US08062260B2
A trocar cannula is disclosed. The trocar cannula comprises a cannula having at least one tab member formed therein. Each tab member is configured to provide a retention force between the cannula and tissue when the tab member is placed in a deformed position. The tab member is selectively moveable between a relaxed position, in which the cannula may be moved with respect to the tissue, and the deformed position, wherein the tab member frictionally engages the tissue.
US08062251B2
A catheter for delivering an agent to an area of treatment is presented. The catheter includes a catheter body, a balloon assembly coupled to the catheter body, a first lumen, and a second lumen. The balloon assembly has spaced-apart balloons that define an area between the balloons. The first lumen extends along the catheter body to pass an inflation material to the balloons to control an inflation level of the balloons. The second lumen extends along the catheter body and having an outlet in the area between the balloons. There may be a third lumen for bypassing a biological fluid such as blood while the catheter is being used. The method of using this catheter is also presented. The method entails simultaneously inflating the balloons to isolate a treatment area and adding an agent to the treatment area through one of the lumens.
US08062250B2
A cannula device for infusion sets is provided. The cannula device includes a housing and at least one membrane mounted to the housing and adapted for receiving a piercing member of a connector. The cannula device further includes a cannula mounted to the housing. The cannula device is adapted to removably attach to a base part of an infusion set. The cannula device can receive the piercing member from a first receiving direction and from a second receiving direction different from the first receiving direction, providing fluid communication between the piercing member and the cannula mounted to the housing.
US08062244B2
Implants and methods for treating ocular disorders are disclosed. One implant has a tubular member, with inlet and outlet ends, and a cutting member connected thereto. The tubular member is configured to extend through eye tissue such that the inlet and outlet ends reside respectively in an anterior chamber and a physiologic outflow pathway of the eye. Desirably, the cutting member is configured to make an incision in the eye tissue for receiving at least a portion of the tubular member. One method involves introducing an implant, with proximal and distal ends, into the anterior chamber and penetrating eye tissue using an implant distal portion. The implant is advanced from the anterior chamber into the penetrated eye tissue to locate the distal and proximal ends respectively in the physiologic outflow pathway and the anterior chamber. Aqueous humor is conducted between the proximal and distal ends.
US08062229B2
A method for pain treatment and measurement according to various aspects of the present invention generally includes providing an external field to a portion of a living being, wherein the external field comprises a frequency of about 3040 Hz. This frequency of about 3040 Hz can also be intermixed with two or more other frequencies for the treatment and measurement of pain, and can be utilized alone or together with other intermixed frequencies to treat inflammation and osteoporosis.
US08062226B2
A catheter has a proximal end and a distal end and comprises an outer tube having a proximal end, an inner sheath slidingly received within the outer tube and extending distally from the outer tube, and a rotatable shaft extending from the proximal end of the outer tube to within the inner sheath. The rotatable shaft is axially fixed with respect to the outer tube and axially moveable within and with respect to the inner sheath. The rotatable shaft includes a proximal substantially rigid section and a distal flexible section. The catheter further includes a working element carried on the distal flexible section of the rotatable shaft.
US08062221B2
A sensor for carbon dioxide detection may be adapted to have reduced water permeability. A sensor is provided that is appropriate for use in an aqueous medium. The sensor has a barrier with reduced water permeability, but that is permeable to carbon dioxide, that separates the sensor components from the aqueous medium.
US08062212B2
A steerable endoscope has an elongated body with a selectively steerable distal portion and an automatically controlled proximal portion. The endoscope body is inserted into a patient and the selectively steerable distal portion is used to select a desired path within the patient's body. When the endoscope body is advanced, an electronic motion controller operates the automatically controlled proximal portion to assume the selected curve of the selectively steerable distal portion. Another desired path is selected with the selectively steerable distal portion and the endoscope body is advanced again. As the endoscope body is further advanced, the selected curves propagate proximally along the endoscope body, and when the endoscope body is withdrawn proximally, the selected curves propagate distally along the endoscope body. This creates a serpentine motion in the endoscope body that allows it to negotiate tortuous curves along a desired path through, around, and between organs within the body.
US08062211B2
A minimally invasive surgical instrument includes a U-turn mechanism that transmits actuating forces around a U-turn. The U-turn mechanism is coupled between segments of the instrument and has a bend radius that is smaller than flexible arms having a similar cross section diameter. The actuating forces transmitted by the U-turn mechanism are used to move distal components of the instrument, such as an end effector and a wrist mechanism.
US08062208B1
The erogenic stimulator may be a two-piece stimulator for use by two partners or may be an erogenic stimulator hanger for a phallic body member. The phallic body member includes a distal end and a proximal base end with one or more radial flange elements. The second member (sometimes referred to as the hanger) has a bulbous proximal end portion, sized for receipt in an anal or vaginal cavity, a U-shaped curved stem leading a distal annulus. The annulus has an opening with a cross-sectional dimension greater than the maximal cross-sectional dimension of the phallic body member. The phallic body member is inserted and hung on the annulus of the U-shaped second member-hanger. The inboard face of the annulus abuts the inboard face of the flange elements of the cylindrical body member.
US08062207B2
Intra-gastric fastening devices are disclosed herein. Expandable devices that are inserted into the stomach of the patient are maintained within by anchoring or otherwise fixing the expandable devices to the stomach walls. Such expandable devices, like inflatable balloons, have tethering regions for attachment to the one or more fasteners which can be configured to extend at least partially through one or several folds of the patient's stomach wall. The fasteners are thus affixed to the stomach walls by deploying the fasteners and manipulating the tissue walls entirely from the inside organ. Such fasteners can be formed in a variety of configurations, e.g., helical, elongate, ring, clamp, and they can be configured to be non-piercing. Alternatively, sutures can be used to wrap around or through a tissue fold for tethering the expandable devices. Non-piercing biased clamps can also be used to tether the device within the stomach.
