Document	Document Title
US08992187B2	Air-cooled reciprocating compressor having special cooling air conduction An air-cooled reciprocating compressor for vehicles includes a compressing unit, which has a plurality of cylinders and is driven by a motor and has a fan for generating a cooling air flow. The fan is disposed on a connecting shaft between the motor and the compressing unit and takes in cooling air from the surroundings and delivers cooling air to a downstream cooling air duct, wherein the cooling air duct at least partially surrounds the cylinders and is designed such that cooling air can flow around all in-line cylinders of the compressing unit.
US08992185B2	High-pressure pump A high-pressure pump has a metering valve and a valve stopper. The stopper has a regulation portion which an end surface of the valve is brought into contact with. An outer diameter of the regulation portion is equal to an outer diameter of the outer peripheral surface of the valve. A cylindrical sleeve is disposed around the regulation portion. When the end surface of the valve is in contact with the regulation portion, the sleeve covers a tapered surface of the valve.
US08992176B2	Detachable debris removal apparatus A detachable portable debris removal apparatus designed to attach to a shaft, such as a golf club. The apparatus includes a housing having an internal cavity containing a motor, a fan, and a power supply to operate said motor, turning the fan. The apparatus further includes a control switch to selectively turn the apparatus on and off. Two openings in the housing permit a flow of air through the internal cavity when the motor is operated. The apparatus further includes an attachment member configured to attach to a shaft. The attachment member can be integrated into the housing or attached to an outside surface of the housing. The apparatus can further include a collection assembly disposed within the internal cavity to collect debris drawn into the housing. The collection assembly can be optionally removable from the internal cavity, permitting the apparatus to function optionally as a blower or a vacuum.
US08992175B2	Compact fan The present invention relates to a compact fan, comprising a fan wheel, in particular a radial fan wheel (1), which is fastened on a rotor of an external rotor motor (82). The fan wheel (1) is supported between a front plate (8) having an air inlet opening (9), which is central, and a motor mount (11). The front plate (8) and the motor mount (11) are connected to one another via multiple spacers (12), which are disposed around the circumference. The front plate (8) and the motor mount (11) are formed as plastic or metal spray parts. The spacers (12) are formed as plastic or metal parts entirely or partially in one piece to the front plate (8) and/or the motor mount (11).
US08992171B2	Energy efficient climate control system for an offshore wind turbine An energy efficient climate control system for an offshore wind turbine that is integrated with the component cooling system is disclosed. The climate control system includes a cooling circuit adapted to carry heat generated by a component of the nacelle to outside the nacelle. The climate control system also includes an airflow system adapted to receive a warm outflow of coolant from the cooling circuit, across a variable flow control valve, the airflow system supplying clean ambient air to the nacelle at a predetermined relative humidity. The variable flow control valve regulates a flow rate of the coolant through the airflow system to adjust the relative humidity of the air entering the nacelle.
US08992168B2	Rotating vane seal with cooling air passages An inner diameter vane seal for a gas turbine engine comprises an annular, ring-like body having inner and outer diameter rims, forward and aft faces and an air passage. The outer diameter rim extends circumferentially for engaging inner diameter ends of stator vanes. The inner diameter rim extends circumferentially and is spaced radially from the inner outer diameter rim. The forward and aft faces extend radially between the outer diameter rim and the inner diameter rim. The air passage extends from the forward face to the aft face between the inner and outer diameter rims.
US08992167B2	Turbine casing assembly mounting pin In certain embodiments of the present disclosure a turbine casing assembly is described. The turbine casing assembly includes an inner casing and an outer casing surrounding the inner casing. The outer casing includes a first outer casing section and a second outer casing section that join together along a flange. Two bolts extend through the flange and join together the first outer casing section and the second outer casing section. A pin having a first segment having a first diameter and a second segment having a second diameter extends through the inner casing and the outer casing and supports the inner casing relative to the outer casing. The pin has a first diameter that is greater than the second diameter and is located between the two bolts along the axis of the flange.
US08992165B2	Variable geometry turbine A turbine wheel mounted within a housing rotating about a turbine axis; a gas flow control passage upstream of the turbine wheel between a radial first surface of a movable wall member and a facing wall of the housing, the movable wall member comprising second and third surfaces opposing the first surface. The movable wall member moves in an axial direction to vary the size of the gas flow control passage. A first gas region of the turbine, being upstream of the gas flow control passage, includes a portion of the gas flow control passage; a second gas region of the turbine downstream of the gas flow control passage containing the turbine wheel; and a third gas region of the turbine downstream of the turbine wheel. The first gas region comprises the first and second surfaces, and the second gas region or third gas region comprises the third surface.
US08992162B2	Multi-inlet vacuum pump A multi-inlet vacuum pump has a first pump device (10) and a second pump device (12). The first pump device (10) includes a first rotor element (18) having a plurality of first rotor discs (20, 21) arranged consecutively in the delivery direction (36). The second rotor disc includes a second rotor element (26) having a plurality of second rotor discs (28) arranged consecutively in the delivery direction (36). A first fluid flow (34) is suctioned through a main inlet (32) by the first pump device (10) and delivered in the direction of the second pump device (12). A second fluid flow (40) is suctioned through an intermediate inlet (38) by the second pump device and delivered in the direction of a pump outlet. The diameter of the last rotor disc (21) of the first pump (10) substantially corresponds to the diameter of the first rotor (28) of the second pump device (12).
US08992154B2	Storage system for glass substrate and method for storing glass substrate The present invention discloses a storage system for glass substrate and also a method for storing a glass substrate. The storage system includes a rail system, a plurality of stockers, and a trolley. The rail system is configured with first and second interconnected loops of monorails. And a plurality of stockers is arranged adjacent to the rail system. A trolley is moveably arranged to travel along the first and second monorails of the rail system for transporting glass substrates between the stockers. Accordingly, the yield of the liquid crystal display panel can be increased, while the maintenance costs of the overhead shuttle can be lowered.
US08992149B2	Self retaining anti-rotation key Anti-rotation keys are typically used in applications where an end of a threaded stud is received in a housing, and where the opposite end of the stud projects from the housing to allow attachment of another component to the housing. Once partially received in the housing, further rotation of the stud is prevented by an anti-rotation key. The disclosed anti-rotation key is self-retaining, in that it prevents itself from “backing out” of the channel due to vibration or thermal expansion of the housing, etc., while also being removable from the channel if desired.
US08992137B2	Coolant adapter The invention relates to an adapter for driven tools such as drilling or milling tools, for adapting an externally fed driven tool for use in a thru coolant system comprising: a) a cylindrical inner sleeve, b) an outer sleeve adapted to rotate relative to the inner sleeve, c) a delivery pipe to deliver coolant to the outer sleeve, and d) at least one coolant flow channel through the outer sleeve and through the inner sleeve to allow flow of coolant from the delivery pipe to the collet, and e) a seal at one end of the inner sleeve having an aperture to receive the cutting tool whereby to allow the blunt end of the tool to engage the collet, in use coolant can pass through the outer sleeve, through the inner sleeve into the collet, and to the cutting tool whilst said inner sleeve rotates with said machine output spindle and the outer sleeve remains static.
US08992136B2	Rotary-driven tool for cutting machining with a cutting body A rotary-driven tool for cutting machining, in particular a drilling tool with a cutting body and a holder with a shaft piece is disclosed, with at least a cutter and a dovetail-shaped region on the cutting body and a matching dovetail recess on the holder. The cutting body can only be inserted in the holder laterally to a longitudinal axis of the holder. In order to fix the cutting body, opposing flank sections of the dovetail recess, between which the dovetail-shaped region fits can be moved over each other by means of a screw connection in the holder and on fixing the cutting body said body is subjected to a force on the axial direction by the screw connection. In one aspect, the cutting body is a cutting head and the axial force is exclusively generated by the dovetail-shaped region in cooperation with the dovetail recess in the holder.
US08992132B2	Pneumatic sample feedway A pneumatic sample feedway that is embeddable into a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device. The feedway includes: a plurality of capsules enclosing a biological tissue sample; and a conductor pipe connected to a source of a compressed fluid. The pipe receives a train of the capsules and pneumatically forwards the train into the MRI device. The pipe has a proximal terminal that loads the train of capsules into the pipe.
US08992131B2	Retaining wall Disclosed is an economical and effective way of producing a modular retaining wall, using only blocks which in and of themselves are of insufficient thickness to function as retaining wall blocks. The modular wall includes backer blocks and facing blocks which are connected by connectors in a back to back, spaced apart arrangement, thereby forming a hollow retaining wall. The hollow wall can be filled with loose filler material to increase the mass and retaining capacity of the wall. Further disclosed are wall components and a wall kit for a modular retaining wall. A double sided decorative wall is also disclosed. The modular wall system allows for the construction of retaining walls and freestanding, double sided, decorative walls forming both straight and curved walls.
US08992129B2	Marine fender This invention relates to a marine fender being low and uniform in the compression surface pressure and excellent in the wear characteristics, and more particularly to a marine fender comprising a shock receiving portion 2 inclusive of a shock receiving resin board 4 and a pair of rubbery leg portions 3 disposed on the downside of the shock receiving portion 2 in a height direction of the fender, characterized in that a width W (mm) of the shock receiving portion 2 and a height H (mm) of the fender 1 satisfy a relation of the following equation (1); 2H≦W (1) and a thickness h1 (mm) of the shock receiving portion, a height h2 (mm) of the leg portion, a thickness t (mm) of the leg portion and a height H (mm) of the fender satisfy a relation of the following equation (2); h2/4≦t≦h1≦H/2≦h2 (2).
US08992125B2	Trenchless ducting apparatus frame An apparatus for moving an elongate component within or through one of a plurality of sidewalls of a pit, including a gripping arrangement for releasably gripping the elongate component, a lever arm comprising a handle at a first end and the gripping arrangement at the second end, and a frame to which the lever arm is attached, wherein during use the frame is positioned substantially above the pit, and the gripping arrangement hangs downwardly from the frame into the pit.
US08992121B2	Leaf for a mitre gate and mitre gate including such a leaf A leaf for a mitre gate is provided. The leaf for a mitre gate may include: a skin plate intended for withstanding a pressure exerted by a liquid; and at least two uprights respectively located on either side of the skin plate, the uprights being secured to the skin plate. The skin plate is in the overall shape of a cylinder portion, the longitudinal axis of the cylinder being essentially parallel to the uprights. Each upright extends overall according to a generatrix of the cylinder. Each upright includes at least one bearing element, arranged to project relative to the skin plate and each bearing element includes a bearing surface, for supporting the bearing element against a lock wall or another leaf of the mitre gate. The bearing surface of each bearing element is aligned with a plane that is tangential to the skin plate.
US08992120B2	Mobile applicator for thermo pavement marking A mobile thermoplastic applicator comprises a kettle, a main gas burner, a heat exchanger plenum, and a screed die box. The kettle has walls which define an interior space for melting thermoplastic. The main gas burner is situated beneath the kettle, and is configured to heat the kettle. The heat exchanger plenum is situated inside the thermoplastic kettle and is configured to subdivide the interior space and circulate heated air from the main gas burner. The screed die box is configured to receive molten thermoplastic from the kettle and deposit that molten thermoplastic on a surface.
US08992112B2	Mounting structure and functional unit The mounting structure includes a pair of first shape portions, a pair of second shape portions, and a pair of third shape portions. The pair of first shape portions are opposed to each other to define therebetween a passage which allows the component to be inserted into and withdrawn from the mounting structure therethrough. The pair of second shape portions are opposed to each other to define therebetween a space which allows the component inserted through the passage between the pair of first shape portions to rotate therein. The pair of third shape portions come into engagement with the engagement arms when the component positioned between the pair of second shape portions is rotated through a predetermined angle. The pair of third shape portions are opposed to each other and incorporated in the pair of second shape portions.
US08992103B2	Dome camera A dome camera includes an inner cover covering a camera lens and a semi-spherical outer cover covering the inner cover, the camera lens being rotatable in a tilt direction and in a pan direction. The inner cover includes a partially spherical portion having an inclined support plane on which the outer cover is supported such that a radial line perpendicular to the inclined support plane is inclined at a predetermined inclination angle with respect to a line passing through a center of the partially spherical portion and extends perpendicular to the installation face. A semi-spherical portion has a window, the semi-spherical portion is covered by the outer cover supported on the inclined support plane, and the outer cover rotatable in the pan direction, so as to orient the window in accordance with the orientation of the camera lens.
US08992101B2	Heating device for optical-fiber reinforcement, and optical-fiber fusion splicing device An optical fiber reinforcing heating device has a base part, to which a first lid part for covering a sleeve accommodation groove for containing a fiber reinforcement sleeve covering a fusion-splicing part of optical fibers is attached so as to be openable and closable. A pair of fiber holders for holding and securing the optical fibers are disposed on both end sides of the first lid part. Each fiber holder has a second lid part which is attached to a fiber container so as to be openable and closable and presses the optical fiber against the fiber container. A switch lever which is movable longitudinally of the sleeve accommodation groove is disposed on the upper face of the second lid part built in with a pin adapted to move in conjunction with the switch lever. A joint hole adapted to engage the pin is formed within the first lid part.
US08992100B2	Bidirectional optical transmission and receiving device There is provided a bi-directional optical transmitting and receiving apparatus. The bi-directional optical transmitting and receiving apparatus includes: a package having a cavity and allowing a plurality of lead wires to pass therethrough; a platform mounted on the package and including a through hole formed above the cavity and having sloped surfaces; a reception unit mounted within the cavity and generating an electrical signal corresponding to input light made incident to the cavity through the through hole and outputting the generated electrical signal to at least one of the plurality of lead wires; a transmission unit mounted on the platform and generating output light according to an electrical signal transmitted through at least one of the plurality of lead wires; and a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) filter mounted on the platform to transfer the output light toward an optical fiber and the input light toward the through hole.
US08992096B2	Optical module package An optical module package is provided, the optical module package including a housing main body, a cover body, first and second holding members, and a fiber unit. The first and second holding members may form, inside thereof, a unit accommodating part according to the outer size of a fiber unit in a direct opposing state. The housing main body has locking projections set an arrangement interval between two opposing surfaces of outer surface of the first and second holding members arranged to oppose each other, and a space sandwiched between locking projections is set as an accommodating space for the first and second holding members.
US08992095B2	Fiber optic adapter with integrally molded ferrule alignment structure A fiber optic adapter is disclosed. The fiber optic adapter includes a main body configured to receive a first fiber optic connector through a first end and a second fiber optic connector through a second end for mating with the first fiber optic connector. The adapter includes a ferrule alignment structure located within an axial cavity of the main body, the ferrule alignment structure including a sleeve mount and a ferrule sleeve, the sleeve mount including an axial bore and at least one latching hook extending from a center portion of the sleeve mount toward the first end of the main body and at least one latching hook extending from the center portion toward the second end of the main body, the latching hooks configured to flex for releasably latching the first and second fiber optic connectors to the fiber optic adapter. The sleeve mount and the main body of the fiber optic adapter are unitarily molded as a single piece and the ferrule sleeve is separately placed within the axial bore of the sleeve mount.
US08992094B2	Suspension strut bearing A suspension strut bearing including a guide ring arranged along a suspension strut axis, and a cap. The guide ring is configured for mounting a coil spring, and the cap is configured for supporting the suspension strut bearing on an undercarriage of an automotive vehicle. The guide ring includes a radial flange and further includes a guide nozzle adjoining the radial flange, the guide nozzle serving to guide said coil spring, the suspension strut bearing further including a thrust bearing arranged between the radial flange of the guide ring and the cap. The guide ring includes a reinforcement ring spray coated with a plastic, which reinforcement ring further includes a bushing section for reinforcing the guide nozzle and an integrally formed adjoining radial collar for reinforcing the radial flange, wherein the reinforcement ring is configured as a bearing part of the thrust bearing.
US08992086B2	X-Y constraining unit, and stage apparatus and vacuum stage apparatus including the same Provided are X-Y constraining units having excellent yawing attitude precision as well as a stage apparatus and a vacuum stage apparatus, each including the X-Y constraining units. The X-Y constraining units 8 and 9 includes: Y-axis bases 81 and 91 respectively connected to Y-axis sliders 4 and 5 and having a through hole extending along Z direction; X-axis bases 82 and 92 respectively connected to an X-axis guide rail 6; shafts 83 and 93 respectively inserted into the through hole and fixed to the X-axis bases 82 and 92; and a plurality of bearing balls which are located between an inner peripheral surface of each of the through hole and an outer peripheral surface of the shafts 83 and 93, and are arranged so as to circumferentially surround the shafts 83 and 93. Each of the stage apparatus 1 and the vacuum stage apparatus includes the X-Y constraining units.
US08992085B2	Self-supporting storage bag with resealable pour spout A reclosable bag or pouch configured to store, and to easily pour, material. The reclosable bag is configured with an integral pour spout having a reclosable fastener to facilitate the pouring of material from the bag, and subsequent resealing. By locating the pour spout along an upper side of the bag, material is focused downward from the bag, and not outward, when poured. Bags configured in this manner thus provide end users with enhanced control over the dispensing rate and direction of their contents. In some embodiments, the bag is also configured as a self-supporting bag capable of resting generally upright upon its bottom end.
US08992083B2	System and method of locating an X-ray imaging apparatus and corresponding X-ray imaging apparatus A system for determining the position of an X-ray imaging apparatus mounted on an automatic mobile device is provided. The system comprises at least one mechanical link jointed to a reference point and to the X-ray imaging apparatus, and at least one measuring device configured to measure a variation of rotation angles of the at least one mechanical link relative to the reference point and to the X-ray imaging apparatus when moved.
US08992081B2	High temperature measurement probe A high temperature measurement probe comprises an elongate probe body having a measuring head which in use is located in a hot fluid flow. The probe further comprises a thermocouple extending along the interior of the probe body to terminate at a temperature-sensing thermocouple junction inside the measuring head. The probe body has internal passages for circulation of a coolant fluid therein. The measuring head contains a channel, one end of the channel forming an inlet for receiving hot fluid from the hot fluid flow and another end of the channel forming an outlet for discharging the hot fluid received at the inlet. Between the inlet and the outlet a section of the channel extends along the length direction of the probe body. The thermocouple runs along the section of the channel with the thermocouple junction proximate the upstream end of the section.
US08992078B2	Measuring a temperature during contactless transmission of energy During contactless transmission of energy between a receiver (6) for receiving the energy and a transmitter (7) for transmitting the energy for the purpose of charging a battery of a motor vehicle (1), a temperature is measured in a region between the transmitter (7) and the receiver (6).
US08992077B2	Ultrasensitive ratiometric capacitance dilatometer and related methods An ultrasensitive ratiometric capacitance dilatometer and related methods are described. The dilatometer provides a capacitance measurement based on a ratiometric capacitance, or the capacitance ratio measured between two or more parallel plate capacitors of the dilatometer. In this regard, an absolute capacity bridge is not required, and even more advantageously, the effects of adsorbed gas are greatly reduced compared to conventional dilatometers. The ratiometric capacitance dilatometer provides a symmetrical configuration, which reduces the effects of temperature gradients. Moreover, certain embodiments provide a “v-groove design”, wherein a first parallel plate capacitor forms an angle with a second parallel plate capacitor of the dilatometer along a key centerline of the dilatometer cell, which improves manufacturability due to simpler grinding, metalizing and assembly.
US08992069B2	Plasticizing system including opposite-facing surfaces for contacting opposite sides of solidified-resin particle A plasticizing system (100) for plasticizing a solidified-resin particle (202), the plasticizing system (100), comprising: (A) opposite-facing surfaces (104) being spaced apart from each other, and defining, at least in part, a convergence channel (105) being configured to receive the solidified-resin particle (202), and (B) a plunger assembly (124) being movable, at least in part, relative to the opposite-facing surfaces (104), the plunger assembly (124) being configured to move, at least in part, the solidified-resin particle (202) relative to the opposite-facing surfaces (104) along, at least in part, the convergence channel (105).
US08992065B2	Detachable light emitting device using light emitting diode modules Disclosed is a detachable light emitting device. The device comprises a body casing in which a front frame is mounted on the front thereof, and at least one of a plurality of detachable parts that are installed on an upper side or a lower side of the body casing; radiation stands are vertically disposed on both left and right sides inside the body casing, and front cutting grooves; light guide plate stands are vertically inserted and coupled in the front cutting grooves of each of the radiation stands, respectively, and side mounting grooves are formed on each one side thereof. LED module mounting stands are vertically inserted and coupled in the side mounting grooves of each of the light guide plate stands, respectively, and LED mounting grooves are vertically formed on each one side thereof.
US08992064B2	Planar illumination device and method of producing same A planar illumination device includes a light source unit, including a substantially planar emitting surface, configured to emit light to illuminate a substantially planar object, and a frame, formed in a frame shape enclosing the light source unit, disposed on an outer circumferential side of the light source unit, configured to hold the light source unit. The frame includes a reflecting part configured to reflect the light, and an absorbing part, formed integral with at least a part of an outer circumferential surface of the reflecting part, configured to absorb the light. The reflecting part and the absorbing part include joint interface therebetween that is inclined to a direction vertical to the emitting surface.
US08992063B2	Light emitting diode package unit, method for manufacturing the same and backlight A light emitting diode package unit, a method for manufacturing the same and a backlight are disclosed. The light emitting diode package unit comprising a LED chip and a light uniformization structure formed above the LED chip in the direction of exiting light.
US08992060B2	Uniform illumination of lamps One embodiment of a vehicle lamp assembly may include a housing, which includes a pair of opposing reflective surfaces defining a chamber therebetween. The assembly may further have a single light emitting diode (LED) disposed within the chamber and a lens carried by the housing. At least one of the reflective surfaces may have a grain pattern configured to interact the light emitted from the single LED with the housing in a range between one and five times before the housing directs the light through the lens.
US08992055B2	Joint structure, components and processes An independent friction joint structure including: at least one plug part having a connection to a device, the device comprising a lamp head; at least one joint part holding the at least one plug part in place, the at least one joint part having at least one holding structure; at least one side part having the ability to generate frictional rotational resistance to keep the at least one plug part in a predetermined position; at least one electrical contact between the at least one side part and the at least one holding structure of the at least one joint part; and at least one screw to fit all the components of the independent friction joint structure together.
US08992053B2	Illumination lens for short-throw lighting Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to wide-angle illumination patterns for short-throw lighting. An illumination lens according to an exemplary embodiment includes a light incident surface that defines a cavity and has a flat top and lateral flanks, the light incident surface being configured to receive light from an underlying light emitting element. The illumination lens also includes a light exiting surface having a central indentation and a surrounding toroid, wherein the flat top faces the central indentation.
US08992047B2	Apparatus, method, and system for highly controlled light distribution using multiple light sources Disclosed herein are apparatus, method, and system for producing a customizable composite beam from a plurality of solid state light sources. Each light source is associated with individually adjustable fixture components which allow for a variety of lighting needs to be addressed. The composite beam is a collective of the beam projected from each adjustable component/light source combination; each individual beam being of customized shape or standard shape.
US08992038B2	Internally illuminated light diffusing footwear An illumination system is housed in a footwear, the footwear including a sole and an upper. A structure and a liner form inner layers connected to the upper. A plurality of illumination sources are electrically connected to a power source and positioned adjacent to the liner. The illumination sources are positioned between the liner and upper. A batting is designed to be light diffusing, while the upper has a light diffusing section. The light emitted from the plurality of illumination sources is diffused as it passes through the batting and light diffusing section. Aesthetic designs can be creating, either through the arrangement of the plurality of illumination sources or the provision of a light impermeable section on the upper. The light impermeable section, in combination with the light diffusion section, can be used to form or outline an aesthetic design. The result is an internally illuminated footwear with diffused light.
US08992037B2	Modular variable presentation system A modular variable presentation device system is described which, in one embodiment, may be produced and assembled to display and/or view information.
US08992027B2	Projector and control method for projector A projector can be connected in cascade to another projector. Either a first mode for the projector to operate as a leading projector in the cascade connection or a second mode for the projector to operate as a second or subsequent projector in the cascade connection is set. The projector is made available for use on authentication by an authentication unit or on reception of use permission information of the projector by a receiving unit.
US08992025B2	Rear projection apparatus and method for a rear projection apparatus The invention relates to a rear project device, comprising a screen, projection optics, and an image module for generating an image, which is projected from the rear onto the screen by means of the projection optics, so that an observer located in front of the screen can perceive the image projected onto the screen. Furthermore, a method for such a rear projection apparatus is described. To this end, a Fresnel mirror, or an aspherical mirror, is used.
US08992024B2	Three dimensional image projector with circular light polarization A system is provided for projecting a three-dimensional image. The system includes a light source and a polarization conversion system for converting light emitted from the light source to circular polarization. A beam splitter device is disposed adjacent the light source to receive light, and an LCoS image device is disposed adjacent the beam splitter device.
US08992019B2	System and method for evaluating ocular health A method for adaptively determining a model of visual performance of a test subject comprising the step of exposing a test subject to a plurality of trials. Each trial comprises the steps of identifying the stimulus pattern to test, generating a stimulus pattern on a display, determining whether the stimulus pattern generated an OKR, updating the model to incorporate the OKR results, and determining whether the updated model is acceptable. The trials can be iteratively repeated until the model for visual performance is acceptable.
US08992017B2	Ophthalmologic apparatus An ophthalmologic apparatus includes a first light source configured to emit a first measuring beam, a second light source configured to emit a second measuring beam having a center wavelength longer than that of the first measuring beam, a third light source configured to emit a third measuring beam having a center wavelength shorter than that of the first measuring beam, a first acquisition unit configured to obtain a first image of the subject's eye by using the return beam of the second measuring beam from the subject's eye, aberration of which has been corrected by a correction unit, and a second acquisition unit configured to obtain an anterior eye portion image of the subject's eye to be used for alignment, by using a return beam of the third measuring beam from the subject's eye.
US08992009B2	Module eye glasses An eyeglass assembly formed of detachable and interchangeable parts. The assembly comprises detachable upper and lower frame parts that define an aperture for receiving lenses or a lens assembly. Two interchangeable temple arms are pivotally connected to the upper and lower frame parts and assist in holding the eyeglass assembly together. The eyeglasses advantageously allow a wearer, manufacturer, designer, distributor and/or retailer to vary the shape, style, size or color of the eyeglasses to suit their requirements by a simple interchange of parts. Other embodiments are directed to eyeglass components formed from heat dissipating material, specifically temple arms comprising an insert formed of a heat dissipating material such as a polymer or aluminum.
US08992007B2	Eyeglasses enabling quick exchange of lenses An eyeglasses enabling quick exchange of lenses is provided, in which the lower frame thereof mainly has two lens mounting apertures respectively provided at two sides for mounting lenses. First pivot connectors are provided at middle portion of the lower frame. A fastening member has second pivot connectors which are pivotally connected with the first pivot connectors. A snap-fit hook is provided on the upper end of the fastening member. An upper frame is to be fitted on the upper edge of the lower frame by fastening its two assembly portions provided at both sides of the upper frame to both sides of the lower frame. The upper frame has a snap-fit recess corresponding to the snap-fit hook provided at the middle portion thereof By turning the snap-fit hook upward or downward, the exchange of lenses can be easily conducted without using any tool for disassembly.
US08992006B2	Image forming apparatus configured for bi-directional feeding of medium An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit forming an image on a recording medium; and a feeding unit feeding the recording medium in first and second directions opposite to each other relative to the image forming unit. Further when the recording medium is supplied from a first or second side of the feeding unit, while the feeding unit feeds the recording medium in the first or second feeding direction, the image forming unit forms an image on the recording medium, and the feeding unit further feeds the recording medium to the second or first side, respectively, of the feeding unit.
US08992003B2	Recording medium feeding device and recording apparatus A recording medium feeding device includes a tray in which accommodates a recording medium, which is attachable to and detachable from a device main body including a feeding unit; a stopper that is able to switch between a regulating state in which the stopper comes into contact with a leading edge of the recording medium which is accommodated in the tray to regulate a movement of the recording medium, and a regulating release state that enables the recording medium to be fed to a feeding path; and a switching unit that is engaged with the tray to switch the stopper from the regulating state to the regulating release state, wherein the switching unit includes engaging portions that engages with the tray, and wherein the engaging portions are disposed, being separated from the stopper at the both sides of the stopper in a width direction of the recording medium.
US08991997B2	Device for leveling ink under a thermal gradient An ink leveling device for controlling a temperature difference across a substrate having ink disposed on the upper surface, the device including a cooling device cooling a bottom of a substrate to a first temperature that is lower than a viscosity threshold temperature of the ink, a heating device heating the upper surface of the ink layer to a second temperature that is greater than the viscosity threshold temperature of the ink and a device applying shear force across the upper surface of the ink layer.
US08991993B2	Ink, ink cartridge, and inkjet recording method An ink used for an inkjet recording method for discharging the ink from a recording head by an action of thermal energy contains self-dispersing carbon black, a polyurethane polymer having an acid value of 40 mg KOH/g or more, and polyethylene glycol.
US08991992B2	Inkjet ink containing sub 100 nm latexes An aqueous latex ink includes a polymer latex having a particle size of less than about 100 nm. A method of making an aqueous latex ink includes emulsifying a polymer without the use of a surfactant to prepare a latex having a particle size of less than 100 nm. A method of printing an image on a substrate includes applying an aqueous latex ink to an intermediate receiving member using an inkjet printhead, spreading the ink onto the intermediate receiving member, inducing a property change of the ink, and transferring the ink to a substrate, wherein the ink comprises a latex having a particle size of less than about 100 nm.
US08991981B2	Liquid ejecting head and liquid ejecting apparatus A liquid ejecting head includes a head chip in which two or more nozzle groups are disposed, a first inlet that communicates with one of the nozzle groups and a second inlet that communicates with the other nozzle group a wiring member that is disposed between the first second inlets, a first connection flow path that is connected to the first inlet, a second connection flow path that is connected to the second inlet, and a wiring substrate to which the wiring member is connected between the first connection flow path and the second connection flow path.
US08991977B2	Liquid discharge head and image forming apparatus A liquid discharge head is disclosed that includes plural nozzles that discharge liquid droplets, plural individual channels that are in communication with the nozzles, a liquid introducing part that is in communication with the individual channels, a common liquid chamber that supplies liquid to the individual channels, and a filter part that is arranged between the common liquid chamber and the liquid introducing part. The filter part is configured to filter the liquid over a range of the individual channels in a nozzle array direction. A partition wall that partitions the individual channels has an end portion towards the liquid introducing part that is arranged to have a width in the nozzle array direction that becomes gradually narrower towards a tip of the partition wall. Further, at least a portion of the end portion of the partition wall is arranged to face the filter part.
US08991976B2	Method of manufacturing water repellent film, nozzle plate, inkjet head, and inkjet recording device An object is to provide a method of manufacturing a water repellent film, a nozzle plate, an inkjet head, and an inkjet recording device which are able to improve dynamic water repellency of a water repellent film which includes a straight-chain fluorine-based organic material. The method of manufacturing a water repellent film includes forming a first organic film on a silicon substrate with a silicon compound which does not include a fluorine atom as a raw material, forming an inorganic oxide film on the first organic film, and forming a second organic film on the inorganic oxide film with a straight-chain fluorine-containing silane coupling agent as a raw material.
US08991974B2	Ink jetting Among other things, for jetting ink, a first set of orifices of an apparatus are arranged to print at a first maximum resolution along a direction different from a process direction. A second set of orifices is coupled to the first set of orifices. The second set of orifices is arranged to print at a second maximum resolution lower than the first maximum resolution along a direction different from the process direction.
US08991972B2	Liquid ejecting apparatus and maintenance method A movable member configured to move when a liquid ejecting apparatus is inclined from a posture to be taken when ejecting liquid upon receipt of an action of the gravitational force and a memory unit configured to store the fact that the movable member is moved in response to abutment with the moved movable member are provided and the presence or absence of the movement of the movable member is acquired after the power has been turned ON. Accordingly, a change of the posture of the liquid ejecting apparatus in a power OFF state can be determined after the fact after the power has been turned ON.
US08991965B2	Liquid ejecting apparatus and liquid ejecting method A liquid ejecting apparatus includes: a transport roller that transports a medium in a transport direction; a head that moves in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction, and ejects liquid to the medium; a cutter that moves in the transport direction and the orthogonal direction and cuts a part of the medium positioned in a predetermined range from a first position to a second position in the transport direction; and a controller that performs a first process of forming an image on the medium by controlling the transport roller to transport the medium in the transport direction and controlling the head moving in the orthogonal direction to eject the liquid, and performs a second process of forming a cutting line on the medium by controlling the cutter to cut the part of the medium over the predetermined range during the first process.
US08991964B2	Recording apparatus with a radiating unit for curing ink A recording apparatus includes: a recording head that discharges ink onto a recording target medium from a nozzle; a first moving unit that moves at least one of the recording target medium and the recording head; a first radiating unit that is disposed at the opposite side to the recording head with respect to the recording target medium and radiates electromagnetic waves that cure the ink; and a second moving unit that moves at least one of the recording target medium and the first radiating unit, and a control unit that controls driving of the recording head, the first moving unit, the first radiating unit, and the second moving unit.
