and an extended text table (ETT). The ETT has program guide information for an n-hour span and has a transmission interval. The ETT has a transmission interval and program description information according to the EIT. The transmission interval of the EIT is shorter than the transmission interval of the ETT.
US08893188B2 Differentiated PSIP table update interval technology
An apparatus, method and data structure for generating at least one table in a broadcast environment, are provided. The apparatus includes a generator to generate an event information table (EIT) and an extended text table (ETT). The ETT has program guide information for an n-hour span and has a transmission interval. The ETT has a transmission interval and program description information according to the EIT. The transmission interval of the EIT is shorter than the transmission interval of the ETT.
US08893186B2 Media processing system based on satellite set top box platform with telephony downstream and upstream data paths
Systems and methods that provide satellite-based media processing are described. In one embodiment, a system that exchanges media may include, for example, a communications device that may be coupled to a network and to an antenna. The communications device may provide two-way communications with the network and may provide one-way communications with the antenna. The communications may receive media content from the antenna and/or the network. The communications device may send the media content to the network.
US08893179B2 Apparatus and methods for providing and presenting customized channel information
Apparatus and methods for providing and presenting customized channel information include receiving service attribute information corresponding to a base service, where the base service is operable to provide at least a portion of a presentation to a device. The apparatus and methods further include customizing the service attribute information, and providing channel information to the device. The channel information comprising the customized service attribute information, thereby providing a custom view of a channel.
US08893177B1 Signal processing apparatus and methods
A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc. At receiver stations, signals in received transmissions and from local inputs (225, 218, 22) cause control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224), recorder/players (217), computers (205), furnaces (206), etc. Processors (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming.
US08893175B2 System and method of broadcasting pay-per-view contents
Disclosed is a system and method in which, when a customer to view pay-per-view broadcasting contents over an Internet protocol television (IPTV) or a personal computer (PC) consents to advertisement reception, a broadcasting service provider receives money from an advertiser that has previously agreed to pay advertising costs without receiving a subscription fee from the customer, transmits the pay-per-view contents to the customer, and applies screen-splitting technology at certain intervals to generate a split screen irrespective of main broadcasting contents.
US08893169B2 Systems and methods for selectively obscuring portions of media content using a widget
A widget running on user equipment selectively obscures portions of media content according to user and/or service provider defined criteria. Information regarding potentially objectionable content in media content may be stored in databases. Based on the information regarding potentially objectionable content and the defined criteria, the database may provide censor instructions. The instructions may be executed by the widget to obscure the potentially objectionable content in media content that is accessed by the user equipment.
US08893160B2 Block storage interface for virtual memory
A mechanism for interfacing block storage devices is disclosed. The mechanism performs operations including receiving communications from an initiator at a block storage device interface, translating the received communications, transmitting the translated communications to a native storage device driver, forwarding the translated communication to a physical adapter, and controlling physical storage devices in response to the communications received from the initiator.
US08893159B1 Accelerating data transfer in a virtual computer system with tightly coupled TCP connections
First and second operating systems of a virtual computer system can communicate using respective first and second network protocol stacks, by employing procedures that are specialized for a situation in which a TCP control block of the first stack and a TCP control block of the second stack correspond to the same logical connection. In this case, various TCP requirements can be bypassed by coupling the TCP control blocks, reducing or eliminating data copies and providing other efficiencies.
US08893154B2 Mobile device with two operating systems and method for sharing hardware device between two operating systems thereof
A mobile device and a method for sharing a hardware device thereof are provided. Two operation systems are executed on the present mobile device simultaneously, and an embedded controller is configured to communicate among the two operation systems and a shared hardware device of the mobile device. When one of the operation systems encodes an operating command into a uniform message and transmits the uniform message to the embedded controller, the uniform message is decoded into the operating command by the embedded controller such that the hardware device operates according to the decoded operating command. On the other hand, when the embedded controller receives input data from the hardware device, the embedded controller encodes the input data into the uniform message and transmits the uniform message to one of the operation systems. The operation system receiving the uniform message decodes the uniform message into the input data.
US08893152B2 Application registration with a non-OS service
Systems, methods, and apparatuses are directed to application registration with a non-OS service. In one embodiment, logic may be configured to provide an installation indication that an installation of an application has been initiated on an operating system of the communication device to a service configured to run on the operating system. The logic may also be configured to provide, to the application, a registration request that is initiated by the service based on receipt of the installation indication by the service and that notifies the application to register with the service. The logic may further be configured to provide registration information associated with the application to the service based on receipt of the registration request by the application. In another embodiment, the service may be a non-OS service configured to maintain registration information for a plurality of applications installed on the operating system.
US08893149B2 Task-based process definition
A facility for guiding users through a series of steps or tasks, often associated with a process, is described. The facility assigns tasks or steps to users having roles identified with the task or step. The role associated with the task or step may change depending on the state of the task or step. When the role associated with a task or step changes, the facility may assign the task or step to another user. The facility guides a user through a task or step by providing instructions and other information, such as data tables and user input fields, that may be used to complete the task or step. The facility provides for the definition of processes by allowing users to specify tasks, steps and instructions relating to processes.
US08893148B2 Performing setup operations for receiving different amounts of data while processors are performing message passing interface tasks
A system and method are provided for performing setup operations for receiving a different amount of data while processors are performing message passing interface (MPI) tasks. Mechanisms for adjusting the balance of processing workloads of the processors are provided so as to minimize wait periods for waiting for all of the processors to call a synchronization operation. An MPI load balancing controller maintains a history that provides a profile of the tasks with regard to their calls to synchronization operations. From this information, it can be determined which processors should have their processing loads lightened and which processors are able to handle additional processing loads without significantly negatively affecting the overall operation of the parallel execution system. As a result, setup operations may be performed while processors are performing MPI tasks to prepare for receiving different sized portions of data in a subsequent computation cycle based on the history.
US08893147B2 Providing a virtualized replication and high availability environment including a replication and high availability engine
The system and method described herein may provide a virtualized replication and high availability environment. In particular, a virtualized production server may run one or more virtual machines in one or more child partitions and have a replication and high availability engine installed in a parent partition. The replication and high availability engine may automatically discover the virtual machines running in the child partitions and automatically synchronize all files associated with the virtual machines to a virtualized replica server. Furthermore, the replication and high availability engine may continuously replicate subsequent changes to the files associated with the virtual machines running in the child partitions to the virtualized replica server, which may then create on-demand virtual machines from the synchronized and replicated files to handle switchover, failover, switchback, and failback events associated with the virtualized production server or the virtual machines running in the child partitions associated therewith.
US08893146B2 Method and system of an I/O stack for controlling flows of workload specific I/O requests
A method and system of a host device hosting multiple workloads for controlling flows of I/O requests directed to a storage device is disclosed. In one embodiment, a type of a response from the storage device reacting to an I/O request issued by an I/O stack layer of the host device is determined. Then, a workload associated with the I/O request is identified among the multiple workloads based on the response to the I/O request. Further, a maximum queue depth assigned to the workload is adjusted based on the type of the response, where the maximum queue depth is a maximum number of I/O requests from the workload which are concurrently issuable by the I/O stack layer.
US08893142B2 Multiprocessor system for restricting an access request to a shared resource
In a conventional multiprocessor system, an access right with respect to a shared resource could not be changed in a flexible manner. The present invention provides a multiprocessor system having a first processor element (PE-A) and a second processor element (PE-B), the first processor element (PE-A) and the second processor element (PE-B) independently executing a program, in which the first processor element (PE-A) includes: a central processing unit (CPUa) for performing an operation processing based upon the program; a shared resource (18a) which is shared between the first processor element (PE-A) and the second processor element (PE-B); and a guard unit (16a) for restricting an access request from the second processor element (PE-B) to the shared resource (18a) based upon an access protection range setting value designated by the central processing unit (CPUa).
US08893140B2 System and method for dynamically coordinating tasks, schedule planning, and workload management
Systems and methods for dynamically coordinating a plurality of tasks are provided. Such tasks include a priority rank and at least one of a target date, a classification, an associated application, an associated action, and an associated priority rank adjustment parameter. A particular task can be processed relative to other tasks to generate a first scheduling scheme that defines a prioritized arrangement of the tasks. Based on the priority rank adjustment parameter(s), further scheduling schemes can be generated in lieu of the first scheduling scheme, thereby accounting for the respective priority rank adjustment parameters by influencing the arrangement of the tasks relative to one another. Additionally, based on a status notification, the tasks can be processed to generate a scheduling scheme that accounts for the status notification by influencing the arrangement of the first task and the stored tasks relative to one another.
US08893138B2 Dynamic test scheduling by ordering tasks for performance based on similarities between the tasks
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system dynamically schedules performance of tasks, and comprises a computer system including at least one processor. The system determines resources required or utilized by each task for performance of that task on a target system, and compares the determined resources of the tasks to identify tasks with similar resource requirements. The identified tasks with similar resource requirements are scheduled to be successively performed on the target system. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method and computer program product for dynamically scheduling performance of tasks in substantially the same manner described above.
US08893137B2 Transaction-based shared memory protection for high availability environments
Various systems and methods for implementing a transaction-based shared memory protection for high availability environments are described herein. A processing thread is executed, with the processing thread configured to access a multi-stage critical section, the multi-stage critical section having a first and second stage, the first stage to store a staging area of a plurality of operations to be executed in the memory shared with at least one other processing thread, and the second stage to execute the operations from the staging area. The thread further configured to determine whether the staging area includes an indication of successfully completing the first stage and execute the operations when there is an indication of successfully completing the first stage.
US08893129B1 System and method for application isolation with live migration
A system, method, computer program, and/or computer readable medium for providing application isolation and live migration to one or more applications and their associated resources. The computer readable medium includes computer-executable instructions for execution by a processing system. The computer-executable instructions may be for creating a new isolated environment, for creating a copy of an isolated environment, live migrating applications within and between isolated environments, and for deploying an isolated environment Further, the instructions may be for launching one or more applications within one or more isolated environment, for terminating one or more applications within one or more isolated environments, for configuring resource mappings, exceptions and policies, for triggering a live migrate, and for delivery of one or more applications within isolated environments over the network.
US08893128B2 Real-time distributed monitoring of local and global processor resource allocations and deallocations
Processes, devices, and articles of manufacture having provisions to monitor and track multi-core Central Processor Unit resource allocation and deallocation in real-time are provided. The allocation and deallocation may be tracked by two counters with the first counter incrementing up or down depending upon the allocation or deallocation at hand, and with the second counter being updated when the first counter value meets or exceeds a threshold value.
US08893125B2 Network port profile deployment in a pre-provisioned or dynamically provisioned network infrastructure
A system for an open virtualization format includes a virtualization platform to run a virtual machine and a network infrastructure to accommodate the virtualization platform. The network infrastructure includes a deployed network port profile associated with the virtual machine.
US08893123B2 Method and system for transferring the operation of a virtual machine from a server device to terminal device using operating status of the virtual machine
An information processing apparatus includes: a first virtual machine part to operate by being allocated to another information processing apparatus; a monitoring-application information storing part to store an application for monitoring the operation of the virtual machine part; a determining part to determine, in the virtual machine part, whether the application stored in the monitoring-application information storing part is operating by accessing an auxiliary storage device connected to the other information processing apparatus; a status storing part to store application information related to an operating status of the application when the determining part determines that the application is operating; an application exiting part to exit the application when the application information is stored; and a transmitting part to transmit virtual-machine information related to an operating status of the virtual machine part, together with the stored application information, to the other information processing apparatus when the application is exited.
US08893121B2 Portal for automatic software installation and configuration
A portal is established between a software installer and a client to allow on-line management of a software implementation project. The installer of customizable software and the client may communicate through the portal to establish specifications for the software product. The software may be implemented by incorporating preconfigured software components into the software product. A portion of the preconfigured components may be modified based on the specifications of the client. The specifications may be identified by providing the client with a set-up wizard through the portal. The set-up wizard prompts the client for information and the software system may be configured based on logic generated in response to client input.
US08893119B2 Software selection based on estimated available storage space
Software selection based on estimated available storage space involves determining that a data package (e.g., a software component) is not to be loaded (e.g., not to be installed) onto a storage device (e.g., a disk drive) of a computer (e.g., a target computer). This determination is based on estimated available storage capacity of the storage device (e.g., free disk space) and on a storage requirement of the optional data package (e.g., disk space required by the proposed software component). In some example embodiments, available storage capacity is estimated by an administrator (e.g., a user) and received via a user interface (e.g., a graphical window, or a data entry field).
US08893116B2 Installation engine and package format for parallelizable, reliable installations
In one embodiment, an application updater may cleanly update a computer application 112 without causing a fault or a reboot of either the system or the process. A processor 220 may execute a predecessor version 508 of a computer application 112. The processor 220 may install a successor version 512 of the computer application 112 on a user account level. The processor 220 may execute the successor version 512 of the computer application 112.
US08893104B2 Method and apparatus for register spill minimization
The aspects enable a computing device to allocate memory space to variables during runtime compilation of a software application. A compiler may be modified to identify operations that can be performed on either a main pipe or an alternative pipe, identify chains of related operations that can be performed on either the main pipe or the alternative pipe, identify points in the execution of code at which the number of live values will exceed the number of registers, and choosing a chain of operations as a candidate to be moved to the alternative pipe in order to reduce the number of live values at identified points in the execution of code. The entire chosen chain of operations may be moved to the alternative pipe. The alternative pipe may perform the computations and return the results to the main pipe for execution.
US08893096B1 File migration in distributed systems
Methods, apparatuses, and systems for file migration in distributed systems. A data structure definition is added to a programming language source code and initialized. Initialization values include contents of a first data file that is external to the source code file. The source code file is compiled with one or more other source code files to create an executable program that includes the initialization values as part of the program's image. During execution, the executable program creates a different second data file external to the executable program by reading the initialization values from the initialized data structure and writing the values to the second data file. This second data file is accessible by a library linked to the executable program.