US08062203B2
Attenuating masks for selective attenuation of radiation, particularly from an x-ray source in brachytherapy, employ materials having atomic number in a specific range, so as to attenuate radiation dose intensity generally proportionally through a range of distance from the source. Some preferred attenuation materials are silver and molybdenum. A set of small masks can be provided for a particular design of catheter that holds a radiation source, each mask having a size and shape to define a different solid angle of masking, so that in a brachytherapy procedure, sensitive tissue such as bone or skin can be protected by proper selection of and positioning of the attenuating mask, to reduce the dose intensity to that tissue.
US08062200B2
A tool-changing device includes a tool gripper and a stroke and pivoting actuator for operating the tool gripper. The stroke and pivoting actuator can be driven by a first direct drive for producing a linear movement and by a second direct drive for producing a rotational movement, wherein the first and the second direct drives have a common rotor which serves as the stroke and pivoting actuator.
US08062191B2
A recumbent stepper includes a frame, a pair of lever arms, pedals, pulleys, flexible members, springs and adjustable resistance devices The pair of lever arms are pivotally attached to the frame and are movable from a retracted position to an extended position. Pedals are attached to each lever arm. The pair of pulleys are rotatably attached to the frame. The pair of flexible members are attached between the lever arms and pulleys and are wound around the pulley when the lever arm is in the retracted position and deploys as the lever arm moves to the extended position. Springs are operably attached to each pulley such that each lever arm is biased to the retracted position. Adjustable resistance devices are operably connected to each pulleys whereby increasing the resistance on the pulley increases the force required to move the lever from the retracted position toward the extended position.
US08062187B2
The present invention provides for a variable stride exercise device having a variable size close curved striding path during use. The exercise device described and depicted herein utilizes various configurations of linkage assemblies, cam members, and other components, connected with a frame to allow a user to dynamically vary his stride path during exercise. An exercise device conforming to aspects of the present invention provides a foot path that adapts to the change in stride length rather than forcing the user into a fixed size path. Some embodiments of the exercise device include a lockout device that selectively eliminates the variable stride features of the exercise device and allows the user to exercise in a stepping motion. Other aspects of the present invention relate to a releasable connection mechanism that can be used to selectively and/or automatically limit or eliminate the variable stride feature of an exercise device.
US08062184B2
A press bar for supporting a weight during a weightlifting exercise includes a body that has a first end, a second end, and a body-axis that passes through the first and second ends, wherein the body-axis is substantially horizontal when the press bar lies on a substantially horizontal surface. In addition to the body, the press bar includes a handle connected to the body. The handle includes a grip positioned relative to the body-axis. The grip has a longitudinal axis lying in a plane that is vertical when the press bar lies on a substantially horizontal surface. The position of the grip relative to the body-axis is such that the body-axis does not intersect the grip, but does intersect the plane at an angle between 45° and 135°.
US08062181B2
In a method and control device for adjusting a rotational speed of a shaft of a gear change transmission of a motor vehicle, a torque required for the acceleration of the transmission and derived from a drive motor is transmitted by means of an automated clutch and using the torque the rotational speed of the shaft is precisely and rapidly adjusted to a range around a target rotational speed by defining a desired value for a position of the clutch on a rotational speed difference between a measured rotational speed of the shaft and a target rotational speed so that the gear can then rapidly be changed.
US08062177B2
A method of selecting a neutral position of an automatic or automated transmission and a parking gear to immobilize a motor vehicle. The neutral position and parking device can be set or activated, depending on a gear selected by the driver with a selector device and depending on other vehicle operating parameters. Only when the motor vehicle is at least substantially stationary, an ignition circuit acting on the drive motor vehicle is electrically interrupted and a “Neutral” (N) gear is selected by a selector device occur simultaneously, can an N-holding phase, in which the transmission is in a friction-free neutral position, be activated by a separate control device provided in addition to the selector device, as long as an energy management system of the motor vehicle allows activation of the N-holding phase.
US08062174B2
A method for controlling a powertrain comprising a transmission coupled to an engine and an electric machine adapted to selectively transmit mechanical power to an output member via selective application of a plurality of hydraulically actuated torque transfer clutches includes filling one of the hydraulic clutches to a reference fill volume expected to create a touching state in the clutch, wherein the filling is accomplished through control of a pressure control solenoid, monitoring an actual fill time of the hydraulic clutch, monitoring a flow utilized in the filling, determining a measured fill volume based upon the actual fill time and the flow, calculating a fill volume error based upon the measured fill volume and the reference fill volume, and adjusting the reference fill volume based upon the fill volume error.
US08062170B2
Temperature of an electric drive is regulated to prevent undesirable thermal effects. Temperature conditions of the electric drive system are monitored and torque of the electric drive system is limited based on the temperature conditions.
US08062168B2
An arrangement of a planetary gearset (2) with an axially adjacent shift element in a housing (1) of a transmission of a vehicle. The planetary gearset (2) is connected to the shift element in a detachable manner.
US08062151B2
A golf club head system and a golf club head for inclusion into a golf club are provided. The golf club head includes a main body member and a secondary body member. The main body member has a striking surface, a sole portion, a crown portion, and a rear face substantially opposed to the striking surface. The main body member defines an at least substantially enclosed main body cavity. The secondary body member is attached to the main body member and extends at least substantially over the entire rear face of the main body member. The golf club head system includes two or more secondary body members, each configured for interchangeable attachment to a main body member. Each secondary body member defines an internal concavity, has a different external shape, and has a different combination of center-of-gravity and moment-of-inertia characteristics.
US08062147B2
A visual and tactile confirmation golf grip and system is provided. The golf grip includes a grip body having an upper portion, a lower portion, a grip length, a proximal end, a distal end, and an exterior body surface. The exterior body surface is defined by a first quadrant, a second quadrant, a third quadrant, and a fourth quadrant. The golf grip may include a first alignment channel, a second alignment channel, a third alignment channel, and a fourth alignment channel. The alignment channels are configured to extend longitudinally along the exterior body surface. The golf grip is configured such that for any given quadrant, there is only one alignment channel in that particular quadrant. The alignment channels are sized and dimensioned to accommodate two-point discrimination, and thus allow a golfer to tactilely perceive the alignment channels to help build psychomotor confidence, which ultimately leads to better golf shots.
