Document	Document Title
US08944839B2	Method for connecting plug parts of an electrical plug-in connector, and electrical plug-in connector The present application relates to a method for connecting plug parts of an electrical plug-in connector, in which on a first plug part a hollow cylindrical retaining sleeve is disposed movably in axial direction relative to the first plug part, wherein the retaining sleeve is retained in a first position biased by a bias spring and the axial relative movement is effected against the spring force, and upon connecting the plug parts, a spring element disposed on the second plug part is pressed radially outwards in a connecting intermediate state, upon further axially pushing together the plug parts, the retaining sleeve is displaced axially backwards from the first position by the spring element, and upon further pushing together the plug parts, the spring element snaps radially inwards into a recess and the backward displacement of the retaining sleeve by the spring element is terminated and the retaining sleeve is automatically again brought into the first position by the bias spring, wherein the spring element is introduced into a first clearance between an outer side of the first plug part and an inner side of the retaining sleeve before contacting the retaining sleeve for the axial displacement thereof effected by the spring element. The present application also relates to an electrical plug-in connector.
US08944836B2	Wire line connector A wire line connector includes a main contact body is provided with an electrical connection trench into which an insulated wire is compressed at the rear end, a protrusion that engages with a housing and prevents disconnection in the middle portion, and a contact portion at the front end. The portion of the contact portion on the rear end side forms parallel walls and the portion on the front end side forms protruding parallel walls in such a manner that the outer surfaces of the protruding walls and the inner surfaces of the parallel walls make contact with each other when the two connector portions are connected. The housing is provided with a step to be engaged with the protrusion for preventing disconnection of the main contact body, and an engaging hole and an engaging protrusion which prevent disconnection when the housing is connected with another housing.
US08944824B2	Multi-modal learning system An instruction is presented to a user for making a target gesture. The target gesture may be a portion of an exemplary or model symbol. The instruction may be presented in various ways, such as being printed on a writing surface or being played in audio format through a speaker of a smart pen device. A writing gesture made on a writing surface by the user is digitally captured using a smart pen device. The captured writing gesture is compared to the target gesture and feedback is determined based on this comparison. This feedback may indicate the correctness of the user's writing gesture. The feedback may be presented to the user through various means, including through the smart pen device. The comparison may also be used to determine a next instruction for the user to follow.
US08944821B2	Simulation system and method for determining the compass bearing of directing means of a virtual projectile/missile firing device A simulation system including at least one virtual projectile/missile firing device associated to a determined position and having a movable director arranged to direct a virtual projectile/missile towards a target and an image capturer arranged to capture at least one image of a scene in front of the director. The simulation system includes a terrain database with the positions of landmarks marked, a processor arranged to process the image of the scene so as to identify at least one landmark of the terrain database in the image and the processor is further arranged to determine a compass bearing of the director based on at least the position of the virtual projectile/missile and the position of the identified at least one landmark.
US08944813B2	System for detection, treatment and coverage feedback of oral health conditions The oral health appliance (10) includes a source of light (16) having a wavelength which is suitable for determination of oral health conditions, as well as treatment thereof. An assembly (16) in the appliance directs the light to selected dental regions of the mouth. A light receiver and sensor (16) receives reflected light from the dental regions, produces signal information therefrom and delivers the signal information to a processor (20), which determines the presence of oral health conditions, as well as determining the overall coverage of the mouth during a use of the appliance. The information from the processor is then sent to a display (24), identifying the presence of any oral health conditions and the location thereof, as well as information concerning those areas of the mouth which have been investigated during the use of the appliance and those which have not. The appliance includes a light system (34, 36, 38; 72, 74 76), a brushing system (64, 66, 68) and a fluid delivery system (94, 96, 98, 100) for treatment of any oral health condition identified.
US08944810B2	Metal card A method and apparatus for treating a selected region of a metal layer, used to form a metal card, by annealing the selected metal region so the selected region becomes soft and ductile, while the rest of the metal layer remains stiff. The softened, ductile, selected metal region can be embossed with reduced power and with reduced wear and tear on the embossing equipment. Alternatively, the annealed metal layer can undergo additional processing steps to form an assembly which can then be embossed. The method may include the use of a fixture for holding the metal layer, with the fixture having a window region for enabling heat to be applied to soften the region of the metal layer within the window region. The fixture includes apparatus for cooling the portion of the metal layer outside of the window region and for preventing the temperature of the metal layer outside the window region from rising above predetermined limits.
US08944809B2	Tubular flame burner and combustion control method A tubular combustion chamber including a tubular combustion chamber whose front-end is open; and, fuel-gas spraying nozzles and oxygen-containing-gas spraying nozzles, for spraying a fuel and an oxygen-containing-gas separately and individually, or for spraying a premixed gas; wherein respective orifices of the respective nozzles face toward an inner surface of the combustion chamber, so as to spray the fuel-gas and the oxygen-containing-gas in a neighborhood of a tangential direction of an inner circumferential wall of the combustion chamber; wherein the tubular flame burner is a multi-stage tubular burner that is unified in a body, by using a plurality of the tubular flame burners, and by connecting the front-end of the tubular flame burner with a smaller inner diameter of the combustion chamber into the rear-end of the tubular flame burner with a greater inner diameter of the combustion chamber.
US08944808B2	Molding apparatus Disclosed herein are, amongst other things, a molding apparatus with which to mold, in use, a preform of a type for blow molding into a container. The molding apparatus includes a lock ring (104, 204) for use in a first stack portion (108) of a mold stack (120). The lock ring (104, 204) includes a tubular body (150, 250) that is configured to define, amongst other things, a support interface (194) in cooperation, in use, with a split insert (6, 106) of the first stack portion through which a compressive load is transferrable during molding of the preform, wherein the support interface (194) includes a support shelf (154) that is defined, at least in part, on a first major promontory (152, 252) of the tubular body (150, 250).
US08944807B2	Devices and method for draw blow moulding a container and the corresponding use The invention relates to a device (10) for blow molding a container from a parison, comprising a blowing cylinder (11) and a blowing nozzle (12) mounted thereon, in which the parison (R) can be fixed and with a stretching rod (13), enclose by the cylinder (11) and which may be passed through the nozzle (12), wherein the nozzle (12) can be supplied with compressed air via openings (14) in the cylinder (11). The station (10) is characterized in that the stretching rod (13) is driven by a single tubular electric linear motor (15) the stator (15-1) of which is mounted on the cylinder (11) and the armature (15-2) of which is connected to the stretching rod (13).
US08944778B2	Liquid ring pump and method for operating a liquid ring pump The invention relates to a liquid ring pump (1) for generating vacuum and for pumping a flow of sewage in a vacuum sewage system. The liquid ring pump comprises in the direction of the flow of sewage a pump inlet (11), an inlet chamber (13), a pump housing (14) provided with a rotor (15) arranged on a drive shaft (16) provided with a mechanical seal (20), an outlet chamber (17), and an pump outlet (19). The mechanical seal (20) is arranged within the outlet chamber (17). The outlet chamber (17) is provided with an integrated extension (18) providing an enlargement of the outlet chamber (17) in order to retain the flow of sewage in the outlet chamber (17) before it is discharged from the pump outlet (19) in order to improve the lubrication of the mechanical seal (20).
US08944774B2	Gas turbine nozzle with a flow fence The present application provides a turbine nozzle. The turbine nozzle may include an airfoil with a leading edge and a trailing edge and a flow fence extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge.
US08944761B2	Welded rotor, a steam turbine having a welded rotor and a method for producing a welded rotor A welded rotor, a steam turbine having a welded rotor, and a method of producing a welded rotor are disclosed. The welded rotor includes a high pressure section and an intermediate pressure section. The high pressure section includes a high temperature material section joined to a low temperature material section.
US08944760B2	Fan frame A fan frame includes a blade holder, a pair of ventilation plates, and at least one side plate. The pair of ventilation plates is attached to opposite sides of the blade holder along a first direction and includes a pair of securing blocks. The at least one side plate is attached to the blade holder along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and located between the pair of ventilation plates. The pair of mounting slots is defined in the at least one side plate and engaged with the pair of securing blocks, thereby securing the pair of ventilation plates and the at least one side plate to the blade holder.
US08944753B2	Strut mounting arrangement for gas turbine exhaust case A turbine exhaust case comprises inner and outer annular shrouds defining therebetween an annular hot gaspath. A circumferential array of exhaust struts extends across the gaspath. The exhaust struts are mounted at one radial end thereof on a flexible strut mounting structure. The flexible strut mounting structure is radially deflectable relative to the outer and inner shrouds to accommodate thermal expansion of the exhaust struts during engine operation.
US08944750B2	High pressure turbine vane cooling hole distribution A turbine vane for a gas turbine engine with an airfoil portion including a perimeter wall having first, second, and third sets of cooling holes defined therethrough, including the holes numbered HA-1 to HA-13, HB-1 to HB-13 and PA-1 to PA-9, respectively, and located such that a central axis thereof extends through the respective point 1 and point 2 having a nominal location in accordance with the X, Y, Z Cartesian coordinate values set forth in Table 3.
US08944743B2	Ramp bottom transition foot An apparatus for wheeling a vehicle onto a truck or trailer includes a ramp. The apparatus includes a mounting portion attached to the ramp that mounts to the truck or trailer. The apparatus includes a transition piece the pivotally attaches to the ramp and contacts ground when the mounting portion is mounted to the truck or trailer. A method for placing a vehicle onto a truck or trailer includes the steps of attaching a mounting portion of a ramp to the truck or trailer. There is the step of moving a transition piece attached to the ramp so the transition piece contacts ground. There is the step of wheeling the vehicle across the transition piece, up the ramp and onto the truck or trailer.
US08944738B2	Stacked process modules for a semiconductor handling system Methods and systems are provided for a vacuum-based semiconductor handling system. The system may be a linear system with a four-link robotic SCARA arm for moving materials in the system. The system may include one or more vertically stacked load locks or vertically stacked process modules.
US08944730B2	Assembly and method for machining of an object with a milling machine Assembly and method for machining an object with a milling machine. The object needing machining on various sides so as to require clamping. It is proposed to mechanize this time-consuming operation. To this end a further clamp is attached to a conversion or turning station which may clamp the already partially machined object with an already partially machined side thereof. The mutual positioning of the clamp in which the object is located and the clamp wherein the object is transferred, is precisely defined and by the linear movement of the clamps in relation to each other, the object may be transferred. The additional clamp is configured to receive the object to be machined in precisely the desired position, without damage. Subsequently, a further clamp is again put into the milling machine with the aid of a robot so that other sides of the object can be further subjected to a milling operation.
US08944723B2	Tensioner latch with pivoting segmented base A tensioner assembly for applying tension to a tubular member, such as a riser, can include an upper latch connected to the tubular member, a platform with a bore, and a plurality of lower latch segments, each having a base that is pivotally connected to the platform. After applying tension to the tubular member, the segments pivot inward to form an annular lower latch ring having an inner diameter less than an outer diameter of the upper latch. The assembly can include a locking mechanism that prevents axial movement of the upper latch, relative to the lower latch ring, after engagement. The upper latch can self-center on the lower latch as it is moved into the latching position.
US08944718B2	Clamping bushing There is set forth herein a bushing comprising a longitudinally extending cylindrical body having an inner surface and an outer surface, the longitudinally extending cylindrical body further having a longitudinally extending slit. In one embodiment the bushing can comprise a longitudinally extending formation formed on the longitudinally extending cylindrical body. The longitudinally extending formation can be located at a radially position of the cylindrical body spaced apart from a radial position of the longitudinally extending slit. The longitudinally extending cylindrical body can be configured so that the longitudinally extending cylindrical body preferentially deforms along the longitudinally extending formation.
US08944712B2	Cosmetic bottle with automatic extending applicator An applicator includes a bottle cap with an automatically extending applicator head coupled to a spring. The bottle cap is removably coupled to a bottle having a reservoir for containing a product, such as a cosmetics product or a medicinal product. By virtue of having an automatic extending applicator head, the applicator is capable of extending during application and retracting during storage in a clean and automatic fashion.
US08944705B1	Camera unit A camera unit increases the degree of freedom with which the camera unit can be designed. The camera unit includes a camera body having a hook held in hooked engagement with a bracket. The bracket includes a first support engaged by the hook and which supports the camera body in an angularly movable fashion, and a second support supporting the camera body that is secured to the second support.
US08944699B2	Optical fiber connector and optical fiber assembling method An exemplary optical fiber connector includes a first surface and a second surface at opposite sides thereof, and a third surface connected between the first surface and the second surface. Two projections are formed on the first surface, and extend a same distance along a direction perpendicular to the first surface. The optical fiber connector defines a fixing recess extending from the second surface towards the first surface and being open at the third surface. The fixing recess has a first inner surface and a second inner surface. The first inner surface is parallel to the third surface. The second inner surface is parallel to the first surface. The first inner surface defines a number of receiving grooves. The optical fiber connector defines a number of receiving holes extending from the second inner surface to the first surface. The receiving holes are aligned and communicated with the receiving grooves, respectively.
US08944696B2	Cage for radial roller bearing Achieved is a cage for a radial roller bearing that is made by axial draw molding, and that can suppress wear due to friction between the end sections in the axial direction and the guide surfaces of the opposing members, without the assembly direction being restricted, even when guide surfaces of opposing members are not able to support the cage over the entire area of the end surfaces in the axial direction. The cage 7c is composed of a pair of circular ring shaped rim sections 8e, 8f and a plurality of column sections 9, with the spaces between column section 9 that are adjacent in the circumferential direction functioning as pockets 10. Outer-diameter side concave sections 23a, 23b are provided at a plurality of locations on the outer circumferential surfaces of the rim sections 8e, 8f in portions that are aligned in the axial direction with the pockets 10, and inner-diameter side concave sections 24a, 24b are provided at a plurality of locations having a different phase in the circumferential direction than the outer-diameter concave sections 23a, 23b on the inner circumferential surfaces of the rim sections 8e, 8f in portions that are aligned in the axial direction with the pockets 10. Moreover, on one rim section 8e and the other rim section 8f, the phases in the circumferential direction of the outer-diameter side concave sections 23a, 23b and the inner-diameter side concave sections 24a, 24b are different.
US08944694B2	Bearing device for driving wheel, and its assembling method A bearing device for a driving wheel includes an outer race having an inner periphery in which double-row outer raceway surfaces are formed; a hub wheel and an inner race having outer peripheries in which double-row inner raceway surfaces opposed to the outer raceway surfaces are formed; and double-row rolling elements interposed between the outer raceway surfaces and the inner raceway surfaces. A shaft hole of the hub wheel is formed into a cylindrical shape, and a male spline is formed on an outer periphery of a stem section of the outer joint member so that the stem section of the outer joint member is press-fit into the shaft hole of the hub wheel. With this, recesses caused to fit on the male spline with interference are formed in the shaft hole of the hub wheel, whereby the hub wheel and the outer joint member are separably coupled to each other.
US08944689B2	Sliding bearing A sliding bearing 1 includes a cylindrical bearing body; slits provided in the bearing body; straight grooves provided on an inner side of the bearing body in such a manner as to extend in an axial direction A and respectively disposed between adjacent ones of the slits which are adjacent in a direction B about an axis; a sliding surface which is provided on the inner side of the bearing body and partially severed in the direction B about the axis by the slits to and the straight grooves; a fitting groove provided in an outer surface of the bearing body; and an elastic ring which is fitted in the fitting groove. Each of the straight grooves are closed on an end face side and is open on an end face side.
US08944688B2	Radial foil bearing This relates to a radial foil bearing (3) that supports a rotating shaft (1). The radial foil bearing (3) is provided with a top foil (10), a back foil (11), and a bearing housing (12) that houses them. An engagement notch (15) that extends from the inner circumferential edge to the outer circumferential edge of the bearing housing (12) is formed at both sides of the bearing housing (12). An engagement protruding piece (30) that engages with each engagement notch (15) is provided at both side end portions of the back foil (11) on one side in the circumferential direction of the bearing housing (12).
US08944681B2	Mobile X-ray machine with an anticollision device An X-ray machine is provided. The X-ray machine comprises an X-ray tube; an X-ray detector placed opposite the X-ray tube in a direction of emission of X-rays; and a mobile device on which the X-ray tube and the X-ray detector are mounted, the mobile device comprising a motor capable of causing the automatic movement of the X-ray machine, and an impact-sensing system coupled to the motor in order to control the movement of the mobile device in the event of an impact applied to the X-ray apparatus.
US08944679B2	Electrode member, electron energy analyzer, photoelectron energy analyzer, and temperature measuring apparatus An electrode member has a plurality of spherical electrode sections wherein the radiuses of the spherical sections are different from each other. The spherical electrode sections are disposed in a state wherein the center points of the respective spheres match each other and the spherical electrode sections are insulated from each other such that voltages can be independently applied thereto. Electron-passing openings for electrons, which move from the center point to the outside of the electrode member, are formed at positions where the spherical electrode sections and a plurality of straight lines radially extending from the center point intersect each other.
US08944675B2	Balance with inertia adjustment using an insert A balance set for a timepiece, with inertia adjustment for adjusting inertia and/or balancing and/or oscillation frequency of the balance, with a balance including an insert inserted into a recess of a felloe connected to a hub by a joining surface. The balance includes on the felloe thereof an elastic holding mechanism including two antagonistic elastic lips which, when stressed, allow insertion of the insert into the recess and which, when released, prevent removal of the insert from the recess. A sprung balance or a timepiece can incorporate such a balance.
US08944674B2	Homogenizing mixer with an agitating unit having a lifter unit Provided is a homogenizing mixer including: a container having an internal space so that materials whose properties differ are contained therein; a fixed frame that is disposed so as to be fixed at the bottom of the container, and communicates from the inside of the container; an agitating unit that is disposed in the fixed frame, so as to be lifted up and down by medium of an lifting unit, and that agitates the materials contained in the container; a driving unit that is disposed on the bottom of the agitating unit for transferring a rotational driving force for the agitating unit; and a discharging unit that is coupled to the agitating unit and discharging a homogenized material to the outside of the mixer.
US08944671B2	Mixing device A mixing device capable of mixing a variety of fluids and suitable for miniaturization and low cost operation. In one embodiment, a mixing device includes a housing having an inner space and at least one opening for allowing at least two kinds of fluids to flow into the inner space, at least one pair of nozzle holes passing through one side wall of the housing, and at least one pair of guide portions extending from an outer surface of the housing and protruding up to the respective nozzle holes so that mixed fluids respectively discharged through the at least one pair of nozzle holes collide with each other.
US08944666B2	Lighting device A lighting device is provided and includes a light guide plate including a plurality of light incident surfaces and two light emitting surfaces, a plurality of edge frames, and at least one light source. Each of the edge frames includes a main body including an accommodating groove and an opening, first and second clamp members, and first and second fixing elements respectively located on first and second ends of the main body. The light emitting surfaces are clamped by the first and second clamp members of each edge frame. Each of the light incident surfaces is inserted in the main body of one of the edge frames through the opening and accommodated in the accommodating groove. The light source is located in the accommodating groove of one of the edge frames and adjacent to the corresponding light incident surface.
US08944664B2	Display device and heat dissipating member A display device includes: a display panel; a bottom container member which receives the display panel; an auxiliary member including a bottom, and a side extending from an edge of the bottom, and coupled with the bottom container member; a light source unit coupled with the side of the auxiliary member; and a first heat radiating member between the auxiliary member and the light source unit. The first heat radiating member includes a phase change material.
US08944658B1	LED holder for lighting panels A panel illumination light source positioning and holding mechanism and method of operation and installation is disclosed for a light panel comprising a panel having on a front side thereof a front film forming an illumination surface, and an insertion hole through the panel to the film, the positioning and holding mechanism may comprise a hollow insertion portion extending into the insertion hole, the hollow insertion portion receiving an LED assembly; a locking mechanism locking the insertion portion in place after insertion into the insertion hole; a light pipe reception and holding mechanism, with a light pipe inserted into the light pipe reception and holding mechanism. The positioning and holding mechanism may also comprise a parallel extending portion holding the LED.
US08944656B1	Vehicle infrared projection device A vehicle infrared projection device, includes a device body, an infrared light source module and a retaining clip, wherein the retaining clip is used to retain the device body below or above a vehicle license plate bracket, a projection opening set on the device body is provided as the projection direction of the infrared light source of the infrared light source module, the focus type lens of the infrared light source module limit an included angle of the projection angle of the infrared light source to 6-15 degree. By the composition of the above elements, the present invention may provide assistance for observing the long-distance road condition at night or poor weather, to thereby improve the traffic safety.
US08944654B1	Warning light and method of assembly thereof A warning light has a light transmissive dome, longitudinally extending base, plurality of clamps, and a plurality of warning light assemblies. The light transmissive dome has sidewalls which terminate in a bottom edge. Spaced apart attachment regions with a staging area, a locking area, and a first retaining lip are located along the bottom edge. The longitudinally extending base has sidewalls which terminate in a top edge. A second retaining lip extends downward from an exterior projection of the top edge. A plurality of clamps each have a face portion, and first and second engagement jaws which extend from the face portion. The first and second engagement jaws are configured to engage the first and second retaining lips. A fastener portion located on the face portion corresponds with a fastener. The fastener portion and fastener draw the first and second engagement jaws together.
US08944642B2	Light assembly The present invention discloses a light assembly, which includes a transparent main body and a lens. The transparent main body includes an interior chamber gradually expanding from bottom to top, an inner wall encircling the interior chamber, and an outer wall encircling the inner wall. The outer wall is a total internal reflection surface. The inner wall includes a plurality of first facets facing a first direction and a plurality of second facets facing a second direction which is different from the first direction. The first facets and the second facets are provided to encircle the interior chamber respectively. Either side of each of the first facets is connected to one of the second facets, and each of the two adjacent first facet and second facet form an angle therebetween. The lens is fitted into the main body and faces the interior chamber of the main body.
US08944633B2	Lighting device recessively mounted in a platform A lighting device includes a lighting unit, a base, a lighting trim, a connecting unit, at least one pull rope, and a plurality of resilient latching members and linking members. The base and the lighting trim are disposed on respective ends of the lighting unit. The base has a receiving hole formed thereon. At least one hole is formed on a flange portion of the lighting trim and is corresponding to the at least one pull rope. The connecting unit is received by the receiving hole and connected between one end of the pull rope and the resilient latching members. The other end of the pull rope is passed through the hole. The resilient latching members are disposed around the base and corresponding to the respective linking members.
US08944620B2	Interchangeable display assembly A lighted display assembly for an appliance includes interchangeable display screens. Multiple light sources flash, turn on and turn off to indicate a status of the appliance by illuminating a selected one of the display screens. A display grid extends between the light sources and the selected display screen and defines light passages that are each uniquely associated with a corresponding light source. Light emitted by each light source is confined to a discrete area of the display screen by the corresponding light passage. The discrete areas of the interchangeable display screens may include any of a variety of markings, for example, markings in a different language. The assemblies may be tailored to the needs of a particular customer by selecting an appropriate display screen.
US08944618B2	LED-based illumination modules with PTFE color converting surfaces An illumination module includes a plurality of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) and a light conversion sub-assembly mounted near but physically separated from the LEDs. The light conversion sub-assembly includes at least a portion that is a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) material that also includes a wavelength converting material. Despite being less reflective than other materials that may be used in the light conversion sub-assembly, the PTFE material unexpectedly produces an increase in luminous output, compared to other more reflective materials, when the PTFE material includes a wavelength converting material.
US08944615B2	Projection objective and method for its manufacture A method of manufacturing a projection objective (22) of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus (10). The projection objective (22) comprises at least one mirror (M1 to M6) that each have a mirror support (241 to 246) and a reflective coating (26) applied thereon. First imaging aberrations of a pre-assembled projection objective are measured. Before the coating (26) is applied, the mirror supports (241 to 246) are provided with a desired surface deformation (34). If the mirrors (M1 to M6) are not reflective for projection light without the coating (26), measuring light is used that has another wavelength. Alternatively, two identical mirror supports (246) may be provided. One support having a reflective coating is part of the pre-assembled projection objective whose imaging aberrations are measured. The other support is provided with surface deformations before coating and mounting the support into the objective.
US08944612B2	Multi-projector system and method A method for automatic delivery of consistent imagery in a multi-projector system includes the steps of dividing the projectors into a plurality of sub-groups of projectors, each projector oriented to project a sub-frame to a sub-group display location, and adjusting the output of each projector in each sub-group to provide selected target display characteristics across all sub-groups.
US08944609B2	Compositing screen A compositing screen includes a partially or fully transparent front screen that displays one image or video and a back screen displaying another image or video. The two images can be seen simultaneously, providing a composite image.
US08944606B2	Projector having color separation optical system with reflecting curved surface A projector includes a light source, a light collection optical system adapted to collect light emitted from the light source, and a light modulation panel adapted to modulate the light collected by the light collection optical system, the light collection optical system includes a color separation optical system adapted to separate the light emitted from the light source into a plurality of types of colored light, and a reflecting curved surface is disposed in at least a light path of the colored light with the longest light path length between the light source and the light modulation panel out of the plurality of types of colored light.
US08944601B2	Contact glass for ophthalmic surgery The invention relates to a contact glass for ophthalmic surgery. Said glass comprises a lens body that is held in a frame and a front lens surface that is designed to be placed against the eye. According to the invention, the front lens surface is concave and follows a surface curvature (K) and an annular gap is formed at the edge of the front lens surface between the lens body and the frame, said gap being used to apply a negative pressure in order to fix the contact glass to the eye. The frame is designed to follow the contour of an imaginary continuation of the surface curvature (K), or at least does not project beyond the latter.
US08944599B2	Ophthalmologic apparatus, and ophthalmologic control method and program An ophthalmologic apparatus, when an output result of an imaging unit provided in an optical path of an imaging optical system satisfies a predetermined condition, stops controlling a driving unit in at least one direction based on a positional relationship of an image of the light flux, which has been reflected by a cornea of the subject's eye and regulated by a light flux regulation unit provided in the optical path of the imaging optical system, and maintains the control of the driving unit in the other directions.
US08944595B2	Ophthalmologic apparatus An ophthalmologic apparatus includes an integration unit which integrates a light emission amount of a light source illuminating an target eye, an integral capacitance changing unit which changes a value of an integral capacitance of the integration unit according to the light emission amount necessary for imaging the target eye, a comparison unit which compares a reference value with an integration value integrated by the integration unit using the value of the integral capacitance changed by the integral capacitance changing unit, and a light emission control unit which stops the light emission of the light source when the integration value exceeds the reference value as a result of the comparison by the comparison unit.
US08944593B2	Progressive lenses A method comprising: performing eye exam to a subject having a first and second eye; determining a prescription for the first and second eyes, the prescription describing focal power for each of the first eye and the second eye for at least three distances; and providing the prescription to a machine that produces progressive glasses that comprise a first and second lenses, wherein the first and second lenses each having at least three focal portions associated with the at least three distances that are located in a same height in the glasses thereby enabling clear vision for the subject in the first eye and the second eye with respect to the at least three distances.
US08944579B2	Ink-jet inks including inter-crosslinkable latex particles The present disclosure includes compositions, methods, and systems having an ink-jet ink including a liquid vehicle, a colorant dispersed or dissolved in the liquid vehicle, inter-crosslinkable latex particles dispersed in the liquid vehicle, and an inter-particle crosslinker. The inter-crosslinkable latex particles can have at least one hydrophobic monomer; at least one acidic monomer; at least one inter-crosslinkable monomer including at least one keto group; the inter-crosslinkable monomer having the structure described in Formula 1. Additionally, the inter-crosslinkable latex particles can be intra-crosslinked forming an inter-particle crosslinked latex polymer film after printing and upon at least partial depletion of the liquid vehicle or liquid vehicle component.
US08944576B2	Inkjet recording apparatus An inkjet recording apparatus includes an ink passage member capable of supplying ink from an ink storage unit to a carriage, a passage connecting member capable of connecting the ink passage member to a recording head, an operating member capable of switching the passage connecting member between a connection state where the ink passage member is connected to the recording head and a disconnection state where the ink passage member is disconnected from the recording head, and an operating-member regulating member regulating the operating member. The operating-member regulating member is capable of switching the operating member between a state where switching to the disconnection state by the operating member is permitted and a state where this switching is prevented.
US08944575B2	Pressure-regulating valve and liquid droplet ejection apparatus having the same A pressure-regulating valve in which the pressure of a functional liquid fed to a primary chamber from a functional liquid feeding means is regulated by opening and closing a valve body, the functional liquid is fed to a secondary chamber, and the functional liquid is fed from the secondary chamber to an inkjet-type functional droplet ejection head; wherein the valve body has a valve body main body that directly opens and closes with respect to a valve seat, the valve body main body being provided to the primary chamber; and a valve holder including a holding part that holds the valve body main body and an actuating shaft that comes in contact with a pressure-receiving membrane, the actuating shaft extending concentrically through the communication flow passage from the holding part; the actuating shaft is formed so as to taper to a point toward the pressure-receiving membrane; and the communication flow passage is formed to have a complementary shape with respect to the actuating shaft.
US08944572B2	Liquid discharge head and recording device using same A liquid ejecting head and a recording device are disclosed. The liquid ejecting head includes a fluid channel member and compressing members. The fluid channel member is elongated in a first direction. The fluid channel member includes ejection holes, compression chambers and a manifold. The compressing members is bonded to the fluid channel member. The manifold includes: a length extending in the first direction; openings at the first and second end portions of the fluid channel member; and secondary manifolds divided by one or more partitions that are elongated in the first direction. The compression chambers connected to one of the secondary manifolds configure two compression chamber rows disposed along the secondary manifolds, and the compression chambers belonging to the two compression chamber rows do not overlap in the first direction with compression chambers belonging to compression chamber rows adjacent to the two compression chamber rows.
US08944570B2	Piezoelectric film and ink jet head and angular velocity sensor using the same A piezoelectric film comprising comprises a (NaxBiy)TiO0.5x+1.5y+2—BaTiO3 layer with a (110) orientation, where 0.30≦x≦0.46 and 0.51≦y≦0.62, and the (NaxBiy)TiO0.5x+1.5y+2—BaTiO3 layer has composition around a Morphotropic Phase Boundary.
US08944566B2	Inkjet print head There is provided an inkjet print head including: an ink discharging unit including a plurality of actuators; a connection substrate disposed on the ink discharging unit and having a first circuit pattern electrically connected to the plurality of actuators; and a switching board having a second circuit pattern connected to the first circuit pattern and including a plurality of driving integrated chips (ICs) controlling the plurality of actuators.
US08944557B1	Recording apparatus and control method of recording apparatus having a conveyance roller pair upstream of a recording unit A recording apparatus includes conveyance roller pair disposed on the upstream side of a recording unit. An image formation operation is forbidden once the trailing edge of a recording medium has passed the conveyance roller pair, to reduce margin amount at the trailing edge of the recording medium. In a case where determination is made that the distance from the trailing edge of the recording medium to the conveyance roller pair is smaller than a first conveyance amount, the recording medium is conveyed by a second conveyance amount which is smaller than the first conveyance amount, so that the trailing edge of the recording medium is on the upstream side of the conveyance roller pair and that the distance from the trailing edge of the recording medium to the conveyance roller pair is smaller than a predetermined distance.
US08944556B2	Image forming apparatus and image forming method Disclosed is an image forming apparatus including a head configured to discharge an aqueous recording liquid onto a recording medium; and a coating unit configured to apply a process liquid onto the recording medium, wherein the process liquid is formed by emulsifying, by a first surfactant, water including a water-soluble polymer and a low polarity solvent which is not compatible with the water, wherein the water and the low polarity solvent are emulsified as a W/O emulsion in which the water is in a dispersed phase and the low polarity solvent is in a continuous phase.
US08944546B2	Liquid ejection apparatus and method of controlling the same A liquid ejection apparatus including: a head having an ejection face and configured to eject liquid toward a recording medium; a capping mechanism which switches the ejection space being opposite the ejection face between capped and uncapped states; a conveyor which conveys the recording medium along a conveyance path; a sensor which senses whether the recording medium is present at a sensing position located on an upstream portion of the conveyance path; and a controller configured to: control the capping mechanism and the conveyor; determine whether the conveyor is normal, based on driving of the conveyor for a first period from the start of the driving of the conveyor in the capped state; and when the recording medium is sensed by the sensor within the first period, stop the driving of the conveyor even before the first period passes from the start of the driving of the conveyor.
US08944545B2	Imaging device including a printhead controlled to eject fluid An inkjet printer maintenance system that includes a processing unit adapted for running a print application corresponding to an image to be printed in response to a print input. The processing unit is further adapted to run a print driver that is capable of receiving a pixel data and information based on the print input. The inkjet printer maintenance system further includes a controller unit communicably coupled to the processing unit for receiving a print data from the print driver. Furthermore, the inkjet printer maintenance system includes a plurality of printhead enclosures communicably coupled to the controller unit. One or more printhead enclosures are adapted to receive the print data and information corresponding to a printing configuration for a printing operation. The information includes information about one of activating and deactivating multiple firing. Further disclosed is a method for maintenance of an inkjet printer.
US08944544B2	Printing apparatus and printing method The present invention provides a printing apparatus and a printing method which, even if print media of different sizes are printed, can print images in well-balanced, optimum layouts according to the size of each of the print media. Thus, the printing apparatus according to the present invention has leading end detector which detects a leading end of a print medium and trailing end detector which detects a trailing end of the print medium. The printing apparatus further has print control unit which prints images based on a first print data for which a print start position is determined on the basis of the leading end detected by the leading end detector and second print data for which a print start position is determined on the basis of the trailing end detected by the trailing end detector.