US08893095B2 Methods for generating code for an architecture encoding an extended register specification
There are provided methods and computer program products for generating code for an architecture encoding an extended register specification. A method for generating code for a fixed-width instruction set includes identifying a non-contiguous register specifier. The method further includes generating a fixed-width instruction word that includes the non-contiguous register specifier.
US08893094B2 Hardware compilation and/or translation with fault detection and roll back functionality
Hardware compilation and/or translation with fault detection and roll back functionality are disclosed. Compilation and/or translation logic receives programs encoded in one language, and encodes the programs into a second language including instructions to support processor features not encoded into the original language encoding of the programs. In one embodiment, an execution unit executes instructions of the second language including an operation-check instruction to perform a first operation and record the first operation result for a comparison, and an operation-test instruction to perform a second operation and a fault detection operation by comparing the second operation result to the recorded first operation result. In some embodiments, an execution unit executes instructions of the second language including commit instructions to record execution checkpoint states of registers mapped to architectural registers, and roll-back instructions to restore the registers mapped to architectural registers to previously recorded execution checkpoint states.
US08893085B2 System and method for providing a parameter for an application operating on an electronic device
A system and method of activating a set up application operating on an electronic device are provided. The method comprises: upon activation of the electronic device, determining a state of initial configuration for the electronic device from configuration data stored in the electronic device; when the state of initial configuration of the electronic device indicates that the set up application had previously been initiated, presenting a GUI screen on the electronic device where an application operating on the electronic device and the set up application are displayed; and upon activation of the set up application, activating the set up application at a point in its operation based on the operation history.
US08893084B2 Methods and apparatuses for deferred object customization
A method and apparatus to record one or more customization messages in a storage are described. Each customization message may include one or more predicates specifying applicability of the customization message for a plurality of objects. An operation on the objects may be performed to generate a configuration of a device in response to receiving an event. The configuration may include the objects. Each customization message may be selectively applied to the objects in the configuration to customize the configuration. An object may be updated via the customization message if the predicates match the object in the configuration. The device may be configured via the customized configuration.
US08893082B2 Type inference of generic type parameters in overloaded functions using type intervals and inference directions
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates the development and execution of a software program. During operation, the system obtains a type interval for a generic type parameter of an implementation of an overloaded function. Next, the system selects an inference direction for the generic type parameter based on a variance of the generic type parameter, wherein the inference direction is an upward inference direction or a downward inference direction. Finally, the system uses the type interval and the inference direction to perform type inference on the generic type parameter.
US08893074B2 Software development requirements recording
User interactions with an existing software product are recorded so as to generate a list of actions performed by or triggered by the interaction. The list of actions is then used to generate requirements for a new software product under development.
US08893065B2 Biometric markers in a debugging environment
This application discloses a debug tool to prompting display of at least a portion of a simulated output for a circuit design in a debug window, identifying a marker corresponding to a value in the simulated output has been specified for the debug environment, and prompting accentuation of one or more occurrences of the value in the debug window relative to other values in the simulated output based, at least in part, on the marker specified for the debug environment.
US08893058B2 Methods and system for model-based generic matching and tuning
The present invention relates to a method for tuning lithography systems so as to allow different lithography systems to image different patterns utilizing a known process that does not require a trial and error process to be performed to optimize the process and lithography system settings for each individual lithography system. According to some aspects, the present invention relates to a method for a generic model-based matching and tuning which works for any pattern. Thus it eliminates the requirements for CD measurements or gauge selection. According to further aspects, the invention is also versatile in that it can be combined with certain conventional techniques to deliver excellent performance for certain important patterns while achieving universal pattern coverage at the same time.
US08893055B2 Mobile terminal and operating method thereof
Provided is a mobile terminal including a plurality of user identification modules and an operating method thereof. The mobile terminal includes a touch screen, and a controller configured to simultaneously unlock the mobile terminal and at least one of the plurality of user identification modules in response to a touch made on the touch screen.
US08893047B2 Activity triggered photography in metaverse applications
A system, method and program product for collecting image data from within a metaverse. A system is provided that includes: a graphical user interface (GUI) for allowing a user to install and administer a camera within the metaverse; a system for collecting image data from the camera based on an occurrence of a triggering event associated with the camera; and a system for storing or delivering the image data for the user.
US08893043B2 Method and system for predictive browsing
In a method for automatically navigating potential websites for predictive browsing based on user activities along with efficiency of verifying content updates, a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) of websites and its associated attributes that a user visits can be recorded and stored in a storage engine. The potential sites can be predicted by a predictive engine component based upon a past browsing history and various environmental factors that are recorded in the storage engine. A dynamic content detection engine component examines each potential websites and detects if the site has been updated. The predictive engine component enables the user to navigate to the potential websites thereby permitting faster website browsing.
US08893036B1 Display region scrolling
Methods and apparatus provide for a Region Scroller. The Region Scroller renders a view of at least a portion of a set of headers, where each header is associated with a respective, expandable-collapsible (E-C) display region The Region Scroller identifies a newly-selected header based on an extent of directional input and modifies the view to include concurrent presentation of (i) the newly-selected header and (ii) an E-C display region in an expanded state, where the E-C display region is associated with the newly-selected header.
US08893022B2 Interactive and shared viewing experience
A shared environment is provided for electronic media devices such as game consoles which have Internet connectivity for receiving streaming video content. The shared environment is a virtual world which includes the video content as well as avatars which represent a group of users who have agreed to watch the content together, and scene elements which provide a realistic and eye-catching appearance. The users can enter commands to cause their avatars to emote, such as by cheering. The users can also explore the shared environment from different camera angles. A voice and/or video chat channel can also be enabled to allow the users to speak to and see one another. The video content is synchronized among the electronic media devices of the users so that the users' interactions are more meaningful as they can react to the same portion of the video content in real time.
US08893013B1 Method and apparatus for providing a hybrid computing environment
Method and apparatus for computing resources. One embodiment of the method comprises executing a first application on a computer CPU sub-system during CPU sub-system operation; controlling execution of the first application by an interface coupled to the computer and selectively coupled to the CPU sub-system; generating, by the first application and in response to an event from a user device of the interface, a first image for display; controlling, by the user device and during suspension of the CPU sub-system operation, execution of a second application, on a server coupled to the computer, that generates a second image compressed and transmitted as a compressed image by the server, the interface coupled to the server by a resource selector of the computer, a remote bridge of the computer and the IP network; receiving and decoding, via the remote bridge and during the suspension, the compressed image to generate a display image.
US08893012B1 Visual indicator based on relative rating of content item
A popularity score or rating may be provided for a third-party content item. The popularity score may be compared with an average score of similar genre third-party content items to determine a relationship of the popularity score relative to the average score of similar genre third-party content items. A popularity or other visual indicator may be provided proximate to the third-party content item to provide a visual indication of the relationship. The popularity indicator may include a bar or a plurality of symbols in some implementations.
US08893011B2 Chronology display and feature for online presentations and webpages
A chronology display is generated for use with a web presentation or other form of network presentation. The chronology display may include a plurality of intervals, with each interval representative of a period of time. In an embodiment, some of the intervals may indicate a number of content items provided on the network presentation during the time period that corresponds to each particular interval. The indication may be provided by a characteristic, such as for example, a color or shading that represents the number of content items provided on the network presentation.
US08892998B2 Image processing apparatus
An image processing apparatus includes an receiving unit that receives e-mail via a first path, an acquiring unit that acquires an acquired file via a path other than the first path, a determining unit that determines whether an attached file and synthesization information for synthesizing the attached file and the acquired file are included in the received e-mail, and a synthesizing unit which, when the attached file and the synthesization information are included in the received e-mail, synthesizes the attached file and the acquired file based on the synthesization information.
US08892994B2 System, method, and architecture for displaying a document
Data defining a document is received from an online document processing service, and a plurality of elements within the document is identified. The plurality of elements may comprise paragraphs, lines of text, images, tables, headers, footers, footnotes, footnote reference information, etc. For each of the plurality of elements, a respective object comprising a layout function and a render function is generated. An object corresponding to an element is invoked to generate layout data associated with the element, and the element is rendered based on the layout data.
US08892992B2 Methods for efficient cluster analysis
Some embodiments provide a method for defining structure for an unstructured document that includes a number of primitive elements that are defined in terms of their position in the document. The method identifies a pairwise grouping of nearest primitive elements. The method sorts the pairwise primitive elements based on an order from the closest to the furthest pairs. The method stores a single value that identifies which of the pairwise primitive elements are sufficiently far apart to form a partition. The method uses the stored value to identify and analyze the partitions in order to define structural elements for the document.
US08892980B2 Apparatus, system, and method for providing error correction
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for providing error correction for a data storage device. A determination module determines an error-correcting code (“ECC”) characteristic of the data storage device. An ECC module validates requested data read from the data storage device using a hardware ECC decoder. In response to the requested data satisfying a correction threshold, a software ECC decoder module validates the data using a software ECC decoder. The software ECC decoder is configured according to the ECC characteristic of the data storage device.
US08892972B2 Scan chain fault diagnosis
Embodiments related to identifying a reference scan cell locationally related to a fault condition exhibited by a scan chain in which the reference scan cell is included are provided. In one example, a method for identifying a reference scan cell is provided, the method comprising, in a capture mode, outputting combinational logic values to scan cells in the scan chain so that scan cell values for the scan cells are based on respective combinational logic values, the combinational logic values electrically connected with the scan chain. The example method further comprises, in a shift mode, sequentially determining the scan cell value for each scan cell, and identifying as the reference scan cell a scan cell last determined to be at an expected logical state for that scan cell.
US08892969B2 Apparatus, methods, and system of NAND defect management
Various embodiments comprise apparatus, methods, and systems including method comprising searching for a group address among a plurality of group addresses in a mapping table, and if a match is found, performing a memory operation on a first plurality of memory blocks indicated by the mapping table, and if a match is not found, performing a memory operation on a second plurality of memory blocks, the second plurality of memory blocks having the group address.
US08892968B2 Bit-level memory controller and a method thereof
The present invention is directed to a bit-level memory controller and method adaptable to managing defect bits of a non-volatile memory. A bad column management (BCM) unit retrieves a bit-level mapping table, in which defect bits are respectively marked, based on which the BCM unit constructs a bit-level script (BLS) that contains a plurality of entries denoting defect-bit groups respectively. An internal buffer is configured to store data managed by the BCM unit according to the BLS.
US08892967B2 Measurement device and measurement method
A logic block group 120 having at least one set including a logic block having at least one logic circuit and a sequential circuit that inputs the output of the logic block is arranged in an irradiation region 110 of a high-energy particle irradiation device, and subjected to irradiation with high-energy particles. A control section 101 calculates the error rate of the logic circuit from the value obtained by subtracting the number of errors of the sequential circuit when the logic block of the logic block group 120 is bypassed, from the number of errors of the sequential circuit and the logic block of the logic block group 120.
US08892965B2 Automated trouble ticket generation
Control over servers and partitions within a computer network may be automated to improve response to disaster events within the computer network. For example, a monitoring server may be configured to automatically monitor servers through remote communications sessions. A disaster event may be detected based on information received from the partitions and servers within the network. When a disaster event or events leading to a disaster event are detected, a trouble ticket may be generated. The trouble ticket may also generate an alert displayed to an administrator through a customized hierarchical graphical display. When the administrator is not logged in, messages may be generated to alert the administrator to the problem. The administrator may then log in remotely and respond to the alert.
US08892954B1 Managing groups of application versions
The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a computer-implemented method for application lifecycle management. The method includes receiving crash reports from a first version of an application at multiple initial computing devices. The first version of the application is from a first group of versions. The method further includes determining that the crash reports include more than a threshold amount of crash reports. The method further includes determining that a second version of the application from a second group of versions corrects a cause of the crash reports. The method further includes providing instructions to the initial computing devices to retrieve updates to the application from the second group of versions rather than the first group of versions.
US08892947B1 Method and system for automation framework for multi-node environments
An automation framework for a multi-node environment is described. A first host computer executes a parser, a first execution engine, a first communication component, and a first logger. A second host computer executes a second execution engine, a second communication component, and a second logger. The parser parses a test case suite to identify multiple script instructions to test an application. The first execution engine executes the first script instruction to locally execute the first script instruction. The first communication component communicates an execution request to the second communication component to remotely execute the first script instruction. The second communication component instructs the second execution engine to execute the first script instruction. The first and the second logger log a first and a second result of executing the first script instruction on the first and the second host computer. The first logger outputs the first result and/or the second result.
US08892931B2 Power channel monitor for a multicore processor
Technologies are generally described for power channel monitoring in multicore processors. A power management system can be configured to monitor the power channels supplying individual cores within a multicore processor. A power channel monitor can provide a direct measurement of power consumption for each core. The power consumption of individual cores can indicate which cores are encountering higher or lower usage. The usage determination can be made without sending any data messages to, or from, the cores being measured. The determined usage load being serviced by each processor core may be used to adjust power and/or clock signals supplied to the cores.
US08892927B2 Controlling power states of a peripheral device in response to user proximity
In a method of controlling the power state of a peripheral device, the peripheral is changed from a first power state to a second power state in response to communications across a network connected to the peripheral indicating that a user is proximately located to the peripheral. A user may be determined to be proximately located to the peripheral by monitoring communications across the network to detect traffic that is associated with a user logging onto a computer that can utilize the peripheral, by discovering a wireless terminal that is associated with a user and which is proximately located to the peripheral, by receiving information from a cellular communication network across the network that indicates that a user of the peripheral is proximately located to the peripheral, and/or in response to a time of day and/or day of week/month schedule.
US08892923B2 Data processing apparatus and method for maintaining a time count value in normal and power saving modes of operation
A counting circuit for a data processing apparatus has a normal mode in which a main counter increments the time count value in response to edges of a main clock signal, and a power saving mode in which the main clock signal is disabled and a further clock counter counts elapsed edges of a further clock signal having a lower frequency than the main clock signal. On switching to power saving mode, a reference time count value of the main counter is captured at a timing triggered by an edge of the further clock signal. On switching back to normal mode, an expected time count value from the main counter is calculated based on the captured reference value and the counted number of elapsed edges during the power saving mode, and the main counter is restarted at a timing triggered by another edge of the further clock signal.