US08991962B2	Ink jet printing method and printer A method of printing a spit pattern for an inkjet printer includes selecting a dot distance between dots of the spit pattern, selecting at least a sub-matrix of a dither matrix of entries arranged in rows and columns, constructing a bi-level bitmap of the same size as the sub-matrix, splitting each column of the bi-level bitmap which has more than one entry having a value of one into a number of columns such that each column of the number of columns comprises one entry having a value of one, removing each column of the bi-level bitmap which has no entry having a value of one, extracting the row and column number of each entry of the bi-level bitmap having a value of one, adapting the row number of each extracted entry in accordance with the dot distance, and printing the spit pattern.
US08991958B2	Method of driving liquid ejection head and drive signal generation device for liquid ejection head A method of driving a liquid ejection head adapted to apply a voltage to the liquid ejection head to eject a liquid including a polymer is provided. The method includes raising the voltage from a first voltage to a second voltage; raising the voltage from the second voltage to a third voltage at a gradient larger than that in raising the voltage from the first to the second voltage, and then holding the voltage at the third voltage; dropping the voltage from the third voltage to a fourth voltage, and then holding the voltage at the fourth voltage; raising the voltage from the fourth voltage to a fifth voltage, and then holding the voltage at the fifth voltage; dropping the voltage from the fifth voltage to a sixth voltage, and then holding the voltage at the sixth voltage; and raising the voltage from the sixth voltage to a seventh voltage.
US08991954B2	Fluid ejection device with fluid displacement actuator and related methods In an embodiment, a method of circulating fluid in a fluid ejection device includes generating compressive and expansive fluid displacements of different durations from a first actuator located asymmetrically within a fluidic channel between a first fluid feedhole and a nozzle while generating no fluid displacements from a second actuator located asymmetrically within the channel between the nozzle and a second fluid feedhole.
US08991951B2	Pop-up monitor with obstacle sensing function A pop-up monitor with an obstacle sensing function is provided. The pop-up monitor includes a body housing and a monitor frame which is installed to move in a vertical direction with respect to the body housing. The pop-up monitor includes a driving unit, a sensor, and a controller. The driving unit includes a motor, a rotational shaft, and a gear set which transfers a rotational motion of the motor to the rotational shaft. The sensor outputs a sensing signal for whether the rotational shaft rotates. The controller outputs a control signal for a rotational direction of the motor according to the sensing signal and state information regarding whether the motor rotates.
US08991945B2	Merchandiser including accessible canopy A refrigerated merchandiser including a case defining a product display area. The case includes a canopy defining an electrical raceway, and a panel defining aesthetic fascia for the canopy. The panel is coupled to the canopy and movable between a first position enclosing the electrical raceway and a second position providing access to the electrical raceway. The panel is self-supported in the second position.
US08991924B2	Chair with tilting backrest A chair with a tilting backrest including two flexible supporting sectional elements set at a distance from one another in a transverse direction, wherein each of said supporting sectional elements is provided with a plurality of through notches that form respective points of localized bending that enable bending backwards of the supporting sectional element, and wherein each of said notches has a first contact surface and a second contact surface that, in the position of maximum inclination backwards of the backrest, come to bear upon one another to stop bending backwards of the sectional element, wherein the projections of said first and second contact surfaces in a vertical plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chair are at least partially superimposed on one another in such a way as to prevent visual communication through said notches in a direction orthogonal to said vertical plane.
US08991923B2	Adjusting device for a lumbar support and method of adjusting a lumbar support An adjusting device for a lumbar support includes a pair of spaced guide members. A first adjusting member is coupled to the pair of guide members and displaceable along the pair of guide members and configured such that the lumbar support is adjusted when the first adjusting member is displaced. A second adjusting member is displaceable along the pair of guide members. A drive mechanism for effecting an adjustment of the lumbar support includes a motor provided on the first adjusting member so as to be displaceable along the guide members jointly with the first adjusting member.
US08991919B2	Child safety seat for vehicles A child safety seat having a seat, a backrest, and a belt device for buckling a child therein. The belt device includes a shoulder belt routed through an opening in the backrest. The opening includes a longitudinal slot extending in a longitudinal direction of the backrest in a reclining element and a belt slot in a belt guide piece. The guide piece is movable along the reclining element to adapt the position of the belt slot to the child's body. The guide piece detachably connects to the reclining element via a locking device having a locking element pretensioned by a reset force. An actuating element on the reclining element applies tensile force to the tensioning element, counter to the reset force. This moves the locking element into a release setting, thus releasing the locking device and displacing the guide piece along the longitudinal direction of the backrest.
US08991913B2	Transformable tattoo chair The present invention discloses a portable folding tattoo chair comprising a left part (100) and a right part (200), the left part (100) of the chair comprising a left cushion (101), a left fixing plate (102), a left fixing frame (103) and a left footing support (104); the right part (200) of the chair comprising a right cushion (201), a right fixing plate (202), a right fixing frame (203) and a right footing support (204); the left part (100) and the right part (200) of the chair being rotatable so as to be folded together, the left footing support (104) and the right footing support (204) being rotatable to be folded up. The tattoo chair in unfolding states may provide various auxiliary modes for different tattoo positions. The chair can also be folded after use to save space and transportation cost. The chair can be used as a pushcart to add functionality.
US08991894B2	Pickup bed utility management system A configurable pickup bed utility management system features a segmented panel assembly pivotally mounted to a pickup bed. The panel assembly features a first panel, a second panel pivotally located on the first panel, a third panel pivotally located on the second panel, and a fourth panel pivotally located on the third panel. A plurality of curved linear extrusions with ridges are located on the panels. The panel assembly can be fully extended over the pickup bed forming a bed cover structure, fully extended posterior to the pickup bed forming a work surface structure, fully extended posterior to the pickup bed forming a ramp structure, partially extended posterior to the pickup bed forming a sun shade structure, folded into the pickup bed forming a lockable toolbox, or folded into the pickup bed forming a bed extender.
US08991889B1	Work vehicle with integrated ladder rack An ergonomic ladder rack assembly mounted on the roof of a topper for a pick-up truck bed or on the roof of a cargo van, the topper having a ladder rack assembly mounted thereon, the ladder rack assembly designed to lift, move and return a ladder load between a stowed position atop the roof of the topper or van and a deployed position alongside of the vehicle. The roof of the topper or van has recessed areas formed therein for containing components of the ladder rack to thereby lower the height profile of the combination.
US08991887B2	Suction structure, robot hand and robot A suction structure includes a pad and a fixing base. The pad includes a contact portion which makes contact with a target object to be sucked and which has a seal wall, and a major surface portion which is surrounded by the contact portion and which defines an inner space in conjunction with the seal wall as the contact portion makes contact with the target object. The fixing base includes a support portion configured to support the pad at a position offset from the center of the major surface portion of the pad, and a suction hole configured to bring the inner space into communication with a vacuum source.
US08991885B2	Compliant underactuated grasper A compliant underactuated grasper includes a base and a plurality of fingers. At least one of the plurality of fingers includes: a proximal phalanx; a proximal joint connecting the proximal phalanx to the base; a distal phalanx; a distal joint connecting the distal phalanx to the proximal phalanx; and a member for moving the phalanges. At least one of the proximal joint and the distal joint includes a flexure joint having a first compliance in a first direction and a second compliance in a second direction, the second compliance being stiffer than the first compliance. The distal phalanx includes: a rounded end face; and a lifting portion including a lifting edge adjacent the rounded end face. The member acts in parallel to the first direction. The grasper further includes at least one actuator associated with the member. The grasper has fewer actuators than degrees of freedom.
US08991882B2	Process and apparatus for coating a porous substrate with a coating liquid An engagement head for engaging a porous substrate includes at least two pin sets, each pin set including a plurality of pins arranged in a plurality of parallel pin rows at a predetermined pin angle, wherein pins of immediately neighboring pin rows are arranged such that pin angles for the pins in a pin row are inversely symmetrical to pin angles for the pins in a neighboring pin row. The pins of a pin row move collectively in the same direction when a pin set is extended, which direction is determined by the pin angle of the pin row, whereby neighboring pin rows move in opposite longitudinal directions from one another when the pin set is extended. The pin sets may be extended and retracted in unison by a single actuation source.
US08991875B2	Threaded joint for steel pipes Provided is a threaded joint for steel pipes having high sealability even under a bending load. In the threaded joint, when a pin 3 and a box 1 are threadedly connected with each other, the outer peripheral face of a nose 8 of the pin and the inner peripheral face of a nose of the box are in metal-to-metal contact with each other at a contact portion and the contact portion serves as a seal portion 20. A threaded portion, at which the externally threaded portion 7 and the internally threaded portion 5 are threadedly connected with each other, has a negative load flank angle α, shoulder portions 12 and 14 have a negative torque shoulder angle β, and the ratio L/d0 of a length L of the nose and a pipe outside diameter d0 is equal to or higher than 0.08.
US08991871B2	Apparatus for connecting double jacketed pipes (two-part pipe coupling part) An apparatus for connecting double jacketed pipes is provided. The apparatus includes two pipe coupling parts corresponding to one another and a locking element for axially connecting the pipe coupling parts: at least one of the pipe coupling parts being divided in form and having two separate components, namely an inner component which is formed by an inner ring or at least includes the latter and has an external thread, and an outer component which is formed by an outer ring or includes the latter, and has an internal thread corresponding to the external thread of the inner component so that the outer component can be screwed onto the inner component.
US08991864B2	Steering device A steering device easily sets an absorption amount of impact energy to a predetermined magnitude at a time when a female male shaft and a male shaft undergo relative contraction upon occurrence of a vehicle collision. If the male shaft undergoes contraction by a length against the female shaft, a serrated edge on a right-end surface of the female shaft is butted against a left-end surface of an impact-energy absorption part. Then, the serrated edge of a female serration is firmly butted against a left-end surface of the impact-energy absorption part to undergo plastic deformation, whereupon resistance to collapsing increases, thereby absorbing impact energy.
US08991849B2	Sliding arm mechanism for wheelchairs A sliding arm mechanism for attaching to an arm of a wheelchair is provided herein. One concept is directed to a sliding arm mechanism that includes a main portion and an inner cavity. The sliding arm mechanism also includes a slide rail, which is adapted to be housed within the inner cavity of the main portion. The slide rail and the main portion are slidably coupled to allow the main portion to move laterally over the slide rail in a direction parallel to the top part of the arm of the wheelchair, thus allowing the main portion to move between a first position and a second position. In some embodiments, the first position corresponds to a full-length position and the second position corresponds to a desk-length position, such that a user can adjust the sliding arm mechanism to access a desk or table.
US08991847B2	Quick release structure for a bicycle A quick release structure for a bicycle includes a locking rod fixed securely, wherein the locking rod has a polygonal groove formed therein. The driving post of the locking rod includes a polygonal head. As desiring to lock the locking rod on the bicycle frame or to unlock the locking rod from the bicycle frame, the polygonal head of the driving post retains with the polygonal groove of the locking rod so as to rotate the locking rod. When the locking rod is rotated tightly, the polygonal head of the driving post removes from the polygonal groove so that the locking rod cannot be rotated, and the driving post of the locking rod does not drive the locking rod to rotate loosely after vibration, thereby obtaining positioning safety.
US08991833B2	Torsion key saddle A torsion key saddle enables a user to readily change the suspension performance characteristic and the suspension lift in a vehicle with independent torsion suspension without the need to replace the torsion keys. Use of torsion key saddles enables each wheel to be adjusted fully between the extremes available using the six possible positions for a torsion key with a hex torsion bar socket.
US08991829B2	Non-contact labyrinth seal assembly and method of construction thereof A non-contact labyrinth seal assembly, bearing assembly therewith, and method of construction thereof, has an outer rigid carrier and an inner sleeve. The carrier has an outer cylindrical flange and a radially inwardly extending leg and the sleeve has a cylindrical wall and a radially outwardly extending flange. A body is attached to at least one of the leg and the flange, wherein the body provides, at least in part, a purely non-contact labyrinth passage extending between the carrier and the sleeve.
US08991828B2	Dartboard A dartboard includes a board frame and a plurality of target blocks coupled at the board frame. Each target block includes a block body, a predetermined amount of target materials, and a block panel. The block body has a material compartment and two openings aligning with the material compartment. The target materials are made of sisals and filled within the material compartment. The block panel is affixed to one of the openings of the block body to form a bottom panel of the respective block body so as to retain bottom of the target material within the material compartment of the block body.
US08991827B2	Bingo game using extra symbols In a draw style wagering game, a player may be allocated a player card displaying a plurality of symbols from a symbol set. When a draw is conducted, a determination is made as to whether the drawn symbols on the player card form a winning pattern. If no winning pattern can be made, a winning pattern can be created by supplementing the drawn symbols with one or more wild symbols up to a maximum number. A payout may be awarding for the winning pattern. The payout may be dependent on the number of wild symbols used to create the winning pattern.
US08991826B2	Board game utilizing binary numbers A board game incorporating binary conversions to entertain and educate players, comprising a multi-tiered playing field, a plurality of counters, of control pads, and playing cards. The playing field comprises a plurality of rooms, doors, roof hatches, and lights. Players enter the values from the playing cards into the control pads. The control pads electronically communicate with the counters to display the binary conversions. Based on the binary conversions, the lights on the playing field indicate which doors and roof hatches are opened or closed allowing players to navigate through the playing field. The winning player wins by being the first player to exit the playing field. It is contemplated that the board game can extend to computer games, video games, smart phone and tablet applications, theme parks or other similar gaming opportunities wherein players can compete to navigate through and be the first to exit the playing field.
US08991824B2	Sheet conveying apparatus and image forming apparatus Provided is a sheet conveying apparatus which conveys a sheet, includes: a sheet conveying path which diverges into a first conveying path and a second conveying path at a diverging point; a guide member which is movable between a first position where the guide member guides the sheet to the first conveying path and a second position where the guide member guides the sheet to the second conveying path; a driving portion which is configured to move the guide member to the second position from the first position; and a holding portion which, in a case that the guide member is driven by the driving portion to move to the second position from the first position, provides a load to the driving by the driving portion and holds the guide member at a third position between the first position and the second position.
US08991821B2	Image reading apparatus having conveyance rollers conveying original sheet In an image reading apparatus, it is judged whether an original sheet is a first sheet type, whose sheet length is longer than or equal to a first conveyance distance and shorter than a second conveyance distance, and a second sheet type, whose sheet length is longer than or equal to the second conveyance path, the first conveyance distance being a distance between a first conveyance roller and a second conveyance roller, the second conveyance distance being a distance between a supply roller and the second conveyance roller. At least one of a leading-edge arriving timing; a trailing-edge arriving timing; and a sub-scanning magnification is set dependently on the judged result. An image is read from the original sheet by using an image reading unit and a conveyance unit based on the set at least one of the leading-edge arriving timing; trailing-edge arriving timing; and sub-scanning magnification.
US08991816B1	Mechanism to detect linear motion using cam path In a mechanism for detecting the size of media loaded in a media tray of an imaging device, the media tray includes at least one pair of media guiding members for alignment with the edges of the media. The media size sensing mechanism includes two racks operatively connected to the pair of media guiding members, a pinion positioned between the two racks, a cam structure attached to the pinion, and a sensor depicting the corresponding size of the loaded media. The cam structure defines an arcuate surface engaging a sliding pin of the sensor. The arcuate surface of the cam structure is configured to slide the pin linearly between a first extreme linear position and a second extreme linear position, as the cam rotates between a first extreme angular position and a second extreme angular position.
US08991814B2	Sheet feed device and image forming apparatus including the same A sheet feed device is provided in which, at the time of pulling out a sheet housing portion from an image forming apparatus main body, when the sheet housing portion moves from a first position to a second position, a pickup roller moves on a first rotary shaft, to a position on an upstream side in an insertion direction, and at the time of inserting the sheet housing portion in the image forming apparatus main body, when the sheet housing portion moves from the second position to the first position, the pickup roller moves on the first rotary shaft, to a position on a downstream side in the insertion direction. A movable area of the pickup roller in a direction of the rotary shaft is equal to or larger than a movement amount of the pickup roller between the upstream side position and the downstream side position.
US08991809B2	Post-processing apparatus and image forming apparatus A post-processing apparatus includes a processing tray, a conveyance portion, a staple unit, an operation portion, a mode switching portion, a cover, and an open/close detection portion. The staple unit, which has an automatic mode and a manual mode as processing modes for stapling processing, executes stapling processing for a paper sheet conveyed to the processing tray by the conveyance portion in the automatic mode, and executes stapling processing for a paper sheet stacked on the processing tray by a user in the manual mode. The cover is attached in an openable and closable manner so as to cover the operation portion when closed, and expose the operation portion when opened. While the open/close detection portion is detecting that the cover is opened, when the operation portion has received an operation for switching to the manual mode, the mode switching portion switches the automatic mode to the manual mode.
US08991805B2	Lens-holder with offset hook The subject of the present invention is a lens-holder device (1) intended to be hooked onto a support (101) of determined direction belonging to a conveyor carriage intended for transporting optical lenses (10) so that an optical test can be carried out on said optical lenses following a treatment of said optical lenses, said lens-holder device (1) comprising a body (2), suspension means (3) for suspending from the support (101) which are connected to the body (2), retaining the means (4) for keeping an optical lens (10) in position on the lens-holder device (1), which are connected to the body (2), these retaining means (4) comprising support means (5) defining at least one first resting point (a) for the optical lens (10), elastic return means (6) defining at least two further resting points (b, c) for the optical lens (10), the various resting points (a, b, c) defining a location for the optical lens (10), the body of the lens-holder device (1) being shaped in such a way as to pass around the portions of space that are situated facing the location occupied by the optical lens (10).
US08991803B2	Mounting apparatus and method A mounting apparatus and method that can be used to secure a component to be tested to a testing device when the mounting holes of the component are offset from each other in one or more axes in relation to the axis of the component to be tested.
US08991793B1	UAV capture of micro cargo aloft A system of transporting micro-cargo incorporates an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a tether capture device. A tether is connected to and suspends a micro cargo container with a suspension system to vertically extend the tether. The system having a first pickup state and a second flight state with a transition between the first and second states. The first state provides the micro-container unsuspended via the tether from the suspension system. The transition state provides engagement of the tether by the UAV, the tether positioning the micro-cargo container with respect to the capture device which secures the tether. The second state is then entered with the micro-cargo towed by the UAV in cruising flight to its destination.
US08991791B2	Hoist spooling assembly and methods of using same A hoist spooling assembly for spooling a cable about a drum while preventing relative movement between the cable and the drum. The hoist spooling assembly evenly delivers force from a roller to the cable while reducing the incidence of spooling problems, including mechanical wear of the cable and formation of loops and kinks in the cable.
US08991788B2	Lifting platform The invention relates to a three-armed pivot system, the two upper pivot arms having a V shape and representing part of a parallelogram, and the lower arm being a single, centrally situated pivot arm which represents the second part of the parallelogram. The active cylinder is assisted by a gas spring, and a personal protection safety net covers the gap between the vehicle and the platform, which may optionally be horizontally displaced. The active cylinder has a lift sensor which is connected to the controller, and the offset positioning of the active cylinder with respect to the bracket and of the fastening point to the pivot arm or support produces an improved lifting force.
US08991785B2	Methods and apparatus for sealing a slit valve door Apparatus, methods and systems are provided for sealing the door of a slit valve. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a seal, adapted to extend along a perimeter of a slit valve door; and a hard stop, disposed between the seal and an outer edge of the slit valve door, and adapted to extend along the length of the seal, wherein the hard stop and elastomer seal fill at least a portion of a gap between the slit valve door and an insert leading to a process chamber.
US08991783B2	Fuel injection valve for internal combustion engine In a fuel injection valve, it is intended to enhance valve-closing responsivity while maintaining durability (anti wear property) of a collision portion between a stationary core and a movable core and valve-opening responsivity.An annular end face 106A of the movable core 106 in the fuel injection valve is provided with a collision portion 106C that collides to a stationary core 107 when the movable core is magnetically attracted toward the stationary core side and a non-collision portion that keeps a fluid gap between both cores at an area of an outer side or an inner side from the collision portion. The annular end faces of the stationary core and the movable core are coated with platings 30, 31 having anti wear property, and at least one of the platings of the stationary core and the movable core is formed in such a manner that the thickness thereof at the collision portion 106C is to be thicker and the thickness thereof at the non-collision portion is to be thinner.
US08991778B2	Vehicle seat anchorages A vehicle seat anchorage (22) assembly employs a cam (34) mounted in an anchorage member (24) for rotation about an axis transverse of the anchorage member between: an unlocked position (FIG. 17A) in which the cam allows a pair of locking members (70 and 72) to assume their unlocked positions, and a locked position (FIG. 17B) in which the cam pushes down on inner portions (82) of the locking members so that outer portions (84) of the locking members assume their locked positions engaging under lips (12) of an anchorage rail (10).
US08991777B2	Post stabilization apparatus and method A post stabilization apparatus and method of operation for setting a post within a post hole formed in the ground. The post stabilization apparatus includes one or more braces to support the post, each of said braces having a first end adapted for being driven into the ground; each of the one or more braces having a bracket assembly pivotally secured adjacent to a second end of thereof; and each bracket assembly having a magnet to removably attach the bracket assembly to the post.
US08991776B1	Display A display for holding and displaying an object includes a base and a projection extending from the base and having a slot to form a pair of branches. The branches are adapted to hold a portion of the object within the slot and to display the object.
US08991771B2	Piloting device for piloting an aircraft having a protected force sensor A piloting device for piloting an aircraft includes a piloting member (11), a mechanism (13) for mounting and guiding in rotation the piloting member about at least one rotation axis with respect to a frame (12), stops (25, 26, 35) arranged so as to cooperate with bearing surfaces (32) integral with the piloting member upstream of the mechanism in order to limit the rotation amplitude thereof, and at least one force sensor (19), these being arranged with respect to one another so that each contact of a bearing surface (32) with a stop (25, 26, 35) generates an abutment reaction, the orientation of which with respect to each deformable sensing element of each force sensor is such that it stresses this deformable sensing element at least substantially outside its deformation modes.
US08991768B1	Highly efficient transonic laminar flow wing Improved supersonic laminar flow wing structure, on a supersonic aircraft, having strake extending forwardly of the wing inboard extent, and reversed fillet at strake junction with the wing leading edge.
US08991763B2	De-icing and/or anti-icing system for the leading edge of an aircraft wing The invention relates to a de-icing and/or anti-icing system for the leading edge of an aircraft wing or for the lip (1) of the air intake of an aircraft engine, characterised in that it includes a plurality of infrared emitting members (13) arranged inside said leading edge or said lip (1), power supply means (17) for said emitters (13), and means (27) for controlling said power supply means (17).
US08991762B2	Wing/fuselage connection of an aircraft A wing-fuselage connection of an aircraft, in which a wing (2) that is arranged in the upper region of the fuselage (1) is connected to the fuselage (1) by means of a number of couplings (3, 4, 5, 6), wherein the couplings (3, 4, 5, 6) are provided for taking up forces in various directions and are designed for a maximum load carrying capacity, in particular for a nominal flight- and landing load (10) or a nominal crash load. According to the invention, the load carrying capacity of the individual wing couplings (3, 4, 5, 6) and their direction of force take-up are matched to each other such that in the case of a defect in one of the couplings (3, 4, 5, 6) the maximum load carrying capacity of the remaining couplings (3, 4, 5, 6) is adequate for safe normal flight operation.
US08991760B2	Mobile energy attenuating seat and safety harness for aircraft An energy attenuating seat system for an aircraft includes energy attenuating features and is also configured to provide mobility for the occupant. The system is configured to suspend the operator, or gunner, with a support from the roof of the aircraft. The system includes an armored seat or body harness for the occupant. The system provides energy attenuation in multiple directions. The system also optionally includes a floor tether in order to control the movements of the occupant. The system may also include an impact detection system to selectively change the tension of the support and/or floor harness. The system may also include one or more airbags either within in the fuselage of the aircraft, or included in the seat system in order to provide energy attenuation.
US08991758B2	Unmanned aerial vehicle An unmanned aerial vehicle, comprising: a fuselage having a first side board and a second side board spaced apart and connected by at least one transverse board; the first side board, the second side board, and the at least one transverse board being printed circuit boards; at least one of the first side board, the second side board, and the at least one transverse board having formed and mounted thereon conductive traces and at least one component, respectively, for controlling and monitoring the unmanned aerial vehicle; first and second wings mounted to the fuselage; and, a tail mounted to the fuselage.
US08991755B2	Swing down mount for helicopter and method for operating same A swing down mount system for mounting a camera gimbal or other viewing/recording device to a helicopter is disclosed. The system comprises a frame, an axle mounted on the frame, an arm attached to the axle, a camera gimbal or other device mounted on the arm, and one or more counterweights. During landing and takeoff, the system is positioned substantially horizontally below the fuselage of the helicopter so that the helicopter can touch down on the ground without interference from the system. In the air, the mount is able to position the camera gimbal below the skids or wheels of the helicopter so that the camera gimbal has a 360-degree field of view that is unobstructed by the structure of the helicopter. When the camera gimbal is moved from one position to another, the counterweights swing in opposition such that the lateral center of gravity remains substantially unchanged or within acceptable limits.
US08991753B2	Method of positioning landing gear A method of positioning landing gear of an airplane is provided that includes providing the landing gear including a shock strut, a truck beam operatively pivotally connected to the shock strut, first and second interconnected links operatively connected to the truck beam and a third link extending between the shock strut and the first and second links with the third link pivotally connected to the second link at a third pivot. When the landing gear is commanded to a lowered position, the third pivot is positioned in a first position to support a taxi mode, a take-off mode and a landing mode if the landing gear is operational and in a second position to support an alternate landing mode if the landing gear is not fully operational. When the landing gear is commanded to a raised position, the third pivot is in the second position to support a stow mode.
US08991749B2	Device for reducing noise from jet-pylon interactions on jet engines An aircraft pylon for mounting a dual-flow or triple-flow jet engine, the pylon including an upper surface for connection to the aircraft, two side flanks, and a flange on the lower portion of the pylon. The pylon further includes at least one portion that extends downstream from the cold flow nozzle of the jet engine and lies in the cold flow and, on the portion thereof extending into the cold flow beyond the nozzle, at least one opening, positioned on one of the flanks of the pylon, by which an air stream is injected into or drawn from the gas flow that flows along the flanks of the pylon.
US08991735B2	Webbing take-up device A length direction base end side of a wire passes through a retaining spring mounting hole formed in a case, and is anchored to an anchor tag that is indirectly retained by a pulley. A spring is provided in the retaining spring mounting hole, and a base end of a tube is retained to the spring through a metal cylinder body. A spring-side step portion of the spring is pressed contact to a mounting portion-side step portion of the retaining spring mounting hole so the spring is retained. When the tube is pulled towards an opening side of the retaining spring mounting hole, the spring moves and the spring-side step portion makes press contact with, and is once again retained, by a different step of the mounting portion-side step portion.
US08991733B2	Pulper A pulper for comminuting and suspending fibrous material includes a container and at least one rotor arranged in the container for circulating a fibrous material suspension located on the container and at least one rigid sieve. The rotor at least predominantly passes over the sieve surface which is provided with round sieve openings. As high a throughput as possible and as low an energy consumption as possible are to be achieved by limiting the cross-section of the sieve openings exclusively defined by circle segments.
US08991730B2	Pressure regulating nozzle assembly with flow control ring An irrigation sprinkler and sprinkler nozzle assembly including a self contained pressure regulator and flow control ring, which can be assembled with a desired spray deflector, shrub bubbler or rotating stream distributor on the top of the nozzle assembly. The pressure regulator housing is incorporated into the center of the nozzle assembly and includes a reference pressure chamber connected to atmospheric pressure with a spring bias enclosed to bias a pressure responsive movable member that is connected to an upstream pressure balanced flow throttling valve. A combination deflector pop-up pressure regulating mechanism housed in the filter of the nozzle housing assembly is also shown.
US08991728B2	Plumbing outlet fixture A plumbing outlet armature (2) with a liquid guide (3), which opens into a fitting outlet (4) in an area in which a plumbing functional unit (5) in the form of an insertion cartridge is provided. The outlet fitting is provided such that the clear open cross-section of the liquid guide (3) is adapted to the insertion cartridge (5) at least in the opening area of the fitting outlet (4), and the insertion cartridge (5) can be inserted into the fitting outlet (4) from the opening side and is removably held therein. The inventive outlet armature is characterized by the insertion cartridge being removably held in the fitting outlet (4) by a sleeve-shaped intermediate holder (6), which intermediate holder itself is removably held in the fitting outlet (4) by a screw or bayonet connection. The inventive outlet fitting (2) can be used with a jet regulator or with another plumbing functional unit (5) without any significant limitations of the structural clearance.
US08991724B2	Wobbling sprinkler with viscous brake A sprinkler head includes a nozzle fixed within the sprinkler body, and a wobbler cage including a water deflector plate downstream of the nozzle mounted for rotating and wobbling motion relative to the sprinkler body. In certain embodiments, a viscous brake is fixed within the sprinkler body and includes a shaft rotatable about the longitudinal axis passing through the nozzle. The shaft is eccentrically coupled to the water deflector plate for slowing the rotating and wobbling motion of the wobbler cage and the water deflector plate.
US08991712B2	Coupling in and to RFID smart cards A data carrier such as a smart card comprising an antenna module (AM) and a booster antenna (BA). The booster antenna (BA) has an outer winding (OW) and an inner winding (IW), each of which has an inner end (IE) and an outer end (OE). A coupler coil (CC) is provided, connecting the outer end (OE, b) of the outer winding (OW) and the inner end (IE, e) of the inner winding (IW). The inner end (IE, a) of the outer winding (OW) and the outer end (OE, f) of the inner winding (IW) are left un-connected (free floating). The coupler coil (CC) may have a clockwise (CW) or counter-clockwise (CCW) sense which is the same as or opposite to the sense (CW or CCW) of the outer and inner windings. Various configurations of booster antennas (BA) are disclosed.
US08991711B2	Chip card module In various aspects of the disclosure, a chip card module is provided. The chip card module may include a flexible substrate having a metallization on a first and second major surface, or side, thereof. An integrated circuit affixed to the second side is oriented with chip pads facing away from the substrate. Wire bonds may connect the chip pads to the metallizations.
US08991687B1	Mailbox indicator A mailbox indicator and lid closure system that includes a flag indicator mounted from a support plate of the container and connected by way of a cable to a bracket supported on the lid. Opening the lid causes the indicator to be pulled by the cable to the upright position thus indicating that mail has been delivered. A spring is connected between the container and lid to ensure that the lid remains open while mail is being delivered.
US08991678B2	Surgical instrument with stowing knife blade A surgical instrument with a stowing knife blade includes an elongated shaft, an end effector coupled to the shaft and including two opposed jaws, a housing included in one of the jaws, a first member mounted in the housing and movable distally, a knife pivotally coupled with the first member, and a second member. The knife is configured to cut when advanced distally. The first and second members are moved distally at the same rate during a cutting motion of the knife and the second member blocks a rotation of the knife relative to the first member during the cutting motion of the knife. After moving through the first distance, relative movement between the first and second members occurs so as to permit or induce the previously blocked rotation of the knife so that the knife can be stowed.
US08991669B2	Tree stick and carrier system A tree stick carrier for a tree stick having steps projecting from a post comprises a flexible panel having openings spaced to correspond to the steps and a retainer coupled to the panel to retain the panel in a state wrapped about the post with the steps projecting through the openings.
US08991664B2	Transforming a sleeved garment into a self-fastened wedge A garment stored, transported, and displayed as a soft wedge. A triangular prism is transformed from flat fabric pieces by flexible fasteners and a method of folding. Sleeves and other delicate decorations and components are protected from damage by folding into a self enclosed polyhedron defined by two triangles and three trapezoid faces without pins, straps, ribbons, cans, cylinders, bags, boxes, or bands.
US08991662B2	Adaptor and tips for caulking tubes A dispensing adaptor is disclosed for tubes of high viscosity compositions. The adaptor includes an adaptor body, the interior of which defines a tube tip receiving opening having a size and shape corresponding to the tip of a tube of high viscosity composition, an adapter tip on the adaptor body through which the tip receiving opening continues, a custom tip for the adapter tip that fits on the adapter tip, and at least two sets of custom tip attachments on the adapter body.
US08991661B2	Material handling apparatus A material handling apparatus for conveying an article having a ferromagnetic component includes a hopper, a discharge, and a magnet. The hopper has an inlet and outlet and defines a hopper volume for receiving a plurality of the articles to be conveyed. The discharge is spaced from and downstream of the hopper. The magnet is movable between an attracting position proximate the hopper and a discharge position proximate the discharge.
US08991648B2	Shut-off system for a dispenser A shut-off system for a dispenser includes a pinch member that moves relative to a guide and which is normally biased against a flexible outlet tube that is disposed therebetween. The flexible outlet tube that carries material, such as soap, supplied from a pump to an outlet nozzle. The pump and the pinch member are in operative engagement with an actuator, such that when the actuator is not engaged, the pinch member closes the outlet tube to prevent residual material retained in the outlet tube from flowing or drooling out of the outlet nozzle. Correspondingly, when the actuator is engaged, the pump is compressed, and the pinch member is moved away from the outlet tube, allowing the material to be pumped through the outlet tube and dispensed from the outlet nozzle.