US08944535B2	System for controlling the closing of a door of a household appliance, in particular for a washing machine, such as a dishwasher A system (10, 110) includes an engagement element (11) mounted on a household appliance (W) door (D). A supporting body (12) is releasably held by a retaining element (16) mounted on a cabinet (C). A striker (14, 114) releasably couples to the retaining element (16) and moves between retracted and extracted positions. When the striker (14; 114) is retracted the door (D) is fully closed, and when extracted the door is pre-opened relative to the cabinet (C). An actuator (20) controls a locking mechanism (18) that tends to switch from an unlocked condition, allowing the striker (14,114) to move from the retracted to the extracted position, to a locked condition, holding the striker (14, 114) in the retracted position. A thrust member (19, 119) exerts thrust on the door (D), facilitating switching to pre-opened when the striker (14) couples to the retaining element (16), locking the locking mechanism (18).
US08944534B2	Refrigerator includes a second door disposed on a first door, a shelf disposed on the first door, a connection assembly connecting the shelf to the second door and linking opening of the second door to rotate the shelf Provided is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a storage space, a first door opening or closing the storage space, an accommodation device defining an accommodation space opened toward a front surface of the first door, a second door disposed on the first door to open or close the accommodation device, a shelf disposed on the first door, the shelf being spread to the outside of the accommodation device by the rotation thereof, and a connection assembly connecting the shelf to the second door, the connection assembly being linked with the opening of the second door to rotate the shelf. Thus, convenience of use may be improved.
US08944518B2	Drum housing for a working drum of a construction machine or mining machine, construction machine or mining machine, as well as method for monitoring the condition of a working drum of a construction machine or mining machine In a drum housing for a working drum of a construction machine or mining machine for working off milled material movable in a working direction, said working drum being provided with tools and rotating about a drum axis, with a housing shell that at least partially encloses the circumference of the working drum, and with at least one monitoring device arranged radially outside of the housing shell, said monitoring device inspecting the condition of the working drum or of the tools thereof, it is provided for the following features to be achieved: at least one inspection opening for each monitoring device is arranged in the housing shell, and a partial flow of the milled material passes through the at least one inspection opening during the milling operation and guiding devices conduct the partial flow, in radial direction behind the housing shell, in front of or behind the working drum as seen in the working direction.
US08944512B2	Apparatus for continuous inclination adjustment of a pivotable vehicle part The invention relates to an apparatus for continuous inclination adjustment of a component part of a vehicle, in particular a pivotable vehicle armrest, pivotable about a pivot axle. The apparatus is configured to lock various angles of inclination in a first pivoting direction and unlock them when a pre-settable angle of inclination is reached and/or exceeded. This allows the pivotable component part of the vehicle to be moved back into a starting position contrary to the first pivoting direction. The continuous inclination adjustment apparatus has a sleeve freewheel device for setting the continuous inclination, a coupling device for coupling and uncoupling the sleeve freewheel device and a control device for actuating the coupling device.
US08944504B2	Inflatable thin seat A seat assembly includes a seat back operatively coupled to a seat cushion for pivotal movement between seating and folded positions. The seat assembly includes an air bladder. An air control system is operatively coupled to the air bladder for automatically inflating and deflating the air bladder in response to pivoting the seat back between the seating and folded positions. The air control system includes a pressure vessel for storing a predetermined volume of air, a fill valve for controlling air flow from the pressure vessel to the air bladder, a first pressure sensor for monitoring air pressure in the air bladder, a pump for filling the pressure vessel with air, a second pressure sensor for monitoring air pressure in the pressure vessel, a control valve for controlling air flow from the pump to the pressure vessel, and a vent valve for venting air from the or bladder.
US08944498B2	Linkage mechanism for a dual-motor lifting recliner A seating unit that includes a linkage mechanism adapted to move the seating unit between closed, extended, reclined, and seat-lift positions is provided. The linkage mechanism includes a footrest assembly and a back-mounting link coupled to a seat-mounting plate, a base plate coupled to a lift-base assembly via a lift assembly, a drive bracket, a motor tube, and two linear actuators for automating adjustment of the linkage mechanism. In operation, a first phase involves a second linear actuator rotating the motor tube, thereby causing the seat-adjustment assembly to bias the seat-mounting plate. A second phase involves a first linear actuator rotating the drive bracket, thereby causing the footrest assembly to extend or retract without affecting the bias of the back-mounting link. A third phase involves the first linear actuator causing the lift assembly to raise and tilt the base plate directly over the lift-base assembly.
US08944495B2	Fender panel mounting structure A front fender panel and an apron upper member are connected via an impact absorbing bracket. The impact absorbing bracket has a first supporting leg portion and a second supporting leg portion that form an angle with one another as seen from a vehicle vertical direction. The first supporting leg portion and the second supporting leg portion are connected, via a connecting portion, further toward a vehicle lower side than a fender panel mounting portion.
US08944492B2	Vehicle frame The description relates to a vehicle frame (1) which forms a safety cell having at least one vehicle seat (5), wherein the vehicle frame (1) comprises at least a floor section (10) and a side sill (20), and wherein at least one transverse element (30) for absorbing transverse forces is provided which is connected to at least the side sill (20) and extends on both sides of the at least one vehicle seat (5), in particular below the vehicle seat, and is arranged above the floor section (10). The description also relates to a vehicle seat (110) which can be adjusted at least between a driving position and an access position, wherein a seat surface (113) of the vehicle seat is substantially horizontal in the access position and is inclined to the rear with respect to the access position in the driving position.
US08944490B2	Undercarriage fairings for trailers A system and method for aerodynamic fairings including an undercarriage fairing. The undercarriage fairing includes multiple panels including at least two front panels and at least two rear panels. The at least two front panels are connected in a front portion under the trailer. The at least two rear panels are positioned in front of a wheel undercarriage at sides of the trailer. One of the at least two front panels and one of the at least two rear panels are interconnected on both sides of the trailer. The undercarriage fairing further includes supports connected to the frame of the trailer. The supports are connected to the at least two rear panels.
US08944486B2	Vehicle top This invention includes a soft-top mounted on a jeep-type SUV. First, a structural support is used to support the soft-top. The structural support includes at least two rails, mounting brackets, pillars attached to the rails, cross bars attached to the pillars, and bows to form a front and rear structural support. Next, the soft-top is attached to the outside of the support structure. The soft-top is made with several panels attached together with zippers, and straps and buckles used to firmly secure the soft-top to the support structure. The use of several panels and zippers enable a soft-top that can be changed into several different configurations to meet different looks, functions, or weather conditions.
US08944485B1	Double duty shade system A window shade system for covering at least a portion of a car window of a car is provided. The car window is mounted within a window frame with the window frame having a top edge, a bottom edge, and a pair of side edges. The window shade system comprises a first shade mounted to the top edge or the side edge of the window frame and a second shade mounted to the bottom edge or the side edge of the window frame. The first shade and the second shade are independently movable to cover at least a portion of the car window.
US08944480B2	Golf ball retriever A device for retrieving an object such as a golf ball. In one preferred embodiment, the device comprises a handle, a stationary member or loop that is rigidly attached to the handle, a reactive member or loop that is pivotally attached to the stationary member and a spring for biasing the reactive member substantially perpendicular to the stationary member. Prior to capturing the object, the retriever is set such that the stationary and reactive members are substantially parallel. The retriever is then directed so that when the spring contacts an object, it trips the spring and causes the reactive member to pivot into a substantially perpendicular position with respect to the stationary member, capturing the object inside the stationary and reactive members.
US08944477B2	Charge port lock assembly for a vehicle A charge port lock assembly for use with a charge receptacle on a vehicle having a rechargeable battery. The charge port lock assembly may include an actuator assembly including an actuator energizable to retract the post to a retracted position and to move to an extended rest position and a partially retracted rest position; a charge port door that covers the charge receptacle and a has a door ejection spring; a charge door lock assembly that releases the charge port door when the post is in the fully retracted position and retains the charge port door in the closed position when the post is in the other positions; a cord lock assembly that retains a charge cord assembly in the charge receptacle when the post is in the extended rest position and releases the charge cord assembly in the other positions. The controller energizes the actuator.
US08944476B1	Latch assemblies and transportation containers using the same A latch assembly includes a closing panel having an end with a closing panel tab extending therefrom. A clasp lever is pivotally attached to the end of closing panel and forms a space into which the closing panel tab extends. Inner peripheral sidewalls of the clasp lever forming the space allow the clasp lever to rotate around outer peripheral sidewalls of the closing panel tab when the clasp lever pivots around the end of the closing panel. An incessant force component is disposed within the space between the closing panel tab and a rear inner sidewall of the clasp lever and biases the clasp lever to a neutral position with respect to the closing panel. A force applied to an outer surface of the clasp lever against the bias causes the clasp lever to pivot around the end of the closing panel from the neutral position.
US08944469B2	Triple—CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) cylinder mounting device for a vehicle A triple-CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) cylinder mounting device for a vehicle for mounting a single-gas cylinder placement unit (2) and a dual-gas cylinder placement unit (3) onto the vehicle frame (1) having a right frame member (11) and left frame member (12) partitioned by a front cross-member (13) and a rear cross member (14). The single-gas cylinder placement unit (2) is disposed at the front part of the vehicle frame (1). The single-gas cylinder placement unit (2) is locked by the locking means on the right frame member (11) and/or the left frame member (12) and/or at the front cross-member (13). While, the dual-gas cylinder placement unit (3) is disposed between the middle and rear parts of the vehicle frame (1). The dual-gas cylinder placement unit (3) is locked by the locking means on the frames (11) and/or (12) and optionally on the rear cross-member (14).
US08944456B2	Dimensionally adjustable vehicle A dimensionally adjustable vehicle, which comprises a platform of pivoting and non-pivoting plates arranged such that the spacing between a pair of the non-pivoting plates is changed to dimensionally adjust the vehicle upon application of an initiating force to a plurality of the pivoting plates which causes a pivoting motion. A section of the platform includes a pair of laterally adjacent and laterally pivoting plates which is interposed between a pair of the non-pivoting plates such that a lateral side of each of the laterally pivoting plates is pivotally connected to a lateral side of an adjacent non-pivoting plate. Application of the initiating force the pair of laterally adjacent and laterally pivoting plates causes a lateral dimension of the vehicle to be adjusted.
US08944452B1	Non-motorized scooter A non-motorized scooter comprising a frame carrying a front wheel assembly, a rear wheel assembly, and a handle bar assembly operatively associated with the front wheel assembly; a first lever arm pivotally mounted on the frame; a second lever arm pivotally mounted on the frame adjacent the first lever arm, wherein the first and second lever arms move up and down in a lever action and define a rider platform; a drive unit operatively connected to the first and second lever arms and the rear wheel assembly so that the up and down lever action turns a rear wheel; and, a detent lock releasably securing the first and second lever arms to the frame to resist the up and down lever action of the lever arms until the detent lock is released.
US08944450B2	Mountable water spray shield A mountable water spray shield device is shown herein. A rigid sheet, with an inverted, cropped tear-drop profile, is attached to a rear insert section, and is mounted to a designated vehicle within the area defined by the wheel well and between a pair of tires of the designated vehicle via a bracket secured to the undercarriage of the vehicle. During operation of the designated vehicle upon a wet roadway, the mountable water spray shield serves to divert water spray which would otherwise be emitted into the path of adjacent traffic by rotation of the tires upon the wet roadway at speed.
US08944446B1	Swivel drive system A swivel drive system, such as for providing a driving force for a vehicle, comprises multiple drive modules, with each drive module including a plurality of wheel assemblies mounted for rotation relative to an axis of the drive module, with each wheel assembly being separately rotatable relative to a respective axis of the wheel assembly. Simultaneous rotation of the wheel assemblies relative to the axis of the drive module and rotation of each wheel assembly about its own axis generates a driving force for the vehicle.
US08944444B1	Vertical tool box A vertical tool box including a vertically disposed frame having a pocket between the front and rear sides thereof. A first tool support panel is positioned in said pocket and is selectively horizontally slidably movable between stowed and tool presentation positions. A second tool support panel is also positioned in said pocket and is selectively horizontally slidably movable between stowed and tool presentation positions. When the first and second tool support panels are in their tool presentation positions, the first tool support panel is positioned laterally of one side of the frame and the second tool support panel is positioned laterally of the other side of the frame.
US08944443B2	Foldable golf bag cart A foldable golf bag cart includes a connecting seat that has two tubular walls, each of which is formed with an interior pivot hole and a swing hole, and a positioning member that is movably mounted on a rear wheel leg. The swing hole has a swing section, an abutment section, and an insert section. When the positioning member is moved in the insert section, the rear wheel leg is pushed into the abutment section so that the rear wheel leg is prevented from moving forwardly and rearwardly. When the positioning member is disengaged from the insert section, the rear wheel leg extends into the swing section and is movable forwardly to a folded position.
US08944438B2	Fluid-actuated workholder with a collet driven by a soft and thin bladder A workholder to hold a workpiece, including a main body partially defining a fluid chamber, and a bladder carried by the main body with an interference fit, further defining the fluid chamber, and composed of an 80 to 100 durometer Shore A scale hardness polymer of a 12:1 to 18:1 diameter-to-wall-thickness ratio. Annular seals may further define the fluid chamber, and are disposed radially between the bladder and main body and axially adjacent the fluid chamber, and are composed of a 60 to 80 durometer Shore A scale hardness polymer. A collet is carried and driven by the bladder for gripping engagement with the workpiece.
US08944432B2	Sheet conveying device and image forming apparatus A sheet conveying device includes a shift unit. The shift unit includes a gate member configured to align a recording medium being conveyed thereto by causing a leading end of the recording medium to abut against the gate member so that part of the recording medium bends to form a curved portion; a pair of registration rollers configured to convey the recording medium aligned by the gate member at a predetermined timing, the pair of registration rollers including a driving roller and a driven roller, the driving roller having a rotating shaft coaxial with a rotational central shaft of the gate member; and a drive transmitting unit configured to transmit rotational drive from a drive unit to the driving roller, the drive transmitting unit being disposed on an end side of the rotating shaft of the driving roller.
US08944426B2	Sheet processing apparatus and image forming system A sheet processing apparatus 3 includes a position aligning section (61A, 61B), a holding section 53, and a processing section (38, 55). The position aligning section (61A, 61B) abuts the inner side or a fold of a sheet bundle (S2), which is formed by collecting a plurality of folded sheets (S1), to align the position of the folds of line plurality of folded sheets (S1). The holding section (53) holds the sheet bundle (S2) in which the position of the folds of the plurality of sheets (S1) has been aligned by the position aligning section (61A, 61B). The processing section (38, 55) performs a predetermined process on the sheet bundle (S2) held by the holding section 53.
US08944406B2	Throttle device A throttle device, includes a housing, a gas conduit, a throttle shaft, a throttle body movable by means of the throttle shaft. According to the invention, a bearing is provided for supporting the throttle shaft on the housing, in which for sealing off an interstice in fluid-tight fashion between the throttle shaft and the housing, and in particular outside the bearing, a viscous medium is disposed in the interstice.
US08944401B2	Vibration damper of a vehicle and method of reducing vibration In a vehicle an auxiliary machine (13) such as an air compressor is physically associated with the vehicle battery (12). The battery provides for substantial additional mass which resists transmission of noise and vibration from the small machine to the vehicle structure (11). The small machine (13) may itself form part of a battery clamp arrangement.
US08944391B2	Hand operated mount A hand operated mount 100 is disclosed which can be mounted into the roof of a vehicle, vessel, or building and used to accurately control from inside the vehicle, vessel or building various types of devices that can be externally mounted on it, such as spotlights 127, cameras 110, heat measuring devices 123, listening devices 129, loud speakers 130, water canons 150, guns 118, and other type devices that are necessary to aim. The horizontal axis remains on a horizontal plane and rotates 360 degrees uninterrupted. The vertical axis rotates 180 degrees. The two axis of movement gives the ability to aim mounted devices in any direction. Power is supplied though an electric disc and rod eliminating the restriction of a wire that would prevent 360 degree uninterrupted rotation. Vertical and horizontal brakes and adjustable resistance allows ease of use and the ability to lock the mounted devices in position.
US08944389B2	Flexible hose tensioning device A flexible hose tensioning device includes a shaper roller for receiving a flexible hose. The shaper roller includes guide grooves, into which raised sections of the flexible hose engage. The shaper roller and the guide grooves are configured so that there is a form fit between the shaper roller and the flexible hose. An element that holds the flexible hose in the shaper roller and a spring coupled to the shaper roller are also provided. The spring is tensioned when the flexible hose is pulled in a corresponding direction and generates an opposing force to a flexible hose tensile force.
US08944388B2	Clamp for a support bracket A clamp comprises a fastener, a clamp body, and a clamp leg. The clamp body comprises a housing including a cavity and a housing cavity; and a curved arm extending from the housing. The clamp leg comprises a leg body including a leg cavity, and a foot member. The clamp body and the clamp leg are attachable to and detachable from each other, and a portion of the leg body can be inserted into or removed from the housing cavity, and when the portion of the leg body is inserted into the housing cavity, the cavity and the leg cavity form a passageway for the fastener so that threads of the fastener are not externally exposed.
US08944387B2	Device for automatically controlling signals and multiple trans traveling on the same track An electrical device not only controls train signals as trains advance, but also alters the voltage in the tracks leading up to the signals so that the trains will actually stop at a red signal, slow at an amber aspect and continue on at full speed when the signal is showing green. The electrical device of the present invention can change the “block signal” from “green” to “red”, thereby signaling the engineer behind the train to come to a stop. In addition, the electrical device can simultaneously change the voltage in the tracks to stop the approaching train at the red signal. Only when the forward train has cleared will the approaching train get a clear signal and voltage to resume its forward progress.
US08944379B2	Aircraft seating configuration A passenger seating arrangement for an aircraft cabin that includes first and second adjacent columns of at least two seats that define a first longitudinally extending center axis that extends approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the aircraft cabin. The seats in the first column face away from and form an angle with the first axis of between about 1° and about 44°, and the seats in the second column face away from and form an angle with the first axis of between about 1° and about 44°. Each seat in the first column is staggered fore of a seat in the second column.
US08944370B2	Plasma actuating propulsion system for aerial vehicles A plasma propulsion nozzle incorporates a cylinder having an inlet and an outlet. A plurality of substantially cylindrical planarly disbanded electrodes with sandwiched dielectric spacers is cascaded in an array to be concentrically expanding from the inlet through an interior chamber to the outlet for a nozzle. A voltage source applies a periodic signal with rapidly reversing polarity to the electrodes with differential phase applied to adjacent electrodes in the array creating and expelling plasma clusters at each dielectric spacer inducing flow from the nozzle outlet to produce thrust.
US08944364B2	Quiet landing gear door A quiet landing gear door and methods are presented. A landing gear door comprises a trailing edge and a leading edge and is operable to deploy to a landing gear door deployed position. A door flap comprises the trailing edge and is hinged to the landing gear door. The door flap deflects toward a landing gear strut to a door flap deployed position in response to deployment of the landing gear door. A leading edge section comprises the leading edge and is coupled to the door flap. The leading edge section deflects toward the landing gear strut to a leading edge deployed position in response to deployment of the landing gear door.
US08944358B2	Package and locking ring for dispensing wound material from a container Package and locking ring structure for removal of wound filamentary material from a container including a locking ring attached to a hole in a wall of the container for removal of the wound filamentary material; the locking ring forming a loop of the end portion of the wound filamentary material; the wound filamentary material is withdrawn from the container through the hole by pulling the loop; the locking ring including a pull-off cover plate covering access to the end portion of the wound filamentary material and including a hole for enabling passage of the end portion of the wound filamentary material, and further including means for receiving and retaining the end portion of the wound filamentary material in the form of a loop against the pull-off cover plate.
US08944340B2	Adjuster for track-mounting assembly A mounting plate fixed to a longitudinally extending rail is secured by a plurality of bolts in a substrate. The mounting plate is formed at each bolt with an array of ridges. An adjuster plate formed with a vertically throughgoing transversely elongated slot through which the respective bolt extends has a lower face formed with an array of downwardly projecting generally complementary to the ridges of the mounting plate and an upper face formed with a central recessed seat defined between two longitudinally extending and parallel edges at a predetermined transverse spacing. A gauge plate formed with two parallel outer edges spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to the transverse spacing of the seat edges and with an eccentric circular hole of a diameter substantially equal to an outer diameter of the shank of the respective bolt that extends vertically through the circular hole fits in the seat.
US08944336B2	Method, system and smart card reader for management of access to a smart card The described embodiments relate generally to devices, methods and systems for managing access to a memory card, such as a smart card, by a plurality of accessing devices. Certain embodiments relate to a smart card reader (SCR) for managing concurrent access to a smart card by a plurality of accessing devices, the SCR comprising: a processor; a channel manager responsive to the processor for interfacing with the smart card; a communication interface responsive to the channel manager for communicating with the plurality of accessing devices; and wherein, when a session is open on a first channel between a first accessing device and the smart card and the channel manager is configured to issue an open channel command to the smart card to cause the smart card to open a second channel between the smart card and the second accessing device in response to the session request.
US08944329B2	Personal identification card scanning tool and method of using the same A personal identification card scanning tool comprises a first holding portion and a second holding portion. The first holding portion is configured and adapted to hold a portable computing device. The second holding portion is configured and adapted to hold a personal identification card in an orientation and position relative to the portable computing device such that a line-of-sight exists between at least a portion of the portable computing device and at least a portion of the personal identification card. The first holding portion and second holding portion are structurally connected by a connecting wall comprising an opening that extends through the connecting wall. The opening is configured and adapted to permit a portion of the personal identification card to extend therethrough when the personal identification card is at least partially held by the second holding portion.
US08944321B1	Information processing using machine-readable codes Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for accessing, using an image capture device, a machine-readable code, the machine-readable code describing one or more rules that instruct a user device to determine whether the user satisfies one or more criteria; processing the machine-readable code to obtain the one or more rules; determining, based on the one or more obtained rules, that the user satisfies the one or more criteria; in response to determining, based on the one or more obtained rules, that the user satisfies the one or more criteria, displaying, on a display screen of the user device, data confirming that the user satisfies the one or more criteria.
US08944315B2	Apparatus and method for working an optical lens and also an optical lens and a transporting container for optical lenses A device and a method for processing an optical lens are proposed, whereby lens-production data and/or geometric data of the lens are determined from desired optical data of the lens when a corresponding activation code is acquired. Preferably, the lens or a block piece and/or an assigned shipping container is/are provided with the activation code and/or other information relative to the lenses that are to be processed.
US08944314B2	Systems and methods for recommending a retail location A method and a system are disclosed for generating a recommendation of a retail location on a network-based system. For example, a system may obtain a retail location definition associated with a geographic location. The geographic location may represent the retail location. The system then builds a scan event model from product scan messages received from a plurality of scanning devices located within the geographic location. The scan event model may include one or more scan events each being associated with a product definition and the retail location definition. Next, a recommendation query from the search device is received by the system. The recommendation query may include a product identifier and a query location. The system may generate a recommendation of the retail location based on determining that the product identifier and the query location match the one or more scan events of the scan event model.
US08944310B2	Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device A soldering method achieves little void and good joint condition in soldering an insulated circuit board and a semiconductor chip using a tin-high antimony solder material. A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of preparing a solder plate having a U-shape; mounting the solder plate on a substrate; mounting a semiconductor chip on the solder plate; fusing the solder plate in a reducing gas atmosphere; and reducing a pressure of the reducing gas atmosphere to a pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure when melting the solder plate.
US08944301B2	Article carrier for supporting multiple articles around a neck of a wearer An article carrier has a first member including a top side and a first arch. The first arch optionally is for receiving a first article. The article carrier also has a moveable second member connected to the first member. The second member is moveable from a first position connected to a lateral side of the first member and to a second position where the moveable second member is not connected to the lateral side. The moveable second member may retain a second article on the moveable second member in the second position. The second member may capture a temple bar of a pair of glasses on the second member.
US08944298B2	Garment hanger The present invention relates to a method and device for display and/or storage of garments or other items of apparel such as skirts, dresses, ties, scarves, hats, jewelery and the like. In particular, the present invention provides a garment hanger comprising at least one rung member, wherein the at least one rung member comprises: first attachment formations disposed on the outer periphery of the rung member and adapted to receive a first portion of a first garment and; second attachment formations disposed within the outer periphery of the rung member and adapted to receive a second portion of a second garment.
US08944297B2	Sealable pourer A sealable pourer for mounting on a bottle. The sealable pourer includes a cap to ensure that the pouring nozzle and air tube outlet are sealed, or otherwise closed, when in a first position of the cap and allow free flow of the liquid content of the bottle when in a second position. In one embodiment, the cap is rotated about a symmetry axis of the nozzle to achieve sealing of both the air passage and the pouring nozzle.
US08944293B2	Dispenser adapted to engage a bottle and adapted for use with thick consumable fluid having solid ingredients therein A dispenser adapted for use with thick salad dressing or other consumable fluid which may have large solid ingredients therein.
US08944290B2	Beverage dispensing system having a cold plate and recirculating pump A recirculation loop for a beverage dispensing system. The beverage dispensing system has a fluid supply, a cold plate, a valve/manifold assembly, and a bar gun connected to the valve/manifold assembly. The recirculation loop draws off fluid being carried from the cold plate to the valve/manifold assembly and, having a pump as part thereof, pumps some of that fluid to a point just upstream of the cold plate. In this manner, the recirculation loop keeps fluid cool, even when the bar gun is not dispensing beverages therefrom, for long periods of time. That is, the pump runs independent of the bar gun and is typically on all the time, so that fluid in the line from the cold plate to the valve/manifold assembly stays chilled.
US08944289B2	Machine for making and dispensing liquid, semi-liquid and/or semi-solid food products A machine for making and dispensing liquid, semi-liquid and/or semi-solid food products comprising a cylinder for processing a mixture of a basic product and air, a chamber for the transit of a heat exchange fluid, the chamber being located around the cylinder, a dispensing tap and means for treating the heat exchange fluid and supplying it to the transit chamber; it is equipped with a flexible container for containing the basic product and housed in a rigid container; a compressor of a flow of pressurized air being designed to send pressurized air into the rigid container in such a way that it acts on the flexible container to cause the transfer of the basic product from the container to the processing cylinder through a feed tube.
US08944288B2	Collapsible container A container collapsible during dispensing of the contents therein includes a front wall, a rear wall, right and left side walls, a bottom wall, and a top wall defining a container volume holding product. A first right side wall fold line is provided in the right side wall, and a first left side wall fold line is provided in the left side wall. A rear wall fold line separates the rear wall into a first facet and a second facet. The container is sealed such that the removal of the product from the container causes the container volume to decrease, and the container folds along the first right side wall fold line, first left side wall fold line and rear wall fold line such that the first facet folds down toward the second facet.
US08944280B2	Tablet dispenser A tablet dispenser includes a device body and a plurality of tablet cassettes disposed on one face of the device body. Each tablet cassette is capable of accommodating a plurality of types of tablets and of dispensing the tablets contained therein in a lateral direction. A plurality of chutes are in communication with the plurality of tablet cassettes. Each chute is disposed on the one face of the device body, adjacent to a corresponding tablet cassette. Each chute retains tablets dispensed from the corresponding tablet cassette and dispenses the tablets in a downward direction into a container.
US08944276B2	Dumpster with a moveable false floor and method of collecting trash using the same A dumpster having a moveable false floor which moves from a bottom of the dumpster toward a top opening when the dumpster is tilted to a substantially inverted orientation during collection of trash. The moveable false floor has freedom to move a predetermined length toward the top opening, where upon reaching the predetermined length a restraining device abruptly stops the floor causing the dumpster to shake dislodging adhered trash. Upon being returned to an upright orientation the moveable false floor moves back to the bottom.
US08944272B2	Pressure-cooking utensil having a dual-purpose locking/unlocking control member The invention relates to a utensil for cooking food under pressure, which utensil comprises firstly a vessel and a lid and secondly a control member (6) for controlling locking/unlocking of the lid relative to the vessel, said utensil being characterized in that said control member (6) is mounted to move on the lid between firstly a deployed position corresponding to the lid being unlocked, and in which said control member (6) is designed to be taken hold of manually in order to enable the lid to be handled, and secondly a retracted position corresponding to the lid being locked and in which said control member is designed to be more difficult to take hold of manually than it is in the deployed position. Utensils for cooking food under pressure.
US08944269B2	Marine locking gas cap A watercraft fuel cap having the ability to lock in place to a common fuel filler receiver and having a series of unique downward slot designs and necessitating a matching downward slot designed key for tightening or removing the fuel cap from the fuel filler receiver. The fuel cap would also have the ability for a tethering device which attaches the fuel cap and the fuel receiver together. When the fuel cap is removed for the re-fueling process the tether allows for removal but limits the distance the fuel cap can be moved away from the fuel filler receiver. The tether keeps the fuel cap from being missed placed or falling into the water.
US08944268B2	Fuel tank A fuel introducing member is connected to an opening end of a siphon pipe forming a fuel tank. The fuel introducing member has an opening for introducing fuel within the tank, and the opening is formed in the upper surface of a cover section. A lid body is pivotably mounted to the upper surface. When the opening is above the level of fuel, the lid body closes the opening by the weight of the lid body, and when the opening is below the level of the fuel, the lid body floats in the fuel to open the opening. The opening is located below the upper end of the inner diameter of the opening end of the siphon pipe.
US08944267B2	Configurable enclosure A configurable enclosure including a cover portion operably attached to a base portion, the base portion including a wall disposed along a perimeter of a bottom surface, and a removable portion of the bottom surface configured to be peeled away from the base portion to create an opening on the bottom surface is provided. Moreover, an enclosure having a cover portion operably attached to a base portion, the base portion including a wall disposed around a perimeter of a bottom surface, a thin section of the bottom surface located proximate an outer edge of a removable portion of the bottom surface, an actuator operably attached to the removable portion, wherein through actuation of the actuator, the removable portion peels away from the bottom surface to create an opening on the base portion is also provided. Furthermore, an associated method is also provided.
US08944263B1	Prescription drug lock box This invention pertains to a prescription drug lock box consisting of a container and a detachable combination locking cover assembly used to secure the contents held within. The container has an integrally formed key post positioned above its open end. The tumblers of the cover assembly engage the key post and lock to it thus securing contents held within. When the indicia of the tumblers and correct unlocking code are in alignment with a marker, the cover assembly may be installed or removed.
US08944261B1	Drying rack for meat A foodstuff drying enclosure particularly suited to aid in the drying of foodstuffs such as meat and fish is provided with a frame covered with a mesh net providing an open air structure on all sides. The mesh net comprises a zippered top opening which enabling access to the foodstuffs. The frame supports a horizontally removable mesh tray having openings which provide sufficient air flow to dry the food placed upon it.
US08944255B2	Chute for optical sorting machine A chute for an optical sorting machine allows objects to be sorted to drop under gravity from the lower end of the chute, thereby supplying the objects to an optical detection section. The chute is provided with: a first portion which includes a portion for receiving the objects to be sorted which are supplied from a supply section; and a second portion which continues from the first portion. The first portion is composed of a single part and has: flat surfaces along which the objects to be sorted flow down; and connection surfaces. The flat surfaces located upstream are bent downward and the connection surfaces located downstream are bent upward to form a smooth undulation in the surface along which the objects to be sorted flow down.
US08944253B2	Marine microplastic removal tool A microplastic particle removal tool is provided that comprises an elongated mesh screen supported by a pair of opposing pole members. The mesh screen comprises a polymer coated, fine mesh that is adapted to sift microplastic affected sand and remove the microplastic particles therefrom during cleanup activities. The pole members are elongated members wrapped in a layer of padding material and fastened to the ends of the mesh screen. The poles support the mesh screen while sifting and are utilized to condense the mesh screen therearound when the device is not in use. During use, the mesh screen is placed in a horizontal condition while microplastic affected sand is deposited thereonto. A pair of users supports the handle ends of the pole members to sift the affected sand and thereby remove the microplastic particles therefrom via electrostatic attraction. The collected particles are removed from the screen thereafter and discarded.
US08944250B2	Mono-web resealable package with tamper-evident tear strip A reclosable package formed from a sheet having a layered structure formed on a first region of the outer surface proximate a top edge thereof, formed by a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) and a sealant coating covering the PSA. The sheet is folded about transverse fold lines and side seals are formed along the two side edges of the sheet, and a flap portion of the sheet overlaps the layered structure. Permanent seals are formed between the sealant coating of the layered structure and the flap portion. The first permanent seal has a higher bond strength than that between the sealant coating and the PSA.
US08944247B2	Pouch-based cumulative packaging The invention relates to a packaging unit (1), which comprises at least one agent-containing product (80), at least one main wrapping (30), and one secondary wrapping (10), wherein at least one agent-containing product (80) is stored sealed in each closed main wrapping (30), and wherein the main wrappings (30) are arranged in piles in the secondary wrapping (10) and are removably attached, at least in some regions, by means of perforation lines (38). Each main wrapping (30) of this is a sealed pouch with a gripping piece (70). The individual sealed pouch has a perforation seam (55) that bounds a tear-off region (47). The gripping piece (70) is joined to the tear-off region (47), opened by pulling a gripping piece (70), releases the agent-containing product (80). A further pulling of the gripping piece (70) separates the perforation line (38).
US08944242B2	Method and apparatus for transporting pellet-shaped articles A carrier bar to convey at least one pellet-shaped article along a predetermined conveyer path in a direction of travel, the carrier bar comprises at least one pocket adapted to receive a pellet-shaped article and each pocket having a pocket wall, and a product settling area included in each pocket and having a dimple defined in the product settling area by an edge, said dimple adapted to seat the bottom side of the pellet-shaped article, wherein said dimple is offset from a center of said product settling area and said dimple is shaped to position, hold, or bias a portion of the pellet-shaped article towards and/or against a portion of the pocket wall.