US08062140B2
A power transmission section particularly adapted for use in a downhole drilling system. A drive shaft is pivotally connected to input and output end connection members with pivot balls therebetween to allow pivoting of the shaft ends relative to the input and output end connection members. A plurality of ball segments having one spherically-curved surface are provided at each end of the drive shaft to engage with the input and output connection members and to transmit torque between the shaft ends and the input and output end connection members, regardless of the angular variation between the drive shaft longitudinal axis and the longitudinal axes of the input and output end connection members.
US08062127B2
A dispute resolution model for next generation action/skill casino games comprising a variety of friendly onscreen methods to demonstrate the fairness of a disputed game or simply to allow the player to eliminate confusion created by fast action wagering. Such methods may include running on-demand instant replays of segments of wagered games to allow both players and operators to verify those games' fairness and providing the player with historical information regarding the operation of the casino game and/or the gaming machine. The historical information includes historical win information to demonstrate the distribution of previous wins; Skill vs. luck historical information to demonstrate the exact role both luck and skill played in a player's game outcome; and peer comparison historical information to enable the player to compare the recent payback history of a given game to identical games on the casino floor, and to show the player which machines have been the luckiest over a given period of time.
US08062126B2
A method for triggering commands of a program executed on a computing system is provided. In this method, an interface object first is provided. One interface object is defined by an object coupled to a handle, whereby the handle includes an elongated member that is substantially perpendicular to a line extending from the object. Another interface object is coupled to a game controller. Another interface object is defined by a pair of spherical objects. The interface object then is placed within a field of view of an image capture device, and a change in position of the interface object within the field of view of the image capture device triggers an interfacing command at the program executed on the computing system. A system for triggering commands of a program also are described.
US08062125B2
A system and method for determined, issuing, and using promotion based awards and games based on those awards that encompass granularity and diversity of individually enforceable options, such as individual games at specified locations, heretofore not achievable in a gaming environment.
US08062122B2
Systems and methods are provided allowing a player to play a gaming device and receive a predetermined number of outcomes in exchange for a payment. The gaming device generates at least the predetermined number of outcomes, and adjusts a balance of the player device based on the outcomes. The player can continue playing regardless of whether the balance is less than zero.
US08062121B2
Methods and systems for issuing cashless instruments and providing a printer interpreter for a gaming machine are disclosed. A printer and specialized printer interpreter (controller) are provided to facilitate the conversion of a specific credit amount to a currency amount in differing units (first form of currency), and the subsequent issuance of a cashless instrument reflecting that currency amount. Where the printer interpreter is reconfigurable, a second currency amount in different units (second form of currency) could also be selected. Multiple different currencies and their corresponding languages can be available to the printer interpreter, such that a given credit amount can be issued to a cashless instrument in one of many different currencies. Game execution operations of the MGC are isolated from the printer interpreter, such that recertification of the gaming machine or system is not necessary when reconfiguring the printer interpreter from one form of currency to another.
US08062110B2
A game apparatus includes a CPU. In the game apparatus, it is determined whether movement state of a player object formed by a plurality of parts has satisfied a predetermined requirement or not. The predetermined requirement is, for example, that a movement speed is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value, or that an event where a difference in angle between a current movement direction and an immediately preceding movement direction is equal to or more than a predetermined value has been detected a predetermined number of times or more within a given length of time. When the predetermined requirement is satisfied, that is, when there is an input operation to move the player object quickly or when there is an input operation to shake the player object, for instance, the player object is separated into the plurality of parts.
US08062089B2
A video toy is provided with a video screen and multiple selectable dioramas positioned behind the video screen. The dioramas may be fixed to a shaft so that rotation of a handle of the shaft moves a first diorama to a position behind the screen and visible through the screen. Rotating the handle and shaft again may sequentially move a second diorama to a position behind the screen replacing the first diorama. The video toy may display characters and objects on the screen that engage in activities and appear to interact with objects in the diorama visible through the video display. Virtual characters may be programmed to exhibit development and modify their activities and interactions with the player based on type and frequency of inputs. The video toy may respond to signals from a computer by accessing additional game play modes or options.
US08062088B2
A modular construction system involving at least one balancing element having a center of gravity, a vertical axis, and at least one balancing surface for enhancing equilibrium; and at least one permanent magnet disposed at each at least one balancing surface, the system optionally having a base, wherein balancing the at least one balancing element in relation to the base is facilitated, and wherein the base optionally includes a feature, such as a magnetic property, a metal, at least one leveling device.
US08062071B2
A connector for a first wiring board of a first module type apparatus and a second wiring board of a second module type apparatus, the connector providing electrical connection between the first wiring board of the first module type apparatus and the second wiring board of the second module type apparatus when the first module type apparatus and the second module type apparatus are engaged with each other, the connector includes a housing; a first terminal; and a second terminal.
US08062068B2
The present invention relates to an electrical connector for a first IC, comprising a second IC (12) carrying ESD protection, the second IC (12) being integrated into the connector (8), which enhances the ESD protection and preserves the RF performance of such connector (8). The present invention further relates to a method for making an electrical connector (8) for a first IC, comprising this step of providing ESD protection to the first IC by integrating a second IC (12) carrying ESD-protection into the connector (8).
US08062066B1
Apparatus and methods are provided directed to signal cabling. An illustrative cable includes first and second connectors. Each connector includes a plurality of electrical contacts supported by an insulator material. A plurality of distinct signaling conductors couples respective pairs of the electrical contacts. Each connector also includes a metallic shell continuously spanning an outer dimensional aspect of the connector. A flexible metallic shield is electrically bonded to the respective metallic shells and envelopes the signaling conductors, spanning a length-wise aspect of the cable. The signal propagation qualities of the cable are applicable to high-resolution video and other endeavors.