US08991645B2	Device having a hinged cover and at least one flexible element The invention relates to a device including a hinged cover, which is pivotable about an axis of rotation out of a closed final position into an open final position, and a flexible element, which acts on the hinged cover with a force along a spring line of action. The flexible element is axially loaded in at least one final position of the cover and is loaded with transverse forces in bending or extension in at least one further position. In the open position of the cover, the spring line of action approaches the axis of rotation of the cover or lies substantially on the axis of rotation of the hinged cover, the spring line of action coincides with the axis of rotation of the cover such that the cover can be fixed in the open final position.
US08991637B2	Molded reservoir support structure coupling A molded reservoir support structure coupling may include an anchor and a support structure. The anchor may have one or more first flange(s) projecting generally laterally from a side wall of the anchor. The support structure may have one or more second flange(s) projecting generally laterally therefrom. When interconnected, surface-to-surface confrontation between the first flange(s) and the second flange(s) inhibits longitudinal separation of the anchor and the support structure.
US08991612B2	Method for obtaining non-magnetic ores from a suspension containing ore particle-magnetic particle agglomerates A method obtains non-magnetic ores from a suspension containing ore particle-magnetic particle agglomerates. The method involves dividing ore particle-magnetic particle agglomerates precipitated from the suspension into a mixture of separately present ore particles and magnet particles, separating the magnetic particles from the mixture, forming a first mass flow containing magnetic particles and a second mass flow containing ore particles. At least one information describing a measure of the content of ore particles in the first mass flow and being associated with the first mass flow and/or at least one information describing a measure of the portion of magnetic particles in the second mass flow and being associated with the second mass flow are determined in order to determine the efficiency of at least one of the separation processes described above.
US08991605B2	Packaging unit A packaging unit (13) comprises a blister unit (1) with cavities (5) forming receiving chambers (6) accommodating a fill material, particularly a pharmaceutical active substance formulation, and a support unit (7) that supports the blister unit (1) and is releasably attached thereto, of a size corresponding to the blister unit (1). The blister unit (1) has at least one locking opening (3) and the support unit (7) forms a support shell (12) that surrounds the blister unit (1) with a raised edge (8), at least one fastening element (10a, 10b) of said support shell (12) protruding from the base surface (9) thereof and engaging into the locking opening (3) and holding the blister unit (1) removably clamped in the support shell (12).
US08991590B2	Product collection apparatus A product collection apparatus which provides a product conveyed by a conveyance belt to a rotary table to collect the product includes a conveyance belt to be rotated; a rotary table supported rotatably, linkage unit which links a driving force input unit for conveyance belt which receives driving force to rotate the conveyance belt and a driving force input unit for rotary table which receives driving force to rotate the rotary table, and an actuator which transfers the driving force to the conveyance belt and the rotary table through the linkage unit.
US08991579B2	Clutch device A clutch device includes a first clutch, a second clutch, a diaphragm spring and an intermediate spring. The diaphragm spring transmits a pressing force to the first clutch and the second clutch. The intermediate spring applies a coupling maintaining force to the first clutch and the second clutch so that minimally power transmitted states of the first clutch and the second clutch are maintained while a pressing force is not being applied to the first clutch and the second clutch.
US08991577B2	Parallel dual clutch unit The present invention relates to a parallel dual clutch unit (2) for arrangement in a drivetrain of a motor vehicle between a drive unit (4) and a transmission (6), which comprises a first multi-plate clutch (30) assigned to a first transmission input shaft (10) and having a first plate pack (38), a first inner plate carrier (36) and a first outer plate carrier (34) for selective torque transmission between the drive unit (4) and the first transmission input shaft (10), and a second multi-plate clutch (32) assigned to a second transmission input shaft (12) and having a second plate pack (44), a second inner plate carrier (42) and a second outer plate carrier (40) for selective torque transmission between the drive unit (4) and the second transmission input shaft (12), the first inner plate carrier (36) being embodied as input side and the first outer plate carrier (34) as output side of the first multi-plate clutch (30), while the second inner plate carrier (42) is embodied as output side and the second outer plate carrier (40) as input side of the second multi-plate clutch (32).
US08991573B2	Damper A damper having an elastic body formed from a cross-linking product of an EPDM composition, which comprises (a) 100 parts by weight of at least one kind of EPDM, whose propylene content in sum total of ethylene and propylene in the copolymerization rubber is 35-50 wt. %, the EPDM having a Mooney viscosity (ML100) of not less than 40, (b) 5-50 parts by weight of α-olefin oligomer, which is a polymer of α-olefin represented by the general formula, CH2CHR, where R is an alkyl group having 3-12 carbon atoms, with a number average molecular weight Mn of 300-1,400 and (c) 1-10 parts by weight of an organic peroxide cross-linking agent.
US08991570B2	Cylinder apparatus A cylinder apparatus includes a flow path which is provided in a valve member and through which a fluid circulates when a rod is moved; a disk valve which opens and closes the flow path; and a spring member which presses the disk valve in an axial direction. The spring member includes a first spring which comes into contact with the disk valve in a state in which the disk valve closes the flow path, and a second spring which comes into contact with the disk valve in a state in which the disk valve opens the flow path.
US08991566B2	Caliper brake A caliper brake including a generally U-shaped housing including a first portion, a second portion, a bridge, and an opening. Spaced mounting bolts extend between the first and second portions of the housing and across the opening. Mounting sleeves are carried by the mounting bolts and received within bushings in the first and second portions of the housing. A pair of stators is carried by the mounting sleeves and capable of movement to engage a rotor positioned therebetween. The housing also includes bridge extensions at each end of the bridge extending laterally outward beyond and downward below the mounting bolts.
US08991558B1	Lubrication system The present invention is directed to lubrication system having a reservoir having a body. A follower is moveably disposed in the body. The system further comprises an alarm system having an electrical switch operably associated with the follower. The alarm generates a signal when the follower is at a predetermined location in the body. The alarm system may generate a signal when the follower is at a lower location in the body such as when the reservoir has an amount of lubricant representing a predetermined amount of usage time remaining. The alarm system may also generate a signal when the follower is at an upper location in the body such as when the reservoir is filled with lubricant wherein the signal acts to automatically interrupt the fill of lubricant.
US08991547B2	Driveline with pendulum suspended drive shaft The invention relates to a driveline for a motor vehicle comprising drive shaft (20) suspended by means of a pendulum suspension (30), the pendulum suspension (30) comprising a fastening configuration (32, 34) fixedly connected to the vehicle and a drive shaft fastening (106) connected to the drive shaft (20) and pivotably journalled in bearings relative to the fastening configuration (32, 34), wherein the transmission configuration (50) comprises a driven input shaft (52), wherein an electric motor (60) is arranged for driving of the drive shaft (20), wherein the rotor of the electric motor (60) is connected to the input shaft (52) and a non-rotating portion of the electric motor (60) comprising the stator (66) of the electric motor (60) is fixedly connected to said drive shaft fastening (106). The invention also relates to a motor vehicle.
US08991544B1	Passively deployed small overlap rigid barrier deflector A front bumper assembly including a bumper beam and two deflectors are provided on right and left sides of the front bumper assembly. The deflectors include hook-shaped portions and telescopic portions. The telescopic portions are received within the front bumper assembly. The hook-shaped portion of the deflector may be engaged by a rigid barrier aligned with the deflectors. In the event of a collision, the rigid barrier engages one of the hook-shaped portions and withdraws the telescopic portion from the front bumper assembly. The deflector is pulsed outwardly to move the front wheel and tire assembly to a tow-in orientation.
US08991543B2	Straddle type vehicle In a straddle type vehicle having front forks, the left front fork is in an elliptical shape portion whose axial cross section is formed so as to be wider in the width direction of the vehicle as compared to a length in the front and rear direction at the portion located in front of the brake caliper. The brake caliper is disposed so as to be overlapped with the elliptical shape portion, viewed from the front direction of the vehicle.
US08991539B2	Suspension assembly for suspending a cabin of a truck or the like vehicle The invention relates to a suspension assembly (1) for suspending a cabin (2) of a truck or the like vehicle. The assembly comprises a plurality of spring members (4a-d) arranged between the cabin (2) and a chassis of the vehicle, and a torsion bar (5) extending between at least two of said spring members (4a-d) so as to increase the roll stiffness of the assembly. The assembly further comprises an actuator (6) with which a torsion angle of the torsion bar (5) can be adjusted allowing active roll stabilization of the cabin (2).
US08991537B2	Collapsible hood bumper with reset feature A collapsible hood bumper for a vehicle having a hood generally includes a housing and a bumper head. The housing has a wall with an interior surface and an exterior surface, a base, and an opening defining an interior chamber. The bumper head has a main body, and is configured to receive a force from the hood of the vehicle. The bumper head is normally in an upright position in which the bumper head extends through the opening of the housing. However, the bumper head is collapsible from the upright position to a compressed position in which the bumper head is substantially disposed within the interior chamber of the housing. The bumper head is configured to be resettable from the compressed position to the upright position.
US08991536B2	Pressure control device and method for controlling pressure in a vehicle To lower the fuel consumption of a vehicle having a pneumatic brake system during operation of the vehicle by utilizing existing components to their full capacity, thus contributing to energy conservation, a method and device for controlling pressure is provided, wherein modes of compressed air expansion are provided. In a second compressed-air expansion mode, compressed air is channeled from a second compressed-air storage container to the compression chamber of the air compressor during expansion phases of the air compressor. In a third compressed-air expansion mode, compressed air is channeled from a third compressed-air storage container to the compression chamber of the air compressor during expansion phases of the air compressor.
US08991534B2	Air filter arrangement for a work vehicle An air filter arrangement for a work vehicle is disclosed. The air filter arrangement may include a fan shroud extending between a shroud inlet and a shroud outlet and at least one heat exchanger disposed adjacent to the shroud inlet. The air filter arrangement may also include a fan disposed within the fan shroud between the shroud inlet and shroud outlet. The fan may be configured to draw air through the heat exchanger and between the shroud inlet and shroud outlet. Additionally, the air filter arrangement may include an air filter disposed within the fan shroud between the fan and the heat exchanger such that the air flowing through at least one heat exchanger and between the shroud inlet and shroud outlet is directed around the air filter.
US08991533B2	Air cleaner device An air cleaner device includes an air cleaner case having a case main unit and a cover. An intake duct is disposed on the cover, and an intake path is disposed on the case main unit. An air cleaner element is formed in a position biased on a side of the cover relative to fastening surfaces of the case main unit and the cover. The cover and the air cleaner element are integrally removable relative to the case main unit.
US08991532B2	Detachable power module A disassembled and assembled power module includes: a wheel shaft; a power module; a central shaft, arranged in the power module and passing through the wheel shaft; and an engaging unit, capable of fastening the central shaft to the wheel shaft. In an embodiment when the detachable power module is applied in an electric driven wheelchair, it enables the weight of the wheelchair to be reduced by simply detach and remove the detachable power from the wheelchair so that the electric driven wheelchair without the heavy power module can be carry and transport easily, and also the moving range of the electric driven wheelchair can be increased as its power module can be easily detached and replaced with another fully charged power module so that the range anxiety of the disabled person using the same or the assistant can be relieved.
US08991530B2	Electrically driven axle of a two-track vehicle An electrically driven axle of a two-track vehicle is provided having drive shafts which are assigned to the wheels and an axle carrier with a plurality of wheel-guiding steering arms which are attached thereto. At least one electric motor is attached to the axle carrier, and furthermore a housing containing elements for making available electrical energy for the electric motor is attached to the axle carrier or forms a component of the axle carrier in the form of a base body. At least one of the wheel-guiding steering arms is connected to the base body or housing, and arms extend from the base body of the axle carrier, on the end regions of which arms the vehicle body is supported via rubber bearings. The underfloor of the base body or housing facing the roadway is preferably essentially planar.
US08991526B2	Drill bit A fixed cutter drill bit having a bit axis and a gauge diameter. The drill bit includes a bit body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a plurality of blades extending from the distal end toward the proximal end. The blades define a cutting profile between the bit axis and the gauge diameter. The drill bit further includes a plurality of cutters attached to the blades in a cutter layout. The cutter layout may include a balanced cutter pattern extending from the bit axis toward the gauge diameter. The cutter layout may include one or more sets of shared cutters, wherein each set of shared cutters includes a trailing shared cutter and a leading shared cutter. The blades may define pairs of makeup surfaces and breaker surfaces. The drill bit may include a breaker upset for engaging with a device for supporting the drill bit.
US08991519B2	Proximity detection system for deep wells A method and apparatus for magnetic field measurements to determine the proximity of a nearby target incorporating electrically conductive material includes a drill string (54) having multiple drill pipe sections (56, 57, 58, 59) connected end-to-end, with at least one of the drill pipe sections (57) being electrically conductive and isolated to provide an electrode section. A nonmagnetic drill pipe section (84) is connected in the drill string below the electrode section (57), and a hydraulic motor (62) having a rotatable drill bit sub (70) carrying a magnetic field sensing instrument package (102) is connected to a lowermost end of the drill string. A power supply provides a time-varying current to the drill pipe electrode section (57) to produce a corresponding target current magnetic field to be detected at the drill bit instrument (10)2, and a communication instrument package (94) is locatable within the nonmagnetic drill pipe section (84) to receive magnetic field data from the magnetic field sensing instrument package (102) on the drill bit (70).
US08991512B2	Device for improved clean up of holes, and method of using same A cleanup device having a first board having a first edge, a second board having a first edge, a first hinge attached to the first edge of the first board and the first edge of the second board, an aperture defined by a portion of the first edge of the first board and a portion of the first edge of the second board, a first plate slidably attached to the first board, wherein the first plate is movable from a first, open position where the aperture is open to a second, closed position where the first plate extends over at least a portion of the aperture, and wherein a top surface of the first board is movable towards a top surface of the second board to form a V-shaped surface for directing dirt or soil off of the first board and the second board.
US08991511B2	Fluid ejection device A fluid ejection device for example used as a fire extinguisher in which ejected fluid is an extinguishing agent in liquid or powdery form. The device includes: a cylinder shaped tank, split hermetically, perpendicular to its axis, into two chambers by a piston, slidable axially inside the tank; a first chamber, including a non-gaseous fluid, which communicates with an ejection port closed by a cap, which can open for a pressure greater than or equal to a defined pressure in the first chamber; a second pressurization chamber to be connected to a mechanism increasing pressure in the chamber; and a mechanism to link the piston to the tank in full fixity at a storage position, which mechanism can break and release the piston for axial translation at a pressure higher than or equal to a given pressure in the pressurization chamber, to cause the fluid to be ejected.
US08991507B2	Gasket for inductive coupling between wired drill pipe An apparatus comprises a gasket configured for positioning between an end of a first drill pipe and an end of a second drill pipe, wherein the end of the first drill pipe includes an inductive coil ring and the end of the second drill pipe includes an inductive coil ring. The gasket includes an outer ring that is comprised of an elastic magnetic material that is essentially nonconductive. The outer ring has a diameter that is greater than the diameters of the inductive coil rings. The gasket includes an inner ring that is comprised of an elastic magnetic material that is essentially nonconductive. The inner ring has a diameter that is smaller than the diameters of the inductive coil rings, wherein the gasket is to be positioned such that the outer ring and the inner ring are outside and inside, respectively, the diameters of the inductive coil rings.
US08991499B2	Fracturing system and method for an underground formation A method for fracturing a downhole formation, includes: preparing an energized fracturing fluid including mixing gaseous natural gas and a fracturing base fluid in a mixer; injecting the energized fracturing fluid through a wellhead and into a well; and continuing to inject the energized fracturing fluid until the formation is fractured. An apparatus for generating an energized fracturing fluid for use to fracture a downhole formation, the apparatus includes: a fracturing base fluid source; a natural gas source; and a mixer for accepting natural gas from the natural gas source and fracturing base fluid from the fracturing base fluid source and mixing the natural gas and the fracturing base fluid to generate the energized fracturing fluid.
US08991497B2	Well treatment The following describes a novel and alternative mechanism in regards to releasing reactive chemicals. Namely, utilizing shells containing multiple emulsions that can be blended with the base fluids, and then react with said base fluid upon exposure to a trigger e.g. high shear and/or elongation flow, therefore plugging even large fractures. Such gelling lost circulation material allows to obtain a reliable carrier and fast reaction when triggered.
US08991490B2	Tapered thread configuration with improved durability Underground drilling operation often requires connecting a drill tool (e.g., drill bit, backreamer, etc.) to a drill string. It is desirable to connect the drill tools to a drill string in a manner that facilitates quick and easy assembly and disassembly. Low torque coupling, commonly referred to as “torque-less” connection, can provide such functionality. The useful life and strength of such connections can be improved upon. The present disclosure provides a low torque coupling with improved strength and durability.
US08991489B2	Signal operated tools for milling, drilling, and/or fishing operations A mud motor for use in a wellbore includes: a stator; a rotor, the stator and rotor operable to rotate the rotor in response to fluid pumped between the rotor and the stator; and a lock. The lock is operable to: rotationally couple the rotor to the stator in a locked position, receive an instruction signal from the surface, release the rotor in an unlocked position, and actuate from the locked position to the unlocked position in response to receiving the instruction signal.
US08991483B2	Apparatus and method for representative fluid sampling Apparatus and method for collecting and preserving in representative condition a fluid sample from a reservoir which comprises: positioning a sample receptacle in the vicinity of a subterranean zone to be sampled, allowing or causing the sample to first flow into the sample receptacle, wherein the movement of the sample into the sample receptacle is restricted by the movement of a sampling piston, and wherein the movement of the sampling piston is further controlled by the rotation of an electrical motor connected to the sample piston such that the rotation of the electric motor translates to lateral movement of the sample piston, the lateral movement of the sample piston in turn allowing sample to enter the sample receptacle, and wherein once an adequate volume of sample has been collected, reversing the direction of the electrical motor will serve to cause the sample piston to exert pressure on the collected sample.
US08991479B2	Condenser A first header tank to which first heat exchange tubes of second and third heat exchange paths are connected and a second header tank to which second heat exchange tubes of a first heat exchange path are connected are provided at the left end of a condenser such that the former is located on the outer side of the latter with respect to a left-right direction and is offset from the latter in an air passage direction. The upper end of the first header tank is located above the lower end of the second header tank. The first header tank has a function of separating gas and liquid and storing the liquid. The first and second heat exchange tubes and side plates are bent in the same direction about a common vertical line. This condenser is suitable for use in a car air conditioner mounted on an automobile.
US08991478B2	Compact two sided cold plate with transfer tubes A structural cold plate assembly includes cold plates mounted to opposing sides of a panel and in fluid communication through fluid passages that extend through the panel.
US08991475B2	Checker brick with through passages for a hot blast stove A checker brick (10) with through passages for a hot blast stove has a top surface (12) and an opposite bottom surface (14) with a plurality of through passages (16) extending from the top surface (12) to the bottom surface (14). The through passages (16) allow fluids to circulate through the checker brick (10). Partition walls (18) are formed between neighboring through passages (16). The through passages (16) have a cross-section based on a hexagonal shape (20) with alternating convex (24) and concave sides (26).
US08991472B2	Porosity detection A computer executing a software algorithm may be used to detect a depression in a temperature profile. The temperature profile may be smoothed to eliminate noise. Next, the temperature profile's center may be extracted. A polynomial may be fitted to extracted data. An algorithm used to fit the polynomial may guarantee that the fitted curve's peak may be below the actual temperature data's peak. Next, residuals may be calculated by subtracting the fitted curve from the actual data. If there is a dip at the center, then the residuals in the center may be less than zero. The software algorithm executing on the computer may then make a decision based on a sign of the residuals. For example, residuals less than zero may indicate bar porosity. Residuals above zero may indicate no porosity. The magnitude of the residuals may then be used to classify a size of a detected defect.
US08991467B2	Flexible room dividers Example room dividers are described herein. The example room dividers include a flexible curtain with features pertaining to security, impactability, insulation, sound absorption, configurability, and/or flame resistance. In some examples, the curtain comprises an inorganic carbon fiber pad sandwiched between two sheets of fiberglass fabric coated with silicone rubber. A tongue-and-groove joint, in some examples, enables the interconnection of a series of curtains to create room dividers of various lengths. In some examples, the curtain comprises a full-width wire mesh sandwiched between two sheets of vinyl coated polyester fabric, wherein a touch-and-hold fastener at the outer perimeter of the curtain and overlapping the wire mesh holds the two sheets together and holds the wire mesh in place. In some examples, the flexibility of the curtain allows the curtain to respond to impacts and/or air pressure differentials.
US08991466B2	System and method for processing a tire-wheel assembly An apparatus for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire wheel assembly is disclosed. The apparatus includes a tire support member including a first tire support member, a second tire support member and a third tire support member. Each of the first, second and third tire support members include an upper surface and a lower surface. The apparatus includes a plurality of tire engaging devices including a first tire tread engaging post and a second tire tread engaging post. A method for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire wheel assembly is also disclosed.
US08991465B2	System and method for processing a tire-wheel assembly An apparatus for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire wheel assembly is disclosed. The apparatus includes a tire support member including a first tire support member, a second tire support member and a third tire support member. Each of the first, second and third tire support members include an upper surface and a lower surface. The apparatus includes a plurality of tire engaging devices including a first tire tread engaging post and a second tire tread engaging post. A method for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire wheel assembly is also disclosed.
US08991464B2	Method and apparatus for peeling electronic component A method of peeling an electronic component. The method includes a step of, when the electronic component is adhered onto a first main surface of a tape member, bringing a bellowphragm into contact with a second main surface, which is the other main surface of the tape member; and a step of, after the bellowphragm is brought into contact with the second main face, deforming the bellowphragm and the tape member by supplying a fluid to the bellowphragm to thereby peel the electronic component from the tape member.
US08991456B2	Reversible air maintenance tire and pump assembly An air maintenance tire and pump assembly includes an elongate annular air passageway enclosed within a bending region of a tire, the air passageway operatively closing and opening segment by segment as the bending region of the tire passes through a rolling tire footprint to pump air along the air passageway. A pair of inline valves are positioned on respective opposite sides of an inlet junction and direct a flow of inlet air in opposite directions into the air passageway; and a pair of outlet valves are positioned at a downstream side of a respective inline valve and direct a flow of the inlet air from the downstream side of a respective inline valve toward the tire cavity. The valves are selectively opened by a direction of air flow within the air passageway which, in turn, is directionally determined by the direction in which the tire rotates.
US08991450B2	Pneumatic tire A pneumatic tire including rib-like land portions partitioned by a plurality of main grooves extending in a tire circumferential direction and/or block-like land portions partitioned by the plurality of main grooves and a plurality of lug grooves intersecting the main grooves in a tread surface. A plurality of protrusions are provided on a surface of the land portions, and at least two types of the protrusions, having different surface areas, are provided. Moreover, at least a majority of the protrusions adjacent to a small protrusion having a relatively small surface area are large protrusions having a relatively large surface area.
US08991449B2	Pneumatic tire with tread having central land portion, middle land portions and shoulder land portions A pneumatic tire 1 is provided in a tread portion 2 with four main circumferential grooves 3 having a groove width HG of not less than 4 mm, thereby dividing the tread portion into a central land portion 4c, a pair of middle land portions 4m, and a pair of shoulder land portions 4s. Each land portions 4c, 4m, and 4s is made of block rows Bc, Bm, and BS divided by axial grooves 5, and each block 6 has sipes 7. An axial width Wc of the central land portion 4c is 10 to 15% of a tread ground contacting width TW; an axial width Wm of the middle land portion 4m is 15 to 22% of the tread ground contacting width TW; and an axial width Ws of the shoulder land portion 4s is 15 to 22% of the tread ground contacting width TW.The middle land portion 4m is divided into an axially inner part 4mi and an axially outer part 4mo each having a groove width HG of in a range of 2 to 6 mm in the tire circumferential direction.
US08991443B1	Air flow controller for pneumatically operated watercraft lifts An air flow controller for a pneumatically operated watercraft lift has a valve for opening and closing the air line to the pontoon and a manifold with a gate. The gate is biased to a first orientation in which air from the pontoon can be exhausted only to the atmosphere when the lift blower is switched “off.” When the blower is switched “on,” air flow from the blower moves the gate into a second orientation in which the blower can force air only into the pontoon. This configuration prevents flow of water into the blower during lowering of the pontoon while using relatively few and simple valve system components.
US08991431B2	Magnetic control multi-way valve A magnetic control multi-way valve has a fixed unit, at least two control valves and a second magnet. The fixed unit is provided with a inlet and at least two independent mounting cavities, an outlet is formed at the lower port of the mounting cavity; two control valves are mounted in the mounting cavities respectively; and the control valve comprises a spool assembly, a first magnet, a sealing gasket, a first spring and a second spring. The spool assembly is fixedly arranged in the mounting cavity with a pressure relief way; the first magnet which is connected in the mounting cavity in an up and down sliding manner and is above the spool assembly; the sealing gasket is connected in the mounting cavity in a vertical sliding manner and is below the spool assembly; the second magnet is connected out of the fixed unit in a horizontal sliding manner.
US08991426B2	Apparatus and method for fluid control A multi-phase separation flow management apparatus has a housing with an inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet and in which a movable element is mounted. The movable element has a first passageway with an inlet and an outlet and a second passageway having an inlet and an outlet, and are disposed in the element so that the inlets of the first and second passageways are adjacent one another and the outlets of the first and second passageways are spaced apart from one another. The inlets are disposed adjacent a housing inlet, the first passageway outlet is disposed adjacent a first housing outlet and the second passageway outlet is disposed adjacent a second housing outlet.
US08991425B2	Waterway assembly including an overmolded support plate A faucet including a molded waterway assembly having a plurality of tubes and a support plate overmolded within a valve interface member.
US08991417B2	Method for controlling pressure keeping facility for cooling and heating system provided with plurality of sensors The present invention relates to a method of controlling pressure maintenance equipment for a cooling and heating system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of operating and controlling, under optimum conditions, pressure maintenance equipment with multiple sensors so as to check for irregularities in the sensors which measure the same physical parameter. In the present invention, measurement values of two or more sensors are used to detect whether an abnormality has occurred in any sensor. If a sensor is determined to be abnormal, a measurement value of the abnormal sensor is excluded when determining a reference control value. Thereby, the pressure can be precisely and reliably controlled in response to actual conditions of the system.
US08991406B1	Combination wig and carrying pouch A wig for a wearer. The wig includes a cap and primary hair. The cap is worn by the wearer. The primary hair is affixed to the cap, and when the wig is worn by the wearer, the wearer has a pre-styled hairdo.
US08991405B2	Substance applicator An applicator assembly is provided, the applicator assembly includes a base member, a cap member removably associated with the base member, a container for a substance to be applied; and an applicator member removably associated with the container. The container and applicator member are configured to be received within an interior space defined between the base member and cap member.
US08991403B2	Thermal treatment process for tobacco materials A method of thermally processing a tobacco material is provided, the method including the steps of (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, to form a moist tobacco mixture; (ii) heating the moist tobacco mixture at a temperature of at least about 60° C. to form a heat-treated tobacco mixture; and (iii) incorporating the heat-treated tobacco mixture into a tobacco product. Heat-treated tobacco composition prepared according to the method are also provided, such as heat-treated smokeless tobacco composition comprising a tobacco material, water, flavorant, binder, and filler, the heat-treated smokeless tobacco composition having an acrylamide content of less than about 2000 ppb.
US08991402B2	Aerosol devices and methods for inhaling a substance and uses thereof Devices, cartridges, and method are described herein for emulating smoking wherein a device generates an aerosol for inhalation by a subject by heating a viscous material that can have a tactile response in the mouth or respiratory tract, while reducing Hoffman analytes and mutagenic compounds delivered to the user as compared to a common tobacco cigarette.
US08991391B2	Dry powder inhalers with endless strips and cooperating piercers and related methods Dry powder inhalers are described with an inhaler body defining an enclosed cavity space and at least one of (a) an endless strip having opposing primary surfaces, the strip comprising a plurality of spaced apart blisters or dose containers holding dry powder medicament. The inhaler also has an inhalation exit flow path in the inhaler body in communication with at least one blister or at least one dose container held by the strip in a dispensing position and a piercer configured to release dry powder medicament from the blister or dose container in the dispensing position.
US08991388B2	Solar array assembly and method for making the same A movable solar array and method for capturing solar energy which includes a V-shaped longitudinal support forming a corner of an elongated truss located at each angle of a polygonal axial cross-section where an open web is fixedly attached between each V-shaped longitudinal support extending the length of the elongated truss. An end member is fixedly attached at each end of the support truss and includes a shaft extending longitudinally outwardly from the end member adapted to engage a drive to longitudinally rotate the elongated truss. Solar panels are attached along one face of the elongated truss, and at least one rotatable drive is capable of driving the shafts at the end of the elongated truss to move the solar panels in relation to a change of direction of incoming solar energy.
US08991387B2	Self-contained heating unit and drug-supply unit employing same Heating units, drug supply units and drug delivery articles capable of rapid heating are disclosed. Heating units comprising a substrate and a solid fuel capable of undergoing an exothermic metal oxidation reaction disposed within the substrate are disclosed. These heating units can be actuated by electrical resistance, by optical ignition or by percussion. Drug supply units and drug delivery articles wherein a solid fuel is configured to heat a substrate to a temperature sufficient to rapidly thermally vaporize a drug disposed thereon are also disclosed.
US08991386B2	Parallel tube burner with improved cooling and reduced size A firebox for a gas grill with an infrared re-emitter surface at the top, at least one heat shield at the bottom, and sidewalls intermediate between the heat shields and the emitter plate forming a box like structure in which multiple small cross sectional area tubes with gas burner ports on the top or sides are disposed in an array between the heat shield and the emitter plate. The heat shield below the burner tubes has openings disposed below the burner tubes to admit secondary combustion air and provide cooling of the burner tubes preventing pre-ignition.
US08991382B1	Fire pit that occupies a small space when disassembled A fire pit includes a circular bottom plate and a circular, centrally-apertured log-supporting plate. A plurality of legs secured about the periphery of the log-supporting plate maintain the bottom and log-supporting plates in vertically spaced, parallel relation to one another. Each leg has a hollow uppermost end. A plurality of arcuate grates is mounted about the periphery of the log-supporting plate and a vertically-oriented post is secured to each of the grates, mid-length thereof. Each of the posts has a lowermost end slideably received within the hollow uppermost end of its associated leg to releasably connect each grate to the log-supporting plate. Arcuate openings positioned radially outwardly of the central opening enhance the flow of oxygen into the areas where combustion occurs. The log-supporting plate is inverted and the grates are stacked atop it when the fire pit is in its storage configuration.
US08991379B2	Firing apparatus for an airsoft gun A device for controlling the firing of an airsoft gun is provided with a valve under a butt. Pressurized air from a high pressure air canister is directed to a rear section of a chamber in the butt. Opening of a valve directs the pressurized air further into a front section of the chamber via the valve so as to bring a plastic pellet to a ready to fire position. Closing of the valve causes pressurized air in the chamber to push a plunger forward to fire the plastic pellet.
US08991378B2	Gas pressure regulator with in-situ rotatably adjustable adaptor sleeve Exemplary embodiments of a gas pressure regulator comprise a regulator body, an adaptor sleeve, a retainer and an indexing ring. The regulator body includes a proximal portion, a distal portion, a ported intermediate portion therebetween, and a main bore. The adaptor sleeve axially receives the distal portion and includes an outer threading for engaging an air source adaptor of a paintball marker. The retainer threadably engages the main bore within the distal end, thereby axially securing the adaptor sleeve onto the distal end. The indexing ring receives the distal portion therethrough for resiliently biased axial movement of the indexing ring between a locking position and an unlocking position. When the indexing ring is in its unlocking position, the adaptor sleeve is rotatable with respect to the regulator body. When the indexing ring is in its locking position, the adaptor sleeve is rendered substantially non-rotatable with respect to the regulator body.
US08991369B2	Two-stage cooled exhaust gas recirculation system A device for cooled recirculation of exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine charged with the aid of an exhaust gas turbocharger, the internal combustion engine having a fresh gas system and an exhaust gas system, which are connected to a two-stage exhaust gas cooler via an exhaust gas recirculation line. A device by way of which a sufficient amount of exhaust gas may be recirculated by simple means is provided. This is achieved in that exhaust gas recirculation line 8a, 8b is connected to an exhaust gas collecting line 7a, 7b of the exhaust gas system upstream from turbine 6 of exhaust gas turbocharger 5 in the direction of flow, an exhaust gas recirculation valve 9a, 9b being connected upstream from first stage 10a, 10b of the exhaust gas cooler in exhaust gas recirculation line 8a, 8b, and a nonreturn valve 11a, 11b is inserted into a continuation line 12a, 12b leading to the second stage of the exhaust gas cooler.