US08944233B2	Vertical conveying channel and uses thereof A vertical conveying channel is made of elastic fabric. The elastic fabric's latitude elastic deformation rate is 100˜450%, latitude resilience is 300˜2500N, and latitude elastic recovery rate is 70˜100%; preferably, the latitude elastic deformation rate is 120˜400%, the latitude resilience is 350˜2300N, and the latitude elastic recovery rate is 75˜98%; more preferably, the latitude elastic deformation rate is 140˜350%, the latitude resilience is 550˜2200N, and the latitude elastic recovery rate is 80˜96%; most preferably, the latitude elastic deformation rate is 170˜300%, the latitude resilience is 750˜2000N, and the latitude elastic recovery rate is 85˜94%. The vertical conveying channel can be used for vertical conveying of cargo or personnel, preferably used in the field of lifesaving, engineering or military.
US08944230B2	Separator spring for clutch plate separation and stabilization A clutch assembly includes a plurality of reaction plates separated by one or more separator springs to maintain a distance between the reaction plates when the clutch is not activated.
US08944227B2	End horns for pantograph assembly A pantograph assembly configured to transfer electrical power from an overhead conductor to a machine. The pantograph assembly includes a pantograph support detachably connected to the machine, an articulated assembly, a pan rail and a carbon brush. The pantograph support includes a first link, and a second link hingedly connected to the first link. The first link is connected to the pantograph support. The pan rail is supported by the second link of the articulated assembly. The carbon brush is supported by the pan rail along a longitudinal axis of the pan rail. The pantograph assembly further includes an end horn having a bridge portion connected to the carbon brush. The bridge portion is configured to transfer the overhead conductor between the end horn and the carbon brush.
US08944225B2	Structure for absorbing energy A structure for absorbing energy from impacts thereon, the structure being plastically deformable by an impact, with, if appropriate, the possibility that it is at least to some extent disrupted. The structure can include a) ribs for reinforcement, the ribs arranged with respect to one another at an angle with respect to the axial direction such that on failure of a rib a force acting on the structure is immediately absorbed axially by another rib, b) ribs running axially, the ribs being in essence corrugated or of zigzag shape, c) at least one rib running axially in a first plane and connected to at least two ribs running axially in a second plane rotated with respect to the first plane. The structure includes, in the direction of impact, at least two layers, each of which has different compressibility properties and different failure properties.
US08944222B2	Damping valve A damping valve comprises a through-hole forming a passage for a working fluid. A poppet having a center axis is seated on a valve seat around the through-hole. The poppet is housed in a housing so as to be free to slide along the center axis. The poppet is pressed against one wall surface of the housing by a biasing mechanism, that biases the poppet in a direction perpendicular to the center axis, vibration of the poppet is thereby suppressed.
US08944219B2	Controlling access to building floors serviced by elevators A person is detected before entering an elevator in a building, and a destination floor desired by the person is detected. When the person leaves the elevator, the floor on which the person leaves the elevator is detected using a further detecting device. An action is triggered if the floor on which the person leaves the elevator and the destination floor do not match.
US08944218B2	Pallet fork A pallet fork includes a frame having a top support tube and a bottom support tube between opposing end plates. A fork bar and a carriage plate are supported by the frame. A fork tine is mounted to the fork bar via a slotted tube. The fork tine includes a vertical leg and a horizontal leg. The slotted tube is at an upper portion of the vertical leg. A locking plate is provided on the top support tube. An upper locking member selectively inserted through a slot in the slotted tube and through one of a plurality of notches to engage the vertical leg of the fork tine with the locking plate and restrict lateral motion of the fork tine. The upper locking member has a head portion with an open point that rests on a top surface of the top support tube.
US08944217B2	Suspension work platform hoist system with communication system A suspension work platform hoist system for raising and lowering a work platform is provided. The system incorporates at least one hoist attached to the work platform and in electrical communication with a hoist control system that may have a data transmitter to transmit data to a remote location, a data receiver to receive data from the remote location, and/or a monitoring and diagnostic system to monitor and record at least one of a plurality of operating characteristics of the hoist. The hoist control system may also include a GPS tracking device that transmit a hoist location and may prevent operation of the motor if the hoist location is not in an authorized area of operation. The hoist control system may further include a safety lock out system that requires authentication of an operator prior to the hoist control system causing movement of the hoist system.
US08944211B2	Retractable ladder A retractable ladder assembly for use in an elevator pit is disclosed. The retractable ladder assembly includes a ladder having spaced-apart parallel stiles coupled together via a plurality of stacked horizontally-disposed rungs. At least one pivot arm having a first end is coupled to the ladder. A second end of the pivot arm is adapted for coupling to a wall in the pit. The ladder assembly further includes a lift assist mechanism having a first end coupled to the ladder, and a second end for coupling to the wall. The lift assist mechanism is operative to assist in manually pivoting the ladder to a retractable state.
US08944210B2	Center ladder member apparatus and method A ladder attachment having a base member slideably attached to lock member, a pivot mount pivotally attached to the lock member and a surface defining a lock port which is optimally configured to be orientated to slide upon the lock member when in a stored orientation such that when the base member and pivot mount is slideably repositioned with respect to the lock member, a ladder assembly which is attached to the pivot mount is in a stored orientation. The ladder assembly has an extended and retracted orientation.
US08944209B1	Smart device sound amplifier A sound amplifier is provided in the form of a sound amplification cone with a front panel opposite a rear panel and spaced apart by side panels. The side panels fold so that the front panel and rear panel can collapse together or be deployed apart. The sound amplification cone is hinged to a tab which is held at least partially within a case. The case also holds a smart device therein. A slot in the case allows for the tab and sound amplification cone to slide into and out of the case when the cone is collapsed. When the sound amplification cone is slid out of the case and deployed, a port of the sound amplification cone is located adjacent speakers of the smart device to amplify sound therefrom. Auxiliary speakers and a power source can also be provided within the tab or sound amplification cone for further sound amplification.
US08944204B2	Snowmobile A snowmobile comprises a chassis with a front portion and a tunnel, and a power train unit supported by the chassis. The snowmobile further includes a plurality of ground-engaging members cooperating with the power train unit to operate the snowmobile. The plurality of ground-engaging members includes a pair of front skis and an endless track assembly. The snowmobile also includes a front suspension operably coupled to the pair of front skis. The front suspension includes a right control arm comprising a first right arm adhesively coupled to at least one right coupler, and a left control arm comprising a first left arm adhesively coupled to at least one left coupler. The first right arm and the left arm are comprised of a first material and the right and left couplers are comprised of a second material.
US08944203B2	Device for preventing foreign substances from being inserted into lower part of foot pedal unit of vehicle The present invention relates to a device for preventing an external substances from being inserted into the lower part of a foot pedal unit of a vehicle, and the device prevents external foreign substances from being inserted into the lower part of a vehicular foot pedal unit which includes a pedal arm and a pedal combined with an edge of said pedal arm, wherein the invention comprises a body which: is formed as a clastic member that is clastically transformed; is disposed between a lower side of said foot pedal unit and an indoor bottom surface of the vehicle; and is combined with said foot pedal unit and/or said indoor bottom surface of the vehicle, wherein said body is formed to prevent external foreign substance from being introduced to the lower side of said pedal arm and said pedal. According to the present invention, no external substances are introduced to a lower gap between the pedal arm and the pedal when the vehicle is running, thereby is preventing fatal traffic accidents.
US08944202B2	Construction machine A compact excavator includes an operator's cab with a door capable of opening and closing an opening surface forming a boarding port. The door includes one door piece, and has a flexing portion which is closer to a front pillar than the central portion of the door when the door is in a closed state. The flexing portion is shaped to have a first area so formed that when the door is in a closed state, the first area approaches the opening surface as the first area approaches the front pillar, and a second area arranged continuously with the first area and nearer the front pillar than the first area and being formed so that the second area draws away from the opening surface as the second area approaches the front pillar.
US08944198B2	Exhaust system for battery in vehicle A vehicle generally includes a motor that drives wheels of the vehicle, a high voltage battery that supplies electric power to the motor, and an exhaust system that exhausts a gas generated by the high voltage battery from the vehicle. The exhaust system for a battery includes an exhaust fan that exhausts the gas generated by the high voltage battery, a control unit that controls operation of the exhaust fan, and a collision detection unit that detects a collision of the vehicle. The control unit has a structure that operates the exhaust fan when the collision detection unit detects a collision of a vehicle.
US08944196B2	Wheel bearing apparatus incorporated with an in-wheel motor A wheel bearing apparatus incorporating an in-wheel motor has a connecting shaft. The connecting shaft has a disc portion, forming the planetary elements, and a shaft portion, axially extending from the disc portion, via a shoulder portion. The outer circumference of the shaft portion has a serration. The connecting shaft is inserted into the wheel hub until the disc portion abuts the inner member. A seal ring, formed of elastic material, is interposed between the inner member and the connecting shaft to shield the driving portion from the outside in a liquid-tight manner.
US08944190B2	System and method for damping vibration in a drill string A system for damping vibration in a drill string can include a valve assembly having a supply of a fluid, a first member, and a second member capable of moving in relation to first member in response to vibration of the drill bit. The first and second members define a first and a second chamber for holding the fluid. Fluid can flow between the first and second chambers in response to the movement of the second member in relation to the first member. The valve assembly can also include a coil or a valve for varying a resistance of the fluid to flow between the first and second chambers.
US08944179B2	Power tool A power tool that includes a driving motor and a power transmitting mechanism. The power transmitting mechanism includes a first clutch cam part, a second clutch cam part, clutch teeth, a clutch detecting mechanism and a controller that can control the driving motor in a first control mode in which the driving motor is controlled to rotate at a first rotation speed until before the first and second clutch cam parts are engaged with each other at the clutch teeth and in a second control mode in which the driving motor is controlled to rotate at a second rotation speed higher than the first rotation speed after the first and second clutch cam parts are engaged with each other at the clutch teeth.
US08944171B2	Method and apparatus for completing a multi-stage well A technique includes deploying a string that includes a seat assembly in a well; and running a shifting tool in a passageway of the string. The shifting tool shifts the seat assembly to cause the seat assembly to transition between a first state in which the seat assembly forms a seat that is adapted to allow an untethered object communicated in the passageway of the string to pass through the seat assembly to a second state in which the seat assembly is adapted to catch the object to form a fluid barrier in the string. The fluid barrier is used to divert fluid in the tubing string to perform, for example, a stimulation operation.
US08944159B2	Horizontal fracturing tree A system, in certain embodiments, includes a horizontal fracturing tree. The horizontal fracturing tree includes a first hydraulic fracturing bore configured to flow a first fluid, wherein the first hydraulic fracturing bore extends along a first horizontal axis, and the first horizontal axis is generally perpendicular to a vertical axis of a wellhead.
US08944144B2	Heating and ventilation and/or air conditioning device with a compact construction for a motor vehicle passenger compartment The heating-ventilation and/or air-conditioning device for a motor vehicle passenger compartment comprises modules grouped substantially at the same horizontal level, namely at least one ventilation module (14) arranged to produce a pulsed air flow, a heating module (12) to be located in a central region of the passenger compartment and having heat exchangers (32, 34, 36) through which the air flow from the ventilation module can pass, and at least one distribution module (16) having an air inlet connected to a side air outlet (46d, 46g) of the heating module. The device of this invention may be installed in a vehicle passenger compartment having no central console.
US08944141B2	Drill to flow mini core A core for forming a cooling microcircuit has at least one row of metering/tripping features configured to form at least one row of protrusions in the cooling microcircuit, a plurality of teardrop features configured to form a plurality of fluid passageways in the cooling microcircuit, and a terminal edge. The plurality of teardrop features includes a central teardrop feature having a trailing edge which is spaced from the terminal edge and a first teardrop feature located on a first side of and spaced from the central teardrop feature. The first teardrop feature has a longitudinal axis and is non-symmetrical about the longitudinal axis. A process of using the core and a turbine engine component formed thereby are described.
US08944125B2	Tension-based non-pneumatic tire A non-pneumatic tire for supporting a load by working in tension comprising a generally annular inner ring, a generally annular outer ring, and an interconnected web having a plurality of web elements and comprising a plurality of generally polygonal openings. Web elements are sized, curved, oriented, and comprised of varying thicknesses of material which facilitates buckling when subjected to a compressive load. By buckling, those elements in a deformed portion of the tire between a wheel and a footprint region where the tire contacts a surface can assume a significantly reduced portion of the load, if any. This causes web elements in other portions of the interconnected web to operate in tension to support the load.
US08944124B2	Pneumatic tire for a motorcycle The present invention provides a pneumatic tire for a motorcycle which secures a sufficiently large lateral force in the intermediate region contacting the ground particularly when a middle camber angle is applied to the tire and increases a driving force and a braking force. The tire comprises a tread portion 1, side wall portions 2 and bead portions 3. This tread portion 1 comprises five regions of a central region A, shoulder regions C and intermediate regions B. Loss tangent of at least a portion forming a ground contact surface of an intermediate tread rubber 7b disposed over an entire region of the intermediate regions B is larger than both of loss tangent of at least a portion forming a ground contact surface of a central tread rubber 7a disposed over an entire region of the central region A and loss tangent of at least a portion forming a ground contact surface of a shoulder tread rubber 7c disposed over an entire region of the shoulder regions C.
US08944112B2	Braided hose and method of making same A hose including at least one rubber layer, an outer cover, and at least one barrier layer provided between the rubber layer and the outer cover, wherein the barrier layer is configured to prevent rubber from the rubber layer from reaching the outer cover during curing of the hose. In one embodiment, the rubber layer is the hose inner tube and the outer cover is braided wire. In another embodiment, the barrier layer includes at least one layer of polymeric film. In another embodiment, the hose can include at least one reinforcing layer provided between the rubber layer and the barrier layer. In another embodiment, the hose can include at least one intermediate layer provided between the rubber layer and the barrier layer, where the intermediate layer is formed from a porous material. In another embodiment, the hose can include at least one retaining layer provided between the barrier layer and the outer cover, where the retaining layer is formed from a polymeric material. Optionally, a composite barrier/retaining layer can replace the separate barrier and retaining layers.
US08944091B2	System for ventilating and venting containers containing a fluid volume A system for ventilating and venting containers containing a fluid volume, such as gearboxes containing an oil filling, has a line system connecting the container to the atmosphere. Upon changes in the volumes in the container due to temperature changes, pressure is equalized. The line system contains a separating housing (12) in which a separating medium (46) having oleophobic and hydrophobic properties separates a first space (42) connected to the container from a second space (44) connected to the atmosphere. Line connections (10, 14) on the separating housing (12) are provided such that liquid-phase substances on opposite sides of the separating medium (46) can flow out of the first space (42) to the container and can drain out of the second space (44) to the atmosphere.
US08944090B1	Automated pressure regulated water diversion system A bypass valve assembly for use with a multi-speed pool pump is disclosed. The bypass valve assembly includes a housing having a inlet port, a high-pressure (HP) with a HP canal opening between the inlet port and the HP port, and a low-pressure (LP) port with a LP canal opening between the inlet port and the LP port. The bypass valve assembly also includes a HP valve assembly within the housing. The HP valve assembly includes a high-pressure seal movable between a HP sealed position responsive to a LP head and a HP open position responsive to a LP head. The bypass valve assembly also includes a LP valve assembly comprising a LP seal movable between a LP sealed position that seals the LP canal opening responsive to a HP head and a LP open position responsive to a LP head.
US08944084B2	Optofluidic tweezers In a method of moving droplets, local heat is applied to a surface portion of a droplet for an amount of time sufficient to create a Marangoni flow in the droplet. Droplets are suspended in an emulsion in a carrier liquid on a substrate. A laser beam is used to move one of the droplets. the droplet consists of a first substance and a carrier liquid consists of a second substance that is not mixable with the first substance. The droplet is placed in the carrier liquid, and the mixture is emulsified. The emulsified mixture is placed on a substrate. Then the local heat is applied to the surface of the droplet. The first substance may include oil and the second substance may include water.
US08944080B2	Cleaning system, cleaning device, and method of using cleaning device A cleaning device is provided, including a top portion, a middle portion, and a bottom portion. The top portion includes a first opening. The middle portion is connected to the top portion, and includes an inlet on a lateral side, an annular channel communicated with the inlet, and a second opening communicated with the first opening. The bottom portion is connected to the middle portion, and includes a reservoir and a third opening. The third opening communicates the second opening and the reservoir.
US08944076B1	System and method for increasing hair volume A system, comprising: a sleeve having a circumscribing sidewall formed of elastic, compliant material, the sleeve having an internal axial bore sized to have an inside diameter equal to or less than an outside diameter of a host hair to be received in the bore, the sidewall formed of thermoplastic resilient, compliant material, and at least one supplemental hair embedded in the sidewall or attached to the sidewall of the sleeve.
US08944073B1	Method and apparatus for preparing a finished tobacco product including an attached outer pre-rolled sheet and inner shell A finished tobacco product is formed by an inner shell and attached outer pre-rolled sheet where the inner shell has a means to open an interior volume to add selected tobacco filler material.
US08944072B2	Thermal treatment process for tobacco materials A method of preparing a tobacco material for use in a smoking article is provided, including (i) mixing a tobacco material, water, and an additive selected from the group consisting of lysine, glycine, histidine, alanine, methionine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, proline, phenylalanine, valine, arginine, di- and trivalent cations, asparaginase, saccharides, phenolic compounds, reducing agents, compounds having a free thiol group, oxidizing agents, oxidation catalysts, plant extracts, and combinations thereof; (ii) heating the mixture; and (iii) incorporating the heat-treated mixture into a smoking article as a smokable material. A smoking article in the form of a cigarette is also provided that includes a tobacco material pre-treated to inhibit reaction of asparagine to form acrylamide in mainstream smoke. Upon smoking, the smoking article is characterized by an acrylamide content of mainstream smoke that is reduced relative to an untreated control smoking article.
US08944071B2	Method for treating an asthma attack Methods of increasing gas exchange performed by the lung by damaging lung cells, damaging tissue, causing trauma, and/or destroying airway smooth muscle tone with an apparatus inserted into an airway of the lung are disclosed. The damaging of lung cells, damaging tissue, causing trauma, and/or destroying smooth muscle tone with the apparatus may be accomplished via any one of or combinations of the following: heating the airway; cooling the airway; delivering a liquid to the airway; delivering a gas to the airway; puncturing the airway; tearing the airway; cutting the airway; applying ultrasound to the airway; and applying ionizing radiation to the airway.
US08944064B2	Devices and methods for positioning a stereotactic frame Stereotactic methods are routinely used in neurosurgery for operations such as the aspiration of brain cysts, tumor biopsies and more recently to implant electrodes into brain targets. An integral part of this surgery is a mechanical device called a stereotactic frame (10) that has head holding clamps and bars which puts the head in a fixed position in reference to the coordinate system. Various methods of accurately aligning the frame have been used but a novel device and method are proposed that over-come at least some of the shortcomings of these current techniques. There is disclosed a removable frame attachment (30) that holds the frame in position but allows for fine adjustment, allowing a single operator to quickly and accurately position the frame. The attachment can be removed before surgery without moving the set position of the frame. The device comprises two or more arms (31,32) each arm being coupled to another at a point of intersection. At least one arm comprises a plurality of fixing means (35) and at least one arm is attached to the stereotactic frame (10) using gripping means (33).
US08944063B2	Tracheostoma valve A tracheostoma valve (1) comprises a main air passage structure provided with a main valve arrangement. The tracheostoma valve is switchable in response to a spurt of inhalation air from a breathing condition into a speaking condition, while the tracheostoma valve is switchable in response to a spurt of exhalation air from said speaking condition into said breathing condition. The main valve arrangement comprises an at least partly flexible bistable wall portion which has a circumferential bordering edge. At least part of the bordering edge forms a hinging means around which the bistable wall portion is hingeable between a first stable position in which an orifice of the main air passage structure is being blocked, and a second stable position in which said orifice is released.
US08944059B2	Non-invasive ventilation exhaust gas venting A non-invasive ventilation patient interface comprises a fresh gas entry port, an exhaust gas vent port, and a filter media disposed in the exhaust gas vent port. The fresh gas entry port is configured for coupling with a fresh gas supply. The exhaust gas vent port is configured for allowing expulsion of exhaust gas from the patient interface in response to exhalation of a patient. The filter media is configured for filtering contagious from the exhaust gas, diffusing the exhaust gas, and controlling an expulsion flow of the exhaust gas through the exhaust gas vent port.
US08944058B2	Patient interface device A patient interface device (e.g., nasal pillows, a nasal mask or a full-face mask) for delivering breathable gas to a patient has a frame with a main body and a side frame member provided on each lateral side of the main body, each side frame member including a first connector portion, and a headgear assembly removably attachable to the frame, the headgear assembly having a second connector portion adapted to be removably coupled with the first connector portion provided on the frame. The first connector portion and the second connector portion are configured for rotationally locking engagement in a plurality of different rotationally locked positions in which the first and second connector portions may not rotate relative to one another, such that the headgear assembly is rotationally adjustable with respect to the frame.
US08944054B2	Medicine dispensation device A medicine dispensation device, in particular a multi-dose powder inhalator, for the dispensing of individual doses of medicine that has a number of medicine chambers contained in a medicine magazine shaped like a continuous loop. The medicine chambers form groups in such a manner that a mouthpiece reaches the different groups by an essentially complete rotation of the medicine magazine. This enables several medicine chambers—typically one, two or three—to be situated between two successive intake positions, which allows for a high density of medicine chambers and thus creates an inhalation device, which can be handled comfortably even when containing a great number of individual doses.
US08944050B2	Inhalation airflow regulation devices and methods of using the same Inhalation airflow regulation devices and inhalers are disclosed. Methods of making and using inhalation airflow regulation devices are also disclosed.
US08944043B2	Heating cooker operable to deodorize/desmoke Disclosed is a heating cooker suitable for cooking fish, meat, or the like, and preventing smell or smoke from being released when the cooking chamber is opened. The disclosed heating cooker comprises an enclosed cooking chamber having at least one heating element contained in the enclosed cooking chamber and a ventilation chamber having an inlet passage and an outlet passage. The cooking chamber is connected to the cooking chamber via the inlet and outlet passages allowing air to circulate between the ventilation chamber and the cooking chamber. A fan and a spraying unit may be disposed in the ventilation chamber wherein the fan is operable to circulate air between the cooking chamber and the ventilation chamber, and the spraying unit is operable to spray water from a reservoir adjacent to the ventilation chamber to intercept smell or smoke contained in air in the ventilation chamber.
US08944040B2	Pressure differential bullet advancing structure of toy gun The present invention provides a pressure differential bullet advancing structure for advancing BB bullets, which includes an expansion device, a collar device that is slidably received in the expansion device, and a pneumatic module arranged at one side of the expansion device. The expansion device includes a guide bar that is received in the collar device. The guide bar has a circumferential wall forming an air inlet opening that is extended in a direction away from the pneumatic module and is selectively shielded by the collar device. The pneumatic device generates high-pressure air that flows through the expansion device to move the collar device for advancing the BB bullet. When the collar device is moved to such an extent that the air inlet opening is exposed, the high-pressure air flows therethrough to shoot out the BB bullet.
US08944037B2	Exhaust gas purifying apparatus for internal combustion engine An exhaust gas purifying apparatus for an internal combustion engine includes a lean control unit and a rich control unit. The lean control unit executes lean spike operation, in which an air-fuel ratio is temporarily changed in a lean direction by a lean change width relative to a reference air-fuel ratio. The rich control unit changes the air-fuel ratio in a rich direction by a rich change width relative to the reference air-fuel ratio after the lean control unit executes the lean spike operation such that the air-fuel ratio stays in a predetermined slightly rich region. The rich change width is smaller than the lean change width.
US08944031B2	Mounting structure for a direct injection fuel rail The present invention relates to a mounting structure for a direct injection fuel rail. Specifically, a mounting structure 120 for a direct injection fuel rail comprises a mount unit 124 and an injector cup 122 combined with a main pipe 110, wherein the injector cup 122 and the mount unit 124 are connected to and integrated with each other via a bridge 126, wherein the injector cup 122 is bonded to the main pipe 110, and wherein the mount unit 124 is separated from the main pipe 110. As such, concentration of stress due to displacement may be prevented, resistance against fatigue fracture may be increased, thermal deformation and additional concentration of stress may be prevented, manufacturability may be improved, and precise assembling positions may be easily ensured.
US08944028B2	Valve drive with additional lift in the cam base circle A valve drive of an internal combustion engine, having a finger lever which acts at one end on a gas exchange valve and which is seated at the other end on a head of a housing of a support element, which housing runs in an axially movable manner in a reception bore of a cylinder head, the finger lever is acted on by a cam from the base circle from which there projects in a fixed manner an additional cam piece for generating an additional lift of the gas exchange valve, a bore extends from a bottom of the housing in the direction of the head, in the lower portion of which bore there runs a pressure piston which is axially movable relative to the housing and via the lower face of which the support element is mounted on a base of the reception bore of the cylinder head, a high-pressure chamber for hydraulic medium is formed between an upper face of the pressure piston and a ring part situated above said upper face and which is fixed with respect to the housing, and to generate the additional lift, the high-pressure chamber is flooded with hydraulic medium such that the housing is deployed relative to the pressure piston, supported on the hydraulic medium column accumulated in the high-pressure chamber, and to deactivate the additional stoke, the hydraulic medium in the high-pressure chamber is discharged such that the housing is retracted.
US08944027B2	Dual fuel injection compression ignition engine and method of operating same A method of operating an electronically controlled dual fuel compression ignition engine includes injecting a pilot ignition quantity of liquid fuel into an engine cylinder from a dual fuel injector in an engine cycle during an auto ignition condition. An amount of gaseous fuel is also injected into the engine cylinder from the dual fuel injector in the same engine cycle. The amount of gaseous fuel is divided between a pre-mix quantity of gaseous fuel, which may be injected about 90° before top dead center, and a post ignition quantity of gaseous fuel that may be injected after top dead center, with both quantities being greater than zero. An engine controller may change a ratio of the pre-mix quantity of gaseous fuel to the post ignition quantity of gaseous fuel responsive to changing from a first engine speed and load to a second engine speed and load. The pilot ignition quantity of liquid fuel is compression ignited, which in turn causes the gaseous fuel to be ignited. A pre-mix quantity of liquid fuel may also be included in order to speed the combustion process at higher engine speeds.
US08944026B2	Multi-cylinder internal combustion engine and method for operating a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine A method for partial cylinder cutoff is provided. The method comprises operating a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine with applied ignition, in which an odd number n of cylinders is arranged in line, and during partial-load operation when engine load is below threshold, enabling a partial cutoff of the cylinders, the partial cutoff comprising operating each cylinder only intermittently such that each cylinder is fired and cut off in turn at an interval of (2*720° CA)/n.
US08944023B2	Method of modifying engine oil cooling system A method of modifying the oil cooling system of a diesel engine includes the steps of removing the original equipment liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger and installing a manifold having a configuration adapted to match the mounting configuration of the oil passages of the original equipment liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger. The manifold has an oil outlet port directed to a remotely mounted oil cooler. The manifold also has a water passage having a configuration that is adapted to match the mounting configuration of the water passages of the original equipment liquid-to-liquid heat exchanger. The water passage causes the entirety of the flow of water to be discharged back to the water cooling system of the engine where it is circulated by the water pump through the water cooling passages in the engine.
US08944017B2	Powertrain cooling system with cooling and heating modes for heat exchangers A cooling system has an engine heat exchanger in thermal communication with engine oil in an engine. A transmission heat exchanger is in thermal communication with transmission oil in a transmission. A pump has a pump inlet and a pump outlet. A valve assembly is in fluid communication with the pump outlet and has a first and a second position that at least partially establish different coolant flow modes through a plurality of coolant flow passages. The valve assembly has a first inlet that receives coolant that flows from the pump outlet, to an engine inlet, then through the engine to an engine outlet. The valve assembly has a second inlet that receives coolant that flows from the pump outlet and bypasses the engine. The valve assembly has a single outlet that directs coolant flow to at least one of the engine heat exchanger and the transmission heat exchanger.
US08944014B2	System and method for control of a gas The gas control system removes gas from a borehole by generating and collecting an air stream from the borehole using a blower, collecting the gas contained in the air stream using a fuel collector, removing moisture from the gas using a heated dryer, and transporting the gas from the heated dryer to an engine that is at least partially fueled by the gas. The gas control system can include one or more sensors that provide data associated with operating conditions of the gas control system. The sensor data is provided to a manager component, and can be used to evaluate system performance, determine consumption of greenhouse gases and optimize system operations.
US08944011B2	Impact action cat toy An impact action cat toy with a rigid tube, an elastic cord, an elastic cord retainer, an elastic and non-elastic cord retainer and a cat toy play member. The elastic cord is retained inside the rigid tube and terminates on one side in the elastic cord retaining member and on the opposite side in the elastic and non-elastic cord retaining member. The non-elastic cord terminates on one side in the elastic and non-elastic cord retaining member and on the opposite side in the cat toy play member. The cat toy play member quickly and erratically flies into the air when a user holds onto the rigid tube with one hand and stretches the elastic cord member from the elastic and non-elastic cord retaining member with the other hand and releases the retaining member causing it to snap back and impact the end of the rigid tube.
US08944009B2	Transport device having liquid resistance apparatus A transport device structured to carry an animal includes a first component having a handle and a second component having a base and at least a first wall. The first component is structured to be located on the second component to form an enclosed region situated generally between the first and second components. The transport device also includes a cushion apparatus situated adjacent at least one of the base and the at least a first wall and a liquid resistance apparatus located on the second component and that is structured to resist penetration of a liquid from an interior region of the transport device to an exterior region of the transport device.
US08944003B2	Remote plasma system and method A system and method for generating and using plasma is provided. An embodiment comprises a plasma generating unit that comprises beta-phase aluminum oxide. A precursor material is introduced to the plasma generating unit and a plasma is induced from the precursor material. The plasma may be used to deposit or etch materials on a semiconductor substrate.
US08944002B2	High throughput physical vapor deposition system for material combinatorial studies An infinitely variable physical vapor deposition matrix system that allows the synthesis of multiple combinatorial catalyst samples at essentially the same time, by the co-deposition of multiple materials, or the sequential layer by layer deposition of multiple catalyst constituents, or both, such that the optimum mix of materials for a pre-determined application can be experimentally determined in subsequent testing. The discovery of optimal catalyst combinations for utilization in specified reactions and devices is facilitated. The high throughput system reduces the time and complexity of processing typically required to formulate and test combinatorial catalyst materials.
US08943993B2	Variable hull lengths for watercraft Watercraft having a hull and a stern and including at least two additional floaters stretching out at the stern of a watercraft, wherein the additional floaters form a U at the stern of the watercraft, wherein the additional floaters and the hull each include bottoms and the bottoms of the additional floaters are positioned above the hull bottom, and wherein the bottoms of the additional floaters are stepped by one or more steps.
US08943986B2	Retractable stabilizer for watercraft A user floatation system for boating safety. There is included in the system a boat, having a seat for a user, and a rear and forward section located behind and in front of the user respectively. There is also a flotation system, including float device, designed to be placed in the water on at least one side of the boat; and frame system, coupled to the boat at one end and to the float device at an opposite end, designed to hold the float device in a 1) deployed position where the float device is held in the water when a user is in the seat, and 2) partially deployed position where the float device is held a distance above the water level when a user is in the seat sufficient to enable the user to tip the boat a certain angle from a level position but to assist in preventing the boat from tipping completely over.
US08943980B2	Adaptor pallet and method of handling cargo An adaptor pallet (10) which comprises at least one load bearing deck (12) to receive the wheels (22) of a dolly (20), the load bearing decks (12) that are separated by at least one lifting point (18) to receive the lifting forks of a forklift as well as at least one locking member (16) to engage with the dolly (20) the locking member (16) being adapted to be manipulated with activation means. The activation means comprises at least a lever (14) and it is adapted to deactivate said locking member (16) when it is moved in its first degree of freedom. Also the activation means is adapted to activate said locking member (16) when it is moved in its second degree of freedom. A method of handling cargo.
US08943973B2	Hand grenade, a hand-grenade actuator, and a method of manufacturing a hand-grenade actuator The present invention relates to a hand grenade comprising a main body (10), an actuator (14) releasably fixed to the main body (10), an actuator-ejection mechanism, and a charge to be released, which includes an automatic-identification device (34) embedded in the actuator. The invention further relates to a grenade actuator of the EOT-type (Espoleta de Ogiva de Tempo, time fuse point), which comprises an automatic-identification device (34) embedded therein. The present invention can also materialize in the form of a method of manufacturing a hand-grenade actuator, according to which it is provided a housing for an automatic-identification device in the actuator body. Indeed, the method of manufacturing the actuator further includes providing said housing with a cylindrical shape and then inserting an equally cylindrical automatic-identification device into said housing.
US08943972B1	Liner release mechanism for anti-armor munitions An Insensitive Munitions safety device mitigates the occurrence of a violent response of an anti-armor munition subjected to elevated temperatures. The anti-armor munition includes a projectile body having fore and aft ends, an explosive charge disposed in the projectile body, and a projectile-forming or jet-forming liner disposed in the projectile body. The liner includes an aft surface contiguous with the explosive charge and a fore surface that defines a void. A liner restraint abuts a fore end of the liner and restrains movement of the liner. A portion of the liner restraint comprises a material having a heat deflection temperature less than the critical temperature of the explosive charge in the munition.
US08943970B2	Energy transfer device A energy transfer device (10) is provided that is capable of transferring the energy output from one pyrotechnic device (52) to another device (78) for initiating firing thereof. Device (10) comprises a device housing (12) in which a deformable device insert (14) is received. Device insert (14) comprises a central passageway (34) for transmitting the output from a pyrotechnic device (52), including energy, gasses, and/or solids, to another pyrotechnic device (78). The passageway (34) conducts the pyrotechnic device output to a precise location on the second pyrotechnic device (78) where firing is most effectively initiated. The energy transfer device (10) may be employed as a part of a tool (44) used in well completion operations.