US08062065B2
A connector assembly includes a housing extending along a housing axis between a front and a rear and contact modules loaded into the housing along the housing axis through the rear. The contact modules have a body holding contacts arranged along contact planes. A stabilizer is coupled to the housing and is coupled to the contact modules to hold the contact modules such that the contact planes are parallel to the housing axis.
US08062061B2
A fastening mechanism for fastening a detachable electronic device onto a DIN rail includes a frame, a first slab member and a first resilient element. The frame includes a base, a first extension part and a second extension part. The first extension part and the second extension part are arranged at bilateral sides of the base. A first perforation is formed between the first extension part and the base. The first slab member is movable along the bottom surface of the first extension part and has an end penetrating through the first perforation to be disposed over the base. The first resilient element is coupled to the first slab member and exerts a clamping force for claming a first extending edge of the DIN rail between the first slab member and the base.
US08062053B2
A receptacle connector is configured to mate with a plug connector having a latch member. The receptacle connector includes a housing having a mating end, an opening extending into the housing through the mating end, and a latch wall. The opening is configured to receive the plug connector therein through the mating end of the housing. The opening is at least partially defined by the latch wall. The latch wall extends a length into the housing along a central longitudinal latch wall axis. The latch wall includes a latch element extending a length along a central longitudinal latch element axis. The central longitudinal latch element axis is offset along the latch wall from the central longitudinal latch wall axis. The latch element is exposed within the opening and cooperates with the latch member of the plug connector to latch the plug connector to the housing when the plug connector is received within the opening of the housing. A contact is held within the housing. The contact has a mating interface exposed within the opening of the housing for electrically connecting to the plug connector when the plug connector is received within the opening of the housing.
US08062050B2
An cable assembly includes an insulative housing; a plurality of signal terminals and grounding terminals received in the insulative housing; a plurality of signals wires and grounding wires; a grounding member having a main portion located in a vertical plane and a plurality of fingers projecting forwardly therefrom, the main portion defining positioning cavities separated from each other; the signal wires held in the positioning cavities, with conductors of the signal wires electrically connected to the signal terminals, the grounding wires electrically connected to the grounding member and the fingers of the grounding member electrically connected to the grounding terminals.
US08062048B2
An electrical connector (100) for connecting an electronic module (8) with a printed circuit board includes an insulative housing (1) defining a receiving space (12), a number of contacts (2) received in the housing and a cover (3) attached to the housing. The housing forms a base (10) and a pair of lateral walls (11) extending from the base. Each lateral wall has an end portion (112) away from and opposite to the base. The cover is assembled to the end portions of the lateral walls of the housing and is capable of moving from an unlocking position to a locking position. The connector also has a pair of metal ears (5) retained in the housing and can be driven to move into the receiving space and abut against the electronic module when the connector is in the locking position.
US08062046B2
Electrical connectors and contacts for transmitting power are provided. One power contact embodiment includes a first plate that defines a first non-deflecting beam and a first deflectable beam, and a second plate that defines a second non-deflecting beam and a second deflectable beam. The first and second plates are positioned beside one another to form the power contact.
US08062038B2
A method, apparatus and system for simulating the release of radio opaque dye within a vasculature system. The method, apparatus and system include simulating a vessel tree of the vasculature system for display on a display device, activating a particle-based contrast software effect, and injecting a plurality of physics-based particles into a confined vessel space of said vessel tree. The method and apparatus may also include fading down over a period of time an opacity of each of the physics-based particles and opacifying a portion of a vessel wall.
US08062036B2
A therapeutic tool for use with a patient in psychotherapy is provided, the tool includes a central gyroscopic element, a plurality of concentric rings extending around the central gyroscopic element, and a plurality of outer elements removably disposed on the rings and configured to be movable around the rings, wherein the rings are pivotally associated with the gyroscopic ball, and wherein the gyroscopic element is configured to represent a seeing self of the patient and the rings are configured to represent a plurality of subpersonalities of the patient.
US08062019B2
A mold for extrusion molding a medical application tube and the extrusion molding method thereof in which the medical application tube having a complex profile can be molded by using a soft thermoplastic resin.The mold for extrusion molding the medical application tube made of the soft thermoplastic resin provided with flow paths sandwiching the axial portion therein comprises the mold body and the pin including the land portion. The cylindrical rear side mold space for passing the molding material between the inner peripheral surface of the recesses of the mold body and the outer peripheral surface of the pin, and the tip end side mold space including the cross section for forming the medical application tube between the inner peripheral surface of the recess and the land portion of the mold body.
US08062018B2
A guard member for use with a dough sheeter having a shut-off mechanism includes a first portion structured to be coupled at or near a dough feed opening of the dough sheeter and a second portion coupled to the first portion. The second portion having a front face and an opposite rear face, the rear face being structured to engage and activate the shut-off mechanism when contact is made with the front face by an outside force.
US08062015B2
An apparatus is provided with a tablet insert chute proximal to a bowl top inner periphery. The bowl top is provided with a series of notches in communication with the inner periphery. A rotatable press turntable is also provided. The press turn table is provided with a plurality of upper punches, and a plurality of lower punches. Multiple core retention elements are provided to transfer core tablets from the bowl top to the press turntable. A method for using the apparatus is also provided.
US08062013B2
The invention relates to a method and a device for cooling an extruded thermoplastics pipe (1) by directing a gaseous cooling medium tangentially towards the inner surface of the thermoplastics pipe (1) along its whole periphery, whereby the interior of the thermoplastics pipe (1) is divided by means of a protecting pipe (8) into an outer ring-shaped flow channel (9) for the cooling medium along the inner surface of the thermoplastics pipe (1), and a central return channel (10) through which a part of the cooling medium is intended to be sucked back influenced by the flow of cooling medium in the outer ring-shaped flow channel (9), and to be redirected towards the inner surface of the thermoplastics pipe (1). The invention is characterized in that the cooling medium is air, and that there is a cooling equipment (6) mounted in the return channel (10), whereby temperature and flow rate at least of the cooling water led to the cooling equipment (6) and possibly also of the cooling air which is fed into the thermoplastics pipe (1) are adjusted and controlled based on dimension and extrusion rate of the thermoplastics pipe (1) being manufactured.