US08991368B2	Oxygenate compound synthesis device, systems including the device, and methods of using the same Devices, systems and methods for the preparation of an oxygenate compound or mixture of oxygenate compounds suitable for use in internal combustion engines are disclosed. An internal combustion engine system includes: a fuel system including an oxygenate compound synthesis device including a reactor including a catalyst, the oxygenate compound synthesis device being configured to convert at least a portion of a feedstock to an oxygenate compound or a mixture of oxygenate compounds; and an internal combustion engine configured to initiate combustion through compression or high energy discharge, the internal combustion engine including: a fuel injection system configured to provide fuel injection, and a cooling system configured to cool the internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine being configured to heat the oxygenate compound synthesis device using heat from the cooling system of the internal combustion engine. Applications of the devices, systems and methods are also disclosed.
US08991366B2	Fresh air system A dual path fresh air system, having a first air supply path, the first path supplies air to at least one first cylinder set; a second air supply path, the second path supplies air to at least on second cylinder set; a first exhaust gas recirculation inlet fluidly connected to the first path to introduce recirculated exhaust gas into the first path; a second exhaust gas recirculation inlet fluidly connected to the second path to introduce recirculated exhaust gas into the second path; a first valve member, which is arranged upstream of the first exhaust gas recirculation inlet in the first path, wherein the first valve member controls fluid flowing through a cross section of the first path; and a second valve member which is arranged upstream of the second exhaust gas recirculation inlet in the second path, for controlling fluid flowing through a cross section of the second path.
US08991361B2	Method for operating a hybrid motor vehicle with forced start and filter regeneration promptly after each refueling A method is provided for operating a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine (2) that is supplied with fuel from a fuel tank (7), and having a regeneratable filter device (6) for taking up fuel vapors from the fuel tank (7). To improve properties of fuel vapor retaining systems during operation of motor vehicles, the method includes carrying out a forced start of the internal combustion engine (2) promptly after a refueling process in order to regenerate the filter device (6).
US08991359B2	Camshaft device An intake camshaft device 1 includes an intake camshaft, a first rolling bearing and a second rolling bearing for rotatably supporting both end parts of the intake camshaft, and a first sliding bearing and a second sliding bearing for rotatably supporting the intake camshaft between the first and second rolling bearings. The first rolling bearing is arranged in a same plane as a rotation plane of a sprocket for an intake cam. In other words, the first rolling bearing is positioned in a plane which is overlapped with a plurality of teeth of the sprocket for the intake cam, and perpendicular to a center axis. The first sliding bearing is disposed adjacent to the first rolling bearing backward in an axial direction.
US08991356B2	Internal combustion engine and method of operating same An internal combustion engine and a method for maximizing fuel efficiency of an internal combustion engine. The internal combustion engine includes an engine block assembly having an electromagnet coupled thereto and an engine component movable relative to the engine block assembly. The engine component includes a permanent magnet coupled thereto. A control system is provided to selectively provide an electrical current to the electromagnet to produce a desired magnetic field, wherein the magnetic field of the electromagnet cooperates with a magnetic field of the permanent magnet to affect a motion of the engine component in respect of the engine block assembly.
US08991354B2	Advanced angled-cylinder piston device An advanced angled cylinder piston engine, pump, or compressor design. A method to determine optimum cylinder(s) orientation to achieve maximum torque. A method to determine proper cylinder(s) orientation achievable based on crankshaft and connecting rod dimensions. A cylinder insert sleeve, and a piston provide clearance for free operation of a connecting rod. A compensating piston provides proper cylinder volume to maintain desired compression ratio. An oil passage provides additional lubrication to cylinder wall.
US08991353B2	Valve system A valve for an engine cylinder includes a head. The valve is selectively moveable between a closed position in which the head blocks a port and an open position in which the head unblocks the port. A lower stem is formed as one-piece with the head, and a thermal cavity formed within the lower stem. The thermal cavity is at least partially filled with a heat transfer medium. An upper stem is attached to the lower stem opposite the head. A thermal barrier is located adjacent a junction of the lower stem and the upper stem.
US08991351B2	Needle roller cam follower for higher mileage applications of light, medium and heavy duty vehicles A roller assembly for a diesel engine used in a high mileage vehicle includes a roller having an exterior roller surface and an interior surface that defines a bore extending therethrough. A pin is positioned in the bore and defines an exterior pin surface. A plurality of rolling elements is positioned between the exterior pin surface and the roller interior surface. Each of the rolling elements rollingly engages the exterior pin surface and the roller interior surface. The roller assembly defines a clearance of between about 0.01 mm to about 0.03 mm between the rolling elements, the exterior pin surface and the interior surface. The roller assembly is configured to achieve extended life criteria wherein the clearance does not increase to more than 0.02 mm to 0.06 mm after 500,000 miles of travel of a vehicle powered by a diesel engine having the roller assembly installed therein.
US08991348B2	Valve timing control apparatus A valve timing control apparatus includes a driving-side rotation member, a driven-side rotation member, a first lock mechanism selectively achieving a first lock state in which a relative rotation phase of the driven-side rotation member relative to the driving-side rotation member is locked at an intermediate lock phase and a first lock release state, and a second lock mechanism selectively achieving a second lock state in which the relative rotation phase is locked at one of a most advanced angle phase and a most retarded angle phase and a second lock release state, the driven-side rotation member being rotatable relative to the driving-side rotation member by a first clearance angle in the first lock state, the driven-side rotation member being rotatable relative to the driving-side rotation member by a second clearance angle in the second lock state, the second clearance angle being smaller than the first clearance angle.
US08991345B2	Valve timing adjusting device A main lock member is fitted in a main lock bore at a main lock phase for closing an intake valve at a timing later than a timing when a piston reaches a bottom dead center, whereby a rotation phase is locked. In a subordinate lock mechanism, the rotation phase is locked at a subordinate lock phase advancing further than the main lock phase. In a lock control mechanism, a temperature sensing body is changed to an expanded state, whereby a moving member is latched at a first position in which the main lock member is allowed to be fitted in the main lock bore, whereas at a main lock phase in a cold stop state after a timing when the temperature of the stopped internal combustion engine becomes less than a preset temperature, the temperature sensing body is changed to a contracted state.
US08991339B2	Multi-zone vehicle radiators The present disclosure relates to a multiple zone vehicle radiator, including: a housing; a first zone included in the housing; a second zone included in the housing; a baffle between the first and second zone, located in an outlet manifold of the housing; and a zone modifier configured to regulate coolant distribution between the first zone and second zone according to predetermined conditions.
US08991338B2	Vehicle and method for controlling the same A vehicle includes an engine capable of being intermittently stopped after it is started; a water pump for circulating cooling water, and an ECU. When the cooling water has low temperature the ECU controls the water pump to limit the flow rate of the cooling water to be smaller than when the cooling water has high temperature. When the cooling water has a limited flow rate the ECU sets lower a threshold value of the cooling water's temperature for permitting intermittently stopping the engine than when the cooling water does not have a limited flow rate. When the cooling water has a limited flow rate the engine can nonetheless be intermittently stopped at an appropriate time.
US08991325B2	Marine connection system and method A connection system comprises a first latching (5) element mountable on or to a first body (3) and a second latching element (6) mountable on or to a second body (4), and means for drawing the first latching element and second latching element together to facilitate connection of the first body to the second body, said drawing means comprising a buoyant winching system (2). A connection method for connecting a first body carrying a first latching element to a second body carrying a second latching element, comprises the steps of connecting a winch line (11) from a buoyant winching system comprising a winch, through the first latching element to a tether line attached to the second latching element and operating the winch to draw the first and second latching element together to connect the first body to the second body wherein the connection of the winch line to the tether line is carried out without tension in the winch line.
US08991315B2	Detonator assembly A detonator assembly (10) which includes a housing (16), an explosive (20) in the housing (16), an initiating element (32) exposed to the explosive (20), a circuit for controlling operation of the initiating element (32), and a communication arrangement which can establish communication between the circuit and an external controller (60) at least at one optical frequency.
US08991312B2	Flexographic printing original plate The present invention aims to provide a flexographic printing original plate where, although it is a flexible aqueous developing plate, reproducibility of fine lines is good. A flexographic printing original plate which is a photosensitive printing original plate where at least (A) a supporting member, (B) a photosensitive resin layer, (C) a protective layer for preventing the polymerization inhibition due to oxygen in the photosensitive resin layer and (D) a heat-sensitive mask layer are successively layered, characterized in that, the photosensitive resin layer (B) is a layer which is able to be developed by water, Young's modulus of the protective layer (C) is 4 MPa to 35 MPa, layer thickness of the protective layer (C) is 0.2 μm to 2.0 μm and Young's modulus (MPa) and layer thickness (μm) of the protective layer (C) satisfy the following formula 1: 1≦(Young's modulus)×(Layer thickness)2≦18 (Formula 1).
US08991306B2	Temperature control valve assembly and beverage preparing apparatus equipped therewith Valve assembly (8) for fine tuning the temperature of some fluid that has been heated or cooled in a heat exchanging section of a beverage making apparatus (1). The valve assembly (8) comprises a mixing valve (10), having a first inlet (21) for fluid communication with an outlet of the heat exchanging section (6), a second inlet (22) for fluid communication with a source of a hotter or colder version of aforementioned fluid, first and second closing means for altering a flow rate through the first and second inlet respectively, and control means arranged to control the first and second closing means in such way that an increase in flow rate through one of the inlets is matched by a substantially similar sized decrease in flow rate through the other inlet, so that the total flow rate through the mixing valve remains substantially constant.
US08991302B2	Brew basket with splash reservoir A brew basket for a brewing apparatus includes a splash protection structure to protect against spilling when the brew basket is removed prematurely with hot brewing liquid therein. The structure is a splash reservoir formed near the handle of the brew basket, extending the interior surface of the brew basket radially outward at the site of the compartment where the basket is pulled out of the brewing apparatus. A well or reservoir attenuates a wave of liquid created by pulling the basket out by directing the wave to the reservoir rather than impact the side wall of the basket, where hot liquid would then tend to splash or spill out.
US08991298B2	Apparatus for drainage by well points Apparatus for drainage by well points, including a piston pump and a drive motor coupled to the piston pump by means of a transmission and provided with a drive shaft, which transmission is received in a housing and includes at least one crankshaft and a drive rod coupled thereto, the drive rod is coupled by means of a cross-head to a piston rod of the piston pump and the housing forms an oil sump and the transmission further includes an assembly of a worm and a worm wheel co-acting therewith and mounted on the crankshaft and the worm is provided on a worm shaft extending transversely relative to the crankshaft and vertically in operating mode of the apparatus for drainage by well points.
US08991297B2	Compressors with improved sealing assemblies A compressor includes a housing; a compressor liner positioned within the housing and at least partially defining a first cylinder with an inlet and an outlet; a piston positioned within the first cylinder and configured to compress air flowing into the first cylinder through the inlet; a cylinder head at least partially defining the first cylinder; and a sealing assembly for sealing an interface between the compressor liner and the cylinder head. The sealing assembly includes a ring seal at an interface between the cylinder head and the compressor liner; a vent port on an opposite side of the ring seal from the first cylinder; and a vent tube extending between the vent port and the inlet such that air leaking through the ring seal from the first cylinder flows through the vent port, through the vent tube, and into the inlet.
US08991283B2	Drive system for a motor vehicle and motor vehicle having such a drive system A drive system (2) for a motor vehicle (1) has a transmission (11) for driving at least one drive axle (13, 14) of the motor vehicle (1). An internal combustion engine (3) optionally is connected operatively to the transmission (11) or decoupled therefrom. A first electric machine (17) optionally is connected operatively to the at least one drive axle (13, 14) or to an output shaft (39) of the transmission (11) or decoupled therefrom. A second electric machine (19) is connected operatively to the internal combustion engine (3).
US08991281B2	Adjustable foot pedal, linkage, and method for actuating a hydraulic cylinder A foot actuated pivoting lever is provided. The lever may include: a lever member having two ends, one end configured to attach to a mechanism configured to receive an input from the lever member; and a pedal pivotally attached proximate to the other end of the lever member, wherein the pedal is configured to pivot between a first and a second position, wherein in the first position, the pedal lies on top of a section of the lever member and, in the second position, the pedal extends beyond the lever member. A mechanism for actuating a piston may be provided.
US08991262B2	Capacitive pressure sensor, manufacturing method thereof, and pressure sensor package A capacitive pressure sensor includes a semiconductor substrate, a first insulating portion configured to define a sensor region, a reference pressure chamber configured to divide a lower portion of the sensor region in a direction, a second insulating portion configured to divide a surface portion of the sensor region above the reference pressure chamber in the direction, and a trench configured to divide the sensor region in the direction. The sensor region is divided into at least three semiconductor parts by the reference pressure chamber, the second insulating portion, and the trench.
US08991258B2	Linear scanner with rotating coupling fluid An inspection arrangement and an associated method for inspecting an elongate object. The arrangement includes a housing providing an interior space. The housing has an entrance and exit that are aligned. The arrangement includes a plurality of ultrasonic sensor arrays disposed to direct ultrasonic sensory pluses. Each sensor array has a plurality of ultrasonic sensors with each ultrasonic sensor positioned to direct a respective ultrasonic sensory pulse in a respective direction. The arrangement includes a fluid delivery device that delivers a coupling fluid into the interior space. The coupling fluid transmits the ultrasonic sensory pluses to the elongate object. The arrangement includes a plurality of redirecting elements associated with the plurality of ultrasonic sensor arrays. Each redirecting element is positioned such that ultrasonic sensory pluses from the respective ultrasonic sensor array proceed through the respective redirecting element and are redirected along a different direction.
US08991255B2	Grammage detection sensor of recording medium and image forming apparatus A grammage detection sensor which detects a grammage of a recording medium using an ultrasonic wave includes a transmitting unit configured to transmit the ultrasonic wave and a receiving unit including a first vibration member configured to receive the ultrasonic wave that is transmitted from the transmitting unit and passes through the recording medium. The receiving unit includes a guide member configured to guide the ultrasonic wave that passes through the recording medium to the first vibration member. A length from a surface of the first vibration member to a plane including an end plane of the guide member along a line that passes through a center of the first vibration member and is perpendicular to the first vibration member is approximately n times of one-half wavelength of the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the transmitting unit where n is an integer of one or greater.
US08991252B2	Displacement amount monitoring electrode arrangement According to a displacement amount monitoring electrode arrangement, there are a linear change region in which the change amount of capacitance changes linearly with the displacement of the movable electrode in the predetermined axis direction, and a nonlinear change region in which the change amount of the capacitance changes nonlinearly with the displacement of the movable electrode in the predetermined axis direction. The nonlinear change region includes a characteristic in which a change sensitivity of the change amount of the capacitance with respect to the displacement amount of the movable electrode in the predetermined axis direction is greater than that in the linear change region, and a target capacitance change amount of the capacitance when the displacement of the movable electrode in the predetermined axis direction reaches a target displacement amount corresponding to the target amplitude is set in the nonlinear change region.
US08991249B2	Vibrating gyroscope and treatment process A vibrating gyroscope has a base and a resonator. The resonator includes a body of generally cylindrical shape terminating in a face. The resonator is capable of vibrating according to a first vibration mode having antinodes distributed on n axes, and a second vibration mode having antinodes distributed on n other axes. The face of the resonator has two piezoelectric assemblies on each axis of the first and of the second vibration modes. Each piezoelectric assembly has at least one piezoelectric element capable of exciting the resonator in vibration and at least one piezoelectric element capable of detecting vibrations of the resonator at the same time.
US08991247B2	High range digital angular rate sensor based on frequency modulation A digital angular rate sensor system based on frequency modulation (FM) of the rotation rate. The new approach relies on tracking of the resonant frequencies of two high-Q mechanical modes of vibration in a MEMS vibratory gyroscope to produce an inherently digital measurement of the input angular rate. The disclosed system is enabled by a combination of a MEMS vibratory high-Q gyroscope and a new signal processing scheme which takes advantage of a previously ignored gyroscope dynamics effect. The FM nature of the system eliminates noise versus bandwidth and resolution versus dynamic range tradeoffs of conventional vibratory rate gyroscopes. The FM approach allows achieving superior signal-to-noise-ratio through the use of ultra-high Q (1 million) mechanical structure without limiting the measurement bandwidth. Stability of 1e-9 can be achieved in the FM system, providing a 1000 times improvement over the state-of-the-art conventional AM gyroscopes with capacitive pick-off.
US08991246B2	Gear measuring method A gear measuring method allows multi-point continuous measurement using a touch probe and is capable of reducing measuring time compared with known methods. For example, a base action for moving a sensing element of a touch probe along an ideal tooth form line of a workpiece (gear; W) or a tooth form line determined by calculation by controlling the movement of the sensing element and the rotation of the workpiece (W) and, in addition, an oscillation action for receiving first signals (ON signals or OFF signals) from the touch probe by bringing the sensing element into contact with the tooth surface of the workpiece during the base action and subsequently for receiving second signals (OFF signals or ON signals) from the touch probe by moving the touch probe in a direction along which the sensing element is separated from the tooth surface of the workpiece are continuously performed.
US08991242B2	Device and method for detecting a fault in a low-pressure fuel pump of a turbojet and turbojet including one such device A device for detecting a fault in a low-pressure fuel pump of a turbojet. The pump is driven by an accessory gearbox including a gear for mechanically driving the accessories. The device measures the vibration frequencies of the accessory gearbox and detects, from among the frequencies, at least one vibration frequency of the low-pressure fuel pump. The device allows a fault in the low-pressure fuel pump to be detected as soon as it occurs.
US08991239B2	System and method for preparing samples A system and method for preparing samples for analyte testing. The sample preparation system can include a freestanding receptacle. The method can include providing a liquid composition comprising a source and a diluent, and positioning the liquid composition in a reservoir defined by the freestanding receptacle. The method can further include filtering the liquid composition to form a filtrate comprising an analyte of interest, removing at least a portion of the filtrate from the sample preparation system to form a sample, and analyzing the sample for the analyte of interest.
US08991238B2	Portable digital reader for urinalysis The present invention relates to a portable digital reader for urinalysis. The portable digital reader for reading an analysis target chip including a plurality of test areas, comprises: a main body including a light emitting section having light emitting elements for radiating light, an integral optical splitter for uniformly distributing the light from the light emitting section to each test area of the analysis target chip, a light receiving section for receiving light reflected from the each test area so as to convert the same to electric signals, and a measuring section for measuring concentration according to the electric signals obtained from the light receiving section; a main supporting body having the analysis target chip and assembled with the main body; and an auxiliary supporting body assembled between the analysis target chip and the main supporting body, including a groove for assembling the analysis target chip, and assembled with the main supporting body to be exchanged after use. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the reader from being contaminated with superfluous urine by forming a portion contacting a strip chip to be exchangeable and disposing a moisture absorption material to a portion for introducing the strip chip.
US08991232B2	Sealing plate for prismatic secondary battery, method for producing the same, and prismatic secondary battery using the same A sealing plate for a prismatic secondary battery includes a pair of mouths for attaching a negative and positive electrode terminals, one mouth being formed near one end in a longitudinal direction of the sealing plate, and the other mouth being formed near the other end, coining areas used for positioning of an insulating member and formed around the pair of mouths on a front face of the sealing plate, a gas release valve and an electrolyte pour hole formed between the pair of mouths, and grooves formed between the respective coining areas and the long side edge of the sealing plate. The groove has a smaller depth near the gas release valve than the depth near the coining area. Even when the sealing plate is produced through forging, the front face has good flatness and the coining areas are unlikely to have a sink mark or a shear drop.
US08991224B2	Security apparatus for ratchet type gunlocks A security apparatus for a ratchet type gunlock that has a ratchet for locking the gunlock. The security apparatus prevents the gunlock from being shimmed using shimming techniques well known in the art. A star-shaped cogwheel having asymmetrical teeth prevents the shim from reaching the locked ratchet. The security apparatus also provides an extended ratchet latching assembly that features a pivot and a unique shoe-shaped latch that attaches to a plunger via a ball head such that the connections provided between the three elements of the latching assembly enable the latching assembly to remain locked despite severe impact, wrenching or shaking, yet can be easily opened even once the forces being applied to the gunlock ceases even when the deformation to the gunlock is irreversible.
US08991220B2	Washing machine with an improved washing/rinsing-liquid inlet circuit A washing machine (1) has a washing tub (5) containing a rotary perforated drum (6), and a washing/rinsing-liquid dispenser (8), fluidly connectable to a water source. The liquid dispenser includes a housing (9) and a drawer (10), removably associated to the housing (9), provided with one or more compartments (11a, 11b) adapted to be filled with washing and/or rinsing products. A water line (13) fluidly connects the washing/rinsing-liquid dispenser (8) and the tub (5). The water line (13) has one or more single-piece elements (13, 13a. 13b) including a first conduit (25), fluidly connecting the one or more compartments (11a, 11b) and the tub (5), and a second conduit (27), fluidly separated from the first conduit (25), fluidly connectable, upstream, with the water source, and fluidly connected, downstream, with the tub (5)). The first and second conduits (25, 27) are provided in a single-piece construction.
US08991219B2	Washing machine with reservoirs in the ribs for balancing and wash sprays The present invention relates to a washing machine (1) that comprises a tub (2), a cylindrical drum (3) having a rear wall (7) wherein the items to be washed are emplaced, disposed coaxially inside the tub (2), one or more ribs (4) arranged on the inner periphery of the drum (3) and forming protrusions into the drum (3), a shaft (8) housed in the tub (2) that transfers the movement to the drum (3) and a bearing (9) situated at the center of the tub (2) rear wall (7), remaining stationary together with the tub (3), wherein the shaft (8) is housed, extending towards the center of the drum (3) and at least one water feeding line (10) situated inside the bearing (9) having an inlet connected to the mains water supply and an outlet opening outside the bearing (9).
US08991217B2	Mold, casting apparatus, and method for producing cast rod Arnold (13) includes a recessed portion (21) for receiving a melt (2). The recessed portion (21) is constituted by an inner wall surface (29) for converting the melt (2) into a solidified portion when the inner wall surface (29) contacts the melt (2), and opens in a withdrawal direction (D1) of the solidified portion. A curved line formed by a first contour (23p) and a second contour (25p) has a cusp at a position of start points (43 and 45). The distance between the first contour (23p) and the second contour (25p) in a width direction (D2) increases continuously from an upstream side to a downstream side of the withdrawal direction (D1). The shape of the inner wall surface (29) of the recessed portion (21) is determined so that a cast rod (3) can be rotationally displaced clockwise or counterclockwise about an axis passing through a first end point (33) or a second end point (35) and perpendicular to a section of the mold 13.
US08991209B2	Process and installation for producing high-pressure nitrogen A method and apparatus for producing high pressure nitrogen is provided. This system includes a first compressor for compressing air and cooling air to substantially the dew-point, a high pressure column, a medium pressure column, a conduit for introducing at least a portion of the compressed air at a base of the high pressure column; a conduit for removing a oxygen enriched liquid from the base of the high pressure column; a first valve for reducing the pressure of the oxygen enriched liquid to a medium pressure, where the medium pressure is between the high pressure and atmospheric pressure, a conduit for introducing the oxygen enriched liquid at an intermediate place of the medium pressure column; a second expander for reducing the pressure of at least a part of the liquid removed from the base of the medium pressure distillation column, to a low pressure to cool a top condenser of the medium pressure column and to form a waste vapor stream; a cold compressor for compressing a vapor stream removed form the medium pressure column, cooling the compressed vapor stream, and introducing it into the base of the high pressure column; a heat exchanger for heating the waste vapor stream, a first expander for expanding the heated stream to produce power; a conduit for withdrawing liquid from the top of the medium pressure column, pump for pumping the withdrawn liquid to high pressure and injecting it at the top of the high pressure column; and conduit for withdrawing product nitrogen from the top of the high pressure column.
US08991197B2	Thermodynamic pump for cryogenic fueled devices In one embodiment of the disclosure, an apparatus is provided for fueling a device using a cryogenic fluid. The apparatus may comprise: a cryogenic fluid supply container; a vessel connected to the supply container with an entrance valve to regulate flow of cryogenic fluid from the supply container; a heat transfer system capable of transferring heat from a device to the vessel to heat gas in the vessel; and an accumulator connected to the vessel with an exit valve to regulate flow of gas from the vessel to the accumulator. The accumulator may be capable of being connected to a device. In other embodiments, methods are provided of controllably mixing at least one fluid within a fluid mixing device.
US08991196B2	Regenerator, GM refrigerator, and pulse tube refrigerator A helium-cooling type regenerator configured to retain cold temperatures of working gas includes a first section through which the working gas flows, a second section configured to accommodate helium gas as a regenerator material, and a regenerator material pipe connected to the second section and to a helium source.
US08991192B2	Fuel nozzle assembly for use as structural support for a duct structure in a combustor of a gas turbine engine A fuel nozzle assembly for use in a combustor apparatus of a gas turbine engine. An outer housing of the fuel nozzle assembly includes an inner volume and provides a direct structural connection between a duct structure and a fuel manifold. The duct structure defines a flow passage for combustion gases flowing within the combustor apparatus. The fuel manifold defines a fuel supply channel therein in fluid communication with a source of fuel. A fuel injector of the fuel nozzle assembly is provided in the inner volume of the outer housing and defines a fuel passage therein. The fuel passage is in fluid communication with the fuel supply channel of the fuel manifold for distributing the fuel from the fuel supply channel into the flow passage of the duct structure.
US08991185B2	Combustion device for a gas turbine configured to suppress thermo-acoustical pulsations A combustion device (1) for a gas turbine includes portions (12) having an inner and an outer wall (13, 14) with an interposed noise absorption plate (15) having a plurality of holes (16). The combustion device (1) further has first passages (17) connecting zones between the inner wall (13) and the plate (15) to the inside of the combustion device (1) and second passages (21) for cooling the inner wall (13). The portions (12) also have an inner layer (22) between the inner wall (13) and the plate (15) defining inner chambers (23), each connected to at least a first passage (17), and an outer layer (24) between the outer wall (14) and the plate (15) defining outer chambers (25) connected to the inner chambers (23) via the holes (16) of the plate (15).
US08991184B2	Hybrid construction machine Provided is a hybrid construction machine (driving the upper swing structure using a hydraulic motor and an electric motor together) capable of regenerating the energy of the upper swing structure in deceleration or stopping into electric power and using the regenerated electric power for assisting the driving of the upper swing structure, while also being capable of securing satisfactory operational feeling and operation capability even when the electric motor does not operate. When the electric motor is not driven, a controller controls a hydraulic circuit system (specifically, a swing direction/flow rate control valve, a center bypass cut valve and a regulator) so as to increase output torque of the hydraulic motor by an amount corresponding to torque to be compensated for the non-driving of the electric motor compared to cases where the electric motor is driven.
US08991180B2	Device and method for the recovery of waste heat from an internal combustion engine The invention relates to a device and a method for the recovery of waste heat from an internal combustion engine (2), according to which a feed pump (6), a heat exchanger (8), an expansion engine (10) and a capacitor (12) are arranged in a circuit (4) containing a circulating working medium. A bypass connection (14) is mounted in parallel to the expansion engine (10), in the circuit (4), the expansion engine (10) being coupled to the circuit (4), or decoupled therefrom, according to an operating situation of the internal combustion engine (2).
US08991173B2	Linear actuator for a variable-geometry member of a turbocharger, and a turbocharger incorporating same A linear actuator for a variable-geometry member of a turbocharger includes a piston/rod assembly that can axially translate and also pivot to a limited extent. A permanent magnet is mounted in a fixed position within the actuator. A non-magnetized flux carrier is mounted in the piston/rod assembly, and its movement alters the magnetic field of the magnet. A Halls effects sensor detects the magnetic field and the signals produced by the sensor are used for determining axial position of the piston/rod assembly.
US08991171B2	Cup of a master cylinder, advantageously a tandem master cylinder and tandem master cylinder provided with such cups A cup for a master cylinder coming into contact with its primary piston or its secondary piston and subjected to the pressure of the brake fluid of the primary chamber and of the secondary chamber. The cup has two large grooves bordered: by a rib between the heel and the first groove, by a rib between the first groove and the second groove, by a rib between the second groove and the small grooves, these ribs being in protrusion relative to the cylindrical surface of the heel in the mounted position of the cup in order to separate the heel from the surface of the piston and form, between the heel and the surface of the piston, a gap with a film of brake fluid. Master cylinder notably a tandem master cylinder fitted with such cups.
US08991168B2	Liquid pressure motor A hydraulic motor 100 includes a switching valve 3 which is connected to a pilot passage 54 by which a pressure fluid is introduced into a back pressure chamber 21 of a relief valve 2 and takes a first changeover position 3a where the back pressure chamber 21 is connected to a tank 102 or a second changeover position 3b where the pilot passage 54 is connected to the back pressure chamber 21. By this switching valve 3, the pressure fluid supplied to a hydraulic motor mechanism 1 is introduced into the back pressure chamber 21 via the pilot passage 54 when the hydraulic motor mechanism 1 is in operation, whereas the back pressure chamber 21 is connected to the tank 102 as the pressure in the pilot passage 54 becomes not higher than a predetermined pressure when the hydraulic motor mechanism 1 is being braked.
US08991156B2	Method and storage container for determining a stored amount of ammonia for catalytic exhaust gas purification A method is provided for determining the amount of ammonia which is stored in a storage container by a chemical bond to a solid storage medium, in particular a salt of an earth alkaline metal or the like, and which can be released by supplying heat in order to be supplied to a catalytic exhaust gas purification device of an internal-combustion engine. The storage medium functions as a dielectric of an electric capacitor and the stored amount of ammonia is inferred from the capacity of this capacitor. One wall of the housing of the storage container functions as a first electrode of the capacitor, and, within the storage container, at least one additional electrode is arranged such that at least a partial amount of the storage medium forms the dielectric. The storage container may have an essentially cylindrical shape. Several cylindrical electrodes can be arranged in a coaxial manner.
US08991154B2	Methods and systems for controlling reductant levels in an SCR catalyst Methods and systems for controlling reductant levels in an SCR catalyst are provided. In one aspect, reductant levels are adjusted in response to a ratio of change of NOx conversion efficiency to a change of reductant level. In another aspect, reductant injection levels are periodically adjusted to see if NOx conversion efficiency is better or worse at the adjusted levels.
US08991148B2	Fuel feed device for aviation engine A jet pump (14) is inserted between the low-pressure pump and a high-pressure fuel pump (16). A fuel metering unit (20) includes a metering valve (22) which delivers a regulated fuel flow to a feed line (30), and a bypass valve (24) which diverts to a primary intake (14a) of the jet pump the excess fuel flow supplied by the high-pressure pump. An overspeed protection unit (50) includes a control element (54) of the bypass valve (24) which causes said to fully open in the event of an overspeed of the engine. A shutoff and pressurization checkvalve (42) is mounted on the feed line and controlled by a servo-valve (44) having a high-pressure port (44a) brought to the high fuel pressure, a low-pressure port brought to the pressure of the primary intake (14a) of the jet pump and an output setting the pressure in a control chamber (42a) of the shutoff valve (42) to a value between those prevailing at the high pressure and low pressure ports. In the event of overspeed, the restriction imposed by the jet pump causes a pressure rise at the primary intake of the jet pump, hence a pressure rise in the control chamber of the shutoff valve (42), favoring the closing thereof.
US08991145B2	Crop lifter with releasable tips A crop lifter apparatus has a base member adapted to be attached to a cutting header guard finger about a lifter pivot axis. A plurality of lifter tips with different configurations are releasably attachable to the base member at a mounting position such that the attached lifter tip extends forward from the base member. A bias element is operative to exert a bias force on the base member urging a front portion of the base member forward of the lifter pivot axis to pivot downward about the lifter pivot axis, and the bias force urges the base member to bear against a stop. The tips can be configured to suit various conditions of soils and crops.
US08991140B2	Harvest aid machine A harvest aid machine and method of use is provided comprising a machine having a main chassis. The main chassis includes a roof, a lateral conveyor belt, a chute for storing empty harvest containers and worker stations. The harvest aid machine is powered by a motor and moves using a directional wheel and two rear wheels. Workers load empty containers onto the chute and after the containers slide down the chute, the empty containers rest in a storage station accessible by additional workers. When a worker is ready to harvest a crop, the worker removes the container from the chute and places harvested crops inside the container. The worker then places the harvested crop filled container onto a worker station. After the worker collects multiple harvested crop filled containers, the worker pushes the containers onto a conveyor belt system, adjacent to the worker station, that runs laterally on the machine. When it is time to offload the containers, the conveyor belt system is activated and the containers slide down to one end of the machine to be loaded into a designated vehicle or area. The machine travels through the crop field and can gradually turn onto a different furrow when harvesting of the crops is complete in one area of the field.
US08991119B1	Fluid impermeable barrier A liquid resistant barrier for structural openings such as doors, windows, vents, or the like for use during floods or storms is disclosed. A barrier frame is placed within and about the periphery of the opening, with a gasket located on the structural side, to form a seal. A barrier frame cover, with a corresponding barrier frame cover gasket, is placed over the barrier frame and compression fittings used to hold them together. The gaskets form a seal that is impermeable to liquids and the barrier frame cover prevents damage by flotsam or dynamic pressure.