US08943964B2	Powdering device for a printing press and method for operating the powdering device A powdering device for a printing press includes a metering roller and a manifold. A plurality of injectors are provided downstream of the manifold in a conveying direction of the powder. The powdering device is operable in accordance with a method in which a total powder stream is subdivided into partial powder streams that are subsequently separately mixed with compressed air to create powder/air streams.
US08943953B2	Frying apparatus and method A frying apparatus includes a container for holding a volume of oil, a basket dimensioned to be received in the container, a spit rod supported by said basket, and a motor having an output shaft configured for engagement with said spit rod for rotating said spit rod in relation to said basket.
US08943948B2	Firearm having an indirect gas operating system An automatic or semi-automatic firearm having an indirect gas operating system, the firearm having: a receiver; a bolt assembly slidably received within the receiver; a barrel having a bore, the barrel coupled to the receiver; a gas block mounted to the barrel, the gas block having a cylinder in fluid communication with the bore; a rod coupled to the cylinder and having a striking rod; wherein gas discharged from a fired cartridge displaces the rod and causes the striking rod to strike a striking surface of the bolt assembly, wherein the gas repositions the bolt assembly in bore.
US08943944B2	Structure for gunpowder charge in multi-frac composite perforating devices This invention provides a structure for gunpowder charge in multi-frac composite perforation devices that is easy to assemble and transport while the charge volume of gunpowder is increased. In one embodiment of the present invention, an triplet outer gunpowder box is attached onto the outer wall of the charge frame and comprises one middle gunpowder box charged with gunpowder of certain burning rate, and two side-hung gunpowder boxes charged with gunpowder of another burning rate. The two side-hung gunpowder boxes are separately located on the two sides of the middle gunpowder box and are connected with the middle gunpowder box as a unit. The middle gunpowder box is located at a position corresponding to the perforating charge, and has an inner groove for orienting the perforating charge and a through hole through which the jet flow passes.
US08943932B2	Electronic torque wrench An electronic torque wrench includes a main body, a display device and at least one pushbutton module. A torque detector is disposed on the main body in adjacency to a working head for outputting a torque value. The display device has an operation unit and a display panel. The pushbutton module is for setting a torque value. The pushbutton module and the torque detector are electrically connected to the operation unit. The operation unit serves to receive and process the torque value to display the torque value on the display panel. The display panel and the pushbutton module are respectively disposed on a top side and a lateral side of the main body.
US08943931B2	Fastener holder for power tool A fastener holder includes a driving tool stem having a number of orifices, a driving tool shank engaged in the stem for engaging with a tool element and having a number of depressions formed in the shank, a number of bearing members engaged in the orifices of the stem for engaging with the depressions of the shank and for selectively anchoring the shank to the stem, and a barrel includes a relatively smaller segment for selectively engaging with the bearing members and for forcing the bearing members to engage into the depressions of the shank and to anchor and lock the driving shank to the stem and for allowing the driving shank and the tool element to be selectively rotated and driven by the stem.
US08943929B2	Torsion adjustment structure of ratchet wrench A ratchet wrench includes a head and a handle. The head is assembled with a switch member and an active mechanism which provides a ratchet function. The switch member is switched to selectively engage the active mechanism, so that the active mechanism may be fixed or be rotatable to achieve the ratchet function. Therefore, the wrench is provided with the function of ratchet which makes the wrench easy to use and with the function of fixing which makes the structure strength of the wrench strengthened. Conveniency of using wrench is improved.
US08943922B2	Transmission creeper interlock A shift rail interlock system is disclosed for a transmission assembly having a gear unit with a plurality of selectable gear ratios. The interlock system includes three shift rails that are each movable to select between respective gear ranges. Two of the shift rails cooperate to define a plane. The third shift rail is a creeper rail located in a position that is out of the plane defined by the first and second shift rails. The interlock system includes a creeper interlock that is moveable between lock and release positions, which respectively prevent and permit movement of the creeper rail. The interlock system also includes a range rail interlock that is moveable between two different lock and release positions. The range rail interlock is coupled to the creeper interlock such that when one of the range rails or the creeper rail is in the engaged position, the others are in their respective locked out positions.
US08943918B2	Power unit for a vehicle A power unit for a vehicle includes a buffering device provided on a final shaft parallel to a countershaft of a speed change gear. The buffering device includes a damper gear wheel supported for relative rotation on the final shaft, a lifter coupled against relative rotation but for relative movement in an axial direction on the final shaft and engaged by a cam provided on one face of the damper gear wheel, a spring retainer supported at a position on the final shaft spaced apart from the lifter, and a coil spring provided between the lifter and the spring retainer for biasing the lifter toward the damper gear wheel. The buffering device is disposed on the final shaft and positioned between a pair of imaginary planes, the pair of imaginary planes extending perpendicularly to an axial line of the idle shaft and passing opposite ends of the idle shaft.
US08943916B2	Chassis actuator A chassis actuator adjusting a movably mounted component of a chassis, which has a first actuator component connected to the movably mounted component and a second actuator component connected to a fixed chassis component. The actuator components are adjustable axially by a ball screw that has a threaded spindle and a nut which runs on spindle. The nut is driveable by a drive motor that has a rotor coupled to the nut and a fixed stator arranged axially symmetrically with respect to the nut. The rotor is coupled to the nut by a wrap spring which radially surrounds the nut and via which the nut is rotated during rotation of the rotor and which forms a brake device. The brake device can be actuated by an external chassis force which acts on and rotates the nut and builds up a friction moment that counteracts the rotation of the nut.
US08943909B2	Automatic analyzer The present invention provides an automatic analyzer, in which when a specimen that cannot be analyzed due to an abnormality or needs to be remeasured exists, the automatic analyzer can swiftly reload the specimen that cannot be analyzed due to the abnormality or needs to be remeasured without waiting for completion of a measurement of another specimen held by a rack holding the specimen that cannot be analyzed or needs to be remeasured. The automatic analyzer has means for storing information of a rack loaded in the analyzer and specimen information, displaying identification information of the rack loaded in the analyzer to a user, specifying a specimen that needs to be reanalyzed due to an abnormality or needs to be collected for a remeasurement, interrupting analysis of a specimen rack holding the specimen, and collecting the specimen rack. The automatic analyzer can collect and reload the specified specimen.
US08943893B2	Ultrasonic sensor An ultrasonic sensor is provided at a bumper 31 of a vehicle 3 and used in a vehicle obstacle detector 1 that detects the presence of an obstacle within a detection area by transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic sensor includes a piezoelectric element 21 configured to transmit and receive the ultrasonic waves by using vibrations of a piezoelectric substrate and a plate-shaped acoustic matching layer 22 on one surface 22a of which the piezoelectric element is attached. The ultrasonic sensor is inserted in a mounting hole formed through the mounting surface. Another surface 22b of the acoustic matching layer 22 opposite to the one surface 22a is inclined with respect to the one surface 22a on which the piezoelectric element is attached, and is formed to be parallel with the outer surface of the bumper 31.
US08943889B2	MEMS/MOEMS sensor design A MEMS/MOEMS sensor and method for using such sensor to detect a person's breath or other fluid for purposes of controlling a user interface of an electronic device.
US08943887B2	Thermal-based flow sensing apparatuses and methods for high-performance liquid chromatography One aspect of the invention provides a flow sensing apparatus including: a fluid channel that allows a fluid to flow in a first direction; a first thermoelectric sensing element arranged at a first position along the fluid channel such that it senses a temperature of the fluid; a second thermoelectric sensing element arranged at a second position along the fluid channel and separated from the first sensing element by a predetermined distance along the fluid channel; and a heating element arranged between the first and second thermoelectric sensing elements, the heating element being equally spaced from the first and second thermoelectric sensing elements.
US08943884B2	Smart seals and other elastomer systems for health and pressure monitoring Disclosed is an apparatus for monitoring a material configured to perform one or more functions or for actuating the material. One or more electrodes are coupled to the material. An electronic device is coupled to the one or more electrodes and is configured to detect an electrical characteristic of the material to monitor the material or to apply an electrical stimulus to actuate the material.
US08943883B2	Apparatus for counting microparticles using a gas reservoir to increase stability of air pressure A microparticle count apparatus that includes or is connected to a gas reservoir for increasing stability of air pressure at the microparticle counter even when air pressure or air flow rate provided by a nozzle coupled to the microparticle measurement apparatus is unstable.
US08943881B2	System for characterizing tire uniformity machines and methods of using the characterizations A tire uniformity machine includes an apparatus for receiving and rotating a tire. The apparatus includes opposed spindles for receiving, inflating and rotating a tire, and a load wheel applied to the rotating tire to obtain tire test results. A spindle alignment assembly is associated with the opposed spindles to align the spindles with one another each time a tire is received. At least one characterizing device is associated with components of the apparatus to characterize forces of the opposed spindles and the characterized forces are used in adjusting tire test results.
US08943878B2	Method and device for detecting the blockage of a gasoline vapor filter purge valve A method for detecting the blockage of a gasoline vapor filter (3) bleed valve (4) for a motor vehicle internal combustion engine (1), includes at least one sequence of the following steps: a step of controlling the opening of the bleed valve (4), a step of measuring at least one operating parameter of the internal combustion engine (1), which is related to the mixture taken into the engine, a step of calculating an indicator, via statistical signal-processing on at least one measured parameter, and of comparing the indicator to a predetermined value. A detection device capable of implementing the method is described.
US08943877B2	Combustion chamber pressure gauge A combustion chamber pressure gauge for an internal combustion engine, comprising a housing tube, a plunger, which is movable in an axial direction in the housing tube under the effect of combustion chamber pressure against a restoring force, and comprising a seal, which is disposed between the plunger and the housing tube, and comprising a sensor for detecting an axial displacement of the plunger. The sensor is decoupled from thermally induced expansions or contractions of the housing tube, in that the sensor is attached to a carrier, which is suspended in the housing tube, and the plunger is movable relative to the carrier under the effect of combustion chamber pressure.
US08943873B2	Method and device for detecting aerosol particles Sizes or size distribution of aerosol particles of an aerosol gas stream is detected. A particle-free carrier flow is saturated in a saturator by a first condensing medium, after which, the carrier flow is mixed in a mixing section turbulently with aerosol particle flow. Advantageously, a plurality of separate mixtures with different saturation ratios are provided and introduced to the first condensing environment in order to condensate the condensing medium onto the aerosol particles. Depending on the saturation ratio, the particles with different lowest original size are activated and grown in a growing section and/or in the condensing environment. After activation and growing, the particles are detected by a detecting means.
US08943865B1	Vehicle wheel security system A locking security system for motor vehicle wheel rims comprises a security housing, a locking assembly, and a plurality of grooved lug nuts. The security housing comprises a structure which covers wheel stud portions of an existing wheel rim. The locking assembly comprises a key lock mechanism located on an interior portion of the housing further comprising a plurality of locking plates which engage respective grooved lug nuts.
US08943861B2	Lens theft protection device A theft prevention device including a housing comprising a base and a cam ring, the cam ring comprising at least one cam; an actuator rotatably coupled to the housing, wherein the actuator has a side wall defining a central space configured to receive an object; a coupler generally between the housing and the actuator, the coupler having teeth configured to engage the object in the central space; wherein the theft prevention device has an engaging orientation in which the coupler contacts the cam and wherein the teeth protrude from the side wall of the actuator.
US08943858B2	Cartridge system for dispensing substances into a washing machine A cartridge system for dispensing substances into a washing machine is disclosed. One or more preferably different sized or shaped cartridges are located within removable drawers contained in a washing machine. Each cartridge contains a particular substance, such as laundry detergent, bleach, or fabric softener, that is released into the washing machine. The cartridge system also includes a means to identify the substance contained within the cartridge as well as when and how much of the substance should be released into the washing machine. At the appropriate time, the system dispenses an appropriate amount of substance into the washing machine. A pump pulls the substance out of the container and into the washing basin of a washing machine. Alternatively, a valve is opened and the substance pours into the washing basin due to gravitational forces.
US08943850B2	Desalination methods and systems Methods and systems are provided for air conditioning, capturing combustion contaminants, desalination, and other processes using liquid desiccants.
US08943847B2	Air conditioning apparatus To provide an air-conditioning apparatus capable of achieving energy saving. An air-conditioning apparatus controls first heat medium flow switching devices and second heat medium flow switching devices in a heating only operation mode and a cooling only operation mode such that a flow rate through which a heat medium circulates is formed between all of the heat exchangers related to heat medium and at least one of use side heat exchangers.
US08943841B2	LNG tank ship having LNG circulating device Disclosed is a liquefied natural gas storage apparatus. The apparatus includes a heat insulated tank and liquefied natural gas contained in the tank. The tank has heat insulation sufficient to maintain liquefied natural gas therein such that most of the liquefied natural gas stays in liquid. The contained liquefied natural gas has a vapor pressure from about 0.3 bar to about 2 bar. The apparatus further includes a safety valve configured to release a part of liquefied natural gas contained in the tank when a vapor pressure of liquefied natural gas within the tank becomes higher than a cut off pressure. The cut off pressure is from about 0.3 bar to about 2 bar.
US08943838B2	Integrated turbomachine plant An integrated turbomachine plant is provided and includes a combustor a turbomachine operably connected to the combustor and including a compressor and a turbine expander, a pathway to flow compressed air from the compressor through the turbine expander to heat the compressed air, an additional pathway by which high temperature fluids output from the turbomachine are employed to heat the compressed air and an air separation unit operably connected to the pathway and configured to separate the heated compressed air into oxygen and oxygen-depleted air.
US08943831B2	Lance of a burner The lance of a burner includes a body that defines a first duct with first nozzles for injecting a liquid fuel and a second duct with second nozzles for injecting a gaseous fuel. Outlets of the first nozzles are spaced apart from outlets of the second nozzles. The body includes a third duct with third and fourth nozzles for injecting air. The third nozzles surround an axis of the first nozzles and the fourth nozzles surround an axis of the second nozzles.
US08943830B2	Coated porous metallic mat A porous metallic mat is provided. The porous metallic mat includes a plurality of fibers and a protective coating. The plurality of fibers is sintered into a mat configuration. The protective coating is provided on the porous metallic mat. The protective coating includes a diffusion aluminide configured to provide oxidation resistance to the porous metallic mat.
US08943828B2	Lean premix burner of a gas-turbine engine provided with a concentric annular central body This invention relates to a lean premix burner of a gas-turbine engine with an annular central body 2, which, while being essentially concentric to a burner center axis 1, is provided with an annular duct 4 connected to a supply line 3 and with a film applicator 5 which conically widens at the fuel exit side and into whose radially inward area at least one fuel exit opening 6 issues which is connected to the annular duct, characterized in that the film applicator 5 has, adjacently to and downstream of the fuel exit openings 6 in the area facing the fuel exit side 8, a step-like, annular protruding area 7 disposed radially to the burner center axis.
US08943823B2	Fluid handling system having dedicated EGR turbo-generator A fluid handling system for a use with an engine is provided. The fluid-handling system may have a first turbine connected to receive a portion of an exhaust flow from the engine, a first compressor driven by the first turbine to pressurize an airflow, and a heat exchanger configured to receive a remaining portion of the exhaust flow from the engine and the airflow from the first compressor. The fluid-handling system may also have a second turbine connected to receive the airflow from the heat exchanger, and a generator driven by the second turbine to generate power.
US08943822B2	Engine system having dedicated auxiliary connection to cylinder A system is disclosed for use with an engine. The system may have an intake manifold configured to direct air into combustion chambers of the engine. The system may also have an auxiliary device and an exhaust manifold configured to direct exhaust from the combustion chambers of the engine through the auxiliary device to the atmosphere. The system may additionally have a conduit associated with fewer than all of the combustion chambers of the engine and extending to the auxiliary device in parallel with the exhaust manifold, and an auxiliary valve disposed within the conduit and selectively movable between a flow-passing position and a flow-blocking position.
US08943821B2	Wave power plant A wave power plant includes a platform and at least one coupling member. The at least one coupling member is mounted in such a way as to perform an orbital movement which has a predetermined direction of movement and from which a torque usable for energy conversion can be tapped. A torque compensation device is provided which is designed to essentially compensate or neutralize a reactive torque generated by tapping the usable torque.
US08943818B2	Hydraulic device for stepless transmission A hydraulic device includes a switch-over valve 1140 provided at a section of a sub-passage 1105 located downstream of a location where a first bypass passage 1117 is connected and located upstream of a primary regulator 1110. The switch-over valve 1140 is switched between a blocked state, where supply of hydraulic oil to a section of the sub-passage 1105 located downstream of the switch-over valve 1140 is blocked, and a communication state, where supply of hydraulic oil to the section of the sub-passage 1105 located downstream of the switch-over valve 1140 is permitted. In the hydraulic device, when the switch-over valve 1140 is switched to the communication state, as a discharge performance of a main pump 1102 increases, a first check valve 1118 closes. Supply paths for hydraulic oil discharged from the sub-pump 1103 are automatically switched in accordance with the discharge performance of the main pump 1102. When the switch-over valve 1140 is switched to the blocked state, the first check valve 1118 opens and hydraulic oil discharged from the sub-pump 1103 is introduced into a main passage 1104.
US08943813B2	Exhaust gas purifying device for internal combustion engine An exhaust gas purifying device for an internal combustion engine includes an inflow case provided with an inlet pipe, a catalyst case in which an oxidizing catalyst for dosing is housed, a filter case in which a soot filter is housed, and an outflow case provided with an outlet pipe, and is attached to an attached target at two attachment points mutually spaced in the axial direction of the cases. At one of the two attachment points, which is defined on the catalyst case, the catalyst case is firmly fixed. At the other attachment point, which is defined on the filter case, the filter case is attached slidably in the axial direction.
US08943811B2	Perovskite-based catalysts, catalyst combinations and methods of making and using the same One embodiment of the invention may include a method comprising providing a product comprising a substrate comprising a perovskite catalyst, NOx stored in or on the substrate and particulate matter in or on the substrate; releasing at least some of the stored NOx and oxidizing the released NOx to form NO2, and reacting the NO2 with carbon in the particulate matter to form at least one of CO or CO2.
US08943807B2	Method and apparatus for cold starting an internal combustion engine The present invention relates to a method for achieving reduced emissions at cold start of an internal combustion engine having an exhaust gas after treatment system comprising at least one Diesel Oxygen Catalyst (DOC), at least one Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) and a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) unit, comprising the steps of: heating the DOC prior to cold starting said internal combustion engine, starting and controlling the internal combustion engine towards low NOx emission when said DOC has reached a predetermined temperature, optimizing the fuel consumption at a given total emission level when said DPF and SCR has reached a predetermined temperature.
US08943795B2	Rocket engine system for realizing high-speed response Disclosed is a turbo pump in which a pump impeller is connected to one end of a rotary shaft and a turbine is connected to the other end of the rotary shaft. The turbo pump is designed such that an equivalent region, between a turbine efficiency curve obtained on the basis of a conditional expression where the number of rotations of the rotary shaft is maintained constant regardless of a pump flow rate and a turbine efficiency curve of an actual machine, becomes an operation region.
US08943791B2	Dirt particle separator device for use in a gas turbine engine A separator device is provided for separating dirt particles from a flow of cooling air fed to airfoils of the turbine section of a gas turbine engine. In use the separator device extends across a conduit which bypasses the combustor of the engine to convey pressurized cooling air carrying dirt particles from the compressor section of the engine to openings which direct the air into the airfoils. The separator device is configured to direct a first portion of the impinging cooling air flow away from the openings and to allow a second portion of the impinging cooling air to continue to the openings. The first portion of cooling air has a higher concentration of the coarsest dirt particles carried by the cooling air than the second portion of cooling air.
US08943787B2	Packaging machine for packs of beverage containers, a guide system for packaging packs and a method for packaging packs A packaging machine for packs of containers including a horizontal conveying means for the containers grouped as packs, a means for supplying flat paperboard sheets at the bottom side of the containers, wherein the containers are transported in a standing manner on the paperboard sheet, a means for folding upward front and back, in the transport direction, edge portions of the paperboard sheet, each of which extends beyond the footprint of the pack, at least two opposing lateral guide elements for folding upward lateral edges of the paperboard sheet extending laterally beyond the footprint of the grouped containers, wherein at least portions of the guide elements exert a defined pressing force on the upward-folded edges of the paperboard sheet and the side faces of the pack, and an adhesive is provided with edge portions of the lateral edges overlapping with front and/or back edges of the paperboard sheet.
US08943780B1	Method and system for verification of product transfer from an intermediate loading cartridge to a multi-container blister pack A method of transferring a plurality of tablets of a product from a first blister card comprising a first plurality of blisters to a second blister card comprising a second plurality of blisters includes discharging the plurality of tablets from the first plurality of blisters of the first blister card. Then, each of the plurality of tablets are guided along one of a plurality of passageways defined by a transfer fixture positioned between the first blister card and the second blister card. Finally, the plurality of tablets are received in the second plurality of blisters of the second blister card. The method includes monitoring the selection and configuration of product loading cartridges to a filling machine and monitoring the transfer of product from an intermediate card to a blister card.
US08943771B2	Lightweight slab or similar structural element which can receive equipment that is accessible and that can extend through the slab A lightweight slab including two main parallel reticular reinforcements (5)(6) separated by secondary reinforcements and arranged to form a double diagonal, a single diagonal or to be perpendicular in relation to the main reinforcements. All of the reinforcements are embedded in a volume of concrete filling which covers and protects such reinforcements and which is defined by a suitable formwork or mould which creates voids in a hypothetical prismatic volume and which is formed by hollow prismatic or truncated-pyramid-shaped volumes with smooth edges and vertices that improve structural strength and facilitate the extraction of the moulds. The filling includes open holes (4, 3) in those portions that do not interfere with the secondary and main reinforcements to form a succession of nodes connected at the top and bottom by holes that can be accessed from the lower and/or upper level (4) and, internally, hollows (2) connected by side holes (3).
US08943770B2	Insulated panel and method of assembly An insulated panel including first and second walls (5.004, 5.024) spaced apart by a predetermined distance, each wall including an internal peripheral channel formed by first and second bends, the second bend forming an internal peripheral flange (5.025, 5.056), the panel including an intermediate joining member (5.042) adapted to connect to the internal peripheral flanges of the first and second walls. The connection to a first flange can be via a slot (6.046), and the connection to the second flange can be by adhesive (5.044).
US08943764B1	Adjustable skirting frame An adjustable skirting frame includes a first frame rail; a second frame rail disposed in spaced-apart, parallel relationship to the first frame rail; a plurality of spaced-apart, parallel, length-adjustable studs pivotally carried by and extending between the first frame rail and the second frame rail; a plurality of center supports extending between adjacent pairs, respectively, of the plurality of length-adjustable studs; and a plurality of panel mounting spaces formed by and between the first frame rail, the second frame rail, the plurality of length-adjustable studs and the plurality of center supports.
US08943762B2	Cremated remains remembrance and burial system A cremated remains remembrance and burial system that includes an urn, an urn lid, an urn enclosure and a headstone. The urn includes an enclosure with an opening, a first sealing mechanism and second sealing mechanism. The urn lid is capable of engaging the first sealing mechanism to substantially seal the enclosure. The urn enclosure has a recess formed therein that is adapted to receive the urn. The urn enclosure is adapted to engage the second sealing mechanism to retain the urn in engagement with the urn enclosure. The headstone has an opening formed therein that is adapted to receive at least a portion of the urn. The headstone is adapted to engage the second sealing mechanism to retain the urn in engagement with the headstone.
US08943761B2	Building construction wrapped with reinforcement fabric to resist wind loading A building construction has a foundation, walls and a roof structure, the walls being wrapped by a reinforcement fabric, with the reinforcement fabric being connected to the foundation and the roof structure to tie the roof structure to the foundation for increased resistance to natural disasters. The connection of the reinforcement fabric to the roof structure includes a top rail having a connector plate attached to the roof structure and having an upwardly oriented opening, and a wrapping member about which the reinforcement fabric can be wrapped, the wrapping member having a geometry corresponding with the geometry of the upwardly oriented opening in such a manner that the wrapping member is prevented from rotating in the opening.
US08943760B2	Modular shelter The modular shelter related to temporary building for keeping goods or people. The modular shelter utilizes some standardized shells for constructing walls of the modular shelter. Each of the shells can have sidewalls or ribs for strengthening the shells' curvature and strength. These standardized shells can further be stacked such that they become compact for storage and transportation. Multiple number of the modular shelter can also be joined together for providing extended shelters.
US08943753B2	Vehicle door frame with belt-line reinforcement member A vehicle door frame includes a door sash, a belt-line reinforcement member, and a bracket which connects the door sash and the belt-line reinforcement member to each other and is fixed to a door panel. The bracket is welded to the belt-line reinforcement member at a plurality of welding portions, each of the welding portions defining a welding line, where an extension of each of the welding lines are not aligned with one another.
US08943750B2	Vehicle window assembly with lift plate A window assembly for a vehicle includes a glass assembly, a lift plate, and an actuator mechanism coupled with the glass assembly by the lift plate. The glass assembly has an aperture formed therethrough, and the actuator mechanism moves the glass assembly by applying a load at the aperture. A fastener may extend at least partially through the aperture from a shoulder at one side of the glass sheet to an end at an opposite side of the glass sheet. The window assembly may also include a coupling layer, such as an adhesive layer, between the fastener and the glass sheet. The window assembly can be constructed in a relatively compact configuration to save space within a vehicle door or panel.
US08943746B2	Needleless inoculation The present disclosure provides systems and methods for inoculating a plurality of plants. In various embodiments, an exemplary method includes spraying a plurality of plants with an inoculum utilizing an automated inoculum spraying subsystem of a mobile inoculation system. The method additionally includes spraying the plurality of plants with a grit medium utilizing an automated grit blasting subsystem of the mobile inoculation system. Spraying the plants with the grit medium inflicts a plurality of wounds to the tissue of the plants on a plurality of surfaces of the plants. The wounds inflicted by the grit medium allow the inoculum to be absorbed into the plants to inoculate the plants.
US08943743B2	Device for attracting and controlling the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) The present invention relates to a device coated with a friable composition comprising an insect toxicant wherein the geometry of the device, the presence of openings in the device, the presence of a highly volatile attractant independently located inside the device, and the composition comprising an insect toxicant function together to release an effective concentration of the highly volatile attractant vapor into the environment at a rate that maintains attractancy and at the same time kills the insect as soon as the insect comes into contact with the vapors of the insecticide or the composition impregnated on the surface of the device.
US08943734B2	Fishing protector A fishing protector and a method for use of the fishing protector at or near the sea bed by long-line fishing is provided to avoid that the catch is eaten by sea mammal when the line with the catch is hauled into a fishing boat. A gliding stopper is fastened at the termination of the line and thereafter the fishing protector is hooked on the line during the setting out of the line such that the line passes through the fishing protector. By hauling of the line the line is passing through the fishing protector and the catch is hooked off inside the fishing protector. An opening and closing mechanism at a first termination of the fishing protector closes the opening through which the fish passed, avoiding fish to escape.
US08943732B2	Telescopic sight with electronic module, electronic module for a telescopic sight and programming adapter for electronic module The invention relates to a telescopic sight for a firearm which has a telescope body (2) with an eyepiece (3) and an objective (4) and an illuminating device for an illuminated graticule, wherein the illuminating device has a control electronics unit (22) and an energy store (23). Further, the invention relates to an illuminating module (7) for a telescopic sight of this kind and a programming adapter (30) for an illuminating module of this kind.In order to enable an individual adjustment of the illumination characteristic, the control electronics unit (22) is arranged in a housing (10) which can be releasably accommodated in a saddle (8) on an outside of the telescopic sight (1), wherein the housing (10) with the control electronics unit (22) forms an independently manageable illuminating module (7) which can be fitted into a programming adapter (30).
US08943722B2	Emergency guidance and alerting system and method An emergency guidance and alerting system comprising an organizer located in a room having a door, wherein the organizer is capable of holding a slip sign and a window placard. The slip sign is capable of being placed under a door so that the slip sign can be viewed outside of the room, alerting rescue personnel that an occupant is in the room. The window placard is capable of being attached to a window alerting rescue personnel outside of the room that the occupant is in the room.
US08943721B2	Picture frame with recording function This invention is a huggable picture frame in the form of a person or doll, with an audio playback and recording unit. The shape of the invention is preferably a human shape in a soft sculpture, with a frame capable of holding a photograph. The audio playback and recording unit is activated by at least one remote button. The audio playback and recording unit contains a microphone or other audio input device and a speaker or other audio output device. The audio playback and recording unit and power supply are enclosed within the soft sculpture with sufficient cushioning that the presence of such relatively hard objects is not easily felt while the soft sculpture is hugged or squeezed. The overall impression of the picture frame is a huggable doll, which with a selected photograph, presents a reminder of a particular person to the user of the picture frame.
US08943716B2	Implement tooth assembly with tip and adapter A ground engaging tooth assembly for a cutting edge of a ground engaging implement may include an adapter and a ground engaging tip. The adapter may have a forward extending adapter nose having an inverted or reverse keystone-shaped contour, with the ground engaging tip having a nose cavity for receiving the adapter nose and exterior surfaces having complementary shapes to the adapter nose. The adapter nose and an adapter cavity of the tip may also be configured with complimentary surfaces that increase retention between the adapter nose and the tip when downward forces are applied to the tip. In other embodiments, the surfaces of the tip may include reliefs extending inwardly into the body of the tip to reduce weight and facilitate penetration of the tip into work material as wear material wears away from a front edge of the tip.
US08943715B2	Lubrication pump A dipper assembly for a mining shovel includes a dipper body, a dipper door pivotably coupled to the dipper body, an arm, a housing coupled to one of the body and the door, and a piston. The arm includes a first end pivotably coupled to the body and a second end pivotably coupled to the door. The movement of the door relative to the body drives the arm to pivot relative to the body. The housing includes an inlet in fluid communication with a fluid source, an outlet, and a cylinder partially defining a pump chamber in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet. The piston is movable within the cylinder and biased in a first direction. The pivoting movement of the arm causes the piston to move in a second direction opposite the first direction. The movement of the piston changes a volume of the pump chamber.
US08943712B2	Removable attachment for footwear A stabilizing device for V-strap sandals wherein the device is engageable with the thong and strap for impeding movement between a wearer's foot and the sandal, and connection means for releasably connecting the stabilizing device to a V-strap sandal. The stabilizing device includes a member having an upper portion and a lower portion which are foldable together, and an opening in a front portion of the lower portion for receiving the thong of a V-strap sandal when the upper and lower portions are moved towards the thong, and connecting structure for connecting the upper portion and the lower portion on each side of the thong to hold the portions together, where the stabilizing device engages the upper part of a wearer's foot to impede movement of the V-strap sandal with respect to the wearer's foot. Also disclosed is a removable accessory for footwear for being folded over and under foot-holding structure on the footwear., and connecting structure for connecting the folded parts of the accessory together when installed on footwear.
US08943705B2	Dielectric dryer drum A method for heating an object having a variable weight that includes a medium is provided. The method comprises: (A) placing the object having the variable weight including medium into an enclosure; (B) initiating a heating process by subjecting medium including the object having the variable weight to a variable AC electrical field; and (C) controlling the heating process. The object has substantially absorbed medium in a first “cool” state and therefore includes a maximum weight in the first “cool” state due to absorption of medium. The object is substantially free from medium in a second “heated” state due to substantial release of medium from the object, wherein the released medium is evaporated during the heating process. The heating process is completed when the object is substantially transitioned into the second “heated” state. The method further comprises using an air flow having an ambient temperature inside the enclosure to carry away the evaporated medium from the enclosure.
US08943699B2	Cutting device, in particular rescue cutters The invention relates to a cutting device providing a main frame body, at least one stationary cutting element disposed on the main frame body, a drive system disposed on the main frame body, in particular in the form of a fluid cylinder, and a cutting blade drivingly connected to the drive system and guided in its movement on the main frame body, which co-operates with the stationary cutting element. The main frame body and/or the drive system is made from an essentially light metal or a light metal alloy with a density of less than 5000 kg/m3, in particular less than 3000 kg/m3.
US08943696B2	Method to produce suspension module and frame that reduces need for final alignment A method of assembling a frame and suspension module includes determining locations of first and second suspension member supports on the frame. Target positions of first and second connections between the frame and third and fourth suspension members are defined based on the locations of the first and second suspension member supports. Target positions of third and fourth connections between a fifth suspension member and the first and second suspension members are defined based on the locations and the target positions of the first and second connections. The first and second suspension members are connected to the frame at the locations. The third and fourth suspension members are connected to the frame at the first and second target positions. The fifth suspension member is connected to the first and second suspension members at the third and fourth target positions.
US08943694B2	Accessory making device, accessory making kit, and method for making accessory An accessory making device (1) of the present invention is a device for making an accessory including a core (83) formed into a substantially ring shape by connecting both ends of a stretchable cord-like body (46) having rubber-like elasticity and a decoration main body (83) disposed around the core in such a manner so as to abut both ends thereof against each other in a contracted state so as to be reduced in axial length. The accessory making device (1) includes a long rigid holder (5). The holder (5) can retain connecting portions (47M, 47F) on both end sides of the cord-like body (46) with the connecting portions (47M, 47F) of the cord-like body (46) separated from each other, and can be inserted through the decoration main body (83).
US08943686B2	Compaction of electrical insulation for joining insulated conductors A method for coupling ends of two insulated conductors includes coupling a core of a first insulated conductor to a core of a second insulated conductor. Exposed portions of the cores are located inside a box with an open top. Electrically insulating powder material is placed into the box and a first plunger is inserted through the open top of the box to compact the powder material. Additional electrically insulating powder material is placed into the box and a second plunger is inserted through the open top of the box to compact the powder material into compacted powder material that surrounds the exposed portions of the cores. The compacted powder material is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape. A sleeve is placed over the compacted powder material and coupling the sleeve to the jackets of the insulated conductors.