US08892916B2 Dynamic core pool management
Mechanisms for dynamically managing core pools are provided. The mechanisms measure the amount of a computational load on a computing device. One way of measuring the load may consist of executing a number of instructions, in a unit of time, with numerous cores of the computing device. The mechanisms compare the number of instructions executed with specific thresholds. Depending on whether the number of instructions is higher or lower than the thresholds, the computing devices may respond by activating and deactivating cores of the computing devices. By limiting execution of instructions of the computing device to a smaller number of cores and switching one or more cores to a lower power state, the devices may conserve power.
US08892912B2 Adaptive USB charging method and system
An adaptive universal serial bus (USB) charging method and system are disclosed. In a low-power state, a USB device is charged with a non-USB charging mode. The non-USB charging mode is retained when no variation of a data signal coupled to the USB device is detected. When the data signal possesses variation for a first period, it is switched to a third proprietary charging mode.
US08892911B2 Variable power systems for computers
Arrangements which provide a degree of flexible power allocation among multiple power rails in computer systems, in a manner to permit the sharing and exchange of power across multiple rails. The rails involved in such sharing could be of similar or dissimilar voltage. By way of an advantageous refinement, a “shopping cart” approach for system configuration is permitted, based on subsystem or component power capability.
US08892902B2 Information processing apparatus and information processing method
An information processing apparatus has a request determining part determining a request type for streaming contents from a communicating apparatus, a copy number managing part managing the number of copies permissible for the communicating apparatus, a stream number managing part managing the number of streams now in communication, a key-selection processing part selecting a first key corresponding to transfer of streaming contents permissible for one or more of copies or a second key corresponding to transfer of streaming contents for copies with generation management restriction or not permissible for copies, an encryption processing part generating encrypted streaming contents using the first or the second key, and a packet processing part generating a packet that includes the encrypted streaming contents and key information selected by the key-selection processing part and to include information on the number of copies to the packet when the first key is selected.
US08892894B2 Computer-implemented method and system for embedding and authenticating ancillary information in digitally signed content
A computer-implemented system and method for embedding and authenticating ancillary information in digitally signed content are disclosed. The method and system include: loading digital content containing a digitally signed portion into memory for processing; identifying an existing digital signature block and an existing digital signature size block in a digitally signed file header of the digitally signed portion; obtaining a digital signature size value from the digital signature size block, the digital signature size value corresponding to the size of the digital signature block plus the length of an ancillary data block plus a pre-determined pad; authenticating the integrity of the digitally signed portion using the digital signature while processing the digital content; unwrapping a purchase mechanism built into as wrapper associated with the digital content; and extracting from the ancillary data block data referenced by instructions of the purchase mechanism, the extracting being performed without invalidating the digital signature.
US08892892B2 System for enabling digital signature auditing
A computer method, computer system, and article for enabling digital signature auditing. The method includes the steps of: receiving at least one signature request issued by at least one application, forwarding a first data corresponding to the received at least one signature request to at least one signing entity for subsequent signature of the first data, storing an updated system state that is computed using a function of: i) a reference system state and ii) a second data corresponding to the received at least one signature request, where the reference system state and the updated system state attest to the at least one signature request, and repeating the above steps, using the updated system state as a new reference system state, where the steps of the method are executed at a server of a computerized system.
US08892889B2 Information processing apparatus, program, storage medium and information processing system
Provided is an information processing apparatus including a reception unit that receives a request for access to an IC chip from an application having access right information for accessing to the IC chip, an acquisition unit that acquires an authentication information for authenticating the application from an external server based on the access right information contained the request for access received by the reception unit, an authentication unit that authenticates the application based on the authentication information obtained by the acquisition unit, and a control unit that controls an access of the application to the IC chip based on an authentication result by the authentication unit.
US08892886B2 Method and system for establishing cryptographic communications between a remote device and a medical device
A method and system establishing cryptographic communications between a remote device and a medical device, with the medical device having less processing power than the remote device are disclosed. The method may comprise establishing unencrypted communication between the remote device and the medical device, generating an asymmetric key pair by the remote device comprising a public key and a private key, generating a key request message and sending of the key request message together with the public key to the medical device, generating a pre-master key and encryption of the pre-master key with the received public key by the medical device, generating a key response message and sending of the key response message together with the encrypted pre-master key from the medical device to the remote device, decrypting the encrypted pre-master key with the private key by the remote device, and deriving a master key as a symmetric key from the pre-master key.
US08892885B2 System and method for delivering a challenge response in an authentication protocol
A system and method for authenticating a user that includes receiving an access-request of a network protocol at a challenge-response server; determining if an access-challenge message is required; delivering an active script component through a parameter of an access-challenge message of the network protocol when an access-challenge is required; receiving a challenge-response of a user; validating the challenge-response; and selectively sending an access-accept response for a valid challenge-response and sending an access-denied response for an invalid challenge-response.
US08892880B2 System and method for obtaining an authorization key to use a product
A system and method for obtaining an authorization key to use a product utilizes a secured product identification code, which includes a serial number and at least one code that is generated based on a cryptographic algorithm.
US08892874B2 Enhanced security for direct link communications
A method for secure direct link communications between multiple wireless transmit/receive units (WTRUs). The WTRUs exchange nonces that are used for generating a common nonce. A group identification information element (GIIE) is generated from at least the common nonce and is forwarded to an authentication server. The authentication server generates a group direct link master key (GDLMK) from the GIIE to match WTRUs as part of a key agreement group. Group key encryption key (GKEK) and a group key confirmation key (GKCK) are also generated based on the common nonce and are used to encrypt and sign the GDLMK so that base stations do not have access to the GDLMK. Also disclosed is a method for selecting a key management suite (KMS) to generate temporal keys. A KMS index (KMSI) may be set according to a selected KMS, transmitted to another WTRU and used to establish a direct link.
US08892873B1 Verification of user communication addresses
Disclosed are various embodiments for performing stateless verification of communication addresses. Encrypted verification data is generated for a user, including a communication address, an identifier of the user, a verification code, and a timestamp. The encrypted verification data is sent to the user, and the verification code is transmitted to the communication address. The encrypted verification data and the verification code are received from the user. The communication address is verified based at least in part on the verification code received from the user and the encrypted verification data received from the user.
US08892862B2 Secure boot method for executing a software component including updating a current integrity measurement based on whether the software component is enabled
A method for executing a predetermined software component which is verifiable against integrity measurements, the method including (i) providing a first mapping from logical identifiers to software component enabled status flags, (ii) providing a second mapping from the logical identifiers and previous software component statuses information to actual integrity measurement certificates containing verification data, (iii) looking up the first mapping for a given logical identifier identifying the predetermined software component to get a status flag indicating whether the predetermined software component is enabled, (iv) if the status flag indicates that the predetermined software component is not enabled, updating a current integrity measurement stored within a disabled integrity measurement certificate, and (v) if the status flag indicates that the predetermined software component is enabled and verification of the predetermined software component is successful, updating a current integrity measurement stored within an integrity measurement certificate.
US08892851B2 Changing opcode of subsequent instruction when same destination address is not used as source address by intervening instructions
A circuit arrangement and method support compression and expansion of instruction opcodes by detecting successive address targeting and decoding a first opcode of an instruction into a second opcode in response to detecting successive address targeting. The circuit arrangement and method execute instructions in an instruction stream and detect successive address targeting by two or more instructions in the instruction stream without the targeted address being utilized as a source address in an instruction executed between the first and second instructions in the instruction stream. Then, based on that detection, the opcode of the second instruction is modified, changed, or appended to such that a different opcode is indicated by the second instruction, such that executing the second instruction causes a different unique type of operation to be performed.
US08892846B2 Metadata management for virtual volumes
Methods, apparatus, and systems, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, manage metadata for virtual volumes. In some implementations, a method includes: loading into memory at least a portion of metadata for a virtual volume (VV) that spans data extents of different persistent storage devices, wherein the metadata comprises virtual metadata block (VMB) descriptors and virtual metadata blocks (VMBs); mapping an address of the VV to a VMB number and an index of an extent pointer within a VMB identified by the VMB number, wherein the extent pointer indicates an extent within one of the different persistent storage devices; locating a VMB descriptor in the memory based on the VMB number; and locating the identified VMB in the memory or not in the memory based on the located VMB descriptor.
US08892845B2 Segmenting data for storage in a dispersed storage network
A method begins by a processing module receiving data of a file for storage in a dispersed storage network (DSN) memory and determining a segmentation scheme for storing the data. The method continues with the processing module determining how to store the data in accordance with the segmentation scheme to produce information for storing the data and generating an entry within a segment allocation table associated with the file, wherein the entry includes the information for storing the data and the segmentation scheme. The method continues with the processing module facilitating storage of the segment allocation table in the DSN memory. The method continues with the processing module segmenting the data in accordance with the segmentation scheme to produce a plurality of data segments and facilitating storage of the plurality of data segments in the DSN memory in accordance with the information for storing the data.
US08892844B2 Methods of accessing memory cells, methods of distributing memory requests, systems, and memory controllers
Methods of accessing memory cells, methods of distributing memory requests, systems, and memory controllers are described. In one such method, where memory cells are divided into at least a first region of memory cells and a second region of memory cells, memory cells in the first region are accessed according to a first address definition and memory cells in the second region are accessed according to a second address definition that is different from the first address definition. Additional embodiments are described.
US08892840B2 Computer system and data migration method
A computer system and data migration method capable of replacing a storage apparatus with another storage apparatus and avoiding stopping data transmission or reception between a host computer and the storage apparatuses without depending on the configuration of existing storage apparatuses and other devices is suggested.With a computer system having a host computer and first and second storage apparatuses, the second storage apparatus virtualizes first logical units in the first storage apparatus and provides them as second logical units to the host computer, collects configuration information about each first logical unit, and sets each piece of the collected configuration information to each corresponding second logical unit; and the host computer adds a path to the second logical units and deletes a path to the first logical units; and the second storage apparatus copies data stored in the first logical units to a storage area provided by the second storage device and associates the storage area with the second logical units.
US08892838B2 Point-in-time copying of virtual storage and point-in-time dumping
A method includes copying a first virtual storage by making, a point-in-time copy of a first page content stored in a first structure by creating a second page content in a second structure, the second page content pointing to actual data pointed to by the first page content, storing the second page content in the second data structure, marking the first page content in the first structure with a bit, copying the virtual page in the event the first page content in the first structure is marked with the bit, storing the copied virtual page in a second virtual storage, altering the second page content to point to the stored virtual page, and using the second virtual storage to perform the core dump process, wherein the second virtual storage is referenced via the second page content stored in the real storage.
US08892829B2 Methods, systems, and computer readable media for integrated sub-block interleaving and rate matching
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for fast, reduced memory and integrated sub-block interleaving and rate matching are disclosed. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a system for integrated sub-block interleaving and rate matching, which includes a buffer memory for storing sub-block data that has been encoded according to a channel encoding algorithm and a rate matching module for reading the sub-block data from the buffer memory using a sequence of addresses according to an interleaving algorithm, such that data is transferred from the buffer memory to the rate matching module in an order that emulates the order that the data would be produced by the interleaving algorithm or in the order that the data would be produced by the interleaving algorithm as modified by a rate matching algorithm.
US08892828B2 Apparatuses and methods for storing validity masks and operating apparatuses
Apparatuses and methods for storing a validity mask and operating apparatuses are described. A number of methods for operating an apparatus include storing a validity mask that is associated with a number of pages of memory cells in a group of pages and that provides validity information for the number of pages of memory cells in the group of pages.
US08892820B2 Method and system for local caching of remote storage data
Disclosed is a storage system. A network interface device (NIC) receives network storage commands from a host. The NIC may cache the data to/from the storage commands in a solid-state disk. The NIC may respond to future network storage command by supplying the data from the solid-state disk rather than initiating a network transaction.
US08892818B1 Dense tree volume metadata organization
The embodiments described herein are directed to an organization of metadata managed by a volume layer of a storage input/output (I/O) stack executing on one or more nodes of a cluster. The metadata managed by the volume layer, i.e., the volume metadata, is illustratively embodied as mappings from addresses, i.e., logical block addresses (LBAs), of a logical unit (LUN) accessible by a host to durable extent keys maintained by an extent store layer of the storage I/O stack. In an embodiment, the volume layer organizes the volume metadata as a mapping data structure, i.e., a dense tree metadata structure, which represents successive points in time to enable efficient access to the metadata.
US08892816B1 System and method for writing data to a memory
In first and second memories, respectively, data cannot and can be overwritten on prewritten locations without first erasing the prewritten locations. A selection module selects memory blocks of first memory, which are partially written with first data, in response to receiving a write command to write second data to the memory blocks. A control module, prior to erasing the first data from the memory blocks, writes the first data in a portion of second memory instead of writing the first data in first memory. A location description module generates a description table indicating whether data in memory locations in the portion of second memory are valid or invalid. A rate of adding data to the portion becomes equal to a rate at which data in memory locations in the portion becomes invalid so that the first data is written in the portion without first merging the first data.
US08892815B2 Optimized fragmented block compaction with a bitmap
A memory system may include an optimized data compaction algorithm. The compaction may include transferring only valid data from a source block to a destination block. A compaction bitmap that is maintained in random access memory (“RAM”) may be populated during the compaction process. The populated bitmap may be used to copy valid fragments to the destination block.
US08892808B2 Retention-value associated memory
A memory component or subsystem is provided. The memory comprises one or more memory devices and one or more write controllers within each of the one or more memory devices that each controls memory-device components to write input data values into a plurality of memory cells within a memory device that represents a unit of stored data addressed by a logical-address-space address, the write controller applying a current to the plurality of memory cells during a WRITE operation with a magnitude that corresponds to a retention value associated with the logical-address-space address.