US08991114B2	Pivot-fit connection apparatus, system, and method for photovoltaic modules A system and method are disclosed for quickly and easily assembling PV modules into a PV array in a sturdy and durable manner. In examples of the present technology, the system includes various couplings having a first engaging portion adapted to engage a first PV module and a second engaging portion adapted to engage a second PV module. At least one of the engaging portions allows variable positioning of the engaged PV module along the engaging portion.
US08991112B2	In-ground storm shelter In areas with propensity for tornados, for example in the central part of the country, the plain states, the mid-west, and also in Florida, it is customary to have some form of storm shelter in which the occupants of commercial and residential buildings can seek refuge in the event of a tornado. The safest type of storm shelter is a so-called in-ground storm shelter. The embodiments of the In-Ground Storm Shelter are comprised of a bottom, a left side and a right side. The In-Ground Storm Shelter is further comprised of a front side and a back side, and a top side. The top side is further comprised of a removable back door, a sliding door, a top left shoulder and a top right shoulder.
US08991089B2	Muzzle loading ramrod A ramrod for a muzzleloader is provided. The ramrod includes a shaft having a knob releasably coupled to one end thereof, the knob having a rounded end and a tapered end that oppose one another. The knob may have a central bore therein, and the shaft may be inserted into the central bore. The tapered end of the knob is configured with respect to the shaft to allow any object that contacts the shaft and slides along the shaft to also slide along and eventually off of the tapered end of the knob without snagging or catching the knob. The rounded end of the knob is positioned at a distal end of the shaft and is configured with respect to the shaft to allow a user of the ramrod to place his/her palm against the rounded end while operating the ramrod to load a muzzleloader.
US08991087B2	Firearm trigger lock A trigger lock for a gun having a trigger and a trigger guard. The trigger lock has a first housing part and a second housing part and at least one of the parts includes a shackle which is insertable through the trigger guard so that the housing parts are on opposite sides of the trigger guard and so that the shackle prevents actuation of the trigger. A latch is mounted to one of the housing parts and movable between a locked and an unlocked position. In its locked position, the latch engages the shackle and secures the housing parts together. Conversely, in the unlocked position, the latch releases the shackle so that the housing parts may be separated from each other. A fingerprint scanner on one of the housing parts generates an output signal when swiped by a fingerprint. That signal is received by a processor programmed to identify one or more authorized users of the gun and, when the authorized user fingerprint swipe is identified, activates a mechanism to move the latch to the unlocked position.
US08991076B2	Sole for a golf shoe An outer sole for a golf shoe includes a plurality of cleats distributed along a forefoot area and a heel area. The cleats are integrated with the outer sole and extend from a surface of the outer sole that faces away from the shoe. The plurality of cleats includes at least a larger sized set of cleats and a smaller sized set of cleats. Such outer sole for a golf shoe gives good traction on the golf course but is also useable as a casual shoe off the golf course.
US08991067B2	Methods and apparatuses for drying electronic devices Methods and apparatuses for drying electronic devices are disclosed. Embodiments include methods and apparatuses that heat and decrease pressure within the electronic device. Some embodiments increase and decrease pressure while adding heat. Other embodiments include a desiccator for removing moisture from the air being evacuated from the electronic device prior to the air reaching an evacuation pump. Further embodiments detect humidity within the low-pressure chamber and determine when to increase and/or decrease pressure based on the humidity. Still further embodiments determine that the device is sufficiently dry to restore proper function based on the detected humidity, and in some embodiments based on the changes in humidity while pressure is being increased and/or decreased. Still further alternate embodiments automatically control some or all aspects of the drying of the electronic device. Additional embodiment disinfect the electronic device.
US08991062B2	Locating and relocating device A relocating device for locating and relocating a first object relative to a second object is for use in association with a means for defining a location point on the second object. The relocating device includes at least one light source, a power source. The at least one light source is producing at least two beams of light wherein each beam of light is capable of defining a beam location point on the second object. The at least one light source is operably connected to the first object. The power is source operably connected to the at least one light source. The means for defining a location point on the second object defines each beam location point on the second object.
US08991061B2	Twine cutter for a bale processor A twine cutting apparatus for a bale processor has a guide extending along a length of a floor of the bale chamber, and a knife engaged in the guide and configured such that the knife can slide along the length of the drum and such that a cutting edge of the knife contacts twine wrapped around an outer surface of the drum. A rigid handle is attached at a knife end thereof to the knife and is configured to be gripped by an operator at a grip end thereof outside the bale chamber. A twine access area can be provided on the drum surface to facilitate cutting twine, and the apparatus can be stored inside the bale chamber during operation of the bale processor.
US08991056B2	Method for producing a group of panels for imitating a long floorboard The invention relates to a group of elongate panels for imitating a slat, the group comprising at least two slat end panels which have respectively a first short traverse edge and a second short traverse edge and two longitudinal edges and which, when the first respective short traverse edges are placed end to end or are arranged on the end of short traverse edges of at least one elongate intermediate panel, form a slat which has a continuous decoration on the joint of the traverse edges. The panels may have bevel longitudinal edges on their decorated sides, and the second short traversal edge of the respective slat end panel is formed on the decorated side as a bevel transversal edge.
US08991036B2	Method for producing a gradient coil assembly A method for producing a gradient coil assembly for a magnetic resonance imaging system includes applying a number of primary gradient coils and a number of secondary gradient coils to a winding mandrel to form the gradient coil assembly. A control coil arrangement is associated with the winding mandrel. During an intermediate check before completion of the gradient coil assembly, at least one coupling inductance value between the control coil arrangement and at least one of the primary gradient coils and/or at least one of the secondary gradient coils is determined. An arrangement of the relevant gradient coils on the winding mandrel is corrected as a function of the at least one coupling inductance value.
US08991035B2	Method of manufacturing laminated core A method of manufacturing a laminated core includes: preheating a rotor core body; attaching a cull plate onto a surface of the body removed from a preheating device; placing the body in a resin-sealing mold; heating and liquefying resin in resin reservoir pots by the mold; extruding the liquefied resin into plural magnet insertion holes and curing the resin; and ejecting a laminated rotor core from the mold and detaching the plate, wherein attaching the plate and detaching the plate are performed at a same station, and the plate detached is used as the plate at the attaching of the cull plate.
US08991026B2	Artificial flower novelty and its method of manufacture An artificial flower and the associated method of its manufacture. To produce the artificial flower, two films of material are laminated. The films of material have markedly different coefficients of thermal expansion. The laminate is formed into a curve shape. Petals and leafs are cut from the laminate. The petals and leafs are cut at different orientations across the curved shape. Accordingly, various petals and leaves change shape in different manners in response to changes in temperature. The various petals and leafs are then formed into an artificial flower.
US08991017B2	Slider for slide fastener There is provided a slider for a slide fastener. A cover member is attached to a body in a cantilever manner to cover a pillar portion and a lock member. An opening/closing member slidably formed between the cover member and the body is configured to open and close an insertion gap. The cover member has a first surface which is formed on the rear end portion of the cover member in substantially parallel to the body, and a second surface extending rearward and upward at a predetermined angle from a rear end portion of the first surface. The opening/closing member has a third surface which overlaps with the first surface in an upward and downward direction and is formed in substantially parallel to the first surface, and a fourth surface extending rearward and downward at a predetermined angle from a rear end portion of the third surface.
US08991016B2	Clip assembly for use holding sinuous springs A piece of furniture (10) includes a rectangular frame (12) for supporting a plurality of sinuous springs (20). A plurality of clip assemblies (18) are secured to opposed side walls (14) of frame (12). Each clip assembly (18) comprises a non-metallic piece (22) having openings (40) and a metallic piece having tacks (42) extending through the openings (40) for insertion into the frame (12). Flexible connectors (38) may be located in grooves (36) of the clip assembly (18) to collate multiple clip assemblies (18).
US08991014B2	Fibre laying machine comprising a roller with pivoting rings A fiber laying machine includes a laying head with a roller able to pivot about an axis of rotation and to apply a plurality of preimpregnated fibers to an application surface by rolling over the application surface. The fibers are distributed along a lower generatrix of the roller and in contact with an exterior surface of the roller over an angle of wrap. The roller includes a cylindrical body, pivoting rings around the body, and means for immobilizing the pivoting rings with respect to the body in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation. The pivoting rings are able to pivot independently of one another.
US08991003B2	Vacuum cleaner with filter cartridge A vacuum cleaner with a separation module includes an advanceable filter media for filtering a debris-containing working airstream. The filter media can extend over an exhaust grill having openings through which air may pass. The filter media can be mounted on a pair of moveable reels, such that the filter media can periodically be replaced with new filter media.
US08991001B2	Canister vacuum cleaner A cleaning appliance of the canister type includes separating apparatus for separating dirt from a dirt-bearing fluid flow, a floor engaging rolling assembly, and a steering mechanism for steering the cleaning appliance as it is maneuver over a floor surface and for pivoting the separating apparatus relative to the rolling assembly.
US08990996B2	Toothbrush A toothbrush that enhances cleaning and user comfort while brushing. In one embodiment, the toothbrush comprises a cleaning element support member, or base member, that permits a head of the toothbrush to be comfortably received and manipulated within the user's mouth. In an embodiment, the support member comprises a head support having an overhanging portion and a portion free of an overhang.
US08990993B2	Vehicle wash component A component for a vehicle wash system includes a frame and a hub portion that is rotatable with respect to the frame. The hub portion is in communication with a plurality of media elements for rotation therewith. The plurality of media elements have a first end located adjacent the hub portion and a second end located remotely from the hub portion. The plurality of media elements are constructed of a flexible material and have a length and a height. The length of the media elements is at least two times greater than height such that the plurality of media elements are self-supporting and extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the hub portion along their length, when the hub portion is at rest.
US08990989B2	Microbridges for regional aircraft and methods of using same An aircraft boarding apparatus has a passenger bridge that has a confinement structure coupled to the second passenger bridge. The confinement structure exerts a ground-anchoring effect on the second passenger bridge to offset the ultralight configuration of the passenger bridge.
US08990988B2	Corn preparation device A device is provided for cutting and/or de-silking corn on the cob. A single unit has a base and a removable cover. A brush for use in removing silks is mounted on one side of the base, and a cutter is mounted on the other side. When it is desired to use the tool on one side instead of the other, the cover is placed over the other tool. The cover then is used as an easy-to-grip palm-fitting structure to push the brush or the cutter along the ear of corn.
US08990986B2	Baby changing pad with pocket for wipes A baby changing pad having an internal water-resistant pocket for storing wipes includes a sealable end opening to the internal pocket for ingress of wipes and a top opening through the pad to the pocket through which wipes are dispensed.
US08990981B2	Fitted sheet A fitted sheet that is particularly well suited for use on a small mattress such as a child's sleeping mattress has elastic on some, but less than all, of its bottom surface periphery. The portion without elastic is wider than the portion with elastic, and defines a pocket part. A first end of the mattress is inserted into the pocket part. The pocket part holds the mattress securely while the elasticized portion is stretched and slipped over the remainder of the mattress. The pocket part not only allows for easier insertion of the mattress into that part, but also serves as a visual index that allows the user to easily identify which part of the sheet goes on which part of the mattress.
US08990978B2	Device to assist paraplegics with getting dressed The Device to Assist Paraplegics with Getting Dressed is designed to lift a person that has a spinal cord injury or minimal use of their legs above the seat of a wheel chair, or a toilet seat, allowing easy slipping on or off of the pants. The device may be wall mounted wall adjacent to a seating fixture. The device may be mounted on a “free standing” frame, which may have wheels to make it easy to move around and may easily fold up for storage. To use the device a person will, with their arms out to their sides horizontally, put the armpit rest under their arm pit area. On reaching down towards the pants, the armpit rest will turn from horizontal to a vertical position, lifting them up enough to slip the pants on or off.
US08990974B2	Overmolded fitting connection with color indication A overmold fitting is coupled to a fluid conduit. The overmold fitting may include a first portion and a spaced apart second portion proximate a first end of the fluid conduit. The first portion may be an end ring and the second portion may be a retention ring. The overmold fitting may include a visual indicator to provide an indication of the fluid to be used with the fluid conduit.
US08990973B2	Grab bar assembly A grab bar body is configured to have an overall shape that is defined by an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface. The grab bar body defines an open center space that is entirely bounded by the inner peripheral surface. In one example, the grab bar body has an overall shape that corresponds to an oval shape, with the open center space having a corresponding oval shape.
US08997258B2	Microscope probe and method for use of same A microscope probe includes a substrate; an optical resonator disposed on the substrate and including an optical resonance property; a displacement member disposed on the substrate and separated from the optical resonator, the displacement member including: a first end disposed distal to the optical resonator; and a second end disposed proximate to the optical resonator; and a coupling member disposed on the substrate and connecting the displacement member to the substrate, wherein the first end is configured to probe a sample and to be displaced in response to a condition of the sample, the displacement member is configured to communicate displacement of the first end to the second end, and the second end is configured to change the optical resonance property in response to displacement of the second end.
US08997251B2	Virtual write protection system An optical medium containing virtual write protect information can be recorded in drives and systems without first changing the write protection from on to off by receiving valid user input. The virtual write protection may also be enabled or disabled by additional information on the disc.
US08997246B2	System and/or method for authentication and/or authorization via a network The subject matter disclosed herein relates to authenticating an identity of users desiring access to an application program and determining whether an authenticated user is authorized to access one or more aspects of the application program.
US08997245B2	Methods and apparatus for software license management Systems and techniques for managing software licensing are described. When a computing system service request is made, the request is intercepted and software information that may be more or less continuously updated in a managed computing environment is examined to determine the effect of the service request on software usage by the system. The software usage represented by the service request is evaluated based on licensing information to determine license usage by the system and changes in license usage based on the service request, and license usage information is determined based on the software usage and the licensing information. The license usage information may be used in connection with a system of rules to govern actions such as reporting licensing usage or allowing or preventing the use of software based on whether use of the software will violate licensing requirements.
US08997242B2	Methods and apparatus for software license management Systems and techniques for managing software licensing are described. When a computing system service request is made, the request is intercepted and software information that may be more or less continuously updated in a managed computing environment is examined to determine the effect of the service request on software usage by the system. The software usage represented by the service request is evaluated based on licensing information to determine license usage by the system and changes in license usage based on the service request, and license usage information is determined based on the software usage and the licensing information. The license usage information may be used in connection with a system of rules to govern actions such as reporting licensing usage or allowing or preventing the use of software based on whether use of the software will violate licensing requirements.
US08997240B1	Generating user authentication challenges based on social network activity information A system and method for generating user authentication challenges based at least in part on an account owner's social network activity information. A login request including an account owner's correct username and password as well as additional login information is received from a user. The login attempt is detected as a potentially fraudulent based on the additional login information from the user. The account owner's social network activity information is analyzed. An authentication challenge based at least in part on the account owner's social network activity information is generated and sent for display. The login request is allowed or denied based on the completion on the authentication challenge.
US08997238B2	Management device of hardware resources A management device for managing states of components. The management device includes a reading unit to read management information from each of plural components; a determining unit to refer to license information associated with management information of each component stored in a license storage unit, and to determine, based on the referred license information, whether each component is usable or not; and an operation control unit to make a component determined to be usable operate but to inhibit an operation of a component determined to be unusable.
US08997237B2	Display apparatus and the using restriction method thereof Provided are a display apparatus and a use restriction method thereof. The display apparatus includes a media interface unit, a memory unit, and a control unit. The media interface unit detects the connection of an external device and receives unique information of the connected external device. The memory unit stores the unique information of the external device received through the media interface unit. The control unit stores/registers the unique information of the connected external device in the memory unit and determines whether to permit the use of the external device connected through the media interface unit on the basis of the unique information registered in the memory unit. Herein, upon detecting the connection of an unregistered external device, the control unit restricts the use of the unregistered external device on the basis of the registered unique information of the external device.
US08997230B1	Hierarchical data security measures for a mobile device Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for determining, at a remote computing device, whether a first security measure has been compromised, wherein the first security measure is executed on a mobile device; and based on a determination that the first security measure has been compromised, performing a corrective measure, wherein the corrective measure is performed after a delay.
US08997227B1	Attack traffic signature generation using statistical pattern recognition A pattern recognition security system (“PRSS”) generates a packet signature from network traffic, including attack packets. The PRSS can utilize a statistical pattern recognition based approach to generate attack traffic signatures, such as for DDoS or DoS attacks. In some embodiments, the PRSS dynamically creates training sets from actual captured data, allowing the PRSS to adapt to changes in network attacks. For example, more sophisticated DDoS attacks commonly rotate through different attacking computers to vary the packet attributes of attack packets sent to a target system. However, as the PRSS can determine packet signatures based on the actual captured data packets, the PRSS can adapt to the changes in the attack. In some embodiments, the PRSS may determine packet signatures in real-time or near real time during an attack, allowing the PRSS to quickly react to changes in attack traffic.
US08997224B1	Explosive network attack and mitigation strategies Described is a system for explosive network attack and mitigation analysis. A network structure is received as input. A network attack method that applies an Achlioptas process is selected. Then, an explosive mitigation strategy is selected. An attack-mitigation competing process is simulated for the network structure. A sequence of network structures under competing processes is generated. The effectiveness of the selected explosive mitigation strategy against the selected network attack method is quantified by analyzing the sequence of network structures under competing processes.
US08997221B2	System and method for validating and controlling applications A system and method for validating an application and for controlling execution of an application. A plurality of parameters may be computed for an authenticated object and for a tested object. A plurality of comparison and other metrics may be computed based on the computed plurality of parameters. Control of an execution of programs may be based on said metrics. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08997219B2	Systems and methods for detecting malicious PDF network content Systems and methods for detecting malicious PDF network content are provided herein. According to some embodiments, the methods may include at least the steps of examining received PDF network content to determine if one or more suspicious characteristics indicative of malicious network content are included in the PDF network content, providing PDF network content determined to include at least one suspicious characteristic to one or more virtual machines, and analyzing responses received from the one or more virtual machines to verify the inclusion of malicious network content in the PDF network content determined to include at least one suspicious characteristic.
US08997214B2	Method and system for creating and accessing a secure storage area in a non-volatile memory card In order to create and access a secure storage account in a non-volatile memory device, an account identification value is calculated. A memory identification value is read from a first non-volatile memory device. The memory identification value and the account identification value are transmitted to a second non-volatile memory device, and a calculated credential is received. A command is transmitted to create a secure storage account in the first non-volatile memory device, where the command contains the credential and the account identification value. To access the account, a sequence is transmitted, containing the account identification value and a value based on the credential. A secure storage system contains a first non-volatile memory device that stores a memory identification value and contains a secure partition accessible using a credential, a second non-volatile memory device that can compute the credential, and a host adapted to create and access the secure partition.
US08997212B2	Image forming apparatus to execute user authentication and method of executing user authentication in image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus to execute user authentication includes an input unit through which user information is input, and an account management unit to manage an account information database. The account information database stores user information corresponding to functions of the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus further includes a user authentication unit to execute user authentication based on the user information input through the input unit by using the account information database, and a display unit to display a user interface where a function corresponding to the input user information is activated, in response to a result of the authentication.
US08997209B2	Memory device comprising a plurality of memory chips, authentication system and authentication method thereof A memory device includes a plurality of memory chips, including one or more memory chips that store authentication information, and a controller including a first register that stores information indicating a representative memory chip, from among the one or more memory chips that store the authentication information, that stores valid authentication information.
US08997204B2	Efficient modification of packet filters in a wireless communication network Techniques for modifying packet filters in a wireless communication network are described. In one scheme, packet filters may be performed with multiple operations, if needed. The operation(s) to be performed and the order of performing the operation(s) may be dependent on the number of existing packet filters to be replaced (N) and the number of new packet filters (M). If N=M, then N packet filters in a traffic filter template may be replaced with a single operation. If N>M, then M packet filters in the traffic filter template may be replaced first, and N−M packet filters may be deleted from the traffic filter template next. If N
US08997203B2	Filtering network packets in multiple forwarding information base systems In some implementations, a method for routing communication includes determining a binding interface for a communication session based on a forwarding information base (FIB) and a destination for the communication session. The communication session is from an application running on user equipment (UE), and the binding interface is included in a virtual private network (VPN) tunnel established through an Internet Protocol (IP) security (IPsec) interface. Whether to filter the communication session is determined based on which perimeter of the UE includes the binding interface and which perimeter of the UE includes the IPsec interface.
US08997202B2	System for secure transfer of information from an industrial control system network A system for securely transferring information from an industrial control system network, including, within the secure domain, one or more remote terminal units coupled by a first network, one or more client computers coupled by a second network, and a send server coupled to the first and second networks. The send server acts as a proxy for communications between the client computers and the remote terminals and transmits first information from such communications on an output. The send server also transmits a poll request to a remote terminal unit via the first network and transmits second information received in response to the poll on the output. The system also includes, outside the secure domain, a receive server having an input coupled to the output of the send server via a one-way data link. The receive server receives and stores the first and second information provided via the input.
US08997198B1	Techniques for securing a centralized metadata distributed filesystem A method is performed by a data server of a plurality of data servers connected to a network, the data server including data storage managed by a remote metadata server, the metadata server managing storage of data across the plurality of data servers. The method includes (a) receiving, via the network, an access request from a client, the access request requesting access to a portion of the data storage of the data server, (b) testing whether the access request includes a data server specific token authenticating that the client has been authorized by the metadata server to access the portion of data storage, and (c) in response to testing, providing the client with access to the portion of data storage on condition that the access request includes the token authenticating that the client has been authorized by the metadata server to access the portion of data storage.
US08997196B2	Flexible end-point compliance and strong authentication for distributed hybrid enterprises Systems, methods and apparatus for accessing at least one resource hosted by at least one server of a cloud service provider. In some embodiments, a client computer sends authentication information associated with a user of the client computer and a statement of health regarding the client computer to an access control gateway deployed in an enterprise's managed network. The access control gateway authenticates the user and determines whether the user is authorized to access the at least one resource hosted in the cloud. If the user authentication and authorization succeeds, the access control gateway requests a security token from a security token service trusted by an access control component in the cloud and forwards the security token to the client computer. The client computer sends the security token to the access component in the cloud to access the at least one resource from the at least one server.
US08997195B1	Access to vaulted credentials using login computer, mobile computing device, and manager computing device In an example computer-implemented method, a password management (PM) server receives an access request message from a login computer at which a resource requiring vaulted credentials has been requested. The access request message identifies the requested resource and the login computer. A session identifier (ID) is generated that is linked to the login computer and to the requested resource, and is transmitted to the login computer. The PM server receives, from a mobile computing device, a user ID and a value indicative of the session ID. If the user ID is not authorized to access the requested resource, the PM server transmits the vaulted credentials to the login computer or the mobile computing device only if an approval message indicative of a confirmation code is received from a manager computing device authorizing release of the vaulted credentials for the user ID.
US08997194B2	Using windows authentication in a workgroup to manage application users An system for authenticating users of an application program executing at a front-end computer using the security features built into the operating system of a logon computer is provided. Initially, an administrator establishes user accounts for each user with an operating system executing at the logon computer with access to application resources. When the application program starts executing at the front-end computer, the application program prompts the user for credentials. The application program attempts to access resources managed by the logon computer using the received credentials. When access to a resource is successful, the application program knows that the logon computer has authenticated the user and the user is authorized to access the resource. In this manner, the application program can take advantage of the security features built into the operating system executing at the logon computer to authenticate users of the application program and authorize access to application resources.
US08997192B2	System and method for securely provisioning and generating one-time-passwords in a remote device A secure processor such as a TPM generates one-time-passwords used to authenticate a communication device to a service provider. In some embodiments the TPM maintains one-time-password data and performs the one-time-password algorithm within a secure boundary associated with the TPM. In some embodiments the TPM generates one-time-password data structures and associated parent keys and manages the parent keys in the same manner it manages standard TPM keys.
US08997191B1	Gradual template generation Embodiments of the invention relate to collecting keystroke timing data of samples of a phrase input by a user on an input device during different user sessions, and creating a biometric user template based on the timing data collected during the different sessions. Once a sufficient number of samples are collected, the template may be used to authenticate the user.
US08997190B2	Using metadata in security tokens to prevent coordinated gaming in a reputation system To prevent gaming of a reputation system, a security token is generated for a security module using metadata about the client observed during the registration of the security module. The registration server selects metadata for use in generating the security token. The generated security token is provided to identify the client in later transactions. A security server may conduct a transaction with the client and observe metadata about the client during the transaction. The security server also extracts metadata from the security token. The security server correlates the observed metadata during the transaction with the extracted metadata from the security token. Based on the result of the correlation, a security policy is applied. As a result, the metadata in the security token enables stateless verification of the client.
US08997188B2	System for enabling a smart device to securely accept unsolicited transactions A Smart Device (102) securely validates an incoming message emanating from an external source (906). A method embodiment comprises the steps of a SPARC Internet Security Corporation (SISC 900) verifying (912) that the incoming message contains a pre-stored validity identifier (901). When the incoming message contains the correct validity identifier (901), SSC (900) appends (914) a SSD Unsolicited Transaction Identifier (SSD UT ID) to the message. The SSD UT ID comprises a unique security device (104) identifier and an optional message count. SISC (900) then sends (915) the message and the SSD UT ID to the Smart Device 102. The invention does not require encryption, PINs, or passwords. In an embodiment of the invention, Smart Device (102) is not allowed to communicate directly with external networks (506), but rather must do so via SSD (104). This removes the security burden from Smart Device (102), speeding and simplifying transactions.
US08997168B2	Video server apparatus and synchronization control method According to one embodiment, a video server apparatus includes a memory, a recorder, a decoder, a controller, a synchronizer, a sync signal transmitter and a time manager. The synchronizer generates sync signals in frame unit. The sync signal transmitter distributes the sync signals generated by the synchronizer in frame unit, to the memory, the recorder, the decoder and the controller. Each of the memory, recorder, decoder and controller includes a time manager. The time manager manages the sync signals distributed.
US08997161B2	Application enhancement tracks Systems and methods of providing enhanced digital media playback through application enhancement tracks are described. Application enhancement tracks are derived from the main content that they are associated with and are encoded to aid the performance of one or more functions related to the content, such as visual-search using a video application enhancement track, or trick-play track. In several embodiments, a method of decoding a media file for play back includes obtaining a media file containing compressed content and an accompanying application enhancement track which is a subset of the compressed content, playing back the compressed content, and decoding frames of the application enhancement track at a rate proportional to a visual-search speed and from a location determined by the portion of the compressed content most recently played back.
US08997150B2	Method and apparatus for permitting user interruption of an advertisement and the substitution of alternate advertisement version A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for providing advertisements with a media program transmitted to a user device are described. The method permits the user to interrupt the playback of the advertisement and continue with the playback of the media program with no further advertisements, or to interrupt the playback of the advertisement to substitute a different version of the advertisement.
US08997140B2	Method and apparatus for browser based advertisement insertion Content is downloaded to a mobile handheld device (MHD) and buffered on the MHD prior to, and during, viewing. Normal wireless bandwidth varies with atmospheric conditions, distance, obstructions in the path, etc. and hence the speed at which a content-buffer (CB) on the MHD is replenished changes. Because this can result in very low quality viewing experience for the user, the capability for alternate content scheduling provided a micro-splicer is used to enable stored alternate content or advertisement insertion during periods of low viewing quality, when the CB does not hold sufficient content during the viewing period. This alternate content insertion allows the CB to be refilled before the user resumes content viewing.
US08997135B2	Program guide system for recording television programs An interactive program guide system is provided. The system facilitates recording of programs selected from the program guide. The system handles the recording and viewing of pay programs, parentally-controlled programs, consecutive programs on different television channels, and programs with and without copy protection. Programs may be recorded using combination television videocassette recorder (TV/VCR) units.
US08997131B1	Advertisements for recorded content Disclosed are various embodiments for providing advertisements in association with recorded media items. For example, a broadcast media item is stored in a networked storage system in association with an account of a user for later consumption. At least one marker is located in the broadcast media item that identifies a first advertisement in the broadcast media item. One of a plurality of second advertisements is selected that targets the user to replace the first advertisement. The first advertisement is replaced with the selected one of the second advertisements in the broadcast media item.
US08997124B2	Method for updating data in a distributed data storage system There is provided a method implemented in a data storage system including a plurality of storage nodes connected to each other via a communications network. At least one storage node of the plurality of storage nodes may store a first data item. The data item may be arranged to include a reference to a second data item stored in the data storage system. The method may include providing an identifier of the second data item. The method may also include providing status information about the first data item. The identifier may be used to update the first data item, for example based on the status information. The first data item may be stored at the at least one storage node.
US08997122B2	Block device management Embodiments of the present invention perform a method for reading data from, writing data to, powering on, or configuring a block device without the kernel translating a file system operation into a block device operation. This is implemented by a using a core module to couple applications running in user space to a character device through a character device driver, the core module configures the character device to communicate with a block device through a block device driver without the kernel translating a file system command into a block device command.
US08997121B2	Providing support for position-related applications A method of providing position support to a main processor of a computing device is disclosed. The method may include receiving primary position data from a sensor at a sensor controller. The method may also include analyzing, via the sensor controller, the primary position data to determine secondary position data. The method may also include formatting, via the sensor controller, the secondary position data. The method may also include aggregating, via the sensor controller, the formatted position data. The method may also include providing, via a single channel interface between the sensor controller and the main processor, the aggregated position data to an operating system installed on the main processor. The method may also include communicating, via a driver installed on the operating system, the position data to an application installed on the operating system.
US08997113B2	Sharing virtual functions in a shared virtual memory between heterogeneous processors of a computing platform A computing platform may include heterogeneous processors (e.g., CPU and a GPU) to support sharing of virtual functions between such processors. In one embodiment, a CPU side vtable pointer used to access a shared object from the CPU 110 may be used to determine a GPU vtable if a GPU-side table exists. In other embodiment, a shared non-coherent region, which may not maintain data consistency, may be created within the shared virtual memory. The CPU and the GPU side data stored within the shared non-coherent region may have a same address as seen from the CPU and the GPU side. However, the contents of the CPU-side data may be different from that of GPU-side data as shared virtual memory may not maintain coherency during the run-time. In one embodiment, the vptr may be modified to point to the CPU vtable and GPU vtable stored in the shared virtual memory.
US08997110B2	Resolving RCU-scheduler deadlocks A technique for resolving deadlocks between an RCU subsystem and an operating system scheduler. An RCU reader manipulates a counter when entering and exiting an RCU read-side critical section. At the entry, the counter is incremented. At the exit, the counter is manipulated differently depending on the counter value. A first counter manipulation path is taken when the counter indicates a task-context RCU reader is exiting an outermost RCU read-side critical section. This path includes condition-based processing that may result in invocation of the operating system scheduler. The first path further includes a deadlock protection operation that manipulates the counter to prevent an intervening RCU reader from taking the same path. The second manipulation path is taken when the counter value indicates a task-context RCU reader is exiting a non-outermost RCU read-side critical section, or an RCU reader is nested within the first path. This path bypasses the condition-based processing.
US08997108B2	Analysis of operator graph and dynamic reallocation of a resource to improve performance An operator graph analysis mechanism analyzes an operator graph corresponding to an application for problems as the application runs, and determines potential reallocations from a reallocation policy. The reallocation policy may specify potential reallocations depending on whether one or more operators in the operator graph are compute bound, memory bound, communication bound, or storage bound. The operator graph analysis mechanism includes a resource reallocation mechanism that can dynamically change allocation of resources in the system at runtime to address problems detected in the operator graph. The operator graph analysis mechanism thus allows an application represented by an operator graph to dynamically evolve over time to optimize its performance at runtime.
US08997101B2	Scalable thread locking with customizable spinning Embodiments described herein are directed to dynamically controlling the number of spins for a selected processing thread among a plurality of processing threads. A computer system tracks both the number of waiting processing threads and each thread's turn, wherein a selected thread's turn comprises the total number of waiting processing threads after the selected thread's arrival at the processor. Next, the computer system determines, based on the selected thread's turn, the number of spins that are to occur before the selected thread checks for an available thread lock. The computer system also, based on the selected thread's turn, changes the number of spins, such that the number of spins for the selected thread is a function of the number of waiting processing threads and processors in the computer system.
US08997084B2	Method and apparatus for determining compatible versions of dependent entities in a computer system A computer executed method of determining compatible versions of dependent entities of a root entity having a specified version in a computer system. The method comprises building a directed graph containing dependent entities and dividing the directed graph into multiple levels. Compatible versions are determined for entities in upper levels of the directed graph before determining compatible versions for entities in lower levels of the directed graph.
US08997079B2	Image forming apparatus capable of updating control program, and storage medium An image forming apparatus which makes it possible to perform an image forming operation even during update of a control program. The image forming apparatus is provided with distributed module controllers each including a sub CPU and a flash ROM storing a control program for controlling the sub CPU. The main CPU of the image forming apparatus updates the control programs stored in the respective flash ROMs. The main CPU displays a screen that enables selection of functions to be used in an image forming job executed by the image forming apparatus. During execution of update of a control program targeted for update, out of the selectable functions, the main CPU disables a function which uses a sub CPU associated with the control program.
