Document Document Title
US08937437B2 Ballast with anti-striation circuit
A ballast comprises an inverter circuit for providing an oscillating current signal for energizing the at least one lamp. The inverter circuit comprises a first switching component and a second switching component each having a collector terminal, a base terminal, and an emitter terminal. And, each switching component is configured for alternately operating between a conductive state and a non-conductive state. A first collector-emitter circuit is connected between the collector terminal and the emitter terminal of the first switching component, wherein the first collector-emitter circuit has a first resistance of zero or more Ohms. A second collector-emitter circuit is connected between the collector terminal and the emitter terminal of the second switching component, wherein the second collector-emitter circuit has a second resistance of zero or more Ohms and the first resistance and the second resistance are unequal.
US08937428B2 Organic electroluminescence device with silver alloy anode and method of manufacturing the same
Provided are an organic electroluminescence device capable of enhancing reflectance of an anode, thereby resulting in improved light-emitting efficiency and a method of manufacturing the same. An anode (12), a thin film layer for hole injection (13), an insulating layer (14), an organic layer (15) including a luminescent layer (15C) and a cathode (16) including a semi-transparent electrode (16A) are laminated in order on a substrate (11). The anode (12) comprises silver which is a metal with high reflectance or an alloy including silver, and the thin film layer for hole injection (13) comprises chromium oxide or the like. Light generated in the luminescent layer (15C) is multiply reflected between the anode (12) and the semi-transparent electrode (16A) to be emitted from the cathode (16). As the reflectance of the anode (12) is enhanced, the light generated in the luminescent layer (15C) can be efficiently emitted. An alloy comprised in the anode (12) preferably includes silver, palladium and copper, and a silver content is preferably 50% by mass or over.
US08937396B2 Wave energy power conversion mechanism
The present invention provides a power conversion mechanism incorporated as part of a wave energy converter device which utilizes the kinetic energy of an incident wave field experienced through the relative motion of a body or any other similar means connected to a reactive structure resulting in the localization of mechanical forces towards a central nodal point for subsequent exploitation via conversion to a useful form. It comprises a mechanical coupling connectable between a reactive body and a wave actuated body with a first body connectable to the reactive body and a second body connectable to the wave actuated body, the first body and the second body being rotatably coupled together about an axis of rotation. A linear energy conversion device is connected to the mechanical coupling and to a crank arm, the crank arm being rotatably connected to the first body and the second body and connected to a reciprocating member of the linear energy conversion device such that relative angular rotation of the first and second body is converted into linear motion in the reciprocating member.
US08937389B2 Semiconductor devices comprising GSG interconnect structures
Semiconductor devices and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first conductive structure over a workpiece in a first metallization layer, the first conductive structure including a first portion having a first width and a second portion having a second width. The second width is different than the first width. The method includes forming a second conductive structure in a second metallization layer proximate the first metallization layer, and coupling a portion of the second conductive structure to the first portion of the first conductive structure.
US08937378B2 Lead frame and semiconductor package including the same
A lead frame and a semiconductor package including the lead frame are provided. The lead frame includes: a base material; a first metal layer which is formed on at least one side of the base material, of which a surface is roughly formed, and which includes copper or nickel; a second metal layer which is formed on a surface of the first metal layer, of which a surface is roughly formed, and which includes palladium or a palladium alloy; a third metal layer which is formed on a surface of the second metal layer, of which a surface is roughly formed, and which includes gold or a gold alloy; and a fourth metal layer which is formed on a surface of the third metal layer, of which a surface is roughly formed, and which includes metal that includes silver.
US08937373B2 Highly luminescent II-V semiconductor nanocrystals
A population of semiconductor nanocrystals can include cores including a II-V semiconductor material, e.g., Cd3As2. The population can be monodisperse and can have a quantum yield of 20% or greater. A size-series of populations can have emission wavelengths falling in the range of about 530 nm to about 2000 nm.
US08937364B2 Multi-gate high voltage device
A high voltage semiconductor device, particularly a device including a number of high breakdown voltage transistors having a common drain, first well, and insulating structure between the gate and the drain as well as method for using the same is provided in this disclosure. The high breakdown voltage transistors in the device together are in an elliptical shape. A second well region, gate structure, and a source region are partially overlapping discontinuous elliptical rings having at least two discontinuities or openings in a top view. The respective discontinuities or openings define each of the high breakdown voltage transistors.
US08937359B2 Contact formation for ultra-scaled devices
Embodiments of the invention provide approaches for forming gate and source/drain (S/D) contacts. Specifically, the semiconductor device includes a gate transistor formed over a substrate, a S/D contact formed over a trench-silicide (TS) layer and positioned adjacent the gate transistor, and a gate contact formed over the gate transistor, wherein at least a portion of the gate contact is aligned over the TS layer. This structure enables contact with the TS layer, thereby decreasing the distance between the gate contact and the source/drain, which is desirable for ultra-area-scaling.
US08937354B2 PD SOI device with a body contact structure
The present invention discloses a PD SOI device with a body contact structure. The active region of the PD SOI device includes: a body region; a gate region, which is inverted-L shaped, formed on the body region; a N-type source region and a N-type drain region, formed respectively at the two opposite sides of the anterior part the body region; a body contact region, formed at one side of the posterior part of the body region, which is side-by-side with the N-type source region; and a first silicide layer, formed on the body contact region and the N-type source region, which is contact to both of the body contact region and the N-type source region. The body contact region of the device is formed on the border of the source region and the leading-out terminal of the gate electrode. It can suppress floating body effect of the PD SOI device meanwhile not increasing the chip area, thereby overcoming the shortcoming in the prior art that the chip area is enlarged when the traditional body contact structure is employed. Furthermore, the fabrication process provided herein is simple and compatible to the CMOS technology.
US08937339B2 Si(1-V-W-X)CWAlXNV substrate, and epitaxial wafer
Si(1-v-w-x)CwAlxNv crystals in a mixed crystal state are formed. A method for manufacturing an easily processable Si(1-v-w-x)CwAlxNv substrate, a method for manufacturing an epitaxial wafer, a Si(1-v-w-x)CwAlxNv substrate, and an epitaxial wafer are provided.A method for manufacturing a Si(1-v-w-x)CwAlxNv substrate 10a includes the following steps. First, a Si substrate 11 is prepared. A Si(1-v-w-x)CwAlxNv layer 12 (0
US08937334B2 Triggerable bidirectional semiconductor device
A triggerable bidirectional semiconductor device has two terminals and at least one gate. The device comprises, within a layer of silicon on insulator, a central semiconductor zone incorporating the at least one gate and comprising a central region having a first conductivity type, two intermediate regions having a second conductivity type respectively arranged on either side of and in contact with the central region, two semiconductor end zones respectively arranged on either side of the central zone, each end zone comprising two end regions having opposite types of conductivity, in contact with the adjacent intermediate region, the two end regions of each end zone being mutually connected electrically in order to form the two terminals of the device.
US08937333B2 White organic light-emitting diode
A white organic light-emitting diode (WOLED) includes a transparent electrode, a blue-complementary light-emitting layer, a translucent electrode, a blue light-emitting layer, and a non-transparent electrode. The blue-complementary light-emitting layer is disposed on the transparent electrode. The transparent electrode and the translucent electrode include a first voltage. The blue light-emitting layer is disposed on the translucent layer. The non-transparent electrode is disposed on the blue light-emitting layer. The translucent electrode and the non-transparent electrode include a second voltage.
US08937329B2 Encapsulating sheet, light emitting diode device, and producing method thereof
An encapsulating sheet includes a transparent layer in which a concave portion that is dented from the surface inwardly is formed and a phosphor encapsulating layer which fills the concave portion. The transparent layer is formed from a transparent composition containing a first silicone resin composition and the phosphor encapsulating layer is formed from a phosphor encapsulating composition containing a phosphor and a second silicone resin composition.
US08937305B2 Semiconductor device
To provide a highly reliable semiconductor device which includes a transistor including an oxide semiconductor, in a semiconductor device including a staggered transistor having a bottom-gate structure provided over a glass substrate, a gate insulating film in which a first gate insulating film and a second gate insulating film, whose compositions are different from each other, are stacked in this order is provided over a gate electrode layer. Alternatively, in a staggered transistor having a bottom-gate structure, a protective insulating film is provided between a glass substrate and a gate electrode layer. A metal element contained in the glass substrate has a concentration lower than or equal to 5×1018 atoms/cm3 at the interface between the first gate insulating film and the second gate insulating film or the interface between the gate electrode layer and a gate insulating film.
US08937295B2 Nanowire sized opto-electronic structure and method for manufacturing the same
An opto-electric structure includes a plurality of nano elements arranged side by side on a support layer, where each nano element includes at least a first conductivity type semiconductor nano sized core, and where the core and a second conductivity type semiconductor form a pn or pin junction. A first electrode layer that extends over the plurality of nano elements and is in electrical contact with at least a portion of the second conductivity type semiconductor, and a mirror provided on a second conductivity type semiconductor side of the structure.
US08937288B1 Mass spectrometry analysis of microorganisms in samples
The invention generally relates to systems and methods for mass spectrometry analysis of microorganisms in samples.
US08937283B2 Specimen observation method and device using secondary emission electron and mirror electron detection
A technique capable of improving the ability to observe a specimen using an electron beam in an energy region which has not been conventionally given attention is provided. This specimen observation method comprises: irradiating the specimen with an electron beam; detecting electrons to be observed which have been generated and have obtained information on the specimen by the electron beam irradiation; and generating an image of the specimen from the detected electrons to be observed. The electron beam irradiation comprises irradiating the specimen with the electron beam with a landing energy set in a transition region between a secondary emission electron region in which secondary emission electrons are detected and a mirror electron region in which mirror electrons are detected, thereby causing the secondary emission electrons and the mirror electrons to be mixed as the electrons to be observed. The detection of the electrons to be observed comprises performing the detection in a state where the secondary emission electrons and the mirror electrons are mixed. Observation and inspection can be quickly carried out for a fine foreign material and pattern of 100 nm or less.
US08937278B2 Rotation angle detecting apparatus
A rotation angle detecting apparatus comprises a shaft portion space formed in a rotation shaft, a bearing holder space, a first condenser lens, a second condenser lens to face the first condenser lens, a detection pattern provided at a focal position of one of the first condenser lens and the second condenser lens, an image sensor provided at a focal position of the other of the first condenser lens and the second condenser lens, and an arithmetic unit for calculating an angle displacement of the rotation shaft. The arithmetic unit carries out a total circumferential scanning, extracts a frequency component, carries out a scanning of a reference designation pattern, and calculates the angle displacement of the rotation shaft based on a phase difference of the frequency component and the number of frequencies corresponding to a change in a position of the reference designation pattern.
US08937277B2 Mono- or multifrequency optical filter, and detector comprising such a filter
The invention relates to a monofrequency optical filter, including reflective elements which are formed on one surface of a dielectric support layer and which define at least one periodic array of parallel grooves passing across same. The periodicity, height, and width of said periodic groove array are selected so as to form a structure, the wavelength of which can be selected from within a predetermined range of wavelengths. According to the invention, the thickness and refractive index of the support layer are selected so that said layer forms a half-wave plate for a wavelength of the predetermined wavelength range. The filter, when in contact with the surface of the support layer opposite the surface on which the groove array is formed, includes a medium, the refractive index of which is less than that of the support layer so as to obtain a guided mode that resonates in the support layer.
US08937275B2 Method and apparatus to monitor gain of a proportional counter including correcting the counting threshold of a pulse height spectrum
A method and apparatus in accordance with the present disclosure relate to monitoring gain of a proportional counter. The method includes generating a pulse height spectrum of the proportional counter, defining a first window and a second window within the pulse height spectrum, counting electrical pulses outputted by the proportional counter within the first window of the pulse height spectrum, thereby defining a first window count, counting electrical pulses outputted by the proportional counter within the second window of the pulse height spectrum, thereby defining a second window count, and determining a difference between the first window count and the second window count.
US08937271B2 Method of detecting and controlling perceptual flicker
A method and apparatus are provided for processing light from a light source. The method includes the steps of measuring a predetermined set of characteristics of the light source and detecting flicker when the predetermined set of characteristics exceed a corresponding flicker fusion threshold value.
US08937267B2 Method and system to increase heat input to a weld during a short-circuit arc welding process
A method and a system to control heat input to a weld during an arc welding process. A series of electric arc pulses are generated between an advancing welding electrode and a metal workpiece using an electric arc welding system capable of generating an electric welding waveform to produce the electric arc pulses. The welding waveform has droplet transfer pulses and at least one heat input pulse which is generated during a background portion of the waveform. The at least one heat-increasing current pulse is above the background current level and has a polarity opposite of that of the droplet transfer pulse.
US08937266B2 System and method for controlling and coordinating welding-type processes and gouging-type processes
A system and method for an integrated structural welding system includes a welding-type power source configured to deliver welding-type power for a variety of welding-type processes. The system also includes a gouging torch connected to the welding-type power source to receive welding-type power during a gouging-type process and a wire feeder connected to the welding-type power source to receive welding-type power during a welding-process. Furthermore, the system includes a controller configured to coordinate operation of the wire feeder, the gouging torch, and the power supply to perform only one of the gouging-type process and the welding-type process at a given time.
US08937262B2 Medium-voltage switchgear assembly
The invention relates to a medium voltage switchgear assembly which comprises at least one disconnector and whose drive unit is disposed inside or outside a gas chamber according to the generic part of claim 1. In order to further develop a switchgear assembly of the generic type so as to render the same more compact and more functional, the disconnector is embodied as a three-position vacuum chamber switch.
US08937260B2 Control mechanism for a circuit-breaking device and a circuit-breaking device comprising said mechanism
The present invention relates to a control mechanism for the displacement of at least one moving contact of a low-voltage circuit-breaking device. The control mechanism comprises elastic means operatively connectable to the moving contact, at least a first element of which is operatively connected to a second element by means of pin-shaped connection means. The first and second elements each comprise a pair of facing lateral portions that are connected by a transverse portion. The pin-shaped connection means comprise a pair of pin-shaped ends, each of which emerges from one side of a lateral portion of the first element. Said pin-shaped means also comprise a pair of seats, each of which is defined on a lateral portion of the second element. Each pin-shaped end is inserted in a corresponding seat so as to configure an axis of mutual rotation between the first and the second elements. The elastic means are arranged so as to exert a retaining force on the pin-shaped ends sufficient to keep them coupled to the corresponding seats in which they are inserted.
US08937257B2 Electronic module
An electronic module includes a substrate, a built-in electronic component and a surface mount electronic component. A suckable region is provided on a front surface of the substrate. When viewed in a see-through manner in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the front surface of the substrate, the suckable region is inside of a region in which one built-in electronic component is built in and a center of gravity of the electronic module is located inside of the suckable region. A protective layer is not provided on the front surface of the substrate on which the surface mount electronic component is mounted.
US08937248B2 Earphone cable structure
An earphone cable structure includes a first connection sleeve, a primary cable, a first branch cable, a second branch cable and a thin-type bridging section. The first connection sleeve includes a first end and a second end. The primary cable is connected to the first end, and includes first core lines and second core lines. The first branch cable is connected to the second end, and includes third core lines connected to the first core lines. The second branch cable is connected to the second end, and includes fourth core lines connected to the second core lines. The axial cross-sectional width of the primary cable is equal to the axial cross-sectional width of the first branch cable plus that of the second branch cable. The thin-type bridging section is connected between the first branch cable and the second branch cable.
US08937246B2 Gasket and electronic device
A gasket includes a first body which is attached to a first member at outside of a gap between a first seal surface formed on the first member and a second seal surface formed on a second member and which includes a reinforcing member; a second body which is extended from the first body to the gap between the first seal surface and the second seal surface; and a protrusion portion which is protruded toward the second seal surface in a state in which the first body is attached to the first member and the second member has not yet been attached to the first member, and is pressed by the second seal surface to closely attach the second body to the first seal surface in a state in which the first body is attached to the first member and the second member is attached to the first member.
US08937244B2 Photovoltaic device
Methods and apparatus are provided for converting electromagnetic radiation, such as solar energy, into electric energy with increased efficiency when compared to conventional solar cells. A photovoltaic (PV) unit, according to embodiments of the invention, may have a very thin absorber layer produced by epitaxial lift-off (ELO), all electrical contacts positioned on the back side of the PV device to avoid shadowing, and/or front side and back side light trapping employing a diffuser and a reflector to increase absorption of the photons impinging on the front side of the PV unit. Several PV units may be combined into PV banks, and an array of PV banks may be connected to form a PV module with thin strips of metal or conductive polymer applied at low temperature. Such innovations may allow for greater efficiency and flexibility in PV devices when compared to conventional solar cells.
US08937243B2 Structures and methods for high-efficiency pyramidal three-dimensional solar cells
The present disclosure enables high-volume cost effective production of three-dimensional thin film solar cell (3-D TFSC) substrates. First, the present disclosure discloses pyramid-like unit cell structure 16 and 50 which enable epitaxial growth through their open pyramidal structure. The present disclosure than gives four 3-D TFSC embodiments 70, 82, 100, and 110 which may combined as necessary. A basic 3-D TFSC having a substrate, emitter, oxidation on the emitter, front and back metal contacts allows simple processing. Other embodiments disclose a selective emitter, selective backside metal contact, and front-side SiN ARC layers. Several processing methods including process flows 150, 200, 250, 300, and 350 enable production of these 3-D TFSC. Further, the present disclosure enables higher throughput through the use of dual sided template 400. By processing the substrate in the template, the present disclosure increases yield and reduces processing steps.
US08937241B2 Self-assembly nano-composite solar cell
A self-assembly nano-composite solar cell comprises a substrate, a first electrode layer, a composite absorption layer and a second electrode layer. The first electrode layer is formed on the substrate. The composite absorption layer is formed over the first electrode layer and includes a plurality of vertical nano-pillars, a plurality of gaps each formed between any two adjacent nano-pillars, and a plurality of bismuth sulfide nano-particles filled into the gaps and attached to the nano-pillars. The second electrode layer is formed over the composite absorption layer. Through etching and soaking in solutions, the composite absorption layer with nano-pillars and bismuth sulfide nano-particles is fabricated to form a self-assembly nano-composite solar cell having high power conversion efficiency.
US08937231B2 Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH327469
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH327469. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH327469, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH327469 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH327469.
US08937228B1 Maize hybrid X08C872
A novel maize variety designated X08C872 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X08C872 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08C872 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08C872, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08C872. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08C872.
US08937225B2 Tomato hybrid PS02450650 and parent lines thereof
The invention provides seed and plants of tomato hybrid PS02450650 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of tomato hybrid PS02450650 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a tomato plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another tomato plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US08937222B1 Soybean variety XBP22003
A novel soybean variety, designated XBP22003 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XBP22003, cells from soybean variety XBP22003, plants of soybean XBP22003, and plant parts of soybean variety XBP22003. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XBP22003 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XBP22003, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XBP22003, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XBP22003. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XBP22003 are further provided.
US08937221B1 Soybean variety XRP35010
A novel soybean variety, designated XRP35010 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XRP35010, cells from soybean variety XRP35010, plants of soybean XRP35010, and plant parts of soybean variety XRP35010. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XRP35010 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XRP35010, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XRP35010, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XRP35010. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XRP35010 are further provided.
US08937215B2 Polynucleotides and polypeptides for increasing desirable plant qualities
Polynucleotides and isolated polypeptides, nucleic acid constructs comprising the isolated polynucleotides, transgenic plants expressing same and methods of using same for increasing abiotic stress tolerance, yield, biomass, growth rate, vigor, oil content, fiber yield, fiber quality, and/or nitrogen use efficiency of a plant are disclosed.
US08937206B2 Process for increasing weight of olefins
The process converts FCC olefins to heavier compounds. The heavier compounds are more easily separated from the unconverted paraffins. The heavier compounds can be recycled to an FCC unit or delivered to a separate FCC unit. Suitable conversion zones are oligomerization and aromatic alkylation zones.
US08937195B2 Method for producing the transition metal complex, catalyst for trimerization, method for producing 1-hexene, method for producing the substituted cyclopentadiene compound (1)
A silicon-bridged Cp-Ar transition metal complex is provided that serves as a catalytic component capable of efficiently and highly selectively producing 1-hexene through the trimerization reaction of ethylene. The transition metal complex is represented by formula (1): wherein M1 represents a transition metal atom of Group 4 of the Periodic Table of the Elements; Ar1 is an aryl group represented by formula (2), Ar2 is an aryl group represented by formula (3) and Ar3 is an aryl group represented by formula (4) (not all of the three aryl groups Ar1, Ar2 and Ar3 are the same at the same time), Wherein each of the X and R groups represents hydrogen or the like.
US08937191B2 Recovery of highly pure alpha-tocotrienol from crude palm oil extract
Disclosed is a process for the production of high purity alpha-tocotrienol from palm oil extract. More particularly, the invention relates to a process for the separation of alpha-tocotrienol from a mixtures of other tocotrienols and tocopherols and the use of a simplified separation scheme based on a combination of solid phase extraction and simulated moving bed (SMB) separation steps employing polar phase simulated moving bed operation. The process is useful for providing a continuous route and a simplified processing route to providing pure alpha-tocotrienol as a major product essentially free of other tocotrienols and tocopherols including: beta-tocopherol, gamma-tocotrienol, delta-tocotrienol, gamma-tocopherol, delta-tocopherol, front end and back end carotenoids, and alpha-tocopherol as a by-product from palm oil extract. Alpha-tocotrienol is a form of vitamin E and may be useful as a treatment for preventing stroke or reducing brain and nerve damage following a stroke.
US08937188B2 Process for the preparation of lasofoxifene tartrate
A solid crystalline form of 1-(2-[4-(6-methoxy-3,4-dihydronaphthalene-1-y) phenoxy]ethyl)pyrrolidine, and a preparing process thereof are provided. The aforesaid compound is a key intermediate in the synthesis of lasofoxifene. A process for preparing lasofoxifene, a process for purifying lasofoxifene tartrate, and a crystalline form of lasofoxifene tartrate are also provided.
US08937154B2 Stabilized therapeutic small helical antiviral peptides
Provided are constrained peptides that inhibit HIV assembly. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising the above peptides are also provided. Additionally provided are methods of inhibiting replication of a capsid-containing virus.
US08937138B2 Initiating system for cationic polymerization and polymerization process
The present invention discloses an initiating system for cationic polymerization and a polymerization process. The present application relates to an initiating system for cationic polymerization of cationic-polymerizable monomers, and a process for cationic polymerization of cationic-polymerizable monomers by using the initiating system. The present invention particular involves an initiating system for cationic polymerization of cationic-polymerizable monomers in an aqueous reaction medium, and a process for cationic polymerization of cationic-polymerizable monomers by using the initiating system in an aqueous reaction medium.
US08937133B2 Dissoluble PDMS-modified p(HEMA-MAA) amphiphilic copolymer and method for fabricating the same
The present invention discloses a dissoluble PDMS-modified p(HEMA-MAA) amphiphilic copolymer and the method of fabricating the same. The amphiphilic copolymer of the present invention is fabricated via chemically bonding HEMA, MAA, and poly(dimethylsiloxane), bis(3-aminopropyl) terminated (PDMS) in aqueous solution. The PDMS-modified p(HEMA-MAA) amphiphilic copolymer can be dissolved completely in polar solvents, particularly alcohol solvents, to facilitate subsequent processing. The amphiphilic copolymer features adjustable hydrophobic-hydrophilic properties and exhibits excellent biocompatibility. Thus, it can be utilized in a number of advanced applications, including anti-fouling and drug delivery.
US08937130B2 Conjugated diene rubber, rubber composition, cross-linked rubber, and tire
A conjugated diene rubber of the present invention is prepared from conjugated diene polymer chains, wherein the conjugated diene polymer chains each has an active end at one end and an isoprene block at least at the other end, the isoprene block contains 70 wt % or more isoprene monomer units, and the active ends of at least part of the conjugated diene polymer chains are modified with a compound having a >C═O group as a functional group. This provides (i) a tire that has an excellent strength, excellent low-heat buildup property, and excellent wet grip property and (ii) a rubber composition and a conjugated diene rubber that are suitably used to produce the tire.
US08937126B2 Ternary blends of aliphatic polycarbonate derived from carbon dioxide, and process for producing same
Disclosed is a novel ternary aliphatic polycarbonate blend derived from carbon dioxide, which is mainly composed of an aliphatic polycarbonate. Also disclosed is a process for producing the ternary aliphatic polycarbonate blend. A methacrylic resin or an aliphatic polyester is incorporated, as a second component, into an aliphatic polycarbonate to produce a blend, and a vinyl resin is added, as a third component, to the blend at a specified ratio, thereby producing a novel ternary aliphatic polycarbonate blend derived from carbon dioxide and having excellent mechanical properties that cannot be achieved by binary blends.
US08937119B2 Stabilized drier for alkyd-based compositions
The present invention relates to a stabilized drying catalyst (‘drier’) for enhancing or accelerating oxidative air-drying of an alkyd-based composition, comprising an inclusion complex of a cyclodextrin and a metal salt of formula (Mx+)k(Rk−)χ, wherein M is a transition or rare earth metal cation with charge x and R is an anion with charge k. The present invention preserves the catalytic activity of a drier, particularly upon addition to an alkyd composition, thus providing a method for stabilizing the drying time of the alkyd composition. A process for preparing the stabilized drier is also provided.
US08937107B2 Rigid polyurethane foam and system and method for making the same
An embodiment of a closed-cell polymeric rigid foam may be made using a one-shot method and a reaction system that includes a hydrofluoroalkene physical blowing agent and a polyol mixture having an aminic polyol. The hydrofluoroalkene blowing agent has 3 to 5 carbon atoms and a boiling point between 10° C. and 40° C. at 1 atmosphere pressure. Embodiments of rigid foams may have high closed cell content and are particularly well suited for thermal insulation.
US08937103B2 Method for reducing CO2 in a gaseous stream by conversion to a Syngas for production of energy
A system and method for reducing the CO2 in a gaseous stream between 33% up to and even in excess of 90%, by reducing CO2. A gaseous stream that includes substantial amounts of CO2 is provided to a reaction chamber along with H2O (steam) and a carbon source such as charcoal, coke or other carbonaceous material. Carbon is provided to the chamber at a ratio (C/CO2) of between about 0.100 to 0.850, and between about 0.200 to 0.900 of H2O to the provided CO2. The CO2, H2O and carbon are heated to between about 1500° F. and about 3000° F. at about one atmosphere to produce syngas (i.e. carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2)) and reduces the amount of CO2. The Syngas may then be cleaned and provided to a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reactor or a Bio-catalytic synthesis reactor to produce a fuel, such as Methanol, Ethanol, Diesel and Jet Fuel.
US08937102B2 Fluid cocamide monoethanolamide concentrates and methods of preparation
The invention is drawn to fluid concentrate formulations of fatty acid monoethanolamides comprising (a) about 71-76% by weight of one or more C8-C22 fatty acid monoethanolamides, (b) about 15-17% by weight of water, and (c) about 10-12% by weight of one or more hydrotropes, based on the fluid formulation, wherein the fluid formulation is homogeneous, pumpable and color stable at a temperature of less than 55° C. A preferred embodiment is drawn to fluid concentrate formulations of cocamide monoethanolamide (CMEA) consisting of (a) about 71-76% by weight of CMEA, (b) about 15-17% by weight of water, and (c) about 10-12% by weight of glycerol, based on the fluid formulation. Methods of preparing the fluid concentrate formulations mulations are also disclosed. The fluid concentrate formulations of fatty acid monoethanolamides are useful in the preparation of cosmetic and pharmaceutical compositions.
US08937096B2 Use of benzo-fused heterocyle sulfamide derivatives for the treatment of mania and bipolar disorder
The present invention is a method for the treatment of mania and/or bipolar disorder comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of one or more novel benzo-fused heterocycle sulfamide derivatives of formula (I) and formula (II) as herein defined.
US08937088B2 Ureas for the treatment and prevention of cancer
A compound of Formula (I), salts thereof, prodrugs thereof, metabolites thereof, pharmaceutical compositions containing such a compound, and use of such compound and compositions to treat diseases mediated by multiple kinases, such as raf, VEGFR, PDGFR, FLT-3, and c-Kit.
US08937080B2 Pyrimidine substituted macrocyclic HCV inhibitors
Compounds of the formula I: including a stereoisomer thereof, or an N-oxide, a pharmaceutically acceptable addition salt, or a pharmaceutically acceptable addition solvate thereof; useful as HCV inhibitors; processes for preparing these compounds as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds as active ingredient.
US08937068B2 Pyridopyrazine derivatives and their use
Pyridopyrazine compounds which are suitable for the treatment or prevention of physiological and/or pathophysiological states mediated and/or modulated by signal transduction pathways and/or enzymes in mammals and in particular in humans. A compound according to the general formula (I)
US08937066B2 Amino derivatives of dihydro-1,3,5-triazine used in the treatment of ischemia and/or reperfusion related diseases
The invention relates to amino derivatives of dihydro-1,3,5-triazine, used for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases induced by ischemia and/or reperfusion, notably cardiac and renal complications.
US08937061B2 Stereoselective total synthesis of noribogaine
This invention relates generally to methods for synthesizing the non-addictive alkaloid noribogaine.
US08937057B2 Combination of azelastine and mometasone for nasal administration
A pharmaceutical product or formulation, which comprises azelastine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or physiologically functional derivative thereof, and a steroid, or a pharmaceutical acceptable salt, solvate or physiologically functional derivative thereof, preferably the product or formulation being in a form suitable for nasal or ocular administration.
US08937049B2 Carbohydrate gel
The present invention generally relates to the field of nutrition, in particular performance nutrition. In particular, the present invention relates to a novel carbohydrate gel comprising glucose and fructose in a ratio in the range of 3:1 to 1:1. The carbohydrate gel of the present invention can be used to treat or prevent problems with the gastrointestinal tract while allowing for an enhanced blood sugar maintenance and/or an increased exogenous carbohydrate oxidation.
US08937037B2 Electrochemical enhancement of detergent alkalinity
A device for in-situ production of caustic and increasing alkalinity of a detergent and methods for increasing alkalinity of a detergent are disclosed. In particular, in situ electrochemical conversion of bicarbonate, sesquicarbonate or carbonate sources into caustic provides a safe means for increasing alkalinity of a detergent for a variety of cleaning applications. The invention further discloses methods for cleaning using the electrochemically enhanced detergent according to the invention.
US08937030B2 Preparation of perovskite nanocrystals via reverse micelles
The present invention is directed to perovskite nanostructures of Formula ABO3, wherein A and B represent one or more metals with A having a valence lower than B, to methods of making the perovskite nanostructures of Formula ABO3 comprising their synthesis within and precipitation from reverse micelles, and the use of the perovskite nanostructures of Formula ABO3 as capacitors, and their use in dynamic random access memory, electromechanics, and non-linear optics.
US08937025B2 Formaldehyde-free protein-containing binders for spunbond products
One-part binder compositions are described that may include a protein and a crosslinking combination. The crosslinking combination may include at least a first crosslinking compound and a second crosslinking compound. The first and second crosslinking compounds are individually crosslinkable with each other and with the protein. Examples of the protein include soy protein. Fiber products and methods of making the fiber products are also described. The fiber products may include organic fibers, inorganic fibers, or both, in a cured thermoset binder based on solutions of the one-part binder compositions.
US08937024B2 Process and device for producing at least one photonic component
A process for producing at least one photonic component (32, 33, 35, 39, 41), includes inserting the photonic component (32, 33, 35, 39, 41) into a surface layer (12) of a semiconductor wafer and/or within a semiconductor wafer, especially of a semiconductor chip (11, 31, 34, 38, 40) for the simpler and more cost-effective production with the most desired possible three-dimensional structures. At least one laser beam (22) is coupled into the material of the surface layer (12) and/or of the semiconductor wafer, in which the laser beam (22) is focused at a predetermined depth in the material. At least one property of the material and/or the material structure is changed in the area of focus (23, 36).
US08937020B2 Sputtering target and manufacturing method thereof, and transistor
One object is to provide a deposition technique for forming an oxide semiconductor film. By forming an oxide semiconductor film using a sputtering target including a sintered body of a metal oxide whose concentration of hydrogen contained is low, for example, lower than 1×1016 atoms/cm3, the oxide semiconductor film contains a small amount of impurities such as a compound containing hydrogen typified by H2O or a hydrogen atom. In addition, this oxide semiconductor film is used as an active layer of a transistor.
US08937019B2 Techniques for generating three dimensional structures
Techniques for forming a three dimensional (3D) feature on a substrate are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as a method comprising: forming a resist structure on the substrate, the resist structure having a first resist portion with a first thickness, a second resist portion with a second thickness, and a third resist portion with a third thickness, where the first thickness may be less than the second thickness, and where the second thickness may be less than the third thickness; implanting charged particles into the substrate through the first and second resist portions and forming an implanted region in the substrate; and etching the substrate to form the 3D feature on the substrate.
US08937018B2 Methods of forming a pattern on a substrate
A method of forming a pattern on a substrate includes forming spaced, upwardly-open, cylinder-like structures projecting longitudinally outward of a base. Photoresist is formed elevationally over and laterally inward of the cylinder-like structures. The photoresist is patterned to form interstitial spaces into the photoresist laterally outward of the cylinder-like structures. The interstitial spaces are individually surrounded by at least three of the cylinder-like structures. The patterned photoresist is used as an etch mask while etching interstitial openings into the base and while the photoresist is laterally inward of the cylinder-like structures. Other aspects are disclosed.
US08937017B2 Method and apparatus for etching
Embodiments of the invention relate to a substrate etching method and apparatus. In one embodiment, a method for etching a substrate in a plasma etch reactor is provided that include flowing a backside process gas between a substrate and a substrate support assembly, and cyclically etching a layer on the substrate.