US08943685B2	Method of manufacturing a capacitor-embedded printed circuit board A method of manufacturing a capacitor-embedded printed circuit board using a first conductive layer formed on one side of an insulation layer, the method including: forming a second conductive layer on one side of the first conductive layer; forming a second electrode by removing a portion of the second conductive layer; forming a first electrode by removing a portion of the first conductive layer in correspondence with the second electrode; and forming a dielectric layer on one side of the second electrode.
US08943670B2	Composite engine part and fastener assembly and method of securing a composite part to an engine A method of securing a composite plastic part to an engine with a bolt or a bolt and washer. The bolt has a head including teeth that are adapted to engage either the part or the washer. The bolt is tightened to cause the teeth to compress the surface of the part to resist rotation that may become loosened as a result of vibration of the engine. The part may be an intake manifold, a cam cover or an oil pan. Locking features, such as teeth, may be provided on the clamping surface of the bolt and on both surfaces of the washer. Alternatively, a knurled or serrated surface may be provided instead of the teeth.
US08943661B2	Non-slip spacer support system A non-slip removable spacer for holding a workpiece in place relative to a work surface when interposed therebetween without permanent bonding therebetween. The spacer has a core with generally planar surfaces, with a pair elastomeric coverings applied to the surfaces. Further disclosed is a recessed attachment member in the spacer to receive a spindle element which permits spacers to be connected in a spaced part relationship. The spindle further includes a shelf.
US08943650B2	Hinge assembly for vehicle interior trim component A vehicle interior trim component hinge assembly includes a rotatable component, and a shaft disposed through the rotatable component. The hinge assembly also includes a first friction disk rotationally coupled to the shaft, and a second friction disk rotationally coupled to the rotatable component. The hinge assembly further includes a biasing member configured to urge the first and second friction disks toward one another to establish a friction force that provides resistance to rotation of the rotatable component about the shaft.
US08943649B2	Hinge and foldable electronic apparatus therewith A hinge includes a pivot, two connection members pivotally connected by the pivot, a first magnetic part connected to one of the connection members, a second magnetic part moveably disposed relative to the first magnetic part and kinetically connected to the other one of the connection members, and an adjustment part kinetically connected to the other connection member and urging against the adjustment part. The magnetic moment of the second magnetic part is opposite to that of the first magnetic part. When the two connection members rotate relatively, the other connection member drives the adjustment part and the second magnetic part to rotate relative to the first magnetic part, so as to produce a repulsive moment resisting the rotation and varies with the rotation. A foldable electronic apparatus has the hinge.
US08943644B2	Vacuum cleaner The present disclosure relates to a vacuum cleaner comprising an electric motor 3 and a blower producing an air flow through the vacuum cleaner. The electric motor and the blower are placed on a common vertical axis 17. A separator unit 13 is placed laterally with respect to the common axis of the motor and the blower. A bent conduit 19 connects the blower with the separator unit, and one end 21 of the conduit encloses the common vertical axis. The conduit comprises a portion located along the common axis 17 having a double wall forming a closed air pocket 23. This provides damping of noise emitted by the blower/motor and which propagates in the opposite direction of the air flow.
US08943642B2	Cleaning sheet and cleaning tool A cleaning sheet and a cleaning tool which have improved usability. The cleaning sheet is attachable to a cleaning-sheet mounting member. The cleaning sheet has a center section made up of a cleaning surface and at least one end section disposed at one or more sides with respect to the center section in a predetermined direction. The end section has a first portion having a first elongation percentage and a second portion having a second elongation percentage which is higher than that of the first portion. The second portion is disposed in said direction between the first portion and the center section and is constructed so as to be supported by the cleaning-sheet mounting member at the boundary between the first and second portions. The cleaning tool is provided with the cleaning sheet.
US08943635B2	Personal care device A personal care device is disclosed. The personal care device includes an electrically powered driving unit for driving a working implement of the personal care device at a desired speed and/or amplitude and/or frequency; and a control unit for controlling the driving unit in response to load onto the working implement. The control unit includes a detector for detecting an operating parameter of the driving unit responsive to load onto the working implement, and a powering unit for varying the electrical powering of the driving unit in response to a detected change of the value of the operating parameter such that speed and/or amplitude and/or frequency of the working implement is changed from an idling value to an operation value.
US08943634B2	Mechanically-driven, sonic toothbrush system A sonic toothbrush system includes an electric motor, a brush shaft, and a drive assembly. The electric motor includes a drive shaft. When the electric motor is caused to operate, the drive shaft continuously rotates until the motor is caused to stop. The drive assembly is coupled between the drive shaft and the brush shaft. The drive assembly is configured to convert the rotation of the drive shaft into sonic oscillation of a toothbrush head supported on an end of the brush shaft.
US08943633B2	Cleaning system for cleaning tubing According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a cleaning system for cleaning tubing used for conducting a fluid therethrough, the tubing being connected between an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, the cleaning system including: a receptacle; an apertured partition disposed within the receptacle and dividing the receptacle into a first compartment and a second compartment, at least one cleaning element disposed in the receptacle second compartment, wherein apertures of the apertured partition having a size allowing the fluid, but not the cleaning element to pass through the apertured partition; a fluid supply conduit connected to the receptacle first compartment for establishing fluid communication between the inlet pipe and the receptacle first compartment; a cleaning element supply conduit with a directional valve arranged therein, the cleaning element supply conduit being connected to the receptacle second compartment for establishing fluid communication between the receptacle second compartment and the inlet pipe, wherein the fluid supply conduit and the cleaning element supply conduit form a part of a fluid supply loop for supplying the cleaning element from the receptacle second compartment into the tubing via the inlet pipe; a cleaning element return conduit with a directional valve arranged therein, the cleaning element return conduit being connected to the receptacle second compartment for establishing fluid communication between the outlet pipe and the receptacle second compartment, a fluid return conduit connected to the receptacle first compartment for establishing fluid communication between the receptacle first compartment and the outlet pipe, wherein the cleaning element return conduit and the fluid return conduit form a part of a fluid return loop for returning the cleaning element from the tubing via the outlet pipe into the receptacle second compartment; and a valve arrangement operable to open/close the fluid supply loop and operable to open/close the fluid return loop.
US08943631B1	Operable ramp An operable ramp is moveable between a stowed position, a neutral position, and a deployed position. The operable ramp includes a ramp panel rotatably coupled at a first end about a first axis and a support that is rotatable in a first direction and a second direction about a second axis. A cam follower is coupled to the support and supportingly engages a second end of the ramp panel. Rotation of the support moves the cam follower along an arcuate path. The weight of the ramp panel biases the support in the second direction when the operable ramp is between the stowed position and the neutral position. A drive assembly selectively rotates the support in the first and second direction, and a stop limits rotation of the support in the second direction when the operable ramp is in the stowed position.
US08943629B2	Washing system and method for load size and water retention detection A washing system and method for load size and water retention detection includes a cabinet, a tub position within the cabinet, a basket with a wash load received therein rotatably supported within the tub, and a drive system for rotating the basket. A controller is operatively coupled to the drive system. The controller rotates the rotatable basket to urge the wash load radially outwardly in the basket and then decelerates the rotatable basket with the wash load urged radially outwardly to or below a predetermined threshold speed. An amount of time from initial deceleration of the rotatable basket until the rotatable basket is at or below the predetermined threshold speed is measured and the measured amount of time is used to determine a parameter of the wash load.
US08943621B2	Suction device for enhancing the negative pressure of the siphon of the toilet and the method thereof A method of enhancing the negative pressure of siphon of toilet is to suck the air between the two traps to enhance the negative pressure between the two seal-water, so as to rapidly form a siphon in the traps and flush the waste out rapidly. A suction device for enhancing the negative pressure of siphon of a toilet is used. It comprises: a water container installed in the water tank, said water container is provided with a water inlet and outlet; an air container with an opening in the bottom installed inside the water container, the lower portion of the side wall of the air container has a water opening connected to the water container; and a connecting tube, the bottom of which is connected to the trapway of the toilet, and the top is connected to the top of the air container.
US08950007B1	Policy-based whitelisting with system change management based on trust framework Techniques have been developed to allow runtime extensions to a whitelist that locks down a computational system. For example, executable code (including e.g., objects such as a script or active content that may be treated as an executable) is not only subject to whitelist checks that allow (or deny) its execution, but is also subject to checks that determine whether a whitelisted executable is itself trusted to introduce further executable code into the computational system in which it is allowed to run. In general, deletion and/or modification of instances of code that are already covered by the whitelist are also disallowed in accordance with a security policy. Accordingly, an executable that is trusted may be allowed to delete and/or modify code instances covered by the whitelist. In general, trust may be coded for a given code instance that seeks to introduce, remove or modify code (e.g., in the whitelist itself).
US08950004B2	Systems and methods for licensing non-destructive testing content A non-transitory computer readable medium may include executable instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor provide for a repository of digital content and to create a first license based on the digital content. The instructions further cause the processor to transmit the first license and the digital content to a non-destructive testing (NDT) device, and wherein the digital content is configured to be executed by, used by, or displayed by the NDT device, or a combination thereof, based on the first license.
US08950001B2	Continual peer authentication A method for orchestrating peer authentication during a call (e.g., a telephone call, a conference call between three or more parties, an instant messaging [IM] chat session, etc.) is disclosed. In particular, a user is first authenticated in order to participate in a call (e.g., via entering a password, etc.), and subsequently during the call the user may be peer authenticated. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, a user who participates in a call might be prompted to authenticate another user on the call based on particular events or user behavior during the call.
US08949990B1	Script-based XSS vulnerability detection Detection of dynamic URLs that are vulnerable to XSS attacks is described. First, a dynamic URL is crafted by incorporating a piece of test code designed to expose an instance of XSS vulnerabilities. Next, the crafted URL is loaded into a browser, which causes a web page to be generated that may include the piece of test code. If, upon loading the web page into the browser, the piece of test code is executed by the browser and the browser sends a request to a web server as a result, then the URL is reported as XSS vulnerable. Others, the URL is not vulnerable to this instance of XSS attack. The test may be repeated multiple times for different pieces of test code, each piece designed to expose a different instance of XSS vulnerabilities.
US08949989B2	Auditing a device The auditing of a device that includes a physical memory is disclosed. One or more hardware parameters that correspond to a hardware configuration is received. Initialization information is also received. The physical memory is selectively written in accordance with a function. The physical memory is selectively read and at least one result is determined. The result is provided to a verifier.
US08949965B2	Securely virtualizating network services Services in a network device are added through providing virtual environments. Virtualization allows services based on other platforms or architectures to be run with minimum modification and in a secure manner. Connecting services to the host through a stateful firewall allows dynamic integration, and passes only traffic of interest to the service. Virtualization allows services written for different instruction architectures to be supported. Multiple virtualized environments each supporting a service may be run.
US08949963B2	Application identity design Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing and using techniques for providing user credentials over a network to a remote computer application. User credentials for the remote computer application are stored in a central repository that is accessible through the network. A request is sent to a service to perform, on behalf of a user, a particular task involving the remote computer application. It is determined whether the service has been granted permission to act on behalf of the user with respect to the remote computer application. When the service has permission to act on behalf of the user, the service is used to retrieve the user's credentials for the remote computer application from the central repository and to supply the retrieved user credentials to the remote computer application.
US08949961B2	Control apparatus for communicating with an imaging apparatus and an authentication information acquisition device, communication system, control method, and computer-readable storage medium A communication system includes a multifunctional apparatus, an authentication information input device, an I/F converter, and a control server. The control server includes an authentication information input device driver for controlling the operation of the authentication information input device via the I/F converter over a network and a multifunctional apparatus control section for controlling operation of the multifunctional apparatus. The authentication information input device driver causes the authentication information input device to acquire authentication information from a user, and receives, via the network, the authentication information acquired by the authentication information input device. Moreover, in cases where an authenticating section of the control server performs an authentication process with use of the authentication information and authentication is completed successfully, the multifunctional apparatus control section permits the use of the multifunctional apparatus. This makes it possible to build a flexible authentication system.
US08949956B1	Multi-account messaging management A system and a computer-implemented methods for email management are disclosed. The method includes storing messages for electronic mail accounts provided by remote electronic mail server systems. The method further includes determining that the remote electronic mail server systems each have a different hostname than the others of the remote electronic mail server systems. The method further includes displaying messages from a first one of the electronic mail accounts and displaying a hostname of a first remote electronic mail server system providing the first one of the electronic mail accounts. The method further includes receiving a request to view messages from a second one of the electronic mail accounts. The method further includes displaying messages from the second one of the electronic mail accounts and displaying a hostname of a second remote electronic mail server system providing the second one of the electronic mail accounts.
US08949948B2	Determining a trust level of a user in a social network environment A system and method for determining a trust level for a non-approved user in a social network is described. The method includes monitoring requests for social network interactions between an approved user and the non-approved user and determining if each interaction requested is of a first type or a second type. The method further includes increasing a first trust value when the interaction requested is of the first type and increasing a second trust value when the interaction requested is of the second type. The method further includes determining the trust level based on the first trust value and the second trust value. The method further includes changing the status of the non-approved user to an approved user based on the trust level, the first trust value and/or the second trust value.
US08949947B2	Network system and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium A network system according to the present invention includes a service providing server that provides an application service, a user terminal used by a user when using the application service, and a proxy server intervening between the service providing server and the user terminal. The user terminal includes a whitelist for an application in which at least a URL of the proxy server is described. The user terminal accesses the service providing server over the network and provides an application service to the user by starting the application program. When an access request to a URL of an access target specified by the application program is made during the provision of the application service, the user terminal compares the URL of the access target with a URL described in the whitelist for the application.
US08949940B1	Aggregating data from multiple issuers and automatically organizing the data Some implementations provide techniques and arrangements to aggregate data from multiple issuers. An aggregator server may receive data associated with a user from an issuer. The data may include an issuer identifier associated with the issuer, account access data associated with the user, and a storage location identifier. The aggregator server may authenticate an identity of the issuer based on the issuer identifier and determine whether the issuer is authorized to provide the data for the user. In response to determining that the issuer is authorized to provide the data for the user, he aggregator server may identify an account associated with the user based on the account access data and store the data in the account associated with the user based at least partially on the storage location identifier.
US08949935B2	Secure account creation In one embodiment, non-transitory computer-readable medium stores instructions for establishing a trusted two-way communications session for account creation for an online store, which include instructions for causing a processor to perform operations comprising retrieving and verifying a signed configuration file from a server, requesting a communication session using the configuration file, receiving a payload of account creation forms from a network client, signing the payload according to the server configuration file, and sending the signed payload containing account creation information to the server. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method comprises analyzing timestamps for requests for data forms for supplying account creation information for evidence of automated account creation activity and rejecting the request for the locator of the second account creation form if evidence of automated account creation activity is detected. Methods for secure account authentication and asset purchase are also disclosed.
US08949928B2	Method for personalizing parental control in a PCC architecture A Parental Control Manager “PCM” server of a Policy and Charging Control “PCC” architecture with the Parental Control Manager “PCM” server, a Policy Control Enforcement Function device with Deep Packet Inspection capabilities “PCEF-DPI device”, and a Policy Control Rules Function “PCRF” server. The PCM server includes a user interface unit for receiving a logon from a user, and for receiving from the user monitoring criteria on Internet traffic types to be monitored for the user, and corresponding actions to be carried out when any monitoring criteria fit a given Internet traffic type. The PCM server includes a network interface unit for submitting the monitoring criteria and corresponding actions received from the user to a PCRF server. A PCRF server of a PCC architecture with a PCM server, a PCEF-DPI device, and the PCRF server. A PCEF-DPI device of a PCC architecture with a PCM server, the PCEF-DPI device, and a PCRF server. A method of parental control by a user for access to websites, multimedia contents and Internet services with a PCC architecture having a PCM server, a PCEF-DPI device, and a PCRF server.
US08949919B2	Premises gateway apparatus and methods for use in a content-based network Apparatus and methods for premises gateway functions that integrate or unify functions typically distributed across multiple devices within a content-based network. In one embodiment, the out-of-band (OOB) signaling functionality normally provided in each of a set-top-box (STB) and digital video recorder (DVR) are unified into a common OOB (e.g., DOCSIS) capable premises gateway device, thereby obviating OOB tuners and related components from each device. In another variant, the premises gateway is adapted for all-IP operation, such as for use with IP-based computers and IP set-top boxes, etc. Fully unified variants are also disclosed, wherein the DVR and/or STB functions are physically integrated within the premises gateway.
US08949906B2	Interactive television program guide system with pay program package promotion A system is provided that allows a user to select a pay program for purchase from a program guide. The program guide determines whether the selected program is part of a package of pay programs. If the selected program is part of a package, information regarding the package is provided to the user so that the user may decide whether to purchase the package. If the selected program is part of several packages, information for all packages is provided. The system automatically sets reminders for packages containing repetitive programming. The system monitors whether the user has watched any of the programs in such packages. When the user watches a program from the package, the remaining reminders are cancelled. If a user does not watch any programs in a package of any type, purchase of the package is cancelled and the user is provided with the opportunity to reschedule.
US08949902B1	Systems and methods for providing audio-based guidance Systems and methods for providing audio-based guidance features are provided. A guidance application may provide listings displays having listings for audio-friendly content. The listings may be indicated as listings for audio-friendly content. The guidance application may provide displays dedicated to listings for audio-friendly content. The guidance application provides audio-prompts describing display screens. The guidance application may determine a user's identity from a voice command and provide personalized guidance features.
US08949901B2	Methods and systems for customizing viewing environment preferences in a viewing environment control application Systems and methods for customizing viewing environment preferences using an interactive media guidance application are provided. A media content may be accessed using an interactive media guidance application. A viewing environment preference may be configured and stored that defines attributes of components in the viewing environment. Media content can be associated to a viewing environment preference based on media guidance data. When a media content is accessed, a determination is made whether the accessed media content is associated to a previously stored viewing environment preference. If the accessed media content is associated to a previously stored viewing environment preference, data may be transmitted to a component external to a user equipment device to modify an attribute of the external component based on the previously stored viewing environment preference.
US08949899B2	Collaborative recommendation system A collaborative information system in which a first display device provides a recommendation of programming content to a viewer of a second display device, where the recommendation is based on content characteristics of the recommended content, and where the recommendation is based on assigning those content characteristics respectively different weights.
US08949895B2	Mosaic channel video stream with personalized interactive services An interactive mosaic channel video stream with indicators as to the action on a given video stream. An interactive matrixed video channel displayed on a video monitor, with a plurality of individual video feeds being presented at a given time, comprising a plurality of video cells presenting at least video information, each video cell associated with one of the plurality of individual video feeds, each video cell further comprising an area within the video cell reporting data related to the video feed, a cursor, which is moveable between the plurality of video cells, for selecting at least one characteristic associated with a selected video cell, such that a video program associated with the selected video cell is selectable via the cursor, and at least one selection screen, associated with the video information, wherein selections of at least one individual participant are made and statistics related to the selected individuals are displayed on the video monitor based on performance of the at least one individual participant.
US08949893B2	Method and a system for constructing virtual video channel This invention relates to a method and a system for constructing virtual video channels comprising video content. While playing back video content to a user comprising a number of visual aspects, s/he can select at least one of the visual aspects appearing from said played back video content. Based on the selected aspects, a virtual channel is created comprising video content or a theme relating to said selected visual aspect.
US08949891B2	Customized zapping A method and apparatus is described to display a customized video sequence during a channel change interval. The method includes displaying a first channel; receiving a channel change request from a user requesting a second channel for display; displaying a video sequence during the channel change interval; and displaying a second channel; characterized in that the displaying of the video sequence during the channel change interval further comprises displaying a black screen with no audio and no video for a short duration; playing out a first portion of a customized video sequence relevant to the second channel entirely; and playing out a second portion of the customized video sequence relevant to the second channel until the second channel is ready to be displayed.
US08949881B2	Card sharing countermeasures A method for identifying of at least an identifier of a conditional access card used in a control word redistribution system by passing information over a side channel, said method comprising a modification step of the response time, of the card, to a control word request, according to a predefined function which depends on the identifier of the said cards.
US08949875B2	Method and application for interactive video on demand Method and apparatus for generation of interactive programming. An interactive programming server embeds interactive components into a video signal. The interactive programming server receives content from a content source and interactive components from an interactive component source and uses the content and interactive components to generate an interactive Video On Demand (iVOD) interactive program. The iVOD interactive program is transmitted to a participant who views the content and interacts with the interactive components of the iVOD interactive program. The participant's responses to the content is transmitted back to the interactive programming server where the participant responses are incorporated into new content which is used to generate new iVOD interactive programming.
US08949874B1	Evaluating media channels A computer system determines feature metrics for a content channel. The content channel includes one or more media items. The computer system receives a query that corresponds to a query types. The query type is associated with a subset of the feature metrics. The computer system evaluates the content channel based on the subset of feature metrics to produce a channel score for the query type and provides the channel score to position at least one of the media items of the content channel in a query result of the query.
US08949870B2	Transfer of information from an information node to a broadcast programming receiver A method is provided for transferring information from an information node to a broadcast programming receiver, such as, for example, a satellite or cable set-top box receiving broadcast programming. The information node is coupled with the broadcast programming receiver by way of a communication network, and is configured to receive the information. A command issued from the broadcast programming receiver to the information node indicates a condition under which the information is to be transferred to the broadcast programming receiver. In response to the command, the portion of the information indicated by the condition is transferred to the broadcast programming receiver.
US08949869B1	Optical disk drive having a carrying roller that contacts a surface of an optical disk Provided is an optical disk drive including a carrying roller for carrying an optical disk in a first direction. The carrying roller includes a first roller portion and a second roller portion which are aligned in a second direction along the optical disk and orthogonal to the first direction and which are so disposed as to make contact with a surface on one side of the optical disk. An axis of the first roller portion is so inclined that a distance between the axis of the first roller portion and the one-side surface of the optical disk gradually increases toward a central portion of the carrying roller. An axis of the second roller portion is so inclined that a distance between the axis of the second roller portion and the one-side surface of the optical disk gradually increases toward the central portion.
US08949862B2	Rate of operation progress reporting According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method and technique for rate of operation progress reporting is disclosed. The method includes: responsive to completion by an application of one or more batch operations, storing an operation count corresponding to each completed batch operation; and, responsive to being polled by a monitoring module: identifying a time reporting window for the batch operations; and reporting a rate of progress meter value for the batch operations to the monitoring module based on the operation counts and the time reporting window.
US08949857B2	Value provider subscriptions for sparsely populated data objects A calling routine may identify portions of a data object that may be populated by other executable routines by creating a property requested event. An event may be created for the requested property and one or more subscribing routines may launch. The subscribing routines may process separately from the calling routine and return property values, which in turn may create a property changed event, which may be subscribed to by the calling routine. The calling routine may then process the requested data. In one embodiment, a data object may be populated on a property-by-property basis by various subscribing routines, creating a sparsely populated data object that may be updated dynamically by routines identified at runtime.
US08949856B2	Merging result from a parser in a network processor with result from an external coprocessor A mechanism is provided for merging in a network processor results from a parser and results from an external coprocessor providing processing support requested by said parser. The mechanism enqueues in a result queue both parser results needing to be merged with a coprocessor result and parser results which have no need to be merged with a coprocessor result. An additional queue is used to enqueue the addresses of the result queue where the parser results are stored. The result from the coprocessor is received in a simple response register. The coprocessor result is read by the result queue management logic from the response register and merged to the corresponding incomplete parser result read in the result queue at the address enqueued in the additional queue.
US08949852B2	Mechanism for increasing parallelization in computer programs with read-after-write dependencies associated with prefix operations Some embodiments provide a system that increases parallelization in a computer program. During operation, the system obtains a binary associative operator and a ordered set of elements associated with a prefix operation in the computer program. Next, the system divides the elements into multiple sets of contiguous iterations based on a number of processors used to execute the computer program. The system then performs, in parallel on the processors, a set of local reductions on the contiguous iterations using the binary associative operator. Afterwards, the system calculates a set of boundary prefixes between the contiguous iterations using the local reductions. Finally, the system applies, in parallel on the processors, the boundary prefixes to the contiguous iterations using the binary associative operator to obtain a set of prefixes for the prefix operation.
US08949847B2	Apparatus and method for managing resources in cluster computing environment Disclosed herein are a resource manager node and a resource management method. The resource manager node includes a resource management unit, a resource policy management unit, a shared resource capability management unit, a shared resource status monitoring unit, and a shared resource allocation unit. The resource management unit performs an operation necessary for resource allocation when a resource allocation request is received. The resource policy management unit determines a resource allocation policy based on the characteristic of the task, and generates resource allocation information. The shared resource capability management unit manages the topology of nodes, information about the capabilities of resources, and resource association information. The shared resource status monitoring unit monitors and manages information about the status of each node and the use of allocated resources. The shared resource allocation unit sends a resource allocation request to at least one of the plurality of nodes.
US08949843B2	Multicore processor system for carrying out parallel processing of tasks in a client using processor cores provided in the client A multicore processor system includes one or more client carrying out parallel processing of tasks by means of processor cores and a server assisting the client to carry out the parallel processing via a communication network. Task information containing the minimum number of required cores indicating the number of processor cores required to carry out processes of the tasks and core information containing operation setup information indicating operation setup content of the processor cores are stored in the server. The server determines whether the task is allocated to the plurality of processor cores or not in accordance with the task information and the core information. The server updates the core information in accordance with a determination result to transmit the updated core information to the client. The client carries out the parallel processing by means of the processor cores in accordance with the received core information.
US08949835B2	Yielding input/output scheduler to increase overall system throughput A mechanism for yielding input/output scheduler to increase overall system throughput is described. A method of embodiments of the invention includes initiating a first process issuing a first input/output (I/O) operation. The first process is initiated by a first I/O scheduling entity running on a computer system. The method further includes yielding, in response to a yield call made by the first I/O scheduling entity, an I/O scheduler to a second I/O scheduling entity to initiate a second process issuing a second I/O operation to complete a transaction including the first and second processes, and committing the transaction to a storage device coupled to the computer system.
US08949827B2	Tracking a virtual machine A method and system provide tracking of a virtual machine by compiling information on the virtual machines in a network and sending the information to an administrative console. The administrative console can then determine the status of the virtual machines in the network. The administrative console can also establish a lineage of a virtual machine and the migration of a virtual machine from one host machine to another host machine. A virtual machine unique identifier assigned to each virtual machine by the system can be modified and used to track each virtual machine and associated host machine. A status can then be determined of the virtual machines, where the status can be a new virtual machine, a previously discovered virtual machine, a duplicated virtual machine, or a cloned virtual machine.
US08949822B2	System, method and program product to manage installation of programs A system, method and computer program product for controlling execution of a script program programmed to install a computer program is disclosed. An installation computer begins execution of the script program, and before a line or stanza of the script program is executed to initiate installation of the computer program, the installation computer determines that the line or stanza is programmed to initiate installation of the computer program. In response, the installation computer determines if the computer program is already installed. If the computer program is already installed, the installation computer skips the line or stanza of the script program so the script program will not attempt to install the computer program. However, if not, the installation computer continues to execute the script program including the line or stanza programmed to initiate installation of the computer program, such that the script program attempts to install the computer program.
US08949808B2	Systems and methods for compiler-based full-function vectorization Systems and methods for the vectorization of software applications are described. In some embodiments, a compiler may automatically generate both scalar and vector versions of a function from a single source code description. A vector interface may be exposed in a persistent dependency database that is associated with the function. This may allow a compiler to make vector function calls from within vectorized loops, rather than making multiple serialized scalar function calls from within a vectorized loop. This may in turn facilitate the vectorization of hierarchical code, which may improve application performance when vector execution resources are available.
US08949801B2	Failure recovery for stream processing applications In one embodiment, the invention is a method and apparatus for failure recovery for stream processing applications. One embodiment of a method for providing a failure recovery mechanism for a stream processing application includes receiving source code for the stream processing application, wherein the source code defines a fault tolerance policy for each of the components of the stream processing application, and wherein respective fault tolerance policies defined for at least two of the plurality of components are different, generating a sequence of instructions for converting the state(s) of the component(s) into a checkpoint file comprising a sequence of storable bits on a periodic basis, according to a frequency defined in the fault tolerance policy, initiating execution of the stream processing application, and storing the checkpoint file, during execution of the stream processing application, at a location that is accessible after failure recovery.
US08949797B2	Optimizing performance of integrity monitoring A system, method and computer program product for verifying integrity of a running application program on a computing device. The method comprises: determining entry points into an application programs processing space that impact proper execution impact program integrity; mapping data elements reachable from the determined entry points into a memory space of a host system where the application to verify is running; run-time monitoring, in the memory space, potential modification of the data elements in a manner potentially breaching program integrity; and initiating a response to the potential modification. The run-time monitoring detects when a data transaction, e.g., a write event, reaches a malicious agent's entry point, a corresponding memory hook is triggered and control is passed to a security agent running outside the monitored system. This agent requests the values of the data elements, and determines if invariants that have been previously computed hold true or not under the set of retrieved data values.
US08949788B2	Building and packaging software A method and apparatus for building a source code based on a project object model (POM) from a source control and for tracking a build environment of the source code is described. Plugins to complete the build as configured in the POM are downloaded from an external plugin repository. A local plugin repository is scanned to determine which plugins have already been downloaded. The local plugin repository is rescanned to determine whether any additional plugins and associated plugins POM files were downloaded during the build as build dependencies. Information of one or more referenced files is inserted into a database wherein the referenced files are identified as build dependencies. Information about the newly-built plugins and associated plugins POM files in the output directory are extracted and added to the database for use by subsequent builds.
US08949779B2	Service combination support apparatus, service combination support method, and storage medium A service combination proposing unit (12) inquires of a data item relationship inferring unit (13) about a data item connectable to a specific data item. The data item relationship inferring unit 13 infers a data item connectable to the specific data item based on pairs of output data items and input data items that are registered in a data item relationship storage unit (32) and have already been determined to be connectable and based on inference rules registered in an inference rule storage unit (33). The data item relationship inferring unit (13) then returns the inferred data item to the service combination proposing unit (12). The service combination proposing unit (12) presents the returned data item to a developer or the like.
US08949774B2	Generated object model for test automation A generated object model engine abstracts actions, used in test cases, in a manner to produce new object model types that are independent of an underlying code implementation. The generated object model engine analyzes action classes to aggregate a set of actions having similarly-related class types. Action classes having similarly-related class types are then used to form a new object model type. The new object model type may be used in a test case to hide the action's code implementation from the test case.
US08949771B2	Media files including programming code and description The description relates to media files and more particularly to media files that include a program and a human-understandable description of the program. One example can receive executable code. This example can determine a functionality provided by the executable code. The example can also create a media file that stores the executable code and presents the functionality in a human-understandable form.
US08949765B2	Modeling multi-patterning variability with statistical timing Systems and methods for modeling multi-patterning variability with statistical timing analysis during IC fabrication are described. The method may be provided implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code tangibly embodied on a computer readable storage medium having programming instructions operable to define at least one source of variation in an integrated circuit design. The programming instructions further operable to model the at least one source of variation for at least two patterns in at least one level of the integrated circuit design as at least two sources of variability respectively.
US08949761B2	Techniques for routing signal wires in an integrated circuit design A technique for routing signal wires in an integrated circuit design includes applying a first rule that attempts to route a signal wire along existing power supply shapes of the integrated circuit design and applying a second rule that provides shield wires along segments of the signal wire that are not routed along one of the existing power supply shapes. The technique also includes routing the signal wire between a first endpoint and a second endpoint while applying the first and second rules to substantially minimize a route cost for the signal wire between the first and second endpoints.
US08949749B2	Layout design for electron-beam high volume manufacturing The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus to create a physical layout for electron-beam lithography, comprising defining a layout grid for a physical design, the layout grid further comprising vertical grid lines which coincide with stitching lines resulting from partitioning the physical design into a plurality of subfields. The physical design is assembled in accordance with design restrictions regarding interaction between design shapes and the layout grid. In some embodiments, the design restrictions are realized though layout restrictions. In some embodiments, the design restrictions are realized by shifting standard cells to minimize design shape interaction with the layout grid in a post-layout step. In some embodiments, the design restrictions are realized by exchanging positions between a plurality of standard cells for an exchange permutation which minimizes the number of interactions in a post-layout step. In some embodiments a routing grid is refined to rule out interactions between a subset of design constructs and the layout grid. Remaining design shape placement is then optimized along the routing grid relative to the stitching lines.
US08949744B2	Control system, earphone and control method There is provided a control system (1) comprising an earphone (2) and a processing device (3). The control system (1) has a processing device (3) for the evaluation of head movement information and/or head position information. In that case the processing device is adapted to output at least one control signal dependent on the evaluation, wherein the earphone has a sensor device (9a, 9b, 9c) for detecting the movement information and/or position information and a transmitting device (10) for transmitting the movement information and/or the position information to the processing device.
US08949743B2	Language input interface on a device Methods, systems, devices, and apparatus, including computer program products, for inputting text. A user interface element is presented on a touch-sensitive display of a device. The user interface element is associated with a plurality of characters, at least a subset of which is associated with respective gestures. A user input performing a gesture with respect to the user interface element is received. The character from the subset that is associated with the gesture performed with respect to the user interface element is inputted.
US08949734B2	Mobile device color-based content mapping and navigation A mobile device associates a distinct background color with each graphical window of a sequence of graphical windows, and displays, on a touch-sensitive display, a first graphical window from the sequence of graphical windows, where the first graphical window includes a first background color and one or more display elements. The mobile device also receives a user input to the touch-sensitive display, scrolls through the sequence of graphical windows based on the user input, and displays, on the touch-sensitive display, a second graphical window from the sequence of graphical windows based on the scrolling, where the second graphical window includes a second background color different than the first background color.