US08997078B2	Release lifecycle management system for a multi-node application A deployment system provides the ability to deploy a multi-node distributed application, such as a cloud computing platform application that has a plurality of interconnected nodes performing specialized jobs. The deployment system may update a currently running cloud computing platform application according to a deployment manifest and a versioned release bundle that includes jobs and application packages. The deployment system determines changes to the currently running cloud computing platform application and distributes changes to each job to deployment agents executing on VMs. The deployment agents apply the updated jobs to their respective VMs (e.g., launching applications), thereby deploying an updated version of cloud computing platform application.
US08997076B1	Auto-updating an application without requiring repeated user authorization A loader application and an associated dynamic link library are installed on a client system. Upon a first execution of the loader application, a user authorization to communicate with locations external to the client via a communications network is received. The dynamic link library and not the loader application is auto-updated without requiring additional user authorization. The auto-updating is repeated during one or more executions of the loader application subsequent to the first execution.
US08997059B2	Reverse debugging A method and reverse debugger are provided for reversely debugging a program. The method includes: obtaining debugging information of the program as outputted by a compiler, the debugging information including information related to extended basic blocks of the program; in response to the program entering into reverse debugging, setting a reverse debugging checkpoint at an entry address of at least one extended basic block; in response to the program reaching a set reverse debugging checkpoint, storing information required by debugging that corresponds to the reverse debugging checkpoint; in response to receiving a set reverse debugging target breakpoint, making the program return to a reverse debugging checkpoint located before the reverse debugging target breakpoint and nearest to the reverse debugging target breakpoint, obtaining information required to be stored by the debugging stored at the reverse debugging checkpoint, and continuing to execute the program till the reverse debugging target breakpoint.
US08997043B2	Encoder, decoder, their methods, programs thereof, and recording media having programs recorded thereon In encoding for putting one or more files and/or one or more files in a folder into a single archive file, original hierarchy information and standard hierarchy information generated by converting characters in a special character coding in each file name to characters in a standard character coding are recorded in the archive file. If the character coding used in the original hierarchy information in the archive file cannot be used in the system environment used in decoding, a file name in the standard character coding is generated from the standard hierarchy information and is converted to a character coding that can be used in the system environment.
US08997041B2	Method of managing script, server performing the same and storage media storing the same The present invention relates to a script management technology. Disclosed are approaches for managing scripts carried out in a script management server, which is connected to a user terminal and which manages script codes. Approaches comprise preparing a plurality of databases including a meta database and a plurality of script databases without necessarily separating physically the two types of databases; designating an active script database by providing the plurality of the original script lists to the user terminal; and storing identifiers of the user terminal and the designated active script database in the meta database, where the plurality of script databases are classified according to script version and each of them manages the original script code and user-specific script code, and the meta database manages a plurality of the original script lists related to the plurality of script databases and a list of user-specific scripts.
US08997038B2	Systems and methods for building and deploying mobile applications Systems and methods may generate applications for operating platforms. A data source for an application definition may be created, and an object may be mapped to the data source. An application definition may be generated from the data source and object. An operating platform for application publication may be selected from among a plurality of platforms. An application may be generated for the selected operating platform.
US08997037B2	User customizable queries to populate model diagrams A method, computer program product, and system for visually modeling architectures or system designs are described. A method may comprise providing an architectural model having a plurality of elements of one or more types. The method may further comprise providing a platform for a user to develop a non-software code query relating to the elements of the model. The method may also comprise executing the developed query to extract one or more of the plurality of elements from the model. The method may additionally comprise populating a diagram with the extracted one or more of the plurality of elements.
US08997026B1	System and method for self alignment of pad mask A system and method provide semiconductor fabrication mask creation techniques that align the device features patterned with a first core mask with one or more pad features patterned with a subsequent pad mask. Shapes representing the pad features may be included in the core mask by reducing on all sides, the shape of the pad feature in the core mask by the width of the spacer material. A pad mask then may be created to include a shape of the pad feature that may overlap a portion of the spacer material pattern created by the shape of the pad feature in the core mask. Data sets may be generated from a circuit design to create the masks that may be fabricated with the described techniques.
US08997024B2	Navigating between views of a graph using placemarkers A method includes transmitting an interface to a display device, where the interface represents a view of at least a portion of a graph. The graph is based on a model of a system and includes a plurality of nodes connected by a plurality of links, where at least one node of the graph includes another node. The method includes receiving a command to store a placemarker corresponding to the view and storing the placemarker. The placemarker is selectable to restore the view at the interface.
US08997014B2	Aggregating RSS ticker for display devices A communication apparatus comprises a data receiving unit, a display, a selection receiving unit and a controller. The controller is configured to acquire the content summary information via the data receiving unit and to control the display to display a plurality of titles included in the acquired content summary information with scrolling in a single line. The controller is further configured to accept a first selection and to determine a first selected title which is displayed when the first selection is inputted. The controller is still further configured to control the display to display a list of a plurality of titles of content summary information acquired from the external server. Moreover, the controller is configured to accept a second selection received via the selection receiving unit and determine a second selected title among the plurality of titles displayed in the list. The controller is further configured to acquire a content corresponding to the second selected title via the data receiving unit.
US08997011B2	Programming environment for configuring a system of audio/video components In one embodiment, a component library stores representations of audio/video components, the representations of audio/video components corresponding to physical audio/video components that are available for inclusion in a system. A configuration workspace is provided into which a selected plurality of representations of audio/video components from the component library are placed to indicate their inclusion in the system. A drawing tool may be used to draw connections between particular ones of the selected plurality of audio/video components in the configuration workspace. Further, a configuration compiler may determine one or more realized services that the system is capable of providing based on the selected plurality of audio/video components and the drawn connections between particular ones of the selected plurality of audio/video components, and may display to the user indications of the one or more realized services that the system is capable of providing.
US08997010B2	User interface device A user interface device which displays an operation key in a display unit using a predetermined design. The device includes: a history storing unit that stores a history record in which a content of a setting operation carried out by a user for each of past jobs that have been executed is recorded; a history retrieving unit that retrieves the history record in which the content of the setting that is the same as a current content of the setting is recorded; a calculating unit that calculates a total number of operations for each operation key based on the content of the setting recorded in the history record in which the same content of setting is recorded; and an operation key display type determining unit that estimates relative degrees of likelihood to be used by the user of the operation keys based on the total number of operations for each operation key, and determines, based on the estimation, a design to be used to display the operation key out of a group of designs including at least a first design for normal display and a second design for highlighted display.
US08997009B2	Interactive computing system with persistent themes A computing system environment comprises an improved pointing device (IPD) coupled to a computer having a computer display with an interactive user interface (IUI), all having a persistent theme and/or motif. The persistent theme is one that is based on and/or correlates to the aesthetic design of the IPD, which can be one of a plurality of distinct shapes of an animal, insect, mascot, among others, that can be associated with a particular persistent theme. The determined persistent theme can be optionally extended to the surface pad on which the IPD rests and to the exterior casing/skin of the computer cover. When the IPD and computer are operating with a persistent theme, such as with the IUI operating as a screen saver, the Enhanced Selection Buttons (ESBs) of the IPD can be configured to manipulate visual and other aspects of the IUI, including controlling a character within the IUI.
US08997008B2	System and method for searching through a graphic user interface A computer-implemented method for constructing and manipulating a Graphic User Interface (GUI), comprising retrieving from a data repository first GUI data representing at least (i) an entity, (ii) attributes of an entity, (iii) a manipulatable scale associated with a respective attribute; constructing on a screen the GUI including converting the first GUI data into displayable GUI data which include at least the entity, its attributes and for at least one of the attributes a manipulatable scale and displaying the displayable GUI data; enabling a user to perform on the GUI a manipulation of at least one manipulatable scale of a respective attribute giving rise to manipulated displayable GUI data; converting the manipulated displayable GUI data into second GUI data representing at least one data record; and using the at least one data record or portion thereof for operations in the data repository.
US08997007B1	Indicating availability for participation in communication session In general, this disclosure describes techniques for a for indicating user availability comprising providing for display at a first client device, graphical representations associated with one or more users available to participate in a synchronous communication session that enables communication between different client devices, receiving, from the first client device, a selection of the graphical representations to engage with at least one second client device corresponding to the selected graphical representations in the synchronous communication session, and responsive to receiving the selection of the graphical representations, coupling the first client device to the synchronous communication session, wherein coupling the first client device to the synchronous communication session allows the first client device to communicate with at least the second client device associated with the at least one selected graphical representations, wherein at least the second client device is coupled to the synchronous communication session.
US08997004B2	System and method for real-time observation assessment Techniques for real-time observation assessment are provided. The techniques, which are designed for educators, take advantage of handheld computers, desktop/laptop computers and Internet access in order to reduce the paperwork associated with conventional educational assessments. An array of instructional assessment applications are designed to run on handheld computers. The instructional assessment applications may be based on existing and widely used paper methodologies. A common Web-based platform for assessment application distribution, selection, download, data management and reporting is also provided. Users can then periodically synchronize instructional data (assessments, diagnostic results, notes and/or schedules) to the Web site. At the Web site, browser-based reports and analysis can be viewed, administered and shared via electronic mail.
US08997003B2	System and method for customizing an interface related to accessing, manipulating and viewing internet and non-internet related information A system and method are disclosed for accessing, generating, presenting and manipulating Internet and non-Internet related information, data and content, including information netcast over the Internet. The system is also capable of controlling operatively connected, privately networked devices. A number of graphical user interfaces are utilized to facilitate user access, manipulation and control of information, data and content and networked devices. Some of the graphical user interfaces are time and topic oriented, are customizable by the user, and allow for the manipulation of information, data, content and operatively connected networked devices from the graphical interfaces themselves. The system is preferably enhanced through the use of an intelligent, dynamically updated user profile that is fully integrated with the system.
US08996998B2	Method and apparatus for presenting media programs Systems and processes that incorporate teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, transmitting a client program having a graphical user interface to a media device accessible via an interactive television network. Temporal actions of users are collected, while presenting a media program of the client program. A symbolic overlay of the client program is generated including a linear presentation of the timeline corresponding to temporal progression of presentation of the media program, and an iconic symbol corresponding to the temporal action that superimposes the symbolic overlay onto the media content. The iconic symbol enables association of comments with the media content. The comments are presented by at least one symbol situated relative to the linear presentation of the timeline corresponding to the temporal progression of the media. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08996994B2	Multi-lingual word hyphenation using inductive machine learning on training data Tools and techniques are described for providing multi-lingual word hyphenation using inductive machine learning on training data. Methods provided by these techniques may receive training data that includes hyphenated words, and may inductively generate hyphenation patterns that represent substrings of these words. The hyphenation patterns may include the substrings and hyphenation codes associated with characters occurring in the substrings. The methods may receive induction parameters applicable to generating the hyphenation patterns, and may store the hyphenation patterns into a language-specific lexicon file. These methods may also receive requests to hyphenate input words that occur in a human language, and may evaluate how to process the request based on the language. The methods may search for hyphenation patterns occurring in the input words, with the hyphenation patterns being stored in the lexicon file. Finally, the methods may respond to the request, indicating whether the hyphenation patterns occurred in the input words.
US08996992B2	Image forming apparatus and information processing apparatus An object of this invention is to return a file changed on an arbitrary application to the state before change and improve the convenience of a user in the restoring operation. This invention provides an information processing apparatus capable of executing an application, which includes a display image log recording unit that repeatedly captures a display image when the application is activated, a content log recording unit that stores a backup file before change every time the file loaded by the activated application is changed and saved, a log association unit that associates content log information with display image log information, a display image log selection unit that displays the captured display image, and an application activation unit that loads the backup file associated with the display image designated by a user and activates the application.
US08996988B2	Automated application compatibility testing A hardware and/or software facility for automated application compatibility testing. The facility automatically detects visual discrepancies between rendered versions of a web page produced by different browsers. The facility may identify differences in a web page rendered by two or more browsers by progressively comparing, for each browser, the corresponding visual elements of the web page without comparing the elements to any predetermined expected results. The facility may identify functional differences in the web page across the tested browsers. The facility generates a human-readable report of the visual and/or functional differences between the tested browsers.
US08996986B2	Enhanced delivery of content and program instructions A tag/content management system delivers customized content and/or program instructions to a user terminal. The system may deliver several groups of program executable instructions, including instructions that are global to all web domains controlled by a client server and those that are specific to a web page/group of web pages. In addition, this system may allow for the creation of testing environments for websites that include modified content and/or program instructions. Various techniques employed by the system may result in a reduction in the errors and latencies that commonly plague conventional implementations.
US08996985B1	Online document processing service for displaying comments A plurality of comments associated with a document is received, and a representation of the document and a representation of a comment thread comprising the plurality of comments are displayed simultaneously on a user device. In one embodiment, a first comment is received from a first user and a second comment is received from a second user. The comment thread may be stored. Systems and apparatus are also disclosed.
US08996981B2	Managing forms in electronic documents Disclosed are various embodiments for managing forms, for example, in portable document format (PDF) documents or other electronic documents. An electronic document that includes a form having multiple form fields is obtained. Each of the form fields is associated with multiple form field definitions. A data grid that shows the form field definitions for each of the form fields in the form is rendered for display. User input relative to the data grid is obtained, and the user input indicates a requested change to several of the form fields. The requested change to the plurality of the form fields is implemented in the electronic document in response to the user input.
US08996976B2	Hyperlink destination visibility Various embodiments utilize page scripting and parsing to identify the target destination of a hyperlink and provide a visual indication of the destination to the user without causing redirection to the target destination. In some embodiments, hyperlink color, highlighting, or icons are used to indicate the destination. Particular colors and/or icons selected to indicate the destination can, in some embodiments, be selected based on the domain hosting the target destination. In at least some embodiments, the destination of a link is determined by the page script run by a web browser on a user's device, while in other embodiments, information is transmitted to a web request handler on the server hosting the web site to determine the destination.
US08996973B2	Enhancing accuracy of service level agreements in ethernet networks A method of determining frame loss between two management points (C, D) in an Ethernet network, in which the management points each transmit frames to each other and each of the two management points transmits to the other, in regular intervals, measurement messages which contain current counts of frames transmitted and received by the respective transmitting management point. At least one of the two management points responds to a received management message to compute from counts of actual packets transmitted and/or received by a given one of the management points the frame loss at the given management point. At least one of the management points computes the frame loss only once in a measurement interval which consists of a multiplicity of the regular intervals and employs in the computation the counts indicated by the measurement message most recently received by the one of the management points.
US08996971B2	LDPC decoder trapping set identification The present inventions are related to systems and methods for detecting trapping sets in LDPC decoders, and particularly for detecting variable nodes in trapping sets in a non-erasure channel LDPC decoder.
US08996968B2	Method, apparatus and decoder for decoding cyclic code A method, apparatus and decoder for decoding cyclic code are proposed. The decoding method comprises: receiving a transmitted cyclic code; calculating the initial syndrome of the cyclic code; by using the initial syndrome and w prestored successive shift operators, calculating respectively w successive shift syndromes in a w-bit window of the cyclic code in parallel; and detecting/locating error in the cyclic code based on the obtained syndromes. The decoding apparatus corresponds to the above method. And the corresponding decoder is also proposed in this invention. The method, apparatus and decoder according to the invention could process the cyclic code within a window width and thus enhance decoding efficiency in parallel.
US08996966B2	Error correction device and error correction method According to one embodiment, an error correction device includes a syndrome processing unit, a generation unit, and a search processing unit. The syndrome processing unit generates a syndrome value based on received data. The generation unit generates t (t is a maximum number of correctable bits) coefficient values of an error position polynomial based on the syndrome value. The search processing unit calculates a root of the error position polynomial, with a concurrency of computation being equal to or greater than “2”, by using the coefficient values of the error position polynomial, when a number of error bits is not more than a predetermined value s (1<=s
US08996953B2	Self monitoring and self repairing ECC Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and system for monitoring a first Error Correcting Code (ECC) device for failure and replacing the first ECC device with a second ECC device if the first ECC device begins to fail or fails. In a step, an exemplary embodiment detects that a specified number of correctable errors is exceeded. In another step, an exemplary embodiment detects the occurrence of an uncorrectable error. In another step, an exemplary embodiment performs a loopback test on an ECC device if a specified number of correctable errors is exceeded or if an uncorrectable error occurs. In another step, an exemplary embodiment replaces an ECC device that fails the loopback test with an ECC device that passes a loopback test.
US08996951B2	Error correction with non-volatile memory on an integrated circuit A memory device includes but is not limited to a non-volatile memory array and control logic integrated with and distributed over the non-volatile memory array. The control logic can be operable to maintain a plurality of copies of data in the non-volatile memory array and detect errors by comparison of selected ones of the plurality of copies.
US08996948B2	Methods, systems, and apparatus for tail termination of turbo decoding Methods and apparatus for tail termination are provided that include a decoder that includes a processor configured to a forward state metric and a backward state metric wherein each iteration of an initial state of the backward state metric is fetched from a memory and is pre-computed without feedback from a decoding iteration. Each decoding iteration is substantially identical, and the backward state metric that is pre-computed is used for a subsequent iteration. The decoder may include a turbo decoder or a radix-4 decoder.
US08996935B2	Memory operation of paired memory devices A method and apparatus for operation of a memory module for storage of a data word is provided. The apparatus includes a memory module having a set of paired memory devices including a first memory device to store a first section of a data word and a second memory device to store a second section of the data word when used in failure free operation. The apparatus may further include a first logic module to perform a write operation by writing the first and second sections of the data word to both the first memory device and the second memory device upon the determination of certain types of failure. The determination may include that a failure exists in the word section storage of either the first or second memory devices but that no failures exist in equivalent locations of word section storage in the two memory devices.
US08996933B2	Memory management method, controller, and storage system An identification code generation method and a management method for a non-volatile memory, and a controller and a storage system using the same are provided, and the non-volatile memory has a plurality of physical blocks. The identification code generation method includes testing the physical blocks to obtain an availability state of the physical blocks and identifying a plurality of good physical blocks or bad physical blocks among the physical blocks according to the availability state. The identification code generation method also includes generating a memory identification code corresponding to the non-volatile memory according to the good physical blocks or the bad physical blocks. Thereby, in the present invention, a unique memory identification code is generated and is prevented from being stolen.
US08996926B2	DMA integrity checker Some embodiments relate to a Direct Memory Access (DMA) controller. The DMA controller includes a set of transaction control registers to receive a sequence of transaction control sets that collectively describe a data transfer to be processed by the DMA controller. A bus controller reads and writes to memory while the DMA controller executes a first transaction control set to accomplish part of the data transfer described in the sequence of transaction control sets. An integrity checker determines an actual error detection code based on data or an address actually processed by the DMA controller during execution of the first transaction control set. The integrity checker also selectively flags an error based on whether the actual error detection code is the same as an expected error detection code contained in a second transaction control set of the sequence of transaction control sets.
US08996925B2	Managing error logs in a distributed network fabric An approach is described for managing error logs and corresponding error descriptors among a plurality of controller nodes of a distributed network fabric. According to such approach, an error log may include output from a runtime code trace. The runtime code trace may include storing trace statements from a currently running process in one or more of a plurality of trace buffers. The trace buffers may be memory-mapped circular buffers. Additionally, an error descriptor may be created from the error log. A globally unique identifier may be assigned to the error descriptor, and both the error descriptor and the globally unique identifier may be broadcast to each other controller node among the plurality of controller nodes.
US08996923B2	Apparatus and method to obtain information regarding suppressed faults A processor includes an execution unit, a fault mask coupled to the execution unit, and a suppress mask coupled to the execution unit. The fault mask is to store a first plurality of bit values to indicate which elements of a multi-element vector have an associated fault generated in response to execution of an instruction on the element in the execution unit. The suppress mask is to store a second plurality of bit values to indicate which of the elements are to have an associated fault suppressed. The processor also includes counter logic to increment a counter in response to an indication of a first fault associated with the first element and received from the fault mask, and an indication of a first suppression associated with the first element and received from the suppress mask. Other embodiments are described as claimed.
US08996921B2	Indicating coverage of Web application testing Testing a system under test includes intercepting, within a proxy system, a request from a client system sent to the system under test. The request is analyzed within the proxy system and sent to the system under test. Within the proxy system, a response from the system under test sent to the client system is intercepted. The response is instrumented creating a modified response indicating test coverage according to the request. The modified response is sent to the client system.
US08996911B2	Core file limiter for abnormally terminating processes Computer program product and system to limit core file generation in a massively parallel computing system comprising a plurality of compute nodes each executing at least one task, of a plurality of tasks, by: upon determining that a first task executing on a first compute node has failed, performing an atomic load and increment operation on a core file count; generating a first core file upon determining that the core file count is below a predefined threshold; and not generating the first core file upon determining that the core file count is not below the predefined threshold.
US08996908B1	Information system, host system and access control method A first SS (storage system) provides a first SA (storage area), a second SS provides a second SA, and first and second HSs (host systems) are coupled to the first and second SSs. First and second paths connect the first HS to the first and second SAs. Third and fourth paths connect the second HS to the first and second SAs. When the first path has a higher priority than the second path after recovery where a WR (write request) is permitted to be transmitted to the first SS, if the first SA which is a write destination for the received WR is a target in a data mirroring process, the first SS transmits a notification to stop the process. The second SS performs control such that a WR specifying the second SA as a write destination fails, and then the second HS transmits the WR using the third path.
US08996901B2	Power management of electronic device with display An electronic device, such as an e-book, for displaying information includes a power source; a display having a high power mode and a low power mode, said display being powered by said power source; and a power control arrangement for switching the display to a low power mode when no changes to selected regions of the display are required for at least a predetermined time. The power control arrangement switches said display from said low power mode to said high power mode when changes of said display are required in display portions other than said selected portions. A method for operating the electronic device. A computer readable medium having computer readable instructions thereon for implementing the method.
US08996893B2	Power supply circuit for controlling power supply to an integrated circuit device with a rate of change of power supply voltage based on acquired value of current Provided is a power supply circuit capable of suppressing a power supply voltage to be input to an integrated circuit device to low level. A power supply circuit (10) controls power supply to an integrated circuit device (30) having a built-in IC chip (31). The power supply circuit (10) acquires a value of a current flowing in the integrated circuit device, and changes a power supply voltage to be input to the integrated circuit device (30), in accordance with the acquired value of the current.
US08996886B2	Encrypted biometric data management and retrieval Aspects of the present invention provide a solution for managing and retrieving encrypted biometric data. A plurality of biometric entries is obtained and each one is encrypted with a unique non-invertible encryption function to get a plurality of encrypted biometric entries. A biometric measurement to be compared against the biometric entries is obtained, a predetermined noise is applied to the biometric measurement, and then the biometric measurement if encrypted using the non-invertible encryption function, resulting in a scrambled encrypted biometric. For each comparison, one of the encrypted biometric entries is subtracted from the scrambled encrypted biometric to get a calculated noise. This calculated noise is then compared with the predetermined noise to determine whether a match exists. Based on a determination that a match exists any information associated with the encrypted biometric entry is forwarded to the requestor.
US08996884B2	High privacy of file synchronization with sharing functionality Systems and methods for providing privacy of file synchronization with sharing functionality are presented. In embodiments, a file synchronization system comprises one or more folders associated with one or more non-shared encryption keys, which may be a managed key shared across an organization, and/or a personal key that is not shared or has limited third-party sharing. The one or more non-shared encryption keys are not known to the data storage service. The file synchronization system may also include one or more folders associated with a shared encryption key that is shared with the data storage service, and in embodiments, with a set of users of the service. The system may include a mapping correlating folders to encryption type so items in each folder can be handled appropriately. The system may have additional folders, such as one or more public folders that may be available with limited or no restrictions.
US08996882B2	Execution method of .NET program after encryption The present invention provides an execution method of a .NET program after encryption. An operating system allocates a process address space to a .NET program process and maps PE files into the process address space respectively. After the .NET program process runs, it is judged whether a currently running program module is encrypted. The .NET program process continues to run after the encrypted program module is decrypted. If the current program module calls a subroutine module, it is judged whether the subroutine module is encrypted. If the subroutine module is encrypted, a decryption operation is performed, and the .NET program process continues to run. With the method, encryption management can be performed on the .NET program based on modules, thereby providing diversified functions for protecting .NET software.
US08996881B2	Preserving redundancy in data deduplication systems by encryption Various embodiments for preserving data redundancy in a data deduplication system in a computing environment are provided. A selected data segment, to be written through the data deduplication system, is encrypted such that the selected data segment is not subject to a deduplication operation. Other system and computer program product embodiments are disclosed and provide related advantages.
US08996873B1	Secure session capability using public-key cryptography without access to the private key A server establishes a secure session with a client device where a private key used in the handshake when establishing the secure session is stored in a different server. During the handshake procedure, the server receives a premaster secret that has been encrypted using a public key bound with a domain for which the client device is attempting to establish a secure session with. The server transmits the encrypted premaster secret to the different server for decryption along with other information necessary to compute a master secret. The different server decrypts the encrypted premaster secret, generates the master secret, and transmits the master secret to the server. The server receives the master secret and continues with the handshake procedure including generating one or more session keys that are used in the secure session for encrypting and decrypting communication between the client device and the server.
US08996869B1	Secure mission module A system and method for converting a device between an authorized device and an unauthorized device may include a crypto ignition key (CIK) and a mission module. The CIK may store an original device number corresponding to a device. The mission module typically loads a local mission and a key, decrypts the local mission with the key to produce a decrypted local mission, and generates an internal file encryption key (IFEK) and an internal split. The mission module may then encrypt the decrypted local mission to produce an encrypted local mission and then erase the IFEK. The mission module, when attached to the device, may read an additional device number from the device and recreate the IFEK based on the additional device number and the internal split. The mission module may decrypt the encrypted local mission and install the results in the device to convert the device into an authorized device.
US08996863B2	Attribute-based access-controlled data-storage system The current application is directed to computationally efficient attribute-based access control that can be used to secure access to stored information in a variety of different types of computational systems. Many of the currently disclosed computationally efficient implementations of attribute-based access control employ hybrid encryption methodologies in which both an attribute-based encryption or a similar, newly-disclosed policy-encryption method as well as a hierarchical-key-derivation method are used to encrypt payload keys that are employed, in turn, to encrypt data that is stored into, and retrieved from, various different types of computational data-storage systems.
US08996862B2	Client device and local station with digital rights management and methods for use therewith A current version certificate is stored that includes a corresponding current version identifier. A current instance certificate is received from the certificate authority, wherein the current instance certificate includes the current version identifier of the current version certificate and a current instance public key corresponding to the current instance private key. The current instance certificate is sent to a local station, during a registration with the local station. A request is generated and sent to the local station. First encrypted data is received from the local station, wherein the first encrypted data includes a content key that is encrypted via the current instance public key.
US08996860B1	Tolerance factor-based secret decay Session-specific information stored to a cookie or other secure token can be selected and/or caused to vary over time, such that older copies will become less useful over time. Such an approach reduces the ability of entities obtaining a copy of the cookie from performing unauthorized tasks on a session. A cookie received with a request can contain a timestamp and an operation count for a session that may need to fall within an acceptable range of the current values in order for the request to be processed. A cookie returned with a response can be set to the correct value or incremented from the previous value based on various factors. The allowable bands can decrease with age of the session, and various parameter values such as a badness factor for a session can be updated continually based on the events for the session.
US08996843B2	Method for distributing random and sequential data in a tiered storage system A method for assigning data in a plurality of physical storage resources for an information handling system is disclosed. The plurality of physical storage resources includes a first tier and a second tier with a lower performance and cost relative to capacity than the first tier. A tier manager hosted on the information handling system and in electronic communication with the plurality of physical storage resources is configured to: determine a seek distance value, operation rate, operation size value, and elapsed time value for each page; and calculate a relative randomness value for each page using the seek distance value, operation rate, operation size value, and elapsed time value determined for each page. A classification module may assign a physical location for each page such that the relative randomness value for each page in the first tier is greater than the relative randomness value for each page in the second tier.
US08996841B2	Hypervolume data storage object and method of data storage The present disclosure relates to a data storage device having a hypervolume accessible by a plurality of servers operating on two or more data storage systems, a first physical volume, associated with the hypervolume, located at a first data storage system, and a second physical volume, associated with the hypervolume, located at a second storage system. The hypervolume directs input/output (I/O) from the servers to a primary physical volume comprising either the first or second physical volume, and the primary physical volume may be changed, transparently to the servers, to the other of the first or second physical volume. The present disclosure, in another embodiment, relates to a method for moving operation of a storage device from one data storage location to a second data storage location. A hypervolume is used to redirect input/output (I/O) from the a plurality of servers from the one physical volume to another.
US08996837B1	Providing multi-tenancy within a data storage apparatus A technique provides multi-tenancy within a data storage apparatus. The technique involves dividing, by processing circuitry, storage units of the data storage apparatus into multiple groups of storage units. The technique further involves forming, by the processing circuitry, segregated slice pools from the multiple groups of storage units. Each segregated slice pool is formed from a different group of storage units. The technique further involves allocating, by the processing circuitry, slices from the segregated slice pools to mutually exclusive sets of virtual storage processors (VSPs) on the data storage apparatus. Each mutually exclusive set of VSPs operates as a separate tenant of the data storage apparatus.
US08996831B1	System and method for logical deletion of stored data objects Systems and methods for providing object versioning in a storage system may support the logical deletion of stored objects. In response to a delete operation specifying both a user key and a version identifier, the storage system may permanently delete the specified version of an object having the specified key. In response to a delete operation specifying a user key, but not a version identifier, the storage system may create a delete marker object that does not contain object data, and may generate a new version identifier for the delete marker. The delete marker may be stored as the latest object version of the user key, and may be addressable in the storage system using a composite key comprising the user key and the new version identifier. Subsequent attempts to retrieve the user key without specifying a version identifier may return an error, although the object was not actually deleted.
US08996823B2	Parallel access virtual tape library and drives A system and method described herein allows a virtual tape library (VTL) to perform multiple simultaneous or parallel read/write or access sessions with disk drives or other storage media, particularly when subject to a sequential SCSI-compliant layer or traditional limitations of VTLs. In one embodiment, a virtualizing or transaction layer can establish multiple sessions with one or more clients to concurrently satisfy the read/write requests of those clients for physical storage resources. A table or other data structure tracks or maps the sessions associated with each client and the location of data on the physical storage devices.
US08996819B2	Performance optimization and dynamic resource reservation for guaranteed coherency updates in a multi-level cache hierarchy A cache includes a cache pipeline, a request receiver configured to receive off chip coherency requests from an off chip cache and a plurality of state machines coupled to the request receiver. The cache also includes an arbiter coupled between the plurality of state machines and the cache pipe line and is configured to give priority to off chip coherency requests as well as a counter configured to count the number of coherency requests sent from the cache pipeline to a lower level cache. The cache pipeline is halted from sending coherency requests when the counter exceeds a predetermined limit.
US08996815B2	Cache memory controller An integrated circuit (IC) may include a cache memory, and a cache memory controller coupled to the cache memory. The cache memory controller may be configured to receive a cache miss associated with a memory location, issue pre-fetch requests, each pre-fetch request having a quality of service (QoS), and determine if a pre-fetch request has issued for the memory location associated with the cache miss.
US08996811B2	Scheduler, multi-core processor system, and scheduling method A scheduler that causes a given core in a multi-core processor to determine if a priority level of a process that is to be executed by a core of the multi-core processor is greater than or equal to a threshold; save to a cache memory of each core that executes a process having a priority level greater than or equal to the threshold, data that is accessed by the process upon execution; save to a memory area different from the cache memory and to which access is relatively slower, data that is accessed by a process having a priority level not greater than or equal to the threshold; and save the data saved in the memory area, to a cache memory of a requesting core, when the requesting core issues an access request for the data saved in the memory area.
US08996806B2	System and method for auditing memory cards A system and method for auditing memory cards. A memory card is received in a card reader in communication with a computing device. The memory card is scanned utilizing a computing device. A determination is made whether content in the memory card is acceptable or unacceptable. A first volume name of the memory card is rewritten to the second volume name in response to determining the content in the memory card is acceptable.
US08996804B2	Optimizing and enhancing performance for parity based storage A mechanism is provided for optimizing and enhancing performance for parity based storage, particularly redundant array of independent disk (RAID) storage. The mechanism optimizes a repetitive pattern write command for performance for storage configurations that require parity calculations. The mechanism eliminates the need for laborious parity calculations that are resource intensive and add to IO latency. For repetitive write commands that span across the full stripe of a RAID5 or similar volume, the mechanism calculates parity by looking at the pattern and the number of columns in the volume. The mechanism may avoid the XOR operation altogether for repetitive pattern write commands. The mechanism may enhance secure delete operations that use repetitive pattern write commands by eliminating data reliability operations like parity generation and writing altogether.
US08996803B2	Method and apparatus for providing highly-scalable network storage for well-gridded objects An apparatus comprising a plurality of storage nodes comprising a plurality of corresponding storage disks and configured to store data in a distributed manner between the storage disks that achieves a Redundant Array of Independent Disks-0 (RAID0) like performance based on positioning information and without indexing the distributed data. A network component comprising a storage disk configured to maintain a plurality of physical files for different user data that are mapped to different volumes, wherein the volumes are distributed between the storage disk and a second storage disk based on a RAID0 like data distribution scheme without being indexed.