US08937012B2 Production method for semiconductor device
Provided is a production method for a semiconductor device comprising a metal silicide layer. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the production method for a semiconductor device comprises the steps of: forming an insulating layer on a substrate, on which a polysilicon pattern has been formed, in such a way that the polysilicon pattern is exposed; forming a silicon seed layer on the exposed polysilicon pattern that has been selectively exposed with respect to the insulating layer; forming a metal layer on the substrate on which the silicon seed layer has been formed; and forming a metal silicide layer by carrying out a heat treatment on the substrate on which the metal layer has been formed.
US08937003B2 Technique for ion implanting a target
A technique for ion implanting a target is disclosed. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as a method for ion implanting a target, the method comprising: providing a predetermined amount of processing gas in an arc chamber of an ion source, the processing gas containing implant species and implant species carrier, where the implant species carrier may be one of O and H; providing a predetermined amount of dilutant into the arc chamber, wherein the dilutant may comprise a noble species containing material; and ionizing the processing gas and the dilutant.
US08936994B2 Method of processing a substrate in a lithography system
A method of processing substrates in a lithography system unit, the lithography system unit comprising at least two substrate preparation units, a load lock unit comprising at least first and second substrate positions, and a substrate handling robot for transferring substrates between the substrate preparation units and the load lock unit. The method comprises providing a sequence of substrates to be exposed to the robot, including an Nth substrate, an N−1th substrate, and an N+1th substrate; transferring the Nth substrate to a first one of the substrate preparation units; clamping the Nth substrate on a first substrate support structure in the first substrate preparation unit to form a clamped Nth substrate; transferring the clamped Nth substrate from the first substrate preparation unit to an unoccupied one of the first and second positions in the load lock unit; and exposing the clamped Nth substrate in the lithography system unit.
US08936990B2 Manufacturing method of power transistor device with super junction
The present invention provides a power transistor device with a super junction including a substrate, a first epitaxial layer, a second epitaxial layer, and a third epitaxial layer. The first epitaxial layer is disposed on the substrate, and has a plurality of trenches. The trenches are filled up with the second epitaxial layer, and a top surface of the second epitaxial layer is higher than a top surface of the first epitaxial layer. The second epitaxial layer has a plurality of through holes penetrating through the second epitaxial layer and disposed on the first epitaxial layer. The second epitaxial layer and the first epitaxial layer have different conductivity types. The through holes are filled up with the third epitaxial layer, and the third epitaxial layer is in contact with the first epitaxial layer. The third epitaxial layer and the first epitaxial layer have the same conductivity type.
US08936976B2 Conductivity improvements for III-V semiconductor devices
Conductivity improvements in III-V semiconductor devices are described. A first improvement includes a barrier layer that is not coextensively planar with a channel layer. A second improvement includes an anneal of a metal/Si, Ge or SiliconGermanium/III-V stack to form a metal-Silicon, metal-Germanium or metal-SiliconGermanium layer over a Si and/or Germanium doped III-V layer. Then, removing the metal layer and forming a source/drain electrode on the metal-Silicon, metal-Germanium or metal-SiliconGermanium layer. A third improvement includes forming a layer of a Group IV and/or Group VI element over a III-V channel layer, and, annealing to dope the III-V channel layer with Group IV and/or Group VI species. A fourth improvement includes a passivation and/or dipole layer formed over an access region of a III-V device.
US08936974B2 Silicon germanium and germanium multigate and nanowire structures for logic and multilevel memory applications
A method to provide a transistor or memory cell structure. The method comprises: providing a substrate including a lower Si substrate and an insulating layer on the substrate; providing a first projection extending above the insulating layer, the first projection including an Si material and a Si1-xGex material; and exposing the first projection to preferential oxidation to yield a second projection including a center region comprising Ge/Si1-yGey and a covering region comprising SiO2 and enclosing the center region.
US08936969B2 Semiconductor device and method of singulating semiconductor wafer along modified region within non-active region formed by irradiating energy through mounting tape
A semiconductor device has a semiconductor wafer with a plurality of semiconductor die separated by a non-active region. The semiconductor die can be circular or polygonal with three or more sides. A plurality of bumps is formed over the semiconductor die. A portion of semiconductor wafer is removed to thin the semiconductor wafer. A wafer ring is mounted to mounting tape. The semiconductor wafer is mounted to the mounting tape within the wafer ring. The mounting tape includes translucent or transparent material. A penetrable layer is applied over the bumps formed over the semiconductor wafer. An irradiated energy from a laser is applied through the mounting tape to the non-active region to form a modified region within the non-active region. The semiconductor wafer is singulated along the modified region to separate the semiconductor die.
US08936968B2 Flip chip package manufacturing method
A flip chip package manufacturing method is provided. A non-conductive film is pressed onto a wafer with multiple conductive bumps. The wafer is cut to multiple single chips. A carrier is provided, and a thermo-compression flip chip bonding process is executed to bond the non-conductive film onto the carrier. The carrier is transferred into a chamber with enclosed, pneumatic pressurized and heatingable characteristics to execute a de-void process to eliminate the bubbles and to execute a high-temperature soldering process to solder the single chip onto the carrier. The sequence of the de-void process and the high-temperature soldering process may exchange.
US08936957B2 Light emitting device with planar current block structure
The present disclosure discloses a method of manufacturing a light-emitting device comprising the steps of providing a light-emitting wafer having a semiconductor stacked structure and an alignment mark, sensing the alignment mark, and separating the light-emitting wafer into a plurality of light-emitting diodes and removing the alignment mark accordingly.
US08936947B2 Sensor measuring method and sensing apparatus
A method of performing a measurement with a sensor having a sensing surface and at least one capture molecule attached to the sensing surface for forming a binding pair with an analyte of interest, the binding pair having a flexible spatial orientation, the method comprising capturing the analyte of interest with the capture molecule, thereby forming the binding pair in an initial spatial orientation; applying a first electromagnetic force to the sensing surface to alter the spatial orientation of the binding pair; and performing a sensor measurement with the binding pair in the altered spatial orientation. A sensor apparatus implementing this method is also disclosed.
US08936946B2 Biologically enhanced electrically-active magnetic nanoparticles for concentration, separation, and detection applications
The disclosure generally relates to a particulate composition formed from a conductive polymer (e.g., conductive polyanilines, polypyrroles, polythiophenes) bound to magnetic nanoparticles (e.g., Fe(II)- and/or Fe(III)-based magnetic metal oxides). The particulate composition can be formed into a biologically enhanced, electrically active magnetic (BEAM) nanoparticle composition by further including a binding pair member (e.g., an antibody) bound to the conductive polymer of the particulate composition. Methods and kits employing the particulate composition and the BEAM nanoparticle composition also are disclosed.
US08936942B2 Polyethyleneglycol-modified lipid compounds and uses thereof
The present invention provides compositions comprising polytheylyene-dialkyloxypropyl conjugates (PEG-DAA), liposomes, SNALP, and SPLP comprising such compositions, and methods of using such compositions, liposomes, SNALP, and SPLP.
US08936940B2 Mass production of secondary metabolite in plant cell culture by treatment of saccharide mixture in medium
The present invention relates to a method of producing secondary metabolites with a high yield using plant cell culture, and a medium for the production of secondary metabolites. More specifically, the method of the present invention is characterized in that the plant cell culture is conducted by adding a saccharide mixture to the culture medium as a carbon source, to increase the productivity of the secondary metabolites. For example, the present invention establishes the method of increasing the productivity of secondary metabolites and shortening the culture time by the use of the mixture of glucose and fructose in the plant cell culture, thereby contributing in producing useful secondary metabolites on an industrial scale using plant cell culture.
US08936938B2 Methods of assaying sensitivity of cancer stem cells to therapeutic modalities
The present invention is directed to methods of measuring the proliferative ability of individual patient cancer stem cells. The present invention provides a method for treating a cancer patient according to an assay of the individual patient's tumor's cancer stem cell sensitivity, by measuring the proliferative ability of cancer stem cells from the patient. By the methods of the present invention it is possible to treat individual cancer stem cells presented in tumor cells. Methods of detecting and enumerating cancer stem cells in hybrid spheroids comprised of fibroblasts and tumor cells are also provided by the present invention. The present invention also contemplates a method for drug and other treatment development, wherein the effects of a drug or combination of drugs or other treatments are determined on the individual patient's cancer stem cells.
US08936937B2 System for expression of genes in plants from a virus-based expression vector
Modified expression vectors, including Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) expression vectors, methods for modifying such vectors, and uses of the same are disclosed.
US08936935B2 Plasma membrane isolation
The present invention relates to a population of monodisperse magnetic nanoparticles with a diameter between 1 and 100 nm which are coated with a layer with hydrophilic end groups. Herein the layer with hydrophilic end groups comprises an inner layer of monosaturated and/or monounsaturated fatty acids bound to said nanoparticles and bound to said fatty acids, an outer layer of a phospholipid conjugated to a monomethoxy polyethyleneglycol (PEG) comprising a hydrophilic end group,or comprises a covalently bound hydrophilic layer bound to said nanoparticles.
US08936931B2 Methods and apparatus of controlling surface wettability of xerographic prints
Exemplary embodiments provide methods and apparatus of using an enzyme-surfactant solution to control surface wettability of a xerographic print.
US08936927B2 Processes for starting up deep tank anaerobic fermentation reactors for making oxygenated organic compound from carbon monoxide and hydrogen
Processes are provided for starting up of anaerobic, deep tank fermentation systems used in the anaerobic bioconversion of hydrogen and carbon monoxide in a gaseous substrate stream to oxygenated organic compounds such as ethanol. In the processes injectors using a motive liquid are used to introduce gas substrate into the deep tank fermentation reactor where at least one of: (i) adjusting the gas to liquid flow ratio through an injector, (ii) changing the rate of liquid flow through an injector, and (iii) adjusting the carbon monoxide mole fraction in the gas feed by admixture with at least one other gas, wherein the mass transfer of carbon monoxide to an aqueous menstruum in the reactor is controlled to obtain the robust growth of the microorganism while maintaining the carbon monoxide concentration below that amount which is unduly adverse to the microorganism. In preferred aspects of the invention, recycled gas from the head space of the reactor is used to modulate the supply of carbon monoxide to the aqueous menstruum.
US08936926B2 Active surface coupled polymerases
Active surface coupled polymerases, surfaces that include such polymerases, and methods of making and using surface-attached polymerases are provided.
US08936922B2 Synthesis of fatty alcohol esters of alpha-hydroxy carboxylic acids and their use as percutaneous absorption enhancers
The present invention provides a novel approach for the preparation of fatty alcohol esters of α-hydroxy carboxylic acids. In one form of the invention, the target fatty alcohol ester of α-hydroxy carboxylic acid is produced by converting a lower alkyl ester of α-hydroxy carboxylic acid into a fatty alcohol ester of α-hydroxy carboxylic acid via alcoholysis (i.e., transesterification). The transesterification process is an equilibrium reaction, catalyzed chemically (i.e., with acids or bases) or enzymatically, that is shifted in the desired direction to produce the desired product. One way of shifting the reaction in the direction of the desired product is by reducing the concentration of one of the products (e.g., distillation of a lower-boiling alcohol as it is formed). Another preferred way of shifting the reaction in the direction of the desired product is by increasing the concentration of one of the reactants.
US08936897B2 Enhancing color toner images with fluorescing magenta toners
A composite color toner image can be enhanced by applying a separate fluorescing toner image over it to provide an enhanced color toner image having a “pinkish” fluorescing effect. This separate fluorescing toner image is obtained using visible fluorescing dry magenta toner particles. Each of these toner particles consists essentially of a polymeric binder phase and a visible fluorescing colorant that emits at one or more peak wavelengths of at least 510 nm and up to and including 590 nm and that is dispersed within the polymeric binder phase.
US08936894B2 Magenta toner containing compound having AZO skeleton
A toner comprising toner particles, each of which contains a binder resin, a compound in which a polymer portion is bound to an azo skeleton structure, and a magenta pigment. The azo skeleton structure and a monomer unit of the polymer portion are represented by the following formulas (1) and (2), respectively:
US08936891B2 Photosensitive polysiloxane composition and uses thereof
The invention relates to a photosensitive polysiloxane composition that has good thermal transmittance, good chemical resistance and good sensitivity and good refractivity. The invention also provides a method for forming a thin film on a substrate, a thin film on a substrate and an apparatus.
US08936887B2 Composite electrolyte membrane for fuel cell, method of manufacturing the membrane, and fuel cell including the membrane
A composite electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell with a controlled phosphoric acid-based material retention ratio. The composite electrolyte membrane includes an electrolyte membrane containing a compound having a phosphoric acid-based material-containing functional group. Also disclosed are a method for manufacturing the composite electrolyte membrane, and a fuel cell including the composite electrolyte membrane.
US08936884B2 Device and method for controlling the humidification of a fuel cell
An oxygen/hydrogen fuel cell including a package having, on the side of the cell intended to be exposed to air, an enclosure provided with a mobile cap; an element made of a material which deforms according to the humidity ratio in the package; circuitry for controlling the opening and the closing of the mobile cap; and a switch which opens and closes according to the deformation of said material, said switch being associated with control means.
US08936883B2 Arrangement and method for generating hydrogen from hydrocarbon fuel
An arrangement and a method are provided for generating hydrogen from hydrocarbon fuel, wherein hydrocarbon fuel is supplied to a fuel reformer for producing hydrogen rich gas including hydrogen, carbon monoxide and possibly unconverted fuel compounds, wherein the amount of carbon monoxide and/or the unconverted fuel compounds is reduced with the help of a molten salt reactor arranged downstream the fuel reformer. An auxiliary power unit including such an arrangement is also provided.
US08936871B2 Active material and positive electrode and lithium-ion second battery using same
An active material contains a triclinic LiVOPO4 crystal particle, while the crystal particle has a spherical form and an average particle size of 20 to 200 nm.
US08936857B2 Coated articles and methods
Coated articles and methods for applying coatings are described. The article may include a base material and a coating comprising silver formed thereon. In some embodiments, the coating comprises a silver-based alloy, such as a silver-tungsten alloy. The coating may, in some instances, include at least two layers. For example, the coating may include a first layer comprising a silver-based alloy and a second layer comprising a precious metal. The coating can exhibit desirable properties and characteristics such as durability (e.g., wear), hardness, corrosion resistance, and high conductivity, which may be beneficial, for example, in electrical and/or electronic applications. In some cases, the coating may be applied using an electrodeposition process.
US08936856B2 AG base alloy thin film and sputtering target for forming AG base alloy thin film
The present invention relates to an Ag alloy film. Particularly, it is preferably used as a reflective film or semi-transmissive reflective film for an optical information recording medium having high thermal conductivity/high reflectance/high durability in the field of optical information recording media, an electromagnetic-shielding film excellent in Ag aggregation resistance, and an optical reflective film on the back of a reflection type liquid crystal display device, or the like. The Ag alloy film of the present invention comprises an Ag base alloy containing Bi and/or Sb in a total amount of 0.005 to 10% (in terms of at %). Further, the present invention relates to a sputtering target used for the deposition of such an Ag alloy film.
US08936855B2 Wood fiber board and manufacturing method thereof
Provided is a wood fiber board, and a production method thereof, such that the wood fiber board contains no phenolic resin, is simple to produce, and exhibits flexural strength and water resistance comparable to those of wood fiber boards produced by incorporating a phenolic resin. The wood fiber board of the present invention has only wood fibers; a polyacrylamide resin being an amphoteric-ionic resin, which has monomers having cationic groups and monomers having anionic groups at a ratio of 7:3 to 3:7 on a mole ratio basis, and which has a molecular weight ranging from 800,000 to 3,000,000; and cationic paraffin. A method of producing a wood fiber board of the present invention involves preparing a slurry to a solids concentration ranging from 2 to 3 wt % and pH of 3 to 5, and adding only the polyacrylamide resin and paraffin to the slurry.
US08936837B2 Anti-glare film manufacturing method
The method includes: forming a coating film including particles and an ultraviolet curable resin on a film substrate; and curing the ultraviolet curable resin by ultraviolet irradiation to form an anti-glare layer constituted by the particles and the ultraviolet curable resin. A ratio of a thickness A of the anti-glare layer to a diameter B of the particles is in the range of 1.5 to 2.4. The ultraviolet irradiation is performed with two or more ultraviolet irradiation units, the first unit irradiation amount is 49 mJ/cm2 or less, the second and subsequent units irradiation amount is greater than 50 mJ/cm2, and the total irradiation amount is 100 mJ/cm2 or greater. The oxygen concentration at a position which is 1 mm above a surface of the coating film is 1 ppm to 2000 ppm. The first unit irradiation is performed above a roller with surface temperature of 10° C. to 24° C.
US08936826B2 Method of coating stents
A method of coating a stent involves modifying a spray coating parameter until a target mass per coating layer is achieved. A method for coating involves spraying a batch of stents according to spraying parameters that were previously determined to provide a target mass per coating layer.
US08936814B2 Skin cream
A topical composition is provided. The topical composition comprises from about 0.25 to about 1.5 percent by weight hydrocortisone; from about 0.5 to about 5.0 percent by weight lidocaine; and from about 0.25 to about 3.0 percent by weight clotrimazole.
US08936812B2 Tamper-resistant oral opioid agonist formulations
Disclosed is a substantially non-releasable form of an opioid antagonist containing the opioid antagonist combined with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable hydrophobic material(s) such that the antagonist is not released or substantially not released during its transit through the gastrointestinal tract when administered orally in an intact oral dosage form. Oral dosage forms containing an opioid agonist and a substantially non-releasable form of an opioid antagonist are also disclosed.
US08936810B2 Methods and apparatus for determining formulation orientation of multi-layered pharmaceutical dosage forms
Rapid and accurate determination of the formulation orientation of multi-layer capsule-shaped tablets with respect to different internal formulation layers proximate to the opposite narrow and rounded ends of the tablets is required. By including an appropriate color scheme in multi-layer osmotic tablets, detection of the formulation orientation is achieved by detecting the color at a spot location on a side of the tablet corresponding to one or another formulation layer or to one or another interface of two formulation layers depending on the formulation orientation of the tablet.
US08936809B2 Method for treating prostate diseases based on local delivery of active substances
A method for treating prostate related diseases in a subject, the method comprising i) optionally administering to subject an initial boost dose of one or more active substances and/or prodrugs, and ii) administering locally into the prostate a controlled release pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more active substances in a biodegradable ceramic carrier. The biodegradable hydrating ceramic may be selected from the group consisting of non-hydrated or hydrated calcium sulphate, calcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, calcium fluoride, calcium silicate, magnesium sulphate, magnesium phosphate, magnesium carbonate, magnesium fluoride, magnesium silicate, barium sulphate, barium phosphate, barium carbonate, barium fluoride, barium silicate, or mixtures thereof. In a specific embodiment, the biodegradable hydrating ceramic is non-hydrated or hydrated calcium sulphate.
US08936785B2 scFv antibodies which pass epithelial and/or endothelial layers
scFv antibodies which specifically bind selected antigens and are obtainable by a method comprising (i) selecting from a pool of soluble and stable antibody frameworks a soluble and stable framework matching best the framework of a non-human antibody against the antigen with a certain binding specificity, (ii) either providing said soluble and stable framework with CDRs that bind specifically to said antigen, or mutating the framework of said non-human antibody towards the sequence of said soluble and stable framework, to generate scFv antibodies, (iii) testing the generated antibody for solubility and stability, and testing the generated antibody for antigen binding, and (iv) selecting an scFV that is soluble, stable and binds to the antigen specifically. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising said scFv antibody, methods of treatment and diagnosis for diseases related to over expression of antigens that are specifically bound by said antibody.
US08936781B2 Macrocyclic compounds as hepatitis C virus inhibitors
The present invention discloses compounds of formula I or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or prodrugs thereof: which inhibit serine protease activity, particularly the activity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3-NS4A protease. Consequently, the compounds of the present invention interfere with the life cycle of the hepatitis C virus and are also useful as antiviral agents. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the aforementioned compounds for administration to a subject suffering from HCV infection. The invention also relates to methods of treating an HCV infection in a subject by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compounds of the present invention.
US08936778B2 Methods for bleaching and desensitizing teeth
Composition and methods include a dental bleaching agent, potassium nitrate a fluoride salt for enhanced whitening and reduced tooth sensitivity. The potassium nitrate and fluoride salt both reduce or eliminate tooth sensitivity that may otherwise be caused by the bleaching agent. For prolonged treatment of teeth, lower quantities of potassium nitrate (e.g., 0.5%) have actually been found to work better than larger quantities (e.g., 3%). The dental compositions may be applied directly to the person's teeth, or they may be loaded into a comfortable fitting, flexible, thin-walled dental tray and placed over the person's teeth. In that case, the dental compositions will include a tackifying agent, such as carboxypolymethylene, which assists the composition in retaining the dental tray over the person's teeth as a result of the adhesive properties of the dental composition rather than due to mechanical interlocking of the tray over the person's teeth. The dental compositions may further include anticariogenic and antimicrobial agents.
US08936777B2 Methods and apparatus for synthesizing imaging agents, and intermediates thereof
The present invention generally relates to methods and system for the synthesis of imaging agents, and precursors thereof. The methods may exhibit improved yields and may allow for the large-scale synthesis of imaging agents, including imaging agents comprising a radioisotope (e.g., 18F). Various embodiments of the invention may be useful as sensors, diagnostic tools, and the like. In some cases, methods for evaluating perfusion, including myocardial perfusion, are provided. Synthetic methods of the invention have also been incorporated into an automated synthesis unit to prepare and purify imaging agents that comprise a radioisotope. In some embodiments, the present invention provides a novel methods and systems comprising imaging agent 1, including methods of imaging in a subject comprising administering a composition comprising imaging agent 1 to a subject by injection, infusion, or any other known method, and imaging the area of the subject wherein the event of interest is located.
US08936773B2 Methods and compositions using calcium carbonate and stabilizer
Provided herein are compositions, methods, and systems for a material containing metastable carbonate and stabilizer. Methods for making the compositions and using the compositions are also provided.
US08936772B2 Silica containing particle
A silica containing composition is disclosed. The silica composition comprising a compound having the following formula (SiO2)x(OH)yMzOaF: wherein M optionally exists and said M is at least one of the following metal or metalloid cations: boron, magnesium, aluminum, calcium, titanium, vanadium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, zirconium, molybdenum, palladium, silver, cadmium, tin, platinum, gold, and bismuth; wherein F optionally exists and said F is at least one of the following: a functionalized organosilane, a sulfur-containing organosilane, an amine-containing organosilane, and an alkyl-containing organosilane at a surface area coverage of 0.01-100%; and wherein the molar ratio of y/x is equal to 0.01-0.5, the molar ratio of x/z is equal to 0.1-300, and the molar ratio of a/z is dependent on the nature of the metal oxide formed.
US08936771B2 Precipitated calcium carbonate pigment, especially for use in inkjet printing paper coatings
The invention relates to novel and innovative PCC pigments, able to be used in a paper coating formulations to manufacture coated “multipurpose” papers, in particular for inkjet applications, whose print qualities would be identical or quite similar to high resolution commercial papers, while maintaining a reduced paper manufacturing and production cost. Said pigments are obtained by a carbonation process using a reduced flow rate of CO2/air, which leads to porous agglomerates of PCC of a very specific structure and unique properties, followed by an upconcentration step leading to substantially the same agglomerates but with a higher, appropriate, solids content.
US08936770B2 Hydrometallurgical process and method for recovering metals
A mineral processing facility is provided that includes a cogen plant to provide electrical energy and waste heat to the facility and an electrochemical acid generation plant to generate, from a salt, a mineral acid for use in recovering valuable metals.
US08936763B2 Integrated sensor arrays for biological and chemical analysis
The invention is directed to apparatus and chips comprising a large scale chemical field effect transistor arrays that include an array of sample-retaining regions capable of retaining a chemical or biological sample from a sample fluid for analysis. In one aspect such transistor arrays have a pitch of 10 μm or less and each sample-retaining region is positioned on at least one chemical field effect transistor which is configured to generate at least one output signal related to a characteristic of a chemical or biological sample in such sample-retaining region. In one embodiment, the characteristic of said chemical or biological sample is a concentration of a charged species and wherein each of said chemical field effect transistors is an ion-sensitive field effect transistor having a floating gate with a dielectric layer on a surface thereof, the dielectric layer contacting said sample fluid and being capable of accumulating charge in proportion to a concentration of the charged species in said sample fluid. In one embodiment such charged species is a hydrogen ion such that the sensors measure changes in pH of the sample fluid in or adjacent to the sample-retaining region thereof. Apparatus and chips of the invention may be adapted for large scale pH-based DNA sequencing and other bioscience and biomedical applications.
US08936755B2 Bodily fluid composition analyzer with disposable cassette
Disclosed is an apparatus for analyzing the composition of bodily fluid. The apparatus can include a fluid handling network including a patient end configured to maintain fluid communication with a bodily fluid in a patient and a pump unit in operative engagement with the fluid handling network. The pump unit can have an infusion mode, in which the pump unit is operable to deliver infusion fluid to the patient through the patient end, and a sample draw mode, in which the pump unit is operable to draw a sample of the bodily fluid from the patient through the patient end. The apparatus can include a spectroscopic analyzer positioned to analyze at least a portion of the sample; a processor in communication with or incorporated into the spectroscopic analyzer; and stored program instructions executable by the processor to obtain measurements of two or more properties of the sample.
US08936753B2 Blood coagulation analyzer, blood coagulation analysis method, and computer program product
A blood coagulation analyzer includes a detector and a controller. The detector includes a light source for emitting light to a prepared measurement sample and a light-receiving section for receiving light transmitted through the measurement sample. The controller is configured to performs operations comprising acquiring, based on the light detected by the detector, ratio information reflecting a ratio between a first value reflecting the intensity of the light transmitted through the measurement sample of a clotting reaction starting stage and a second value reflecting the intensity of the light transmitted through the measurement sample of a clotting reacting ending stage, and acquiring, based on the ratio information, a fibrinogen concentration in the blood sample.
US08936750B2 Functionally graded cemented tungsten carbide with engineered hard surface and the method for making the same
A method of preparing a functionally graded cemented tungsten carbide material via heat treating a sintered cemented tungsten carbide is disclosed and described. The heat treating process comprises at least a step that heats the sintered material to the multi-phase non-equilibrium temperature range in which multiple phases including solid tungsten carbide, liquid metal binder, and solid metal binder coexist. Additionally, the material, after the heat treating process comprises a surface layer with lower metal binder content than the nominal value of metal binder content of the bulk of the material.
US08936741B2 Grooved, corner-ready wall base
A resilient wall base member manufactured with pre-scored grooves to allow relatively short, straight lengths to be used for both flat walls and wall corner junctures without on site scoring operations or equipment. The lengths can either be pre-cut during manufacturing to convenient lengths or can be cut after manufacturing from coils.
US08936727B2 Multiple bed temperature controlled adsorption
The systems and processes disclosed herein relate generally to multi bed temperature controlled adsorption for use in the recovery of sorbates that are removed from process streams by adsorption. Multi bed temperature controlled adsorber systems can include three or more temperature controlled adosrbers that operate in parallel. Each temperature controlled adsorber through a series of steps including an adsorption step, a first bed to bed interchange, a regeneration step, and a second bed to bed interchange.
US08936718B2 Method for producing base lubricating oil from waste oil
A method for recovering base oil from waste lubricating oil by separating base oil range constituents from a waste lubricating oil mixture, thereafter separating higher quality base oil constituents and lower quality base oil constituents from the base oil recovered from the waste lubricating oil mixture and thereafter treating the lower quality base oil constituents to produce marketable base oil. The total base oil produced from a waste lubricating oil mixture by this process is greater than the quantity producible by previous processes using only base oil separation from the waste lubricating oil mixture or processes which use only treatment of the base oil recovered from the waste lubricating oil mixture to produce the product base oil.
US08936705B2 Electrochemical deposition apparatus
The present invention is to provide a substrate holder which can effect a more complete sealing with a sealing member and makes it possible to take a substrate out of the substrate holder easily and securely, and also a plating apparatus provided with the substrate holder. The substrate holder includes: a fixed holding member and a movable holding member for holding a substrate therebetween; a sealing member mounted to the fixed holding member or the movable holding member; and a suction pad for attracting a back surface of the substrate held between the fixed holding member and the movable holding member.
US08936701B2 Coke drum bottom de-heading system
The present invention features a coke drum de-heading system that includes a de-header valve. The de-header valve includes: (1) a main body; (2) a live loaded seat assembly coupled to the main body and comprising a dynamic, live loaded seat, a live seat adjustment mechanism coupled to the main body and designed to control and adjust the force and resulting seat load of the dynamic, live loaded seat, and a force transfer module in juxtaposition to the dynamic, live loaded seat for transferring the force from the live loaded seat adjustment mechanism to the dynamic, live loaded seat; (3) a static seat positioned opposite from and counteracting or counterbalancing the dynamic, live loaded seat; and (4) a blind or sliding blind capable moving in a linear, bi-directional manner within the de-header valve and between the dynamic, live loaded seat and the static seat.
US08936699B2 Engineered molded fiberboard panels and methods of making and using the same
A fiberboard panel is formed from at least one corrugated sheet of molded cellulose fiber material having alternating ribs and grooves. The corrugated sheet or panel is formed by a wet processing method including successive cold and hot press steps in which a wet mat is pressed between an opposing perforated platen and non-perforated, elastomeric material platen of cross-sectional shape substantially matching the desired panel shape and dimensions.
US08936686B2 Method for removing mercury contamination from solid surfaces
A method of selecting a mercury-contaminated solid surface followed by heating a cleaning solution to a temperature less than 100° C. The cleaning solution can contain hydrocarbon oil and one or more organic sulfur compounds. Afterwards, the heated cleaning solution is contacted with the mercury-contaminated solid surface to remove the mercury contamination.
US08936683B2 Synthetic opal and photonic crystal
A colloidal suspension of particles is rapidly self-assembled with a minimum number of defects into a densely packed array of particles on a substrate under simultaneous sedimentation and annealing forces. The particles may be ordered as an opal structure. Optionally, the synthesized structure may incorporate an electrolyte and be used as a sacrificial form for micromolding an inverse structure. The inverse structure may exhibit a photonic band gap. Optionally, necking between particles may be adjusted after micromolding. Furthermore, a shell may alter physical properties, such as protecting a thermally stimulated photonic band gap device. These low cost methods allow more applications to become commercially viable.
US08936678B2 Process and plant for producing cement clinker and for purifying the offgases formed
The invention relates to a process and a plant for producing cement clinker and for purifying the off-gases formed thereby, wherein cement raw meal is preheated in a preheater by means of hot off-gases and then optionally precalcined, the preheated and optionally precalcined cement raw meal is burnt in a rotary kiln to form cement clinker, the cement clinker is cooled in a cooler, the hot off-gases used in the preheater are used in a raw mill for treating the cement raw meal, the dust content of a dust-containing mill off-gas thereby formed is reduced in a separating device to less than 5 g/Nm3, preferably less than 1 g/Nm3, alkali hydrogen carbonate and/or alkali carbonate is added to and mixed with the mill off-gas whose dust content has been reduced to less than 5 g/Nm3, and the mixed gas thereby formed is subsequently fed to a process filter for separation of dust laden with pollutants.
US08936677B2 Method and installation for beneficiation of fly ash particles by flash combustion
The invention concerns a method for beneficiation of fly ash particles comprising: determining the heat value of the fly ash particles; comparing the determined heat value of the fly ash particles with a minimum heat value K; feeding an inlet of a combustor (5) with a feed material comprising the fly ash particles and, in case the determined heat value is lower than the minimum heat value K, fuel in sufficient quantity to assure that the heat value of the raw material is greater than or equal to the minimum heat value K; supplying an upstream airflow to the combustor (5) so as to carry the feed material in suspension from the inlet to an outlet of the combustor; operating the combustor (5) at a temperature of at least 700° C.; collecting beneficiated fly ash particles from the airflow at the outlet of the combustor (5). The invention also concerns an installation for implementation of the said method.
US08936671B2 Aircraft cabin air entrainment filtration with condensation drain
An aircraft has a ventilation system that employs a plurality of nozzles positioned in a cavity between a sidewall of the aircraft cabin and a section of the aircraft fuselage. The nozzles receive a supply of ventilation air and direct jets of air from the nozzles, through the cavity and into the aircraft cabin. The jets of air produced by the nozzles create low-pressure areas in the cavity. At least one return air opening in the cabin sidewall communicates the low-pressure areas with the cabin interior, whereby the low pressure areas draw air from the cabin interior into the cavity where the drawn air is entrained with the jets of air produced by the nozzles. Devices inside the cavity remove suspended impurities from the air drawn into the cavity. In this manner, the ventilation system filters or sanitizes the air drawn through the system.
US08936667B2 Aqueous leaching process for recovery of precious metals with addition of di-thiooxamide ligand
This invention relates to a process for the recovery of precious metal/s from a precious metal-containing material in an aqueous leach slurry or solution. The process includes the step of contacting the precious metal/s in the leach slurry or solution with a ligand selected from dithiooxamide (rubeanic acid), or a substituted dithiooxamide. The leaching of PGMs, gold and silver from their ores using the ligand of the present invention may take place under aqueous alkaline conditions, avoiding both corrosive acidic conditions and the use of cyanide.
US08936649B2 Orthopaedic hip prosthesis having femoral stem components with varying A/P taper angles
A femoral prosthesis for use during performance of a hip replacement procedure includes a plurality of femoral stem components in a range of various sizes and a plurality of femoral head component in a range of various sizes. The anterior/posterior stem taper angle of the femoral stem component varies across its range of sizes.
US08936646B2 Extended articular surface resurfacing head
A modular humeral head resurfacing implant including a head, an anchoring stem, and a modular extended articulation flange. The head includes an exterior hemispherical articulating surface defining a terminating rim, an interior concave surface opposite to the exterior articulating surface, and a first coupling mechanism proximate to the terminating rim. The anchoring stem is coupled to the interior concave surface and extends along a stem axis that extends through an axial center of the head. The articulation flange includes a second coupling mechanism configured to cooperate with the first coupling mechanism to fasten the articulation flange to the head and an outer articulating surface that is curved along substantially its entire length and is substantially flush with the exterior hemispherical articulating surface when the articulation flange is fastened to the head.