US08892802B2 Enhancing interrupt handling in a virtual environment
Systems and methods for enhancing the handling of interrupts in a virtual computing environment are disclosed. A CPU is configured such that the CPU, when in a virtual machine (VM) mode, directs an interrupt to a VM. When in the VM context, a guest in the VM is run with a hypervisor interrupt descriptor table (hypervisor IDT) to determine how the interrupt should be handled. The hypervisor IDT directs an interrupt that is to be handled by the VM to an interrupt handler in a guest IDT without causing a transition to the hypervisor. If an interrupt is to be handled by the hypervisor, the hypervisor IDT causes a transition to the hypervisor.
US08892800B2 Apparatuses for inter-component communication including slave component initiated transaction
Component apparatuses with inter-component communication capabilities, and system having such component apparatuses are disclosed. A component may include a number of control pins including a clock pin, a number of data pins, and a logic unit. The logic unit may be configured to receive a clock signal from another component through the clock pin, to provide an alert signal to the other component through a selected one of the control and data pins to initiate a transaction with the other component, to receive in response to the alert signal from the other component through the data pins a status request to determine nature of the transaction, and to provide in response to the status request to the other component through the data pins a status to indicate the nature of the transaction. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed.
US08892799B2 Electrical circuit for transmitting signals between two masters and one or more slaves
An electrical circuit for transmitting signals between two masters and one or more slaves is described. The two masters and the slave or slaves are connected to one another via a bus system. At least one master data signal can be generated by each of the two masters, which signal can be received by the slave or slaves. A three-state gate is present at each of the outputs of the two masters at which the respective master data signal is present. The three-state gates are effective either as closed or as open switches. The three-state gates are activated in such a way that the three-state gate associated with the one of the two masters acts as a closed switch, and the three-state gate associated with the other of the two masters acts as an open switch.
US08892791B2 Communications system for implementation of synchronous, multichannel, galvanically isolated instrumentation devices
An apparatus and method for synchronous communications using a serial data stream employs a housing with a controller and a back plane. The housing accepts one or more modules for interconnection with the back plane. The back plane distributes power to the modules and provides a communication link from the controller to each module. Each communication link includes a data out line, a data in line and a clock line, where each clock line is derived from one clock source.
US08892789B2 Accelerating internet small computer system interface (iSCSI) proxy input/output (I/O)
The present invention is a method for accelerating proxy Input/Output (proxy I/O). The method includes the step of receiving a command at a primary target storage system. The primary target storage system may be part of a clustered storage array. The command may be a command which was transmitted by an initiator system via a storage area network, and may include a request for data. The method further includes the step of forwarding the command to a session layer of the primary target storage system. Further, when a virtualization layer of the primary target storage system determines that a portion of the data requested in the data request is not stored by the primary target storage system, but is stored by a proxy target storage system included in the plurality of storage systems, the method further includes providing a proxyIO request to a proxy initiator of the primary target storage system. Further, the method may further include, based on the proxyIO request, generating a proxyDataIn request and providing the proxyDataIn request to an I/O controller for the primary target storage system.
US08892788B2 Exposing a DMA engine to guests in a virtual machine system
A method and system for copying data within a guest using a direct memory access (DMA) engine. A computer system hosts a hypervisor and a guest. The hypervisor detects an inquiry of the guest about a DMA engine. In response to the inquiry, the hypervisor indicates to the guest that a DMA engine is available. The hypervisor then receives a DMA request from the guest, the DMA request indicating a source address and a target address for copying data. Both the source address and the target address are within an address space allocated to the guest. Based on one or more data transfer policies, the hypervisor determines whether to direct the DMA engine to copy the data for the guest.
US08892781B2 Bi-directional data transfer within a single I/O operation
A computer program product, apparatus, and a method for facilitating input/output (I/O) processing for an I/O operation at a host computer system configured for communication with a control unit. The method includes receiving a command block from the channel subsystem, the command block including at least one input command and at least one output command specified by a transport command word (TCW) and associated with the I/O operation, the I/O operation having both input and output data, the TCW specifying a location in the memory of the output data and a location in the memory for storing the input data; receiving the output data specified by the TCW and executing the at least one output command; and forwarding the input data specified by the TCW to the channel subsystem for storage at a location specified by the TCW.
US08892778B2 Method and systems for securing remote access to private networks
A method for securing remote access to private networks includes a receiver intercepting from a data link layer a packet in a first plurality of packets destined for a first system on a private network. A filter intercepts from the data link layer a packet in a second plurality of packets transmitted from a second system on the private network, destined for an system on a second network. A transmitter in communication with the receiver and the filter performing a network address translation on at least one intercepted packet and transmitting the at least one intercepted packet to a destination.
US08892773B2 Path control apparatus, path control method, path control program, and network system
A path control apparatus of the present invention includes: a status change detecting unit that detects a status change of a network; a path calculating unit that decides a path in accordance with the status of the network; and a calculation execution node deciding unit that compares a shortest path tree, which is established before occurrence of a change in the status of the network calculated by the path calculating unit, with a shortest path tree, which is established after the occurrence of the change in the status of the network calculated by the path calculating unit, and creates information required for determining whether a node apparatus in the network needs a path update, when the change occurs in the status of the network.
US08892770B2 System of distributing content data over a computer network and method of arranging nodes for distribution of data over a computer network
Described is a method for improving both the bandwidth efficiency and bit rate of data streams flowing through binary tree networks. In an embodiment, the invention provides a method for efficiently utilizing end-consumer computers possessing a variety of upstream bandwidth capabilities to deliver online streaming video in a distributed manner.
US08892761B1 Progressive download playback
The present invention provides methods and systems for enabling content streaming on mobile devices. The methods and systems may include encoding a content stream; providing the encoded content stream to a splitter embodied in computer executable code, which splits the encoded content stream into at least two channels, with each channel having data of a characteristic chunk size; downloading at least one data chunk into a playback queue, wherein a download algorithm determines the at least one chunk to be downloaded; and providing the at least one downloaded chunk to a media player.
US08892760B2 User customizable views of multiple information services
Embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for generating a user configurable interface view for a media device or other information handling system that is independent of any interface views defined by media content providers. Generating the user configurable interface view includes identifying content data streams that are included in user interface views defined by the media content providers and then selecting a desired subset of the data content streams. The selected data content streams are then aggregated and the user configurable interface view is generated. The resulting user interface view will be independent of any interface views defined by the media content providers.
US08892759B2 Method and system for pacing, acking, timing, and handicapping (path) for simultaneous receipt of documents having trader markups
A computing device determines impactful content in transmittable content. The computing device assigns the impactful content to one or more impactful block units. Each impactful block unit comprises a determined numbers of characters and an impactful block of characters comprises one or more impactful block units. The computing device inserts an identifier associated with the impactful content into the transmittable content proximal to the impactful block of characters. The identifier causes a message concerning a financial-related action to be communicated to a plurality of intended recipients when one or more conditions are met. The computing device transmits the one or more impactful block units and the identifier to the plurality of intended recipients using a time delay for a particular intended recipient and a pacing method such that the impactful block units are received substantially simultaneously by the plurality of intended recipients.
US08892746B2 Asynchronous invocation mechanism in session initiation protocol (SIP) server clusters
Providing SIP application server interoperability, including detecting at a first SIP application server an event necessitating that work be performed in relation to a SIP application session that is managed by a second SIP application server, creating a SIP message object carrying a set of instructions representing the work, and sending the SIP message object for delivery to the second SIP application server and performance of the instructions at the second SIP application server in relation to the SIP application session.
US08892739B2 Enabling and managing user-specified aliases
Techniques are described for suggesting aliases for a resource within a computing environment based on user-provided aliases for the resource. Embodiments determine a plurality of user-provided aliases for the resource and generate a suggested alias for the resource based on the plurality of user-provided aliases. The suggested resource may be provided to a user of the computing environment. The suggested alias is then associated with the resource, such that the user may refer to the resource using the suggested alias for the resource.
US08892734B2 Building a social graph using sharing activity of users of the open web by creating an edge representing category type
A social graph is built which includes interactions, sharing activity, and connections between the users of the open Web and can be used to improve ad targeting and content personalization. Sharing activity between two users will affect ads or content that both users will be presented while surfing the Web. This sharing activity includes sending of links, sending of videos, sending of files, cutting and pasting of content, sending text messages, and sending of e-mails. Building of the social graph can include creating an edge in the social graph that is representative of a particular category type.
US08892733B2 Network adapter based zoning enforcement
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to enforcing zoning at a network adapter of an end point device. Thus, a network adapter can monitor the communications that are sent and/or received by the adapter and discard communications that are prohibited based on the zoning rules applicable to the adapter. In some embodiments, zoning configuration information can be defined and stored at a central entity and sent to the various network adapters. Alternatively, or in addition, each network adapter can also check outgoing communications to ensure that they include a proper source address. More specifically, outgoing communications may be checked to ensure that their source address is the address (or one of the addresses) that are associated with the network adapter. This can be used to detect and/or prevent malfunctions and/or intentional tampering or hacking.
US08892724B1 Assigning a type of address based on expected port utilization
An address assignment device may support assigning either a public address or a private address to a client device. In order to increase the number of client devices that can share a public address via network address translation, the client device may be assigned a public address when the client device's expected port utilization is at or above a port utilization threshold. However, the client device may be assigned a private address when the client device's expected port utilization is below the port utilization threshold.
US08892715B2 Systems and methods facilitating relocatability of devices between networks
Provided is a software entity adapted to operate in a first network on behalf of a relocatable device to negotiate services for the relocatable device from the network, and to be transportable or replicable to operate in a second network to negotiate services for the relocatable device from the second network.
US08892711B2 Method for acquiring node information, and client and server
The present invention discloses a method for acquiring node information, and a Client and a server, wherein the method includes: a Client receiving a Get command sent from a server, acquiring values of nodes in all items in the Get command, and determining that acquirement of values of nodes in partial items fails; and the Client sending to the server a response message which carries a new status value, wherein the new status value is adapted to indicate that acquirement of values of nodes in partial items fails when a Get command is executed, and the response message also carries a predetermined tag, wherein the predetermined tag is adapted to packet information of nodes in items in which acquirement of values is successful. By the above technical solution of the present invention, useful nodes can be acquired more effectively, nodes which can not be acquired can be located.
US08892708B2 Placement of service delivery locations of a distributed computing service based on logical topology
In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a request for a distributed service, the distributed service offered by a service provider via a data communications network having service delivery locations reachable via a prescribed physical topology; identifying the service delivery locations within a prescribed logical topology overlying the prescribed physical topology, the prescribed logical topology segregating the distributed service from other network traffic on the prescribed physical topology; and identifying one or more of the service delivery locations optimized for providing the distributed service to at least one service consumption location in the prescribed logical topology according to a prescribed service level agreement with the service provider.
US08892706B1 Private ethernet overlay networks over a shared ethernet in a virtual environment
Methods, systems, and computer programs for implementing private Ethernet overlay networks over a shared Ethernet infrastructure in a virtual environment are presented. In one embodiment, a method includes an operation for sending a packet on a private virtual network from a first virtual machine (VM) in a first host to a second VM. The first and second VMs are members of a fenced group of computers that have exclusive direct access to the private virtual network, where VMs outside the fenced group do not have direct access to the packets that travel on the private virtual network. Further, the method includes encapsulating the packet at the first host to include a new header as well as a fence identifier for the fenced group. If the encapsulated packet is too big for the underlying network, the packet is fragmented for transmission between hosts. The packet is received at a host where the second VM is executing and the packet is de-encapsulated to extract the new header and the fence identifier. Additionally, the method includes an operation for delivering the de-encapsulated packet to the second VM after validating that the destination address in the packet and the fence identifier correspond to the destination address and the fence identifier, respectively, of the second VM. The private virtual network scheme is transparent to the VM's operating system, and unicast messaging within the fenced group improves network efficiency.
US08892699B2 Automatic firmware updates for intelligent electronic devices
A method for automatically updating an existing firmware file stored in a memory of an intelligent electronic device (IED) communicatively coupled to a network in a monitoring system. The IED downloads from a remote server to the IED an update file that includes a version of a firmware file and a filename of the firmware file. The IED determines whether the firmware version specified in the update file is updated compared to a version of the existing firmware file. If the firmware version in the update file is greater than the existing version, the IED communicates to the remote server an instruction to download to the IED the updated firmware file specified in the update file. The IED receives from the remote server the updated firmware file. If a criterion is satisfied, the IED automatically updates the firmware file stored in its memory with the updated firmware file.
US08892695B2 Remote input devices
In a first embodiment of the present invention, a method for operating a user agent on a first device is provided, comprising: discovering, using a home networking protocol, a second device, wherein the second device includes a user input mechanism; retrieving information regarding the user input mechanism from the second device using the home networking protocol; determining whether to accept the connection based on the information regarding the user input mechanism; when it is determined to accept the connection, negotiating an out-of-band connection in a protocol other than the home networking protocol with the second device; receiving input command events from the second device via the out-of-band connection; and executing the input command events at the user agent to control an aspect of the first device.
US08892694B2 Declarative system configurations
A declarative approach is used for system configuration. The declarative approach improves a system's integrity which makes the system more dependable. An overall system model is defined that describes the system as a whole. The models are hierarchical and can reference and incorporate any number of sub-models. The models within the system model are used to define the programs within the system. The system model is applied to a collection of system parameters that produces a statically typed, fully configured system instance. Each system instance may then be checked against established system policies that can express a variety of additional ad hoc rules defining which system instances are acceptable.
US08892689B1 Method and apparatus for a storage server to automatically discover and join a network storage cluster
A method and system for automatic configuration and installation of network storage server to a network storage cluster is described. When the first storage server is installed, the automatic configuration process extracts from the user information necessary for configuration of the cluster. Upon entering all the configuration information, the storage server is rebooted and the new cluster is created. For a network storage server attempting to join an existing cluster, broadcast packets are sent by the joining storage server on its cluster port requesting a response from all available clusters. If a single response is received the joining storage server initiates the configuration process and joins the cluster. If multiple responses are received the joining storage server let the operator choose the cluster to join. If no responses are received the joining storage server retries the broadcast request repeatedly until a response is received.