US08949729B2	Enhanced copy and paste between applications Enhanced copying and pasting between applications includes capturing information about open applications including a screenshot of each of the open applications shown in a viewable area of the open applications; in response to receiving a copy command while the user is interacting with a first application, presenting the screenshots of the other open applications to the user for selection; in response to the user selecting one of the screenshots corresponding to a second application, displaying visual content segments from the second application; in response to receiving a user selection of two or more of the visual content segments, copying the selected visual content segments; and inserting the selected visual content segments into the first application such that original spatial relations between the visual content segments from the second application are maintained when the visual content segments are inserted into the first application.
US08949727B2	Apparatus and method for controlling lock function in portable terminal An apparatus and a method for controlling a lock function in a portable terminal are provided. The apparatus includes one or more processors, a display unit for displaying a positional change of an object and an image set including a plurality of objects including the object, and a memory including one or more modules configured to be executed by the one or more processor, including module for displaying the image set, for changing a position of an object of the plurality of objects selected according to a user input, and for controlling the lock function if the selected object is combined with or separated from another object of the plurality of objects according to the positional change. At least one of the selected object and the other object includes a variable area which indicates an extent of the positional change of the selected object or the other object.
US08949725B1	Chat information system for portable electronic devices A method and graphical user interface intended to simplify interaction between a user and a chat information system running on a portable electronic device that includes a touch screen. User interfaces and methods include user input controls (i.e., a virtual keyboard or voice recognition devices). The system also includes output trays, means for viewing chat history, means for displaying the Internet content and means for displaying graphical elements and avatars.
US08949723B2	File transfer method, file transfer apparatus, and file transfer program A method for transferring a content data file stored in a storage unit from a file transfer apparatus to an external device is provided. The method includes displaying a file display window and a file transfer window on a display unit so that the file transfer window is viewable at any time, where the file display window includes at least one file identification image for identifying one of at least one data file and the file transfer window is used for receiving a request for transferring a data file to the external device, and, upon detecting a drag and drop operation of a file identification image displayed in the file display window into the file transfer window, reading the data file corresponding to the file identification image from the storage unit and writing the data file to the external device using a transfer processing unit of the file transfer apparatus.
US08949722B2	Calendar application views in portrait dual mode A communication device comprising a microprocessor readable computer readable medium is provided that includes microprocessor executable instructions to provide graphical output, in a first mode, simultaneously on multiple screens and, in a second mode, simultaneously as multiple displays on a common screen.
US08949719B2	Methods and systems for user interface event snooping and prefetching The present invention relates to systems, apparatus, and methods for utilizing user interface (UI) snooping to optimize network connections. The method includes accessing, by a client proxy running on a client system, a UI events queue. The UI events queue is stored on the client system. The method further includes identifying events within the UI events queue. The identifying includes filtering the events for events to be optimized. The method further includes, based on the identified events, determining at least one command, and optimizing the at least one command, and executing the optimized command.
US08949716B2	Adjusting target size of display images based on input device detection A device and method for adjusting the target size of display images based on the detection of an input device is disclosed. The device (10) includes an input device detection circuit (56) operative to provide a detection signal (57) in response to the detection of an input device (36); and a device controller (50) operative to adjust the size of a target (16-26) presented on a display (14) in response to the detection signal (57). The method of the present invention includes detecting the presence of an input device; and adjusting the size of the targets present on a display in response to input device detection.
US08949712B1	Assigning slots to content in a pipeline Disclosed are various embodiments for assigning user interface widgets to page slots associated with a page pipeline. In response to a request to generate a content page, content placement requests are then received from user interface widgets. The page slots are associated with a placement value indicating a value of the page slot relative to other page slots in the page template and can be weighted based upon their location in a page pipeline. The highest ranked user interface widgets according to an effectiveness metric or placement score are scheduled for placement in the content page.
US08949711B2	Sequential layout builder Layout processing techniques have been described that allow processing of structured documents to be conducted, and for associated layout to be accomplished in a sequential manner. The layout process is split into multiple, smaller steps that can be executed sequentially. In at least some embodiments, a layout builder is utilized in conjunction with a stack to control layout execution on respective levels of the structural hierarchy of a structured document. Immutable data structures are utilized and allow for parallel execution of sequential layout operations. In at least some embodiments, partial execution of the layout sequence can be performed to produce usable data.
US08949710B2	Grammar and method for integrating XML data from multiple sources A grammar for mapping a first grouping of XML data into a second grouping of XML data and a method for accomplishing same to incorporate the first grouping into the second grouping. The grammar includes a first rule for computing a first child element attribute and a second rule for computing a second parent element attribute. The first rule and second rule vary according to a production of an element type of the first grouping. The element types include PCDATA, disjunctive, conjunctive and Kleene star, each having a unique rule set for defining inherited and synthesized attributes of the parent and child elements. The method includes the step of executing a mapping of a first grouping having at least one parent element and a set of corresponding child elements into a second grouping in accordance with the grammar rules based on the production of the element type.
US08949708B2	Web-based electronically signed documents Techniques for electronic signature process management are described. Some embodiments provide an electronic signature service (“ESS”) configured to manage electronic signature processes represented by way of templates. In some embodiments, the ESS transmits a URL or other identifier of a template that specifies required electronic signature data, such as a singer name and/or signature. Then, the ESS dynamically prepares a form based on a received request for the identified template. Next, the ESS receives the electronic signature data by causing the form to be presented by a Web browser or other client. In some embodiments, the ESS and associated client systems perform these techniques without use of a Portable Document Format processing module.
US08949702B2	Systems and methods for detector side trapping set mitigation Embodiments of the inventions are related to systems and methods for data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for mitigating trapping sets in a data processing system.
US08949695B2	Method and apparatus for nested dispersed storage A method begins by a DS processing module generating a plurality of encoded slices from a data segment using an error encoding function. The method continues with the DS processing module identifying a plurality of DS storage units for storing the plurality of encoded slices. The method continues with the DS processing module selecting an encoded slice of the plurality of encoded slices for sub-slicing using a sub-slicing encoding function to produce a selected encoded slice. The method continues with the DS processing module outputting the plurality of encoded slices to the plurality of DS storage units. The method continues with the DS processing module outputting a command to a DS storage unit of the plurality of DS storage units corresponding to the selected encoded slice, wherein the command includes an instruction to sub-slice the selected encoded slice.
US08949687B2	Memory device and memory system A memory device and a memory system, the memory system including a data compressor for generating compressed data by compressing program data in a first unit, and an error correction block generator for dividing the compressed data in a second unit to obtain a plurality of pieces of normal data, and generating error correction blocks for correcting errors of the plurality of pieces of normal data, wherein each of the error correction blocks comprises the normal data, invalid data having a size corresponding to the size of the normal data, and parities for the normal data and the invalid data.
US08949673B2	Software systems testing interface A system includes a manager module that oversees execution of a business process by a test module. The business process includes a plurality of process steps, and the test module comprises a plurality of test cases, a plurality of software test tools, and a plurality of parameters. The test module is configured to permit a user to select a particular process step of the business process, to select a particular test case for the particular process step, to select a particular software test tool for the particular test case, and to select a particular parameter flow for the particular software test tool. The test module is also configured to execute the selected process step using the selected test case, the selected software test tool, and the selected parameter flow.
US08949672B1	Analyzing a dump file from a data storage device together with debug history to diagnose/resolve programming errors A method is disclosed for diagnosing programming errors for a data storage device, wherein a dump file is received from the data storage device comprising program execution data. The dump file is converted into a plurality of debug stop records, wherein each debug stop record comprises trace information related to a programming error. A first debug stop record is evaluated relative to a history of debug stop records stored in a history database. When the first debug stop record corresponds to a second debug stop record in the history database, the programming error is resolved for the first debug stop record using resolution information associated with the second debug stop record.
US08949671B2	Fault detection, diagnosis, and prevention for complex computing systems A method is provided for diagnosing failures in an object-oriented software system. The method comprises collecting runtime diagnostic information; maintaining a record of the diagnostic information in a storage buffer; and dynamically updating the record of the diagnostic information to include a group of the diagnostic information collected over a most recent occurrence of a predetermined interval. The diagnostic information includes at least one set of call stack information for at least one currently running application and at least one set of other information. Each of the at least one set of other information is selected from a set of memory access information, a set of data access information, and a set of paging information for each currently executing process.
US08949665B2	Integrated bus controller and power supply device for use in a process control system An integrated bus controller and power supply device includes a typical or standard bus controller and a bus power supply disposed in a common housing, the size and external configuration of which may match a standard bus controller device associated with a typical I/O communication network. The bus controller may store and implement one or more control routines using one or more field devices connected to the I/O communication network while the bus power supply generates and provides the appropriate power signal to the bus of the I/O communication network, the power signal being used to power the field devices connected to the I/O communication network. The integrated bus controller and power supply device can be easily connected to the bus of the I/O communication network to provide both bus controller functionality and bus power supply functionality on the I/O communication network, without the need of configuring and attaching separate, dedicated bus controller and power supply devices to the bus and having to wire these devices together using multiple different terminal blocks.
US08949660B1	Remote deobfuscation of compressed code Systems and methods for remotely deobfuscating JavaScript are provided. In some aspects, a method includes sending obfuscated code from a server to a browser, receiving a deobfuscation request at the server over a network, and deobfuscating an error in the deobfuscation request at the server.
US08949657B2	Methods and devices for detecting service failures and maintaining computing services using a resilient intelligent client computer Intelligent client computing devices track and record the changes they make to data, applications, and services. Systems, devices, and computer readable media for detecting service tier failures and maintaining application services provide a resilient client architecture that allows a client application on an intelligent client to automatically detect the unavailability of server tiers or sites and re-route requests and updates to secondary sites to maintain application services at the client tier in a manner that is transparent to a user. The resilient client architecture understands the level of currentness of secondary sites in order to select the best secondary site and to automatically and transparently bring this secondary site up to date to ensure no data updates are missing from the secondary site.
US08949656B1	Port matching for data storage system port failover Determining port failover information is described. First information is determined by a first storage processor executing first code for performing port matching. The first information identifies a first set of port pairs. Each port pair includes a first port of the first or second storage processor and a second port of the first or second storage processor. Each port pair denotes the first port as protecting the second port. Upon failure or unavailability of the second port, the first port virtualizes the second port and requests directed to the second port are redirected to the first port. Similarly, second information is determined by the second storage processor executing second code for performing the port matching. Port failover processing is performed upon failure or unavailability of port(s) of the first storage processor and/or the second storage processor. Port failover processing uses the first information and/or the second information.
US08949654B2	Parameterized dynamic model for cloud migration Technologies are generally presented for a migration system and a method for moving data and applications from a cloud or non-cloud network to a cloud network employing a Parameterized Dynamic Model (PDM) having one or more multi-dimensional parameters. In some examples, the PDM parameters may represent the Service level Agreement (SLA) requirements that a target cloud may need to satisfy for a successful cloud migration. The PDM may include a Model Execution Code (MEC) module configured to execute the PDM acting upon the PDM parameter in a cloud environment following the sequencing defined in the PDM as a sequencing parameter. The PDM-MEC based migration system may also include fault-tolerance and error recovery during the migration while the MEC code is executed.
US08949650B2	Processor embedded memory structure with lower energy consumption and high speed without memory bottleneck A computer system encompasses a processor (11) including a control unit (111) and an ALU (112) configured to execute arithmetic and logic operations synchronized with the clock signal, and a marching main memory (31), which embraces an array of memory units, configured to store information in each of memory units and to transfer synchronously with the clock signal, providing the processor (11) with the stored information actively and sequentially so that the ALU (112) can execute the arithmetic and logic operations with the stored information. The results of the processing in the ALU (112) are sent out to the marching main memory (31), but there is only one way of instructions flow from the marching main memory (31) to the processor.
US08949649B2	Signal processing apparatus and signal processing method for data transmission Disclosed herein is a signal processing apparatus including: an input block receiving the predetermined number of items of data and a first enable signal taking an active state in an interval where data is valid in synchronization with a first clock; a count block counting the number of clocks in an interval where the first enable signal is inactive; an enable signal control block putting a second enable signal in an active state for the number of clocks equal to a predetermined number and putting the second enable signal in an inactive state for the number of clocks counted by the count block; an enable signal output block outputting the second enable signal; and a data output block outputting the predetermined number of items of data in synchronization with the second clock in an interval where the second enable signal is active.
US08949643B2	Document validator with power management The disclosure relates to a device and a method for validating documents of value, especially a low power validator for validating documents of value is described comprising: a processing unit for controlling operation of the validator; an inlet for receiving a document of value from a user; and a power management system for transitioning the validator between a power conserving mode and a normal operating mode, wherein the power management system comprises a wake up unit arranged to monitor the inlet for the presence of a document of value and to monitor the voltage provided from a power source.
US08949632B2	Power control apparatus for controlling power according to change amount of thermal fluid analysis in power consumption for cooling servers in server room A power control apparatus includes a processor that causes thermal fluid analysis of the amount of increase in power consumption for cooling a plurality of servers, where the increase in power consumption is consequent to an increase in the volume of tasks at each server among the servers. Based on analysis results obtained by the thermal fluid analysis, the processor selects from among the servers, a server to execute a task and causes the selected server to execute the task.
US08949629B2	Predicting battery power usage A method for predicting battery power usage includes, collecting information relating to battery power consumption due to tasks performed by the physical computing system powered by a battery, and notifying a user in response to a determination that tasks associated with an upcoming event stored in a calendar application of the physical computing system are projected to exhaust the battery. A computing system includes a processor, a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, and a battery to power the computing system. The processor is configured to collect information relating to battery power consumption due to tasks performed by the computing system, and notify a user in response to a determination that tasks associated with an upcoming event stored in a calendar application of the computing system are projected to exhaust the battery.
US08949622B2	Secure removable drive system A data storage system comprises a removable drive with memory for storing data, and an identifier for identifying the removable data cartridge. A host computer can be coupled in data communication with the removable data cartridge, with a driver for performing data operations thereon. The driver is configured to perform the data operations with encryption, in the presence of the identifier, and to perform the data operations without the encryption, in the absence of the identifier.
US08949613B1	Self-signed certificates for computer application signatures A computer-implemented method for signing computer applications is disclosed. The method includes generating a compiled version of a first software application, signing the first software application with a digital certificate locally to a developer of the first software application without assistance from a central certification authority, and submitting the signed first software application to an on-line application store.
US08949606B2	Prevention of masquerade by using identification sequences A method transmits a message between a transmitter and a receiver on a bus using an identifier associated with the transmitter/receiver path for the purpose of authentication and a message counter. The identifier is dynamically selected from an identification sequence depending on the message counter value and is integrated into the message check sum but not transmitted via the bus. A control device and a vehicle are adapted to carry out the method for transmitting a message.
US08949597B1	Managing certificates on a mobile device A system or method of remotely managing security certificates on a mobile device is provided. Certificates on a mobile device may be added to, deleted from, or updated by a server that manages certificates on one or more mobile devices. The server may retrieve new certificates from a certificate authority and push the certificate to the mobile device where it is stored for subsequent use. The management of security certificates on a mobile device may be governed by one or more certificate-management rules that are enforced by the remote server and/or the mobile device.
US08949589B2	Method and apparatus for integrating personal computer and electronic device functions An apparatus and a method for integrating personal computer and electronic device functions. An input device, personal computer host, and encoder in turn integrate hardware, operating system, and application programs to provide personal computer and electronic device functions at the same time.
US08949579B2	Ineffective prefetch determination and latency optimization A processor of an information handling system (IHS) initiates an L3 cache prefetch operation in response to a demand load during instruction processing. The processor selects an L3 cache prefetch at random for tracking as a target prefetched instruction. The processor initiates an L1 cache target prefetch operation and stores the resultant target prefetched instruction in the L1 cache. If a demand load arrives, the processor analyzes the target prefetched instruction for effectiveness and determines the source of the prefetch data. If a demand does not arrive, the processor tests to determine if the particular prefetched instruction timed out in the cache and identifies the ineffectiveness of the prefetch operation. The processor samples multiple prefetch operations at random and generates a history of prefetch effectiveness and other useful prefetch information. The processor stores the prefetch effectiveness information to enable reduction or removal of ineffective prefetch operations.
US08949575B2	Reversing processing order in half-pumped SIMD execution units to achieve K cycle issue-to-issue latency Techniques for reducing issue-to-issue latency by reversing processing order in half-pumped single instruction multiple data (SIMD) execution units are described. In one embodiment a processor functional unit is provided comprising a frontend unit, and execution core unit, a backend unit, an execution order control signal unit, a first interconnect coupled between and output and an input of the execution core unit and a second interconnect coupled between an output of the backend unit and an input of the frontend unit. In operation, the execution order control signal unit generates a forwarding order control signal based on the parity of an applied clock signal on reception of a first vector instruction. This control signal is in turn used to selectively forward first and second portions of an execution result of the first vector instruction via the interconnects for use in the execution of a dependent second vector instruction.
US08949573B2	Translation lookaside buffer structure including an output comparator A processor includes a translation lookaside buffer (TLB) including a data array and a compare unit. The data array includes a number of entries each configured to store a respective translated physical address. In response to a read access to a given entry of the TLB, the data array is configured to output within a particular clock cycle, the respective translated physical address stored in the given entry. In addition the compare unit may be configured to compare the respective translated physical address output by the data array with a number of additional addresses. The compare unit may also be configured to provide a hit indication for each of the additional addresses within the particular clock cycle.
US08949562B2	Storage system and method of controlling storage system An exemplary storage system according to the invention includes a first physical storage apparatus providing a first real volume and a second physical storage apparatus providing a second real volume to form a copy pair with the first real volume. The first physical storage apparatus provides a first host with a first storage identifier and a first volume identifier for the first host to access the first real volume. The second physical storage apparatus provides a second host with at least a part of a first virtual storage apparatus including a first virtual volume allocated the second real volume. The second physical storage apparatus assigns the first volume identifier to the first virtual volume and the first storage identifier to the first virtual storage apparatus.
US08949560B1	Validating an ability to roll back data to an earlier point in time for data associated with a virtual store In one aspect, a method includes obtaining data on components of a virtualization server comprising acquiring a mapping of virtual disks in a virtual store to storage disks, obtaining data on components of a storage array comprising acquiring a mapping of logical units in the storage array to the storage disks, the logical units replicating data from a corresponding storage disk, correlating each virtual disk to a logical unit based on the mapping of the virtual disks to the storage disks and the mapping of the logical units to the storage disks, retrieving replication data of the logical units from the storage arrays and, for a selected virtual store, checking that the selected virtual store has a replica for all the required storage disks mapped to the virtual disks of the selected virtual store.
US08949547B2	Coherency controller and method for data hazard handling for copending data access requests A data processing system that manages data hazards at a coherency controller and not at an initiator device is disclosed. Write requests are processed in a two part form, such that a first part is transmitted and when the coherency controller has space to accept data, the data and a state of the data prior to a write are sent as a second part of a write request. When there are copending reads and writes to the same address, writes are stalled by not responding to the first part of a write request and snoop requests received to the address are processed regardless of the fact that the write is pending. When the pending read has completed, the coherency controller will respond to the first part of the write request and the initiator device will complete the write by sending the data and a state indicator following the snoop.
US08949540B2	Lateral castout (LCO) of victim cache line in data-invalid state A victim cache line having a data-invalid coherence state is selected for castout from a first lower level cache of a first processing unit. The first processing unit issues on an interconnect fabric a lateral castout (LCO) command identifying the victim cache line to be castout from the first lower level cache, indicating the data-invalid coherence state, and indicating that a lower level cache is an intended destination of the victim cache line. In response to a coherence response to the LCO command indicating success of the LCO command, the victim cache line is removed from the first lower level cache and held in a second lower level cache of a second processing unit in the data-invalid coherence state.
US08949528B2	Writing of data of a first block size in a raid array that stores and mirrors data in a second block size Data that is to be written is received, wherein the data is indicated in one or more blocks of a first block size. Each of the one or more blocks of the first block size is written in consecutive blocks of a second block size that is larger in size than the first block size, wherein each of the consecutive blocks of the second block size stores only one block of the first block size, and wherein each of the consecutive blocks of the second block size has empty space remaining, subsequent to the writing of each of the one or more blocks of the first block size. Filler data is written in the empty space remaining in each of the consecutive blocks of the second block size.
US08949520B2	Maintenance operations in a DRAM A system includes a memory controller and a memory device having a command interface and a plurality of memory banks, each with a plurality of rows of memory cells. The memory controller transmits an auto-refresh command to the memory device. Responsive to the auto-refresh command, during a first time interval, the memory device performs refresh operations to refresh the memory cells and the command interface of the memory device is placed into a calibration mode for the duration of the first time interval. Concurrently, during at least a portion of the first time interval, the memory controller performs a calibration of the command interface of the memory device. The auto-refresh command may specify an order in which memory banks of the memory device are to be refreshed, such that the memory device sequentially refreshes a respective row in the plurality of memory banks in the specified bank order.
US08949518B2	Method for tracking memory usages of a data processing system Techniques for tracking memory usages of a data processing system are described herein. According to one embodiment, a memory manager is to perform a first lookup operation in a memory allocation table to identify an allocation entry based on a handle representing a memory address of a memory block allocated to a client and to retrieve a trace entry pointer from the allocation entry. The memory manager is then to perform a second lookup operation in a memory trace table to identify a trace entry based on the trace entry pointer and to increment a memory allocation count of the trace entry. The memory allocation count is utilized to indicate a likelihood of the client causing a memory leak.
US08949517B2	Self-journaling and hierarchical consistency for non-volatile storage A non-volatile storage system having Non-Volatile Memory (NVM) provides self-journaling and hierarchical consistency, enabling low-latency recovery and force unit access handshake. Mappings between host addresses and addresses in the NVM are maintained via one or more map entries, enabling locating of host data written to the NVM. Objects stored in the NVM include sufficient information to recover the object solely within the object itself. The NVM is managed as one or more data streams, a map stream, and a checkpoint stream. Host data is written to the data streams, map entries are written to the map stream, and checkpoints of map entries and other data structures are written to the checkpoint stream. Time markers embedded in the streams enable determination, during recovery, that selected portions of the streams are inconsistent with each other and are to be discarded.
US08949503B2	Disk subsystem A protocol controller disposed between switches in a fiber channel fabric switch circuit and disk drive units for converting a protocol to enable one-to-one connectivity established between controllers and disk drive units.
US08949502B2	PCIe NVRAM card based on NVDIMM A memory system controller includes one or more sockets for accommodating NVDIMM cards produced by different NVDIMM providers; a PCIe interface for coupling the memory system controller to a host; and a controller coupled to the PCIe interface over a PCIe-compliant connection and to the one or more sockets over respective DDR2 connections. The controller is configured to manage data transfers between the host and a specified one of the NVDIMM sockets in which an NVDIMM card is accommodated as DMA reads and writes, format data received from the PCIe interface for transmission to the specified NVDIMM socket over the corresponding one or more DDR2 interfaces, and initiate save and restore operations on the NVDIMM card accommodated within the specified NVDIMM socket in response to power failure and power restoration indications.
US08949491B1	Buffer memory reservation techniques for use with a NAND flash memory Buffer memory reservation techniques for use with NAND flash memory include dynamically reserving regions of the buffer memory, responsive to a read/write request. Where the read/write request includes a plurality of data transfer requests, following completion of a data transfer request, the reserved buffer space may be recycled for use in a further data transfer request or for other purposes. During fulfillment of a read request, a buffer region is reserved from a larger buffer pool for a time period significantly smaller than the time required to execute a sense operation associated with the read request. The reserved buffer region may be reused for unrelated processes during execution of the sense operation.
US08949476B2	Method and apparatus for providing an interface between a UICC and a processor in an access terminal that supports asynchronous command processing by the UICC Techniques for providing an interface between a UICC and a processor, included in an access terminal, that supports asynchronous command processing by the UICC, are described. A first complex command, with a first processing time, may be received from the processor. An initial response to the first command, including a token, may be sent to the processor. The first command may be processed for the first processing time. At least one additional command, having a processing time shorter than the first processing time, may be received from the processor. Processing of the first command may be completed. Processing of a current one of the at least one additional command, which was being processed before, during, or after completion of the processing of the first command, may be completed. A response to the current one of the at least one additional command, including the token, may be sent to the processor.
US08949475B2	Efficient connection management in a SAS target A method includes pre-configuring a hardware-implemented front-end of a storage device with multiple contexts of respective connections conducted between one or more hosts and the storage device. Storage commands, which are received in the storage device and are associated with the connections having the pre-configured contexts, are executed in a memory of the storage device using the hardware-implemented front-end. Upon identifying a storage command associated with a context that is not pre-configured in the hardware-implemented front-end, software of the storage device is triggered to configure the context in the hardware-implemented front-end, and the storage command is then executed using the hardware-implemented front-end in accordance with the context configured by the software.
US08949469B2	Method for software program synchronization A method, devices, and a computer program for synchronizing one or more software programs from a first device (D100) to a second device (D200) are disclosed. The method comprises the steps of creating (100) an application profile indicating one or more software programs on the first device (ID100) and indicating one or more software program providing nodes (SN 100,SN200) from which said one or more software programs are obtainable, providing (200) the application profile to a synchronization manager (SM 100), identifying (300) by the synchronization manager (SM 100) the one or more software programs and the one or more software program providing nodes (SN100,SN200) according to the application profile, requesting (400) by the synchronization manager (SM 100) the one or more software program providing nodes (SN 100,SN200) to transfer the one or more software programs, and transferring (500) the one or more software programs from the one or more software program providing nodes (SN 100,SN200) to the second device (D200).
US08949467B1	Systems and methods of header compression in a software defined network A method of header compression steps, performed by a first processor, of receiving a first packet-header sent from a second processor, the first packet-header having been sent in response to the second processor receiving the first packet-header encapsulated in a frame, and the frame not matching a flow table entry in the second processor. The method also includes sending a first signal to the second processor; sending a first flow table entry to the second processor; sending a second signal to a third processor; and sending a second flow table entry to the third processor. The first signal causes the second processor to generate substitute data in response to subsequently receiving a second packet-header, the substitute data being shorter that the second packet-header, the substitute data corresponding to the first signal. The second signal causes the third processor to generate the second packet-header, responsive to the substitute data subsequently received from the second processor, in accordance with the second signal.
US08949457B1	Local transparent extensibility and routing slip extensibility for business process execution language In order to achieve location transparency and routing slip extensibility, a system and a method for orchestrating a web service using Business Process Execution Language are disclosed. The method includes: receiving a message, wherein the message comprises an address identifying an extension element; determining, from the address, a location of the extension element identified by the address; responsive to determining the location of the extension element, directing the message to an appropriate location; and storing the message in a computer readable storage medium.
US08949434B2	Automatically provisioning a WWAN device Network connection information is requested by a wireless wide area network device via the internet. Such information may include configuration information, data roaming partner information, and/or cost information regarding roaming partner connection and/or a subscriber plan related to the wireless wide area network. To retrieve the information, the wireless device sends a request to a redirection server, which in turn provides an internet address for a provisioning server, or instructs a provisioning server to provide the network configuration information to the wireless device. A user and/or the wireless device may use the network connection information when deciding whether and/or how to connect to the network. A network provider may use methods disclosed herein to efficiently update wireless devices that subscribe to the network. The network provider may provide selected network connection information based on information regarding the wireless device, such as the user identification.
US08949433B1	Installer-free applications using native code modules and persistent local storage Some embodiments provide a system that executes an application. During operation, the system obtains a resource list associated with the application and stores a set of resources including a native code module from the resource list through communications over a network connection, wherein the resources are stored in persistent local storage. The application then loads the application in the web browser and loads the native code module into a secure runtime environment. Next, the application executes the application independently of the network connection using the native code module and the stored resources.
US08949432B2	Identity management An identity management method and system is disclosed. The method includes identity context management (ICM) clients monitoring access to Internet resources using dedicated Virtual Machines (VM). An ICM server monitors associations between Internet resource identifiers (IDs) and the Internet resources accessed by the VMs. The VMs register context for the ICM clients with the ICM server. An ICM client enables access to Internet resources and presentation of Webpages and Internet contents associated with the Internet resources within the associated Virtual Machine context.
US08949427B2	Administering medical digital images with intelligent analytic execution of workflows Administering medical digital images including receiving a medical image business object representing a transaction carrying out a type of service request made by a health care provider; selecting, in dependence upon workflow selection rules and the attributes of the medical image business object, one or more clinical workflows to process the medical image according to the transaction; and processing the medical image of the request with the clinical workflows, thereby creating a resultant business object and resultant medical image including selecting, by the workflow dispatcher in dependence upon metadata for computational units in the distributed medical digital image computing environment, particular computational units in the distributed medical digital image computing environment to perform particular services of the one or more clinical workflows, deploying the particular services to the particular computational units, and executing the services on the computational units upon which they are deployed.
US08949421B2	Techniques for discovering database connectivity leaks Techniques for discovering database connectivity leaks are presented. Each connection made by an application to a database is monitored. When the application is shut down, if information regarding a particular connection remains in memory, then that connection is reported as a potential database connectivity leak.
US08949413B2	Filter selection and resuse In general, techniques are described for selectively applying and reusing filters stored in a router. In one example, a method includes receiving a network access request from a first user. The method also includes selecting a candidate rule group associated with the packet flow, wherein the candidate rule group comprises one or more currently deployed rules of an existing rule group on the computing device that are currently installed within a forwarding plane and are being applied by the forwarding plane to network traffic associated with a second user. The method also includes installing a new rule group comprising the one or more currently deployed rules of the existing rule group and one or more new rules associated with the first user and not currently installed within a forwarding plane. The method also includes applying each rule of the new rule group to network traffic associated with the first user.
US08949412B2	Method for management of data stream exchanges in an autonomic telecommunications network A method for managing data stream exchanges in an autonomic telecommunications network including a first phase consisting in extracting from each stream routing data and data for measuring the transfer function between at least one data producer Pi and at least one data consumer Cj, sharing the extracted routing data between processing and decision-making functional modules distributed across the said network, selecting at least one decision-making or processing module for which the access time to the measuring data of the transfer function is minimal, dynamically defining by at least one of the selected modules the said rules for optimizing the transfer settings of the stream according to the said measuring data and distributed over the said network select processing modules located on the path of the said streams in order to apply the said rules.
US08949409B2	Method and system of managing and/or monitoring distributed computing based on geometric constraints A method for managing distributed computing. The method comprises estimating, for each of a plurality of local computing nodes, a distribution of multidimensional values in a space. Each multidimensional value is calculated according to a plurality of locally monitored parameters. The method further includes calculating safe zones in the space where each safe zone is defined according to a respective estimated distribution under a global geometric constraint in the space and setting local geometric constraints for the local computing nodes according to the respective safe zones. Each local geometric constraint is defined such that a detection of at least one monitored multidimensional value violating it by a respective local computing node induces a communication event between the respective local computing node and one or more central computing nodes.
US08949408B2	Session monitoring of virtual desktops in a virtual machine farm Disclosed are techniques for determining the status of virtual machine sessions on a computing device for a user by reading from a memory location written to by a program executing within a virtual machine. The memory location is preferably a registry key that contains the status of a remote user session operating on a guest operating system operational on the virtual machine, the virtual machine executing in a virtual environment comprising a plurality of virtual machines operating on a computing device.
US08949406B2	Method and system for communication between a client system and a server system A method of a server system communicating with a client system. The method includes a passive system monitoring network traffic between the client-server system. The server sending a page response including an agent, e.g., a Javascript that becomes operable on the client system. The agent monitors events on the client side, e.g., DOM events, and communicates these to the server side. A set of rules that define prescribed user events are maintained by the passive system and applied to the monitored network traffic to determine whether a prescribed user event occurred. Responsive to the prescribed user event occurring, an asynchronous message is generated and sent to the agent in response to a received DOM event message, the asynchronous message comprising a command to be executed by the agent to alter the users web application flow at the client in a manner that is substantially transparent to the web application.
US08949405B2	Content server latency determination A performance of a publisher server, a first content server, and a second content server is determined. Latency time information is determined based on the publisher server performance, the first content server performance, and the second content server performance, the latency time information representing a length of time to load content associated with each of the publisher server, the first content server, and the second content server.
US08949400B2	Server management systems A system for managing one or more services during the provision of an application to a user is provided. The system comprises an application component operably connected to a network and configuration data for the user. The configuration data specifies: one or more partner servers configured to supply one or more respective services within one or more respective service categories, each partner server in a service category being chosen from a plurality of available partner servers for the service category and communication parameters for each partner server that allow communication with the partner server over the network. During the provision of the application to the user, the application component uses the configuration data for the user to access a service provided by an appropriate partner server.
US08949398B2	Shared DNS domain handling Instead of rejecting an incoming request at a node of a SIP domain, e.g. an IMS domain, when a user database query has failed, it is determined whether the DNS domain name of the request is registered as a shared domain or not. If it is found that the DNS domain name is registered as a shared domain, the DNS domain name is resolved into a globally routable URI, and the request is routed towards the terminating entity. If, however, the DNS domain name is not shared, the request is rejected. Such a mechanism enables operators to allow for a DNS domain name to be utilized by more than one SIP domain.
US08949375B2	Data processing of media file types supported by client devices A data processing system comprises a client device, a server system and a network connecting the client device to the server system. The client device is arranged to transmit a data request to the server system, the data request including a URL pointer to a repository address. The server system is arranged to receive the data request, to access the repository address defined by the URL pointer, and to receive data from the repository address, the data defining a plurality of media file types supported by the client device.