US08936637B2 Variable-length passive ossicular prosthesis
A passive ossicular prosthesis includes a first and second fastening element for connection to the tympanic membrane. A connecting element connects the fastening elements in a sound-conducting manner. The connecting element includes a receiving part and an insertion part. The insertion part is inserted into a receiving opening of the receiving part. The receiving part encloses an end section of the insertion part in the manner of a clamp by way of two opposing, parallel legs disposed parallel to a shank axis of the connecting element. The legs have catch devices that fix the enclosed end section discrete spatial positions relative to the shank axis.
US08936632B2 Stent delivery and deployment system
A stent delivery and deployment system for placement of vascular stents having apertures therein for deployment at intersecting blood vessels. The device employs a guide wire having an angled distal end which is threaded into position at the intersection of a first blood vessel and second blood vessel. With the angled portion of the guide wire threaded into the intersecting blood vessel, the stent may be translated along the guide wire to easily position the aperture in line with the intersecting blood vessel.
US08936629B2 Autofluorescent imaging and target ablation
Apparatus, devices, methods, systems, computer programs and computing devices related to autofluorescent imaging and ablation are disclosed.
US08936623B2 Polyaxial bone screw assembly
A polyaxial bone screw assembly includes a shank body having an upper head portion with a mating segment and a first partial spherical surface, a retainer structure being mateable with the mating segment of the upper head portion, the retainer structure having a second partial spherical surface such that when mated, the first and second partial spherical surfaces form a spherical ball member, a receiver defining an open channel and having a base with a seating surface partially defining a cavity, the open channel communicating with the cavity, the cavity communicating with an exterior of the base through an opening sized and shaped to receive the shank upper head portion therethrough, and a bushing sized and shaped to fit within open channel and cavity, the bushing having a lower rounded surface engageable with a top surface of the spherical ball member formed by the shank and retainer structure.
US08936621B2 Method and apparatus for forming a self-locking adjustable loop
An apparatus can include a first flexible member having first and second ends and a first body extending therebetween, where the first body defines a first passage portion. A second flexible member can have first and second ends and a second body extending therebetween, where the second body defines second and third passage portions. The first end of the first flexible member passes into and through the second passage portion such that the first end extends outside of the second passage portion, and the second end of the first flexible member passes into and through the third passage portion such that the second end extends outside of the third passage portion. The first and second ends of the second flexible member pass into and through the first passage portion to form a self-locking adjustable flexible member construct.
US08936619B2 Surgical suture material with barbs cut into it in the undrawn state
A drawn surgical suture material includes an elongate main body and barbs for anchoring in biological tissues, wherein the barbs are formed by cuts made into the suture material in the undrawn state.
US08936608B2 Wound closure devices and systems
Methods and devices are provided for closing a puncture wound. In one exemplary embodiment, a puncture closure device is provided having an elongate tubular body that is disposable through a puncture in tissue and that includes proximal and distal portions. The proximal portion can be adapted to expand to form proximal wings upon rotation of the elongate tubular body, preferably in a first direction. The distal portion can be adapted to expand to form distal wings upon rotation of the elongate tubular body, preferably in a second, opposite direction. The proximal and distal portions can also be adapted to be moved toward one another as they expand upon rotation. As a result, the proximal and distal wings can engage tissue therebetween.
US08936607B2 Method and system for hair removal
A hair removal system configured to destroy germinative cells at a base of at least one hair follicle is provided. The system comprises a casing and at least one pluck-head configured to trap at least one hair, and at least one oscillator mechanically coupled to the pluck-head and to the casing. The oscillator is configured to vibrate the pluck-head such that when the hair is trapped by the pluck-head, vibrations transmitted to the base are sufficient to destroy the germinative cells. A method of using the same is also disclosed.
US08936605B2 Direct vertebral rotation tool and method of using same
A head holder for holding and tensioning the head of a bone screw, particularly a pedicle screw, is provided. Also provided is a ratcheting connector for connecting to the head holders while permitting rotational movement of the head holder when engaged with the ratcheting connector. Also provided is a flex arm connector for connecting multiple ratcheting connectors across multiple vertebral bodies. A tool set for managing and/or correcting spinal deformities, such as scoliosis, including at least one or more head holders and one or more ratcheting connectors is provided.
US08936597B2 Deflectable finger connection feature on surgical saw blade
A surgical cutting blade for cutting bone material when the blade is coupled to a hand-held surgical saw includes a distal portion comprising a plurality of cutting teeth, a shank portion adjacent the distal portion, and a proximal portion adjacent the shank portion. The proximal portion may include a longitudinally extending slot having a proximal opening. The slot may be shaped to receive a portion of the surgical saw through the proximal opening. The proximal portion may have a plurality of deflectable fingers respectively separated from a plurality of main body portions by respective gaps. The plurality of deflectable fingers may extend adjacent the longitudinally extending slot, and may deflect into the gaps to increase and decrease a width of a portion of the slot.
US08936593B2 Device, apparatus, and method of adipose tissue treatment
An improved procedure for performing liposuction is obtained by utilizing a needle that includes a laser source conductor with one end of the needle being configured for insertion into a target adipose skin volume and the other end being coupled to a laser source. The needle may include one or more channels for extracting the treated adipose area. A vacuum source can be used in the extraction of the treated adipose. Further, the first end of the needle may include a cap or end-piece that reduces the build up of carbon deposits. A temperature sensor may be used as input to adjust the laser power and prevent over exposure.
US08936589B2 Rotational atherectomy device with fluid inflatable support elements and distal protection capability
A rotational atherectomy device for abrading a stenotic lesion from a vessel of a patient comprises a flexible drive shaft which extends towards a distal end of the device, a distal fluid inflatable support element located at a distal end of the drive shaft and an abrasive element mounted to the drive shaft proximal to and spaced away from the distal fluid inflatable support element. Both the abrasive element and the distal fluid inflatable support element are rotatable together with the drive shaft and the drive shaft comprises a torque transmitting coil which defines a long lumen of the drive shaft.
US08936588B2 Device and method for prevention and treatment of deep venous thrombosis
In order to inhibit thrombotic processes locally rather than systemically, higher levels of antithrombotic drugs in the deep veins of the legs than in the systemic circulation are obtained using devices and methods that provide venous cannulation in the dorsum of the foot of a patient while applying pressure to the foot proximal to the venous cannulation, potentially as far up the leg as the knee, in an amount sufficient to compress the superficial veins and divert the venous drainage in the deep venous system into the venous plexus.
US08936584B2 Visually-coordinated absorbent product
A visually-coordinated absorbent product includes an absorbent article component including a garment side outer cover and a body side liner, wherein the article component has at least a first and second visual characteristic, and wherein the first visual characteristic is different from the second visual characteristic. The absorbent product also includes a first packaging component including at least first and second visual characteristics, wherein first and second visual characteristics of the absorbent article are coordinated to the first and second visual characteristics of the packaging component, and wherein at least a portion of one of the garment side outer cover and the body side liner is configured with the article component first visual characteristic and at least a portion of one of the garment side outer cover and the body side liner is configured with the article component second visual characteristic.
US08936580B2 Valves, valved fluid transfer devices and ambulatory infusion devices including the same
An implantable medical device with a reservoir including a movable reservoir member, a fill port in fluid communication with the reservoir, and a valve that includes a housing including an opening in fluid communication with the fill port and the reservoir and a valve seat adjacent to the opening, and a valve element, operably connected to the movable reservoir member, that is movable relative to the valve seat between a closed position and an open. One of the valve seat and the valve element includes a main portion and a seal portion that is less tacky than the main portion and is in contact with the other of the valve seat and the valve element when the valve element is in the closed position.
US08936578B2 Medical injector with ratcheting plunger
A medical injector is provided herein having a body with a displaceable plunger. The plunger includes a plurality of spaced-apart ratchet teeth disposed along the length thereof. At least one indexer is provided formed to engage the plunger, wherein the indexer is configured to allow the plunger to displace distally towards a distal end of the body but not proximally towards a proximal end of the body. The medical injector also includes an actuator having an engagement portion formed to engage one or more of the ratchet teeth. The actuator is displaceable to a ready state, the engagement portion being displaced proximally relative to the plunger with the actuator being displaced to the ready state. The indexer prevents proximal movement of the plunger thereby allowing the engagement portion to by-pass one or more of the ratchet teeth with the actuator being displaced to the ready state. In addition, the actuator is displaceable from the ready state to cause actuation of the medical injector. The displacement from the ready state causes distal displacement of the engagement portion with the engagement portion engaging one or more of the ratchet teeth and causing distal displacement of the plunger with the engagement portion. Advantageously, the subject invention provides a plunger for a medical injector which may be controllably advanced with a minimum number of cooperating parts.
US08936576B2 System for anchoring medical devices
Some embodiments of a medical device anchor system include an anchor device that receives a catheter (or other medical instrument) and secures the catheter in place relative to a skin penetration point. In some embodiments, the anchor device can secure the catheter in an operative position relative to the skin without the use of sutures or skin tapes. In particular embodiments, the anchor device can be adjusted to a folded condition so that subcutaneous anchors are partially rotated prior to removal from the skin penetration point.
US08936574B2 Drug delivery pump drive using linear piezoelectric motor
A drug delivery pump drive which uses a linear piezoelectric motor to advance a syringe piston to deliver a liquid drug and a method thereof are disclosed. The pump drive, provided in a drug delivery pump, provides silent operation and very low energy consumption compared to electric motor-based drives. The small size of the motor helps also to reduce overall size of the pump drive and the resulting drug delivery pump.
US08936572B2 Ambulatory infusion device with advanced battery testing and method for testing a battery
Included are embodiments of an ambulatory infusion device. Some embodiments include a battery receiving portion that receives a user-replaceable battery of variable individual characteristics. The user-replaceable battery may serve as a primary power source of the ambulatory infusion device and being successively depleted during application. Similarly, some embodiments include a dosing unit with an electrically powered actuator and an electronic controller that controls operation of the ambulatory infusion device. Still some embodiments include a testing unit that is operatively coupled to the electronic controller, the testing unit being designed to carry out a battery test, the battery test including determining an off-circuit voltage and an internal resistance of the user-replaceable battery. Still some embodiments include an alerting unit that is operatively coupled to the testing unit and/or the electronic controller to provide an alert to a device user in dependence of a battery test result.
US08936570B2 Safety syringe
The present invention provides a safety syringe which resolves a problem in the prior art whereby the needle assembly does not engage the plunger properly due to limitations in the syringe protrusion molding. The syringe of the present invention comprises: a cylinder which has a space therein to contain fluid and forms a fluid discharging portion at one end; a plunger which is inserted inside the cylinder and slid in a longitudinal direction; a piston which is associated with the upper portion of the plunger in order to make airtight contact between the plunger and the cylinder; a syringe needle assembly which is equipped at the upper portion of the cylinder and affixes a syringe needle. The syringe needle assembly is inserted into and contained inside the cylinder after use and is then disposed. In the needle assembly, plural needle supports comprising a first connector and a second connector are extended to the lower portion. The plunger has a needle support insertion member at the upper portion so that it cannot be separated after the needle supports of the needle assembly are inserted. When the plunger is retracted, the needle assembly is retracted and contained in the cylinder. In the needle support insertion member, a ring-shaped protrusion is placed at the upper portion, and plural ring-shaped protrusion supports which connect and support the ring-shaped protrusions are formed.
US08936567B2 Balloon bifurcated lumen treatment
Balloon systems for treating bifurcated lumens include desirable burst and folding characteristics. In some cases, the balloon systems can be formed by varying the wall thickness of a balloon parison.
US08936560B2 Bracing and electrostimulation for arthritis
A system for treating arthritis includes at least one joint stabilizing assembly for providing relief from arthritis. At least one signal transmission element engagement member is operatively connected to the joint stabilizing assembly for connecting a signal transmission element. At least one signal transmission element is supported by the at least one signal transmission element engagement member. An electrostimulation unit, electrically connected to the signal transmission element produces a signal for improving the overall function of an arthritic joint. The electrostimulation unit used in conjunction with the joint stabilizing assembly provides a synergistic effect, which results in optimized joint treatment versus using either the joint stabilizing assembly or electrostimulation unit alone.
US08936556B2 Minute ventilation-based disordered breathing detection
A respiration pattern of a number of respiration cycles is detected and breath intervals (BI) and tidal volume (TVOL) measurements of each of the respiration cycles are respectively determined. An unevenly sampled instantaneous minute ventilation (iMV) signal is produced using the BI and TVOL measurements, and an evenly sampled iMV signal (resampled iMV signal) is produced using the unevenly sampled iMV signal. Disordered breathing is detected based on a comparison between a baseline threshold and the resampled iMV signal.
US08936555B2 Real time clinical decision support system having linked references
A clinical decision support system for patient treatment having a monitoring device operably coupled to a patient. The monitoring device outputs a monitoring signal in response to a measured parameter of the patient. A controller receives the monitoring signal and outputs a display signal. The controller further compiles clinical documentation relating to the patient based on the monitoring signal and outputs a documentation signal related thereto. A display device then receives the display signal and the documentation signal and displays the same in connection with various indicia thereby displaying both the monitored signal and associated clinical documentation.
US08936538B2 Exercising apparatus
An exercising apparatus designed to fit around a seat includes a frame that is adapted to be secured to a support. The frame is a U-shaped configuration with a lateral open area to receive the seat into the frame. One or more arms are coupled to the frame about one or more pivots. Further, the pivots allow a pivotal motion of each of the arms when a force is exerted thereto by a user. One or more resistance devices coupled to the frame and the arms, which provide resistance to the pivotal motion of each of the arms. The resistance devices, which may be a hydraulic or pneumatic piston and cylinder, may include a spring to bias the arms toward their initial, upright position.
US08936532B2 Method for operating a multi-clutch transmission
A method and device for operating a dual clutch transmission connectable to an internal combustion engine provided in a vehicle includes providing a control unit for managing at least the internal combustion engine and the transmission, providing a prediction model including at least one simulated shift sequence for the transmission, predicting the time between a first power upshift/downshift and a second power upshift/downshift for the transmission by using the at least one prediction model, modifying at least one parameter for operating the transmission if the predicted time between the first power upshift/downshift and the second power upshift/downshift for the transmission is shorter than a predetermined time.
US08936530B2 Method and system pertaining to determination of a contact point for a clutch
A method concerning determining of a contact point for a clutch (106) of a vehicle (100), such that the clutch (106) to transmit driving power between a first power source in the form of an engine (101) and at least one powered wheel (113, 114), by opening of the clutch (106), and when the contact point is being determined and the vehicle (100) is in motion controlling the speed of the first power source (101) towards a first speed (ω1) which is higher than an idling speed of the first power source (101).
US08936526B2 Adjustment mechanism for vehicle seat, vehicle seat comprising such a mechanism
An adjustment mechanism for vehicle seat, comprising a gearbox, an eccentric element driven by a driving unit, an eccentric gear wheel rotatably mounted on the eccentric element, a drive output unit equipped with an inner gear ring which cooperates with the eccentric gear wheel by partial engagement of the teeth, a sliding block equipped with a first and a second longitudinal guide, the sliding block cooperating with the eccentric gear wheel by the first longitudinal guide, the sliding block cooperating with the gearbox by the second longitudinal guide, the material of the second longitudinal guide having a lower hardness than the hardness of the material of the eccentric gear wheel.
US08936524B2 Shift by wire transmission shift control system
At least one implementation of a gear shift control system includes an output mechanism coupled to a vehicle transmission, a first drive member coupled to the output mechanism to drive the output mechanism to shift between gears of the transmission and a drivetrain. The drivetrain may include a first input driven by the drive member during a first mode of operation of the gear shift control system and an output coupled to both the first input and the output mechanism to drive the output mechanism as commanded by the drive member. During a second mode of operation of the gear shift control system a second input is coupled to the output. A second drive member is coupled to the second input to drive the output mechanism through the second input and the output during the second mode of operation to cause a transmission gear shift.
US08936508B2 Method of avoiding a grid clogging, a grid and an air intake implementing such a method
The present invention relates to an air intake grid (11) having a mesh (12) provided with elongate elements (16), two adjacent elongate elements (16) crossing at a node (14, 15). At least one elongate element (16) is surrounded by at least one anti-icing member (20), said anti-icing member (20) having a downstream portion (22) matching the shape of said corresponding elongate element (16) and an elongate upstream portion (21) that is resilient and that vibrates under the effect of vortices generated by a flow of air (30) passing through said grid (11) after ice has become deposited (31) on said upstream portion (21).
US08936507B2 Semiconductor manufacturing apparatus
Provided is a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus including an atmospheric transfer device capable of suppressing corrosion of a part without having a corrosion resistant part and, also, capable of taking anti-corrosion measures in a cost effective way. The semiconductor manufacturing apparatus 100, installed in a clean room, includes an atmospheric transfer device 116; an atmospheric transfer chamber 108 for accommodating the atmospheric transfer device 116; a cover member 118 for separating a part of the atmospheric transfer device 116 from the atmospheric transfer chamber 108; and a gas exhaust unit 120 that adjusts a region 119 enclosed by the cover member 118 to have a lower pressure than that of the atmospheric transfer chamber 108. Here, the cover member 118 is made of a corrosion resistant material or an anti-corrosion treatment may be performed on the cover member.
US08936506B2 Wind-powered ventilator that creates positive and negative pressures
A wind-powered rooftop ventilator that can create both positive and negative pressures to enable the exhaust and intake of air is described. The wind-powered rooftop ventilator includes a symmetrical cap that is aerodynamically shaped such that, when wind flows against the back of the symmetrical cap, a negative pressure area is created at the front opening of the symmetrical cap, thereby enabling the exhaust of air from an indoor area. When wind flows against the front opening of the symmetrical cap, the wind is captured by the symmetrical cap, thereby enabling the intake of air into an indoor area. As such, the wind-powered rooftop ventilator can create both positive and negative pressures without use of an external power source, fan, and/or worm gear.
US08936503B2 Mobile celebration device
The present is a mobile celebration device consisting of a movable object capable of descending down a straight article (or simulating the descend) and including a transportable base apparatus securing the straight article in a vertical position. The mobile celebration device is incorporated with the transportable base apparatus in a vertical position allowing the movable object to descend and to reset thereon. The transportable base apparatus can take the form of eyeglasses, a hat, a tiara, a handle and finger ring or clip.
US08936489B2 Y-shaped universal serial bus connector for USB 2.0 Micro-B and USB 3.0 Micro-B connector specifications
A USB device using a rotatable USB connector includes a cable, a first USB plug, a second USB plug and a rotatable USB connector. The cable has a tail end, a first branch end and a second branch end. The first USB plug connects the tail end, the second USB plug connects the second branch end and the rotatable USB connector connects the first branch end. The rotatable USB connector has a first insulating main body, a second insulating main body, a plurality of first conductive terminals and a plurality of second conductive terminals. The first insulating main body and blades form a first connector module while the second insulating main body and blades form a second connector module. The USB 2.0 and second connector modules are movably connected via a joint.
US08936488B2 Memory module socket with terminating apparatus
A memory module socket and a terminating resistor assembly. The terminating resistor assembly provides an elongate conductive bus bar and a plurality of conductive branches, wherein each conductive branch is in electronic communication with the elongate conductive bus bar through a resistor, wherein each conductive branch has a distal end disposed for contacting a signal pin within a memory module socket installed on a printed circuit board. A distal end of each conductive branch is inserted into a window on the connector shoulder adjacent to the slot of an empty memory module socket and engages a plurality of signal pins within the socket in response to the absence of a memory module in the slot. The plurality of signal pins engage contact pads on the memory module and are pushed out of contact with the conductive branch in response to the presence of a memory module in the slot.
US08936485B2 Ground spring with strain relief
A ground spring for receiving a ground end of a high-frequency test probe is described. The ground spring includes a generally annular base portion, and a number of elongated spring fingers extending from the base portion. The fingers extend generally radially inwardly from the base portion and have inner end faces that together define a substantially circular opening in a center portion of the ground spring. Each of the fingers have a tapered shape including a wider base portion end and a narrower inner end portion Each of the fingers has a longitudinal axis that is aslant relative to a reference line extending from the center of the ground spring to a center of the base portion of each finger. BMA connectors including the ground spring and test and measurement devices are also described.
US08936472B1 Magnetic repulsion-based coupling in an electrical connector
A magnetic repulsion-based coupler for an electrical connector includes a housing with two passages formed therein, a male terminal having a magnetic top on one of the passages, and a female terminal having a top made of a material attracted to a magnet in the other passage of the housing. Two such housings form an electrical connector for passing electric power from one conductor to another while preserving polarity when the couplers self-align. Self-alignment occurs when their opposing male terminals repel each other and are each attracted to the female terminals of the opposing couplers. Each passage in the housing of a coupler is formed to receive only the male or female terminal.
US08936470B2 Device for quickly stopping a medical, in particular dental, drilling tool
A device for quickly stopping a medical or dental drilling tool includes a drilling tool having a body extending between a connection end and a working end and having a longitudinal extension along a longitudinal axis of the drilling tool. The drilling tool has a hollow outer shell in which a probe is held that can be moved along the longitudinal axis so that a part of the probe can be moved out of the shell through an opening. The probe is designed as an elongated pin, and its first end facing the connection end is held in the interior of the shell. An electromagnetic sensor for detecting relative movement between the shell and the probe is arranged along the longitudinal extension of the body. The drilling tool has a channel for a treatment fluid extending along the longitudinal axis.
US08936468B2 Transfer copings and related methods for taking implant impressions
A transfer coping configured to take an impression of an implant is disclosed. The transfer coping has an impression material contact portion and an implant mating portion configured to be received within an opening on a coronal portion of the implant. The implant mating portion has at least one support portion and at least one deflection portion. The at least one support portion and the at least one deflection portion are separated from one another by grooves disposed therebetween. The at least one protrusion is disposed on the at least one deflection portion and is configured to engage in a snap-fit manner with a coordinating feature of an implant to maintain engagement of the transfer coping with the implant to take an impression. A method for taking an impression of an implant is also disclosed.
US08936467B2 Implant extraction method and trephine drill bit for enabling the extraction
Method for extracting an implant installed in a bone, which comprises the application of a torque on an extraction tool in order to thread it in the interior of the implant until the implant-bone connection is broken, with the specific feature that the torque is applied in phases. In each phase a torque that is increasingly greater than in the previous phase is applied and the application of torque is then eased. This method brings about a gradual and controlled deformation of the head of the implant, with the result that the extraction tool is inserted more deeply into the implant. As a result, higher breakage torques may be applied without damage being caused to the extraction tool.
US08936463B2 Dental appliance with simulated teeth and method for making
The present invention relates to orthodontic positioning appliances that represent teeth in desired positions and related systems and methods. An appliance can include teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to a patient's teeth. An appliance can include an outer component having a surface representing teeth in desired positions. An outer component can be integral with an appliance. An outer component can be separate and configured to couple with an appliance main body.
US08936460B2 Extrusion head with high volume reservoir
An extrusion head for an extrusion apparatus can include a spider for supporting a central mandrel. A high volume reservoir can be mounted to the spider on a downstream side of the spider. The central mandrel can extend longitudinally into the high volume reservoir. The high volume reservoir can have an axially straight annular conduit with a length L and an outer diameter OD. The annular conduit can have an L to OD ratio of about 1:1. A set of dies can be mounted downstream of the high volume reservoir, whereby the high volume reservoir reduces pressure and promotes homogenization of molten polymer flowing therethrough, before reaching the set of dies.
US08936453B2 Apparatus and method for continuously forming an element made of expanded plastic material and construction element
An apparatus for continuously forming a continuous element made of expanded plastic material comprises: a loading section of a mass of granules made of expandable plastic material; a sintering section of the continuous element made of expanded plastic material extending downstream of the loading section; a stabilizing section of the continuous element made of expanded plastic material extending downstream of the sintering section; a forming tunnel extending along the sintering and stabilizing sections and defined between a pair of lateral walls and a pair of gas permeable conveyor belts, supported by respective supporting tracks. Further, at least one of the supporting tracks of the gas permeable conveyor belts comprises at least one portion extending in the sintering section and angularly tiltable with respect to a transversal centerline plane (π) of the forming tunnel for varying the height of the tunnel in a longitudinal direction.
US08936444B2 Capacitive liquid level sensor
Described herein is technology for, among other things, controlling a pump submersed in a liquid, where the pump includes a plurality of capacitive sensors. The capacitive sensors include a first capacitive sensor and a second capacitive sensor disposed above the first capacitive sensor. The technology involves sensing liquid levels with the capacitive sensors, activating the pump after the second capacitive sensor detects the liquid in a normal mode of operation, deactivating the pump after the first capacitive sensor no longer detects the liquid in the normal mode of operation, detecting a failure of one or more capacitive sensors, and adjusting the operation of the pump to compensate for the failure of the one or more capacitive sensors.
US08936437B2 Rotor locking device and method for locking a rotor of a wind turbine
The invention relates to a mobile rotor locking device for locking a rotor of a wind turbine, the rotor locking device being designed to lock a rotor in such a way that it is prevented from rotating about a horizontal axis, and that a longitudinal axis of a rotor blade is fixed in a vertical plane. The invention also relates to a kit and a locking member for a mobile rotor locking device and to a method for locking a rotor of a wind turbine. According to the invention, the rotor locking device is characterized in that the rotor locking device is designed to fix a main shaft, on which a rotor is disposed torsionally stiffly, so that it is prevented from rotating about its longitudinal axis.
US08936435B2 System and method for root loss reduction in wind turbine blades
A wind turbine blade includes a root region. A first extension (LEX) is attached to the leading edge side of the root region while a trailing edge strake (TES) is attached to the trailing edge side of the root region. The LEX and TES each include an outer profile that becomes more pronounced relative to their respective locations in the root region as the root region of the wind turbine blade morphs from a substantially cylindrical shape to a substantially airfoil shape. The LEX provides both optimal angle of attack and lift generation in the root region, while the TES mitigates airflow separation and enhances airfoil lift in the root region.
US08936433B2 Anti-relief fan frame body structure
An anti-relief fan frame body structure includes a frame body and multiple anti-relief sections. The frame body has a receiving space and a shaft seat received in the receiving space. The frame body further has multiple flow guide members extending from a circumference of shaft seat to an inner circumference of the frame body to connect with the inner circumference of the frame body. The anti-relief sections are disposed on the inner circumference of the frame body between the flow guide members to increase the performance of the fan.
US08936431B2 Shroud for a rotary machine and methods of assembling same
A shroud for a turbine and a method of assembling is provided. The turbine includes a housing, a rotatable shaft and a bucket extending outward therefrom. The shroud includes an alignment member which is coupled to the housing, wherein the alignment member includes a first end, a second end and a body extending between the first and second ends. The second end includes an arcuate portion to facilitate fluid flow downstream from the bucket. The shroud further includes a seal coupled to the body to facilitate sealing a gap defined between the bucket and the body.
US08936424B1 Vertical pipe handler with pivoting arms and smart grip
A vertical pipe handler with pivoting arms for a drilling rig can include a central support and a central support center line. The vertical pipe hander can grab a tubular with top and bottom pipe grabbers, and lift the tubular using a bottom non-rotating collar and a bottom rack and bottom pinion lift mechanism. The tubular can be vertically positioned before being moved downward; thereby allowing for a next tubular in a series to be positioned and inserted.
US08936419B1 Restraint system for restraining a unit load device in an aircraft
A restraint system for releasably restraining a unit load device in an aircraft. The restraint system includes a guide rail adapted to be connected to the aircraft and one or more restraint mechanisms connected to the guide rail. Each restraint mechanism includes a pawl that is selectively pivotal between a locked position and an unlocked position. The guide rail is adapted to restrain movement of the unit load device in the transverse direction and the pawl of the restraint mechanism is adapted to restrain movement of the unit load device in the longitudinal and vertical directions when the pawl is in the locked position.
US08936418B2 Guide device for hand-held spot welding electrode milling cutter
A device for finishing spot welding electrodes comprises a milling head that is suited for said finishing of spot welding electrodes. The device furthermore comprises a guide device for guiding the milling head relative to at least one spot welding electrode or relative to at least one spot welding electrode shaft.
US08936417B2 Method of controlling machine tool and machine tool
To provide a method of controlling a machine tool and a machine tool which allow preventing relieving interference without using a mechanism for causing an offset between a cutter (13) and a workpiece (50), a controller (40) performs control such that the workpiece (50) is machined by repeating the steps of: machining the workpiece (50) by moving the cutter (13) for machining the workpiece (50) in a direction parallel to a rotational axis of the cutter (50) while rotating the workpiece (50) together with the cutter (13); and returning the cutter (13) to a machining start position again after termination of the machining step, and performs offset control such that the cutter (13) is moved away from the workpiece (50) in a rotation direction of the cutter (13) upon the termination of the machining step.
US08936410B2 Remote hopper release
A dump body latching system for application to a self dumping hopper comprises a battery, a linear actuator assembly having an actuator rod configured for reciprocal motion into and out of a housing, an actuator cable having a first end attached to the actuator rod and a second end attached to a biased trip lever and a controller configured to connect the battery with the linear actuator to withdraw the actuator rod into the housing and thereby pull the actuator cable and the biased trip lever to disengage the trip lever from a locking pin.
US08936409B2 Locking device for a rooftop support
A locking device that prevents a rooftop support device from being separated into upper and lower parts is disclosed. The locking device stops the lower base from being fully unscrewed from the upper platform. The device automatically releases to allow the lower base to be screwed back onto the upper platform.
US08936408B2 Liquid material feeding container
In the liquid material feeding container, a piston is formed with a seal portion at a front portion thereof, being sliding in contact with an inner wall of a housing portion of a barrel body, and a cylindrical portion having projections in an outer periphery of a rear end portion and a female thread portion in an inner periphery thereof, and in an outer peripheral surface of the front portion extending frontward from the above-described operating portion of the above-described rotating element, a male thread portion is formed, and in the above-described barrel body, a space of the housing portion is formed in a frontward portion and a groove portion with which the projection is engaged is formed in a backward portion along an axial direction.
US08936404B2 Method, apparatus and system for self-aligning components, sub-assemblies and assemblies
Method, apparatus and system for self-aligning components, sub-assemblies and/or assemblies wherein actuators are used to physically move the components, sub-assemblies and/or assemblies such that an appropriate alignment is provided. The efficiency of the alignment may be determined with respect to a qualitative measurement (e.g., bit error rate, optical intensity and the like) of an output signal.
US08936401B2 Method for disposable guidewire optical connection
A method for terminating a first optical fiber within a proximal portion of a guidewire tubing. The guidewire tubing has an outside diameter defined as having a tolerance of ±0.001″ or less. The method comprises the step of centering the first optical fiber within the guidewire tubing. A female optical receiving device used to receive an optical guidewire and connect guidewire internal optical fiber to an external relaying optical cable is also provided.
US08936398B2 Bearing device
A bearing device includes: a journal part, a main bearing, a cylinder block, and a bearing cap. One half bearing held by the cylinder block includes: a first circumferential oil groove and a second circumferential oil groove being formed at positions opposite to an inlet of an oil passage of the journal part; a separation part separating the first circumferential oil groove and the second circumferential oil groove; and a first oil hole and a second oil hole respectively penetrating from the first circumferential oil groove and the second circumferential oil groove to an outer circumferential surface. The cylinder block includes an oil distribution passage which is formed so as to extend across both the first oil hole and the second oil hole of the one half bearing.
US08936396B2 Thermometer with electric generator
A thermometer includes a body member and a tip member with a thermal contact surface secured to the body member. A thermal sensor mounted on the inside of the tip member is adapted for sensing a thermal contact surface and producing a temperature signal. A set of lead wires is coupled to the thermal sensor for transmission of the temperature signal. A display module is disposed in the body member. A processor is electrically connected to the set of lead wires to receive the temperature signal for display of a corresponding temperature reading. An electric generator having a motor with a rotary shaft is disposed in the body member. The motor is driven for generating electric energy when the rotary shaft is rotated. A capacitor is electrically connected to the electric generator for storing the electric energy generated by the electric generator and supplying the electric energy to the processor.
US08936392B2 Hydrodynamic cavitation device
An advanced hydrodynamic cavitation device formed from a cylindrical tube having a flow through chamber. The chamber has a series of stages with each stage formed from at least three plates spaced annularly and extending radially inward at an oblique angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the flow through chamber. Each plate has shear inducing side edges and a plurality of orifices with shear inducing edges. The orifices are arranged perpendicular to the plates and shaped to control the velocity of the fluid. An unrestricted passageway exists along the central axis of the flow through chamber to provide a constant flow for continuous flushing of suspended solids to prevent clogging. Additionally, the passageway will facilitate the insertion of a pressure cleaning tube without requiring that the device be disassembled.
US08936389B2 Apparatus and method to feed livestock
A method and apparatus for feeding livestock is presented. The method includes providing a mobile feed preparation apparatus that includes a feed container containing a base feed, a conveying assembly that receives the base feed from the feed container, a feed additive assembly comprising a reservoir containing a feed additive, where the feed additive assembly is in flowable communication with the conveying assembly, a weight sensitive platform having a weigh cell, where the reservoir is mounted on said platform, and a controller in communication with the conveying assembly and the weigh cell. The method further includes weighing the reservoir to determine a first weight, dispensing from the mobile feed preparation apparatus a feed ration, and weighing the reservoir to determine a second weight. Additionally, the method includes calculating a distributed amount of the feed additive using the first weight and the second weight.
US08936376B2 Fixing device and display having the fixing device
The fixing device of the present invention comprises a base, at least one light guide pillar, and at least one light-blocking element. The base comprises at least one through hole, which obliquely penetrates the base. The at least one light guide pillar is disposed on the base. The at least one light-blocking element corresponds to the at least one through hole; therefore, when the at least one light-blocking element passes through the at least one through hole, the base and the light guide pillar are fixed by the at least one light-blocking element.