US08892668B2 Reference notification method and apparatus
A method and an apparatus of reference notification comprises obtaining an instant message that is sent from a sending user. A contact is selected that satisfies a predetermined criterion from contacts of the sending user. For the selected contact, content is determined that is of interest to the selected contact, and content is found that is of interest and is included in the obtained instant message based on the determined content of interest. Based on the found content of interest, a reference notification message is sent to a contact corresponding to the found content of interest, for notifying the contact that the content of interest is referenced. By using the technical scheme of the present disclosure, the problems of existing technologies that a user cannot accurately and quickly determine whether an instant message references content with which he/she is concerned are solved.
US08892664B2 Image communication apparatus, image communication method, and memory medium
In an Internet facsimile apparatus, it is an object of the invention to provide means for notifying the user of details of a message disposition notification situation (MDN) of a transmission image. When E-mail data is sent, an MDN for E-mail to be sent is requested and communication management information of the sent E-mail is updated on the basis of a reception result of reply E-mail responsive to the MDN request.
US08892662B2 Call completion via instant communications client
A system is disclosed for achieving completion of a telephone call by way of an instant communications client.
US08892657B2 Motivating and demotivating message responses
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to message response management and provide a method, system and computer program product for motivating and de-motivating message responses. In one embodiment of the invention, a message reply motivation and de-motivation method can be provided. The method can include composing a message, addressing the message to at least one addressee, associating a reply preference specifying whether or not a recipient is to reply to the message, and forwarding the reply preference to the addressee. Upon receipt, the message can be displayed in a message viewer, and any reply preference for the message can be analyzed to determine if the reply preference specifies whether or not to reply to the message. Thereafter, the reply preference can be applied in the message viewer.
US08892656B2 Personalized information subscribing and delivering over instant messaging
A method for providing information to an instant messaging (IM) user includes sending information to the user via an instant message based on interest information provided by the user. The interest information may not be restricted to a predetermined set of interest information.
US08892651B1 Revealing connections for persons in a social graph
An on-line system utilizing a social graph allows users to establish an account with the system and establish connections to nodes in the system. The social graph uses system-provided nodes that are created and maintained by the system, so that users cannot edit the system-provided nodes. The system aggregates and analyzes the social graph to present information in ways useful to its users. For example, the system reveals connections between persons in the system, with a corresponding strength of each connection.
US08892641B2 Content delivery server, communication terminal, content delivery system, content delivery method, content delivery program, terminal control program and storage medium containing the program
There are provided a server machine and communication terminals communicatively connected to each other over a communication network. The server machine delivers software to a communication terminal. The server machine again delivers to the communication terminal delivered software which was delivered at least once to the communication terminal. Each communication terminal has an identification information transmitter section obtaining identification information by which users are identified. The server machine includes a delivery management database to manage the identification information and software delivery history information in an associated manner.
US08892639B2 Method and system for processing file stored in cloud storage and computer readable storage medium storing the method
A method for processing a file stored in cloud storage includes the following step: an original file is added to a sharing folder, which belongs to the owner account for sharing to at least one sharing account, on a cloud storage machine through an owner client device, which is logged in an owner account. The original file stored in the sharing folder is synchronized to at least one sharing client device, which is logged in the at least one sharing account. At least one changed file, which is amended utilizing the original file, is received from the at least one sharing client device. Difference between the at least one changed file and the original file is generated to be taken as at least one changed content. A summary about the at least one changed content is generated for being displayed on the owner client device.
US08892615B2 Arithmetic operation circuit and method of converting binary number
An arithmetic operation circuit includes: an extractor circuit that extracts one or a plurality of bits consecutive from a most significant bit or from a least significant bit of a binary number; a sum register that stores an X-adic sum, where X is an integer more than two; and an update circuit that updates the stored X-adic sum with a value obtained by adding a first X-adic number to be cyclically multiplied by a certain coefficient to the X-adic sum in accordance with the extracted one or plurality of bits.
US08892608B2 Highly reliable cross-session web application instrumentation
A reliable caching mechanism is provided for client-side caching of data that captures user interaction with a remote service, where users interact with the remote service through a computing device. Such instrumentation items are cached in a client-side offline queue. Within the client-side queue, the gathered instrumentation items survive between user sessions with the remote service. Because the client-side does not lose the instrumentation items that were gathered in a session when the session ends, those instrumentation items do not all need to be transferred to the server-side at or prior to the termination of the session in which the instrumentation items are collected. Instead, the instrumentation items may be sent to the server-side at times that will have less impact on the user experience, such as when the computing device is otherwise idle.
US08892606B2 Method and system for media collection expansion
Systems and methods have been developed for expanding collections of media objects that are stored remotely. More specifically, systems and methods have been developed for continuously monitoring and updating collections of media objects stored in a user's media repository (e.g., a “media locker”).
US08892604B2 Pre-audit system, apparatus, and method
A pre-audit system, apparatus, and method is provided to perform a pre-audit of form data. Form data is received from a supplier prior to the form data being delivered to one or more purchasers. The form data is compared with rules or conditions set by the one or more purchasers. A response message is transmitted to the supplier, where the response message includes one or more results and one or more descriptions related to the one or more results.
US08892602B2 Secure configuration of authentication servers
Embodiments of the invention are directed to automatically populating a database of names and secrets in an authentication server by sending one or more lists of one or more names and secrets by a network management software to an authentication server. Furthermore, some embodiments provide that the lists being sent are encrypted and/or embedded in otherwise inconspicuous files.
US08892601B2 Creating web applications using cloud-based friction-free databases without requiring web hosting knowledge
Creating web application using cloud-based friction-free databases without web hosting knowledge. User credentials are received at a web application service for initiating a web application task via client software. The user credentials are analyzed to determine whether to grant the user permission to initiate the requested web application task. The web application task is initiated when the permission is granted. Data associated with the initiated web application task is received at the web application service for analysis of the data to host and render a web application based solely on received data provided without basis of web hosting knowledge.
US08892600B2 Network attached device with dedicated firewall security
Dedicated firewall security for a network attached device (NAD) is provided by a firewall management system integrated directly into the NAD or into a NAD server. A local area network arrangement includes a network client and the NAD and the firewall management system includes computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions that perform the steps of receiving a request for network access to the NAD from the network client, determining whether the request for network access to the NAD is authorized, and only if the request for network access is authorized, providing the network client with network access to the NAD.
US08892596B1 Identifying related documents based on links in documents
A device may identify, in a first document, a reference to a second document, the second document being different than the first document; identify that the reference to the second document is associated with a relation indicator; determine, based on identifying that the reference to the second document includes a relation indicator, that content of the second document is related to content of the first document; and process the second document based on determining that content of the second document is related to content of the first document.
US08892589B1 Providing remedial search operation based on analysis of user interaction with search results
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for assisting users in performing searches. In one aspect, a query for a search session is received from a user device. A first set of search results responsive to the query is provided to the user device. Search results interaction data are received from the user device that identifies actions that are in response to the search results and taken at the user device. The search results interaction data are analyzed to determine that a remedial search operation should be performed, the remedial search operation determining a second set of search results responsive to the query and providing the second set of search results to the user device for presentation to the user.
US08892587B2 On-the fly pattern recognition with configurable bounds
Some embodiments of on-the-fly pattern recognition with configurable bounds have been presented. In one embodiment, a pattern matching engine is configured based on user input, which may include values of one or more user configurable bounds on searching. Then the configured pattern matching engine is used to search for a set of features in an incoming string. A set of scores is updated based on the presence of any of the features in the string while searching for the features. Each score may indicate a likelihood of the content of the string being in a category. The search is terminated if the end of the string is reached or if the user configurable bounds are met. After terminating the search, the scores are output.
US08892579B2 Method and system of data extraction from a portable document format file
In one exemplary embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes receiving a portable digital format (PDF) file. A text element file is generated. The text element file includes a text element of the PDF file and a coordinate location of the text element. A document type of the PDF file is determined. A property file is selected according to the document type of the PDF. The property file includes at least one property. The property includes a definition of a data element to be extracted from the PDF file. The property includes a definition of a data element value, as well. The property includes a rule for locating the data element value relative to the data element. The data element and the data element value are extracted from the text element file according to the property.
US08892565B2 Method and apparatus for accessing an audio file from a collection of audio files using tonal matching
There is provided a method for accessing at least one audio file from a collection comprising more than one audio file stored within or accessible with an electronic device. The method includes generating one index comprising of information entries obtained from each of the more than one audio file in the collection, with each audio file in the collection information being linked to at least one information entry; receiving an input during an input reception mode; converting the input into a digital signal using an analog-digital converter; analyzing the digital signal using either frequency spectrum analysis or melody contour analysis into discrete portions; and comparing the discrete portions with the entries in the index. It is advantageous that the audio file is accessed when the discrete portions substantially coincide with at least one of the information entries in the index. The discrete portions may be musical notes, melody contours or waveforms. The at least one information entry may also be musical notes, melody contours or waveforms. An apparatus employing the aforementioned method is also disclosed.
US08892563B2 Storage medium including metadata and reproduction apparatus and method therefor
A storage medium including metadata, which provide an extended search function using a variety of search keywords on audio-visual data, and a reproduction apparatus and a reproduction method of reproducing the storage medium. The storage medium includes: audio-visual data; and metadata to provide an extended search function on the audio-visual data, wherein the metadata include a predefined search keyword and a search keyword which may be additionally defined by an author. Accordingly, by using a variety of search keywords additionally defined by an author as well as predefined search keywords, providing an extended search function is possible. In addition, by recording only portions of the metadata relative directly to supporting multiple languages in an additional text-based file, providing an extended search function using a plurality of languages is also possible.
US08892562B2 Categorization of multi-page documents by anisotropic diffusion
A computer implemented system and method are provided for refining category scores for pages of a sequence of document pages that potentially includes document boundaries. The method uses initial category scores provided by a categorizer that considers one page at a time or concatenated pairs of pages (called bipages). The category scores represent the probability that a page belongs to a particular category. The method uses anisotropic diffusion to refine the initial page category scores using the scores of neighboring pages as a function of the probability that there is a boundary between the pages. The method may be performed iteratively.
US08892561B2 Refinement and calibration mechanism for improving classification of information assets
Techniques are described for refining the manual classification of assets classified or categorized using the terms of a business glossary. A semantic refinement mechanism is used to refine the manual classification of such assets, as well as subsequently evaluate the refined asset classifications. Further, the refined asset classifications may be used as a training set for a machine learning classifier. That is, should the classification of an asset contributing to a refinement change, the refinement based on that classification may be undone, at least in some cases.
US08892560B2 Intuitive management of electronic files
A method includes identifying interrelated files stored on one or more storage devices for each topic grouping. The interrelated files correspond to a particular topic grouping and are determined based on metadata associated with the interrelated files. A relative importance for each of the interrelated files within each topic grouping is determined. The relative importance indicates an importance of each of the interrelated files in a corresponding topic grouping relative to the other files in the corresponding topic grouping based on metadata associated with the interrelated files. A montage of visual representations of the interrelated files for each topic grouping is displayed using a visual indication of the relative importance.
US08892558B2 Inserting data into an in-memory distributed nodal database
A method and apparatus loads data to an in-memory database across multiple nodes in a parallel computing system. A database loader uses SQL flags, historical information gained from monitoring prior query execution times and patterns, and node and network configuration to determine how to effectively cluster data attributes across multiple nodes. The database loader may also allow a system administrator to force placement of database structures in particular nodes.
US08892556B2 Optimisation
There is described a method for implementing a system for authentication of an article based upon a signature generated from a set comprising groups of data points collected when a plurality of regions of an intrinsic surface structure of an article are sequentially subjected to coherent light and the light scattered by the intrinsic surface structure is collected. For a given system implementation, the method comprises: determining a set of parameters which influence the performance of the system; determining a definition of system performance which can be affected by the set of parameters; producing an initial population of parameter value sets, each parameter set including a value for each parameter to be used in achieving a desired system performance; determining for each parameter value set a fitness value in terms of the system performance definition; identifying mating pairs of the population in accordance with the determined fitnesses; producing a new population by crossing the mating pairs; repeating the determining of a fitness value for each parameter value set, identifying of mating pairs and producing a new population until an end criterion is satisfied; and configuring the system in accordance with a selected one of the parameter sets from the final population. Thereby, a flexible and appropriate approach to system implementation can be followed which provides high efficiency in terms of the human time input and which provides high quality reliable setup parameter values to enable a reliable and efficient system implementation to result.
US08892551B2 Method and system of location-based content organization and content suggestions
A method of location-based data organization is provided. The method includes obtaining a graph that includes nodes, each node connected to at least one other node with an arc. The nodes include a geography nodes associated with geographical locations, and activity nodes. The method also includes dynamically assigning weights to the nodes, and finding, for a first activity node, a suggested set of one or more activity nodes.
US08892550B2 Source expansion for information retrieval and information extraction
System, method and computer program product for 1) preparing queries for retrieving related content based on existing data content. For instance, titles of existing documents or entities extracted from documents can be used as queries. 2) Retrieving content from other repositories of unstructured, semi-structured, or structured data. For instance, web pages can be retrieved using existing search engines. 3) Extracting smaller units of text from the retrieved content. For instance, web pages can be split into coherent paragraphs of text. 4) Judging the quality of the smaller units of text and their relatedness to existing data. For instance, paragraphs can be scored using a statistical model based on lexico-syntactic features and topic models. 5) Synthesizing new sources from high-quality related text. For instance, paragraphs that score above a threshold can be concatenated into a new document.