US08062011B2
A compressor includes an ejector oil pump which sucks the oil from an oil reservoir in the bottom part of a sealed container to an oil passage formed in a rotary shaft, and the ejector oil pump includes an oil suction pipe having one end connected to the oil passage and the other end which opens in the oil reservoir, and an ejector pipe having one end which communicates with the discharge side of a compressor mechanism portion and the other end inserted into the opening of the other end of the oil suction pipe to open. The inner diameter of the other end of the oil suction pipe is larger than the outer diameter of the other end of the ejector pipe, and the other end of the oil suction pipe is provided with first and second dowel portions which position the other end of the ejector pipe.
US08061985B2
A ceiling-embedded ventilation fan includes: a casing provided in a box-shape frame inserted and mounted in a ceiling and having an opening facing an indoor side in a lower face thereof, the casing having a side face formed in a scroll shape and set in a vertical direction, the casing further having a casing intake port in the lower face of the frame and a casing discharge port in a side portion of the frame; a centrifugal blower blade housed in the casing and having a blade intake port facing the casing intake port; and an electric motor which rotates the centrifugal blower blade, wherein the centrifugal blower blade is provided so that an upper side of an axial center thereof is tilted in a direction toward an upstream side of a centrifugal airflow based on a center line of the casing intake port in a direction orthogonal to the casing discharge port.
US08061984B2
A sealing assembly configured to seal a rotating shaft of a turbo machine having a high pressure process gas, comprising a housing defining a bore configured to receive the rotating shaft and sealing assembly, wherein the housing is mounted to a casing of the turbo machine; a first sealing stage comprising a single dry gas seal and configured to blow down the high pressure process gas to a lower pressure; a labyrinth seal mounted longitudinally outward from the first sealing stage; and a second sealing stage mounted longitudinally outward from the labyrinth seal, wherein the second sealing stage comprises a tandem dry gas seal having a primary dry gas seal and a secondary dry gas seal axially spaced with an intermediate labyrinth seal.
US08061980B2
A transition duct assembly for a gas turbine engine includes an outer diameter surface and an inner diameter surface. A substantially annular flowpath having a radial offset is defined between the inner diameter surface and the outer diameter surface. A curvature distribution of the inner diameter surface includes a first region of increasing slope in a radial direction and a second region of decreasing slope in the radial direction adjacent to and downstream of the first region. The first and second regions are configured to reduce flow separation along the outer diameter surface of fluid traveling along the substantially annular flowpath.
US08061974B2
A compressor having a variable-geometry ported shroud includes a compressor housing defining an inlet duct, a shroud, and a bypass passage. A variable-geometry port extends through the shroud into the bypass passage, and includes an adjustable mechanism that is selectively configurable to adjust the meridional location of the port between at least first and second meridional locations. In one embodiment an opening extends through the shroud, and the adjustable mechanism includes a bypass control device that is disposed within the opening and is axially movable therein. The bypass control device has an axial length less than that of the opening such that there is always a portion of the opening that remains unblocked by the bypass control device and forms a port through the shroud. The bypass control device is axially movable between at least first and second positions to place the port at the first and second meridional locations.
US08061970B2
A shaft support device for a turbomachine including a rotary body and a stationary body. The rotary body is attached to a shaft of the turbomachine, and includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a thrust bearing collar and the second portion has a thrust balance piston. The first and second portions are axially overlapping. The stationary body is fixably attached to a casing of the turbomachine. The stationary body has a first thrust bearing portion that is disposed adjacent to and operatively engages the first portion of the rotary body.
US08061966B2
Composite containment casing including a body having an interior, an abradable system integrally joined to the interior of the body of the containment casing wherein the abradable system comprises, a sandwich structure including a first facesheet and a second facesheet position about at least one core layer, and at least one abradable layer applied to the sandwich structure wherein the at least one core layer comprises any of a cell configuration, a columnar configuration, or a truss configuration and wherein the sandwich structure is strong radially and weak circumferentially.
US08061960B2
This invention relates to apparatus for placing battery plates in a line from a stack of plates including an elevator for receiving a stack of plates and sequentially elevating the stack to maintain, in use, the uppermost plate in the stack in a datum region lying between two parallel generally horizontal planes and a plurality of vacuum heads arranged in a closed loop for sequentially passing over the elevator with a fixed gap from the upper plane of the datum range for picking up the uppermost plate and for subsequently releasing the plate at a release position.
US08061959B2
The present invention relates to a board inverter and a boarding inverting system. The board inverter includes a support, a first board picking device, an second board picking device and a controller. Each of the first board picking device and the second board picking device includes a driving mechanism and a first board picking device. The driving mechanism comprises a first linear driving means mounted on the support, a second linear driving means mechanically coupled to the first linear driving means, and a rotary driving means attached to the second linear driving means. The controller is connected to all the power supply members. The controller controls the motion of the first board picking device and the second board picking device such that the first board picking device and the second board picking device cooperatively inverting workpieces transmitted on a production line. The board inverter can be installed on a production line without altering the arrangement of existing production line.
US08061954B2
A lift assist system for cargo door ramps of trucks and trailers which includes one or more torsion arms that are housed in a tubular housing assembly attached at the pivotal axis of the door ramps. The housing assembly includes left and right door hinges and at least one center door hinge. Tubular housing members which house the torsion bars extend between the door hinges.
US08061950B2
A container packer system includes a transfer base, which receives a container packer adapted for movement longitudinally between retracted and extended positions with respect to the transfer base. The transfer base includes a power subsystem with a motor or engine driving an hydraulic pump for powering hydraulic piston-and-cylinder units of the system, including a container packer piston-and-cylinder unit for hydraulically extending and retracting the container packer. The container packer generally encloses an interior adapted for receiving bulk material for transfer to a transport container, which can comprise a standard shipping container, a trailer or some other bulk material receptacle. The container packer includes a push blade assembly longitudinally movably mounted in its interior and actuated by a push blade piston-and-cylinder unit. A container packer method includes the steps of loading the interior of the container packer with bulk material in its retracted position on the transfer base, locating a transport container in alignment and behind the transfer base, hydraulically inserting part of the container packer into the transport container, hydraulically emptying the container packer of bulk material into the transport container with the push blade assembly, retracting the push blade assembly within the container packer and extracting the container packer onto the transfer base.