US08936375B2 Lighting apparatus
A lighting apparatus includes a light housing, a base mount, an extension member, and a lighting arrangement. The light housing includes a first housing member moveably supported such that the first housing member is capable of rotating about a first longitudinal axis thereof, and a second housing member movably supported such that the second housing member is capable of rotating about a second longitudinal axis thereof. The lighting arrangement is provided in the light housing for forming a plurality of light sources of predetermined intensity, wherein when the first housing member and the second housing member are pivotally moved with respect to each other and rotatably moved about the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis respectively, the light sources are arranged to selectively and simultaneously provide illumination towards two illumination directions.
US08936370B2 Lens cover module
A lens cover module includes a rail member, a lens cover movably mounted on the rail member, a first driving device, and a second driving device. The lens cover reciprocates between a first position where the lens cover covers the lens, and a second position, where the lens cover uncovers the lens. The first driving device moves the lens cover from the first position to a third position, and moves the lens cover from the second position to a fourth position. After the first driving device, the second driving device keeps moving the lens cover to the second position from the third position, or moving the lens cover to the first position from the fourth position.
US08936366B2 Illuminated skin robot display
There is provided a robot that includes a processor executing instructions that determine a desired image to be displayed. The processor issues control signals corresponding to the desired image to be displayed. The robot also comprises a display assembly including a visual projector, a mirror, and a display surface. The visual projector and mirror are disposed within the robot. The visual projector projects light corresponding to the desired image onto the mirror. The mirror receives the light from the projector, and reflects the light onto the display surface. The display surface receives the light. The image is visible on the display surface from outside the robot.
US08936359B2 Ink compositions incorporating ester resins
An ink composition including one or more ester resins, the ink composition containing an optional colorant; at least one crystalline phase-change agent; an amorphous binder agent; and optionally one or more additives; where the at least one amorphous binder agent includes at least one ester compound.
US08936352B2 Printer including printer nozzle
A printer includes a nozzle hole plate including a plurality of nozzle holes, the nozzle hole plate being rotatable; and a nozzle part including a sleeve having a leading passage corresponding to one of the plurality of nozzle holes of the nozzle hole plate.
US08936349B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus forming an image on a recording medium includes a head unit which includes an ejecting unit which ejects photo-curable color ink which is cured by being irradiated with light, an ejecting unit which ejects photo-curable transparent ink which is cured by being irradiated with light, and a light irradiation unit which radiates the light; a moving unit which moves the recording medium and the head unit relatively in reciprocating movements; and a controller which causes the transparent ink to be ejected toward the recording medium while causing the head unit to move in one direction in the reciprocating movements, and causes the transparent ink which is applied in the one direction to be irradiated with the light while causing the head unit to be moved in the other direction in the reciprocating movements.
US08936348B1 Recording apparatus
A sliding section that slides on a guide rail to which grease is applied while integrally moving with a carriage is provided in a side surface of the carriage that is equipped with a liquid ejecting head and reciprocates in a moving direction. The sliding section has one side edge section extending so as to cross the moving direction in a position of one side in the moving direction, and the other side edge section extending so as to cross the moving direction in a position of the other side in the moving direction.
US08936346B2 Liquid removing device and liquid ejecting apparatus
A liquid removing device which removes liquid attached to an abutment section in a cap having the abutment section which is capable of abutting a liquid ejecting head having a nozzle ejecting the liquid onto a target, includes a transfer section which abuts the abutment section to transfer the liquid attached to the abutment section of the cap, wherein a contact angle between a surface of the transfer section and the liquid is smaller than a contact angle between a surface of the abutment section of the cap and the liquid.
US08936340B2 Droplet ejection apparatus and method of controlling the apparatus
A droplet ejection apparatus, including: an image-data storage; a droplet ejection head; a post-processing mechanism configured to perform drying processing and curl correction processing by a common processing technique on an image-formed recording medium; and a controller configured to: calculate a liquid ejection amount for each evaluation region on the recording medium; determine a first processing amount required for the drying processing, based on a maximum liquid ejection amount; determine, for each evaluation region, a second processing amount for the curl correction processing, based on the liquid ejection amount and a position of the evaluation region on the recording medium; and control the post-processing mechanism to perform the drying processing and the curl correction processing according to a maximum control amount of the post-processing mechanism among the first processing amount and the second processing amounts of the respective evaluation regions.
US08936338B2 Apparatus and method for recording
A recording apparatus has a controller that controls a conveying roller and a discharge roller for conveying a recording medium. The controller controls the rotation phases of the conveying roller and the discharge roller when the recording medium leaves the conveying roller before the recording medium enters the conveying roller.
US08936337B2 Method of adding gloss control table
In a method of adding a gloss control table, first base material information formed from a first gloss control table of a first base material and a first pattern measurement value of a test pattern formed on the first base material, and second base material information formed from a second gloss control table of a second base material and a second pattern measurement value of a test pattern formed on the second base material, are stored in the storage unit. The method includes: measuring a pattern of new base material for measuring the test pattern formed using a predetermined amount of ink of a new recording medium, and interpolating the gloss control tables for obtaining a new gloss control table of the new base material using a predetermined measured value interpolation method based on the first base material information and the second base material information.
US08936336B2 Image forming apparatus and method of driving and controlling head
An image forming apparatus includes a liquid ejection head including a pressure generation unit configured to generate a pressure for pressurizing a liquid in an individual liquid chamber communicating nozzles; and a head drive control unit configured to generate a drive waveform including pulses in time series, select one or more pulses from the drive waveform according to a droplet size, and provide the selected drive pulses to the pressure generation unit. The drive waveform includes a first pulse not including a waveform component that suppresses ejection bending, and allowing a droplet to be ejected, and a second pulse including the waveform component that suppresses ejection bending, and allowing a droplet to be ejected. An amount of the droplet ejected in the second pulse is larger than in the first pulse, and a speed of the droplet ejected in the second pulse is higher than that in the first pulse.
US08936335B2 Liquid ejecting apparatus and method of controlling liquid ejecting apparatus
There is provided a flush box in an area other than a recording area in an end portion of a range in which a recording head can be driven in a main scanning direction. A control circuit performs control such that it is determined whether or not a flag is turned on for flushing operation in step S3; in a case where the flag is turned on, in step S4, it is determined whether final path is already finished or is about to be finished; when it is determined that the recording head is on the final path, in step S5, it is determined whether or not the stop position is on the side of the flush box. Then, maintenance operation is started in step S6 and paper feeding operation is executed in step S7 only when the stop position is on the side of the flush box. In addition, only the paper feeding operation is executed in step S7 when the stop position is on a side opposite to the side of the flush box.
US08936332B2 Refrigerator
A refrigerator includes a refrigerator main body having a cooling chamber, a cooling chamber door configured to open and close the cooling chamber, a rear storage member disposed at a rear area to be drawn out along back and forth directions of the cooling chamber, and a front storage member disposed at the front of the rear storage member and configured to be relatively movable with respect to the rear storage member, whereby goods and/or food stuffs can be easily stored and drawn out.
US08936325B2 Audio/video electronic apparatus, in particular a multimedia car radio, with a removable front panel
The apparatus comprises: a case (100), in particular a case that can be integrated into a motor vehicle dashboard; a front panel element (200), removably mounted on the case; and means for the reversible assembly and fixation of the front panel element to the case. Such means include: at a first end of the front panel element and of the case, a dismountable magnetic hinge comprising a first pair of magnetic elements (124, 224), arranged on the case and on the front panel element, respectively, opposite to each other and in mutual attraction; and at an opposed, second end of the front panel element and of the case, means for locking the front panel element to the case, comprising a lock (212) and a second pair of magnetic elements (126, 226), arranged on the case and on the front panel element, respectively, opposite to each other and in mutual repulsion.
US08936321B2 Flanged bearing ring for the hub of a motor vehicle wheel
A flanged bearing ring for a motor vehicle wheel includes two different materials joined as a single piece: a tubular core and an outer body around the core. The outer body forms a radial flange and is made of a lighter material than that of the core. The ring further includes an element of generally tubular shape, which contacts both the outer body and the inner core to cover and seal with continuity a circular line of separation at the end of the interface surface between the core and the outer body at the axially outer side of the ring. The tubular element further forms a cylindrical axial edge which extends in an axially inner direction and is fixed in the axially outer end of the core cavity, and a cylindrical tubular portion, projecting in an axially outer direction beyond the flange, for centering the vehicle wheel.
US08936317B2 Seat back for vehicle and seat for vehicle including the same
A waist receiving portion, which is provided at a support member, is curved to form a convex shape toward a front side in a seat front and rear direction in side view. Accordingly, when a waist portion of an occupant is pressed against the waist receiving portion, the change of the shape of lumbar vertebrae is suppressed. For this reason, since it is possible to reduce the difference between a timing when a head portion of the occupant is pressed against a headrest and a timing when a neck portion of the occupant is pressed against a neck receiving portion, it is possible to suppress swing of the head portion of the occupant about the neck portion as a fulcrum in the seat front and rear direction. Therefore, a burden to the neck portion of the occupant is reduced.
US08936315B2 Ophthalmic examination chair having tilt drive assembly
An ophthalmic examination chair includes a seat for supporting a patient thereon, a support base for supporting the seat, a tilt guide assembly for tiltably moving the seat with respect to the support base, and a tilt driving assembly. The tilt driving assembly includes a motor operatively connected with a drive element and a drive transmission element operatively connected with the drive element. The drive transmission element is further operatively connected with the seat for moving the seat when the motor is activated.
US08936312B2 Energy absorbing seat for a vehicle
A seat supports an occupant of a vehicle. The seat comprises a seating frame member for providing a surface to support the occupant and a back frame member extending away from the seating frame member. The back frame member defines a U-shaped cavity. A boss is coupled to the back frame member within the U-shaped cavity. A fastening element extends through the boss and the back frame member. The fastening element deforms the boss and the back frame member when a force above a predetermined value is applied to the back frame member thereby causing the back frame member to rotate relative to the seating frame member. Allowing the back frame member to rotate relative to the seating frame member reduces an impact force transferred from the seat to the occupant caused by the force above the predetermined value.
US08936302B2 Vehicle structure
A flange of a left rear side portion (aluminum member) includes a plane section extending toward a vertical wall of a left side member (steel plate-like member). The left side member includes a bent portion formed as a result of being bent between a flange and the vertical wall of the left side member, and a base section, which serves as a start point at which the bent section starts to be bent from the flange of the left side member. The plane section of the left rear side portion is provided such that it covers an area substantially up to the base section of the left side member.
US08936299B2 Vehicle front body structure
The present invention relates to a vehicle front body structure comprising a cross-sectionally closed front side frame installed to extend in a front-rear direction of a vehicle. The front side frame has a depressed section formed in a lower region of a vehicle-width directional inner wall surface portion thereof in such a manner as to be depressed toward a vehicle-width directional outward side. The front side frame is internally provided with a reinforcing member extending over a front-rear directional dimension of the depressed section. An upper portion of the reinforcing member is joined to at least one of a vehicle-width directional intermediate region of an upper wall portion of the front side frame and an area of the upper wall portion located outward side of the intermediate region, and a lateral portion of the reinforcing member is joined to a wall surface portion corresponding to the depressed section.
US08936297B2 Sealing device
A sealing device, such as a sealing bulkhead for a motor vehicle, is provided that can be arranged or is arranged between an inner column part of a motor vehicle and an outer column part of the motor vehicle and includes, but is not limited to a holder fixed on the inner column part, a separating body fixed on the a holder and at least sectionally closes a gap formed between the inner column part and the outer column part, as well as a supporting unit fixed on the separating body and on the outer column part in order to fix the outer column part on the inner column part.
US08936292B2 Load ring for lifting by elevator, of cassing having no upset
A cylindrical ring sized to slide over the box end of an oilfield tubular having a given diameter, has a shoulder at one its ends and a sidewall along its length. The sidewall has a circumferential groove about its interior surface housing a band which can be made tight against the exterior surface of the oilfield tubular by a latch accessible through a slot in the sidewall, and which becomes even tighter if the tubular attempts to escape from the band. In a first orientation, the cylindrical ring is used as a load ring. By turning the cylindrical rings upside down, the cylindrical ring is used as a thread protector for the pin end of the tubular.
US08936286B2 Device and method for handling an uncured tire blank
Device for handling (102) a green tire (24), comprises a supporting structure and at least one hook (106) mounted to rotate with respect to the supporting structure between a gripping position and a disengaged position, about a horizontal axis (18) running outside of the hook.
US08936285B2 Bumper structure
A bumper structure, that can mitigate impact when a collision body collides with a vehicle transverse direction end portion of an impact absorbing member, is obtained. A bumper structure has a bumper reinforcement that extends along a vehicle transverse direction at a vehicle front-rear direction end portion; an impact absorbing member that is provided at a vehicle front-rear direction outer side of this bumper reinforcement, and at which an outer side surface of a vehicle transverse direction end portion is made to be an inclined surface that is inclined toward a vehicle transverse direction outer side, from a vehicle front-rear direction outer side toward a vehicle front-rear direction inner side; and a plate-shaped member that is provided along the inclined surface, and whose rigidity is higher than the impact absorbing member.
US08936283B2 Brunnian link making device and kit
A Brunnian link is a link formed from a closed loop doubled over itself to capture another closed loop to form a chain. The example kit provides for the successful creation of unique wearable articles using Brunnian link assembly techniques and includes several pin bars that are supported in a desired special orientation by at least one base. The desired special orientation is dependent on the desired linked configuration of the completed article. The pins may be assembled in various combination and orientations to provide endless variation of completed link orientations.
US08936282B1 Stop knot tying device
A stop knot tying device which aids with tying a stop knot directly on a fishing line for use with a slip bobber. The stop knot tying device generally includes a main body having a retainer portion and an elongated portion extending therefrom. The retainer portion includes a ring member and funnel member which act to retain a coil of string. A distal, free end of the coil of string exits the retainer portion through an aperture on its ring member. The elongated portion includes a slot running along its length and at least one notch. By positioning a fishing line within the slot through one of the notches and winding a cut-away portion of string around the line, one can utilize the present invention to efficiently and safely tie a stop knot on a fishing line.
US08936278B2 Book cover with printed image
A system for affixing a printed image onto a book cover, comprising a sleeve having a front surface, a back surface and four edges. The sleeve includes a front layer having a transparent window region surrounded by an opaque mask region and a back layer joined to the front layer along at least two of the edges, wherein the back layer is not joined to the front layer along at least one of the edges thereby providing at least one open edge adapted to receive the printed image. Adhesive strips having peelable coverings are affixed onto the back surface of the sleeve along at least two of the edges. The opaque mask region is adapted to cover the edges of the printed image, and the adhesive strips are adapted to affix the sleeve onto the book cover.
US08936277B2 Platform trailer with reinforced neck
A platform trailer includes a neck reinforcement structure located in the neck region. The neck reinforcement structure includes a first beam reinforcement structure located adjacent an inner side of the first beam that is oriented toward the second beam, and a second beam reinforcement structure located adjacent an inner side of the second beam that is oriented toward the first beam. A plurality of internal cross members extend between and interconnect the first and second beam reinforcement structures. A fifth wheel plate is fixedly secured to and that extends between both the first and second beams. A kingpin is connected to the fifth wheel plate and is adapted to be engaged by an associated tractor fifth wheel. The neck reinforcement structure allows for use of aluminum alloy beams with a reduced height in the neck region of the trailer.
US08936276B1 Automotive frame rail design to manage an offset, frontal applied load
A body structure of a vehicle includes a bulkhead, and a frame rail extending forward from the bulkhead along a longitudinal centerline. A powertrain system is disposed laterally inboard of the frame rail relative to the longitudinal centerline. The frame rail includes a flared section, a splayed section, and a reinforcing member. The flared section curves laterally outboard, away from the longitudinal centerline. The splayed section includes a variable cross sectional area that increases with an increase in distance from the bulkhead. The reinforcing member is operable to increase lateral stiffness in the frame rail, in a direction transverse to the longitudinal centerline. The frame rail is operable to deform into contact with the powertrain system in response to a load applied to a forward end of the body structure and laterally offset from the longitudinal centerline, to generate a lateral force in the body structure.
US08936267B2 Collapsible child carrier apparatus
A child carrier apparatus comprises first and second leg frames, a seat frame including first and second tube portions, a joint housing connected with the first and second tube portions, an impeding part assembled adjacent to the joint housing, and a release actuator. The first tube portion is pivotally connected with the first leg frame. The second tube portion is pivotally connected with the second leg frame and the joint housing, and is rotatable between unfolded and folded positions. The impeding part can move between a first position obstructing rotation of the second tube portion relative to the joint housing from the unfolded position, and a second position displaced away from a path of rotation of the second tube portion to allow folding of the second tube portion. The release actuator is operable to drive the impeding part to move from the first to second position.
US08936262B2 Walker with positionable handles
A walker has a frame with two opposing sides joined at a front of the walker, each side having front and rear legs and a handle at a top of each side. Each handle is connected to the frame through a rotatable joint so the handles have a first position a first position in which the handle is generally horizontal for walking, and a second position in which that handle is lowered closer to the seat making it easier to sit and stand. The joint is locked into each position.
US08936258B2 Rolling container assembly with adjustable storage units
An apparatus for transporting articles between working locations is provided. The apparatus includes wheels mounted towards the bottom of the apparatus for rotation about an axis to provide rolling support for the apparatus and a manually engageable pulling handle. The pulling handle and the ground engaging wheels are arranged to enable a user to manually pull the pulling handle generally rearwardly so as to tilt the apparatus rearwardly to a tilted rolling movement position, thereby enabling the user to roll the apparatus to a desired location by pushing or pulling the pulling handle in a desired direction. The apparatus also includes a frame and at least one or more mount structures adjustably connected to the frame. The apparatus further includes a plurality of containers connected to the mount structures, where at least one of the containers are of a different configuration from another one of the containers.
US08936255B2 Stackable shopping basket with a pull handle
The present invention relates to a stackable shopping basket (10A) comprising a bottom (14A), wheels, side walls, a carrying handle arrangement and a telescopic pull handle (20A) which is arranged in connection with one of the side walls and comprises a first and a second telescopic element (22A, 21A). At least one side wall (11A) is higher than one or more of the other walls, in association therewith (11A2) a hollow metal profile is arranged which comprises said first telescopic element (22A). Its lower end is fixedly fastened to or in the lower end of said higher side wall (11A2) and/or in the bottom (14A). The second telescopic element (21A) comprises a metal profile which is adapted for sliding in said first telescopic element (22A). In the extended position the second telescopic element (21A), at least to a large extent, is drawn out of the first telescopic element (22A), and in a stacked position it is substantially completely inserted in the first telescopic element (22A). The second telescopic element (21A) has a lower outer end which in an inserted position substantially reaches the lower end of the first telescopic element (22A), and an upper end which is provided with a handle (25A), which in a stacking position rests on an upper edge of the higher side wall (11A2) or is taken up in seat (16A) provided therein.
US08936251B1 Skate system including active displacement mechanism
A skate device includes a footwear-type boot having a sole, two side wheels positioned on opposite sides of the boot, a cross-jacket, disposed on a front region of the sole, the cross-jacket comprising a side-by-side tube with through holes for receiving screws to fix the cross-jacket to the sole, an active displacement mechanism connected to the two side wheels, the active displacement mechanism comprising a chassis with a clamped shaft that mounts a transfer bar, shaped as a flat plate, to a main joint between two lateral joints, the lateral joints having a center displaced from the main pivot joint, and shock absorbers connected to the lateral joints.
US08936248B2 Boot seal for variable compression-rate engine
A boot seal for variable compression-rate engine includes a boot-seal element, and a reinforcement member. The boot-seal element includes an inner layer, and an outer layer. The inner layer is disposed on the inner face of the boot-seal element, and is composed of a fluorinated rubber. The outer layer is disposed on a more outer side of the boot-seal element than is the inner layer. Moreover, the boot-seal element is formed in a circumferentially developed state so as to have circumferential ends, and is then completed by joining the circumferential ends with each other. Thus, the boot-seal element makes an elastically deformable cylindrical bellows shape having a root that dents inward diametrically. In addition, the reinforcement member is disposed in the root of the cylindrical bellows-shaped boot-seal element at least.
US08936240B2 Sheet discharging device, image forming system, and sheet discharging method
A sheet discharging device includes a shift tray 202 on which a sheet P1 is stacked, a discharging roller 6 that discharges a sheet P2 onto the shift tray 202, a blowing device 230 that sends air to a lower surface of the sheet P2 discharged by the discharging roller 6, a blocking member 231 that blocks air sent to the lower surface of the sheet P2 from a blowing port 230-2 of the blowing device 230, and a control unit that controls the blocking amount of the blocking member 231. The blocking amount is determined based upon sheet information including sheet-type information, sheet-size information, and sheet-thickness information, for example.
US08936239B2 Sheet take-out apparatus and sheet take-out method
A sheet take-out apparatus includes a first separation unit, a second separation unit, a drawing roller for drawing sheets from a nip of the second separation unit, and a pinch roller rotating in contact with it. Overlapping sheets which pass the first and second separation units and are not separated are detected to be overlapped in a state that they are clamped by the nip of the drawing roller and pinch roller. When overlapping is detected, in a state that the rear ends of the overlapping sheets in the conveying direction are restricted by the nip, the drawing roller and pinch roller are stopped and the overlapping sheets are re-separated.
US08936226B2 Support frame for a modular lectern
A support frame for a modular lectern is assembled together with a top board, a bottom board and a divider board to form the modular lectern and is provided with a main board, a first connecting member and a second connecting member, wherein the parts of the support frame of are locked together in a tongue and groove manner, and can be disassembled into the three main parts: the main board, the first connecting member and the second connecting member, which can be stacked one upon another together with the top, bottom and divider boards for easy transportation. Furthermore, the top and bottom boards are pivoted to the main board via the first and second connecting portions, so that the top and bottom boards can be folded to further save transportation space.
US08936204B2 Inverted spray paint system using compressed air
A spray paint system for spraying a horizontal surface having a frame supporting an inverted elongated rigid container configured to hold a paint formulation that is pressurized with a pumping device partially located within the container where the frame has at least one wheel to allow a user to roll the system along a horizontal surface while spraying paint through a removable spray tip. This system can be used to mark a horizontal surface with precise and clear writing of lines, letters or symbols.
US08936201B2 Integrated circuits with persistent data storage
The circuitry introduced in this invention selectively slows down the functioning of an electronic circuit maintaining a particular state for a prolonged period of time. This circuitry is used not only to achieve the desired effect in maintaining security from electronic thieves trying to circumvent codes but also in other applications such as enabling a circuit to continue to function in the event of a brief loss of power. For example, in an RFID system, if a reader is frequency hopping, a tag loses power for as long as about 400 milliseconds when the reader changes to other frequencies. In a preferred embodiment, the disclosed circuitry is used in conjunction with a destruct sequence.
US08936200B2 Method for injection moulding an external housing of an object, object and apparatus for injection moulding
A method for injection molding an external housing of an object including an electronic assembly includes interposing the assembly between a first half-mold and a second half-mold of an open injection mold and closing the first half-mold and the second half-mold to define an injection cavity containing the assembly. Plastic is injected in the cavity to mold said external housing. The step of interposing includes positioning, before the injection of plastics, the assembly on movable support means associated with the mold, the support means being arranged on an extended position, and disengaging the support means from the assembly before the plastic is cured such as to manufacture the external housing in an only one shot manufacturing process. This way, plastic of the external housing is integrally molded and devoid of discontinuity points.
US08936199B2 UICC apparatus and related methods
UICC apparatus and related methods are disclosed herein. An example UICC apparatus disclosed herein includes a contact pad having a plurality of electrical contacts positioned or oriented to define a plurality of electrical contact patterns. The plurality of electrical contact patterns defining at least a first electrical contact pattern to communicate with a first input device and a second electrical contact pattern to communicate with a second input device, where the first input device has a dimensional profile that is different than a dimensional profile of the second input device.
US08936196B2 Camera unit incorporating program script scanner
A camera unit includes a display for displaying an image to be captured; an image sensor for digitally capturing the displayed image; a card reader having a linear scanner for scanning a surface of a removable card to sense a plurality of dots printed on the surface of the removable card, the plurality of dots representing a bit pattern encoding a program script; a card interface for receiving a signal from the card reader indicative of the sensed plurality of dots printed on the surface of the card, and decoding the sensed plurality of dots into the program script; and a printer configured to print a distorted image on print media, the distorted image being a version of the captured image distorted in accordance with the program script. The card reader comprises a moulding housing therewithin a plurality of light sources, the moulding being transparent to light from the light sources and shaped to focus the light on the removable card.
US08936190B2 System and method for presenting information about an object on a portable electronic device
Systems and methods are provided for enabling a portable electronic device to retrieve information about an object when the object's symbology, e.g., a barcode, is detected. According to one embodiment a method is providing in which symbology associated with an object is detected and decoded to obtain a decode string. The decode string is sent to one or more visual detection applications for processing, wherein the one or more visual detection applications reside on the portable electronic device, and receiving a first amount of information about the object from the one or more visual detection applications. The method also includes sending the decode string to a remote server for processing and receiving a second amount of information about the object from the remote server. The first amount of information is combined with the second amount of information to obtain cumulative information which is displayed on the portable electronic device.
US08936188B2 Package with sleeve and interlocking, slide-in insert
A package has a sleeve and an insert that lock together. The insert has a longitudinal flange on one side that fits into a corresponding longitudinal channel in the sleeve. The sleeve includes a locking tab in line with the longitudinal channel that is foldable into the sleeve to present a deflectable contact edge across the longitudinal channel. Engagement of the locking tab contact edge with a shoulder on the longitudinal flange prevents movement of the insert in the direction of the locking tab. The insert can be locked in both a forward and a backward direction within the sleeve by providing respective locking tabs and shoulders at both ends of the package.
US08936182B2 Adaptable rack for aquatic transport of articles
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an adaptable rack for aquatic transport of articles. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention relate to an adaptable rack for aquatic transport of articles to increase storage capacity of a boat and to prevent scuffing and damaging of the deck of the boat. In one embodiment of the present invention, an adaptable rack for aquatic transport of an article comprises a mounting post for fitting inside a rocket launcher on a boat, a support bar positioned on a top surface of the mounting post, and a plurality of support arms extending from the support bar, the support arms for supporting the article during aquatic transport.
US08936176B2 Systems for dispensing bedding materials into cages for laboratory animals
The present invention is directed to dispensers of bedding materials for laboratory animal cages. According to one embodiment of a dispensing unit, materials are drawn into a storage chute by a vacuum and dispensing is accomplished in a dispenser comprising a plurality of dispensing chutes having dispensing openings through which material is dispensed into cages. While in a first position, a material directing gate allows the materials to be dispensed through one of the dispensing chutes into a first number of cages, and through another one of the dispensing chutes into a second number of cages while in a second position. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the vacuum from the vacuum blower is utilized to remove dust from the dispensing area where material is dispensed into cages. Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a system for aligning, indexing and drying laboratory animal cages which have already been cleaned in a cleaning station. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a programmable controller which advantageously facilitates the programming of automated control of the dispensing system.
US08936172B2 Cooler for a game head
The present invention generally relates to a cooler for transferring a game head. In one aspect, a game head transfer device is provided. The device includes a body having an opening on an upper portion that is configured to receive a game head into the body, wherein a first portion and a second portion of the game head extend from the opening of the body when the body is in an opened position and a closed position. The device further includes one or more flap members configured to narrow the opening of the body between the first portion and the second portion of the game head. The device also includes one or more closing members configured to narrow the opening of the body adjacent a side of the first portion and a side of the second portion of the game head that extend from the opening.
US08936160B2 Nozzle device and nozzle for atomisation and/or filtration and methods for using the same
Nozzle device and nozzle for atomisation and/or filtration as well as methods for using the same. The present invention relates to a nozzle and nozzle device for atomisation, in particular a micro-machined reinforced nozzle plate, that may produce small liquid droplets in air (spray) or into a liquid (emulsion) with a narrow droplet size distribution and to make small air bubbles into a liquid (foam) and to methods of making the same. The invention is further related to a nozzle part for filtration as well as means and methods to facilitate atomisation and filtration.
US08936156B1 Inflatable packaging cushion with product suspension pocket
An inflatable packaging cushion is made of thermoplastic sheet material connected by seams and spot seams and has a product barrier formed by a plurality of adjacent inflatable product barrier tubes forming a product barrier, a pocket panel secured to the product barrier and extending thereacross to a product pocket for receiving a product, and pillar tube extensions of the product barrier tubes forming bulkhead end walls foldable to extend upwardly from the product barrier beyond the product pocket. The cushion and product are inserted in a carton, and the end walls suspend the product. Distal end flaps are also provide opposite the product barrier and product.
US08936147B2 Pinch roller drive
A conveyor assembly that includes a conveyor belt driven by a pinch roller drive assembly. The pinch roller drive assembly includes a pair of pinch rollers that are each rotatably mounted to a support housing. The pinch rollers are supported by a swing arm urged into a bias position by one or more bias springs. The pinch rollers and bias springs are part of a belt tension assembly mounted to the side rails of the conveyor assembly through mounting plates. The belt tension assembly can be pivoted to move the pinch rollers away from the drive roller as desired. In one embodiment, the roller drive assembly is mounted at or near the center of the conveyor assembly and can also support the drive motor. In an alternate embodiment, the pinch roller drive assembly is mounted to one end of the conveyor frame.
US08936144B2 Hub with a toothed disk freewheel
Hub for two-wheeled vehicles having a hub axle and a hub body and a rotor and with a toothed disk freewheel comprising a pair of interacting engagement components each comprising one axial toothing. The engagement components are biased in the engagement position via a biasing device. The one of the engagement components is received at the hub body to be non-rotatable and axially displaceable and the other of the engagement components is provided non-rotatable at the rotor for transmitting a rotary motion from the rotor to the hub body in the engagement position of the two engagement components. At least one engagement component is configured as a toothed disk and is provided with the axial toothing and has an axial width which is at least the size of half the outer radius of the axial toothing.
US08936142B2 Torque transmission device
A torque transmission device, comprising a hydrodynamic component, a shiftable clutch device and a vibration damper. A turbine shell of the hydrodynamic component is connected with a damper input component of the vibration damper and/or with a turbine shell hub, which is at least indirectly supported in axial direction at a damper hub through a torque-proof connection. At least one axial support surface is provided at a face of a damper component, adjacent to the torque-proof connection in an axial direction, or of the damper hub. The face is oriented away in axial direction from the torque-proof connection. The invention is characterized in that a support element is arranged at the damper component or at the damper hub. The support element includes a support surface forming an axial protrusion, extending through adjacently arranged damper components or portions of a support.
US08936140B2 Self-stabilized rollable luggage assembly and corresponding assembly method
A luggage assembly includes a first piece of luggage and a second piece of luggage. An attachment member is affixed to the second piece of luggage. The attachment member couples the second piece of luggage to the first piece of luggage so that the first and second pieces of luggage are self-stabilized while upright and inclined, and while in motion and while stationary.
US08936136B2 Brake caliper adjustment mechanism
A brake system comprising a brake disc that rotates about a center axis, a brake mount, a brake caliper attached to the brake mount and including a brake pad, and an adjuster between the brake mount and the brake caliper. The adjuster can move the brake pad toward and/or away from the brake disc. In one embodiment, the brake caliper is attached to the brake mount by a post extending through an elongated opening in the brake caliper and nonparallel to the center axis. The adjuster can change a relative location of the post within the elongated opening. The adjuster can include an end that extends into the elongated opening and works against the post. The post can include a fastener threaded to the brake mount in a direction substantially perpendicular to the center axis, and the fastener can extend through an elongated opening in the brake caliper.
US08936135B2 Pump having heated reservoir
Apparatus and method for supplying lubricant to a plurality of lubrication sites. Embodiments include a pump with venting and non-venting piston return, a pump with stirrer and direct feed mechanism, a pump with CAN system and self-diagnostics, a pump with heated housing and reservoir and a pump with stepper motor and overdrive control.
US08936133B2 Four cycle internal combustion engine exhaust
Exhaust apparatus for four cycle (including Wankel) internal combustion engines is disclosed. The apparatus is configured to manage pressure waves created by expanding gas emitted from the engine combustion chambers, the net result being to enhance engine performance and attenuate noise over a wide range of engine RPMs.
US08936118B2 Emergency drive for a construction machine and method for operating the emergency drive
The present disclosure relates to an emergency drive for a construction machine, comprising a hydraulic motor which is connectable with a pump transfer gearbox of a drive of the construction machine via a first mechanical shaft and a port provided for this purpose.
US08936116B2 Cutting elements for earth-boring tools, earth-boring tools including such cutting elements, and methods of forming cutting elements for earth-boring tools
Cutting elements for use with earth-boring tools include a cutting table having a base surface and a substrate having a support surface. An intermediate structure and an adhesion layer extend between the base surface of the cutting table and the support surface of the substrate. Earth-boring tools include such cutting elements. Methods for fabricating cutting elements for use with earth-boring tools include forming an intermediate structure on and extending from a support surface of a substrate and adhering a cutting table comprising a superabrasive material to the support surface of the substrate.
US08936104B2 Fluid-driven medical or dental handle
A medical or dental, fluid-driven handle with a control or regulation circuit for the limiting, control or regulation to a maximum or predetermined rotational speed and a corresponding process are presented. The handle comprises a rotary part that can be set in rotary motion by a drive fluid, a fluid line carrying the drive fluid to or from the rotary part or a fluid branch line that is connected to a fluid line carrying drive fluid, and a control or regulation circuit designed to limit, control or regulate the rotational speed of the rotary part. An electrodynamic converter is driven by the rotary part for generating electrical energy and at least one actuator element is configured to act on the drive fluid. The actuator element is electrically connected to the electrodynamic converter such that it is supplied with electrical energy generated by the electrodynamic converter.
US08936100B2 Drive sleeve and sealing mechanism for non-rising stem gate valve
A non-rising stem gate valve is provided that includes a drive sleeve disposed between the gate and the stem. The drive sleeve is coupled to the stem and isolates the moveable connection between the sleeve and the stem from fluid in the valve. The drive sleeve is also coupled to the gate such that movement of the drive sleeve along the stem moves the gate between the open and closed positions of the valve.