US08892546B2 Search quality via query provenance visualization
Methods and arrangements for enhancing search quality. Query search results are displayed, and search query provenance related to the search results is graphically depicted. There is graphically accorded an investigative function to avail investigation of at least one aspect of the search query provenance.
US08892543B1 Iterative off-line rendering process
System and method for indexing rendered web page images. A web crawling engine stores the content and crawl time of a web page. A scheduling engine sends the content and crawl time to a rendering engine, and processes requests for embedded objects. If a requested object has been crawled, it sends the contents to the rendering engine. Otherwise it schedules the crawl of the object, and once the object is crawled, it resends the content and crawl time of the web page to the rendering engine. The rendering engine receives the content and crawl time of a web page, requests all embedded objects, and renders the web page to an image once all embedded objects are received.
US08892542B2 Contextual weighting and efficient re-ranking for vocabulary tree based image retrieval
Systems and methods are disclosed to search for a query image, by detecting local invariant features and local descriptors; retrieving best matching images by quantizing the local descriptors with a vocabulary tree; and reordering retrieved images with results from the vocabulary tree quantization.
US08892511B2 Apparatus and method for synchronizing data in connected devices
A network-connectable terminal can synchronize data in connected devices. The network-connectable terminal includes a memory unit and a synchronization unit. The memory unit stores metadata updated according to update of data. The synchronization unit updates the metadata, creates version information indicating whether the metadata are updated, and exchanges version information with peripheral devices to determine a peripheral device and data requiring synchronization.
US08892509B2 Systems and methods for a distributed in-memory database
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention provide managing an in-memory database. An in-memory database is provided. The in-memory database is distributed over at least two of data processing systems in memory.
US08892498B2 Forecasting a future event in an event stream
Methods and systems for forecasting a future event in an event stream are provided herein. The event stream includes a number of events, wherein each of the events includes an event label and an associated time stamp. The system includes a processor that is adapted to execute stored instructions and a system memory. The system memory includes code configured to generate one or more decision graphs for predicting events with event labels chosen from a number of event labels based on the events within the event stream, wherein the decision graph includes decision nodes and leaf nodes, and wherein each of the decision nodes includes a question. The system memory also includes code configured to analyze event stream data using the decision graph and forecast a future event in the event stream based on the analysis of the event stream data.
US08892492B2 Declarative network access control
A system and method for declarative network access control are provided. The system includes an interpreter, a rules engine, a storage device, and a processor. The interpreter transforms sentences in a declarative network access control language to rules. The rules engine evaluates the rules to produce actions for providing access control to a network at a point of access. The storage device stores instructions for the interpreter, the rules and the rules engine and the processor executes those instructions.
US08892485B2 Methods and systems for neural processor training by encouragement of correct output
Certain embodiments of the present disclosure support implementation of a neural processor with synaptic weights, wherein training of the synapse weights is based on encouraging a specific output neuron to generate a spike. The implemented neural processor can be applied for classification of images and other patterns.
US08892473B2 Method and system for subscription digital rights management
A system and method for managing use of items having usage rights associated therewith. The system includes an activation device adapted to issue a software package having a public and private key pair, the public key being associated with a user, a license device adapted to issue a license, a usage device adapted to receive the software package, receive the license and allow the user to access the item in accordance with the license, and a subscription managing device adapted to maintain a subscription list including the public key associated with the user. License's is issued by the license device upon verifying presence of the public key in the subscription list corresponding to requested content.
US08892471B2 Modifying a digital media product
Producing, by a digital media production hub from users' digital expressions of preferences, information describing a user community's preference for replacing the modifiable part of the digital media product with a replacement part; receiving, in the digital media production hub from a media product owner, the digital media product and a digital grant of rights to modify and distribute the digital media product; receiving, by the digital media production hub from a media parts provider, at least one replacement part, a digital grant of rights to use the replacement part to modify the digital media product, and a digital grant of rights to distribute the replacement part with the digital media product; and replacing, by the digital media production hub in accordance with the information describing the user community preference and the digital grants of rights, the modifiable part with the replacement part.
US08892463B2 Kiosk for renting securable devices configured to operate as a point-of-sale
A system and method for assigning controlled access to a securable device may include (i) a kiosk configured to enable a user to rent a securable device from among multiple securable devices and (ii) a lock unit associated with the securable device and being in communication with the kiosk. The lock unit may further be configured to enable the user to access the securable device after being rented by the user via said kiosk. The kiosk may further be configured to enable the user to purchase goods or services in addition to rental of the securable device.
US08892460B2 Cell-allocation in location-selective information provision systems
Systems and methods for allocating cells within a virtual grid to content providers according to various priority and selection schemes are used to target content delivery to information playback devices in a geographically and/or application selective manner. The priority schemes, geographical selectivity, and application selectivity of the system and methods of the invention allow a content provider to specifically target a desired demographic with high cost efficiency and flexibility.
US08892459B2 Affiliate investigation system and method
Given an advertisement placed by a rogue affiliate that takes steps to hide its affiliate ID from affiliate investigators, the affiliate ID may be identified using a step-wise link follower to process the advertisement's target URIs. For each redirection step inclusively between the original target URI and the ultimate destination URI, the current URI is analyzed and requested according to either a trusted request method or a non-trusted request method depending on whether the resource to which the URI refers is known to be a trusted resource. The non-trusted request method is designed to thwart the rogue affiliate's efforts to identify an affiliate investigator as the source of the request.
US08892445B2 Quality of user generated audio content in voice applications
Methods and arrangements for improving quality of content in voice applications. A specification is provided for acceptable content for a voice application, and user generated audio content for the voice application is inputted. At least one test is applied to the user generated audio content, and it is thereupon determined as to whether the user generated audio content meets the provided specification.
US08892442B2 System and method for answering a communication notification
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and computer readable-media for answering a communication notification. The method for answering a communication notification comprises receiving a notification of communication from a user, converting information related to the notification to speech, outputting the information as speech to the user, and receiving from the user an instruction to accept or ignore the incoming communication associated with the notification. In one embodiment, information related to the notification comprises one or more of a telephone number, an area code, a geographic origin of the request, caller id, a voice message, address book information, a text message, an email, a subject line, an importance level, a photograph, a video clip, metadata, an IP address, or a domain name. Another embodiment involves notification assigned an importance level and repeat attempts at notification if it is of high importance.
US08892440B2 Electronic device and control method thereof
Disclosed are an electronic device and a control method thereof, The electronic device includes a text-to-speech unit which converts a text into an audio signal, an audio output unit which outputs an audio corresponding to the converted audio signal; and a controller which controls the audio output unit to reoutput at least one of audios whose output is not completed if there is at least one audio which is not completely output among a plurality of audios output by the audio output unit.
US08892439B2 Combination and federation of local and remote speech recognition
Techniques to provide automatic speech recognition at a local device are described. An apparatus may include an audio input to receive audio data indicating a task. The apparatus may further include a local recognizer component to receive the audio data, to pass the audio data to a remote recognizer while receiving the audio data, and to recognize speech from the audio data. The apparatus may further include a federation component operative to receive one or more recognition results from the local recognizer and/or the remote recognizer, and to federate a plurality of recognition results to produce a most likely result. The apparatus may further include an application to perform the task indicated by the most likely result. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08892433B2 Method of selecting one microphone from two or more microphones, for a speech processor system such as a “hands-free” telephone device operating in a noisy environment
The method comprises the steps of: digitizing sound signals picked up simultaneously by two microphones (N, M); executing a short-term Fourier transform on the signals (xn(t), xm(t)) picked up on the two channels so as to produce a succession of frames in a series of frequency bands; applying an algorithm for calculating a speech-presence confidence index on each channel, in particular a probability a speech that is present; selecting one of the two microphones by applying a decision rule to the successive frames of each of the channels, which rule is a function both of a channel selection criterion and of a speech-presence confidence index; and implementing speech processing on the sound signal picked up by the one microphone that is selected.
US08892432B2 Signal processing system, apparatus and method used on the system, and program thereof
Provided is a signal separation system including a rendering unit which receives a first and a second input signal and positions the first input signal according to rendering information.
US08892427B2 Method and an apparatus for processing an audio signal
An apparatus for processing an audio signal and method thereof are disclosed. The present invention includes receiving, by an audio processing apparatus, an audio signal including a first data of a first block encoded with rectangular coding scheme and a second data of a second block encoded with non-rectangular coding scheme; receiving a compensation signal corresponding to the second block; estimating a prediction of an aliasing part using the first data; and, obtaining a reconstructed signal for the second block based on the second data, the compensation signal and the prediction of aliasing part.
US08892425B2 Multi-layered speech recognition apparatus and method
A multi-layered speech recognition apparatus and method, the apparatus includes a client checking whether the client recognizes the speech using a characteristic of speech to be recognized and recognizing the speech or transmitting the characteristic of the speech according to a checked result; and first through N-th servers, wherein the first server checks whether the first server recognizes the speech using the characteristic of the speech transmitted from the client, and recognizes the speech or transmits the characteristic according to a checked result, and wherein an n-th (2≦n≦N) server checks whether the n-th server recognizes the speech using the characteristic of the speech transmitted from an (n−1)-th server, and recognizes the speech or transmits the characteristic according to a checked result.
US08892421B2 Computer-implemented systems and methods for determining a difficulty level of a text
Systems and methods are provided for determining a difficulty level of a text. A determination is made as to a number of cohesive devices present in a text. A further determination is made as to a number of cohesive devices expected in the text. A cohesiveness metric is calculated based on the number of cohesive devices present in the text and the number of cohesive devices expected in the text, where the cohesiveness metric is used to identify a difficulty level of the text.
US08892418B2 Translating sentences between languages
A method and computer system for translating sentences between languages from an intermediate language-independent semantic representation is provided. On the basis of comprehensive understanding about languages and semantics, exhaustive linguistic descriptions are used to analyze sentences, to build syntactic structures and language independent semantic structures and representations, and to synthesize one or more sentences in a natural or artificial language. A computer system is also provided to analyze and synthesize various linguistic structures and to perform translation of a wide spectrum of various sentence types. As result, a generalized data structure, such as a semantic structure, is generated from a sentence of an input language and can be transformed into a natural sentence expressing its meaning correctly in an output language. The method and computer system can be applied to in automated abstracting, machine translation, natural language processing, control systems, Internet information retrieval, etc.
US08892414B1 Transmission-line simulators and methods
In various embodiment, a simulator includes an analysis module for extracting transmission-line parameters of a transmission-line system from a network-parameter representation thereof, using discontinuity-detection-based phase unwrapping without introducing artificial discontinuities, and a simulator module for simulating the response of the transmission-line system to an input based on the extracted transmission-line parameters.
US08892413B2 Convergence rate of full wavefield inversion using spectral shaping
Method for speeding up iterative inversion of seismic data (106) to obtain a subsurface model (102), using local cost function optimization. The frequency spectrum of the updated model at each iteration is controlled to match a known or estimated frequency spectrum for the subsurface region, preferably the average amplitude spectrum of the subsurface P-impedance. The controlling is done either by applying a spectral-shaping filter to the source wavelet (303) and to the data (302) or by applying the filter, which may vary with time, to the gradient of the cost function (403). The source wavelet's amplitude spectrum (before filtering) should satisfy D(f)=fIp(f)W(f), where f is frequency, D(f) is the average amplitude spectrum of the seismic data, and Ip(f) is the average amplitude spectrum for P-impedance in the subsurface region (306,402) or an approximation thereof.
US08892411B2 Information processor, power generation determining method, and program
An estimated value or a predicted value of an output of photovoltaic generation is easily and properly determined. A learning processor constructs an output calculating model based on a measured value of an output of photovoltaic generation, sunshine hours, and a solar altitude in a learning period. The output calculating model calculates the output of the photovoltaic generation based on the sunshine hours and the solar altitude. An output calculator calculates an estimated value of the output of the photovoltaic generation in an estimation period and a predicted value of the output of the photovoltaic generation in a prediction period based on a measured value of the sunshine hours in the estimation period and the solar altitude or a predicted value of the sunshine hours in the prediction period and the solar altitude. Additionally, the features may be applied to a photovoltaic power system.
US08892405B1 System and method for transferring analysis properties between geometry models
A system enables a transfer of analysis properties between geometry models and includes a memory for storing analysis properties of a first model that includes a plurality of components, each component assigned to one or more of the analysis properties and each component assigned to one or more voxels in a coordinate system based on component location. The system includes a processor programmed to receive data corresponding to a second model comprising a plurality of components, access analysis properties of the first model, apply the coordinate system to the second model, using the coordinate system and analysis properties assigned to each voxel in the coordinate system, map the plurality of components of the second model to one or more voxels in the coordinate system, and assign analysis properties of the first model to components of the second model based on voxel mapping to the components of the second model.
US08892397B1 Proximity based gesturing devices, systems and methods
A device includes sensor substantially coplanar with one another in a sensor plane, each sensor generating a sense value that varies according to a physical distance between the sensor and an object without physically contacting the object. The device also includes control circuits configured to generate a first position value, a second position value, and a third value using the sense values. The first position value and the second position values identify a two-dimensional position of the object in the sensor plane and the third value varies in response to movement of the object in a Z-direction substantially perpendicular to the sensor plane. The control circuits include a programmable integrated circuit including an analog portion and a digital portion.
US08892391B2 Activity detection
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining a presumed activity associated with a mobile device. A plurality of sensor values detected by one or more sensors onboard the mobile device is received over a period of time. A plurality of derived values is calculated from the plurality of sensor values. The derived values are selectively combined to generate one or more abstract values. A presumed activity is identified from a plurality of possible activities based on a level of similarity between the one or more abstract values and expected values of each of the plurality of possible activities that correspond to the one or more abstract values.
US08892384B2 Systems and methods for providing temperature compensation in structural health monitoring
A method for compensating for environment induced variations in structural health monitoring data is described. The method includes imparting a vibration onto a structure first location, the structure at a first temperature, receiving a comparison signal resulting from the vibration at a second location, accessing data representing a reference signal previously received at the second location, based on vibration at the first location, the reference signal received when the structure was at a second temperature, dividing the signals across multiple time windows, performing a cross correlation between the signals in each window to maximally correlate the signals within each window, performing a weighted regression on time to estimate time shift, the weights based on reference signal energy in each window, to determine a relationship between time and time shift, and using the relationship between time and time shift of the comparison signal to reduce the effects of environment on the comparison signal.