US08949363B2	Delayed or suspended alerts with multiple devices in proximity A method and a plurality of communication devices configured to control notification of reception of a same message by at least one of the plurality of communication devices. The method includes determining that a plurality of communication devices are in proximity with each other, determining that a same message was received by the plurality of communication devices, and determining at least one communication device of the plurality of communication devices on which to inhibit producing a notification that indicates the message was received. The at least one communication device delays a pre-determined amount of time while monitoring for reception of a signal that indicates the message was read, and based on determination that the delay of the pre-determined amount of time has expired and that the communication device has failed to receive the signal, the communication device produces the notification.
US08949359B2	Systems and methods for searching multiple instant messages Systems and methods of hosting electronic conversations are provided in which a plurality of conversations, each having an identified set of participants, is maintained. Responsive to a search query from a first participant of a first conversation in the plurality of conversations, a second conversation in the plurality of conversations is identified as relevant to the search query. All or a portion of the second conversation is formatted for display to the first participant. Each conversation in the plurality of conversations, including the second conversation, is an instant messaging conversation. Participants in each conversation in the plurality of conversations are instant messaging participants.
US08949355B2	Method for disambiguating email recipient fields in an electronic device An electronic device and a method implemented within the electronic device for disambiguating email recipient fields by extracting sufficient information from the domain portion of an intended recipient's email address to disambiguate between a personal and a business email address. An exemplary method includes parsing at least one of said multiple addresses in a recipient field of the email to extract information capable of distinguishing the at least one of said multiple addresses from at least another of the multiple addresses, and displaying the information in the recipient field of the email.
US08949354B2	Propagation of message having time-based information A method for propagating a message includes searching a plurality of messages for time-based information; associating located time-based information with the corresponding message as meta-data; extracting the meta-data and propagating the message as the time-based information approaches; and displaying the propagated message in a graphical user interface.
US08949348B2	Controlling message delivery in publish/subscribe messaging In response to publication of a topic message on a topic to a messaging system by a publisher application, a determination is made as to whether any subscriber applications are registered for the topic. In response to determining that at least one subscriber application is registered for the topic, the published topic message is delivered to each registered subscriber application. In response to determining that no subscriber applications are registered for the topic, the published topic message is stored and in response to receipt of a first subsequent subscription request from a new subscriber application for the topic, the stored published topic message is delivered to the new subscriber application.
US08949317B2	Metadata-configurable systems and methods for network services In some embodiments, the presentation manager is configured to provide an interface requesting information regarding a proposal from a digital device over a network and receive the information from the digital device. The business object manager is configured to instantiate a business object based on the received information and store the instantiated business object within a data structure residing in a computer readable medium. The business rule manager is configured to generate a business rule associated with the business object, the business rule comprising instructions to perform an operation, the instructions being conditional based on the instantiated business object. The metadata manager is configured to generate metadata associated with the instantiated business object, store the generated metadata in the computer readable medium, perform the operation based on the business rule and the generated metadata, and instruct the presentation manager to provide a second interface indicating a status of the proposal.
US08949316B2	Scalable high-performance interactive real-time media architectures for virtual desktop environments System for providing interactive two-way audio in desktop virtualization environment, the desktop virtualization environment comprising desktop virtualization server computer and desktop virtualization client endpoint device with associated microphone element. The system incorporates instance of server software executing on the desktop virtualization server and providing interactive user interface functions to associated desktop virtualization client endpoint device; and instance of endpoint software executing on the desktop virtualization client endpoint device including network port, the instance of endpoint software receiving an incoming real-time audio stream from the network port and providing real-time and audio playback functions on the desktop virtualization client endpoint device. In the system, the desktop virtualization client endpoint is configured to: accept real-time audio input from a microphone element associated with the desktop virtualization client endpoint; and provide an outgoing real-time compressed audio stream to the network port responsive to the real-time audio input from the microphone element.
US08949314B2	Method and apparatus for managing bookmark information for content stored in a networked media server A method and apparatus for managing bookmark information of a media server through a network based on the UPnP AV standard is disclosed. If a request for bookmarking a content item is made, a bookmark item is created and the created bookmark item is linked to the content item by adding the ID of the created bookmark item to the property information of the content item and recording the ID of the content item to be bookmarked in the created bookmark item.
US08949312B2	Updating clients from a server An embodiment generally relates to a method of updating clients from a server. The method includes maintaining a master copy of a software on a server and capturing changes to the master copy of the software on an update disk image, where the changes are contained in at least one chunk. The method also includes merging the update disk image with one of two client disk images of the client copy of the software.
US08949297B2	Content switch management Embodiments of a system and method manage a configuration of a plurality of content switching devices in a networked system by generating a first configuration data file and translating the first configuration data file into one or more device specific configuration data files, each device specific configuration file corresponding to a device type of the one or more content switching devices. Some embodiments of the system and method then communicate the one or more device specific configuration data files to each content switching device of a corresponding device type to configure each content switching device.
US08949288B1	Methods, systems, and products for accessing media Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for accessing media files. One such method accesses a hierarchically-arranged storage system storing media files. A graphical user interface is processed that has a single control. This single control allows a single input to select any media file within the hierarchical arrangement.
US08949287B2	Embedding hot spots in imaged documents A Mixed Media Reality (MMR) system and associated techniques are disclosed. The MMR system provides mechanisms for forming a mixed media document that includes media of at least two types (e.g., printed paper as a first medium and digital content and/or web link as a second medium). In one particular embodiment, the MMR system includes a method, system, and computer program product for adding a hotspot to an imaged document. A source document is converted to an imaged document, from which features are extracted. Hotspots are added to the imaged document, and the imaged document, hotspot definitions, and the feature representation are stored.
US08949281B2	System and method of hierarchical data containers A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for managing a computing environment, such as a cloud data repository. In some embodiments, such may include modifying an object or a component of an object at runtime and storing the modified object or modified component of an object in a storage device. In some embodiments, the component of an object being modified may include traits. In some embodiments, traits may be hierarchical data structures, including hierarchical data structures having more than one version. These hierarchical data structures may also contain or be associated with metadata, and may also make up the metadata of a host object. Embodiments provide that policies may be applied to these traits.
US08949277B1	Semantic geotokens Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing geographically relevant search results. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a geotoken for a resource. The geotoken can be a resource token that references a geographic location. A semantic geotoken can be selected using the received geotoken. The semantic geotoken is a standardized representation of the geographic location that includes one or more location-specific terms. The semantic geotoken is stored with a reference to the resource. Neighboring locations for the geographic location are determined. The neighboring locations are within a predetermined distance of the geographic location. Semantic geotokens for the neighboring locations are selected and stored with the reference to the resource. Data specifying the semantic geotokens and the reference to the resource are provided.
US08949265B2	System and method to provide query linguistic service In various example embodiments, a system and method to provide query linguistic service is provided. An initial query term set is received. Phrase recognition is performed on the initial query term set to determine recognized phrases. Using the determined recognized phrases, one or more synonyms for each of the recognized phrases are determined. Results matching the initial query term set and any selected synonyms from the determined one or more synonyms are determined.
US08949264B2	Disambiguating associations Disclosed herein is a technique for disambiguating associations between one keyword and multiple attributes of a database model and for disambiguating associations between one attribute of a database model and multiple attribute types.
US08949254B1	Enhancing the content and structure of a corpus of content Techniques for enhancing content are disclosed. In some embodiments, enhancing content includes automatically identifying a set of modifications to the existing content of a page that would result in the page satisfying a set of search properties and applying at least a subset of the set of modifications to the page. Furthermore, techniques for enhancing link structure are disclosed. In some embodiments, enhancing link structure includes automatically determining a constrained link structure for a set of pages that satisfies a set of one or more constraints and that is at least in part different from an existing link structure of the set of pages and making one or more modifications to the existing link structure to at least in part realize the constrained link structure for the set of pages.
US08949252B2	Product category optimization for image similarity searching of image-based listings in a network-based publication system A weighted combination of attributes including but not limited to color, shape, pattern, brand, style, size, and material may be used to rank items when searching for similar items of a given category on an ecommerce system website. The weights on each attribute may be optimized by using feedback from users, the feedback indicating the importance of each attribute to a purchaser when searching for similar items of various categories. Alternatively, click-through patterns from the ecommerce system website can be mined and used to optimize the importance of each attribute to users by item category. The optimum attribute weights for that items category are used to rank the results in a search for similar items in that category.
US08949236B2	Techniques for analyzing data from multiple sources Techniques, including systems are methods, for analyzing data from multiple sources are disclosed and suggested herein. In an embodiment, external information from one or more external information sources and internal information from one or more internal information sources is received. The received external information and internal information are stored in one or more data stores that collectively implement one or more ontologies. One or more conditions are applied to the external information and internal information in the one or more data stores to determine a conclusion and the conclusion is provided to a user.
US08949234B2	Processor engine, integrated circuit and method therefor A processor engine for affecting a website's position on at least one Internet search engine's page ranking comprises at least one processor. The at least one processor is arranged to: load (425) at least one search term into a program (425) running on the at least one processor; load (445) a target list comprising at least one website that is to be promoted; and create (420) an Internet connection. The at least one processor is further arranged to request a search of the at least one search term on the at least one Internet search engine; identify at least one website search hit that matches at least one website on the target list; and access the identified at least one website a plurality of times, affecting the at least one website's position on the Internet search engine's page ranking.
US08949227B2	System and method for matching entities and synonym group organizer used therein There is provided a method for managing at least one synonym group, wherein the method comprises the step of: when a synonym group comprises more than one synonym, calculating a similarity value between each two synonyms of all synonyms of the synonym group indicating how similar these two synonyms are to each other. The invention further provided a synonym group organizer, a matching system using the synonym group organizer and the methods thereof.
US08949219B2	Content management system that retrieves data from an external data source and creates one or more objects in the repository A content management system (CMS) provides a way to include data from an external source as an object in the repository managed by the CMS. The CMS includes an external data mechanism that processes a document with a query to a data source external to the repository. The external data mechanism executes the query, and creates one or more objects in the repository according to the type of data returned. Each object containing data returned from the query is linked to that query via a formal relationship in the CMS. When an object that has a formal relationship with a query is checked out of the repository, the query corresponding to the object may be executed, and the data returned from the query may be stored in the object. Alternatively, the data may be used directly if a corresponding lifecycle policy indicates the corresponding query should not be executed.
US08949209B2	Method and system for anonymizing data during export The present invention refers to a computer-implemented method of anonymizing data of a database (2), wherein the method comprises the following steps: a. exporting at least one data record (10) from the database (2), wherein the data record (10) has a structure and comprises content (100); and b. anonymizing at least part of the content (100) to produce at least one anonymized data record (3); c. wherein the anonymized data record (3) has the same structure than the data record (10) read from the database (2).
US08949207B2	Method and apparatus for decoding encoded structured data from a bit-stream A method for decoding encoded structured data from a bit-stream comprising a plurality of encoded data units having the steps of, obtaining unit information comprising positions of the encoded data units within the bit-stream, retrieving the encoded data units from the bit-stream based on the unit information, creating decoding tasks for decoding the retrieved encoded data units, assigning the created decoding tasks to cores of a multi-core decoder, based on estimated decoding costs of the encoded data units, running the tasks on their assigned cores to decode the encoded data units in parallel is disclosed. It is applied to the decoding of XML documents in the EXI format.
US08949191B2	Using versioning to back up multiple versions of a stored object Using a versioning feature of an authoring application to back up multiple versions of a stored object in single, version-enabled instance stored on backup media is disclosed. In some embodiments, an indication is received that a subsequent version data associated with an object an existing instance of which is stored in a backup storage location is to be backed up. A version control mechanism of an authoring application that created or updated the object as stored in a primary storage location is invoked to incorporate the subsequent version data into the existing instance of the object as stored in the backup storage location.
US08949184B2	Data collector A data collector may monitor a data source and identify updated data, which may be processed and prepared for inclusion into a search database. The data collector may have various handlers that may interact with a data source, which may be a database, web service, file system, collaboration system, or other source, and may store a identifying signature and content signature for each document or item. The signatures may be used to identify new, changed, or deleted items, and a payload may be created containing the updates.
US08949168B1	Managing a memory of an event-based analysis engine In one aspect, a method includes determining if a rule in a memory of an event-based analysis engine has been used by the event-based analysis engine within a predetermined period of time and moving the rule to a storage device if the rule in the memory of the event-based analysis engine has not been used by the event-based analysis engine within the predetermined period of time.
US08949166B2	Creating and processing a data rule for data quality A data rule is created and processed by receiving an expression defining a logic of a rule and at least one logical variable, creating a rule definition including the expression and the at least one logical variable for binding each logical variable of the rule with at least one column, associating a characteristic enabling comparison of columns with a first logical variable of the rule definition, and storing the characteristic as part of the rule definition.
US08949162B1	Customer experience in network-based services Disclosed herein are systems, devices, and techniques for using collective intelligence to improve a customer's experience when using network-based services. Data generated as a byproduct of one or more customer interactions with the network-based service may be repeatedly gathered, optionally stored, and analyzed to generate collective intelligence information. This collective intelligence information may be compared to various assessed parameters associated with a characteristic (i.e., a type and/or a configuration) of a computer resource(s), parameters associated with a state of the network-based service provider environment, and/or a customer experience criterion specified by the customer.
US08949161B2	Cache management system and method and content distribution system incorporating the same A cache management system and method and a content distribution system. In one embodiment, the cache management system includes: (1) a content request receiver configured to receive content requests, (2) a popularity lifetime prediction modeler coupled to the content request receiver and configured to generate popularity lifetime prediction models for content that can be cached based on at least some of the content requests, (3) a database coupled to the popularity lifetime prediction modeler and configured to contain the popularity lifetime prediction models and (4) a popularity lifetime prediction model matcher coupled to the content request receiver and the database and configured to match at least one content request to the popularity lifetime prediction models and control a cache based thereon.
US08949157B2	Estimation of protein-compound interaction and rational design of compound library based on chemical genomic information A data processing method for an estimation of compound-protein interaction using both chemical substance information, such as a chemical property of the compound, and biological information, such as sequence information of genes to rationally and efficiently screen compounds. First space representing space coordinates of a first chemical substance group and second space representing space coordinates of a second chemical substance group are defined, and the first chemical substance group is characterized by a first characteristic amount and the second chemical substance group is characterized by a second characteristic amount, and map transformation of the coordinates of the first space and the coordinates of the second space results in the solution so as to increase the correlation between the first space and the second space using a multivariable analysis technique or a machine learning method.
US08949149B2	Attribute based inventory usage and stocking A novel and non-obvious method, system and apparatus for controlling inventory stocking and usage based on part attributes. A method for controlling inventory stocking and usage based on part attributes that can include establishing a stock footprint, which maps stocking locations to attributes on a part, establishing a usage strategy, which maps a prioritized list of attributes to a part request order type, establishing a usage characteristic set, which maps a set of usage characteristics to the usage strategy, receiving a request order, and, applying the established usage strategy to the received request order based on matching a characteristic set of the received request order with the usage characteristic set of the established usage strategy.
US08949147B1	Methods and systems for tracking a product or service within a supply Methods and systems for the efficient tracking of a product or service within the product or service's life cycle within a supply chain. Implementations of the present invention including at least one of a method, a process, a system, an apparatus, a computer-readable medium, and a data stream. The methods and systems of the present invention providing a user with the capability to track an item or order, shipment status, or to check an inventory quantity utilizing any one of a plurality of identification numbers. The methods and systems of the present invention also providing the user with the capability to track an item or order, shipment status, or to check an inventory quantity utilizing a partial identification number. The methods and systems of the present invention further providing for secure access via a globally-distributed computer network, such as the Internet. A graphical user interface is provided that is intuitive and user friendly.
US08949145B2	Systems and methods for the selection and purchase of digital assets The present invention provides systems and methods for enabling a customer to sample content and select content for purchasing while the customer is in a retail store. Advantageously, the customer may be given one or more options for the delivery of the content.
US08949144B2	POS terminal and POS system using mobile terminal A point-of-sale (POS) terminal and a POS system, by which the cost spent for the establishment of the POS system is reduced. Ordering, payment and management of sales information can be conducted irrespective of location, thereby maximizing user convenience. The general functions of a POS terminal, such as barcode scanning, near-field communication (NFC), signing, and the like, can be performed based on a variety of functions of a mobile terminal in order to provide an optimum solution in any sales environment.
US08949143B2	Smart data filter for POS systems The inventive system and method for processing transactional data in a point of sale environment that has a video device, a POS terminal and an end recording device comprises a configuration tool, and a filtering unit having a filter comprising subfilters for filtering transactional data, such that the configuration tool creates the filter. The configuration tool can create and/or modify the filter based on user input, and this input can be through a web interface. In the alternative, the system also has at least one pre-defined set of rules accessible through a web interface, such that the configuration tool uses one of the pre-defined sets of rules to create the filter.
US08949134B2	Method and apparatus for recording/replaying application execution with recorded voice recognition utterances A diagnostic tool for speech recognition applications is provided, which enables a administrator to collect multiple recorded speech sessions. The administrator can then search for various failure points common to one or more of the recorded sessions in order to get a list of all sessions that have the same failure points. The invention allows the administrator to playback the session or replay any portion of the session to see the flow of the application and the recorded utterances. The invention provides the administrator with information about how to maximize the efficiency of the application which enables the administrator to edit the application to avoid future failure points.
US08949132B2	System and method of providing a spoken dialog interface to a website Disclosed is a method for training a spoken dialog service component from website data. Spoken dialog service components typically include an automatic speech recognition module, a language understanding module, a dialog management module, a language generation module and a text-to-speech module. The method includes selecting anchor texts within a website based on a term density, weighting those anchor texts based on a percent of salient words to total words, and incorporating the weighted anchor texts into a live spoken dialog interface, the weights determining a level of incorporation into the live spoken dialog interface.
US08949125B1	Annotating maps with user-contributed pronunciations Systems and methods are provided to select a most typical pronunciation of a location name on a map from a plurality of user pronunciations. A server generates a reference speech model based on user pronunciations, compares the user pronunciations with the speech model and selects a pronunciation based on comparison. Alternatively, the server compares the distance between one the user pronunciations and every other user pronunciations and selects a pronunciation based on comparison. The server then annotates the map with the selected pronunciation and provides the audio output of the location name to a user device upon a user's request.
US08949122B2	Stored phrase reutilization when testing speech recognition A set of audio phrases and corresponding phrase characteristics can be maintained, such as in a database. The phrase characteristics can include a translation of speech in the associated audio phrase. A finite state grammar that includes a set of textual phrases can be received. A software algorithm can execute to compare the set of textual phrases against the translations associated with the maintained audio phrases. A result of the software algorithm execution can be produced, where the result indicates phrase coverage for the finite state grammar based upon the audio phrases.
US08949121B2	Method and means for encoding background noise information The inventive method provides for an encoder in a voice codec to be designed such that after a particular idle time (“Idle Period”) it recalculates the averaged energy and the autocorrelation function. Administrative points in the network inform the encoder about the idle time which has been set in the transmission network.
US08949116B2	Signal processing method and apparatus for amplifying speech signals A signal processing method is provided. The signal processing method includes extracting a first signal having a first frequency band from a sum signal of a left signal and a right signal, generating a second signal having a second frequency band by using the first signal, generating a third signal by using the first signal and the second signal, and applying a gain, generated by using a rate of a center signal included in the sum signal, to the third signal.
US08949086B2	Accurate determination of particle positioned on free surface in particle method Methods, an apparatus, and a computer program product for determining whether or not a particle belongs to free surface particles, in a calculation process of a particle method in which a continuum subjected to calculation analysis is collectively modeled with a free surface by a plurality of particles. One of the methods includes the steps of: determining whether any other particle exists within a predetermined range with respect to the particle by referencing to identification information stored in a memory, where the other particle belongs to the free surface, and storing in the memory near free surface identification information which is set as near free surface if the other particle belonging to the free surface exists and set as sufficiently inside if the other free surface particle belonging to the free surface does not exist.
US08949080B2	Methods of designing integrated circuits and systems thereof A method of designing an integrated circuit includes performing a pre-layout simulation of the integrated circuit. The pre-layout simulation is performed using a netlist generated from a process design kit (PDK) file. The PDK file includes a plurality of device model cards that are assigned to plurality of devices. The plurality of devices include a first device having at least one parasitic diode that is associated with at least one isolation well, the PDK file including information of the at least one parasitic diode. A design layout of the integrated circuit corresponding to a result of the pre-layout simulation is generated.
US08949075B2	Blind logger dynamic caller Described is an apparatus and method for remotely controlling the call interval of an environmental instrument for a water quality monitoring apparatus based on environmental data obtained by one or more environmental instruments.
US08949074B2	Methods and systems for testing ability to conduct a research operation Methods and systems for testing an ability of a Portable User Appliance (PUA) and/or a research data gathering system coupled therewith including a method for testing an ability of a PUA to carry out a research operation, comprises communicating a testing message to the PUA and/or research data gathering system coupled therewith, the testing message comprising one of a test command to test its ability to carry out a research operation, and test data to establish, enable or provide a capability thereof to test its ability to carry out a research operation.
US08949062B2	Test module, test apparatus, and test method Provided is a test module comprising a specified pattern detecting section that detects a specified pattern output in response to a specified test pattern from a device under test outputting output patterns in response to test patterns; a timing detecting section that detects a timing at which the specified pattern is detected; and a phase adjusting section that adjusts phases of the output patterns to match phases of expected value patterns, which are expected from the device under test as responses to the test patterns, based on the timing detected by the timing detecting section.
US08949059B2	Method for calibrating clinical chemistry instruments A method of deriving correction for instrument-to-instrument variations in the illumination band centroid wavelengths and wavelength band shapes of the optical systems of clinical chemistry instruments includes the steps of determining the centroid wavelength and wavelength band shape of a light source used in the optical system of a clinical chemistry instrument to provide a determined wavelength band shape and centroid wavelength, comparing the determined wavelength band shape and centroid wavelength with a known reflection density or absorbance wavelength spectrum of a specific type of chemical reagent test to provide a correction value, and calculating the correction value, which is to be used to modify a reflection density or absorbance measurement taken by the instrument of a reagent test of the a specific type of chemical reagent test.
US08949058B2	System for determining the load mass of a load carried by a hoist cable of a crane The present disclosure relates to a system for determining the load mass of a load carried by a hoist cable of a crane, said system comprising a measurement arrangement for measuring the cable load in the hoist cable and a calculation unit for determining the load mass on the basis of the cable force, wherein the calculation unit has a compensation unit which describes and at least partly compensates the effect of the indirect determining of the load mass via the cable force in a model.
US08949057B1	Method for compensating for wafer shape measurement variation due to variation of environment temperature Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for reducing measurement error resulting from temperature variations across a wafer, without measuring the wafer temperature, the temperature gradient in the surrounding air, or the distribution of the index of refraction of the air.
US08949051B2	Apparatus and method for sub-metering of household devices An apparatus and method for estimating resource consumption of a household device, e.g., an appliance. The method comprises determining a resource demand profile for a household device for a given time period, the resource demand profile associating, for the given time period, a device state of the household device with a total resource demand for the household. In one embodiment, the apparatus can be incorporated into an energy management system, where the apparatus collects data from each of the appliances in a household as well as from a resource meter.
US08949044B2	Control device, control method and program A control device includes a force detector configured to detect a force in a normal direction and a force in a shearing direction of fingertips of a robot hand device respectively as a normal force and a shearing force, and an object detector configured to calculate a friction coefficient using the normal force and the shearing force detected by the force detector and to detect whether or not a thin-film object having a maximum friction coefficient different from a maximum stationary friction coefficient between the fingertips is grasped between the fingertips on the basis of the calculation result.
US08949038B2	Controlling bitumen quality in solvent-assisted bitumen extraction Described herein is a method of controlling bitumen quality in a process stream within a solvent-assisted bitumen extraction operation, for instance a hydrocarbon stream from a froth separation unit (FSU). Bitumen quality is a measure of the amount of selected contaminants in the process stream. Contaminants may include asphaltenes (comprising metal porphyrins), sulfur, and inorganic solids (comprising inorganic elements, e.g. Si, Al, Ti, Fe, Na, K, Mg, and Ca). First, the amounts of selected contaminants are measured. Next, these measured values are compared to maximum reference values. If one or more of these contaminants is higher than the maximum reference value, at least one variable of the solvent-assisted bitumen extraction is adjusted to improve bitumen quality.
US08949032B2	Multicellular metabolic models and methods The invention provides a computer readable medium or media, having: (a) a first data structure relating a plurality of reactants to a plurality of reactions from a first cell, each of said reactions comprising a reactant identified as a substrate of the reaction, a reactant identified as a product of the reaction and a stoichiometric coefficient relating said substrate and said product; (b) a second data structure relating a plurality of reactants to a plurality of reactions from a second cell, each of said reactions comprising a reactant identified as a substrate of the reaction, a reactant identified as a product of the reaction and a stoichiometric coefficient relating said substrate and said product; (c) a third data structure relating a plurality of intra-system reactants to a plurality of intra-system reactions between said first and second cells, each of said intra-system reactions comprising a reactant identified as a substrate of the reaction, a reactant identified as a product of the reaction and a stoichiometric coefficient relating said substrate and said product; (d) a constraint set for said plurality of reactions for said first, second and third data structures, and (e) commands for determining at least one flux distribution that minimizes or maximizes an objective function when said constraint set is applied to said first and second data structures, wherein said at least one flux distribution is predictive of a physiological function of said first and second cells. The first, second and third data structures also can include a plurality of data structures. Additionally provided is a method for predicting a physiological function of a multicellular organism. The method includes: (a) providing a first data structure relating a plurality of reactants to a plurality of reactions from a first cell, each of said reactions comprising a reactant identified as a substrate of the reaction, a reactant identified as a product of the reaction and a stoichiometric coefficient relating said substrate and said product; (b) providing a second data structure relating a plurality of reactants to a plurality of reactions from a second cell, each of said reactions comprising a reactant identified as a substrate of the reaction, a reactant identified as a product of the reaction and a stoichiometric coefficient relating said substrate and said product; (c) providing a third data structure relating a plurality of intra-system reactants to a plurality of intra-system reactions between said first and second cells, each of said intra-system reactions comprising a reactant identified as a substrate of the reaction, a reactant identified as a product of the reaction and a stoichiometric coefficient relating said substrate and said product; (d) providing a constraint set for said plurality of reactions for said first, second and third data structures; (e) providing an objective function, and (f) determining at least one flux distribution that minimizes or maximizes an objective function when said constraint set is applied to said first and second data structures, wherein said at least one flux distribution is predictive of a physiological function of said first and second cells.
US08949031B2	Seismic survey method of the subsoil A method for obtaining a volumetric image of a geological structure in the subsoil includes generating a plurality of seismic waves by plural seismic sources, acquiring signals or traces obtained by processing the seismic waves reflected by the geological structure for creating a seismic record or shot gather for the activation position of each seismic source, migrating, through a numerical processing, each shot gather to create a respective partial volumetric image of the geological structure, summing the single partial volumetric images to obtain the overall volumetric image of the geological structure, the summing of the single partial volumetric images being obtained by grouping the seismic sources into groups, grouping the groups of seismic sources into super-groups, and effecting N migrations for each super-group.
US08949030B2	Attenuating sea-surface ghost wave effects in seismic data A method for processing seismic data. The method includes receiving the seismic data acquired by at least two receivers that are disposed at different depths. The method may then time-align the seismic data, collect a portion of the time-aligned seismic data into a gather and sum the collected time-aligned seismic data in the gather. After summing the collected time-aligned seismic data in the gather, the method may widen a spectrum of the summed seismic data and generate an image of subsurface formations in the earth based on the widened spectrum.
US08949028B1	Multi-modal route planning A route start point and a route end point are specified. Data is retrieved relating to a vehicle type for possible use on the route, and including at least one attribute of each of one or more possible route waypoints, the at least one attribute relating to at least parking availability for the vehicle type. A route is determined between the start point and the end point at least in part by applying the route parameter to the attribute.
US08949027B2	Multiple truth reference system and method A system comprises a plurality of reference navigation systems, each reference navigation system configured to generate a respective reference navigation solution. The system also comprises a test navigation system, the test navigation system configured to generate a test navigation solution; and a processing unit configured to compare the test navigation solution to each of the respective reference navigation solutions to estimate one or more errors in the differences between the test navigation solution and the respective reference navigation solutions. The processing unit is further configured to update the respective reference navigation solutions to account for the corresponding one or more estimated errors. The processing unit is also configured to compare the test navigation solution to the updated reference navigation solutions to generate a performance score representative of the performance of the test navigation system.
US08948999B2	Fuel injection during negative valve overlap for stoichiometric diesel operations A method of stoichiometrically operating a diesel-fueled internal combustion engine. During a main (conventional) fuel injection event, fuel is injected into the cylinders. The air-fuel ratio during this main fuel injection event is stoichiometric. The cylinders are operated by either advancing the exhaust valve closing or modifying the phasing of the exhaust and intake valve lift events, to achieve a negative valve overlap period between the end of the exhaust phase and the beginning of the intake phase of the engine cycle. Fuel is injected into the cylinders during the negative valve overlap period, which results in highly reactive fuel and reduces ignition delay during the main fuel injection event.
US08948984B2	Operator interface with tactile feedback An operator interface assembly for a machine is disclosed. The operator interface assembly comprises a base, an operator input device operable to move in a first direction in relation to the base to a second position and a third position, a first biasing member including a first spring end, and operatively associated with the base and wherein the first spring end is operable to contact the operator input device at a first position and resist movement of the operator input device in the first direction, a second biasing member including a second spring end, and operatively associated with the base and wherein the second spring end is operable to contact the operator input device at the second position, the second position different than the first position, and resist movement of the operator input device in the first direction, and a position sensor.
US08948961B2	Apparatus and method for detecting a pedestrian impact A method and an apparatus for detecting a pedestrian impact, at least three acceleration sensors being provided which are respectively mounted on the inner side of the bumper cladding and each generate a signal. The pedestrian impact is detected as a function of a time offset between at least two of the three signals. The impact location is identified on the basis of the at least one time offset.
US08948945B2	Hybrid vehicle A hybrid vehicle is equipped with a required driving force acquiring element 22 which obtains a required driving force necessary to be output, and an electric motor driving force acquiring element 23 which acquires a maximum electric motor driving force Tm capable of being output by the force output from an electric motor MG according to each speed stage, taking into consideration a remaining capacity of an electric storage device BATT. When the required driving force Tq is equal to or smaller than the maximum electric motor driving force Tm, a highest speed stage in which the electric motor MG is capable of outputting the required driving force Tq is determined, an automatic transmission 1 is controlled so that the determined speed stage is set, and the vehicle is made to travel only by the force of the electric motor MG.
US08948943B2	Drive control system in series-hybrid vehicle A drive control system in a series-hybrid utility vehicle comprises a motor for driving a wheel; a battery; an engine electric generator for generating the electric power charged into the battery; and a controller configured to estimate an SOC value of the battery, and control the motor and the engine electric generator in accordance with an HV mode or an EV mode; wherein when the estimated SOC value is less than a predetermined low threshold, the controller stops electric power supply from the battery to the motor; and when the estimated SOC value is less than a predetermined medium threshold greater than the predetermined low threshold, the controller sets the HV mode, and controls the motor and the engine electric generator such that a driving power of the motor is suppressed in a state where the motor is supplied with the electric power from the battery.
US08948936B2	Vehicle management system using finite state machines A system includes a plurality of actuators and a management system operably associated with the plurality electronic and mechanical devices. The management architecture includes interfaces configured to the entire electronics and mechanics to provide a parameter to a computer. The computer includes a control and management architecture using modular finite state flow designs configured to analyze the parameter. The computer with a plurality of finite state machines can conduct a plurality of control laws operably associated with one or more actuators for finite functions of mobility. The method includes matching the parameter with the finite state machine and controlling the actuator via control law operably associated with finite state machine. The method can therefore be achieved either manually, semi-autonomously and autonomously with seamless and switchless control using a central control computer with integration of electronic and mechanic sensors and devices.
US08948920B2	Controlling temperature in a refrigerated transport container Temperature is controlled in a refrigerated transport container comprising a transport volume, a control unit, a cooling space, one or more fans providing air flow through the cooling space, where air passing through the cooling space passes a return air temperature sensor, a cooling unit, and a supply air temperature sensor. Supply air temperature (Tsup) is controlled to bring temperatures in the transport volume within a desired temperature range around a first temperature set point (Tset). The supply air temperature (Tsup) or a time-averaged function thereof is controlled to reach a temperature below the set point (Tset) during a first limited time period; and the supply air temperature (Tsup) is increased during a second limited time period following said first time period, so that the supply air temperature (Tsup) or a time-averaged function thereof at the end of said second time period is within said desired temperature range.
US08948898B2	Method for operating a gluing system A method for operating a gluing system (10) for gluing blanks for producing and/or packaging cigarettes or other smokable objects, in which the blanks are conveyed along glue valves (11) of the gluing system (10), in which case, in order to control and/or regulate the glue valves (11), a superordinate master controller (13) respectively transmits values of at least one control and/or regulation parameter to individual controllers (15) which are assigned to the glue valves (11), are subordinate to the master controller (13) and are each connected to the superordinate master controller (13) via a suitable data connection, the subordinate controller (15) using said values to control and/or regulate the glue valve (11) assigned to it.
US08948894B2	Method of selectively inserting an audio clip into a primary audio stream A method of processing audio signals in which an audio signature of a primary audio stream is compared to a set of audio signatures corresponding to a series of separate audio clips is disclosed. One of the audio clips from the series of separate audio clips is selected for insertion into the primary audio stream such that the selected audio clip has an audio signature that most closely matches the audio signature of the primary audio stream. The matching and selecting steps are performed by at least one signal processing electronic device.