US08936099B2 Cam mechanism for downhole rotary valve actuation and a method for drilling
A downhole tool including a cam housing disposed in a central bore of a sub; a cam piston having a cam track disposed in the cam housing; a rotary piston having a rotary valve and an auxiliary track disposed in the cam housing; a guide pin extending through the cam housing into the cam track having at least two return paths; and a position pin disposed on a cam flange and extending into the auxiliary track. Also, a method of actuating a downhole tool, the method including disposing the downhole tool in a wellbore, wherein the downhole tool comprises a cam piston and a rotary piston; providing a flow of fluid through a central bore of the downhole tool at a working flow rate; changing the flow of fluid through the central bore of the downhole tool to a trigger range, and rotating a rotary valve of the rotary piston.
US08936089B2 In-situ kerogen conversion and recovery
Methods for extracting a kerogen-based product from subsurface (oil) shale formations. These methods rely on chemically modifying the shale-bound kerogen using a chemical oxidant so as to render it mobile. The oxidant is provided to a formation fluid in contact with the kerogen in the subsurface shale. An alkaline material is also provided to the formation fluid to mobilize organic acids which are produced during oxidation of the kerogen. A mobile kerogen-based product which includes the organic acids is withdrawn from the subsurface shale formation and further processed to isolate the organic acids contained therein.
US08936087B2 Methods and compositions for sand control in injection wells
Methods including the steps of providing an injection well having unconsolidated particulates in one or more formation intervals along the wellbore that accept injection fluid; providing a consolidating treatment fluid comprising a base fluid and a consolidating agent; introducing the consolidating treatment fluid through the injection well, while the well is under injection, such that the consolidating treatment fluid enters into a portion of a formation interval along the wellbore that accepts injection fluid; and, allowing the consolidating fluid to consolidate formation particulates therein. The methods may be performed such that the percentage of consolidating agent varies over the course of the treatment or the rate of injection varies over the course of the treatment.
US08936085B2 Sealing by ball sealers
In downhole treatments in the oilfield, ball sealers seated in perforations may not fully seal and may leak fluid through gaps and asperities between the balls and the perforations. A method is given for improving the sealing of ball sealers in perforations by adding a sealing agent that forms a plug in the gaps and severely restricts or eliminates fluid flow. The sealing agent is preferably degradable or soluble, malleable fibers slightly larger than the gaps. Optionally, the particles may be non-degradable, rigid, of different shapes, and smaller than the gaps but able to bridge them. Mixtures of sealing agents may be used. The sealing agent may be added with the ball sealers, after the ball sealers, or both.
US08936082B2 High solids content slurry systems and methods
A method includes providing a slurry comprising a carrier fluid and a solids mixture, and injecting said slurry in a wellbore wherein the solids mixture comprises at least two volume-averaged particle size distribution (PSD) modes, wherein a first PSD mode comprises solids having a volume-average median size at least three times larger than the volume-average median size of a second PSD mode such that a packed volume fraction (PVF) of the solids mixture exceeds 0.75.
US08936067B2 Casting core for a cooling arrangement for a gas turbine component
A ceramic casting core, including: a plurality of rows (162, 166, 168) of gaps (164), each gap (164) defining an airfoil shape; interstitial core material (172) that defines and separates adjacent gaps (164) in each row (162, 166, 168); and connecting core material (178) that connects adjacent rows (170, 174, 176) of interstitial core material (172). Ends of interstitial core material (172) in one row (170, 174, 176) align with ends of interstitial core material (172) in an adjacent row (170, 174, 176) to form a plurality of continuous and serpentine shaped structures each including interstitial core material (172) from at least two adjacent rows (170, 174, 176) and connecting core material (178).
US08936059B2 Craft bead roller
A bead roller is provided for manually crafting a bead from a strip of material. The bead roller may include a handle guide carrier, a first handle portion mounted for rotational movement on the handle guide carrier; a second handle portion mounted for rotational and longitudinal movement on the handle guide carrier; and a tool arm axially extending from the second handle portion and having first and second spaced apart opposing edges which define a slot which receives and engages a distal end of the strip of material. The second handle portion is configured for rotation simultaneously with the tool arm about the handle guide carrier and independently of the first handle portion.
US08936057B2 Substrate lamination system and method
The present disclosure is directed to a substrate lamination system and method.A substrate lamination apparatus may comprise: (a) a vacuum chamber; (b) a flexible membrane; and (c) a substrate support.A system for laminating substrates may comprise: (a) a vacuum chamber; (b) a flexible membrane; (c) a substrate support; (d) a vacuum pump; (e) a compressor; and (f) a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to carry out the steps: (i) evacuating the vacuum chamber; and (ii) applying pressure to at least one of a first substrate and a second substrate.
US08936054B2 Elongated cam, self-locking, board straightening device
A board straightening tool able to provide the force to straighten bent boards by simultaneously maintaining a grasping connection to both the joist being used to support the straightening device and the board being fastened to that joist, and maintaining a clearance between the straightening tool and board for the use of an Install the fastening device on the same joist that the tool is using for support is required to obtain the straightest installed boards possible and to maintain the maximum straightness of the deck board after the straightening device is released. The grasping pins are constructed either from a knurled metal for more grasp power or have a smooth surface providing for a reduction of marring of the joist. The tool also provides the force required to maintain consistently spaced gaps between the boards for a more desirable appearance.
US08936045B2 Dual inflatable plug assembly
An inflatable plug assembly includes a first inflatable plug, a second inflatable plug, and a first mount coupled to the first inflatable plug. The first mount is configured to deliver fluid to and inflate the first inflatable plug. The inflatable plug assembly also includes a second mount coupled to the second inflatable plug. The second mount is configured to deliver fluid to and inflate the second inflatable plug. The second mount is secured to the first mount. The first inflatable plug and the second inflatable plug are independently inflatable.
US08936044B1 Pouch air valve used on sealing pouches
A pouch air valve used on a sealing pouch comprises a coupling duct and a piercing base. The coupling duct includes a duct, an air valve and a first suction plate. The piercing base has a piercing head and a second suction plate. The first suction plate surrounds and seals the duct to form coupling therewith. The piercing head has an airflow passage running through two sides thereof. The second suction plate surrounds and seals the piercing head to form coupling therewith. The piercing base is positioned at one side of the sealing pouch while the duct is directly aligned and coupled with the piercing head from another side of the sealing pouch so that the piercing head can pierce through the sealing pouch to allow the first and second suction plates to attract each other and anchor on the sealing pouch which serves as separation.
US08936040B2 Solenoid valve
A solenoid valve has a tapered valve seat disposed between a first flow passage and a second flow passage, a reduced diameter side of the valve seat that is connected with the first flow passage, and a valve body having a closing portion that reduces its diameter toward a tip facing the valve seat. The first flow passage and the second flow passage are connected/disconnected by sliding the valve body for contacting/detaching the closing portion to the valve seat, and a groove is disposed on the closing portion facing the direction of a fluid flow.
US08936038B1 Electromagnetic water meter holder apparatus and method
An electromagnetic water meter holder apparatus for holding and stabilizing an electromagnetic water meter in a water meter box. A cylindrical rod, large circular tube and arched tab are used, and are optimally sized to hold and stabilize electromagnetic water meters. The method includes positioning an electromagnetic water meter into a water meter box for installation. Aligning and optimizing the electromagnetic water meter pipe nozzles of the electromagnetic water meter up with existing pipe for water flow management. Securing of the electromagnetic water meter in place by moving the cylindrical rod of the electromagnetic water meter holder apparatus, thereby preventing rotation or movement of the electromagnetic water meter; and connecting the existing pipe for water flow in and water flow out of the water meter box to the electromagnetic water meter by securing the existing pipe to the electromagnetic water meter pipe nozzles with connectors.
US08936032B2 Ultrasonic air blanket reflector
An air blanket reflector, which is placed inside and next to the walls of an ultrasonic tank, reflects ultrasonic energy. The air blanket reflector has a relatively thin metal plate, such as 14 gauge stainless steel, facing the interior of the tank and an air-filled cavity on the opposite side of the thin metal plate. The thin metal plate reflects ultrasonic energy away from the walls of the tank to reduce the amount of ultrasonic energy absorbed by the tank.
US08936028B2 Laser immunotherapy
A method of immunotherapy of a mammal, or a laser device therefor, includes the step of treating one or more immune privileged cells, tissues or organs of said mammal with a laser to reduce or eliminate the immune privilege status of said one or more cells, tissues and/or organs to thereby elicit an immune response that is beneficial to the mammal. The method of immunotherapy avoids or minimizes lasting damage to the treated cells, tissues and/or organs. The laser treatment is typically, although not exclusively, to the pigmented epithelium of the eye or eyes. The method may be for treating a disease or condition selected from: a bacterial infection; a viral infection; early AMD; glaucoma; diabetic retinopathy; multiple sclerosis; Parkinson's disease; and Alzheimer's disease. Typically, the radiant exposure level of the laser treatment is no greater than 60-100% of a visible effect threshold.
US08936024B2 Manual emergency resuscitator with pre-defined volume control
A manual emergency resuscitator uses a volume control system having pre-defined setting to accommodate patients of different sizes. An upper plate 305 is attached to a front hinge assembly 103 and a lower housing assembly is attached to the front hinge assembly. The lower housing assembly defines the lower portions of an accordion chamber 206. A selection void 300 is defined within the upper plate 305, with the selection void further defined by voids indexed to a closed position, infant position, child position and an adult position. A volume selector cord 201 has a first end attached to a volume selector, with the volume selector contained within the selection void. Placing the volume selector into one of the predefined positions regulates the amount of air delivered by the resuscitator.
US08936021B2 Ophthalmic fluid delivery system
A method of safely delivering an ophthalmic fluid to an eye, the method including targeting the eye with an ophthalmic fluid misting device and activating an ultrasonic generator to deliver the ophthalmic fluid from the ophthalmic fluid misting device across a space between the misting device and the eye. The method further including maintaining a momentum of the ophthalmic fluid that is insufficient to trigger at least one of the ocular blink reflex and the lacrimation reflex of the eye.
US08936018B2 Device for lighting and controlling a burner in a household appliance
Device including a casing formed by non-conducting material fastenable to the household appliance, electrical supply means and a lighting circuit carried by the casing, and a spark plug fastenable to the household appliance in proximity of burner means carried by the household appliance so as to be electrically connected to earth; the lighting circuit being adapted to supply a high voltage alternating current to said spark plug to make it generate a spark adapted to produce the lighting of a flame following the feeding of a combustible gas flow to the burner means; wherein the supply means are direct current low voltage generator means carried by and accommodated in the casing and supply in parallel said lighting circuit, through ac/dc transformer means, and a control circuit, through electrical disconnection means from the lighting circuit, the control circuit being electrically connected to the spark plug and to a first terminal of a LED indicator fastenable in use to the household appliance and having a second terminal connected to earth, for selectively producing the turning on or off of the LED indicator in consequence of a passage or interruption of a dispersion current to earth which flows in use to the spark plug when the flame is lit.
US08936017B2 Cooking apparatus with downward opening lid
Provided is a cooking/grilling apparatus, primarily for outdoor use, providing smoking and/or direct or indirect heat cooking capability, and offering the user enhanced cooking flexibility, temperature control, safety and convenience of operation. The grill apparatus is unique in that it offers a downward opening lid that rotates, such as on rollers or a pivot mechanism, to a fully open position beneath the base plate of the cooking enclosure, and reverses to an upward rotation to re-close the cooking enclosure. Moreover, the grill apparatus offers a vertically adjustable cooking grate, controlled by a continuous loop cable, moving over a set of pulleys, thereby reliably controlling the height of the cooking grate when affixed to a crank on the outer surface of the grill, wherein movement of the grate can also be locked in place.
US08936013B2 Engine having PCV separator inlet shielded by head gasket geometry
An engine includes an engine block that defines a drain-back passage and a Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) passage. The drain-back passage and the PCV passage are disposed in fluid communication with each other. A cylinder head is attached to the engine block. The cylinder head defines an oil return passage. The oil return passage is disposed in fluid communication with both the drain-back passage and the PCV passage. A head gasket is disposed between the engine block and the cylinder head, and includes a shelf that extends at least partially over the PCV passage to prevent liquids draining through the oil return passage into the drain-back passage, from entering the PCV passage, while allowing gasses flowing through the oil return passage to enter the PCV passage.
US08936012B2 Cylinder head
The first aspect of the present invention is a cylinder head containing a water jacket in which a passage for EGR gas is disposed, and the EGR gas passage has a hollow pipe that is disposed in the hollow pipe and through which the EGR gas passes and an end member that is formed with an insert hole into which the end of the hollow pipe is inserted and fixed. The end member has a bottom that is provided with the insert hole, a side wall that is formed continuously to the bottom, and a wedge portion that is projected outward from the outer peripheral of the side wall and includes a inclined surface facing the wall of the cylinder head and inclined to the flow direction of the EGR gas. The EGR gas passage is fixed to the cylinder head by holding the wedge portion of the end member between a fastening member for fastening the EGR gas passage to the cylinder head and the wall of the cylinder head.
US08936010B2 Fuel heater with fuse effect
A fuel heater is provided to heat fuel with a safety feature (fuse effect). The internal combustion engine can be operated with ethanol, gasoline or a mixture of ethanol and gasoline. The fuel heater is an integrant part of the electronic injection system of internal combustion engines. The fuel heater is assembled inside the fuel rail and serves to increase fuel temperature before, during and after ignition at temperatures specified by the engine calibration strategy.
US08936005B2 Method for operating a stationary power generating plant
A method for operating a stationary power generating plant, comprising a gas engine with at least one pre-chamber and at least one main combustion chamber, wherein the stationary power generating plant is fed a gas stream—in particular a substantially continuous gas stream—which comprises a hardly inflammable gas, wherein the gas stream is divided in the stationary power generating plant into a main stream and a partial stream, wherein the main stream is fed to the at least one main combustion chamber and wherein the partial stream is treated to increase its inflammability and is fed to the at least one pre-chamber of the gas engine, and also a stationary power generating plant with a gas engine.
US08935998B1 Compac, ported cylinder construction for an opposed-piston engine
A ported cylinder for an opposed-piston engine has a bore to support movements of a pair of opposed pistons and longitudinally-spaced intake and exhaust ports that are controlled by movements of oppositely-disposed pistons in the bore. The bore includes a central portion where combustion occurs and respective end portions. Each end portion extends from an inner edge of a port to the nearest open end of the cylinder. In the central portion the bore has a standard diameter throughout. The bore has a second, larger diameter in each end portion. When the cylinder liner is cold, the bore diameter transitions continuously in size, from the standard diameter to the larger diameter, in an area running from the central portion to an inner edge of a port. From the inner edge, the bore is of the larger diameter throughout the end portion.
US08935993B2 Pet leash with retrieval toy
A retracting lead assembly including a casing with an interior surface and an exterior surface and a proximal end and a distal end, the casing having an open space at a center of the distal end; a reel mounted within the casing, the reel having a lead that is on the interior of the casing wrapped at least partially around the reel, the lead having a first end and a second end, the first end attached to the reel, the second end constructed and arranged to attach to an animal; and a handle attached to the exterior surface of the proximal end of the casing.
US08935991B2 Small animal incubator with a removable drawer
A small animal veterinary incubator is disclosed with an animal holding drawer that can be inserted into a temperature controlled enclosure and removed when not in use for cleaning and disinfecting. In various embodiments the incubator is portable, is at least partly transparent, controls interior oxygen and/or humidity, can use a hose to bring oxygen into close proximity with incubated animals, can introduce water-nebulized air or oxygen into the drawer through a hole, and can include a holder for a humidity bottle that humidifies air or oxygen supplied to the incubator. Some embodiments use an adjustable or regulated lamp to warm the incubator using an infrared bulb of 50 or 75 Watts. Temperature, humidity, and/or oxygen gages or sensors can be included, and the temperature, oxygen, and/or humidity can be automatically regulated. Preferred embodiments include closable vents that can be opened to allow for ventilation when only temperature is controlled.
US08935987B2 Apparatus for increasing the visibility of an aircraft winglet
An apparatus for increasing the visibility of an aircraft winglet comprising a saddle piece configured to fit on top of a winglet, the saddle piece comprising a horizontal strap configured to fit around a trailing edge of the winglet, an anchor member comprising a horizontal strap configured to fit around a trailing edge of the winglet, and an adjustable strap connecting the saddle piece to the anchor member. The anchor member is situated on the winglet a certain distance below the saddle piece, and the adjustable strap adjusts the vertical distance between the saddle piece and the anchor member.
US08935984B2 Vehicle-body inclination device and double-layer three-way valve used in vehicle-body inclination device
A carriage-body inclination device (30) has individual inclination units (112, 113) that are provided corresponding to air springs (22, 23), and a control unit (110). The individual inclination unit (112) can sufficiently execute supply or release of air to or from the air spring (22) by driving a control valve (40) and a large-capacity valve (170) using a height difference value which is a difference between a height instruction value provided by the control unit (110) and a height value obtained from a link-lever mechanism (24). The control valve (40) has a two-layer structure of a fixed sleeve (91), a control sleeve (90), and a spool (80). The control sleeve (90) is moved and driven by the link-lever mechanism (24) and a rotation-translation conversion mechanism (44). The spool (80) is moved and driven by a spool actuator (120) according to a set height value.
US08935970B2 Twin-clutch type transmission unit for engine, and motorcycle incorporating the same
A twin-clutch type transmission unit includes inner and outer shafts provided respectively with first and second disc clutches for transmission and interruption of input from a prime mover, a plurality of drive gears provided on the inner and outer shafts, and a counter shaft provided with driven gears selectively operable to mesh with the drive gears, with the first and second disc clutches of the inner and outer shafts being alternately disengaged and engaged so as to perform a gear shift. In the transmission unit, a dog-type clutch for synchronizing rotations of the inner shaft and the outer shaft is provided. At the time of vehicle starting, the inner and outer shafts are connected with each other, and the first and second disc clutches of both the inner and outer shafts are engaged. Such transmission unit contrives reductions in the size and weight of a twin-clutch type transmission unit.
US08935968B2 Steering system
A steering system includes an outer tube at an upper side and an inner tube at a lower side that slide relative to each other in an axial direction when shock is absorbed. A first sliding resistance reducing element, which comes into contact with an inner periphery of the outer tube, and reduces sliding resistance between both the tubes, is retained in at least a circumferential lower region of an axial upper end portion of the inner tube. A second sliding resistance reducing element, which comes into contact with an outer periphery of the inner tube, and reduces the sliding resistance between both the tubes, is retained in at least a circumferential upper region of an axial lower end portion of the outer tube.
US08935961B2 Combination pressure/temperature in a compact sensor assembly
A sensor assembly includes a rectangular-shaped pressure sensor element and an electronic circuitry coupled to receive a signal from the pressure sensor element. An open-ended fluid-tight passageway of the sensor assembly conveys fluid from a portal opening of the sensor assembly to a surface of the rectangular-shaped pressure sensor element. The sensor assembly further includes a closed-ended fluid-tight passageway, at least a portion of which is fabricated from metal. The closed-ended fluid tight passageway extends from at least from the portal opening of the sensor assembly to the electronic circuitry on at least a portion of a path adjacent to the rectangular-shaped ceramic pressure sensor element. The sensor assembly includes a temperature sensor element disposed in an end of the closed-ended fluid-tight passageway. Conductive links disposed in the closed-ended fluid tight passageway electrically couple the temperature sensor element to the electronic circuitry.
US08935953B2 Adaptive soot mass estimation in a vehicle exhaust after-treatment device
A method of estimating a total amount of soot in a diesel particulate filter includes monitoring a pressure differential across the diesel particulate filter; monitoring an engine speed and an engine load from an engine in fluid communication with the diesel particulate filter; determining a first soot mass estimate from the monitored pressure differential, the first soot mass estimate having an associated confidence indicator based on the monitored engine speed and engine load; determining a second soot mass estimate from the monitored engine speed and engine load; and outputting the first soot mass estimate if the confidence indicator is above a predetermined threshold, and outputting the second soot mass estimate if the confidence indicator is below the predetermined threshold.
US08935948B1 Electric-hydraulic riveter and crimper hand power tool
An electrically-hydraulically powered rivet setting and crimping hand power tool is provided, having a battery driven electric motor mechanically powering an offset drive cam through a dual planetary drive gear, the drive cam being in direct mechanical contact with a dual volume, dual stage concentrically delivering longitudinally reciprocating piston pump being in direct hydraulic communication with a work engaging hydraulic cylinder surrounding a centrally fixed and stationary work piece puller shaft, wherein the work engaging hydraulic cylinder is thrust forward around the work piece puller shaft when the tool is activated thereby providing the mechanical motion to activate a user provided riveter nose assembly attachment. When activated by a trigger mechanism, the work engaging cylinder moves forward relative to the centrally fixed work piece puller shaft having a user provided riveter tool nose assembly attachment positioned such that a rivet fastener pin is pulled away from the rivet relative to the surrounding work engaging cylinder thereby fixing the rivet in place. The centrally fixed work piece puller shaft further comprises a hydraulically activated work piece extraction mechanism. A pressure relief trigger is further provided so as to retract the work engaging cylinder upon setting a rivet fastener. An alternate embodiment of the tool receives a user provided crimping nose assembly attachment may optionally be fitted wherein the work piece engaging cylinder motion relative to the centrally fixed work piece puller shaft is translated into a crimping action.
US08935936B2 Heat exchange device containing heat storage material
The invention relates to a heat exchange device including at least two tubes (12) for circulating a heat transfer fluid arranged in at least two rows (R1, R2) offset two-by-two from one row to the other. A heat exchange fin (20) and a heat storage tank (22) made from a heat storage material extend transversely to the rows of the tubes (R1, R2) forming a group of tanks and tubes (24) in each instance, wherein a single heat storage tank (22) is in contact with one tube (12) of each row of tubes (R1, R2). The contact with the tubes (12) takes place alternately on two opposing walls (26, 28) of the heat storage tank (22), and the walls (26, 28) are also in contact with fins (20). The invention can be used for the air-conditioning evaporators of automobiles.
US08935934B2 Monitoring temperature-sensitive cargo with automated generation of regulatory qualification
Disclosed is a process of determining, at a point during shipment, whether the solid phase refrigerant in a shipment is sufficient to preserve the shipment cargo, which is blood or other biological products, for the remaining shipment period, by: monitoring the temperatures encountered to said point and estimating the temperatures likely to be encountered during the remaining shipment period; determining the likelihood that the remaining refrigerant can maintain the shipment cargo within a specified temperature range during the remaining shipment period; and if the risk that the remaining refrigerant cannot maintain the shipment cargo within said range during the remaining shipment period is above a cut-off level, then taking action to preserve the value of the cargo.
US08935929B1 HVAC unit suspension system and method
An HVAC evaporator unit and emergency drain pan are suspended from an existing overhead structure. Plural lateral beams are disposed along a horizontal plane, which support a pair of support beams, which support the HVAC evaporator unit. The beams are connected to each other by plural pivot connectors, which thereby defines a grid arrangement that is foldable about the plural pivot connectors. Plural pan support beams are suspended by pairs of pan hangers, which are connected to the ends the plural lateral beams. Plural flexible hangers are connected to ends of the plural lateral beams, for connection to and suspension from the existing overhead support structure. Hanger clamps are used to adjust the plural flexible hangers to facilitate height adjustment and leveling.
US08935927B2 Magnetic refrigerating device and magnetic refrigerating system
The magnetic refrigerating device according to one embodiment includes a fixed container filled with a refrigerant, the fixed container including a magnetic material container that is filled with a magnetic material and that can move in the fixed container and an elastic member provided at the end of the magnetic material container. The magnetic refrigerating device also includes a magnetic-field applying/removing mechanism that is provided at the outside of the fixed container, and that can apply and remove a magnetic field to and from the magnetic material and can generate a magnetic torque to the magnetic material container in moving direction of the magnetic material container.
US08935924B2 Driving device and an operation method of a compressor
It is desired to obtain a technique which enables turning of a compressor driven by a multi-shaft gas turbine. The multi-shaft gas turbine has a high-pressure side shaft and a low-pressure side shaft. A compressor drive device applies a drive force to a compressor connected to the low-pressure side shaft of the multi-shaft gas turbine. The compressor drive device includes: a motor which generates a drive force; and a control unit which controls the motor so as to generate an rpm when turning the compressor. If the torque generated by the gas turbine is insufficient, the control unit controls the motor so as to carry out a helper motor operation for increasing the torque.
US08935912B2 Gas turbine engine with variable overall pressure ratio
A gas turbine engine has a variable overall pressure rate (“OPR”). The engine includes a high pressure compressor having at least a primary stage having a set of primary rotors and a secondary stage having a set of secondary rotors. A clutch is provided to selectively engage the secondary rotors with the primary rotors. Engagement of the clutch may be controlled based on the vehicle travel mode, such as disengaging during a takeoff mode to reduce turbine entry temperature and engaging during a loiter mode to increase OPR.
US08935911B2 Fuel spray apparatus for gas turbine engine
The present invention provides a fuel spray apparatus for a gas turbine engine, including: a pilot part configured to spray a fuel to be used for a diffusion combustion; a main part provided so as to surround the pilot part and configured to inject a pre-mixed gas only upon a high power operation; and a shield body constituting a purge air passage which is configured to take therein an air flowed on an upstream side relative to a fuel injection port of the main part as a purge air, and to blow off a fuel dripping from the fuel injection port toward a main air passage of the main part. The purge air passage is provided in a position opposite to a main fuel passage communicated with the fuel injection port across the shield body.
US08935908B2 Corn head attachment with sweeper device
A corn head attachment has a sweeper device extending across a working width of the corn head attachment. The sweeper device is attached to the attachment frame by support arms pivotable about a first pivot. The sweeper device position relative to the frame is adjustable by a longitudinal adjusting device parallel to the travel direction and height-adjustable about the first pivots. The adjusting device moves the sweeper device along a curved path in a first direction away from a first position, in which a rotary axle of the sweeper device is at a leading area of a harvesting slot, into a second position above a rearward area of the harvesting slot and also moves the sweeper device in opposite direction. The adjustment of the sweeper device along the curved path is controlled by a forced guiding action to avoid collision of the sweeper device with other corn head attachment components.
US08935907B2 Electric lawn mowers
An electric lawn mower may include a mower body including an electric motor, a cutting blade rotatably driven by the electric motor for mowing a lawn, a battery mount configured to hold a battery, and a lock including a key and a key receiver for locking and unlocking the electric motor. The key receiver may be spaced from the battery mount and when the key is inserted into the key receiver, the electric motor may be unlocked for operation.
US08935881B2 Method and device for evaluating germination properties of plant seeds
The invention relates to a method for evaluating germination properties of plant seeds and/or of sprouts developed from the plant seeds, on the basis of anatomical characteristics (x, y) at a particular point in time, wherein determining the anatomical characteristics (x, y) at a particular point in time comprises analyzing the plant seeds and/or sprouts using at least one imaging method and obtaining three-dimensional analysis data (410) at a particular point in time, segmenting the analysis data (400) at a particular point in time and associating segments (516-519) thus obtained into anatomical units of the plant seeds and/or sprouts, and determining the anatomical characteristics (x, y) of the anatomical units of the plant seeds and/or sprouts at a particular point in time from the associated segments (516-519) at at least one point in time.
US08935873B2 Barrel assembly for firearms and method for manufacturing it
A barrel assembly for firearms including one or more tubes associated with a mono-block, characterized in that the mono-block has one or more cylindrical protrusions which allow the connection of one or more of the tubes and the subsequent joining thereof by welding, adhesive bonding, forcing, etcetera. The method for manufacturing the barrel assembly is characterized in that it includes the steps of: providing a mono-block which includes one or more front cylindrical protrusions, one or more partial chambers axially aligned with the protrusions, and corresponding collars for the cartridge seats, extractor seats, and closure members such as closure tenons or other members; all the members are completed with their final dimensions; performing an overall heat treatment of the mono-block and of the barrels; connecting the tubes, which constitute the barrels of the firearm, by welding, adhesive bonding, forcing, etcetera, to the protrusions.
US08935868B2 Magnetic blocks with images thereon, systems and methods of making the same
Magnetic blocks have images disposed thereon. Specifically, a block made from a rigid material includes an image over at least a portion of a first surface and a magnet on at least a portion of a second surface of the block. The block is disposed within a frame or board having a metallic and/or magnetic surface thereon and/or is provided on a metallic and/or magnetized surface. A plurality of blocks having images thereon are disposed together in a tiled arrangement, either in the frame, board or otherwise on the metallic and/or magnetic surface. Moreover, a system comprises the magnetic blocks having images thereon and a frame, board and/or metallic and/or magnetic surface. Methods of making and using the same are further provided.
US08935865B2 Power shovel having isolated hydraulic dipper actuator
A hydraulic system for a power shovel may have a cylinder operatively connectable to a dipper door of the power shovel, a reservoir located at and fluidly connected to the cylinder, and an accumulator located at and fluidly connected to the cylinder in parallel with the reservoir. The hydraulic system may further have a control valve disposed between the cylinder, the reservoir, and the accumulator. The control valve may be movable to selectively direct fluid from the cylinder into the accumulator and fluid from the reservoir into the cylinder.
US08935859B2 Interchangeable footwear
An example interchangeable shoe in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure includes a sole, at least three fastening points, wherein each fastening point comprises a coupling mechanism, and at least one upper, wherein the at least one upper is attached to the shoe at the at least three fastening points using the coupling mechanisms.
US08935857B2 Cutting tools
A cutting tool includes a tool unit including an electric motor, a rotary cutting blade rotatably driven by the electric motor, and a blade case covering at least apart of the rotary cutting blade. An electric component is disposed within the blade case at a position capable of being cooled by a flow of air produced by the rotation of the rotary cutting blade.
US08935856B2 Chain saw
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a chain saw including: an engine having: a crankcase; a cylinder attached to the crankcase; and a piston configured to reciprocate in the cylinder; a housing configured to accommodate the engine; and a guide bar, around which a saw chain is to be wound so as to be rotated by the engine, the guide bar being attached to the housing, wherein the engine has two surfaces substantially parallel to an axis direction of a crankshaft, the two surfaces being covered with and fixed to the housing, and wherein the engine is fixed to the housing with a fixing member at a side where the guide bar is attached to the housing.
US08935853B2 Oil baffle for gas turbine fan drive gear system
An exemplary turbine engine assembly includes a first shaft that is rotatably driven by a second shaft of a gas turbine engine, a compressor hub driven by the second shaft, the compressor hub within a compressor section of the gas turbine engine, an epicyclic gear train that is driven by the first shaft, and a common attachment point that secures the first shaft and the compressor hub to the second shaft.
US08935827B2 Steam appliance
A steam appliance system in which steam is delivered from a steam generation unit to a steam applicator via a steam conduit which extends through a handle of the steam applicator. The steam conduit may be removable from the handle.
US08935820B2 Expandable structure constructed from sealed films
An expandable structure is manufactured using sheets of thermoplastic material sealed together. The expandable structure has a concertina pattern on its sides that allows the structure to expand and collapse like an accordion. The concertina pattern is cut into the sheets of material rather than being folded into the material to speed up the manufacturing process.
US08935816B1 Mattress deck slide
A bed that allows a user to easily slide the mattress away from the wall for making the bed or changing the sheets without having to reach around the nightstand or other furniture and then slide the mattress back into place for use.
US08938800B2 System and method for network level protection against malicious software
A method in one example implementation includes receiving information related to a network access attempt on a first computing device with the information identifying a software program file associated with the network access attempt. The method also includes evaluating a first criterion to determine whether network traffic associated with the software program file is permitted and then creating a restriction rule to block the network traffic if the network traffic is not permitted. The first criterion includes a trust status of the software program file. In specific embodiments, the method includes pushing the restriction rule to a network protection device that intercepts the network traffic associated with the software program file and applies the restriction rule to the network traffic. In more specific embodiments, the method includes searching a whitelist identifying trustworthy software program files to determine the trust status of the software program file.
US08938799B2 Security protection apparatus and method for endpoint computing systems
A unified security management system and related apparatus and methods for protecting endpoint computing systems and managing, providing, and obtaining security functions is described. Various forms of the system, apparatus and methods may be used for improved security, security provisioning, security management, and security infrastructure.
US08938792B2 Device authentication using a physically unclonable functions based key generation system
At least one machine accessible medium having instructions stored thereon for authenticating a hardware device is provided. When executed by a processor, the instructions cause the processor to receive two or more device keys from a physically unclonable function (PUF) on the hardware device, generate a device identifier from the two or more device keys, obtain a device certificate from the hardware device, perform a verification of the device identifier, and provide a result of the device identifier verification. In a more specific embodiment, the instructions cause the processor to perform a verification of a digital signature in the device certificate and to provide a result of the digital signature verification. The hardware device may be rejected if at least one of the device identifier verification and the digital signature verification fails.
US08938789B2 Information processing system, method for controlling information processing system, and storage medium
An information processing system stores key information for determining an authentication device and information about the authentication device by associating these information pieces with each other and extract the key information from access of an unauthenticated user. Based on the information about the authentication device associated with the key information, the access of the unauthenticated user is redirected.
US08938783B2 Security language expressions for logic resolution
A security language expresses assertions and authorization queries in a manner that facilitates logic resolution. In an example implementation, assertion syntax and authorization query syntax are described. In another example implementation, checks on the safety of assertions and authorization queries are described. In yet another example implementation, semantics rules are described.
US08938780B2 Display authentication
Security can be improved in electronic devices that use authentication images and trusted user interfaces (TUIs), and it can still be easy for users to see the TUIs by making more dynamic use of the authentication images and possibly adding color effects.
US08938779B2 Secure digital communications
Policies are used when performing a transaction between a first and a second device, the first device having an established trusted communication relation with a first trusted device and the second device having an established trusted communication relation with a second trusted device, and the first and the second trusted device each having an established trusted communication relation with a third trusted device. A policy defines a set of constructs for creating rules to control the boundaries of a transaction. The policy defines role definition stipulating what interacting identities must have been validated as for the transaction to occur. The policy also defines a set of digest method algorithms or data referral methods to be used in the transaction.