US08892371B2 Wet gas measurement
A first apparent property of a multi-phase process fluid is determined based on the motion of the vibratable flowtube. One or more apparent intermediate values associated with the process fluid are determined based on the first apparent property. One or more corrected intermediate values are determined based on a mapping between the apparent intermediate values and the corrected intermediate values. One or more phase-specific properties of the multi-phase process fluid are determined based on the corrected intermediate values. A measure of wetness of the multi-phase process fluid is determined based on the one or more phase-specific properties that are determined based on the corrected intermediate values. A second apparent property of the multi-phase process fluid is determined using the differential pressure flowmeter. A phase-specific property of a phase of the multi-phase process fluid is determined based on the measure of wetness and the second apparent property.
US08892365B2 Optimized probe selection method
The present invention provides methods for optimizing oligonucleotide hybridization probes for use in basic and clinical research. Specifically, the invention involves hybridizing serially diluted genomic sample to the oligonucleotide probes on the array, such that a signal intensity is produced for each of the probes; computationally identifying optimized probes which exhibit signal intensities that correspond to the serial dilutions of genomic sample and are reproducibly strong relative to non-optimized probes.
US08892358B2 System and method for distortion correction in three-dimensional environment visualization
A method for graphics in a three-dimensional virtual environment corresponding to a physical environment around a vehicle includes photographs in a plurality of directions extending outward from the vehicle, generating sensor data corresponding to a relative distance from the vehicle and a direction from the vehicle of an object in the physical environment, generating a default three-dimensional projection surface centered around a virtual representation of the vehicle in a virtual environment, deforming the three-dimensional projection surface at relative locations and distances corresponding to the sensor data, projecting the plurality of photographs onto the deformed three-dimensional projection surface, and displaying graphics corresponding to the deformed three-dimensional projection surface with the plurality of projected photographs with a display device.
US08892351B2 System and method for obtaining, in a vehicle, information concerning points of interest
To obtain point of interest information in a vicinity of a vehicle, the vehicle selects a reference point away from the current location of the vehicle. A region is formed, including the current location of the vehicle, based on the reference point. Points of interest falling within the region are communicated to the vehicle.
US08892347B1 System and method for node adaptive filtering and congestion control for safety and mobility applications toward automated vehicles system
In one example, we describe a method and infrastructure for DSRC V2X (vehicle to infrastructure plus vehicle) system. This can cover a communication circle up to 800 m, and in some cases 1000 m, and as a result, in congested traffic areas, the onboard unit is communicating with high number of units and may end up saturating its processing capability very quickly. In one example, the task is to provide different levels of node filtering algorithms to intelligently select the node data to be processed. This results in optimally using the available processing power by only processing the data of the desired nodes. This method is based on combination of range, velocity, heading, direction, transmitted power, received power threshold, and map database, if available. This also reduces the V2X communication congestion problem resulted in high number of one-to-many nodes communication.
US08892337B2 Apparatus for detecting imbalance abnormality in air-fuel ratio between cylinders in multi-cylinder internal combustion engine
An apparatus for detecting imbalance abnormality in an air-fuel ratio between cylinders in a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine according to the present invention increases a fuel injection quantity to a predetermined target cylinder to detect imbalance abnormality in an air-fuel ratio between cylinders at least based upon a rotation variation of the target cylinder after increasing the fuel injection quantity. The increase in the fuel injection quantity is carried out in the middle of performing the post-fuel-cut rich control. Since timing of the post-fuel cut rich control is used to increase the fuel injection quantity, the exhaust emission deterioration due to abnormality detection execution can be prevented as much as possible.
US08892330B2 Hybrid vehicle with cylinder deactivation
A variety of methods and arrangements for operating an internal combustion engine and one or more motor/generators in a hybrid vehicle are described. Generally, the engine is operated in a variable displacement or skip fire mode. Depending on the state of charge of an energy storage device and/or other factors, the engine is operated to generate more or less than a desired level of torque. The one or more motor/generators are used to add or subtract torque so that the motor/generator(s) and the engine collectively deliver the desired level of torque. In some embodiments, the engine may be run with a substantially open throttle to reduce pumping losses and improve fuel efficiency.
US08892325B2 Vehicle motion controller
If an actual lateral acceleration is equal to or greater than a target lateral acceleration Gth and at least one of a steering angle lateral acceleration Gys and a yaw-rate lateral acceleration Gyy is less than the target lateral acceleration Gth, the increase of the W/C pressure of the vehicle to be controlled is inhibited. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the increase in the roll angle by actively generating the understeering to suppress rolling and to early suppress an increase in understeering if the increase in understeering is made to be unnecessary.
US08892322B2 Clutch parameters
A method of determining clutch parameters at the initial start of operation of a friction clutch in a motor vehicle comprising the steps of: in a first phase, moving the clutch from an open state into a closed state and into an open state again at a predetermined constant slip of the clutch and determining and storing the position of the clutch during the movement when predetermined clutch torque thresholds are reached; in a second phase, in a first step, determining a touch point, a position hysteresis, and a torque hysteresis from the determined positions; determining a preliminary friction coefficient; determining preliminary form factors; determining a final friction coefficient; and determining final form factors.
US08892319B2 Power transmitting apparatus
A power transmission apparatus is provided with a control device for starting each of first shift control, which is control associated with shifting of a stepless transmission unit, and second shift control, which is control associated with shifting of a stepped transmission unit, such that shift end timing of the stepless transmission unit is synchronized with shift end timing of the stepped transmission unit, in a condition that shift requests for the stepless transmission unit and the stepped transmission unit are detected in the same timing. According to the power transmitting apparatus, each of the first shift control and the second shift control is started such that the shift end timing of the stepless transmission unit is synchronized with the shift end timing of the stepped transmission unit.
US08892315B2 Method of controlling a continuously variable transmission
A method for controlling a continuously variable ratio transmission is described. The method may include controlling a continuously variable ratio unit (“variator”) having rotary input and output members through which the variator is coupled between an engine and a driven component, the variator receiving a primary control signal and being constructed and arranged to exert upon its input and output members torques which correspond directly to the control signal. The method may also include determining a target engine acceleration, determining settings of the variator's primary control signal and of an engine torque control for providing the required engine acceleration and adjusting the control signal and/or the engine torque control based on these settings, predicting a consequent engine speed change, allowing for engine and/or transmission characteristics, and correcting the settings of the control signal and engine torque based on a comparison of actual and predicted engine speeds.
US08892313B2 Seat belt warning device
In a seatbelt warning apparatus, a control unit performs a transition process configured to transfer the mode to a baggage recognition mode on the condition that a load detection unit detects a load larger than a first load and smaller than a second load continuously for a preset time in the not-seated recognition mode, and to the not-seated recognition mode on the condition that the load detection unit detects a load smaller than a predetermined load continuously for a preset time in the baggage recognition mode, and a transfer time t1 required to transferring to the baggage recognition mode in the transition process is set to be shorter than a time T required for increasing the load from the first load to the second load by the vehicle acceleration characteristics.
US08892311B2 Front wheel drive motorised vehicle control using acceleration measurements
A front wheel drive motorized vehicle controller comprises: a control signal interface receiving control signals from a user control device indicating at least a demanded forward speed; an acceleration measurement interface, receiving acceleration measurements from at least one vehicle-mounted acceleration sensor, providing a first and second acceleration measurements with respect to first and second axes, the motorized vehicle being configured to be driven in a plane defined by the first and second axes; an acceleration magnitude calculation unit calculating an acceleration magnitude in dependence on the first and second acceleration measurements; a speed modification unit calculating a forward speed reduction factor in dependence on the acceleration magnitude and applying the forward speed reduction factor to the demanded forward speed to produce an applied forward speed; and a motor control unit controlling the speed of the left and right drive wheels in dependence on the applied forward speed.
US08892303B2 Vehicle control device
In a vehicle control device, a dynamic characteristics description unit includes a model element simulating dynamic characteristics of motion or deformation of a controlled object. By using the model element, this unit simulates hysteresis characteristics caused during a process of motion or deformation of the controlled object based on at least one of an estimated value of the input manipulated variable and an estimated value of a disturbance input inputted in the controlled object, and defines a control target index of a motion state of the controlled object. A correction amount computing unit calculates a correction amount which adjusts the manipulated variable in such a way that the control target index related to the hysteresis characteristics becomes a desired state. A command output unit corrects manipulated variable based on the correction amount to produce a command for the corrected manipulated variable to output it to the controlled object.
US08892293B2 Transport facility for autonomous navigation and method for determining damage to a motor vehicle
Damage caused by accidents that occur during autonomous driving of a motor vehicle should be reliably detected. For this purpose, a transport facility with a driving area which can be autonomously driven by a motor vehicle, has a detection device for detecting a first state of the motor vehicle in an entrance area outside the driving area and for detecting a second state in an exit area located within the driving area. In addition, transport facility has an evaluation device for determining a possible difference between the second state and the first state relating to damage of the motor vehicle.
US08892287B2 Hybrid vehicle control unit and control method
With a hybrid vehicle driven at extremely low speeds only by power from the electric motor, when a state-of-charge of the battery becomes equal to or smaller than a predetermined level or when a rotational speed required on the air conditioner compressor is less than a desired rotational speed, power from the internal combustion engine is transmitted to the output shaft by engaging the first engaging and disengaging mechanism, starting the internal combustion engine by power from the electric motor, and thereafter, engaging the first engaging and disengaging mechanism or the second engaging and disengaging mechanism between a fully applied state and a fully released state.
US08892286B2 Hybrid vehicle
If it is determined that switching from a CD mode to a CS mode is requested by a running mode switching request switch, an ECU determines whether or not SOC of a power storage device is higher than a threshold value. If SOC is determined to be higher than the threshold value, ECU further determines whether or not temperature of the power storage device is lower than a threshold value. If SOC is determined to be higher than the threshold value and the temperature is determined to be lower than the threshold value, the ECU denies the request for switching from the CD mode to the CS mode, and maintains the CD mode as the running mode.
US08892279B2 Control apparatus for motor-assisted bicycle
A control apparatus for a motor-assisted bicycle detects a pedaling torque applied to a crankshaft with a pedaling force sensor, controls a motor unit in a regenerative control process to charge a battery if the torque value of the detected pedaling torque is equal to or smaller than a predetermined level, and controls the motor unit in an assistive control process if the torque value is greater than the predetermined level. The control apparatus controls the motor unit in the regenerative control process at a crankshaft angular position in which the torque value detected by the pedaling force sensor is equal to or smaller than the predetermined level, and switches from the regenerative control process to the assistive control process for controlling the motor unit at a crankshaft angular position in which the torque value detected by the pedaling force sensor becomes higher than the predetermined level.
US08892274B2 Method and a device for adapting the man-machine interface of an aircraft depending on the level of the pilot's functional state
A method of adapting a man-machine interface (20) of an aircraft (50) depending on the functional level of a pilot, the method comprising a plurality of successive steps. Firstly, before starting a mission, the characteristics of said mission and the characteristics and the physiological state of said pilot are determined. Thereafter, during said mission, the state of the mission and the current state of said aircraft together with a current behavior of said pilot are determined and a current functional level of said pilot is estimated. Thereafter, said current functional level of said pilot is compared with reference functional levels, and said man-machine interface (20) is then adapted in order to assist said pilot automatically and in optimum manner in making the pilot aware of the situation, in the pilot's decision-making, or in the actions taken by the pilot depending on the pilot's stress state or work load state.
US08892254B2 Robot controller and robot system
A robot controller includes queues, a storage unit, and an execution control unit. The queues are provided for respective controlled groups serving as controlled units. The storage unit stores therein instructions directed to the respective controlled groups, one at a time, from a bottom end of each of the queues. When having accepted a predetermined operation request, the execution control unit simultaneously fetches the instructions directed to the controlled groups, one for each of the controlled groups at a time, from tops of the queues, and makes all of the controlled groups simultaneously start the operations based on such instructions. If there is any controlled group to which no corresponding instruction exists, the storage unit stores therein a no-operation instruction. If the fetched instruction is the no-operation instruction, the execution control unit keeps the controlled group from operating until an instruction is fetched next time.
US08892248B2 Manipulator auto-teach and position correction system
A substrate processing system including a housing for housing at least part of a processing device, at least one target affixed to the processing device, the processing device having a first processing device reference point in a known relationship with the at least one target, at least one transmitter located within the housing and configured to transmit an identification signal identifying the at least one transmitter to the at least one target and a controller operably connected to the at least one target and the at least one transmitter, the controller being configured to receive data signals, based on the identification signal, from one of the at least one target and the at least one transmitter and control an operational characteristic of the processing device, based on the data signals.
US08892246B2 Method for processing items such as pieces of meat
The invention relates to a method for processing items such as pieces of meat, comprising the steps of providing a stream of items 10 by means of a primary conveyor means 4, allocating at least partly by means of a computer system 8, 20 one or more of said items 10 to one of at least two workstations 1 where said items 10 are processed, e.g. cut and/or trimmed, resulting in one or more processed items 11, registering in said computer system 8, 20 information about a return of at least one of said one or more processed items 11 to said primary conveyor means 4, and returning said at least one of said one or more processed items 11 to said primary conveyor means 4 in accordance with said information about a return.The invention further relates to a system for processing items such as pieces of meat, said system comprising the means essential to carry out the above-mentioned method.
US08892243B1 Universal system and method of handling a container
A universal system and method for handling a container is disclosed. The system can include: a support structure (10) defining a bay (32), the support structure (10) including support shoes configured to support a container; a sensor (58) for determining a length of a container in the bay; and a controller (60) configured to operate the support structure (10) including a storage mode and a retrieval mode.