US08061947B2
An apparatus includes structure defining a first hole that is characterized by an opening. A protuberance surrounds the opening and at least partially defines a concavity. A retention member is disposed within the concavity, and defines a second hole. The second hole has a first portion characterized by a first diameter and a second portion characterized by a second diameter. A threaded fastener has a flange characterized by a third diameter greater than the first diameter and less than the second diameter. The flange is disposed within the second portion of the second hole and between the first portion of the retention member hole and the first surface. Accordingly, the retention member retains the fastener in the concavity while permitting radial movement of the fastener.
US08061927B1
A component mat combines with similar mats to form a vehicle tracking pad assemblage, with juxtaposed ends joined by mechanical interlock. Optional turnout mats are interlocked to sides of the component mat. A top mat surface carries a finish formed of an array of upstanding mud removal elements of effective height. Mud removal element heights may be uniform among spaced apart elements or may vary among juxtaposed elements. The intermat interlock may carry the top finish to establish continuity over the junction. Suitable mud removal elements include cylinders, pyramids, ribs, and simulated rock patterns.
US08061925B2
The invention relates to a vehicle restraining system for limiting roadways comprising a base beam extending along the longitudinal axis, which overlies a U-shaped bottom and, in the plane view of an orthogonal cross-section along the longitudinal axis, reduces from the U-shaped bottom upwardly and a leading profile, which extends along the longitudinal axis, is placed above the base beam and is fixed thereto. According to said invention said base beam and the guiding profile are connected to each other by means of an intermediate connecting area, which is closed at least on one side and extends, in a substantially vertical direction, from the top end of the base beam upwardly towards the guiding profile, wherein the base beam, the connecting area and the guiding profile form a wall element and, in the plane view of an orthogonal cross-section along the longitudinal axis, said guiding profile extends with respect to the connecting area towards the road way, at least locally.
US08061916B2
A printing device having a nib configured to retract into the device when pressed upon a surface, an ink supply, and ink ejection nozzles in fluid communication with the ink supply and configured to print ink upon the surface responsive to the retraction of the nib.
US08061914B2
A printer has transportation paths for conveying media in two directions, including a first transportation path P1 and a second transportation path P2 (or third transportation path P3) perpendicular to the first transportation path P1. The printer is constructed and configured to provide a single compact unit that can be used for media processing by reading and printing the media, as well as for printing receipts and validation printing.
US08061903B2
A bearing assembly is disclosed including an inner race and an outer race that is radially spaced from the inner race for receiving roller elements therebetween. A collar is adjacent to and fixed relative to the inner race. A sealing member is fixed relative to the outer race. The sealing member slidably and sealingly engages the collar axially and radially to maintain a seal between the sealing member and the collar during a misalignment of the inner race relative to the outer race and a predetermined degree of misalignment of the inner race relative to the outer race.
US08061896B2
A combination meal bag and placemat has front and rear thermoplastic bag walls each having first and second side edges, a top edge and a bottom edge. The walls are integrally joined to a bottom gusset at the bottom edges and fastened together along the first and second side edges with first and second side seals that fasten first and second outer edges of the bottom gusset to the first and second side edges, respectively. First and second side perforations are spaced from the first and second side edges and extend from the top edge to the bottom edge. When the front wall is pulled away from the rear wall, the first and second side perforations will part, permitting the front and rear walls and bottom gusset to open into a flat placemat. First and second strap handles or die-cut handles are positioned adjacent the top edges of the bag.
US08061889B2
A mixer mount for mounting a mixer to a sprayer cart includes a mixer clamp, a mixer bracket mount, a mixer bracket pivot and a support assembly. The mixer clamp is connected to the mixer bracket mount. The mixer bracket mount is connected to a mixer bracket pivot at a pivot point. The mixer bracket pivot slidably engages in the support assembly so that the distance between the mixer clamp and the support assembly may be changed. The support assembly is capable of connecting to a sprayer cart.
US08061885B2
A planar illumination device comprises a light guide plate, a point-like light source arranged on an incoming-light face of the light guide plate, an inner frame formed substantially in a U-shape on a top view, and an outer frame having a seat portion and side walls wherein the light guide plate is accommodated in the inner frame and mounted on the seat portion of the outer frame, while the point-like light source is arranged along the incoming-light face of the light guide plate and held between the incoming-light face and the side wall of the outer frame. At the inner frame, an elastic action portion which is elastically deformed so as to make a partial contact with the outer frame and energizes the light guide plate toward the point-like light source is provided.
US08061880B2
A headlamp assembly which includes an optic used for providing a turn signal which meets the government requirements for luminous intensity when the turn signal is located near or next to the headlamp assembly. The present invention is a headlamp assembly which includes a housing, at least one optic disposed within the housing, as well as at least one light source which is operable with the optic such that light is emitted from the optic which meets or exceeds present regulatory requirements. The present invention also includes an outer lens mounted on the housing such that light emitted from the optic passes through the outer lens.
US08061879B2
The disclosed invention relates to smart light apparatuses compunctions particularly well suited for providing wireless communications between a true vehicle and a died in being towed such as a trailer. A smart light controller comprising a process for his electrically associated with a traditional wiring harness associated with a two vehicle. The smart light controller detects light signals such as stop, left turn, right turn, and lights on and generates a corresponding RF control signals. The RF control signals are transmitted to smart lights associated with a vehicle can configured to receive the RF control signals. The smart light generates a light signal based on the receive control signals.
US08061871B2
The invention relates to a lamp ring for a lamp, in particular an indicator lamp, which comprises a recess for coding and an additional recess for positioning the lamp ring in a base mounting machine. According to the invention, the second recess has an inner wall with a projection. The invention also relates to a lamp comprising a lamp ring of this type and to a base mounting machine for assembling a lamp of this type.