US08938774B2 System and method for I/O port assignment and security policy application in a client hosted virtualization system
A client hosted virtualization system includes a processor and non-volatile memory with BIOS code and virtualization manager code. The virtualization manager initializes the client hosted virtualization system, authenticates a virtual machine image, launches the virtual machine based on the image, and implements a policy manager. The policy manager determines a policy for the virtual machine, receives a request to access a device from the virtual machine, determines if the virtual machine is permitted to access the device based upon the policy, and if so, permits the virtual machine to access the device. If not, the policy manager denies the virtual machine access to the device. The client hosted virtualization system is configurable to execute the BIOS or the virtualization manager.
US08938767B2 Streaming encoded video data
A source device may signal characteristics of a media presentation description (MPD) file such that a destination device may select one of a number of presentations corresponding to the MPD file and retrieve one or more video files of the selected presentation. In one example, an apparatus for transporting encoded video data includes a management unit configured to receive encoded video data comprising a number of video segments and forms a presentation comprising a number of video files, each of the video files corresponding to a respective one of the video segments, and a network interface configured to, in response to a request specifying a temporal section of the video data, output at least one of the video files corresponding to the number of video segments of the requested temporal section. A client may request temporally sequential fragments from different ones of the presentations.
US08938764B2 Systems and methods for creating aggregations of episodes of series programming in order
A viewer of an episode of a series such as a television series may wish to access episodes of the series that the viewer missed when they were originally broadcast. Interactive applications may receive the viewer's indication of interest to record missed episodes of the incomplete series, which may include instructions regarding recording options for including the missed episodes in a series aggregation. Interactive applications may identify the episodes to be included in the series aggregation, and record the missed episodes, which may then be stored and organized to create a series aggregation, in the order that they were first broadcast with episodes that the viewer may already have available. Interactive applications may present the episodes of the series aggregation in the order that they were originally broadcast, by providing the viewer with options on how to access the episodes.
US08938760B1 Television box and method for controlling display to display audio/video information
The present invention provides a TV box, where the TV box is connected to a display via lined connection or wireless connection, and the TV box includes a control unit, a network interface circuit and an output unit. The control unit connects to a first external server and an audio/video source via the network interface circuit, the control unit obtains a channel list from the first external server, and obtain audio/video information from the audio/video source by referring to a user inputted command and the channel list, where contents of the channel list is allowed to be edited by a user, and the control unit transmits the audio/video information to the display via the output unit.
US08938755B2 Method and apparatus for recurring content searches and viewing window notification
A method for updating existing content includes detecting the existing content, identifying a collection of content related to the existing content and storing a representation of the collection of content within a platform server. The collection of content is updated with newly available content. The representation of the collection of content and a representation of the newly available content is transmitted.
US08938750B2 Interactive television system
A method of providing information to a viewer having a reading device, a television, an input device, and an output device includes transmitting a first digital signal to the reading device. The first digital signal includes information for display on the television. When the reading device receives the first digital signal, the reading device sends a first reading device signal to the television for display to the viewer. The first reading device signal includes information derived from the first digital signal. An output device digital signal is provided to the output device if the viewer sends an input device signal to the reading device by pressing on the input device when the first reading device signal is displayed to the viewer. The output device digital signal includes information for the output device to provide image and/or text related to the information displayed to the viewer.
US08938745B2 Systems and methods for providing modular applications
The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for providing modular applications. A first module of multiple modules is received from a server system. Each module includes instructions executable by data processing apparatus to perform operations. Operations are performed by executing the first module. A request to the server system for a second module is transmitted while performing the operations. At least a portion of the second module is received from the server system while performing the operations.
US08938736B2 System and method for providing redundancy for management controller
Systems and methods for reducing problems and disadvantages associated with traditional approaches to providing redundancy for a management controller are provided. A method may include executing, by a hypervisor executing on a management controller, a first guest OS and second guest OS. The method may additionally include executing, by the first guest OS, one or more first management applications for managing one or more information handling resources communicatively coupled to the management controller. The second guest OS may: (i) execute one or more second management applications for managing the one or more information handling resources communicatively coupled to the management controller; (ii) execute one or more monitoring applications for monitoring redundancy status of the first guest OS and the second guest OS; (iii) sleeping the one or more second management applications; and (iv) monitoring, by the one or more monitoring applications, the operability of the first guest OS.
US08938734B2 User-driven configuration
The present disclosure involves systems, software, and computer implemented methods for providing user-driven configuration of application content packages. One process includes operations for receiving a request for configuring a user productivity feature for integration with an application running on a client device, presenting a configuration tool for allowing user-driven configuration of an application content package associated with the user productivity feature, and deploying the application content package for installation on the client device after receiving configuration of the application content package through the configuration tool. In some instances, the configuration tool is a hosted service provided on a server in a cloud computing network. Further, presenting the configuration tool can include presenting one or more back-end systems associated with the application for selection as a destination for the user productivity feature.
US08938725B2 Technique for compiling and running high-level programs on heterogeneous computers
A technique for compiling and running high-level program on heterogeneous computers may include partitioning a program code into two or more logical units, and compiling each of the logical units into one or more executable entities. At least some of the logical units are compiled into two or more executable entities, the two or more executable entities being different compilations of the same logical unit. The two or more executable entities are compatible to run on respective two or more platforms that have different architecture.
US08938714B2 Specifying reusable process models
A method and system for specifying a reusable process model. Sub-processes of a base process are identified as having a potential to be modified. By filling in values in a configurable pattern applied to each identified sub-process, dynamic categories are mapped to the identified sub-processes, thereby allowing the sub-processes to be reusable. A change to business requirements occurs, where the base process is based on the business requirements. Based on the change to the business requirements, a change to the values in the configurable pattern applied to a sub-process is received. The change to the values in the configurable pattern does not require a change to the base process.
US08938712B2 Cross-platform virtual machine and method
A system includes a virtual source code specification corresponding to no particular platform and at least one transform mechanism corresponding to a particular platform and configured to be applied to the virtual source code specification to generate a source code corresponding to the particular platform.
US08938710B2 Preventing interference between subsystem blocks at a design time
A method of preventing interference between subsystem blocks includes obtaining an integrity level for a first subsystem block, obtaining an integrity level for a second subsystem block, assigning an integrity level property to at least one input port of the first block, the integrity level property assigned to the input port of the first block being based on the integrity level defined for the first block, and assigning an integrity level property to at least one output port of the second block, the integrity level property assigned to the output port of the second block being based on the integrity level defined for the second block. The method further includes evaluating the integrity level property of at least one input/output pair to determine whether an inappropriate connection exists, and performing a first action when an inappropriate connection exists, or performing a second action when an appropriate connection exists.
US08938707B2 Method and system for creating an executable verification plan
The various embodiments herein provide a method and a system for creating a verification plan in executable structure for verifying a product specification using a web user interface. The method comprises collecting the input parameters through a web user interface. The input parameters are stored in a temporary storage are converted to an object with a format such as XML. An interconnected structure of the related objects is created and transformed into a plurality of complex objects for generating a plurality of features. The stored information is fetched and processed by inserting the structure values into a permanent file based on header tag to identify an object. An output for the processed information is generated and displayed through the web user interface. The milestones of the product are directly mapped to the features for generating the features of the product.
US08938706B2 Providing customized visualization of application binary interface/application programming interface-related information
A mechanism for providing customized visualization of Application Binary Interface-related information is described. A method of embodiments of the invention includes querying a database storing interface provisioning details and interface usage details relating to application binary interfaces (ABIs) associated with shared libraries provided by an operating system running on a computer system. The database further stores comparison results obtained from comparing the interface provisioning details with the interface usage details. The method further includes extracting a set of information from the database, and customizing visualization representation of the set of information. The set of information is composed of any part or all of the interface provisioning details, the interface usage details, and the comparison results.
US08938704B1 Circuit module generation for programmable integrated circuits
An exemplary method of implementing a circuit design for a programmable integrated circuit (IC) includes, on at least one programmed processor, performing operations including: generating a description of circuit components of the circuit design including first portion of a circuit module that is independent of assignment of resources of the programmable IC; assigning a plurality of the resources of the programmable IC to a plurality of the circuit components including determining at least one resource assignment for the circuit module; and generating a physical implementation of the circuit components for implementation in the programmable IC, including generating a second portion of the circuit module that is dependent on the at least one resource assignment, and combining the second portion of the circuit module with the first portion of the circuit module.
US08938698B2 Systems and methods of automatically detecting failure patterns for semiconductor wafer fabrication processes
A system and method of automatically detecting failure patterns for a semiconductor wafer process is provided. The method includes receiving a test data set collected from testing a plurality of semiconductor wafers, forming a respective wafer map for each of the wafers, determining whether each respective wafer map comprises one or more respective objects, selecting the wafer maps that are determined to comprise one or more respective objects, selecting one or more object indices for selecting a respective object in each respective selected wafer map, determining a plurality of object index values in each respective selected wafer map, selecting an object in each respective selected wafer map, determining a respective feature in each of the respective selected wafer, classifying a respective pattern for each of the respective selected wafer maps and using the respective wafer fingerprints to adjust one or more parameters of the semiconductor fabrication process.
US08938687B2 Digital television and method of providing graphical user interface using the same
A digital television (DTV) and a method of providing a GUI using the DTV are disclosed. The method of providing a GUI in a DTV comprises: first displaying an image on a display unit provided on the DTV; receiving a display command of a first GUI; and second displaying the image and the first GUI such that a different spatial depth is formed between the image and the first GUI according to the received display command.
US08938685B2 Automated graphical user interface design and development systems and methods
An exemplary method includes a graphics export subsystem interfacing with a graphical user interface design subsystem to access data representative of a graphical user interface screen design, generating, based on the data representative of the graphical user interface screen design, abstraction data representative of the graphical user interface screen design, and generating, based on the abstraction data, computing code configured to be processed by target computing devices having different computing platforms to render graphical user interface screens in accordance with the graphical user interface screen design. In certain examples, the method may further include exporting the computing code to a distribution subsystem for access by a developer. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
US08938673B2 Method and apparatus for editing home screen in touch device
A method and apparatus for editing the home screen in a touch-enabled device enables the touch-enabled device to move a content item between pages of the home screen in an easy and intuitive way by: displaying a selected page as a current home screen; detecting a first interaction in the course of utilizing the home screen; displaying, when the first interaction is a page transition interaction, a transition mode screen; detecting a second interaction for moving a content item between pages while the transition mode screen is displayed; and moving the content item to a target page indicated by the second interaction.
US08938665B2 Read-detection in solid-state storage devices
A method for detecting codewords of a length-N, qary-symbol code, the symbols of each codeword stored in respective q-level cells of solid-state memory, where q>2, includes reading from memory cells storing a group of codewords to obtain respective read signals each comprising N signal components corresponding to respective symbols of a codeword. The signal components of the read signals are ordered according to signal level to produce an ordered component sequence. The ordered component sequence is partitioned to obtain segments corresponding to respective memory cell levels. Each segment contains a number of components dependent on predetermined frequency data indicative of expected frequency of occurrence of the corresponding level in use of the code. A reference signal level corresponding to each q memory cell level is determined in dependence on the signal components. The codeword corresponding to each read signal is then detected in dependence on the reference signal levels.
US08938664B2 Error correction decoding by trial and error
A representation of a codeword is decoded by applying a first decoder of the codeword to the representation of the codeword. If applying the first decoder fails to decode the representation of the codeword then a second decoder of the codeword is applied to the representation of the codeword. Preferably, applying the first decoder consumes less power and is faster than applying the second decoder. Data are ported by encoding the data as a codeword, exporting the codeword to a corrupting medium, importing a representation of the codeword, and applying a first decoder to the representation of the codeword. If applying the first decoder fails to decode the representation of the codeword then a second decoder of the codeword is applied to the representation of the codeword.
US08938660B1 Systems and methods for detection and correction of error floor events in iterative systems
Methods and apparatuses are provided for decoding a codeword using an iterative decoder. The iterative decoder, in a first decoding mode, performs a number of channel iterations on the codeword, determines a first syndrome weight after a first time period, and determines a second syndrome weight after a second time period. Each channel iteration includes an iteration of the channel detector and at least one iteration of the inner iterative decoder. The iterative decoder, in a second decoding mode, determines a true syndrome of the codeword, and processes the codeword based on the true syndrome of the codeword. The codeword is processed using the second decoding mode in response to determining that the first and second determined syndrome weights are less than a syndrome weight threshold.
US08938646B2 Mutations on input for test generation
A method, apparatus and product to be used in verification. The method comprising: based on a test generation input that defines a plurality of requirements automatically determining a mutated test generation input, wherein the mutated test generation input defining a mutated requirement which is absent from the test generation input, wherein the mutated requirement is based on a requirement of the plurality of requirements and contradicts, at least in part, the plurality of requirements; and generating one or more test-cases based on the mutated test generation input, whereby the one or more test-cases violate at least one requirement of the test generation input.
US08938645B2 Invalidation of metadata buffers
A quick buffer validity check can optionally be performed when a potential invalidity of the content of a buffer is identified. The identifying of the potential invalidity condition can include determining that a most recent lifecycle management event timestamp is more recent than a most recent buffer validity check timestamp for the buffer. To determine whether the buffer contents need to be refreshed, a list of the last changed timestamps for the constituent elements of the buffer can be compared to a new list. If the new list and the old list are not identical, the buffer can be rebuilt.
US08938641B2 Method and apparatus for synchronizing storage volumes
A disk array redundancy controller ensures integrity of a mirrored or RAID storage array supporting a host system and minimizes recovery time responsive to a storage volume failure by traversing caches of recently written blocks to identify partially flushed stripes of data and recovering the inconsistent stripes on each of the storage volumes based on a master copy derived from the scan of all pre-failure caches of the storage array. The storage array employs nonvolatile caches in conjunction with solid state drive (SSD) storage volumes, allowing post-failure recovery of recently written blocks. A cache depth at least sufficient to store the largest stripe, or set of blocks, from the host ensures recovery of the entire stripe from a collective scan of the caches of all storage volumes of the storage array.
US08938639B1 Systems and methods for performing fast failovers
A computer-implemented method for performing fast failovers may include 1) identifying an application to fail over from a first computing system to a second computing system, 2) identifying a first component of the application to fail over, the first component depending on a second component of the application and a third component of the application, the second component and third component being mutually independent, and 3) failing the application over from the first computing system to the second computing system by, based on a determination that the second component and third component are mutually independent, (i) taking the second component offline on the first computing system after taking the first component offline on the first computing system and (ii) taking the third component offline on the first computing system while bringing the second component online on the second computing system. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08938637B2 Systems and methods for synchronizing operations among a plurality of independently clocked digital data processing devices without a voltage controlled crystal oscillator
Example systems, apparatus, and methods receive audio information including a plurality of frames from a source device, wherein each frame of the plurality of frames includes one or more audio samples and a time stamp indicating when to play the one or more audio samples of the respective frame. In an example, the time stamp is updated for each of the plurality of frames using a time differential value determined between clock information received from the source device and clock information associated with the device. The updated time stamp is stored for each of the plurality of frames, and the audio information is output based on the plurality of frames and associated updated time stamps. A number of samples per frame to be output is adjusted based on a comparison between the updated time stamp for the frame and a predicted time value for play back of the frame.
US08938632B2 Setting power saving modes based on ambient light and user set time periods
An information processing apparatus configured to have a first power mode and a second power mode having lower power consumption than that of the first power mode includes a detection unit configured to detect brightness around the information processing apparatus, a setting unit configured to set a time period for shifting the information processing apparatus to the second power mode, and a control unit configured to, if the brightness detected by the detection unit is lower than a threshold, when a time is within the time period set by the setting unit, shift the information processing apparatus to the second power mode, and, when the time is not within the time period set by the setting unit, not to shift the information processing apparatus to the second power mode.
US08938627B2 Multilayer securing structure and method thereof for the protection of cryptographic keys and code
An arrangement for the protection of cryptographic keys and codes from being compromised by external tampering, wherein the arrangement is utilized within a multilayered securing structure. More particularly, there is provided a multilayered securing structure for the protection of cryptographic keys and codes, which may be subject to potential tampering when employed in computers and/or telecommunication systems. A method is provided for producing such multilayered securing structures within a modular substrate with the intent to protect cryptographic keys and codes which are employed in computers and/or telecommunication systems from the dangers of potential tampering or unauthorized access.
US08938624B2 Encryption key destruction for secure data erasure
Techniques for encryption key destruction for secure data erasure via an external interface or physical key removal are described. Electrical destruction of key material retained in a memory of a storage device renders the device securely erased, even when the device is otherwise inoperable. The memory (e.g. non-volatile, such as flash) stores key material for encrypting/decrypting storage data for the device. An eraser provides power and commands to the memory, even when all or any portion of the device is inoperable. The commands (e.g. erase or write) enable zeroizing or destroying the key material, rendering data encrypted with the destroyed key material inaccessible, and therefore securely erased. Alternatively, the memory is a removable component (e.g. an external security device or smartcard) coupled to the device during storage operation. Removing and physically destroying the memory renders the device securely erased. The device and/or the memory are sealed to enable tamper detection.
US08938623B2 Cryptographic processing system, key generation device, encryption device, decryption device, cryptographic processing method, and cryptographic processing program
The object is to provide a secure functional encryption scheme having many cryptographic functions. An access structure is constituted by applying the inner-product of attribute vectors to a span program. The access structure has a degree of freedom in design of the span program and design of the attribute vectors, thus having a large degree of freedom in design of access control. A functional encryption process is implemented by imparting the access structure to each of a ciphertext and a decryption key.
US08938621B2 Computing device integrity protection
A method of operating a computer system includes: obtaining, at the computer system, verification-input information associated with each of multiple hardware components of the computer system; cryptographically processing, at the computer system, the verification-input information to obtain a cryptographic result; and determining, at the computer system, whether to allow or inhibit, depending upon a comparison of the cryptographic result with a verification value, further operation of at least one of the hardware components.
US08938618B2 Device booting with an initial protection component
Booting a computing device includes executing one or more firmware components followed by a boot loader component. A protection component for the computing device, such as an anti-malware program, is identified and executed as an initial component after executing the boot loader component. One or more boot components are also executed, these one or more boot components including only boot components that have been approved by the protection component. A list of boot components that have been previously approved by the protection component can also be maintained in a tamper-proof manner.
US08938606B2 System, apparatus, and method for segment register read and write regardless of privilege level
Embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods for performing privilege agnostic segment base register read or write instruction are described. An exemplary method may include fetching the privilege agnostic segment base register write instruction, wherein the privilege agnostic write instruction includes a 64-bit data source operand, decoding the fetched privilege agnostic segment base register write instruction, and executing the decoded privilege agnostic segment base register write instruction to write the 64-bit data of the source operand into the segment base register identified by the opcode of the privilege agnostic segment base register write instruction.
US08938593B2 Tracking ownership of memory in a data processing system through use of a memory monitor
Ownership of a memory unit in a data processing system is tracked by assigning an identifier to each software component in the data processing system that can acquire ownership of the memory unit. An ownership variable is updated with the identifier of the software component that acquires ownership of the memory unit whenever the memory unit is acquired.
US08938591B2 Dispersed storage processing unit and methods with data aggregation for use in a dispersed storage system
A new data block to be stored in the dispersed storage system is received. When it is determined that a previous data segment contains sufficient space for the new data block, the previous data segment is retrieved from a plurality of dispersed storage units. A revised data segment is generated by aggregating the new data block with at least one existing data block of the previous data segment. A plurality of slices are generated for the revised data segment. The plurality of slices are stored in the plurality of dispersed storage units.
US08938571B1 Managing I/O operations in a virtualized environment
A set of techniques is described for performing input/output (I/O) between a guest domain and a host domain in a virtualized environment. A pool of memory buffers is reserved for performing virtualized I/O operations. The reserved pool of memory buffers has static mappings that grant access to both the guest domain and the host domain. When a request to perform an I/O operation is received, the system can determine whether the memory buffers allocated to the I/O operation belong to the reserved pool. If the buffers are in the reserved pool, the host domain executes the I/O operation using the buffers without the need to map/unmap the buffers and perform TLB flushes. If the buffers are not in the reserved pool, the system can either copy the data into the reserved pool or perform the mapping and unmapping of the memory buffers to the address space of the host domain.
US08938570B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a controller chip, a plurality of semiconductor chips operatively connected to the controller chip, wherein at least one of the plurality of semiconductor chips is operatively supplied with a pulse signal from the controller chip, and operatively supplied identification information, wherein each of the plurality of semiconductor chips is configured to store the identification information in response to the pulse signal received from the controller chip, and wherein each of the plurality of semiconductor chips is configured to block transmission of the pulse signal to a following semiconductor chip in a signal path among the plurality of semiconductor chips until identification information is stored therein.
US08938567B2 Communication apparatus, communication system and adapter
A communication apparatus for carrying out communications to and from an external apparatus that includes a first interconnecting unit and a first non-transparent port and effects an interconnection for communications via the first non-transparent port is provided. The communication apparatus includes a second interconnecting unit that includes a second non-transparent port communicably connected to the first non-transparent port. The second interconnecting unit effects an interconnection for communications via the second non-transparent port. The second interconnecting unit performs, when the communication apparatus carries out communications to and from the external apparatus, address translation between an address for use by the communication apparatus and an address for use by the second non-transparent port.
US08938566B2 Data storage system for managing serial interface configuration based on detected activity
According to one aspect, a data storage system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the data storage system includes a storage backplane having a plurality of drive slots configured to operatively connect to a corresponding plurality of mass storage devices, a first serial interface operative to communicatively connect one or more sets of the plurality of drive slots to a host bus adapter (HBA), according to a first drive slot assignment, a second serial interface operative to communicatively connect one or more sets of the plurality of drive slots to the HBA, according to a second drive slot assignment, and a backplane controller operatively connected to the first serial interface and the second serial interface, operative to detect the activity status on the first serial interface and the activity status on the second serial interface and, if a change in the activity status is detected for at least one of the first serial interface and the second serial interface, modify the first drive slot assignment and the second drive slot assignment.
US08938562B2 Method of, and apparatus for, mitigating memory bandwidth limitations when performing numerical calculations
There is provided a method of, and apparatus for, processing a computation on a computing device comprising at least one processor and a memory, the method comprising: storing, in said memory, plural copies of a set of data, each copy of said set of data having a different compression ratio and/or compression scheme; selecting a copy of said set of data; and performing, on a processor, a computation using said selected copy of said set of data. By providing such a method, different compression ratios and/or compression schemes can be selected as appropriate. For example, if high precision is required in a computation, a copy of the set of data can be chosen which has a low compression ratio at the expense of processing time and memory transfer time. In the alternative, if low precision is acceptable, then the speed benefits of a high compression ratio and/or lossy compression scheme may be utilised.
US08938551B2 Data processing device
According to one aspect of this disclosure, a data processing device is provided including a controller configured to open a logical channel with another data processing device and a receiver configured to receive a message from the other data processing device specifying a data link layer protocol data unit size to be used for exchanging data via the logical channel and further including a transceiver configured to exchange data with the other data processing device over the logical channel in accordance with the data link layer protocol data unit size wherein the data link layer protocol data unit size is constant for the logical channel until the logical channel is closed.
US08938547B1 Method and system for data usage accounting in a computing device
A method and system for data usage accounting are described herein. As an example, the method can be practiced in a setting that includes both secure applications and unsecure applications. Via one of the secure applications, a request to access data can be received in which the request is intended for a content provider via a system service. The request that is intended for the content provider via the system service can be intercepted and modified, which can cause the system service to direct the request back to the secure application instead of the content provider. In addition, a connection can be established with the content provider for the request through the secure application to enable data usage accounting of data that is returned by the content provider.
US08938545B2 SIP transfer in a back-to-back user agent (B2BUA) environment
The system generates a change in the SIP INVITE message during a call transfer. Here, a user relation element involved in the call can change the header information in the message to include the endpoint view of the transferring party. Thus, the INVITE message is redirected to the transferring party's user relation element, which can interpret the received message and “unravel” the B2BUAs in the existing call path. The system includes changes in the user relation element to effect the message change and interpret the message once received. Changes to the user relation element forgo the need to change the communication endpoints.
US08938544B2 Vehicle network connectivity management
A system and method for determining a network is disclosed. The system comprises a requesting module and a determination module. The requesting module sends a request from a vehicle for network data to a connectivity server. The request includes vehicle data describing a current location of the vehicle and a destination for the vehicle. The requested network data is associated with the vehicle data. The determination module receives the network data relating to one or more networks. The determination module caches the network data and determines which network to connect to from the one or more networks based at least in part on the network data.
US08938538B2 Server having an interface for connecting to a server system and server system
A server with an interface for connecting to a server system and server system is provided. The server includes an interface for connecting a server system, and features a component carrier for holding several servers with a serial management bus and several servers that are connected to the management bus via serial interfaces, wherein one server is set up as a management server and other servers are set up as data-processing servers. The management server has an acknowledgement device that, after sending a control command to a management bus of the server system, generates an acknowledge signal for acknowledging the control command. Furthermore, the server system is set up such that information is transmitted in a unidirectional manner from the management server to the data-processing servers via the serial management bus.
US08938537B2 Central control verifying apparatus, central control verification program, and central control verifying method
A central control verifying apparatus includes a plurality of quasi switches respectively corresponding to a plurality of switches in a network; a connection data managing section which manages connection data between the plurality of switches; and a verifying section. Each of the plurality of quasi switches is communicably connected with the network central control section through a control link. A requesting quasi switch of the plurality of quasi switch transmits a route setting request to the network central control section. A target quasi switch of the plurality of quasi switches receives the route indication data generated in response to the route setting request from the network central control section. The verifying section refers to the connection data and the route indication data received by the target quasi switch to verify whether or not a desired route setting is performed according to the route setting request by the network central control section.
US08938522B2 Tiered XML services in a content management system
A content management system (CMS) includes a value-add application with a first set of XML content services, one or more dedicated XML processing servers with a second and other sets of XML content services, and a core CMS with a third set of XML content services. The content management system may be designed to provide XML content services at any of these three tiers of processing. A first threshold is defined that allows the value-add application to determine when to offload XML content services to a dedicated XML processing server. A second threshold is defined that allows the core CMS to determine when to offload XML content services to a dedicated XML processing server. Callback services are included that allow each tier of XML content services to send or receive additional information to complete the XML processing. The result is a content management system that is very powerful and flexible.
US08938515B2 Master queue for messaging service
A messaging service is described that incorporates messages into cached link lists. The messages are not yet acknowledged as having been received by one or more consumers to whom the messages were sent. A separate link list exists for each of a plurality of different message priority levels. Messages within a same link list are ordered in their link list in the same order in which they where received by the messaging service. At least one of the link lists contains an element that represents one or more messages that are persisted but are not cached in any of the cached link lists.
US08938506B2 System and method for addressing messages
A method is provided for automatically using address information from a selected message to create a new message that is unrelated to the selected message in response to a user action, such as selecting one of a plurality of improved reply options. These improved reply options may include a “New Message To” command and a “New Message To All” command that do not establish a relationship between the reply message and the selected message that could be exploited by, for example, a threading service. In particular, these commands populate address fields of the new message with values from address fields of the selected message without populating any other fields that are used to identify relationships among messages.
US08938505B2 Co-authoring for a document management system
The invention relates to a document management system and a method therein. In order to perform co-authoring of an electronic object between at least two devices, the method comprises performing a reservation of an electronic object from a server for co-authoring from a first client device, writing the electronic object in modifiable form to a co-authoring folder in a common location accessible by the first client device and at least one other device; providing an access to at least one other device to the co-authoring folder; and when co-authoring of the electronic object is finished, reading the electronic object from the co-authoring folder and writing the electronic object to the server.
US08938504B2 Forming networks of users associated with a central entity
Computer-implemented methods, computer-readable media, and systems for forming networks of users associated with a central entity. When a central entity receives multiple requests from multiple users to register for an event associated with the entity, the entity forms a user network that did not exist until then. The entity receives data describing the users using which the entity generates user interfaces showing all users in the network, and presents the user interfaces on users' computer systems. When a subset of the users check-in with the entity, the entity displays information about one of the users in the subset to another, and allows the users to communicate with each other. When the event associated with the entity ends, the entity terminates the network. In this manner, the central entity forms temporary user networks that expire when an event scheduled at the central entity occurs.
US08938501B2 Method and system of generating consumer data by facilitating the communication of feedback in a group setting
A method of generating consumer data by facilitating the communication of feedback in a group setting over a global data communications network is shown. After creating or joining a group, members of the group may send or receive polls, consisting of photos, videos, group texts and event messages to other group members and/or the poll creators' social networks. Other group members and social network friends are notified instantly or almost instantly and respond back promptly. The results are organized and presented in an engaging visual manner and the consumer data collected from such interactions are stored in a database.
US08938499B2 Friend recommendation system based on an active social network
Social network information of a player of a computer-implemented game is accessed to identify active players from the social network information. The active players each have a minimum number of reciprocated communications with the player within a time range. A recommendation of players is generated to the player based on the identified active players.
US08938479B1 Systems and methods for dynamically selecting a logical location for an index
A computer-implemented method for dynamically selecting a logical location for an index is described. Information relating to a computing device and a location within the computing device is collected. The information is uploaded to a database. The database is queried for stored information relating to at least one computing device and at least one location within the at least one computing device. A performance score is calculated from the stored information. A logical location for the index is selected based on the calculated scores.
US08938478B2 Dynamic presentation of web content
Dynamic presentation of web content is provided. One embodiment comprises a computer system for dynamically presenting market channel information associated with items on a web site to a customer. One such computer system comprises: a data service containing information for a plurality of products and a plurality of market participants; and a product web page for displaying information related to a product, the product web page comprising program code that instructs a client browser to query the data service to determine whether the product has available market channel information.
US08938472B2 Advancements in data distribution methods and referential integrity
An elastic parallel database system where data distribution is container- and container-context based. Container Based Tables are defined and Container Member Tables achieve co-location of data as needed. A polymorphic key may also establish polymorphic key relationships between rows in one table and rows in many other possible tables.
US08938462B2 Adaptively assessing object relevance based on dynamic user properties
Provided are techniques for assessing object relevance. One or more user usage patterns are retrieved. Object properties of one or more objects are retrieved. The one or more user usage patterns are compared against the object properties of the one or more objects to compute one or more interaction scores that represent a value of how an object interacts with a user based on a current context of the user. Object importance is assigned to each of the one or more objects based on the one or more interaction scores.
US08938460B2 Automated highest priority ordering of content items stored on a device
A method and device relate to prioritizing content items stored on a device and, more particularly, relate to automatically ordering highest priority content items stored on a device according to multiple criteria. The method and device enabling presentation, on a display of the device, the high priority content items in order of their total priority.
US08938459B2 System and method for distributed index searching of electronic content
There are provided methods and systems for efficient search in a peer-to-peer network topology. In various embodiments, search methods and systems provide for response times and network traffic that are independent from the number of query terms, thereby producing constant run-time searches and bandwidth hits in a P2P network search implementation. By distributing inverse indexes between peers, and storing with each inverse index a Bloom filter populated with selected keywords, multi-term search and analysis can be conducted on one network node without requiring exchange of posting lists between various network nodes.
US08938454B2 Using a tunable finite automaton for regular expression matching
Deterministic Finite Automatons (DFAs) and Nondeterministic Finite Automatons (NFAs) are two typical automatons used in the Network Intrusion Detection System (NIDS). Although they both perform regular expression matching, they have quite different performance and memory usage properties. DFAs provide fast and deterministic matching performance but suffer from the well-known state explosion problem. NFAs are compact, but their matching performance is unpredictable and with no worst case guarantee. A new automaton representation of regular expressions, called Tunable Finite Automaton (TFA), is described. TFAs resolve the DFAs' state explosion problem and the NFAs' unpredictable performance problem. Different from a DFA, which has only one active state, a TFA allows multiple concurrent active states. Thus, the total number of states required by the TFA to track the matching status is much smaller than that required by the DFA. Different from an NFA, a TFA guarantees that the number of concurrent active states is bounded by a bound factor b that can be tuned during the construction of the TFA according to the needs of the application for speed and storage. A TFA can achieve significant reductions in the number of states and memory space.
US08938447B2 Determining an ambient parameter set
An ambient controller system and a method of determining an ambient parameter set associated with a textual description are described. A database (19) comprises a plurality of files having content in the form of a picture, video, or even sound. Furthermore, each file comprises information related to a file content, e.g. in the form of a file name, or other attributes which are stored as part of the file. The textual description is used for obtaining a subset of files whose information matches the textual description (16). The method further comprises analyzing the subset of files (17) for obtaining the ambient parameter set related to the textual description. The ambient parameter set may then be used to control one or more ambient devices (15).
US08938445B2 System and method for rowset inserts
There is provided a computer-executed method of executing a rowset insert against a database. The method comprises receiving a structured query language statement (SQL) specifying the rowset insert. Additionally, the method comprises raising an error for a first row of the rowset insert. The method also comprises updating a table for a second row of the rowset insert. Further, the method comprises updating a materialized view of the table based on the second row. Additionally, the method comprises performing a commit to the database. The table comprises the second row, and the updated materialized view is consistent with the table.
US08938444B2 Techniques for external application-directed data partitioning in data exporting from a database management system
Techniques for external application-directed data partitioning in data exported from a parallel database management system (DBMS) are provided. An external application sends a query, a total number of requested access module processors (AMPs), and an application-defined data partitioning expression to the DBMS. The DBMS executes the query with the results vertical partitioned on the identified number of AMPs. Individual external mappers access their assigned AMPs asking for specific partitions that they are assigned to process the query results.
US08938439B2 Collaborative systems and methods for constructing representations of data
Embodiments relate to methods and systems for building representations of related subjects. User instructions may be received via a computer system that relate identifying information relating to a subject (e.g., an individual, group and/or event) to a node being associated therewith. Nodes in different accounts may be compared and matched based on identifying information associated with the nodes. Characteristics of one of the matched nodes may be added or modified based on characteristics of another of the matched nodes. A user may be notified of a potential match, a match, and/or node characteristics additions and/or modifications.