US08892234B2 Method for controlling at least one machining device which is coupled to a machine tool by means of an encoder signal
A method is disclosed for controlling at least one machining device which is coupled to a machine tool by means of an encoder signal, the machine tool having at least one motion control device. In order to improve the accuracy of the encoder connection, at least one additional variable which characterizes the transport is digitally transmitted from the motion control device to the at least one machining device and is used to correct the encoder signal.
US08892210B2 Devices, systems, and methods for automated optimization of energy delivery
Devices, systems, and methods for automated optimization of muscle stimulation energy. In some embodiments the disclosure optimizes stimulation parameters and/or stimulation location.
US08892209B2 Selective high frequency spinal cord modulation for inhibiting pain with reduced side effects, and associated systems and methods
Selective high-frequency spinal cord modulation for inhibiting pain with reduced side effects and associated systems and methods are disclosed. In particular embodiments, high-frequency modulation in the range of from about 1.5 KHz to about 50 KHz may be applied to the patient's spinal cord region to address low back pain without creating unwanted sensory and/or motor side effects. In other embodiments, modulation in accordance with similar parameters can be applied to other spinal or peripheral locations to address other indications.
US08892205B2 Sleep apnea control device
Disclosed herein are various methods, systems, an apparatuses for determining appropriate situations to treat conditions such as sleep apnea. At appropriate times, treatment can be applied such as through electrical stimulation to a person (e.g., an electrical stimulation of a person's genioglossus muscle in response to detecting that the person is undergoing an obstructive sleep apnea precursor event). In exemplary embodiments, a sensor such as a microphone and/or motion sensor can be used to provide a processor with data to facilitate a determination by the processor as to whether an electrical stimulus should be applied.
US08892203B2 Emergency response backboard with integrated scale
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for weighing an individual on a backboard. The backboard is configured to support a supine individual during transportation. An upper surface of the backboard is configured to receive the supine individual. A scale is embedded within the backboard beneath the upper surface. The embedded scale is configured to determine a weight of the supine individual in response to the upper surface receiving the supine individual.
US08892202B2 Current stimulator
The disclosure relates to a current stimulator, which comprises a high voltage output module, a voltage control module and a charge pump module. The high voltage output module includes a plurality of stacked transistors, and receives an input control signal able to turn on/off the current stimulator and a first voltage. A second voltage is generated by adding the voltages output by all the transistors to the first voltage and then output to the voltage control module. The voltage control module outputs a voltage control signal able to stabilize the stimulus current for the load according to the second voltage and the load impedance variation. The charge pump regulates the first voltage according to the voltage control signal, and outputs the regulated first voltage to the high voltage output module. Thereby, the current stimulator can adaptively stabilize the stimulus current, responding to load impedance variation.
US08892199B2 Chemical compound delivery device and method
Devices and methods for delivering a chemical compound to, through or into a membrane, tissue or layer are provided. The device may include an AC signal source and at least one electrode. In one application, an interdigitated electrode may be electrically connected to the AC signal source. In one application, the chemical compound such as a medicament containing a drug may be disposed on or within the electrode and logic may control the AC signal source to provide the signal, including setting or selecting characteristics such as voltage, frequency and the like to orient and/or motivate an amount of the chemical compound through the electrode and into the tissue.
US08892198B2 Devices and methods for evaluating tissue
Embodiments of devices and methods for evaluating tissue are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for measuring a characteristic of a tissue may include passing a current through the tissue, measuring a signal corresponding to the voltage resulting from passing the current through the tissue, analyzing current passed through the tissue and resulting voltage to determine the electrical characteristics of the tissue; and analyzing the electrical characteristics of the tissue to determine a status of the tissue.
US08892189B2 Apparatus and method for heart size measurement using microwave doppler radar
An object measurement method and system including an arrangement of individual signal transceivers connected together as a flexible unit. The arrangement of individual signal transceivers measures a characteristic of an object situated within a subject.
US08892186B2 Method and system for detection and tracking of coronary sinus catheter electrodes in fluoroscopic images
A method and system for detecting and tracking coronary sinus (CS) catheter electrodes in a fluoroscopic image sequence is disclosed. An electrode model is initialized in a first frame of the fluoroscopic image sequence based on input locations of CS sinus catheter electrodes in the first frame. The electrode model is tracked in subsequent frames of the fluoroscopic image sequence by detecting electrode position candidates in the subsequent frames of the fluoroscopic image sequence using at least one trained electrode detector, generating electrode model candidates in the subsequent frames based on the detected electrode position candidates, calculating a probability score for each of the electrode model candidates, and selecting an electrode model candidate based on the probability score.
US08892180B2 Sine saturation transform
A transform for determining a physiological measurement is disclosed. The transform determines a basis function index from a physiological signal obtained through a physiological sensor. A basis function waveform is generated based on basis function index. The basis function waveform is then used to determine an optimized basis function waveform. The optimized basis function waveform is used to calculate a physiological measurement.
US08892178B2 Support board used in mobile phone with main board having broken-board structure
A support board used in a mobile phone with a main board having a broken-board structure is provided. The support board mainly includes a mounting frame (1) for fixing a display screen and a support portion for supporting the main board having the broken-board structure. The support board is formed by non-metal material, a foil formed by metal material is provided in a portion of the mounting frame which contacts the display screen surrounded by the mounting frame. The support board formed by non-metal material and the foil formed by metal material form a multi-layer structure. The disclosure reduces the manufacturing cost, and satisfies the design requirements of low cost mobile phones such as bar phones.
US08892171B2 System and method for user profiling from gathering user data through interaction with a wireless communication device
A system, method, and wireless communication device that profiles a user thereof, or a user at a second wireless communication device in communication therewith. The wireless communication device gathers user data for a user thereof, or from a user at a second wireless communication device, and either directly generates, or has generated elsewhere, a user profile, such as a personality or psychological profile, or medical diagnosis of the user, and can display the user profile to the user and/or alter the wireless communication device functionality based upon the user profile. The gathered user data can be from a user interaction with the wireless communication device, from information available to the wireless communication device, or a combination thereof.
US08892168B2 Mobile terminal and method of managing display of an icon in a mobile terminal
A mobile terminal is provided. According to one embodiment, the mobile terminal includes: a display for displaying a folder icon corresponding to at least one application; a communication unit for receiving update information corresponding at least partially to the at least one application; and a controller for controlling the display to display the folder icon and, upon receipt of the update information by the communication unit, for controlling the display to display a graphical object indicating the receipt of the update information and corresponding to the folder icon.
US08892165B2 Device and a method for enhancing user experience in mobile communications
A method of operating a mobile data processing apparatus comprises executing one or more programs which make use of mobile data access; a wireless interface communicating with a mobile data network, the wireless interface and the mobile data network cooperating to provide wireless data services to the one or more programs; in respect of a first predetermined set of data services, providing data to the wireless interface from a non-removable, identification module so as to identify the mobile data processing apparatus to the mobile data network according to a first mobile identity; and in respect of other data services, providing data to the wireless interface from a user-removable, identification module so as to identify the mobile data processing apparatus to the mobile data network according to a separate mobile identity, different to the first mobile identity.
US08892151B2 Autonomous user equipment transmission power control in communication systems
Apparatus and method for adjusting at a user equipment a power level of a first signal type transmitted over a set of resource elements (REs). The method includes transmitting the first signal type with a first power level over a first set of REs, and transmitting the first signal type with a second power level over a second set of REs, wherein the second power level is higher than the first power level and the second set of REs is a sub-set of the first set of REs.
US08892134B2 Mobile communication method, call control node, priority control node and mobility management node
The present invention provides the steps of: at a priority control node (PCRF), when reception of an invite signal including priority call information is notified from a call control node (P-CSCF), determining whether it is required to change the ARP of a call control signal bearer for sending the invite signal from a gateway (P-GW) to a mobile terminal (UE) to a higher ARP than the priority set in the call control signal bearer; when change of the ARP is determined to be required, changing the ARP of the call control signal bearer to a higher ARP than the ARP set in the call control signal bearer; and performing a paging for the mobile terminal (UE) according to the priority of the call control signal bearer.
US08892127B2 Wireless-based positioning adjustments using a motion sensor
Apparatuses and methods for adjusting wireless-derived positions of a mobile station using a motion sensor are presented. One method includes estimating a position of a mobile station based upon wireless signal measurements and measuring a movement of the mobile station using a relative motion sensor. The method further includes detecting a displacement of the mobile station based upon the measured movement, determining that the displacement is below a threshold and then adjusting the estimated position of the mobile station using information from the relative motion sensor. An apparatus includes a wireless transceiver, a relative motion sensor, a processor coupled to the wireless transceiver and the relative motion sensor, and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory stores executable instructions and data for causing the processor to execute methods for adjusting wireless-derived positions using a motion sensor.
US08892124B2 Method and devices for positioning information reporting
A method, performed in a positioning node of a wireless communication system, for positioning reporting in the wireless communication system comprises providing (210) of first positioning data of a first format in three dimensions. The first format represents a polygon with corner points. The corner points have coordinates in three dimensions. The first positioning data is transformed (220) into second positioning data of a second format. The second format represents the first positioning data as a representation of an elliptic cylinder that is centered around a center point and has an elliptic base in a base plane. The second positioning data is reported (230) over an interface of the wireless communication system.
US08892117B2 GPS publication application server
A GPS publicaton application server. A mobile location knowledgeable device is in communication with a server. The server provides indications of the device's location to a home page associated with the device. The home page includes information about a user of the device and methods of contacting the user at any particular time. The server is also in communication with a variety of application servers. The application servers push information to the device depending on the device location and preferences listed in the home page of the device.
US08892114B2 Power saving in a radio base station by determining number of active and idle users camping on cell
Methods of operating a radio base station of a first cell in a wireless cellular network are disclosed. Each of one or more user equipment devices of the wireless cellular network has an idle mode in which the radio base station is not aware of whether the user equipment device is currently camping on the first cell, and an active mode in which the radio base station is aware of whether the user equipment device is currently camping on the first cell. By setting the radio base station in a disabled state based on various criteria, energy may be saved in the radio base station.
US08892109B2 Method and apparatus of dynamic spectrum sharing in cellular networks
According to a disclosed method, an MME in a network analyzes KPIs from the cells it serves and based on the KPIs, it decides to engage in sharing. The MME then contacts a sharing entity (SE) to announce that it wants to supply spectrum for sharing. The MME obtains terms of a sharing agreement from the SE and the MME obtains the identity of the other network. In response to this information, the MME configures its base stations to support the supplying of spectrum to the other network. The SE applies knowledge of network topology and of services offered. This knowledge is obtained from a sharing database. At the expiration of the sharing agreement, the SE tells the MMEs to deactivate the sharing agreement.
US08892107B2 Apparatus and method of reporting logged measurement in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus of reporting logged measurements of an user equipment in a wireless communication system is provided. The user equipment in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connected mode receives from a base station a Minimization of Drive Tests (MDT) configuration. The user equipment transitions from the RRC connected mode to an RRC idle mode and logs measurements based on the MDT configuration. The user equipment transmits to the base station a logging indicator indicating an availability of the logged measurement.
US08892106B2 Cell transfer controller and method for selecting a radio cell
A cell transfer controller is described comprising a detector configured to detect radio cells available for a mobile terminal; a determiner configured to determine, for a first radio cell detected by the detector, a waiting period after which the radio cell is selectable by the cell transfer controller as a target cell for a cell transfer and a controller, configured to increase the length of the waiting period in case that during the waiting period, the detector detects a second radio cell which fulfills a predetermined criterion.
US08892101B2 Radio problem detection assisted rescue handover
Rescue handovers of user equipment, for example, may be accomplished by a method that includes detecting that a downlink radio link cannot be reliably received. The method can also include initiating sending a report that the downlink radio link cannot be reliably received when the detecting indicates that the downlink radio link cannot be reliably received. The method can further include initiating performing a handover upon obtaining handover instructions responsive to the report.
US08892100B2 Radio communication method, radio mobile device and radio base station accomodation apparatus
A radio communication method in which, when hand-off of the down direction is performed while a radio mobile device subjects one application packet of the up direction to fragmentation to divide the one application packet into a plurality of radio packets and transmits the plurality of radio packets, sequence numbers of radio packets managed by a first radio base station to the plurality of fragmented radio packets of the one application packet even after the hand-off of the down direction is performed and to apply sequence numbers of radio packets managed by a second radio base station to fragmented radio packets of the application packet transmitted subsequently after completion of transmission of the plurality of fragmented radio packets of the one application packet; and making a radio base station accommodation apparatus identify a radio base station and restore data for each radio base station.
US08892087B2 Cell phone multimedia controller
A system and method is provided for remotely controlling and interacting with a multimedia device using a mobile phone. This is accomplished by utilizing cell and mobile phones capable of establishing persistent Internet connections. A software application is provided for the mobile phone that receives inputs entered by a user on the mobile phone's keypad and translates the inputs into commands that are recognized by a multimedia device. For example, the multimedia device may be a television, set top box, or a digital video recorder such as a Tivo or ReplayTV. The software application transmits the data input by the user to the device, either directly, or through at least one central server. Mapping of the commands entered on the mobile phone into commands recognized by the remote device may occur on the phone, at a central server, or at the device itself.
US08892081B2 Multi-service content broadcast for user controlled selective service receive
A multimedia communications system for broadcast distribution of multimedia content to mobile terminals over a cellular network is disclosed. The disclosed system accesses content providers, receives corresponding content information associated with provider content, and broadcasts content information to user terminals. The user terminals include software and/or hardware for receiving the content information and enabling a user to subscribe to one or more content items. Once a subscription is in place for one or more content items, corresponding content IDs are sent to and stored at the terminal. The system facilitates broadcast of the content. Content IDs stored in the terminal and broadcasted content IDs are compared. Only the content associated with the matching content IDs is then downloaded to the user terminal for storage and/or presentation. Content associated with unmatched content IDs is prevented from being received.