US08948891B2	Method and apparatus for encoding/decoding multi-channel audio signal by using semantic information A multi-channel audio signal encoding and decoding method and apparatus are provided. The multi-channel audio signal encoding method, the method including: obtaining semantic information for each channel; determining a degree of similarity between multi-channels based on the obtained semantic information for each channel; determining similar channels among the multi-channels based on the determined degree of similarity between the multi-channels; and determining spatial parameters between the similar channels and down-mixing audio signals of the similar channels.
US08948890B2	Systems and methods for managing emissions from an engine of a vehicle Disclosed embodiments include methods of removing carbon dioxide from combustion gas from an engine of a vehicle, systems for removing carbon dioxide from combustion gas from an engine of a vehicle, vehicles, methods of managing carbon dioxide emissions from an engine of a vehicle, and computer software program products for managing carbon dioxide emissions from an engine of a vehicle.
US08948889B2	Methods and apparatus for tuning circuit components of a communication device A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for detecting a plurality of use cases of a communication device, determining an initial tuning state for each of a plurality of tuning algorithms according to the plurality of use cases, configuring each of the plurality of tuning algorithms according to their respective initial tuning state, executing a first tuning algorithm of the plurality of tuning algorithms according to an order of execution of the plurality of tuning algorithms, detecting a stability condition of the first tuning algorithm, and executing a second tuning algorithm of the plurality of tuning algorithms responsive to the detected stability condition of the first tuning algorithm. Each tuning algorithms can control one of a tunable reactive element, a control interface, or both of one of a plurality of circuit components of a radio frequency circuit. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08948880B2	Integrated switching circuit and pulse generator in a neurostimulator lead A stimulation lead for connecting a pulse generator having a plurality of outputs to electrodes of an electrode array includes a flexible body and the electrode array. The electrode array is distal to the flexible body and the flexible body has a proximal portion and an interface portion. A selection circuit within the interface portion has a plurality of inputs, each input of the selection circuit connected to an output of the pulse generator and a plurality of outputs, each output of the selection circuit being coupled to a respective one of the electrodes of the electrode array. The plurality of outputs of the selection circuit are greater in number than the plurality of outputs of the pulse generator.
US08948878B2	Method and device for treatment of conditions aggravated by amyloid fibrils A method and device for treating a condition aggravated by the presence of amyloid fibrils is disclosed. The method includes applying a plurality of ultra-short pulses to target tissue comprising amyloid fibrils. The plurality of ultra-short pulses produce an electric field in the target tissue sufficient to change a molecular structure of the amyloid fibrils without causing the death, destruction, or serious injury of healthy cells surrounding the target tissue. For example, the plurality of ultra-short pulses can be sufficient to change the molecular structure of amyloid fibrils without causing apoptosis or necrosis of surrounding cells. The ultra-short pulses can be applied using an electrode device or a wideband antenna. The ultra-short pulses can have a duration ranging from 1 ps to 10 ns, an amplitude ranging from 100 V to 1 MV, and can apply an electrical field to the target tissue ranging from 1 kV/cm to 1 MV/cm.
US08948870B2	Energy harvesting mechanism Embodiments of the invention provide an energy harvesting mechanism comprising a central conductive element and a plurality of transductive elements. Each transductive element is positioned to be in contact with a corresponding peripheral length segment of the central conductive element. Also each transductive element is deformable in a characteristic radial direction to convert its deformation into a corresponding electrical signal. The plurality of transductive elements are arranged so that any one of the plurality of transductive elements is capable of being deformed in the characteristic radial direction to trigger the corresponding electrical signal. Embodiments of the mechanism can be used for harvesting energy from a variety of bio-kinetic events such as a heartbeat, respiration, muscle contraction or other movement. Such embodiments can be used for powering a variety of implanted medical devices such as pacemakers, defibrillators and various monitoring devices.
US08948869B2	Criteria for optimal electrical resynchronization derived from multipolar leads or multiple electrodes during biventricular pacing Generally, the disclosure is directed one or more methods or systems of cardiac pacing employing a right ventricular electrode and a plurality of left ventricular electrodes. Pacing using the right ventricular electrode and a first one of the left ventricular electrodes and measuring activation times at other ones of the left ventricular electrodes. Pacing using the right ventricular electrode and a second one of the ventricular electrodes and measuring activation times at other ones of the left ventricular electrodes. Employing sums of the measured activation times to select one of the left ventricular electrodes for delivery of subsequent pacing pulses.
US08948863B2	Photokinetic ocular drug delivery methods and apparatus The present invention relates generally to transscleral, transcorneal, and transocular delivery of biologically active substances through the tissues, blood vessels and cellular membranes of the eyes of patients without causing damage to the cellular surface, tissue or membrane. The invention provides compositions and methods for enhanced transscleral, transcorneal and transocular delivery of biologically active substances using pulsed incoherent light, and particularly the transcleral, transcorneal or transocular delivery of high molecular weight biologically active substances to a patient using pulsed incoherent light. The invention further provides a device for the application of the pulsed incoherent light to cellular surfaces and membranes of the eye of a subject using those compositions and methods.
US08948852B2	Imaging volumes with arbitrary geometries in non-contact tomography A method for tomographic imaging of diffuse medium includes directing waves into a diffusive medium, solving a surface-bounded inversion problem by forward field calculations through decomposition of contributions from the multiple reflections from an arbitrary surface within the diffusive medium or outside the diffusive medium into a sum of different orders of reflection up to an arbitrary order, and using contact or non-contact measurements of waves outside said diffusive medium to generate a tomographic image.
US08948842B2	Radiation treatment with multiple imaging elements Methods, and apparatuses are provided that include a first imaging element configured to generate a first observation of a first object, the first observation of the first object being generated at a first time, wherein the first object is associated with a volume of interest (VOI). The system further includes a second imaging element configured to generate a first observation of a second object, wherein the first observation of the second object is generated at a second time, and the second object is associated with the VOI. A first positioning of the VOI is determined based on the first observation of the first object and the first observation of the second object, a third time for the first imaging element is determined based on a positioning parameter associated with the first positioning of the VOI, and a second observation of the first object is generated at the third time.
US08948841B2	MR-tracking based on magnetic signature selective excitation The present invention relates to a MR tracking method and device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a magnetic resonance tracking method and device, using a magnetic-susceptible object. A magnetic iso-surface induced by the object is selectively excited with a corresponding frequency offset; the magnetic iso-surface is then projected on three axes of a k-space, from which projections the spatial position of the object is calculated.
US08948832B2	Wearable heart rate monitor Some embodiments provide a wearable fitness monitoring device including a motion sensor and a photoplethysmographic (PPG) sensor. The PPG sensor includes (i) a periodic light source, (ii) a photo detector, and (iii) circuitry determining a user's heart rate from an output of the photo detector. Some embodiments provide methods for operating a heart rate monitor of a wearable fitness monitoring device to measure one or more characteristics of a heartbeat waveform. Some embodiments provide methods for operating the wearable fitness monitoring device in a low power state when the device determines that the device is not worn by a user. Some embodiments provide methods for operating the wearable fitness monitoring device in a normal power state when the device determines that the device is worn by a user.
US08948828B2	Apparatus and method for cooling a super conducting machine An apparatus and a method for cooling a super conducting machine are disclosed, in which at least two condenser areas each make thermal contact with a cold head, and in which the at least two condenser areas each have a connecting line, via which the at least two condenser areas are connected fluidically to an evaporator area. A liquid cooling fluid can be moved or pumped from at least one condenser area into the evaporator area by way of a temperature difference, and a pressure difference associated therewith, in the at least two condenser areas.
US08948827B2	Mobile communication device A mobile communication device includes a substrate, a metal frame, a feeding portion, and a parasitic portion. The substrate includes a ground plane and a non-ground area. The metal frame surrounds the substrate and includes a plurality of gaps to form a first frame element and a second frame element separated from each other. The first frame element is electrically connected to the ground plane. The feeding portion and the parasitic portion are located in the non-ground area. A first end of the feeding portion is configured to receive a feeding signal, and a second end of the feeding portion is an open end. The parasitic portion is electrically connected to the second frame element and the ground plane. The feeding portion, the second frame element, and the parasitic portion of the mobile communication device constitute a loop antenna.
US08948820B2	Portable electronic device A portable electronic device includes a display unit; an input detection unit that detects an input to the display unit, and a lock control unit that sets or releases a locked state for a part or all of functions of the portable electronic device when a predetermined input is detected by the input detection unit, wherein the predetermined input includes inputs, in which a preset screen operation is continuously performed by a predetermined number of times in an area of the display unit.
US08948819B2	Mobile terminal A mobile terminal including a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one other terminal; a touch screen; an input unit configured to generate input data; and a controller configured to activate a handwriting input function in response to the input data generated by the input unit, capture an image of a display screen being displayed on the touch screen, receive handwriting input received through the touch screen, generate output data corresponding to the received handwriting input, and generate a file including the generated output data and the captured image of the display screen.
US08948816B2	Timing adjustments for small cell distributed antenna systems A distributed antenna system includes a host unit communicatively coupled to a first service provider interface which receives a first signal from the first service provider interface; and a first remote antenna unit communicatively coupled to the host unit, the first remote antenna unit having a first antenna. A base station to which the distributed antenna system is communicatively coupled is configured with a subscriber access timing window having a minimum allowed delay and a maximum allowed delay. The distributed antenna system is configured so that a first total delay between the host unit and the first remote antenna unit is equal to or greater than the minimum allowed delay. The first antenna of the first remote antenna unit is configured to communicate the first signal to a first subscriber unit.
US08948804B2	Virtual slide-to-lock feature for push-to-talk communication applications A virtual Slide-to-Lock feature for communication devices running a PTT application. When the Slide-to-Lock feature is activated, a PTT locking function on the communication device is activated. As a result, messages on the communication device may be created, without the need of the user to continuously hold or select a Hold-to-Talk or similar PTT feature. In one non-exclusive embodiment, the virtual Slide-to-Lock feature is activated when a finger is moved from a first region to a second region on a touch-sensitive display screen and de-activated with the opposite motion.
US08948798B2	Transmission control device, reception control device, and content transceiving system A transmission control device may include an acquiring unit to acquire information indicating an orientation of a transmission apparatus. In addition, the device may include a control unit to control the transmission apparatus to transmit to a reception apparatus content of the transmission apparatus when an operation is performed to the transmission apparatus after the information indicating the orientation is acquired, the operation corresponding to the orientation.
US08948797B2	Registering client computing devices for online communication sessions Registering a client computing device for online communication sessions. A registration server receives a message that has a push token that is unique to the client computing device and a phone number of the client computing device from an SMS (Short Message Service) transit device, which received an SMS message having the push token from the client computing device and determined the phone number of the client computing device from that SMS message. The registration server associates the push token and the phone number and stores it in a registration data store, which is used for inviting users for online communication sessions.
US08948795B2	System and method for dynamic spam detection A flexible, extensible, and dynamically configurable anti-spam facility that operates on a general quanta of data (such as for example a Short Message Service message, a Multimedia Message Service message, an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem message, a Wireless Application Protocol stream, an Electronic Mail message, an Instant Messaging exchange, streaming (audio, video, etc.) data, etc.), innovatively analyzes various attributes of same (such as for example originating address and destination address), and—when an instance of spam is identified—performs one or more remediation activities (such as for example updating a blacklist, updating a greylist, dropping a message, issuing an alert, etc.). The facility may optionally leverage the capabilities of a centrally-located Messaging Inter-Carrier Vendor.
US08948776B2	Secondary user selection in cooperative sensing scheduling Cooperative spectral channel sensing techniques are applied in a cognitive radio network (CRN). Network characteristics and target parameter thresholds can be determined. An overall number of secondary users (SUs) assigned to sense a number of primary user (PU) channels can be determined. Further, it can be determined how many SUs to assign to sense each PU channel. In one aspect, SUs are allowed to access to PU channels based on spectrum opportunities determined by the cooperative spectral channel sensing techniques.
US08948761B2	Prioritizing radio access technologies for measurement Each entry in a prioritized measurement list defines a unique combination of frequency layer and radio access technology (RAT) for cells. Based on signal strength and/or signal quality of the serving cell, a set of entries for measuring is selected from a neighbor list according to the prioritized measurement list and according to a selection rule. The selection rule provides: for the case the at least signal strength or quality of the serving cell is higher than a respective strength/quality threshold, the selected set is a first set; and for the case the at least signal strength or quality of the serving cell is lower than a respective strength/quality threshold, the selected set is a different second set of the prioritized measurement list that excludes all frequency layers of the prioritized measurement list belonging to the RAT having a highest (or alternatively a lowest) priority.
US08948753B2	Method of providing notification of abnormal conditions during non-access stratum (NAS) message tunneling The present invention provides a method that includes generating, in response to a non-access stratum (NAS) message transmitted between a mobility management entity and a visiting location register, a response message including information indicating a message type, an identifier of a mobile unit associated with the NAS message, and a cause associated with generating the response message. The method also includes transmitting the response message.
US08948751B2	Methods and apparatus for radio resource control Improved systems and techniques for controlling access to network resources. A base station broadcasts extended access barring (EAB) and access class barring (ACB) information. Upon a determination by a user equipment that the user equipment requires service from the base station, the user equipment determines its EAB category and call type. The user equipment receives the EAB and ACB information broadcast by the base station and determines if it is subject to EAB based on its EAB category. If the user equipment is not subject to EAB, the user equipment determines if its call type is subject to ACB and, if the call type is subject to ACB, applies access class barring based on its call type.
US08948747B2	Overlapping cells for wireless coverage A system is provided for overlapping cells for wireless coverage in a cellular communication system. The system includes a beam-weight generator and beamformer coupled to the beam-weight generator. The beam-weight generator is configured to generate a plurality of beam weights including at least first and second sets of beam weights. And the beamformer is configured to apply the first and second sets of beam weights to signals in a cellular communication system. The cellular communication system provides coverage over a geographic region divided into cells arranged in overlapping first and second layers of cells having criteria optimized for communication by respective, distinct first and second types of user terminals. In this regard, the criteria are reflected in the first and second sets of beam weights.
US08948738B2	Generating alerts based on predicted wireless connection losses A method and system for generating alerts based on predicted wireless connection losses. A message is received that includes a first position of a mobile device, an indication of a service being provided to the mobile device via a wireless connection provided by a first bearer, and an mobile device identifier. A direction and speed of the mobile device is received. An amount of time elapsing before the mobile device moves to a second position at which the mobile device experiences a loss of the wireless connection via the first bearer is predicted. An alert that indicates that the loss is occurring in the amount of time is generated. The alert is sent to the mobile device as a response to the message.
US08948732B1	System and method for responding to service requests and facilitating communication between relevant parties Various systems, methods, and computer program products for responding to service requests and facilitating communication between relevant parties are provided. The system may receive a request from a user, obtain a user location, identify a service provider such as an emergency response center based on the location, facilitate coordination of response efforts, and provide a page that is shared between various parties such as the user, contacts of the user, an operator, and a responder. The various parties may provide to the system inputs such as video to capture what is currently happening. The page may be updated with the inputs, include a status of the service request such as whether responders have been dispatched, and include a current location of the responders and other users. Using the page, various parties may obtain real-time situational awareness of an event that culminated in the service request and communicate with other users.
US08948731B2	Rating of message content for content control in wireless devices Systems, methodologies, and devices are described that facilitate filtering content sent to a mobile device(s) by a content provider via a core network. A content provider can determine a content rating for content, and/or the core network and/or mobile device can determine or infer a content rating for unrated content from a content provider, based in part on predefined content rating criteria. A mobile device user can specify a desired content rating preference for the mobile device. A filter(s) respectively associated with the core network and/or mobile device can filter the content based in part on the content rating of the content and the content rating preference of the mobile device to which the content is being sent. Content that does not meet a content rating threshold can be filtered out and stored in a secure content folder accessible using a security code or discarded.
US08948729B2	Secure device configuration profiles A method for configuring a device includes receiving a first configuration profile comprising a first configuration and a first certificate and a second certificate, verifying the first configuration profile with the first certificate, receiving a user input indicating to accept the first configuration profile, configuring the device according to the first configuration, receiving a second configuration profile comprising a second configuration, verifying the second configuration profile with the second certificate and updating the device according to the second configuration, wherein the user is unaware of the updating.
US08948723B2	Wireless data service apparatus and method in broadcast mobile communication system A system for broadcasting wireless data service in a mobile communication system includes sending a request call for a wireless data service from a mobile terminal to a mobile switching center, identifying whether the terminal is registered in the mobile switching center, transmitting authentication code information indicating that the terminal is registered in the base transceiver station, and releasing the corresponding call in the terminal receiving the authentication code information and receiving the wireless service data. The authentication code information may include a Walsh code and a long code necessary for allowing the terminal to reconstitute the data. Through this case information, the system can broadcast wireless service data throughout an entire region and be assured that only mobile terminals storing compatible code information will be able to access the data.
US08948721B2	Emergency notification system for a portable device Systems and methods for providing alerts to end users of networked enabled portable devices are provided so that the end users are made aware when broadcast emergency alerts are issued. In various embodiments, a portable device is enabled to receive information about an emergency alert broadcast of which the user should be aware, e.g., from the EAS, and to notify the user of the emergency alert. The user can be automatically taken to the emergency alert information by having the portable device automatically tune to the emergency broadcast information, the user can optionally retrieve the emergency information by tuning to the emergency broadcast channel, and/or the user can otherwise be presented with a reference to the emergency data, such as a link to the information.
US08948718B2	Devices and methods using the Hermetic Transform Systems and methods are described using a Hermetic Transform, as well as related transforms, for applications such as directional reception and/or transmit of signals using phased-array devices and systems. The systems and methods an include identifying a direction of arrival for a mobile communicating device.
US08948716B2	Apparatuses and methods for conversion of radio frequency (RF) signals to intermediate frequency (IF) signals Various embodiments implement apparatuses and methods for conversion of radio frequency (RF) signals to intermediate frequency (IF) signals. More particularly, some embodiments are directed toward down conversion of RF signals to IF signals in a multi-band radio receiver, such as a satellite receiver, using a single oscillator for different frequency bands. For example, some of the apparatuses and methods presented are suitable for integration into monolithic RF integrated circuits in low-cost satellite receivers for home entertainment use.
US08948708B2	Partitioned radio-frequency apparatus and associated methods Radio-frequency (RF) apparatus includes receiver analog circuitry that receives an RF signal and provides at least one digital signal to receiver digital circuitry that functions in cooperation with the receiver analog circuitry. The receiver analog circuitry and the receiver digital circuitry are partitioned so that interference effects between the receiver analog circuitry and the receiver digital circuitry tend to be reduced.
US08948700B2	Method and system for compensating for distortion in a transmitter by utilizing a digital predistortion scheme with a feedback mixer configuration Aspects of a method and system for compensating for distortion in a transmitter by utilizing a digital predistortion scheme with a feedback mixer configuration are presented. Aspects of the system may include an RF transmitter that enables generation of an RF output signal in response to one or more generated input signals. One or more feedback signals may be generated by performing frequency downconversion on the RF output signal within a corresponding one or more feedback mixer circuits. The generated one or more feedback signals may be inserted at a corresponding one or more insertion points in an RF receiver. Each insertion point may be between a receiver mixer circuit and corresponding circuits that generate a baseband signal based on the corresponding one of the feedback signals.
US08948694B2	Antenna shield for proximity-based communication devices A shielding article is provided, for shielding a device enabled for proximity-based communications, for example, NFC-enabled devices. The shielding article comprises a shielding component configured to prevent operation of an antenna of the device used for conducting proximity-based communications, without preventing operation of at least one other antenna of the device when the shielding component is aligned with the antenna used for conducting proximity-based communications. The shielding article may be separate from, or included in an accessory or carrying article and may be fixed or detachably coupled thereto.
US08948686B2	Method for selecting source transmit antenna in cooperative MIMO communication system Disclosed is a method for selecting a source transmit antenna in a cooperative multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) communication system including a source node, a relay node and a destination node. The method includes determining a source transmit antenna selection metric such that a source-destination channel, a source-relay channel and a relay-destination channel are related to one another, and selecting a positive integer number of antennas such that the source transmit antenna selection metric is maximized.
US08948674B2	Fixing device Provided is a fixing device including a transparent belt, a press roller that is rotated with being opposed to and contacting with the transparent belt, and transports a recording medium interposed therebetween, a press member-cum-optical system that contacts with the transparent belt from an opposite side to the press roller, forms a press region for pressing a toner image formed on the recording medium in cooperation with the press roller during transport of the recording medium, and collects laser light on the toner image in the press region in a transport direction of the recording medium, and a laser light irradiation unit that irradiates the press member-cum-optical system with laser light.
US08948667B2	Image forming apparatus and auto color registration method of the same An image forming apparatus and an auto color registration method of the same which prints a color image by single pass, the image forming apparatus including: a plurality of developing units which each develops a color image in a predetermined color; a transfer unit which transfers the color image developed by developing units to the print medium and include a transfer belt rotatably installed on a transfer path; a first detector provided in a predetermined location of the transfer belt to face the transfer belt and detects any defect from a surface of the transfer belt; a second detector provided in a predetermined location of the transfer belt to face the transfer belt and detects a test pattern of an auto color registration (ACR) error transferred to the transfer belt; and a controller which adjusts the ACR error based on data detected by the first detector and the second detector.
US08948658B2	Developing device and image forming apparatus A developing device comprises a first and a second developer conveyance path. A first conveyance member is provided in the first developer conveyance path in a freely rotatable manner and has a helical blade. A developing roller supplies the developer in the first developer conveyance path to a photoconductor drum. A developer collection path guides two-component developer left on a surface of the developing roller from the first developer conveyance path. A developer surface adjustment window comprises a predetermined level for allowing excess developer exceeding the level of the window to be guided from the first developer conveyance path to the developer collection path.
US08948651B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus having an improved structure of simply executing contact or separation between developing rollers and photoconductors is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a cover opening and closing a side of a main body, a photoconductor unit including a photoconductor, a laser scanning unit irradiating the photoconductor to form an electrostatic latent image and including a light source generating light and an optical window transmitting the light generated from the light source, a developing unit supplying a developer to the photoconductor and including a developing roller contacting or separated from the photoconductor, and a shutter unit operable in connection with the cover, opening the optical window when the cover closes the side of the main body, and closing the optical window when the cover opens the side of the main body.
US08948644B2	Power supply module and image forming apparatus including same An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member to bear a toner image on a surface thereof, a transfer unit including a transfer device to transfer the toner image onto a recording medium, disposed opposite the image bearing member, a direct current (DC) power source to apply, between the image bearing member and the transfer device, a DC bias to form a first transfer electric field to transfer the toner image onto the recording medium, and a power supply module detachably attachable relative to the image forming apparatus. The power supply module includes an AC-DC superimposed bias power source to apply, between the image bearing member and the transfer device, a superimposed bias in which an alternating voltage is superimposed on a DC voltage to form a second transfer electric field to transfer the toner image onto the recording medium.
US08948642B2	High-voltage power-supply apparatus, and image formation apparatus A high-voltage power-supply apparatus comprises a controller configured to output a control signal containing a pulse with a variable drive frequency; a switching unit configured to be switched by the control signal and output a drive signal; a piezoelectric transducer having a predetermined resonant frequency, and configured to be driven by the drive signal and output a high-voltage output voltage; a current detector configured to detect an electric current of a load connected to an output side of the piezoelectric transducer and output a current-detection result; and a lower-limit-value setup unit configured to set a frequency lower limit value for the drive frequency of the controller. The controller is configured to vary the frequency lower limit value in accordance with the current-detection result.
US08948639B2	Fixing device with mechanism capable of detecting pressure exerted between opposed components and image forming apparatus incorporating same A fixing device includes a pressurization member connected to a pressing rotary body to press the pressing rotary body against a fixing rotary body; a depressurization assembly interposed between the pressing rotary body and the pressurization member and movable between a reduced pressure position where the depressurization assembly causes the pressurization member to press the pressing rotary body against the fixing rotary body with reduced pressure therebetween and an enhanced pressure position where the depressurization assembly is free from pressure from the pressurization member to cause the pressurization member to press the pressing rotary body against the fixing rotary body with enhanced pressure therebetween; a positioner separatably contacting the depressurization assembly to immovably halt the depressurization assembly at the enhanced pressure position; and a position detector separatably contacting the depressurization assembly to detect the position of the depressurization assembly.
US08948638B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes a latent image carrier; a latent image writer to write a latent image on the latent image carrier; a developing unit including a toner carrier having first and second electrodes insulated via an insulator member and a voltage applying unit to apply voltages to the first and second electrodes having a potential difference to generate first electric fields to cause the toner to hop from the toner carrier to the latent image carrier to develop a toner image; and a transfer unit to transfer the developed toner image to a transferring member. When alternating voltages having a same phase and same amplitude are applied to the first and second electrodes to form second electric fields between the latent image carrier and the toner carrier, the toner is discharged from the toner carrier to the latent image carrier in a toner discharge mode.
US08948626B2	Cleaning device and electrophotographic apparatus Provided is a cleaning device including a brush roll that removes residual toner remaining on a surface of a toner image carrier provided in an electrophotographic apparatus, and a pressure detector that contacts the surface of the brush roll with preload, and outputs a detected pressure value to a determination unit that is provided in the electrophotographic apparatus to determine the adhesion state of toner to the brush roll.
US08948623B2	Developing device and image forming apparatus A developing device includes a developer holding member that holds a developer on a surface thereof to transport the developer to a developing region in which a latent image is developed as a visible image, an accommodating section that accommodates the developer supplied to the developer holding member, a supply section that is connected to the accommodating section and disposed above the developer holding member in the direction of gravity to supply the developer to the developer holding member from above, and a first transport member that is disposed in the supply section to transport the developer, and transports a predetermined or greater amount of a developer in the developer accommodated in the supply section to the outside of a region corresponding to the developer holding member.
US08948622B2	Self-monitoring image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section including a developing section, a toner container mountable to and removable from the image forming apparatus, an intermediate hopper for replenishing toner supplied from the toner container to the developing section, a toner remaining amount detection sensor for detecting a remaining amount of the toner in the intermediate hopper, a cover to be opened and closed when the toner container is mounted and removed, an opening/closing detection sensor for detecting an operation of opening and closing the openable and closable cover, and a main control section. During a print job, the main control section continues image formation when the cover is opened and an amount of the toner is less than a predetermined amount. Further, the main control section halts the image formation when the cover is opened and the amount of the toner is the predetermined amount or more.
US08948621B2	Management apparatus, image forming apparatus maintenance system including the same, and management method A management apparatus communicates, via a communication network, with image forming apparatuses, and includes an information reception device that receives, from each of the image forming apparatuses via the network, prediction-use information useful for predicting a latent image carrier surface contamination level due to discharge products generated during charging, a contamination level prediction device that, on the basis of the received prediction-use information, predicts the latent image carrier surface contamination level of the image forming apparatus corresponding to the prediction-use information, and an instruction transmission device that, if the predicted latent image carrier surface contamination level exceeds a predetermined allowable range, transmits an execution instruction to execute a contamination reduction operation of reducing the contamination of the surface of the latent image carrier due to the discharge products to the image forming apparatus corresponding to the latent image carrier surface contamination level via the network.
US08948619B2	Image forming apparatus which measures time during which an image carrier contacts a toner carrier An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier configured to carry an electrostatic latent image, a toner carrier configured to carry a toner and develop the electrostatic latent image, a switching member configured to perform a switching operation between a contact state where the toner carrier contacts the image carrier and a separation state where the toner carrier is separated from the image carrier, a first electrode member, a second electrode member arranged such that the electrostatic capacity between the first and second electrode members in the contact state is different from the electrostatic capacity therebetween in the separation state, a detection device configured to detect the electrostatic capacity between the first and second electrode members.
US08948614B1	Pluggable photonics for coherent optical communication This disclosure describes techniques to utilize pluggable photonics module in high data rates optical communications systems such as some coherent optical communications system. The pluggable photonics module plugs into a host board. The host board includes a processor that compensates for distortion caused by data streams traveling across the pluggable interfaces that the pluggable photonics module and host board use to couple to one another.
US08948610B2	Data signal threshold detection and/or recovery in optical and/or optoelectric receivers and/or transceivers Methods for receiving a signal and a detection circuit are disclosed. The detection circuit and related methods may be useful for the fast and accurate receiving of data signals. The detection circuit generally comprises a first circuit having a first time constant, a second circuit having (i) a common input with the first circuit and (ii) a second time constant, the second time constant being less than the first time constant, and a switch configured to (i) charge the first circuit with an input signal when the switch is in a first state, and (ii) charge or discharge the second circuit with the input signal when the switch is in a second state, the switch having the second state when the input signal is no longer received at the common input.
US08948609B2	Pre-distortion techniques for optical modulators to improve constellation point separation According to a first aspect, techniques are provided to optimize a Mach-Zehnder modulator drive waveform by distorting the outer modulation levels of the waveform, thereby equalizing eye openings of the received optical field, and in particular creating a wider and more defined central eye opening of the received optical field. According to a second aspect, techniques are provided to adjust in-phase (I) modulation levels based on the imperfect performance of a Mach-Zehnder modulator allocated to modulate quadrature-phase (Q) modulation levels, and conversely to adjust the Q modulation levels based on the imperfect performance of an MZ modulator allocated to modulate I modulation levels.
US08948604B1	Field-tunable devices for optical communication The present disclosure generally pertains to optical communication apparatuses having field-tunable power characteristics. In one exemplary embodiment, an optical communication apparatus has an optical transmitter. The optical transmitter is coupled to logic that receives a user input indicative of a desired transmit mode for the transmitter, and the logic then dynamically tunes the transmitter's output power according to the selected transmit mode. In addition, the optical communication apparatus may have an optical receiver for receiving optical signals. The sensitivity of the receiver is controlled by a bias voltage that is applied to the receiver by the logic. The logic is configured to receive a user input indicative of a desired receive mode and then to tune the receiver's sensitivity via the bias voltage according to the selected receive mode. Accordingly, both the transmitter and receiver of an optical communication apparatus can be tuned in the field to operate in a desired range, and a field technician can therefore utilize the same optical communication apparatus in any of a variety of applications.
US08948601B2	Method and system for indoor wireless optical links Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system and method for indoor wireless optical communication. The system may include a central unit and a plurality of user units. A bi-directional optical communication link may be established over a collimated invisible light beam to enable transmission of wireless communications between a remote communication device and a user unit. The central and user units include an optical transmitter. At least one of the user unit and the central unit comprises a visible light source configured to produce a collimated visible light beam to enable alignment of the user unit and the central unit upon establishment of the bi-directional optical communication link.
US08948599B2	Femtocell-based mesh network with optical interconnect for 4-G multimedia communications A network architecture for integrating a 4G wireless mesh network (WMN) with a 3-G network in order to effectively support multimedia communication is described. In one embodiment of the present invention, a wireless mesh network system comprises a plurality of routers each having a wireless optical interface; at least one base station having Internet backhaul and connecting to a wireless optical device; a computer media storing instructions for assigning at least one of the plurality of routers to act as an Internet gateway via said base station; wherein said assigned router and said base station communicating via a link between wireless optical interface of said assigned router and the wireless optical device connected to said base station, and said link is line-of-sight.
US08948595B2	Passive optical network system, optical line terminal, and optical network unit An optical line terminal includes the transmission rate control table for storing a minimum bandwidth for an emergency status for each of optical network units in addition to a maximum assigned bandwidth in a normal status. When a decrease in a supply power is detected, the optical line terminal calculates a transmission clock rate providing a minimum bandwidth required by each optical network unit with reference to the transmission rate control table. The optical line terminal determines change timing of downstream and upstream transmission clock rates, and change timing of upstream data for time-division multiplexing to instruct each of the optical network units. Both the optical line terminal and the optical network unit change the transmission clock rates with substantial synchronization therebetween.
US08948580B2	Foam dam for appliance An apparatus includes an inner rim, a base wall, a side wall and an outer rim. The inner rim has a first opening formed therein. The base wall extends outward from an inner edge of the inner rim and is integral with the inner rim. The side wall extends outward from an outer edge of the inner rim and is integral with the inner rim. The outer rim has a second opening formed therein and an inner edge integral with the side wall. The inner rim, base wall, side wall and outer rim are formed to prevent liquid seepage to one or more surrounding components of an appliance in which the apparatus is installed.
US08948576B2	Compact air handler system An air handler system comprising a cabinet housing a blower unit and a heat exchange unit. The blower unit and the heat exchange unit are located in a substantially same lateral dimension in the cabinet. The blower unit and the heat exchange unit are separated by a distance that provides for a substantially uniform flow of air through a vertically-orientated plane of the heat exchange unit when the blower unit is in operation.
US08948575B2	System and method for providing device with integrated time code generator, transmitter, and reader with interruptible feedback monitoring and talkback A time code signal is transmitted. An audio input is provided. An audio signal is received through the audio input. A first time code signal is generated. A value of the first time code signal is displayed on a display. A data stream including the audio signal with the first time code signal superimposed on the audio signal is generated. The data stream is transmitted to a first external device. An interruptible feedback signal is transmitted to the first external device or a second external device. A talkback signal is transmitted between a second external device and a third external device. A second time code signal is received from a second external device and the first time code signal is synchronized with the second time code signal. An interface is provided for noting the value of the first time code signal.
US08948574B2	Multimedia recording apparatus and method A multimedia recording apparatus includes a receiving unit, a normal recording unit, a pre-recording unit and a combining unit. The receiving unit receives ongoing multimedia information. The normal recording unit generates first multimedia data under a normal recording mode. The pre-recording unit automatically records the ongoing multimedia information to generate a second multimedia data when the normal recording mode is not active. The combining unit adds content of the second multimedia data to the first multimedia data.
US08948573B2	Image processing apparatus When identification information of an appending start frame coincides with identification information of the final frame of moving image data of an existing moving image file, an image processing apparatus changes the appending start frame to another frame.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10