US08996793B1	System, method and computer readable medium for generating soft information A system, a method and a non-transitory computer readable medium for generating soft information. The method may include performing a first set of read attempts of flash memory cells using a first set of read thresholds to provide first read results; calculating for each flash memory cell in response to the first read results, first cell information indicative of a first change-inducing read threshold; performing a second set of read attempts of the flash memory cells using a second set of read thresholds to provide second read results, calculating for each flash memory cell in response to the second read results, second cell information indicative of a second change-inducing read threshold; and generating, for each flash memory cell soft information in response to the first cell information and the second cell information of the flash memory cell.
US08996791B2	Flash memory device, memory control device, memory control method, and storage system A flash memory device includes a flash memory unit; and a control unit configured to perform control so that data having a size smaller than a block size of the flash memory unit is sequentially written to the flash memory unit.
US08996785B2	NAND-based hybrid NVM design that integrates NAND and NOR in 1-die with serial interface A nonvolatile memory device includes multiple independent nonvolatile memory arrays that concurrently for parallel reading and writing the nonvolatile memory arrays. A serial interface communicates commands, address, device status, and data between a master device and nonvolatile memory arrays for concurrently reading and writing of the nonvolatile memory arrays and sub-arrays. Data is transferred on the serial interface at the rising edge and the falling edge of the synchronizing clock. The serial interface transmits a command code and an address code from a master device and transfers a data code between the master device and the nonvolatile memory device, wherein the data code has a length that is determined by the command code and a location determined by the address code. Reading one nonvolatile memory array may be interrupted for reading another. One reading operation has two sub-addresses with one transferred prior to a command.
US08996769B2	Storage master node Technology is provided for selecting a master node of a node group in a storage system. The technology can gather data regarding visibility of one or more storage devices of the storage system to one or more active nodes of the node group, determine a maximum visibility value for the node group and selecting an active node with associated visibility value equal to the maximum visibility value as the master node of the node group.
US08996766B2	Method of operating a router A router has multiple channel inputs and multiple channel outputs and a switch core for selectively connecting at least two of the channel outputs to respective channel inputs. Each channel output is connected to an output signal path containing a FIFO register and the router is configured so that first and second channel outputs are connected to a pair of channel inputs respectively. The router configuration is changed so that the first and second channel outputs are connected to first and second channel inputs respectively. The FIFO registers in the output signal paths of the first and second channel outputs are forced to equal fullness.
US08996759B2	Multi-chip memory devices and methods of controlling the same A multi-chip memory device and a method of controlling the same are provided. The multi-chip memory device includes a first memory chip; and a second memory chip sharing an input/output signal line with the first memory chip, wherein each of the first memory chip and the second memory chip determines whether to execute a command unaccompanied by an address, by referring to a history of commands.
US08996757B2	Method and apparatus to generate platform correctable TX-RX A programmable link training and status state machine is disclosed. The programmable finite state machine includes extra states, or shadow states, which are strategically used to debug a system design or to accommodate unexpected behavior, such as when the specifications of the design change. The programmable finite state machine is thus a mechanism to design in correctable logic, enabling the logic to be corrected in silicon and used in succeeding iterations of a product line.
US08996753B2	Mobile device peripheral device location and connection A mobile device may desire to connect wirelessly to a proximate peripheral device, such as a printer, projector, or other device. The mobile device may choose from proximate peripheral devices based on a number of factors including proximity, type, or configuration. Proximity may be determined based on received signal strength, access point profile, or other technique. Certain non-proximate devices may be desired based on certain conditions, including indoor location of a mobile device, compatibility of the mobile device, etc.
US08996751B2	Autonomously initiated information storage device parameter change notification An information handling system includes a processor, a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, and an information storage device coupled to the processor via an input/output (I/O) bus for communicating I/O data between the processor and the information storage device. The device further receives a specification of reporting criteria for information storage device parameters.
US08996750B2	Automation system with an output device An automation system includes a first and second controllers, and an output device connected to the first and second controllers, wherein the output device comprises a module having at least a first submodule and a second submodule, wherein the first controller includes first interconnection information defining an assignment between the first controller and the first submodule, the second controller includes second interconnection information defining an assignment between the second controller and the second submodule, the first submodule accepts first output data from the first controller, the second submodule accepts second output data from the second controller, wherein the module is further configured so that it is connected to a plurality of outputs for control of actuators and includes a logical linkage device for logically linking the first output data to the second output data such that logically linked output data is provided for the outputs for controlling actuators.
US08996745B2	System for monitoring status of modules in an industrial controller An output module for an industrial controller configurable to simplify setup and commissioning is disclosed. The output module includes configurable PWM outputs that may be scheduled to start at different times within the PWM period, that may be configured to generate a fixed number of PWM pulses, and that may have an extendable PWM period. The output terminals are configurable to enter a first state upon generation of a fault and further configurable to enter a second state after a configurable time delay following the fault being generated. The output module may receive inputs signals directly from another module and set output signals at the terminals responsive to these signals.
US08996739B2	Electricity system configuration method and computer program for intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) confirgured for dynamic or static modes via converted description file A method for configuring an electricity system including providing a first programmable electronic device, providing a further programmable electronic device adapted to communicate with the first programmable electronic device and configurable according to a first communication configuration mode which is dynamic or a static, providing a first configuration description file defining communications between the first and further programmable electronic devices according to a second communication configuration mode opposite to the first mode, and processing via computer the first file to convert it into a converted configuration description file defining communications configuration between the first and further programmable electronic devices according to the first mode.
US08996737B1	Method for emulating communication standards of transceiver modules for native host devices An adapter device is provided that is configured to interface with a host device according to a first communication standard via a first connector and with a transceiver module according to a second communication standard via a second connector. The adapter device detects that the transceiver module has connected to the adapter device. The adapter device retrieves transceiver module identifier information from the transceiver module and converts the transceiver module identifier information to the first communication standard. The converted transceiver module identifier information and adapter device identifier information are sent to the host device.
US08996730B1	System and method to restore maximum payload size in a network adapter Method and system for managing a maximum payload size (MPS) between a host system and an adapter is provided. The method includes storing a host maximum payload size (MPS) value of the host system as an adapter MPS value for the adapter operationally coupled to the host system; storing a host identifier at the adapter for identifying the host system; setting an adapter MPS value to the host MPS value; resetting the adapter MPS value to a default value after an event; and restoring the adapter MPS value to the host MPS value when the host identifier stored at the adapter matches with a host identifier value stored by the host system.
US08996721B2	Embedding controllers and devices with data to facilitate up-to-date control and configuration information An industrial automation system comprising a processor with an updating component coupled to automation devices via a network. The updating component reads control information from machine readable representations of the devices and populates a data structure with the control information. The updating component also updates configuration information of a device from data stored in a file object and/or the data structure, further allowing this transfer to be fragmented into a plurality of messages if the configuration information exceeds a threshold. As well, a vendor deployment methodology is provided that embeds devices and firmware for devices with a Device Type Manager (DTM) prior to deployment and can optionally allow post deployment updates to the DTM.
US08996716B2	Remote access to local network via security gateway Multiple protocol tunnels (e.g., IPsec tunnels) are deployed to enable an access terminal that is connected to a network to access a local network associated with a femto access point. A first protocol tunnel is established between a security gateway and the femto access point. A second protocol tunnel is then established in either of two ways. In some implementations the second protocol tunnel is established between the access terminal and the security gateway. In other implementations the second protocol tunnel is established between the access terminal and the femto access point, whereby a portion of the tunnel is routed through the first tunnel.
US08996712B2	Systems, methods and articles to provide content in networked environment Content delivery is provided responsive to content consumer requests by providing dynamically generated manifests to content consumers, the manifests providing retrieval information to retrieve content or media fragments of content from segments of a broadcast or Webcast and alternative or replacement content. Alternative or replacement content may be targeted, for example selected based in part on characteristics associated with the content consumer. Content fragments may be cached with CDNs, for example based on a defined preference. Actual insertion of alternative content may occur upstream of a content consumer device or at the content consumer device.
US08996710B2	Systems and methods for peer-to-peer control using an input/output network System (200) and method (400) for enabling peer-to-peer communications between controllers (2041, . . . , 204N, 2221, . . . , 222N) of at least two control systems (202, 218). The system (200) include a first control system (FCS) having a first controller (FC) communicatively coupled to a first input/output (I/O) processing module (2121, . . . , 212N) via a first I/O network (2141, . . . , 214N). The first I/O processing module is communicatively coupled to first automation equipment (216). The second control system (SCS) includes a second controller (SC) communicatively coupled to the FC via the first I/O network. The first I/O network provides peer-to-peer communications between the FC and SC. The SC is configured to emulate the first I/O processing module. More particularly, the SC is configured to match an internal I/O configuration with an I/O configuration of the FC.
US08996707B2	Method and apparatus for performing load balancing for a control plane of a mobile communication network The invention includes a method and apparatus for providing load balancing of control traffic received by a mobility home agent implemented using multiple control elements. A method includes receiving, from a node, a control message intended for the network element, performing a load-balancing operation to select one of the control elements to handle the control message, and propagating the control message toward the selected one of the control elements. The load-balancing operation is performed using at least two load-balancing metrics comprising a first metric and a second metric. The load-balancing operation is performed in a manner for maintaining a context between the node from which the control message is received and the selected one of the control elements, such that subsequent control messages received from the node are propagated to the selected one of the control elements.
US08996700B2	Automated workload performance and availability optimization based on hardware affinity A method, apparatus, and program product deploy a workload on a host within a computer system having a plurality of hosts. Different hosts may be physically located in proximity to different resources, such as storage and network I/O modules, and therefore exhibit different latency when accessing the resources required by the workload. Eligible hosts within the system are evaluated for their capacity to take on a given workload, then scored on the basis of their proximity to the resources required by the workload. The workload is deployed on a host having sufficient capacity to run it, as well as a high affinity score.
US08996699B2	Modifying network site behavior using session-level performance metrics Disclosed are various embodiments for modifying network site behavior. At least one session-level performance metric associated with a client is determined. The one or more session-level performance metrics are determined from one or more latency times. Each one of the latency times represents a time elapsed between a sending of a network page request in the client and a rendering in the client of a network page received from a network page server in response to the network page request. A response to a next network page request from the client is modified according to the one or more session-level performance metrics in order to adjust a next latency time for the client.
US08996693B2	Method and apparatus for providing dynamic stream processing of data based on static analytics An approach is provided for integrating various data processing methods for more accurate and comprehensive results. A data processing mechanism determines at least one processing element of at least one dynamic processing mechanism. Further, the data processing mechanism causes a marshalling of the at least one processing element as at least one data object, wherein the at least one data object is processable by at least one static processing mechanism.
US08996692B2	Forming configuration information about components of systems which include components for which acquisition of configuration information is restricted A mechanism is provided for managing configuration information about components of a management target system. Identification is made of the existence of a first component from configuration information about one or more other components except the first component. Pattern data is stored for analogizing configuration information about a component for which acquisition of the configuration information is restricted, the pattern data being associated with a set of one or more conditions and attribute values. Pattern data is retrieved whose configuration information about a component related to the first component, among the one or more other components, satisfies the set of conditions. Analogized configuration information is formed about the first component using attribute values associated with the retrieved pattern data.
US08996686B2	Content delivery validation service A Request for content is validated for a specific level of service that is to be provided over a network when making the request for the content and when delivering the content to satisfy the request over the network. A network transaction is tagged representing the request and the delivery of the content. Resources that comport with the specific level of service are designated to handle the network transaction and the transaction is injected into the network. Usage of the resources is monitored as the network transaction is processed.
US08996684B2	Scoring and interpreting change data through inference by correlating with change catalogs Methods, systems, and articles for receiving, by a monitor server, change data associated with a change captured on a target host, are described herein. In various embodiments, the target host may have provided the change data in response to detecting the change, and the change data may include one or more rules, settings, and/or parameters. Further, in some embodiments, the monitor server may then group the change data into clusters and may correlate the clusters with a change catalog in order to provide a possible reason or cause for the cluster of changes. Once the change data have been classified as clusters, a report may be generated providing classification or categorization and cluster information for the various changes. In various embodiments, the generating may comprise generating a report to the target host and/or to an administrative user.
US08996682B2	Automatically instrumenting a set of web documents Embodiments of the invention provide a method and system for automatically instrumenting a set of web documents, such as web pages, as well as embedding structures that present advertising content via the web pages. The instrumentation automatically embeds tags that enable usage information associated with the web documents to be tracked and recorded. Many hundreds or thousands of web pages can be automatically modified without user intervention, enabling comprehensive reporting and tracking to be performed on each page. The web pages are analyzed and insertion points intelligently located. Changes can be verified to ensure that no undesirable effects resulted from embedding the content. The tags can receive parameters customized to the level of users and pages. The tags, insertion information, and other configuration information can be stored in a central repository to make subsequent tagging easier.
US08996681B2	Passively attributing anonymous network events to their associated users Systems, methods, and computer program products for passively attributing anonymous network events to their associated users are provided herein. Embodiments include filtering network events over a pre-determined time interval to generate a filtered event list. In an embodiment, event attribution includes attributing an anonymous network event to a user associated with a nearest-neighbor event relative to the anonymous network event. In another embodiment, event attribution includes attributing an anonymous network event to a user associated with an event in the filtered event list, wherein that user maximizes an event attribution function. In a further embodiment, event attribution includes determining a first potential attribution user for an anonymous network event based on a nearest-neighbor attribution approach; determining a second potential attribution user for the anonymous network event based on an event attribution function approach; and comparing the first and second potential attribution users to determine the attribution of the anonymous event.
US08996680B2	Probing network nodes for optimization A non-transitory computer readable media having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to optimize a network that is formed from a plurality of nodes. The instructions cause the processor to execute an order that the plurality of nodes perform a probing operation. The order is typically round robin. The processor receives a request from a client that identifies a next node to perform the probing operation. Based on the request, the processor changes the order so that the next node performs the probing operation after the current node that is performing the probing operation has completed the operation.
US08996679B2	Naming system layer A facility for publishing information in a distributed network without a central management infrastructure is described. In various embodiments, the facility receives an indication of a new node and a destination node, the new node omitted from a contact list associated with the destination node, the contact list having an approximately logarithmic distribution of neighboring nodes; introduces the new node to the destination node via a permanent circuit; and causes the destination node to add the new node to the contact list when adding the new node improves the logarithmic distribution of neighboring nodes.
US08996665B2	Takeover processes in security network integrated with premise security system An integrated security system is described comprising a gateway located at a first location. The gateway includes a takeover component that establishes a coupling with a first controller of a security system installed at the first location. The security system includes security system components coupled to the first controller. The takeover component automatically extracts security data of the security system from the first controller. The gateway automatically transfers the security data extracted from the controller to a second controller. The second controller is coupled to the security system components and replaces the first controller.
US08996664B2	Translation of resource identifiers using popularity information upon client request A system, method and computer-readable medium for request routing based on content popularity information are provided. A client computer transmits a request for content from a content provider. The content provider utilizes executable code, such as translation request code, for facilitating request routing utilizing popularity information. The translation request code, may direct a client computing device to request further translation request code and/or translation information. Thereafter, the client issues a DNS query with the translated information including popularity information. The content delivery network service provider can then either resolve the DNS query with an IP address of a cache component or transmit another alternative resource identifier that will resolve to the content delivery network service provider. The process can repeat until a DNS nameserver resolves a DNS query from the client computing device.
US08996662B2	Methods and system for providing content to a mobile communication device A method and server for facilitating the transmission of content to a mobile communication device connected to a host computer are provided. The method comprises: sending a content queue request to the mobile communication device from a web application running within a web browser; in response to sending the content queue request, receiving at the host computer a content queue from the mobile communication device, the content queue identifying one or more locations of remote servers associated with content; retrieving content, by the web application, in accordance with the one or more locations identified in the content queue; and sending the content from the host computer to the mobile communication device.
US08996657B2	Systems and methods for multiplexing network channels A proxy consolidates multiple TCP requests from clients into one TCP connection between a proxy and server. A persistent TCP connection is opened between the proxy and server, and a connection request is received from a client at the proxy. A unique identifier is registered for the client, and the server is signaled over the persistent connection to register the unique identifier. A client connection is established between the client and proxy responsive to the connection request. A content request is received from the client over the client connection. The unique identifier is prepended to the content request, the prepended content request is forwarded to the server, and prepended content is received from the server. The identifier and the content are extracted from the prepended content, and a client and a client connection are identified that correspond to the extracted identifier. The extracted content is returned to the corresponding client.
US08996655B2	Method for horizontal scale delta encoding Data can be transferred between computers at remote sites by transferring the data itself, or by transferring files showing how data at an originating site can be recreated from data already present at a receiving site. As part of the data transfer, a determination can be made as to what is the most appropriate way for the transfer to take place. Further, in cases where data is not transferred directly between originating and receiving sites, it is possible that some preparatory steps might be performed to improve the efficiency of the transfers to the receiving sites when they do take place. Additional efficiencies can be obtained in some cases by using the parallel processing capabilities provided by a cloud based architecture.
US08996651B2	System and method for delivering media assets in a cloud environment A media delivery system comprises a handheld computing and communication device, a media delivery unit and a user specific media library in a cloud. A data file including metadata of the media assets in the media library is stored in the handheld device. The handheld device and the media delivery unit are connected through a wireless communication link. A user of the handheld device is identified. A user selected media asset may be delivered by the media delivery unit by receiving the media asset through the cloud.
US08996650B2	Preparing content packages Preparing a content package by determining a requesting user profile based on the requesting user identity. This includes calculating an inclusion value for a content file based on at least one factor. The factor may be a social networking factor. The social networking factor is based on a profile attribute linking the requesting user identity to at least one friend user identity and a content rating attribute linking the content file to the friend profile. Other factors are a content aging factor based on a content age value and a request length factor based on a content length value. The calculated inclusion value is compared to an inclusion condition. If the calculated inclusion value satisfies the inclusion condition, incorporating the content file into the content package.
US08996634B2	Automated messaging tool A system and method for an automatic messaging system which automatically sends emails or pages to groups of people with specific data from a database. Other messaging tools may be utilized. The data source that provides information may be any ODBC compliant data source including standard DBMS (SQL Server, Oracle, Informix, DB2, Sybase, etc.) Access databases, or Excel spreadsheets.
US08996628B2	Internet/intranet-connected apparatus A method and apparatus that uses the Internet protocol, TCP/IP, for a home control network. The invention also provides embedded servers, email clients at the electrical boxes. The invention integrates the Internet to the electrical outlet, switch, or appliance boxes using a low cost embedded web server.
US08996623B2	Cost management for messages Messages are managed for cost. A processing device includes receiving a message designating a recipient and determining a cost associated with the message.
US08996618B2	System and method for providing sequenced anonymous communication sessions over a network A method for facilitating a sequenced, anonymous communications session in a communications environment is provided in one example that includes receiving, from a first endpoint, an anonymous, sequenced request for a communication session involving a second endpoint. The communication session is sequenced to occur at designated periods provided by the end user(s) and/or an administrator, while maintaining end user(s) anonymity.
US08996617B2	System, process, or method for creation, propagation and use of dynamic fractional proxy in collaborative societal decision making within social networks The present invention relates to voting systems, and more particularly to social network based voting systems. Aspects of the present invention relate to systems, methods and processes, computing devices, computer-implemented methods, computer programs stored on a computer-readable medium, and network communications used for the creation and use of dynamic fractional proxy in social network.
US08996611B2	Parallel serialization of request processing A plurality of servers configured to receive a plurality of requests associated with a plurality of byte sequences are described herein. The requests for each byte sequence are received by a single one of the servers. Each server is further configured to serially process the requests it receives while the other servers also perform serial processing of requests in parallel with the server. Also, the requests for each byte sequence are transmitted to the single one of the servers by a plurality of clients, each client independently identifying the single one of the servers for the byte sequence based on system metadata.
US08996609B2	Joining of machines in a connected instance group of a networked computing environment A system for building and maintaining a connected instance group of machines includes protocols for instance group creation; master machine creation, operation, and recovery; and peer machine creation, operation, and recovery. These protocols allow each machine to connect with a data source and to build a local hosts file containing the name and IP addresses of the machines in the instance group and, thus, provides network connectivity among the machines in the instance group.
US08996607B1	Identity-based casting of network addresses Systems, methods, and computer-readable media identify a server to a client device. In one implementation, server identification data is stored for a plurality of servers associated with a service. An identifier of a client device is received. One of the plurality of servers is selected to provide the service to the client device, and the server is selected based on the identifier of the client device. The server identification data for the selected server is provided to the client device. The selected server may receive a request to access the service from the client device, and may process the request consistent with state data stored at the selected server.
US08996604B2	Distributed symbol table with intelligent lookup scheme In a larger-scale context such as that of a workflow system, a mechanism and a set of rules are for looking up a parameter in a hierarchical symbol table. In accordance with preferred embodiments of the invention, the approach is bottom-up, and uses rules defined in an arbitration table to determine a correct version of the parameter. A distributed design is broadly contemplated herein, wherein different symbol tables need not be disposed on one and the same machine. This can permit a greater degree of scalability and error tolerance.
US08996603B2	Method and apparatus for user domain based white lists A method is disclosed for determining a whether access to host requested by a user is permitted. User identifying information is obtained using any of a variety of techniques. The method includes determining a user domain, which indicates an identity of the user's home service provider. A list of hosts is determined based on the home provider. If the requested host is in the list of hosts, then the user is allowed access to the requested host though the user is not authorized. The list of hosts may be determined by one or more attributes from an actual or implied user profile, such as a domain name.
US08996601B2	Method and apparatus for multiply instructions in data processors The disclosed embodiments relate to apparatus for accurately, efficiently and quickly executing a multiplication instruction. The disclosed embodiments can provide a multiplier module having an optimized layout that can help speed up computation of a result during a multiply operation so that cycle delay can be reduced and so that power consumption can be reduced.
US08996598B2	Latency compensation Systems and methods for latency compensation are disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer-based system for latency compensation in a dynamic system comprises a processor and logic instructions stored in a tangible computer-readable medium coupled to the processor which, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to receive at least first parameter data from a first sensor and second parameter data from a second sensor, direct the at least first parameter data and the second parameter data into a combining filter, receive additional parameter data about the dynamic system from at least one additional sensor, construct a model of latency effects on the first parameter data and the second parameter data, and use the model of latency effects to compensate for latency-based differences in the first parameter data and the second parameter data.
US08996594B2	Online marketplace for automatically extracted data A system for automatically locating and data-typing information originating from many Web pages, and then collecting that information in a database. The database is then made available via an online data marketplace which allows users from different organizations to buy and sell related data, associated advertisements, and access to the communities of end-users who may also view advertisements and make purchases.
US08996592B2	Methods, systems, and computer program products for identifying a container associated with a plurality of files Methods, systems, and computer program products for identifying a container associated with a plurality of files are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method includes providing for associating a file with a container associated with at least one file to form a plurality of associated files. The prevailing metadata is not required to be from all of the plurality of associated files. Further, the container may be identified based on the prevailing metadata.
US08996591B2	Managing global cache coherency in a distributed shared caching for clustered file systems Systems. Methods, and Computer Program Products are provided for managing a global cache coherency in a distributed shared caching for a clustered file systems (CFS). The CFS manages access permissions to an entire space of data segments by using the DSM module. In response to receiving a request to access one of the data segments, a calculation operation is performed for obtaining most recent contents of one of the data segments. The calculation operation performs one of providing the most recent contents via communication with a remote DSM module which obtains the one of the data segments from an associated external cache memory, instructing by the DSM module to read from storage the one of the data segments, and determining that any existing contents of the one of the data segments in the local external cache are the most recent contents.
US08996589B2	Digital asset management data model A digital asset management system effectively provides full control of compound media assets and their specific components. The digital asset management data model supports the creation and management of multiple levels of granularity or metadata enrichment, and different sets of file types or renditions used throughout the digital asset processing life-cycle. The extensible digital asset management data model allows telecommunications service providers to augment or enrich compound media asset metadata, and thereby, optimize the relationship between media assets, and enhance storage and retrieval functionalities. The digital asset management system solves the technical problems arising from ingesting, storing, and managing rich media assets economically and efficiently.
US08996588B2	Mechanism for facilitating dynamic management of assets in an on-demand services environment In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for facilitating dynamic management of assets in an on-demand services environment. In one embodiment and by way of example, a method includes receiving, in real-time, a request for performance of one or more tasks relating to management of assets. The management of assets may include management of data relating to the assets, where the assets may include hardware assets or software assets, wherein the request is received at a first computing system. The method may further include performing, in real-time, the one or more tasks. The one or more tasks may include dynamically customizing, according to the request, data relating to the assets.
US08996580B2	Apparatus and method for generating multimedia play list based on user experience in portable multimedia player An apparatus and method for generating a multimedia play list based on user experiences in a portable multimedia player are provided. The apparatus includes an analyzer for analyzing user experience information input to the multimedia player, a recorder for recording the user experience information in a multimedia tag, a play list generator for generating a play list by analyzing the user experience information and the multimedia tag information recorded by the recorder, and a reproduction unit for reproducing multimedia according to the generated play list.
US08996577B2	Object information provision device, object information provision system, terminal, and object information provision method In an object information provision system, at least one matching data is transmitted from an object information provision device to a terminal, and a result of image analysis based on the matching data is transmitted from the terminal to the object information provision device, and the amount of information of matching data is adjusted based on the image processing result. The success or failure of extraction of a valid physical object represented by the matching data in the terminal is thereby reflected on the amount of information of matching data.
US08996575B2	Method, an apparatus, a computer system, a security component and a computer readable medium for defining access rights in metadata-based file arrangement The invention relates to a method for a computer system storing electronic objects being defined by metadata items. The method comprises deriving access rights from one or more security components originating from respective metadata items of at least one object, and determining the effective access rights for the object by means of the security components. The invention also relates to a method for a computer system storing electronic objects being defined by metadata items, wherein access rights for an object are determined by means of one or more pseudo-users. The invention also relates to an apparatus, a computer system and a computer readable medium comprising a computer program stored therein for carrying out the methods.
US08996570B2	Histology workflow management system Systems, methods, and products are described that provide for a histology workflow management system and associated functions. One aspect provides for accessing one or more digital specimen images; generating one or more patient records and one or more case records; matching the one or more digital specimen images to the one or more case records based on one or more image properties of the one or more digital specimen images; and facilitating one or more image review functions comprising image quality, case matching, tissue block matching, and case completeness functions. Other aspects and embodiments are also described herein.
US08996565B2	Systems and methods for in-memory database processing A system, a method, and a computer program product for in-memory database processing are provided. A business object is generated in a first system. The generated business object is replicated from the first system to a second system. A high performance application implementing the replicated business object is executed based on at least one system specific view.
US08996564B2	System and method for deploying logic in data files One particular technique includes storing logic expressions in a data file. This particular technique also includes executing application code. The executing provided by this particular technique includes receiving a query, reading an individual logic expression from the data file, processing the query using the individual logic expression to determine a query result, and providing the query result in response to the query.
US08996562B2	Computer-implemented method and system for enabling anonymous communication between networked users based on common search queries A computer-implemented method and system for enabling anonymous communications between networked users based on common search queries is disclosed. The present invention relates to a computer-implemented system and method for receiving a first search query from a first user, receiving a second search query from a second user, at least the first user or the second user being unidentified, determining if the first search query and the second search query fit within a match criteria, and establishing a communication link between the first user and the second user if the first search query and the second search query fit within the match criteria.
US08996557B2	Query and matching for content recognition Various embodiments enable audio data, such as music data, to be captured, by a device, from a background environment and processed to formulate a query that can then be transmitted to a content recognition service. In one or more embodiments, multiple queries are transmitted to the content recognition service. In at least some embodiments, subsequent queries can progressively incorporate previous queries plus additional data that is captured. In one or more embodiments, responsive to receiving the query, the content recognition service can employ a multi-stage matching technique to identify content items responding to the query. This matching technique can be employed as queries are progressively received.
US08996553B2	Mechanism for facilitating management and customization of lightweight objects in an on-demand services environment In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for facilitating management and customization of lightweight objects in an on-demand services environment. In one embodiment and by way of example, a method includes receiving, at a first computing device, a request a file having data and associated metadata in a format that is not supported by default objects of a software application. The method may further include generating one or more dynamic objects to support the requested format, generating the requested format using the one or more dynamic objects, and providing the file in the requested format via the software application.
US08996552B2	System and method for graphically creating queries on model data Certain example embodiments relate to techniques for creating queries on model data of at least one data source (DS1, . . . , DS3) in accordance with at least one data source specific format. A graphical query builder (QB) is configured to enable a user to graphically define a query including multiple building blocks in accordance with a data source independent format (MM). At least one adapter (A1, . . . , A3) for the at least one data source (DS1, . . . , DS3) is configured to translate the query in the data source independent format (MM) into at least one corresponding query in the data source specific format.
US08996551B2	Managing geographic region information In an implementation, geographic region information is managed through storage, in a database, of respective sets of coordinates of elements and region identifiers of a plurality of geographic regions that are mapped onto the respective sets of coordinates of elements, in which the plurality of geographic regions are expanded to extend into additional elements prior to the storage of the respective sets of coordinates and the region identifiers.
US08996548B2	Identifying consuming entity behavior across domains The present disclosure relates to identifying consuming entity behavior across domains. Identity records are stored in a memory accessible to a computing system. Each of the identity records comprises at least one attribute, and the identity records originate from a plurality of domains. A determination is made as to whether a first one of the identity records identifies a consumption entity that is identified by a second one of the identity records. The first and the second identity records originate from separate ones of the domains, and the second one of the identity records is associated with a persistent key. The persistent key is associated with the consumption entity. The first identity record is associated with the persistent key if the first identity record is determined to identify the consumption entity.
US08996544B2	Pruning disk blocks of a clustered table in a relational database management system Techniques are provided for generating a “dimensional zonemap” that allows a database server to avoid scanning disk blocks of a fact table based on filter predicates in a query that qualify one or more dimension tables. The zonemap divides the fact table into sets of contiguous disk blocks referred to as “zones”. For each zone, a minimum value and a maximum value for each of one or more “zoned” columns of the dimension tables is determined and maintained in the zonemap. For a query that contains a filter predicate on a zoned column, the predicate value can be compared to the minimum value and maximum value maintained for a zone for that zoned column to determine whether a scan of the disk blocks of the zone can be skipped.
US08996540B2	User to user recommender Disclosed are embodiments of systems and methods for recommending relevant users to other users in a user community. In one implementation of such a method, two different sets of data are considered: a) music (or other items) that users have been listening to (or otherwise engaging), and b) music (or other items) recommendations that users have been given. In some embodiments, pre-computation methods allow the system to efficiently compare item sets and recommended item sets among the users in the community. Such comparisons may also comprise metrics that the system can use to figure out which users should be recommended for a given target user.
US08996532B2	Determining a cause of an incident based on text analytics of documents According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system analyzes one or more change records based on text analytics using dictionaries and rules for the analysis in order to generate an index of analyzed data that represents the one or more change records. The change records each include a change and corresponding time frame for occurrence of the change. Information from a request is applied to the index of analyzed data to determine one or more candidate causes for the incident and the corresponding time frame for occurrence of the change. A time associated with the request is correlated with the corresponding time frame for occurrence of the change to identify the one or more candidate causes in the one or more change records as causes for the incident. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method and computer program product for determining causes of an incident.
US08996526B1	Determining a lasting value of content items and performers Disclosed are various embodiments for generating a content item metric or a performer metric. The metric can assess a lasting value of a content item or performer by identifying a distribution of a population of users expressing an interest in the content item or performer according to a demographic attribute, such as age.
US08996524B2	Automatically mining patterns for rule based data standardization systems Methods, computer program products and systems are provided for mining for sub-patterns within a text data set. The embodiments facilitate finding a set of N frequently occurring sub-patterns within the data set, extracting the N sub-patterns from the data set, and clustering the extracted sub-patterns into K groups, where each extracted sub-pattern is placed within the same group with other extracted sub-patterns based upon a distance value D that determines a degree of similarity between the sub-pattern and every other sub-pattern within the same group.
US08996514B1	Mobile to non-mobile document correlation A computer-implemented method of determining the relevance, to a user, of documents accessible over a computer network involves analyzing information relating to a first document, identifying a second document corresponding to the first document using a computer, obtaining information that indicates the relevance of a second document, determining the relevance of the first document using the information indicating relevance of the second document. The first document may be a mobile document, while the second may be a non-mobile document.
US08996510B2	Identifying digital content using bioresponse data In one exemplary embodiment, eye-tracking data may be collected from a user while the user is viewing a visual sensory stimulus. If the eye-tracking data includes an eye motion pattern exceeding a predetermined threshold, then the eye-tracking data may be used to identify a visual element within the user's field of view. In addition to the visual element, attributes and context information related to the sensory experience may be determined. Information related to the sensory experience may be stored in a repository for purposes of aiding the user's recollection of the visual element at a future time.
US08996509B1	Query results enhancement through agent interaction An agent interaction request received from a user of a client device is sent to one or more identified agents based on agent selection criteria. Agent selection criteria can include an agent bid amount. One or more responses to the agent interaction request can be received from the identified agents and sent to the user.