US08938435B2 Knowledge management tool
A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for managing data across an enterprise. A request for information is received from a user. Data relating to the user request is searched for in at least two geographically separated information repositories. The results of the search are presented to the user. The user is allowed to browse through additional data of the information repositories. Links between data items and other data entries in the information repositories are created according to relationships the data items have to the other data entries.
US08938434B2 Household grouping based on public records
Records are obtained from various sources, including public records, and are then augmented and grouped. At least one augment key is applied to each of the records resulting in an augment key value for each record. The records are augmented based on the key value. Augmenting the records includes combining the fields of the common records into a single record and then removing the duplicate records. The augmented records are then grouped according to household. At least one household grouping key is applied to each of the augmented records resulting in a household grouping key value for each record. The records having the same household grouping key value are displayed as a household grouping.
US08938431B2 System and method for real-time environment tracking and coordination
A configurable real-time environment tracking and command module (RTM) is provided to coordinate one or more than one devices or objects in a physical environment. A virtual environment is created to correlate with various objects and attributes within the physical environment. The RTM is able to receive data about attributes of physical objects and accordingly update the attributes of correlated virtual objects in the virtual environment. The RTM is also able to provide data extracted from the virtual environment to one or more than devices, such as robotic cameras, in real-time. An interface to the RTM allows multiple devices to interact with the RTM, thereby coordinating the devices.
US08938429B1 Resynchronization of nonactive and active segments
A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for recovering databases. In some embodiments, this includes switching an active segment to a resynchronization mode, receiving a change tracking log, determining a data block based on the change tracking log, and resynchronizing the determined data block with a non-active segment. In some embodiments, writes performed on the active segment are synchronized with the non-active segment.
US08938428B1 Systems and methods for efficiently locating object names in a large index of records containing object names
A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for tracking a plurality of objects being stored are disclosed. In an embodiment, this comprises computing the hash value of the name of each object being stored, setting the corresponding bits in a bitmap, and storing the bitmap as a hint in an index. The size of the bitmap is determined by the space available for storing the hint, and the range of hash values is determined by the size of the bitmap. The range may be determined by choosing a prime number smaller than the space available for storing the bitmap. Either the hint or the longest pathname containing the objects can be stored, and this may be selected based on the application.
US08938425B1 Managing logical views of storage
A method is used in managing logical views of storage. A logical view is created. The logical view includes a set of storage objects. A mapping object for the logical view is created. The mapping object manages access to the set of objects of the logical view. A snapshot copy of the logical view is created. The snapshot copy of the logical view shares a subset of the set of storage objects with the logical view. A version of the mapping object manages access to the snapshot copy.
US08938424B2 System and method of assessing the state of a database product for installation consistency
A computer-implemented system and method performs an iterative process to assess the installation of an upgrade version of a database product for consistency with a baseline version of the database product. To assess the installation, the baseline version and the upgrade version are reconciled by modifying one or both of the baseline and upgrade versions. The modified baseline and upgrade versions are then analyzed to determine whether any remaining inconsistencies exist. Any remaining inconsistencies are then identified and classified, and reconciled. Thereafter, the process is repeated iteratively until the upgrade version is reconciled with the baseline version.
US08938420B1 Systems and methods for natural batching of I/O operations on a replication log
A computer-implemented method for natural batching of I/O operations on a replication log may include: 1) identifying a replication log that records the order of writes within a cluster replication system, 2) determining that the replication log is unavailable, 3) queuing incoming I/O operations for the replication log in a single batch while the replication log is unavailable, 4) determining that the replication log has become available, 5) ceasing queuing of incoming I/O operations for the replication log based on the determination that the replication log has become available, and 6) grouping a plurality of I/O operations in the single batch for processing in parallel by assigning a same generation number to the plurality of I/O operations. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US08938412B2 Resource community topic modeling with spreading activation
The present invention relates to computer implemented methods and system for determining relevance measures for computational resources based on their relatedness to a user's interests. The methods and systems are designed to accept as inputs a collection of unstructured textual data related to resources, and a structured graph of the relationships between resources, to calculate probability distributions of resources over latent communities discovered from the unstructured textual data, to activate the structured graph with these probability distributions, and to spread this activation throughout the graph in a fixed number of iterations. The result of these methods and of the systems implementing these methods is a set of relevance measures attached to the resources in the structured graph.
US08938411B2 Inferring user family connections from social information
A social networking system infers family connections between a target user and one or more additional social networking system users based on information stored by the social networking system about the target user and the target user's connections. The inferred connections may be sent to the target user for verification and stored by the social networking system if confirmed by the target user. Stored connection information about a set of users connected to the target user may be used to infer connections between the target user and subject users connected to one or more of the users connected to the target user.
US08938404B2 System and method for detecting abnormal audio events
Techniques for detecting abnormal audio events in a given environment, including learning the modeling of the environment to be surveilled during which a database is created by extraction of acoustic parameters associated with audio streams picked up over a fixed time period and an unsupervized automatic segmentation of said streams, followed by grouping the segments in classes and a statistical modeling of the segment classes, a usage phase including analysis of an audio stream, with the extraction of the acoustic parameters, automatic segmentation of said analyzed stream substantially identical to that used during the learning phase and determining a likelihood of each statistical model contained in the database for each of the segments of the analyzed audio stream, resulting in a likelihood value which is compared to a threshold value to determine the presence or absence of audio anomalies in the analyzed audio stream.
US08938400B2 Apparatus, system, and method for checking the health of encryption key managers
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for checking the health of encryption key managers (EKM). An identification module identifies an EKM of a plurality of EKMs. A communication module establishes communication with the EKM. A request module requests an encryption key from the EKM. A verification module verifies that there is a valid encryption key path to the EKM. In one embodiment, the verification module validates that the EKM can exchange encryption keys with a tape drive. The verification module may also validate that the EKM can certify the authenticity of a tape drive.
US08938395B2 Cursor path vector analysis for detecting click fraud
A system and method for detecting click fraud where data is received corresponding to a tracking of movement of a cursor on a web page. The movement of the cursor is associated with at least one vector. The at least one vector represents at least a portion of the cursor movement. A confidence level useable in the determination of click fraud is determined. The confidence level is responsive to analysis of the at least one vector representing at least a portion of the cursor movement.
US08938385B2 Method and apparatus for named entity recognition in chinese character strings utilizing an optimal path in a named entity candidate lattice
The present invention provides a method for recognizing a named entity included in natural language, comprising the steps of: performing gradual parsing model training with the natural language to obtain a classification model; performing gradual parsing and recognition according to the obtained classification model to obtain information on positions and types of candidate named entities; performing a refusal recognition process for the candidate named entities; and generating a candidate named entity lattice from the refusal-recognition-processed candidate named entities, and searching for a optimal path. The present invention uses a one-class classifier to score or evaluate these results to obtain the most reliable beginning and end borders of the named entities on the basis of the forward and backward parsing and recognizing results obtained only by using the local features.
US08938380B2 Methods, devices, and kits relating to the implementation of gelled fluids having a transient gel microstructure
Equipment associated with a gelled fluid may be manipulated based on a stress response of the gelled fluid as determined by a gel microstructure destruction model comprising an equivalent work integral function. Further, systems and devices may be configured to manipulated equipment associated with a gelled fluid based on a stress response of the gelled fluid as determined by a gel microstructure destruction model comprising an equivalent work integral function.
US08938375B2 Optimizing business process management models
A method of optimizing a Business Process Management (BPM) model, where the model is associated with a plurality of key performance indicators depending on a control parameter vector that includes a plurality of control parameters, may include separating the plurality of control parameters into a linear control parameter vector and a non-linear control parameter vector. A set of candidate values may be iteratively calculated for the control parameter vector. Each candidate value may be determined for a preselected value of a non-linear control parameter belonging to the non-linear control parameter vector from execution of a mixed integer program model associated with the BPM model, the key performance indicators and the preselected value of the non-linear control parameter vector. The method may further include adjusting the BPM model based on at least one of the candidate values.
US08938361B2 Electronic gardening tool and method of configuring the same
The tools and methods disclosed herein can convert an analog signal from the soil sensor probes into a digital format that can be read by a low cost digital microcontroller which acts on the digital data with formulae and tables so that the displayed information is the same or nearly the same as the readings in the same soil from the analog meters. To provide accurate readings, the described tools can apply either of a fixed or floating calibration method to set a reference of the measured soil pH and moisture measure. The floating calibration method also permits adjustment of the measure reference to correct calibration imprecision induced by fluctuation in the battery voltage.
US08938352B2 Method and device for controlling a cruise control governor in a vehicle
A method for controlling a cruise control operable to maintain a set speed of a vehicle according to a plurality of goal droop curves is provided. The goal droop curves include: an isochronous droop curve; a top droop curve; and a bottom droop curve. The method includes performing command according to the droop curves; registering that the vehicle soon will enter an uphill slope; estimating in a vehicle position before entering the uphill slope if a downshift in a transmission of the vehicle will occur when traveling the uphill slope during a coming time period (testimation); if the downshift is estimated to occur then performing a fuel saving action during the time period in order to avoid the downshift. The fuel saving action is one of an adaptation of transmission downshifting limits or to during the time period performing command according to a second isochronous curve.
US08938341B2 Method for controlling clutch of automatic transmission for improvement of fuel efficiency
A method for controlling a clutch of an automatic transmission for improvement of fuel efficiency may include determining whether external driving conditions of a vehicle meets coasting conditions, determining a clutch slip control time and an amount of clutch slip torque according to internal driving conditions of the vehicle, performing slip control on a clutch that works at each step of the automatic transmission using the determined clutch slip control time and torque, wherein an engine brake torque transmitted to a final output shaft of the automatic transmission may be reduced.
US08938339B2 Method for activating a unit of a transmission
A method of actuating an assembly of a transmission, with which are associated a plurality of actuators with whose help the assembly can in principle be actuated, such that out of the actuators available in principle for actuation, a control unit selects at least one actuator for the actual actuation and activates the selected actuator with an output signal in such manner that a status parameter of the actuated assembly corresponds to or follows a control-side nominal value, such that out of the actuators available in principle for actuating the assembly, the control unit selects at least one actuator for the actual actuation of the assembly in such manner that, for all the actuators available in principle for actuating the assembly over the operating life of the transmission, the extent of their utilization is approximately uniform.
US08938336B2 Occupant safety system and method with optical fiber grid sheet
An occupant safety system using an optical fiber grid sheet and a method thereof are provided. The occupant safety system applies light to optical fibers constituting an optical fiber grid which is attached to a moving body and in which the optical fibers are arranged in a grid pattern; receives the applied light through the optical fibers; grasps a location of impact on the moving body based on the received light receiving signals; and controls operations of safety devices provided in the moving body based on the grasped location of the impact. Accordingly, the occupant safety system can sense impacts on the moving body everywhere through the optical fiber grid, and can exactly grasp the location of the impact and can drive an appropriate safety device timely. Therefore, the occupant can be protected safely.
US08938328B2 Electric vehicle and method of controlling the same
An electric vehicle which travels by driving actuators includes: a monitor unit which monitors external environment or internal environment of the electric vehicle; an alarm unit which outputs, based on monitoring information obtained by the monitoring unit, a vibration velocity signal indicating velocity which changes in a cycle; a travel information generation unit which calculates a target travel velocity based on a steering direction and a control input provided by an operator of the electric vehicle, and generates travel control information for controlling the actuators based on the target travel velocity; and a control unit which controls the actuators based on the travel control information. The travel information generation unit regenerates the travel control information by adding the vibration velocity signal to the target travel velocity upon receiving the vibration velocity signal.
US08938311B2 Methods of remotely managing water heating units in a water heater
A method of managing electrical power storage can include remotely controlling operation of one of a plurality of water heating units included in a single water heater, separately from controlling a remainder of the plurality of the water heating units, at a customer location in response to a remotely transmitted indication.
US08938306B2 Microprocessor controlled ambulatory medical apparatus with hand held communication device
An implantable infusion pump possesses operational functionality that is, at least in part, controlled by software operating in two processor ICs which are configured to perform some different and some duplicate functions. The pump exchanges messages with an external device via telemetry. Each processor controls a different part of the drug infusion mechanism such that both processors must agree on the appropriateness of drug delivery for infusion to occur. Delivery accumulators are incremented and decremented with delivery requests and with deliveries made. When accumulated amounts reach or exceed, quantized deliverable amounts, infusion is made to occur. The accumulators are capable of being incremented by two or more independent types of delivery requests. Operational modes of the infusion device are changed automatically in view of various system errors that are trapped, various system alarm conditions that are detected, and when excess periods of time lapse between pump and external device interactions.
US08938304B2 Cochlear implant power system and methodology
A cochlear implant system has an implantable portion that includes a stimulator module for producing for the auditory system of a user an electrical stimulation signal representative of an acoustic signal. The implantable portion further includes a battery for supplying power to the stimulator module, a receiver module for receiving an electrical power signal across the skin of a user, and a recharge module that uses the electrical power signal to recharge the battery. The recharge module recharges the battery at less than the maximum recharge rate.
US08938302B2 Treatment of headache
Headache treatment methods are described and include providing an energy delivery device; locating a secondary or higher-order branch of a postganglionic nerve that provides innervation for a patient's head, by identifying a target region of the patient's head that includes the nerve branch; positioning, within the target region, a portion of the energy delivery device; and applying, from the positioned portion of the energy delivery device to the target region, an amount of energy effective to result in a stimulation activity of the nerve branch; and, after observing the stimulated nerve branch activity, delivering, from the energy delivery device to the nerve branch, energy in an amount effective to reduce a headache severity in the patient.
US08938300B2 Leadless implantable intravascular electrophysiologic device for neurologic/cardiovascular sensing and stimulation
A leadless intravascular sensor (100, 200) uses the body tissue as a communication medium. The implantable intravascular device has a tubular stent-like structure (102) for intravascular fixation with embedded microcircuits to allow bipolar and unipolar sensing of cardiac and neurologic electrical activity, sensing of other physiologic signals, local electrical stimulation (cardiac pacing and defibrillation; neurologic stimulation and seizure therapy) as well as the ability to communicate with other implanted and non implanted devices via radio frequency and/or optical communication and/or analog signal communication using body tissue as the conducting medium. The device can also be used in the extravascular or perivascular space. In this form, it has an open/flexible ring that can be adjusted, or self-adjusts to provide no pressure or required contact around the vessel or target region.
US08938299B2 System for treating sleep disordered breathing
A system is disclosed for applying a treatment therapy for sleep disordered breathing. The system includes a sensing module configured to sense physiologic conditions and an implantable pulse generator in communication with the sensing module and including an automatic therapy manager. The automatic therapy manager operates in a first state to detect sleep indicative behavior, a second state to detect sleep disordered breathing behavior, and a third state to apply a nerve stimulation signal.
US08938294B2 Single-pass left-sided DDD pacing lead
A single-pass pacing lead capable of sensing and pacing both the atria and the ventricles is described. In some examples, the single-pass pacing lead is connected to a DDD pacemaker. In some examples, the single-pass pacing lead comprises four electrodes. In some examples, the lead includes three electrodes configured to be positioned in or near an atrium, e.g., the right atrium, and one electrode configured to be positioned in or near a ventricle, e.g., the left ventricle, when the lead is implanted. In other examples, the lead includes two electrodes configured to be positioned in each of the atrium and ventricle when the lead is implanted. In some examples, one of the electrodes, which is configured to be positioned proximate the coronary sinus ostium when the lead is implanted, comprises a helical element for fixation of the lead to tissue.
US08938290B2 Systems, methods and devices for a skull/brain interface
Systems, methods and devices are disclosed for directing and focusing signals to the brain for neuromodulation and for directing and focusing signals or other energy from the brain for measurement, heat transfer and imaging. An aperture in the skull and/or a channel device implantable in the skull can be used to facilitate direction and focusing. Treatment and diagnosis of multiple neurological conditions may be facilitated with the disclosed systems, methods and devices.
US08938285B2 Access chamber and markers for biopsy device
A marker deployment tool may comprise a marker cannula having a lateral deployment aperture, a push rod slidably disposed within the marker cannula and a scalloped tip coupled to the distal end of the marker cannula. The scalloped tip may have a push rod recess configured to receive a portion of the distal end of the push rod such that the push rod does not appreciably extend out of the lateral deployment aperture when the push rod is actuated distally. The marker deployment tool may further comprise a magnet at or near the distal end. This magnet may be used in combination with a magnet or plurality of magnets disposed about an access chamber in a tissue sample holder to assist the user in aligning the marker deployment tool. The access chamber in the tissue sample holder may also include a valve, two valves, or a removable plug.
US08938283B2 Surgical navigation for repair of heart valve leaflets
To improve the overall navigation process for minimally invasive repair of heart valve leaflets, an augmented reality technique capable of providing a robust three-dimensional context for transesophogeal echocardiography data has been developed. In the context of various embodiment of the invention, augmented reality essentially refers to a system in which the primary environment is virtual but the environment is augmented by real elements. In this real-time environment, the surgeon can easily and intuitively identify the tool, surgical targets, and high risk areas, and view tool trajectories and orientations.
US08938282B2 Surgical location monitoring system and method with automatic registration
The present invention involves a surgical hardware and software monitoring system and method which allows for surgical planning while the patient is available for surgery, for example while the patient is being prepared for surgery so that the system may model the surgical site. In one embodiment, the model may be used to track contemplated surgical procedures and warn the physician regarding possible boundary violations that would indicate an inappropriate location in a surgical procedure. In another embodiment, the hardware may track the movement of instruments during the procedure and in reference to the model to enhance observation of the procedure.
US08938280B2 Motion correction in a PET/MRI hybrid imaging system
A diagnostic imaging arrangement comprises a magnetic resonance examination (1) system to acquire magnetic resonance signals and an emission tomography system (2) to acquire nuclear decay signals. An analysis module (4) is provided to derive motion correction(s) from the magnetic resonance signals. A reconstruction module (5) reconstructs a motion corrected emission tomographic image from the nuclear decay signals on the basis of the motion correction. Also a therapeutic arrangement is disclosed with a diagnostic imaging arrangement and a therapy module, with a system controller is further coupled to the therapy module and has the function to control the therapy module on the basis of image information generated by the diagnostic imaging system.
US08938273B2 User interface for a portable device including detecting proximity of a finger near a touchscreen to prevent changing the display
In a portable electronic device such as a mobile phone with a touchscreen display and a camera, if the camera detects that the user's finger is near the touchscreen (indicating that the user is about to make a selection) then the display can be prevented from changing while the user's finger is in proximity to the touchscreen. This can prevent the user from erroneously activating a control such as when the screen display changes suddenly as the user is about to touch an intended currently-displayed control.
US08938269B2 Negotiated channel information reporting in a wireless communication system
Techniques to enhance the performance in a wireless communication system using CQI feedback optimized to support different scenarios. According to one aspect, an access terminal may select a CQI feedback table based on the access terminals capability. According to another aspect, an access point may select a CQI feedback table based on an access terminals capability, system loading and the type of service provided by the access point. An access point which provides services that require high data rates may select a larger CQI feedback table to support the high data rates for access terminals which support the larger CQI feedback table. The same access point may select a smaller CQI feedback table for access terminals which do not have the capability or need for the high data rate services.
US08938264B2 Apparatus, and associated method, for forming a page message including a structure of partial identifiers of differing bit lengths using random or pseudorandom numbers
Apparatus, and an associated method for facilitating paging of an access terminal operable in a radio communication system. The access terminal is identified by part of a pseudorandom, or random, number, such as a session seed. The part of the number is included in the page message when the access terminal is to be paged. When included in the message, the access terminal detects the page and the part of the number contained therein that identifies the access terminal.
US08938256B2 Communication and control system using location aware devices for producing notification messages operating under rule-based control
A cellular telephone handset stores audio files previously recorded by the user as well as voice mail messages from other users and selectively transmitted selected ones of these files to the remote listener, or to the voice mail system of a remote user. Voice mail messages are composed, stored, transmitted, forwarded and reviewed using a voice mail system without ringing the remote party's telephone, much as email is composed, stored, transmitted and reviewed using an email server.
US08938254B2 Methods and arrangements in a telecommunication system
There is provided a method in a cellular telecommunications network, the cellular telecommunications network comprising at least a first cell and a second cell. The method comprises the steps of transmitting (302) first periodic physical signals, usable by a device to determine its location, to the first cell; and transmitting (304) second periodic physical signals, usable by a device to determine its location, to the second cell. The second periodic physical signals are synchronized with the first periodic physical signals and have a timing offset, such that the first periodic physical signals and the second periodic physical signals are not transmitted simultaneously. The method is characterized in that transmission of data or control signals to the first cell is inhibited when the second periodic physical signals are transmitted to the second cell.
US08938248B2 Enhanced manageability in wireless data communication systems
A cellular network system comprises a device identifier comparator and a connection enable indicator. A device identifier comparator for comparing a received device identifier with one of a plurality of stored device identifiers, wherein the one of the stored plurality of stored device identifiers is associated with a stored subscriber identifier. A connection enable indicator for indicating whether a connection from a cellular device associated with the received device identifier to a data network associated with the cellular network system should be enabled.
US08938244B2 System, method, and computer-readable medium for user equipment acquisition of an IP-femtocell system
A system, method, and computer readable medium for acquisition of an IP-based femtocell system by a user equipment are provided. A manual femtocell acquisition procedure may be invoked at a user equipment for acquiring access to a femtocell system or network of femtocell systems. The femtocell acquisition routine may be invoked by supply of a command to a femto application hosted by the user equipment. Invocation of the femtocell acquisition routine results in the user equipment seeking the femtocell system allocated a prioritized preferred routing list entry. In the event that a femtocell system is located, the femtocell system may perform electronic serial number screening to prevent unintended attachment and registration on a femtocell system with which the user equipment does not have authorized access.
US08938238B2 Restricting access point transmissions
Transmissions by a first access point (e.g., a femto cell) are restricted upon detecting an access terminal in the vicinity of the first access point in the event the access terminal is communicating with a second access point (e.g., a macro cell). Upon detection of such an access terminal, the access terminal restricts transmission (e.g., beacon transmission) on a downlink carrier frequency on which the access terminal is actively receiving information from the second access point. This restriction of transmission by the access point may involve, for example, temporarily reducing transmit power, reducing the periodicity of transmission, or ceasing transmission.
US08938233B2 Enhanced access control in LTE advanced systems
An enhanced access control method is proposed for machine-type communications (MTC) in a 3GPP LTE-Advanced network. An MTC device is configured for enhanced access barring (EAB). When the MTC device attempts access to the network, the NAS layer checks whether EAB is applicable for the MTC device. If yes, then the NAS layer forwards EAB configuration to the AS layer for further EAB control. Based on the EAB configuration, a base station broadcasts EAB information to UEs via system information block. The EAB information indicates whether barring is applied to a number of EAB categories and a number of access classes. Based on the EAB information, the MTC devices performs EAB for access attempt to RRC. If access is not barred under EAB, then the MTC device further performs ACB for access attempt to RRC.
US08938229B1 Alleviating and overriding throttled conditions in LTE
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for alleviating and overriding throttled conditions in Long Term Evolution networks are provided. In embodiments, indications that throttled conditions have been reached are received at Mobile Management Entities. Cause codes are communicated, in embodiments, to mobile devices directing the mobile devices to refrain from further attach attempts. In embodiments, attach attempts associated with unique identifiers are received by the Mobile Management Entities that override throttled conditions. In embodiments, authentication failure conditions from the Mobile Management Entities are detected. Algorithms are invoked, in embodiments, to initiate cell barring modes for base stations and detect failure percentages.
US08938227B2 Automatic identification of a vehicle driver based on driving behavior
A method and apparatus are disclosed that identify a motor vehicle operation and whether a driver is operating a mobile device. One example of operation may include a method that includes receiving vehicle data based on active operation of a vehicle and compiling a candidate driver identification profile (DIP) based on the received vehicle data. The method may also include comparing the candidate DIP to a pre-stored DIP and determining a match between the candidate DIP and the pre-stored DIP. The method may also include applying a restriction to a mobile station operated by a driver of the vehicle responsive to the match determination.
US08938226B2 Reassigned mobile message notifications
The instant application describes examples of managing a customer's mobile station and providing a notification of a resultant change. The disclosed examples provide for a subscriber device management application that executes on a customer's mobile device that allows changes to be made remotely to an operational control parameter of mobile station. In response to a change to the operation control parameter, a notification may be sent as a mobile messaging service message to a mobile station other than the customer's mobile station.
US08938225B2 Apparatus and method for processing call and message-related events in a wireless terminal
A character agent function is added to a wireless terminal and an avatar user interface (UI) for generating and processing an event is expressed when an event occurs in the wireless terminal, such that call and message-related events occurring in the wireless terminal can be expressed through the character agent function.
US08938223B2 Method to tag a phone call to communicate purpose of the call
Phone calls may be tagged with the importance or the context of the call to be displayed along with the caller ID information on the display of a receiving phone. The context information is thus made available even before the call is answered to aid the user in determining whether or not to answer the call or how long thereafter it would be appropriate to wait before the call is returned.
US08938222B2 Event notification device and event notification system
An event notification device includes a wireless communication unit, an event occurrence information acquiring unit, an enabled-notice information acquiring unit, a notice setting unit, and an event occurrence notification unit. The wireless communication unit transmits and receives information on an online service from multiple external devices. The event occurrence information acquiring unit acquires an event occurrence notice via the wireless communication unit from the external devices. The enabled-notice information acquiring unit acquires enabled-notice information on the event occurrence notice via the wireless communication unit. The notice setting unit requests one external device to transmit the event occurrence notice and requests the other external devices not to transmit the event occurrence notice if the multiple external devices can individually transmit the same event occurrence notice. The event occurrence notification unit notifies a user of the event occurrence on the basis of the event occurrence notice.
US08938220B2 Automated selection and presentation of pertinent contacts
A system for automatic selection and presentation of pertinent contacts having a mobile communication device, a plurality of information sources and an application operating based on a method of automatic selection and presentation of pertinent contacts. When a user attempts to establish a connection with a person, the method provides a prioritized list of suggested pertinent contacts that the user is likely to want to call. The method combines information from the plurality of information sources to suggest a plurality of appropriate contacts to be contacted. The application analyses a multitude of information including current context, calendar information, past call history, information from social network/social networking application, current time, location, any information from the navigational tool running on the mobile communication device, publicly available information etc to suggest a plurality of appropriate contacts to the user.
US08938212B2 Method and apparatus for measurement of active user devices per quality-of-service class indicator
Methods, apparatus, and systems for measuring, on a per-QoS-class basis, the average number of user devices active on the uplink of a wireless communication system are disclosed. In an exemplary method, a number of mobile terminals with buffered data for transmission to a base station is estimated based on received buffer status reports. An estimated quantity of active mobile terminals is calculated, based on the received buffer status reports and a number of mobile terminals for which a semi-persistent scheduling grant has been granted. In some embodiments, the estimated quantity of active mobile terminals is estimated on a per-traffic-class basis, in which case the technique includes calculating first and second estimated quantities, corresponding to mobile terminals having active data bearers for first and second traffic classes, respectively, based on the received buffer status reports and the number of mobile terminals for which a semi-persistent scheduling grant has been granted.
US08938207B2 Radio frequency receiver and radio receiver
An RF receiver includes a variable gain amplifier which amplifies a received RF signal based on a gain control signal, a peak detector which determines a peak value of the amplified signal, a mixer which downconverts the amplified signal to a downconverted signal, and a control unit which determines whether or not an interfering signal other than an adjacent channel interfering signal is received. If the control unit determines that the interfering signal other than the adjacent channel interfering signal is received, the control unit generates the gain control signal so that the range of the peak value is a first range; otherwise, the control unit generates the gain control signal so that the range of the peak value is a second range. The upper and lower bounds of the second range are lower than the upper and lower bounds of the first range, respectively.
US08938206B2 Receiving device and method thereof
A wireless signal receiving system, having an antenna, for receiving a wireless signal comprising a channel. The system also includes a tuner, coupling to the antenna, for converting the frequency of the wireless signal to generate a conversion signal. In addition, the system includes a processing unit, coupling to the tuner, for controlling the signal receiving direction of the antenna to detect the wireless signals of a first direction and a second direction, using the tuner to generate a first conversion signal and a second conversion signal so as to obtain a first reference value and a second reference value, and generating a control signal according to the first reference value and the second reference value to control the selected receiving direction of the antenna while the antenna is to receive the wireless signal of the channel.
US08938196B2 System and method for delivering content to a wireless station
A system and method for delivering content to a wireless station. An string broadcast station receives message content. The message content may, for example, be in the form of a coupon, an announcement, a menu, a news alert, directions and a link to additional content on a server. The string broadcast station parses the message content into one or more message parts. The message parts are transformed by the string broadcast station into one or more network information strings. The string broadcast station then broadcasts the one or more network information strings. A wireless station may receive the network information strings, determine the order in which the parts are to be assembled, and assemble the parts to obtain the message in its original form. A wireless station may also rebroadcast a message part for reception by other wireless stations.
US08938192B2 Fixing device having pipe heater and image forming apparatus with fixing device
A fixing device comprises a flexible endless belt rotated in a prescribed direction to heat and fuse a toner image, a rotating member disposed on an outer circumferential surface side of the flexible endless belt that presses against and rotates the flexible endless belt, and a fixed member fixedly mounted on the fixing device at both lateral ends and disposed on an inner circumferential surface side of the flexible endless belt to press against the rotating member via the flexible endless belt. A heater is fixedly disposed facing an inner circumferential surface of the flexible endless belt to heat the flexible endless belt. The heater includes an opening opposed to the rotating member that accommodates the fixed member. A reinforcing member is fixedly disposed on an inner circumferential surface side of the heater to contact and reinforce the fixed member.
US08938190B2 Color image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a process unit arranged in the vicinity of the circumference of each photosensitive member and the process unit is configured to act on the photosensitive member in forming a toner image thereon. The image forming apparatus detects a time period since a laser beam emission unit emits a laser beam to the photosensitive member to form an electrostatic latent image for detection until the formed electrostatic latent image for detection or a toner image based on the electrostatic latent image for detection reaches the process unit, and performs color misregistration correction control based on the result of detection. In this case, a control unit at least decreases the light amount of a pre-exposure LED when the electrostatic latent image for detection passes through a position facing the pre-exposure LED.
US08938179B2 Toner cartridge for an image forming device having a retainer assembly having positioning features for processing circuitry
A toner cartridge for an imaging forming device having a retainer for holding a circuit board having processing circuitry with a plurality of contacts. A reference datum point in the retainer aligns the circuit board with the retainer while an alignment device aligns the retainer with respect to the supply item that is inserted into a frame within the image forming device having an electrical connector with a plurality of connecting pins. When the retainer and circuit board are mounted on the supply item and the supply item is inserted into the frame, a pair of cam surfaces and a corresponding pair of supports spaced apart and extending from an outer surface of the housing, align the connector with the retainer with the retainer aligning the connecting pins of the connector with corresponding contacts of the circuit board for electrical interconnection therebetween.
US08938172B2 Visible light communication method and apparatus
Disclosed herein are a visible light communication method and apparatus. The visible light communication method includes determining whether a current location is the start of a symbol of a transmission signal, setting a sample index, a signal accumulated value for an accumulation region of a front half portion of the symbol, and a signal accumulated value for an accumulation region of a rear half portion of the symbol, determining whether the sample index belongs to an accumulation region of the front or rear half portion of the symbol, and accumulating samples of the transmission signal in accordance with the location to which the sample index belongs, determining whether a current location corresponds to the end of the symbol, and outputting a Variable Pulse Position Modulation (VPPM) communication signal corresponding to the transmission signal.
US08938169B2 Prioritized optical arbitration systems and methods
Various embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for achieving low-latency, prioritized, distributed optical-base arbitration. In one embodiment, an optical arbitration system (100,1100) comprises a waveguide (102,1102) having a first end and a second end, and a source (104,1104) optically coupled to the first end of the waveguide and configured to input at least one wavelength of light into the waveguide. The system also includes a number of wavelength selective elements (106-109,1106-1109) optically coupled to the waveguide. Each wavelength selective element is capable of extracting a wavelength of light from the waveguide when activated by an electronically coupled node. An arbiter (110,116,120,1112,1116,1120) is optically coupled to the second end of the waveguide and to the waveguide between the source and a wavelength selective element located closest to the source along the waveguide.
US08938165B2 Optical transmission device, optical transmission system, optical transmission method and program
An optical transmission device according to the present invention comprises: a Raman amplification means; a main signal light sending means which sends first main signal light; a communication interruption detection light monitoring means which sends a first signal if it cannot detect communication interruption detection light; a main signal light monitoring means which sends a second signal if it cannot detect second main signal light; a light monitoring signal analysis means which sends a result of its analysis of a light monitoring signal as a third signal in a predetermined period of time; and a control means which makes the Raman amplification means suspend the generation of the excitation light, if it cannot receive the third signal even after the elapse of the predetermined period of time in the state it has received the first signal and has not received the second signal, and stops sending of the first main signal light from the main signal light sending means when receiving the second signal further.
US08938162B2 Interchangeable lens, interchangeable lens control method, camera and camera control method
The interchangeable lens detachably attachable to a camera includes a lens communicator configured to perform communication with the camera, a motor to move or actuate a driven member included in the interchangeable lens, and a lens controller. The lens controller is configured to perform, in response to receipt, from the camera through the communication, of a drive instruction to drive the motor and a driving power supply instruction to supply a driving electric power to the motor, supply of the driving electric power to the motor.
US08938158B2 Method of reproducing a still picture from a recording medium, method of decoding the still picture and the recording medium
In the method, video data is reproduced from the recording medium, and an I-picture and a number of P-pictures are output as a still picture based on the reproduced video data. The output data may then be received and decoded for display.
US08938155B2 Communication apparatus and control method
A communication apparatus includes a transmitting unit, a receiving unit and a control unit. The transmitting unit transmits a video data to an external apparatus via a first transmission line. The receiving unit receives a command from the external apparatus via a second transmission line. The control unit controls the transmitting unit and the receiving unit in accordance with a command that is received by the receiving unit via the second transmission line. The control unit disables the transmitting unit before a predetermined period of time elapses, if a power off command is received by the receiving unit via the second transmission line, the power off command being used to change the communication apparatus to a power off state, and wherein the control unit disables the receiving unit after the predetermined period of time elapses.