US08061867B2
A lighting device includes: a housing, a coupling member, at least one reflector, and a light source unit, wherein the light source unit includes: a first body having a first coupling unit, a first sloping surface, and a first hinge protruding, a second body having a second coupling unit, a second sloping surface, and a second hinge protruding, a middle body having a second insertion groove and having a second connection terminal, the second connection terminal electrically connected to the first connection terminal, when the light source unit is coupled to the coupling member, and a main light emitting diode module disposed on the first sloping surface and the second sloping surface respectively.
US08061866B2
An automatic luminous device whose use does not require an external manual switch, which is substituted by another internal automatic switch, which activates the device only when it is placed on a sufficiently dense metal surface, nor does it require a connecting cable to an external power source, which is replaced by a preferably rechargeable battery. It was designed as an emergency light for police vehicles, and as a back-up light and is fitted with a base or casing (1) and a translucent shade (2), which, when coupled together, form a single body. Externally, the base of the casing (1) is fitted with two or more permanent magnets (3) in order to block the said casing (1), when it is placed on a sufficiently dense metal platform (4). Internally, the said casing (1) is fitted with an automatic trigger switch (5), which is solidly connected to a connector (6) by means of a flange (16) which is in turn solidly attached to a pin (7); the said connector (6) is in turn solidly attached by means of conventional wiring to a rechargeable battery (8), an external back-up connector (9), and the charge (10), perfectly insulated from the rest of the elements making up the device by means of any kind of separating element.
US08061865B2
Methods and apparatus for providing sources of light, or mechanical and/or electrical connections for light sources, via a grid system of a suspended ceiling. All or a portion of a grid system for a suspended ceiling may be configured to support the generation of light. Lighting units may be coupled to various portions of the grid system in a removable and modular fashion, so as to be completely or substantially recessed above the ceiling surface, or as pendant components hanging below the ceiling surface. Lighting interface components of the grid system also may be configured to facilitate significant thermal dissipation from lighting units. In one exemplary implementation, one or more LED-based lighting units may be coupled to one or more lighting interface components of the grid system so as to provide controllable multi-color and/or essentially white light.
US08061864B2
Furniture components, such as office furniture components, that are configured to include electronic components that transfer electrical power to peripheral electronic devices via wireless technologies, including conductive and inductive technologies. The articles of furniture may include grommet devices received within work surfaces, the grommet devices incorporating or housing the electronics of wireless power systems. The articles of furniture may also include the electronics of wireless power systems physically embedded or integrated within work surfaces in a manner in which the continuous surfaces of the work surfaces are maintained, and the work surfaces may optionally further include lighting or other indication features to indicate the locations of the electronics to a user.
US08061861B2
An airbag emblem may be backlit or illuminated to provide the emblem with greater visual appeal. In order to accomplish this illumination, an illumination source is used. This illumination source may be electroluminescent foil. The emblem includes colors that are added or inserted onto the emblem. These colors are translucent so that they may be illuminated by the illumination source. This emblem may be placed as part of an airbag cover on a steering wheel.
US08061859B1
A mirror reflective element suitable for use in an exterior rearview mirror assembly of a vehicle includes a glass substrate and a principal reflector portion and an auxiliary wide angle curved portion. The auxiliary wide angle curved portion has a curved recess established at a region of the rear surface of the glass substrate by at least one of grinding and ablating. The curved recess may have a cross-dimension size that is in the range from about 30 millimeters to about 80 millimeters, and may have a radius of curvature that is in the range from about 200 millimeters to about 1,000 millimeters, and may have a maximum recess depth that is in the range from about 0.11 millimeters to about 4.04 millimeters.
US08061850B2
A projector module adopts a structure having an optical image forming block and an optical block integrated via a locking member. The optical image forming block adopts a structure achieved by disposing an aluminum substrate at which an LED is mounted and a liquid crystal panel in a casing constituted with a plastic material having low thermal conductivity. The locking member is formed by bending a metal sheet through a sheet metal bending process and the locking member is set in surface contact with the substrate. The optical block adopts a structure achieved by disposing a PBS and a reflecting member at the casing constituted with a plastic material having low thermal conductivity with a quarter-wave plate disposed at the boundary of the two members.
US08061846B2
A method for controlling a light source of a video image display apparatus, comprising: projecting illumination lights to a first spatial light modulator (SLM) and a second SLM, and changing over a wavelength of one of the illumination lights projected to the second SLM in a sequence during a period when the wavelength of another one of the illumination lights projected to the first SLM is controlled to have a flexibly adjustable wavelength.
US08061840B2
An ocular light stimulus apparatus provides the ocular fundus of an examinee's eye under examination with observation light to observe the ocular fundus and provides localized background light and stimulus light to a retina of the ocular fundus to perform biological examination through use of a bioelectrical signal from the retina. The ocular light stimulus apparatus has a ring slit and a photographic stop. Each of the ring slit and the photographic stop is disposed in a position substantially conjugate with the anterior ocular segment of the eye to be examined so that the ocular fundus of the eye is irradiated with the ocular fundus observation light via the ring slit and is irradiated with the stimulus light and the background light via the photographic stop.
US08061838B2
A progressive lens for ophthalmic spectacles has an additional zone for intermediate vision. This additional zone is located beneath a near-vision zone. It enables objects located at a distance of between 1.0 and 1.5 meters, in a direction inclined at about 35 degrees to a line of sight passing through a cross mark (CM) on the lens, to be seen clearly. To achieve this, the optical power progression between a far-vision point (FV) and a near-vision point (NV) of said lens has a power-increase threshold which is located approximately at the cross mark.