US08996504B2	Plan caching using density-based clustering A query plan predictor receives a query instance according to a query template having a set of parameters. The query plan predictor determines a plan space point for the query instance which is based upon the set of parameters. The query plan predictor predicts a predicted query plan for the plan space point, which is selected from a map of query plans according to a confidence threshold from a plan cache that includes at least one histogram. Each histogram is representative of a cached query plan in the plan cache combined with a previously-selected locality-sensitive hashing function. The histogram stores a frequency distribution of a mapping of sample plan points for the cached query plan by the locality-sensitive hashing function.
US08996500B2	Using temporary performance objects for enhanced query performance Methods for optimizing query performance in a relational database management system. A query is received at the relational database management system. It is determined whether the query is expected to be a long-running query. In response to determining that the query is expected to be a long-running query, a full table scan is started in order to fetch records needed to satisfy the query from the relational database management system. In parallel with conducting the full table scan, a performance object is built, which is capable of satisfying the query in the relational database management system. In response to completing the construction of the performance object prior to completing the full table scan, the full table scan is stopped and the newly built performance object is used instead to satisfy the query.
US08996498B2	Advanced URLs for web navigation A method, computer program product, and system for providing advanced downloading of Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) for a WEB browser running on a computer. The system is capable of providing a WEB browser with Uniform Resource Locators (URLs). The system comprises a client computer and a server. The client computer includes the WEB browser for use by a user and includes a URL component. The server provides WEB data to the client computer. The server includes a URL downloader, which is responsive to the URL component for downloading the URLs to the client computer.
US08996491B2	Resolution of contact names Mechanisms are provided to permit a first person (e.g., Tom) to be in a communication session (e.g., a chat session) with a second person (e.g., George) and to select a contact's name (e.g., Harry), and immediately set up another communication (e.g., a chat session) with the selected contact (e.g., Harry). Since there may be multiple contacts having the same name as the selected contact, e.g., “Harry”, mechanisms are provided to communicate with a desired person (e.g., “Harry Smith” and not “Harry Jones”). The mechanisms may make such a determination based on “Harry Smith” being the more likely person that Tom, the first person, desires to communicate with (e.g., based on a context of Tom and/or Harry Smith).
US08996490B1	Managing logical views of directories A method is used in managing logical views of directories. A directory logical view is created from a primary logical view. The primary logical view includes a set of storage objects. The directory logical view includes a subset of the set of storage objects. A root of the directory logical view indicates a file directory. The file directory includes the subset of the set of storage objects in a hierarchy. A mapping object is created for the directory logical view. The mapping object manages access to the subset of the set of storage objects. The mapping object for the directory logical view is a version of a mapping object for the primary logical view. Information is removed from the mapping object for the directory logical view. Information remained in the mapping object after removing the information is associated with the file directory.
US08996489B2	Method and system for pushing content to mobile devices A method of pushing content, such as eLearning packages, to mobile devices is disclosed. The content push stores the content locally on the user's mobile device so the content can be viewed offline.
US08996484B2	Recursive lock-and-propagate operation A distributed database server receives an operation request including a flag to cause recursive lock-and-propagate operation, acquires a local lock, tests the operation locally and propagates the recursive request to a peer database server. Specific implementations within a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (“LDAP”) server are described.
US08996483B2	Method and apparatus for recording associations with logs Method and apparatus for recording associations with logs are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises obtaining a first media identifier corresponding to a first media; accessing a log that contains one or more entries that associate two or more media identifiers with each other; and determining that the first media is related to a second media based on the log indicating that a second media identifier is associated with, but different from, the first media identifier.
US08996472B2	Verification of status schemas based on business goal definitions Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage media for evaluating a validity of a status and action management (SAM) schema. In some implementations, actions include receiving the SAM schema, the SAM schema being stored as a computer-readable document in memory, providing one or more goals, each goal representing an intention of the SAM schema, the one or more goals being provided in a computer-readable document stored in memory and including one or more primary goals and one or more recovery goals that each express an intention of a process underlying the SAM schema, and processing the one or more goals using a computer-executable model checking tool for evaluating the validity of the SAM schema.
US08996459B2	Offline and/or client-side execution of a network application Generally described, the present invention is directed to a network operating system that provides more effective ways of leveraging the connectivity of computer networks. In one embodiment, an XML virtual machine is implemented that accepts high-level application code written in an XML programming language as input. Functionality is provided to interpret or translate the application code written in an XML programming language into code that is suitable for execution across computer platforms. Moreover, the XML virtual machine supports the Model View Controller (MVC) design paradigm that facilitates true data abstraction from applications to a common data model. Multi-instance applications, with each instance potentially supporting multiple views, may be created and executed.
US08996458B2	High volume, high speed adaptive data replication System, method, computer program product embodiments and combinations and sub-combinations thereof for data replication in a database system environment are described. In an aspect, the data replication includes grouping, in-memory, a plurality of transactions to be replicated as a single transaction from a source database system to a target database system. A plurality of net row changes is compiled for the plurality of transactions, and data inconsistency detection and resolution within a command application order are performed. Further included is bulk application of the plurality of net row changes to the target database system.
US08996455B2	System and method for configuring a storage network utilizing a multi-protocol storage appliance A system and method for configuring a storage network utilizing one or more storage appliances to utilize the multi-block based protocol nature of the storage appliances. By configuring the storage network, data served by the storage appliance may be accessed by a plurality of protocols simultaneously. Illustratively, a virtual disk (vdisk) may be access by clients using the FCP protocol over a FC network while other clients access the vdisk using the iSCSI protocol over a TCP/IP network.
US08996454B2	Remote management and access of databases, services and devices associated with a mobile terminal Apparatus, method and computer products are provided for remote network access and management of mobile terminals. The mobile terminal executes a web server application that allows remote network devices to access the mobile terminal. In addition, the mobile device executes a content engine that provides the ability to access databases, services and devices associated with the mobile terminal. The invention provides greater flexibility in accessing and managing the data stored on the mobile terminal and provides for remote control of the services and devices associated with the mobile terminal.
US08996453B2	Distribution of data in a lattice-based database via placeholder nodes Embodiments relate to systems and methods for the distribution of data in a lattice-based database via placeholder nodes. A data store can store data in a lattice-based database or other three-dimensional hierarchical format. Higher-level data, such as yearly profit, may be desired to be spread from parent nodes at different levels or points in the lattice structure to lower nodes or locations, such as quarters. Parent nodes can be associated with a set of programmatic placeholder nodes. A spreading tool can insert child nodes representing quarters, months, or other insertion point(s) represented or encoded by a set of placeholder nodes, dividing, combining, or otherwise distributing quantities appropriately. In aspects, data can be spread from multiple parents and/or multiple target child nodes, at once. In aspects, the spreading tool can access or host sequence logic to ensure data spreading in an order that takes dependencies, formatting, or other factors into account.
US08996451B2	Method and apparatus for determining an analysis chronicle An apparatus, comprising a processor, memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, working with the processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: receiving a first set of information associated with a first information source, performing a first analysis of, at least part of, the first set of information based, at least in part, on an analysis criteria, determining that the first set of information complies with the analysis criteria, determining an analysis chronicle based, at least in part, on the first analysis, determining that the analysis chronicle has changed, and performing at least one operation in response to determining that the analysis chronicle has changed.
US08996446B2	Sensory testing data analysis by categories This invention is related to systems and methods of analyzing sensory ability data. One embodiment of the present invention includes a method comprising the steps of receiving data from a remote location. The data is comprised of sensory ability data and demographic data associated with a subject. The data may then be stored. Further, the method includes identifying a potential evaluation level associated with the subject. The evaluation level is identified, at least in part, utilizing a sports tree function. The method also includes retrieving peer data associated with the potential evaluation level. Additionally, the method includes determining when the peer data is statistically powerful for use in generating a comparative profile of the sensory ability data associated with the subject. Additional embodiments develop training programs based on one or more training program functions.
US08996425B1	Dynamically guided user reviews Systems and associated processes for guiding users to provide more useful reviews are described. These systems and processes can provide guided reviews in certain embodiments by presenting questions to a user in the form of an interview. The questions can be relevant to the item being reviewed, and as such, may be specifically and dynamically selected based on the particular item under consideration. Many other criteria may be used to select the types of questions presented to users, examples of which will be described below. Presenting review questions to users can have the effect of reducing or eliminating the “blank page” effect of having to write a review from scratch, with no guidance. Accordingly, review questions can potentially elicit more thorough and useful feedback than existing review systems in some embodiments.
US08996414B2	System and method for certifying and monitoring commercial activity of a manufacturer, distributors, and retailers in a product supply chain A method and a system for certifying and monitoring commercial activity of manufacturers, distributors, and retailers are provided. The method includes registering a manufacturer with a certification and monitoring company. The method includes certifying the distributor and first and second retailers by the manufacturer for a product. The method includes inputting a first quantity of the product shipped during a time period from the manufacturer to the distributor, by the manufacturer, and inputting second and third quantities of the product shipped during the time period from the distributor to the first and second retailers, by the distributor. If a sum of the second and third quantities is greater than the first quantity by a predetermined amount, then a first notification message is generated.
US08996413B2	Techniques for detecting depleted stock A computer-implemented method is disclosed herein. The method includes the step of receiving, at a processing device of a commerce server, at least a video signal from a head mountable unit worn by a consumer in a retail store. The method also includes the step of identifying, with the processing device, an indication of depleted stock in the retail store in response to the video signal received from the head mountable unit. The method also includes the step of transmitting, with the processing device, a restock signal in response to the identifying step.
US08996406B2	Search engine segmentation The claimed subject matter can provide a mechanism that facilitates market segmentation among search engines. A segmentation mechanism is provided that displays a plurality of search engines that can be employed in connection with a plurality of search types. Thus, an Internet search query can be analyzed, e.g., by keywords to determine a type of search being performed, and subsequently directed to the search engine selected for that type rather than all search queries going to a single search engine. The routing of a query can be based upon a user's choices, which takes advantage of the fact that some search engines perform better than others based upon the type of search. The segmentation mechanism can be built into, e.g., an operating system, a browser and the like, and can be easily configured.
US08996403B2	Computer-implemented method and system for enabling the automated selection of keywords for rapid keyword portfolio expansion A computer-implemented method and system for enabling the automated selection of keywords for rapid keyword portfolio expansion are disclosed. Various embodiments are operable to normalize a plurality of keywords received from a source, filter the normalized plurality of keywords against one or more keyword filtration lists, produce site-specific variants of the filtered plurality of keywords, associate at least one level of dimension data with each of the plurality of keywords, and store the processed plurality of keywords and dimension data in a keyword database.
US08996396B2	System and method for defining a drilling path based on cost Provided are a system and method for calculating and selecting a convergence path based on cost. In one example, the method includes identifying multiple geometric convergence paths that each provides a convergence solution from a defined bottom hole assembly (BHA) location to a target path. A total monetary cost is calculated for each of the geometric convergence paths using an offset cost based on a distance of the geometric convergence path from the target path, a curvature cost based on an amount of curvature of the geometric convergence path, and a time cost based on an estimated amount of time needed to drill the geometric convergence path. The total monetary costs of the geometric convergence paths are compared and one of the geometric convergence paths is selected based on the total monetary cost of that geometric convergence path relative to the total monetary costs of the other geometric convergence paths.
US08996394B2	System and method for enabling decision activities in a process management and design environment A set of decision activities can be provided to a business process management and design software tool. The tool can be used to define various processes that contain one or more activities linked by transitions. During process design time, a business analyst can identify process-relevant data of the process to be presented to the end users. The relevant data can be rendered to the end users at runtime, along with a set of possible options for the activities in a process instance. Upon receiving a decision of the user, the process instance can follow the selected transition to a different activity. Over time, the system can capture the decisions taken by users and enter the data associated with these decisions into a data classifier. In doing so, the software tool can generate suggestions, provide probabilities, automate and distribute workloads, flag abnormalities and deviations and generally improve process design and management.
US08996385B2	Conversation system and conversation software A first domain satisfying a first condition concerning a current utterance understanding result and a second domain satisfying a second condition concerning a selection history are specified. For each of the first and second domains, indices representing reliability in consideration of the utterance understanding history, selection history, and utterance generation history are evaluated. Based on the evaluation results, one of the first, second, and third domains is selected as a current domain according to a selection rule.
US08996384B2	Transforming components of a web page to voice prompts Embodiments of the invention address the deficiencies of the prior art by providing a method, apparatus, and program product to of converting components of a web page to voice prompts for a user. In some embodiments, the method comprises selectively determining at least one HTML component from a plurality of HTML components of a web page to transform into a voice prompt for a mobile system based upon a voice attribute file associated with the web page. The method further comprises transforming the at least one HTML component into parameterized data suitable for use by the mobile system based upon at least a portion of the voice attribute file associated with the at least one HTML component and transmitting the parameterized data to the mobile system.
US08996382B2	Lips blockers, headsets and systems Systems and methods for inhibiting access to the lips of speaking person including a sound receiving device for receiving speech of a person speaking, the person having lips that move when the person speaks, a blocker connected to the device for blocking the lips of the person speaking while the person is speaking; and, in some aspects, such a blocker with a material addition apparatus to provide added material for the breath of a person speaking, e.g., for preventing the spread of disease or to freshen a speaker's breath. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims, 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b).
US08996376B2	Intelligent text-to-speech conversion Techniques for improved text-to-speech processing are disclosed. The improved text-to-speech processing can convert text from an electronic document into an audio output that includes speech associated with the text as well as audio contextual cues. One aspect provides audio contextual cues to the listener when outputting speech (spoken text) pertaining to a document. The audio contextual cues can be based on an analysis of a document prior to a text-to-speech conversion. Another aspect can produce an audio summary for a file. The audio summary for a document can thereafter be presented to a user so that the user can hear a summary of the document without having to process the document to produce its spoken text via text-to-speech conversion.
US08996375B1	Speech interface system and method for control and interaction with applications on a computing system A speech processing system which exploits statistical modeling and formal logic to receive and process speech input, which may represent data to be received, such as dictation, or commands to be processed by an operating system, application or process. A command dictionary and dynamic grammars are used in processing speech input to identify, disambiguate and extract commands. The logical processing scheme ensures that putative commands are complete and unambiguous before processing. Context sensitivity may be employed to differentiate data and commands. A multi faceted graphic user interface may be provided for interaction with a user to speech enable interaction with applications and processes that do not necessarily have native support for speech input.
US08996372B1	Using adaptation data with cloud-based speech recognition Speech recognition may be improved using data derived from an utterance. In some embodiments, audio data is received by a user device. Adaptation data may be retrieved from a data store accessible by the user device. The audio data and the adaptation data may be transmitted to a server device. The server device may use the audio data to calculate second adaptation data. The second adaptation data may be transmitted to the user device. Synchronously or asynchronously, the server device may perform speech recognition using the audio data and the second adaptation data and transmit speech recognition results back to the user device.
US08996370B2	Transferring data via audio link Transferring data via audio link is described. In an example a short sequence of data can be transferred between two devices by encoding the sequence of data as an audio sequence. For example, the audio sequence may be a sequence of tones which vary in dependence on the encoded data. The sequence of data may be encoded by a first device and transmitted using a loudspeaker associated with the first device. At least one mobile communications device can be used to capture the audio sequence, for example using a microphone, and to decode the sequence, retrieving the data encoded therein. In some examples the encoded data may comprise a shortened URL or other information which can be used to control one or more aspects of the capture device.
US08996367B2	Sound processing apparatus, sound processing method and program There is provided a sound processing apparatus including a sound separation unit that separates an input sound into a plurality of sounds caused by a plurality of sound sources, a sound type estimation unit that estimates sound types of the plurality of sounds separated by the sound separation unit, a mixing ratio calculation unit that calculates a mixing ratio of each sound in accordance with the sound type estimated by the sound type estimation unit, and a sound mixing unit that mixes the plurality of sounds separated by the sound separation unit in the mixing ratio calculated by the mixing ratio calculation unit.
US08996357B2	Method for generating diagrams, and information processing apparatus for same A computer analyzes a statement written in a natural language to determine the types and structure of phrases that constitute the statement. A memory stores a plurality of translation rules for different types of phrases, each rule describing how a phrase is to be translated into graphical symbol datasets and relationship link datasets. Each graphical symbol dataset specifies a graphical symbol having a content label representing its content. The content label is or includes a word contained in the pertinent phrase. Each relationship link dataset specifies a relationship link that represents a relationship between graphical symbols and has a particular end shape to indicate what type of relationship it is. The computer translates each phrase of the statement into two or more graphical symbol datasets and one or more relationship link datasets, according to the translation rules pertinent to the determined phrase types.
US08996356B1	Techniques for predictive input method editors A computer-implemented method technique is presented. The technique can include receiving, at a computing device comprising one or more processors, a first input from a user, the first input including one or more first characters in a first language. The technique can provide for suggestion of potential transliterations to a second language of potential words beginning with the one or more first characters. The technique can present the potential transliterations in either an off-the-spot input configuration or an inline input configuration. The user can then select one of the potential transliterations. The technique can also provide the one or more first characters as an additional or partial word as a potential selection for the user. In this manner, the user can also select the exact one or more first characters that were input to the computing device.
US08996353B2	Systems and methods for multi-user multi-lingual communications Various embodiments described herein facilitate multi-lingual communications. The systems and methods of some embodiments enable multi-lingual communications through different modes of communication including, for example, Internet-based chat, e-mail, text-based mobile phone communications, postings to online forums, postings to online social media services, and the like. Certain embodiments implement communication systems and methods that translate text between two or more languages. Users of the systems and methods may be incentivized to submit corrections for inaccurate or erroneous translations, and may receive a reward for these submissions. Systems and methods for assessing the accuracy of translations are described.
US08996350B1	System and method for automatic document management A system for managing documents, comprising: interfaces to a user interface, proving an application programming interface, a database of document images, a remote server, configured to communicate a text representation of the document from the optical character recognition engine to the report server, and to receive from the remote server a classification of the document; and logic configured to receive commands from the user interface, and to apply the classifications received from the remote server to the document images through the interface to the database. A corresponding method is also provided.
US08996349B2	Synchronizing an abstract model and source code A software synchronization system detects a change that modifies an element of the abstract model. The software synchronization system globally modifies references to the element throughout the abstract model. Then the software synchronization system automatically determines elements of the source code that are dependent on the changed model element. The software synchronization system modifies the determined elements of the source code. Thus, the software synchronization system synchronizes the abstract model and the source code, regardless of the one to which the developer makes changes.
US08996347B2	Digital wire harness assembly system An electronic wire harness assembly system having a transparent pegboard with a rear mounted digital display such as an LCD or plasma display is controlled by a proprietary software program running on a personal computer. The digital display provides peg location illumination, wire run path location illumination, connector shape illumination and location illumination, as well as cable tie location illumination. The operator is visually assisted with notes and videos displayed under the pegboard at the appropriate locations. The pegboard grid is registered to the digital display with simple mouse pointer clicks.
US08996346B2	Methods for characterization of petroleum fluid and application thereof An improved method that performs downhole fluid analysis of the fluid properties of a reservoir of interest and that characterizes the reservoir of interest based upon such downhole fluid analysis.
US08996335B2	Systems and methods for energy efficient machine condition monitoring of fans, motors, pumps, compressors and other equipment Methods and systems to achieve highly efficient rotational machine integrity determinations in which at least one sensor (106) senses indicia (105) such as time-varying rotational indicia from a rotational motive apparatus (103) and a processor (108) may provide many different functions including but not limited to operational function energy apportioning decisional processing, data compression, intelligent hierarchical data ranking, differential data processing, or the like perhaps to generate information (109) such as a rotational integrity abridgment transmissor to which an abridgment transmissor electromagnetic signal (112) may be created and perhaps even transmitted from a rotational motive apparatus to facilitate a machine integrity determination.
US08996331B2	Method and system for managing thermal policies of a portable computing device A method and system for managing one or more thermal policies of a portable computing device (PCD) includes monitoring temperature of the portable computing device with internal thermal sensors and external thermal sensors. If a change in temperature has been detected by at least one thermal sensor, then a thermal policy manager may increase a frequency in which temperature readings are detected by the thermal sensors. The thermal policy manager may also determine if a current temperature of the portable computing device as detected by one or more of the thermal sensors falls within one or more predetermined thermal states. Each thermal state may be assigned a unique set of thermal mitigation techniques. Each set of thermal mitigation techniques may be different from one another. The sets of thermal mitigation techniques may differ according to quantity of techniques and impacts on performance of the PCD.
US08996328B2	Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to test safety instrumented system solenoids Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to test safety instrumented system (SIS) solenoids are disclosed. A disclosed valve position control apparatus includes a relay to control a state of a solenoid and a valve positioner including a transmitter to transmit a solenoid test signal to the relay, electrical contacts to communicatively couple the solenoid test signal to the relay via one or more wires, and a solenoid tester to generate the solenoid test signal and to monitor a response of the solenoid when the solenoid test signal is transmitted to the relay to verify an operation of the solenoid.
US08996324B2	Battery-state monitoring apparatus A battery-state monitoring apparatus includes: a secondary battery 200 supplying an electric power to portable equipment 300; and an operation processing part 50 that can detect a battery state of the secondary battery 200 in a detection mode to detect the battery state of the secondary battery 200, the operation processing part using the secondary battery 200 as a power source, wherein the battery-state monitoring apparatus includes a start-up current detecting part 31 detecting a start-up of the portable equipment 300, and wherein the operation processing part 50 waits for a detection of the battery state in a standby mode in which power consumption is smaller than the detection mode until the start-up is detected by the start-up current detecting part 31, and, on the other hand, the operation processing part 50 detects, by intermittently performing a temporary return from the standby mode to the detection mode, the battery state of the secondary battery in a return period during which the return is made.
US08996321B2	Modular condition monitoring integration for control systems A system, in one embodiment, includes a controller configured to receive sensor signals from a machine system and to control operation of the machine system via actuators. The embodiment also includes function blocks stored and operational in the controller and configured to receive machine condition monitoring information and to calculate vibration parameters based upon the machine condition monitoring information. In another embodiment, the system includes a controller that includes computer code configured to control operation of a machine system via actuators based upon sensor signals. Moreover, the embodiment includes computer code configured to perform vibration monitoring of the machine system, including function blocks configured to receive vibration data and to calculate vibration parameters based upon the vibration data.
US08996314B2	System and method for personal stress analysis There is shown and described a computer implemented system and method for analyzing an individual's personal stress level and providing a stress-score representing the individual's personal stress level. A plurality of parameters are received into a memory from at least one computing device and each of the parameters respectively represents a factor of the individual's life that contributes to a level of stress for the individual. The received parameter data is processed by executing code in a processor that configures the processor to normalize the parameter data by assigning, for each of the received parameters, a respective parameter score that represents a relative value of the parameter. The individual's stress-score is calculated as a function of the normalized parameter data, the stress-score is automatically transmitted to the at least one computing device, using code executing in the processor and free of human intervention.
US08996312B1	Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for providing alternative trips for a computer-implemented trip search Provided are systems, computer-implemented methods, and computer-readable media for providing alternative trips for a computer-implemented trip search. User may submit a trip request associated with a primary transportation mode between an origin and a destination, such as by submitting a request for directions via an interactive map. The trip price for the primary trip may be determined. Additionally, alternative trip prices for alternative transportation modes may be determined and compared to the primary trip price. If an alternative trip price is lower than the primary trip price, an alternative trip notification may be provided to user with information about the alternative trip, such as a link to further details about the alternative trip.
US08996306B2	Route search device and method, information providing device and method, and route search system A route search device including a database in which map information and facility information are stored, a reference location information obtaining unit that obtains reference location information as location information of a given point from an outside of the route search device, a location information obtaining unit that obtains location information of a desired facility from the outside, a corresponding location information obtaining unit that obtains corresponding location information as location information of a point corresponding to the given point, from the database, a location correction factor calculating unit that calculates a location correction factor, a location correction factor storage unit that stores the location correction factor, a location information correcting unit that corrects the location information of the desired facility, using the location correction factor, and a route searching unit that makes a search for a route to the desired facility, based on the corrected location information.
US08996301B2	Segment validation Validating a segment is disclosed, including: determining that a stored segment meets a validation criterion; and adjusting GPS data associated with the stored segment using aggregated GPS data.
US08996298B2	Noise pattern acquisition device and position detection apparatus provided therewith A noise pattern acquisition device includes: a geomagnetic sensor; a coordinate estimation unit configured to estimate current position coordinates; and a geomagnetic noise pattern management unit configured to, when an abnormality occurs in a magnetic field strength detected by the geomagnetic sensor during movement of the noise pattern acquisition device, store in a geomagnetic noise pattern storage unit a geomagnetic noise pattern which is a pattern representing a time-series change of the magnetic field strength detected by the geomagnetic sensor. This makes it possible to not only acquire a geomagnetic noise pattern but also detect a proper position with a simple structure and process at reduced cost.
US08996287B2	Calculating speed and travel times with travel delays Computer program products, methods, systems, apparatus, and computing entities are provided for forecasting travel delays corresponding to streets, street segments, geographic areas, geofenced areas, and/or user-specified criteria. And from the forecasted travel delays, speed and travel times that take into account such travel delays can be determined.
US08996285B2	System for detecting malfunction of variable valve lift apparatus and method for the same A system for detecting malfunction of a variable valve lift apparatus may include an engine provided with the variable valve lift apparatus controlling lift of a valve, a vibration sensor which detects vibrations generated in closing of the valve and outputs corresponding vibration signals, and a control portion which receives the vibration signals and determines the malfunction of the variable valve lift apparatus according to the vibration signals to be detected within a predetermined crank angle.
US08996274B2	Vehicle control device and vehicle control method Vehicle control includes: acquiring running information of a preceding vehicle that runs ahead of a host vehicle; controlling a running state of the host vehicle on the basis of the acquired running information; acquiring deceleration jerk information of the preceding vehicle; and changing a deceleration start timing, at which the host vehicle is decelerated in response to deceleration of the preceding vehicle, on the basis of the deceleration jerk information of the preceding vehicle. Alternatively, vehicle control includes: acquiring deceleration jerk information of a preceding vehicle that runs ahead of a host vehicle; and changing an inter-vehicle time or inter-vehicle distance between the preceding vehicle and the host vehicle on the basis of the deceleration jerk information of the preceding vehicle.
US08996269B2	Vehicle speed control apparatus, vehicle speed control system comprising the same and vehicle speed control method Disclosed is a vehicle speed control apparatus including: a speed limit information recognition unit recognizing a location and a speed limit of a speed limit point located in front of a vehicle; a storage unit stored with deceleration characteristic values including at least one driving characteristic; a deceleration characteristic select unit selecting the deceleration characteristic values corresponding to the location and the speed limit of the recognized speed limit point among the deceleration characteristic values stored in the storage unit; and a targeted acceleration calculation unit calculating a targeted acceleration necessary for a vehicle speed control up to the speed limit point based on the selected deceleration characteristic values. By this configuration, it is possible to precisely control the vehicle speed up to the speed limit point at an optimal speed.
US08996257B2	Vehicle anti-icing and de-icing systems and corresponding methods of operation A system, for inhibiting ice formation on a vehicle surface, and de-icing if determined needed to remove any frozen matter formed on the surface, including an anti-icing reservoir, a fluid-selecting control valve, and code that causes a processor to perform operations including determining whether the vehicle is parked, initiating, if parked, activation of, or obtaining of readouts from, any local sensors or routines to be used to determine whether a condition triggering initiation of an anti-freezing cycle is present. The operations include commencing, if triggered, an anti-icing cycle, including initiating changing of the fluid-selection valve to select the anti-freezing reservoir, and initiating pumping of the anti-icing fluid from the anti-icing reservoir to and through a fluid-dispensing nozzle, and onto the surface for inhibiting bonding of frozen material on the surface and/or remove any already formed frozen material on the surface.
US08996253B2	Movable carriage A movable carriage having front wheels and rear wheels includes, a detection unit detecting a direction caused by the operator pushing or pulling a grip unit, a rear-wheel steering angle changing unit changing a steering angle to cause a phase of the rear wheel to be the same as or opposite to the phase of the front wheel according to whether an angle between the detected direction and a center axis of the movable carriage is a predetermined angle or smaller, and a front-wheel steering angle changing unit changing a steering angle to cause a phase of the front wheel to be the same as or opposite to the detected direction according to whether the detected direction is a direction in which the movable carriage is pushed or pulled, when the angle between the detected direction and the center axis of the carriage exceeds the predetermined angle.
US08996251B2	Electric power-steering control device A base assist section generates a base assist command so that a steering reaction according to a road surface reaction returns to a steering wheel side. A modifying section generates a torque modifying command for modifying the base assist command so that an unstable movement of a vehicle converges appropriately. A sum of the each command becomes a final assist torque command. The base assist section estimates a road surface force based on the self-generated base assist command and a steering torque actually detected. A target steering torque is generated based on the estimated force, and the base assist command is generated based on a deviation of the target steering torque and the steering torque.
US08996248B2	Virtual sensor network system and method for convergence of heterogeneous sensors A virtual sensor network system is provided that includes a virtual sensor node that stores sensor data collected from a sensor mounted within a vehicle in time synchronization therewith and provides the stored sensor data in time synchronization therewith, in addition, a master node performs a control on the virtual sensor node and executes an algorithm used in an intelligent vehicle using the sensor data. The master node receives the sensor data stored in the virtual sensor node as the virtual sensor data in time synchronization therewith, without inputting actual sensor data from the sensor mounted within the vehicle when executing the algorithm.
US08996246B2	Haptic feedback apparatus for vehicle and method using the same Disclosed herein are a haptic feedback method and apparatus for a vehicle. The haptic feedback apparatus an accelerator pedal sensor unit, a control unit, and an output unit. The accelerator pedal sensor unit measures the angle of a vehicle accelerator pedal. The control unit determines whether the haptic feedback is required, using the measured angle of the vehicle accelerator pedal. The output unit deliver the haptic feedback to a user depending on the results of the determination.
US08996243B2	Track brake with at least one vertically-movable braking element and method for determining the respective position thereof A track brake includes at least one vertically movable, more particularly lowerable, braking element and an inclination sensor disposed in such a manner that a respective position of the at least one vertically movable braking element can be determined on the basis of at least one measurement value of the inclination sensor. A method for determining the position of at least one vertically movable, more particularly lowerable, braking element of a track brake is also provided.
US08996242B2	Airbag data exchange system Described are airbag control units having a radio-frequency identification transceiver, at least one battery pack, at least one inflator driver electrically connected to an airbag module, and one or more processors in communication with the radio-frequency identification transceiver, the battery pack, and the inflator driver. Alternatively, the airbag control unit includes signal conditioning hardware in communication with the radio-frequency identification transceiver, the battery pack, and the inflator driver. The airbag control unit retrieves a signal from the battery pack, analyzes the signal to determine battery status and/or voltage, transmits a signal to the inflator driver to perform an airbag status check, detects and analyzes the signal from the inflator driver to determine a status of the airbag module, and transmits the results to the radio-frequency identification transceiver for communication to a radio-frequency identification reader.
US08996239B2	Abradeable sensor system for tire wear monitoring A tread wear indicator is affixed to a respective tire tread element. The indicator is constructed as a plurality of radially stacked sensor elements operatively configured and located to sequentially sacrificially abrade and change in electrical resistance responsive to a progressive tread wear of the respective tread element. The sensor elements are connected by circuitry that communicates a data signal from the sensor elements to a data processor indicative of a change in cumulative resistivity of the sensor elements. The data processor receives the data signal from the sensor elements and determines a radial wear level of the tread element based on the data signal. Multiple tread wear indicators may be mounted to respective tread lugs across the tread to derive a tread wear status based upon the tread wear profiles of the respective lugs.
US08996236B2	Method for detecting offset for a pedestrian protection device A method for detecting offset for a pedestrian protection device, in which sensor data are ascertained and evaluated for determining an impact point of an object. In the event of a collision with an object, characteristics are extracted for determining the offset of the impact point using the sensor data from at least two sensors, absolute values and/or differential values and/or composite values and/or maximum values and/or minimum values of the sensor data from the at least two sensors being determined in the characteristics extraction.
US08996223B2	Engine operation start control device of hybrid vehicle The invention relates to an engine operation start control device of a hybrid vehicle comprising a power output device having an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. In this hybrid vehicle, an intermittent control for intermittently operating the engine can be performed and when the operation of the engine is started during the intermittent control being performed, a cranking of the engine is performed until the engine speed reaches a target engine speed. According to the invention, in case that the operation of the engine is started when the speed of the hybrid vehicle is higher than or equal to a predetermined speed and a power required for the power output device is larger than or equal to a predetermined power, the engine speed, which increases as the speed of the hybrid vehicle increases, is set as the target engine speed.
US08996219B2	System and method for controlling low-voltage DC/DC converter (LDC) of hybrid electric vehicle A method and system for controlling a low-voltage DC/DC converter (LDC) of a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) includes performing a trial starting comprising steps of: trying ignition start, performing an immobilizer authentication process, and turning on a main relay of a high-voltage battery. The LDC is controlled after the trial starting, so that an operating voltage is applied from the LDC to an electric load including various kinds of controllers, thereby allowing starting of the HEV.

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