US08938153B2 Representative image or representative image group display system, representative image or representative image group display method, and program therefor
A representative image display system for selecting and displaying representative images so that a user can easily grasp contents of videos displayed in a list is provided. A video selector selects a video satisfying an input search condition. A representative image combination extractor extracts an image representing the selected video. An evaluation value calculator calculates an evaluation value of the extracted image. A representative image combination selector selects a combination of images to be displayed as representative images based on the calculated evaluation value. An output device displays the selected combination of images as the representative images.
US08938150B2 Recording apparatus
A recording apparatus has: a stream generating unit for generating a first stream constituted of a first moving image signal at a first frame rate and an input audio signal and a second stream constituted of a second moving image signal at a second frame rate faster than the first frame rate and a predetermined audio signal; a recording unit for recording the first and second streams; and an instructing unit for instructing a change-over of a frame rate, wherein in accordance with an instruction output from the instructing unit during recording the first stream, the stream generating unit outputs the second stream instead of the first stream, and the recording unit records the second stream output in response to the instruction by the instructing unit, instead of the first stream.
US08938143B2 Branching device for hybrid fan-out cable
A branching device for enclosing a hybrid fan-out cable the hybrid fan-out cable comprising plural optical cables and power cables, the branching device includes: an enclosure having a first end, through which the hybrid fan-out cable is inserted, and a second end that is opened; and a gasket provided at the second end of the enclosure and having plural through-holes; and a cover thread-coupled to the second end of the enclosure to fasten the gasket to the second end of the enclosure in such a manner that the through-holes are exposed. In the enclosure, the hybrid fan-out cable is branched out into plural individual sub-part cable components, and each of the sub-part cable components is drawn out through one of the through-holes of the gasket to the outside. The gasket is formed from an elastic material which forms a tight seal between the inner peripheral surface of the enclosure and with the outer peripheral surface of each of the sub-part cable components to seal the other end of the enclosure.
US08938137B2 Optical filter or multiplexer/demultiplexer
An optical filter or multiplexer/demultiplexer, including a plurality of optical waveguides forming a planar structure. Each optical waveguide has a total length including one or more first segments with a first width and at least one or more second segments with a second width, the first width being larger than the second width. The sum of lengths of the one or more first segments in each optical waveguide is larger than half the total length of the waveguide.
US08938135B2 Method for manufacturing optical waveguide and optical waveguide manufactured by the method
The present invention relates to a production process for an optical waveguide comprising a step for forming a photosensitive resin layer comprising a photosensitive resin composition on a substrate, a step for exposing a desired pattern and a step for carrying out development in an alkaline developer containing a divalent or higher-valent metal ion and a production process for an optical waveguide comprising a step for forming a photosensitive resin layer comprising a photosensitive resin composition on a substrate, a step for exposing a desired pattern, a step for carrying out development in an alkaline developer and a step for carrying out washing with a cleaning liquid containing a divalent or higher-valent metal ion or an acid aqueous solution.Capable of being provided are a production process for an optical waveguide which is excellent in a transparency and a reliability and an optical waveguide produced by the above production process.
US08938122B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and computer-readable recording device
An image processing apparatus includes a small area divider that divides, on the basis of edge information of an image, the image into multiple small areas each including multiple pixels; an attribute probability estimator that estimates attribute probability for each of the small areas, which is probability that the small area is attributed to a specific area to be detected; an adjacent-small-area connection strength calculator that calculates connection strength that quantitatively indicates a degree to which small areas adjacent to each other among the multiple small areas are attributed to the same area that is the specific area or a non-specific area; and a specific area detector that detects the specific area on the basis of the attribute probability and the connection strength.
US08938121B2 Method and apparatus for processing image
An image processing apparatus includes an adaptive interpolation device which converts a MFA pattern image into a quincuncial pattern image based on difference values, and interpolates color channels and an NIR channel, based on difference values of the converted quincuncial pattern image in vertical and horizontal pixel directions; a frequency compensation device which obtains a high-resolution MFA image using high-frequency and medium-frequency components of a high-resolution base image, based on linear regression analysis and compared energy levels of MFA channel images to an energy level of a base image; and a channel interference suppression device which removes color distortion generated between each channel of the high-resolution MFA image, and another channel of the high-resolution MFA image and a base channel using a weighted average of pixel value differences between each channel of the high-resolution MFA image, and the other channel of the high-resolution MFA image and the base channel.
US08938120B2 Image sensing device and image data processing method using the same
An image data processing method includes generating a data window comprising N rows and N columns using Bayer data from a pixel array, generating a red (R), green (G), blue (B) data of a center pixel in the data window, detecting an edge region in the data window, detecting a bright region in the data window, adjusting the R, G, B data using a suppressing gain factor if both of the edge region and bright region is detected, and outputting the adjusting R, G, B data as a result of an interpolating process.
US08938116B2 Image cropping using supervised learning
Software for supervised learning extracts a set of pixel-level features from each source image in collection of source images. Each of the source images is associated with a thumbnail created by an editor. The software also generates a collection of unique bounding boxes for each source image. And the software calculates a set of region-level features for each bounding box. Each region-level feature results from the aggregation of pixel values for one of the pixel-level features. The software learns a regression model, using the calculated region-level features and the thumbnail associated with the source image. Then the software chooses a thumbnail from a collection of unique bounding boxes in a new image, based on application of the regression model.
US08938115B2 Systems and methods for data fusion mapping estimation
Systems and methods are disclosed for generating a probability density to estimate the probability that an event will occur in a region of interest. The methods input spatial event data comprising one or more events occurring in the region of interest along with auxiliary data related to the region of interest. The auxiliary data comprises non-event data having spatial resolution such that the probability density estimate for the region of interest is calculated based on a function of the auxiliary data and the event data. In particular, the auxiliary data is used to generate a penalty functional used in the calculation of the probability density estimate.
US08938107B2 System and method for automatic segmentation of organs on MR images using a combined organ and bone atlas
A method for segmenting organs on magnetic resonance (MR) images includes retrieving an MR image of a subject and generating a transformation matrix by segmenting bones on the MR image. An initial organ segmentation of the MR image is generated by registering a combined organ and bone atlas with the MR image using the transformation matrix. The MR image with initial organ segmentation may be shown on a display.
US08938102B2 Methods and apparatus for assessing activity of an organ and uses thereof
Methods and apparatus are provided for imaging activity of an organ of a subject for diagnosis and prognosis of pathology or injury to the organ, where unaffected portions of the organ are used as a reference for assessing activity of afflicted areas of the organ.
US08938101B2 Apparatus, system, and method for real-time identification of finger impressions for multiple users
Described herein are an apparatus, system, and method for real-time identification of finger impressions for multiple users on a platform. The apparatus comprises a first logic unit to register finger impressions of corresponding multiple users, and to store the registered finger impressions of each user among the multiple users in a storage unit, wherein the finger impressions of the corresponding multiple users are received by a platform; and a second logic unit to identify in real-time active participants according to the registered finger impressions of each user among the multiple users, wherein the active participants are participants of an executing application.
US08938100B2 Image recomposition from face detection and facial features
A computing system comprising a processor for identifying two or more individual regions in a digital image that each include a human face, for padding each of the two or more individual regions, and for digitally defining at least one combined padded region that includes the two or more individual padded regions, wherein at least one border of the at least one combined padded region is collinear with a border of one of the individual padded regions.
US08938099B2 Image processing apparatus, method of controlling the same, distance measurement apparatus, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus includes a projection unit adapted to project pattern-light onto an object; an image capturing unit adapted to capture the object; a calculation unit adapted to calculate a line direction of the pattern-light in each predetermined region of the image; a decision unit adapted to decide an epipolar-line based on a relationship between the projection unit and the image capturing unit; a determination unit adapted to determine whether an angle made by the direction of the epipolar-line and the line direction is not more than a predetermined value; and a detection unit adapted to detect a first-region when the angle is not more than the predetermined value, and detect a second-region when the angle is more than the predetermined value. The projection unit projects the pattern-light having a line component parallel to the epipolar-line.
US08938095B2 Verification method, verification device, and computer product
A verification device 101 receives extracted and sanitized data 113 that has been sanitized to protect the privacy of person A. The verification device 101, extracts from among MCU-hash storage data 123 and for MCU1 and MCU2 among MCUs obtained by dividing the extracted and sanitized data 113, an MCU1 hash and an MCU2 hash. The verification device 101 generates an MCU3 hash to an MCU6 hash and from the MCU1 hash to the MCU6 hash, generates a JPEG frame hash 125. The verification device 101 then compares a JPEG hash 121 and the JPEG hash 125 to verify the authenticity of the extracted and sanitized data 113.
US08938094B1 Generating a road network based on satellite imagery
A system and method for generating a road network based on satellite imagery. Plural pixels corresponding to satellite imagery of a region are obtained. For each of the plural pixels, a probability value corresponding to the probability that the pixel belongs within the road network is calculated. A grayscale image is formed based on the calculated probability values. Plural curves are produced based on the grayscale image, wherein the producing of each curve includes positioning a shape on the grayscale image so that an average intensity of the grayscale image covered by the shape exceeds a preset threshold, moving the shape about the grayscale image while the average intensity is maintained, and tracking the movement of the shape to produce the curve. A planar-connected graph is generated by connecting at least portions of the plural curves. The planar-connected graph corresponds to the road network.
US08938091B1 System and method of using images to determine correspondence between locations
In one aspect, a system and method is provided that matches images that are associated with street addresses with images that are associated with locations that are stored with respect to another reference system, such as latitude/longitude. If the images match, the street address is associated with the location. In a further aspect, text contained in the images is extracted and associated with the street address as well.
US08938086B2 Micro-speaker
A micro-speaker includes a case having a cavity and a receiving hole, a magnetic circuit unit and a vibrating unit with a voice coil received in the cavity, a pair of needle seats embedded in the case for electrically connecting with the voice coil, a pair of pogo-pins arranged in the receiving hole for electrically connecting with the pair of needle seats. Each of the pogo-pins has a barrel unit, a first protrusion and a second protrusion extending from an outer surface of the barrel unit, at least one plunger extending from the barrel unit and projecting out of the receiving hole, a receiving space formed between the first protrusion and the second protrusion. A third protrusion extends from an inner surface of the receiving hole and accommodated in the receiving space for fixing the pogo-pin in the corresponding receiving hole.
US08938082B2 Apparatus having hearing aid
A portable terminal includes an apparatus capable of providing a hearing aid service. The apparatus includes a sensor configured to measure a spatial tilt of the portable terminal. The apparatus also includes a controller that determines whether a left ear or a right ear is used for communication based on the measured spatial tilt of the portable terminal. An audio signal processor compensates an audio signal according to the characteristic of determined ear.
US08938081B2 Telephone enhancements
A telephone user's speech volume is monitored in relation to a minimum volume sufficient for a remote conversant, with whom the user communicates, to audibly perceive the user's speech. Upon detecting that the user's volume exceeds the level sufficient to communication, it is determined whether the user moderates the volume, without being prompted, to the sufficient level. Upon determining that the user moderates the speaking voice without being prompted, positive reinforcement is provided to the user. Results are recorded over multiple phone calls. A frequency of the user moderating the speaking volume without being prompted is tracked from the recorded results. Upon the frequency of the user moderating the volume without being prompted rising over the tracked phone calls, the quality and/or quantity of the positive reinforcement may be improved. The user is thus trained or treated, e.g., audiologically or therapeutically, to self-modulate the volume.
US08938066B2 Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to cancel echo for communication paths having long bulk delays
Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to cancel echo for a communication path having long bulk delays are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes determining a first location of a first coefficient having a largest magnitude of a first plurality of magnitudes associated with a first plurality of coefficients of a first phase; determining a second location of a second coefficient having a largest magnitude of a second plurality of magnitudes associated with a second plurality of coefficients of a second phase different than the first phase; comparing a difference between the first and second locations to a threshold; and, when the difference is less than the threshold, selecting a first offset based on a greater of the magnitude of the first coefficient and the magnitude of the second coefficient; and cancelling an echo contained in a signal using the first offset.
US08938058B2 System and method for providing sales and marketing acceleration and effectiveness
A system for handling call transfer contains a talker computer for providing a batch notification that enables a central data server to identify a batch of one or more customer records for calling, a central data server for receiving the batch notification that enables the central data server to identify the batch of one or more customer record, and a dialing agent computer for providing a connected notification that a customer that has been called has been connected, referred to herein as a connected customer, via a call, wherein a customer record of the connected customer is associated with the batch, wherein the central data server provides an identify notification and the talker computer receives the identify notification that enables the talker computer to distinguish the connected customer record, wherein the connected customer record is associated with the batch.
US08938043B2 Adaptive optimum CDR bandwidth estimation by using a kalman gain extractor
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a clock and data recovery (CDR) apparatus with adaptive optimum CDR bandwidth estimation by using a Kalman gain extractor. The Kalman gain extractor includes an off chip digital processor which receives a phase update information from the CDR outputs an estimated optimum Kalman gain obtained by extracting the standard deviation of step sizes of the accumulation jitter from the power spectral density (PSD) of the phase update information, and a on chip digital loop filter consists of a cyclic accumulator which accumulates the phase detector's output, a gain multiplier and a phase interpolator (or DCO) controller. The off chip digital processor includes a storage register, a fast Fourier transform (FFT) processor and an optimum Kalman gain estimator. The storage register stores the phase update information, from which the FFT processor extracts the PSD of the absolute input jitter. The optimum Kalman gain estimator calculates the optimum gain from the PSD of the accumulation jitter. The off chip digital processor may further include a gain calibrator to compensate for the variations in the transition density.
US08938034B2 Processor for processing digital data with butterfly operator for the execution of an FFT/IFFT and telecommunication device
A processor for processing digital data includes at least one butterfly operator for executing an FFT/IFFT computation. This butterfly operator contains a first stage of complex multiplication and a second stage of complex addition and subtraction. Each of these two stages contains a plurality of addition/subtraction hardware modules and data transmission links between these modules. At least a part of the addition/subtraction modules of each stage of the butterfly operator and at least a part of the links between these modules are configurable with the aid of at least one programmable parameter, between a first configuration in which the butterfly operator carries out said fast Fourier transform computation and a second configuration in which the butterfly operator carries out a computation of branch metrics values and of path metrics and survivors values of a Viterbi algorithm.
US08938028B2 Radio communications apparatus and communication method
A radio communications apparatus transmitting data using multiple antennas is disclosed that includes a data link layer control information generation part configured to generate multiple data link layer control information items from generated data link layer control information; a data unit generation part configured to generate multiple data units to be transmitted through the corresponding antennas, based on the data link layer control information items generated by the data link layer control information generation part, so that the data units include the data link layer control information items; and a physical layer processing part configured to perform adaptive modulation and coding on the data units.
US08938017B2 Wireless communication apparatus and method for wireless communication
A wireless communication technology which realizes high-speed transmission while making effective use of existing frequency bands. A wireless communication apparatus includes a communication unit to perform a wireless communication with a target communication device by simultaneously using a plurality of carrier frequency bands each of which has a specified bandwidth and is discontinuous between each carrier frequency-band interval.
US08938016B1 Fast identification of OFDM signal
A method includes receiving a signal in a frequency band, which is assignable at least to a communication protocol in which Cyclic Prefixes (CP) are added to symbols having a predefined symbol interval. Multiple autocorrelations of the received signal are computed with a fixed time offset that depends on the symbol interval defined in the communication protocol, and the multiple autocorrelations are accumulated to produce a cumulative autocorrelation. An identification is made, based on the cumulative autocorrelation, whether the received signal is formatted in accordance with the communication protocol.
US08938012B2 Video coder
An encoder for encoding a video signal, wherein the encoder is configured to generate an encoded scalable data stream comprising a base layer and at least one enhancement layer, wherein the encoder is further configured to generate information associated with each of the base layer and the at least one enhancement layer.
US08938005B2 Image encoding apparatus, method of controlling the same, and computer program
An image encoding apparatus which encodes picture data is provided. The apparatus comprises an encoding unit configured to encode a picture to be encoded; a decoding unit configured to decode the encoded picture; an SN ratio calculation unit configured to calculate an SN ratio using the picture to be encoded and a decoding result of the decoding unit; a setting unit configured to set a target SN ratio serving as an index of the SN ratio; a bitrate control unit configured to control a bitrate of the picture to be encoded based on the target SN ratio; and a motion detection unit configured to detect motion information between the picture to be encoded and another picture, wherein the bitrate control unit controls the bitrate based on the motion information, and a difference between the SN ratio and the target SN ratio.
US08938004B2 Dependency parameter set for scalable video coding
System and methods for video decoding include receiving at least one Dependency Parameter Set (DPS); and determining at least one inter-layer dependency based on the received DPS. Systems and methods for video encoding include selecting a layering structure; encoding at least one Dependency Parameter Set (DPS) including a representation of the layering structure in a binary format; and including the encoded DPS in a bitstream or sending the encoded DPS out of band.
US08938003B2 Picture coding device, picture coding method, picture coding program, picture decoding device, picture decoding method, and picture decoding program
In a case where a partition mode in which luma signals are partitioned horizontally and vertically is set when an intra prediction of a picture signal is made in units of minimal coding blocks set in advance, an intra prediction unit is configured to make an intra prediction of a chroma signal in units of prediction blocks of the intra prediction of chroma signals within the minimal coding block set in accordance with a chroma format. A second bitstream constructing unit constructs a bitstream of information relating to a luma intra prediction mode of a prediction block of luma signals and information relating to a chroma intra prediction mode of a prediction block of chroma signals.
US08937997B2 Scalable video coding/multiplexing compatible with non-scalable decoders
Scalable video coding and multiplexing compatible with non-scalable decoders is disclosed. In some embodiments, video data is received and encoded in a manner that renders at least a base layer to be compatible with a non-scalable video encoding standard, including by assigning for at least the base layer default values to one or more scalability parameters. In some embodiments, video data is received and encoded to produce an encoded video data that includes a base layer that conforms to a non-scalable video encoding standard and one or more subordinate non-scalable layers, which subordinate non-scalable layers do not by themselves conform to the non-scalable video encoding standard but which can be combined with the base layer to produce a result that does conform to the non-scalable video encoding standard, such that the result can be decoded by a non-scalable decoder. An identification data identifying those portions of the encoded video data that are associated with a subordinate non-scalable layer is included in the encoded video data.
US08937993B2 Crest factor reduction for brand-limited multi-carrier signals
A crest factor reduction (CFR) circuit reduces the peak-to-average (PAR) power of a digitally modulated signal in a complex baseband is achieved by post-processing the input signal, with negligible increase in out-of-band emissions. The CFR circuit takes advantage of a procedure that solves for an optimum CFR using a constraint-optimization approach. In one embodiment, the CFR circuit, which receives an input signal and provides an output signal, includes: (a) an error generation circuit that receives the input signal and provides an error signal representative of a measure of circuit-induced distortion and a delayed input signal, the delayed input signal being the input signal delayed by a predetermined value; (b) a linear-phase filter receiving the error signal to provide a correction signal; and (c) a summer that subtracts the correction from the delayed input signal to provide the output signal. This circuit can achieve near optimal CFR for arbitrary multi-carrier signals without incurring high computational complexity.
US08937987B2 Pulse frequency modulation (PFM) mode lock out for regulators when receive signal quality is low
A method, power switching system, and communications device supply power in a pulse width modulation (PWM) mode to a transceiver whenever the transceiver processes a low quality signal. A power supply mode (PSM) utility/controller determines a quality of a signal that is currently being processed by a transceiver, and when the quality of the signal is less than a pre-set threshold level, the PSM controller triggers the power supply to operate exclusively in the PWM supply mode. However, when the quality of the signal satisfies a preset threshold level, the PSM controller enables the power supply to autonomously switch between the PFM supply mode and the PWM supply mode. In one embodiment, the controller dynamically determines a power demand by the transceiver and when the power demand exceeds a preset threshold demand level, the controller triggers the power supply to operate exclusively in the PWM supply mode.
US08937986B2 Packet communication system, emission control apparatus, antenna control method and computer program
A packet communication system etc., is proposed, which can automatically adjusting the antenna directionality without modifying a wireless interface of a wireless packet forwarding device even if it involves fluctuation in the packet transmission timing due to CSMA/CA etc. An interference evasion unit involves fluctuation in packet transmission timing due to CSMA/CA. A radio emission device can control the emissive direction and/or emission intensity. A packet generation unit adjusts packet features other than its contents (e.g., packet length, transmission intensity) based on a switching sequence for specifying the emissive direction and/or emissive intensity, and generate a switching control packet. An emission control unit measures the switching control packet feature other than its contents, and identifies at least one bit as antenna control information. The emission control unit controls the overall directionality of a directional antenna unit based on a bit sequence including at least one bit thus identified.
US08937981B2 Direct modulated laser
A laser system can include an electrode to transmit electrical carriers into an active region in response to first electrical stimulation. The laser system can also include another electrode to transmit electrical carriers into the active region in response to second electrical stimulation. The electrical carriers can be combined in the active region to emit photons to generate an optical signal. The system can further include yet another electrode responsive to electrical stimulation to affect a concentration of electrical carriers in a device layer to change a capacitance of an internal capacitance region associated with at least one of first and second waveguide regions and the device layer. The third electrical stimulation can be modulated to modulate the optical signal based on the change to the capacitance of the internal capacitance region.
US08937974B1 System and method for determining a margin of latency within a device
A system including a receiving module in a device and receiving samples of data transferred from a data source. A memory stores the samples and timestamps when the data was sampled. A host module builds a frame including the samples based on a first timestamp and a predetermined latency period between the first timestamp and a second timestamp in a descriptor of the frame. The second timestamp indicates a time when the frame is expected to be received by a MAC module. A transfer module transfers the frame to the MAC module according to the second timestamp. A detector module determines a margin of latency based on a difference between a time subsequent to when the frame is finished being built and a time when the frame is received at the MAC module. The detector module updates the first predetermined latency period based on the determined margin of latency.
US08937970B2 Resource allocation for minimum satisfaction guarantees in multi-service and multi-antenna networks
Radio resource allocation techniques for MIMO systems are disclosed, wherein SDMA groups that should be multiplexed on each frequency chunk in order to maximize the total downlink data rate are selected, while guaranteeing that a specified minimum number of flows from each service have their instantaneous QoS demands fulfilled. The disclosed techniques include an unconstrained maximization procedure, in which resources are initially allocated to data flows for each of several data services, followed by a reallocation procedure in which resources are reallocated to satisfy minimum satisfaction constraints for each data service.
US08937964B2 Apparatus and method to switch packets using a switch fabric with memory
Packets having at least one cell are switched using input queues, output queues, a switch fabric, and a controller. Each input queue stores cells to be switched, and each output queue stores switched cells. The switch fabric couples the input queues to the output queues and has memory. The switch fabric stores cells moved from the input queues to the switch fabric and stores cells based on the output queues. The controller couples to the input queues and the switch fabric and determines input priorities for cells moving from the input queues to the switch fabric and output priorities for cells moving from the switch fabric to the output queues.
US08937963B1 Integrated adaptive jitter buffer
A system is provided and includes a buffer, an interface, a processor, and an output device. The interface is configured to receive a packet from a network. The processor is configured to: determine a delay of the network in transmitting the packet; prior to storing the packet in the buffer, determine statistics of the buffer, and an amount the buffer is filled; determine a predetermined delay of the buffer based on the delay of the network, and the statistics; estimate an actual delay of the buffer for the packet based on the amount the buffer is filled; generate an error signal based on the predetermined delay and the actual delay; and based on the error signal, one of compress and expand the packet to change a first length of the packet to a second length. The output device is configured to output the packet based on the second length.
US08937954B2 Decision tree level merging
A packet classification system, methods, and corresponding apparatus are provided for enabling packet classification. A processor of a security appliance coupled to a network uses a classifier table having a plurality of rules, the plurality of rules having at least one field, to build a decision tree structure including a plurality of nodes, the plurality of nodes including a subset of the plurality of rules. By merging levels of decision trees, the methods may produce wider, shallower trees that result in shorter search times and reduced memory requirements for storing the trees.
US08937951B2 Location system and method for assisting emergency services in identifying the physical location of an IP telephony user
A location device for associating a physical location with a communications device. The communications device has assigned device identification and uses an assigned network address for use in routing call data over a communications network. The location device comprises a memory for storing location information related to the physical location and a device port for coupling to the communications device and a network port for coupling to the communications network. The ports are configured for communicating the call data between the ports. The device also has a monitoring module configured for monitoring operation of at least one of the ports in order to detect an initialization process of the communications device, as well as to identify the assigned device identification. The device also has a location registration module configured for communicating a location update message over the communications network via the network port in response to the detected initialization process, such that the location update message including the location information and the identified device identification.
US08937949B2 Method and system for Infiniband host channel adapter multicast packet replication mechanism
A method for multicast replication by a host channel adapter (HCA) involving receiving a multicast packet, by a receive pipeline for processing packets of the HCA, storing, in a payload RAM within the HCA, a multicast packet payload corresponding to a data portion of the multicast packet, identifying, from a multicast header of the multicast packet, a plurality of destination underlying functions and a plurality of corresponding destination QPs to which the multicast packet is directed, wherein each destination underlying function of corresponds to a virtual machine located on a host, identifying, from the multicast header, information to be replicated for each multicast packet destination, injecting, by the HCA, a number of multicast packet descriptors corresponding to a number of the corresponding destination QPs into the receive pipeline of the HCA, and copying, from the payload RAM, the multicast packet payload to each of the corresponding destination QPs.
US08937946B1 System and method for identifying tunnel information without frequently polling all routers for all tunnel information
A system and method uses messages and traps to identify routers to selectively request information about tunnels on a network in order to maintain tunnel information about a network to minimize the impact of maintaining such information.
US08937942B1 Storing session information in network devices
In one example, a network device includes a network interface that receives a packet, a storage card that stores session data for monitored network sessions, a plurality of service processing cards that process packets of respective subsets of the network sessions, wherein each of the service processing cards comprises a respective memory to store session data for the respective subset of the network sessions processed by the corresponding service processing card, and a switch fabric coupled to the network interface, the storage card, and the plurality of service processing cards. One or more of the plurality of service cards process the received packet based on the session data stored by the storage card. The one or more of the plurality of service cards retrieve the session data for the network session to which the packet corresponds from the storage card and store the retrieved session data in the respective memory.
US08937941B1 Techniques for VoIP provider interconnection over the internet using a shared subscriber contact identifier translation service
VoIP provider interconnection over the Internet using a shared subscriber contact identifier translation service. In one embodiment, for example, a method comprises: receiving a query message from a communications endpoint devices of a calling party, the query message comprising a subscriber contact identifier of a called party; in response to obtaining the query message: identifying a plurality of communications endpoint identifiers associated with the subscriber contact identifier; obtaining reachability information for the plurality of communications endpoint identifiers; and based at least in part on the reachability information, selecting one of the plurality of communications endpoint identifiers; and responding to the query message with a response comprising the selected one of the communications endpoint identifiers. The method then further comprises using the selected communications endpoint identifier to establish a VoIP call between a communications endpoint device of a calling party and a communications endpoint device of a called party.
US08937937B2 Synchronization in heterogeneous networks
In a mobile communication network comprising a pico base station and macro base station with overlapping coverage areas, the pico base station transmits a supplemental synchronization signal to enable synchronization when the mobile terminal is operating within a link imbalance zone. The supplemental synchronization signal is transmitted using different time, frequency, and/or code resources from the primary and/or secondary synchronization signals to differentiate and separate the supplemental synchronization signals.
US08937934B2 Code planning for wireless communications
Scrambling code conflicts can be mitigated by primary scrambling code reuse that minimizing a potential interference Primary scrambling codes are applied to a first set of cells located in a portion of the network being considered. A second set of cells are evaluated for primary scrambling code reuse based on a distance parameter and/or a coverage area. If the distance parameter is greater than a defined distance, primary scrambling code reuse can be applied. If all distance parameters evaluated are less than the distance parameter, a length of the distance parameter is reduced and the distance between cells is reevaluated.
US08937932B2 Method and apparatus for providing service
A method and apparatus for providing a service in a service providing device are provided. The method includes receiving, from a terminal, information about a wireless transmitter/receiver whose vicinity the terminal is located within; determining a differentiated service to be provided to the terminal according to the received information about the wireless transmitter/receiver; and providing the determined differentiated service to the terminal.
US08937924B2 Releasing connections with local GW when UE moves out of residential/enterprise network coverage
A method, system and device are provided for managing LIPA and/or SIPTO connection releases when UE moves out of residential/enterprise network coverage in case service continuity is not supported for the LIPA/SIPTO PDN connection(s). To address problems caused by not providing service continuity for LIPA/SIPTO PDN connections, the PDN connection/PDP context created in the HeNB/HNB by the MME/SGSN includes context information related to the UE indicating whether such connection is a LIPA PDN connection PDN connection or not. In addition, each UE may be configured to reconnect or not reconnect to the PDN corresponding to a certain APN or service, depending on how the PDN connection was disconnected by the network.
US08937911B2 Method and system for sharing resources in a wireless communication network
Methods and systems for resource allocation in a wireless communication network are disclosed. According to an embodiment, a first portion of a communication resource is allocated by an access node to a first set of access terminals for performing voice communication and a second portion of the communication resource to a second set of access terminals for performing data communication without the statistical characteristics of voice traffic, wherein the allocation is represented by a group message indicated by a first bitmap and a second bitmap, for a group comprising the first set of access terminals and the second set of access terminals, respectively. A terminal in the second set of access terminals can be in an additional group comprising a third set of access terminals configured to perform voice communication through the access node, and a fourth set of access terminals configured to perform data communication without the statistical characteristics of voice traffic.
US08937903B2 System and method for providing a content delivery network via a motor vehicle
A cache server disposed in a motor vehicle receives and caches content from a content distribution network when a load of a cellular link to the content distribution network is low. The cache server determines that the motor vehicle is turned off, broadcasts a wireless signal as part of a wireless network when the motor vehicle is turned off, and provides a device access to the content cached in the cache server via the wireless network.
US08937897B2 Wireless communication device and wireless communication method
A data alignment method capable of preventing degradation in demodulation performance due to variation in signal qualities when a data signal to which a Turbo code is applied is transmitted simultaneously from a plurality of cells. The method divides signal components to be used for data alignment into resources common to all the cells and resources dependent on the cells and transmits encoded and rate-matched data with the first half thereof aligned to the resources common to all the cells and the second half thereof aligned to the resources dependent on the cells.
US08937889B2 Decoupled cascaded mixers architechture and related methods
Methods for inter-mixer communication enable a “self-formed” cascaded mixer node tree topology. One method enables inter-mixer node signaling and includes first selecting a plurality of media flow payloads at a first cascaded mixer node. A set of conference payloads are generated and each include the media flow payloads from the plurality of media flow payloads that are part of the same conference call, an identifier for the conference call, and a node identifier for each media flow in the conference call. For each media flow in the conference call, each conference payload further identifies whether the first cascaded mixer node is a root node or a leaf node. The set of conference payloads are bundled into a single packet and sent to a second cascaded mixer node. Another method enables the “self-forming” of the mixer node tree topology. Yet another method enables active talker identification within the “self-formed” tree topology.
US08937885B2 Methods and apparatus for dynamic mapping of power outlets
In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a network management module. The network management module is configured to send a request for power output data from a first network element having a first power supply configured to be coupled to a first power outlet, and a second power supply configured to be coupled to a second power outlet. The network management module is configured to receive a first confirmation from the first network element that the first power supply and the second power supply are receiving power. The network management module is configured to send a request to disable a third power outlet and to receive, after sending the request to disable the third power outlet, a second confirmation from the first network element that the first power supply and the second power supply are receiving power. The network management module is configured to define a power distribution table after receiving the second confirmation, the power distribution table designating the third power outlet as unused.
US08937880B2 System and method for managing state transitions in a wireless communications network
A system and method is disclosed for individually controlling User Equipment (UE) connections, dynamically and automatically, based on the applications and/or services that the connections carry. An eNodeB or other radio base station (RBS) monitors established connections between the UE and the RBS to detect applications running within those connections. Based on the stateful information of applications, the present invention proactively controls the state transitions of individual UEs between the CONNECTED and IDLE states thereby increasing radio link capacity and reducing control plane loading.
US08937876B2 Managing communications across a wireless network
A wireless network (e.g., an LTE network) may be configured to monitor a communications interface to set an inactivity timer that, in turn, sets the operating mode of a communications interface. The operating mode may include a time-domain reception pattern of the wireless device. A wireless device may monitor a communications interface that includes at least a first logical channel and a second logical channel. Based on monitoring the communications interface, a first activity state for the first logical channel may be determined and a second activity state (e.g., an activity status) for the second logical channel may be determined. An inactivity timer used by the communications interface may be set to a first value or a second value based on the first and second activity states. The battery life of a wireless device may be preserved by setting an inactivity timer responsive to how the wireless device is used.
US08937875B2 Radio reception apparatus, radio transmission apparatus, and radio communication method
In a case where a second reference signal for a second communication system is transmitted in addition to a first reference signal for a first communication system, resources that affect a reception apparatus compatible only with the first communication system can be minimized, and the throughput can be prevented from being deteriorated. As resources for a reference signal CSI-RS for LTE-A, last half symbols in a time direction of a resource unit RB/Sub-frame defined in a frequency-time domain are used, and the CSI-RS is allocated in a position up to the last two symbols or in the last symbol, or the like, of a particular RB/Sub-frame and transmitted when a reference signal 4RS for LTE is transmitted to a reception apparatus in addition to transmitting CSI-RS for LTE-A. The reception apparatus receives CSI-RS allocated in the last half symbol of RB/Sub-frame on the basis of CSI-RS allocation information, measures channel quality such as CQI, PMI or M by using this CSI-RS, and transmits and reports feedback information containing channel quality information to a transmission apparatus.