US08061837B2
A method to reduce ocular chromatic aberrations using a lens or other spatial structure to selectively band-pass filter transmitted light of certain wavelengths. The ocular lens overcomes the negative effects of the wavelength band pass filter lenses while maintaining its ability to reduce the negative effects of chromatic aberration. The band-pass filter is applied in one or more concentric zones and or angular regions. The lens power is adjusted in concert with the band-pass filter wavelength to minimize aberrations. Variations include the application of the band-pass filter being applied to an angular region and no filter is applied to another. Alternatively the band-pass filter is not applied to one or more concentric ring regions and is applied to one or more angular regions. The band-pass filter can be applied to the surface of the lens or spatial structure, or applied to the lens material.
US08061826B2
The present application is directed to methods and devices for remanufacturing imaging cartridges. An installation handle for positioning an electronic circuit on the imaging cartridge includes a first end, and an adhesive is releasably attached to the first end. The installation handle is adapted for positioning an electronic circuit on a surface of the imaging cartridge while the electronic circuit is releasably secured to the installation handle by the adhesive.
US08061825B2
A liquid cartridge mountable on a liquid droplet ejection device, includes a liquid chamber configured to store a liquid therein, and a pump unit configured to generate a pressure for the liquid stored in the liquid chamber to be supplied to the liquid droplet ejection device. The pump unit includes a cylinder; a piston slidably mounted in the cylinder and configured to define a pressure chamber with the cylinder; a force transfer member coupled to the piston and including an engagement portion and a support portion; and a support member configured to contact the support portion to support the force transfer member to be movable. The engagement portion is configured to engage a drive member of the liquid droplet ejection device and to receive a drive force from the drive member to displace the piston.
US08061824B2
An ink cartridge for supplying the ink in an ink reserving chamber via an ink supply port into a recording head has a differential pressure valve mechanism disposed between an ink flow port and the ink supply port in the ink reserving chamber, whereby the ink is supplied an adequate amount to the recording head by opening or closing the differential pressure valve mechanism in accordance with an ink pressure of the recording head. As a result, it is possible to supply the ink at a substantially constant pressure to the recording head without regard to the variation in the amount of ink or the-movement of the carriage.
US08061821B2
A liquid-droplet ejection head may include stacked plates that form therein a common liquid channel and a plurality of individual ink channels extending from exits from the common liquid channel to nozzles via pressure chambers. At least one of the stacked plates may include an island-shaped partial plate surrounded by the common liquid channel and configured to form at least a part of side walls of the common liquid channel. The stacked plates may also include a support portion that transverse the common liquid channel and configured to support the partial plate. At least a part of a side edge of the support portion on an upstream side of a flow direction of liquid in the common liquid channel may be inclined to the flow direction, as viewed in a direction perpendicular to the stacked plates.
US08061819B2
Provided is a liquid ejecting method, comprising ejecting a liquid from a liquid ejecting head, wherein: the viscosity of the liquid is in a range from 6 mPa·s to 15 mPa·s, the liquid ejecting head includes: nozzles which eject the liquid; a pressure chamber which applies a pressure variation to the liquid in order to eject the liquid from the nozzles; and a supply unit which communicates with the pressure chamber and supplies the liquid to the pressure chamber, the cross-sectional area of the supply unit is in a range from ⅓ of the cross-sectional area of the pressure chamber to the cross-sectional area of the pressure chamber, and the channel length of the pressure chamber is equal to or more than the channel length of the supply unit and is equal to or less than twice of the channel length of the supply unit.
US08061815B2
An inkjet printhead with an array of ink chambers, each having a nozzle, an actuator for ejecting ink through the nozzle, an inlet opening allowing ink to refill the chamber and a filter structure at the inlet opening. The filter structure has rows of obstructions extending transverse to the flow direction through the opening. The rows are spaced along the flow direction and the obstructions in each row being spaced such that they are out of registration with the obstructions in an adjacent row with respect to the flow direction. Filtering the ink as it enters the chamber removes the contaminants and bubbles but it also retards ink flow into the chamber. The present invention uses a filter structure that has rows of obstructions in the flow path. The rows are offset with respect to each other to induce turbulence. This has a minimal effect on the nozzle refill rate but the air bubbles or other contaminants are likely to be retained by the obstructions.
US08061809B2
A liquid ejection head includes a substrate having a supply port through which liquid is supplied and a plurality of energy generating elements provided along the supply port and generating energy for ejecting the liquid, a nozzle plate having nozzles provided therein in correspondence with the energy generating elements, and a channel provided between the substrate and the nozzle plate. The nozzle plate has a groove surrounding the channel. The groove includes a first groove provided in one surface of the nozzle plate at which the nozzle plate is bonded to the substrate, and a second groove provided in another surface of the nozzle plate in which the nozzles are provided. Edges of the first groove have sawtooth shape with a number of very small notches and edges of the second groove are substantially straight.
US08061803B2
A document processor for capturing data and images from checks and other financial and payment-related documents includes a document track and a plurality of processing devices located along the document track. The plurality of processing devices includes an ink jet rear endorser. A manual ink jet cleaning and capping station is built into the track wall directly in front of the ink jet rear endorser. The station includes a movable track wall portion that is movable between first and second positions and includes an opening and a cap. When the track wall portion is in the first position, the cap engages the endorser to prevent any liquid ink on the endorser from drying. When the track wall portion is in the second position, the opening aligns with the endorser to allow the endorser to print on passing documents.
US08061801B2
A printhead assembly includes an ink distribution assembly including an ink distribution molding, the ink distribution molding including a plurality of ducts; at least one printhead integrated circuit in fluid communication with the ink distribution assembly; and a rotary platen having at least three surface, each surface for providing one of a platen surface, capping portion, and a blotting portion. The ink distribution assembly delivers ink via one or more of the plurality of ducts to the at least one printhead integrated circuit, and delivers a gas into a vicinity of a printing surface region of the at least one printhead integrated circuit via at least one of the plurality of ducts. The ink distribution molding includes a plurality of ink inlet ports in fluid communication with an ink cassette via a plurality of ink hoses.
US08061798B2
The present invention relates to a liquid ejecting apparatus including: a movable head provided with a plurality of nozzles for ejecting a liquid; a carry unit for carrying a medium in a predetermined carrying direction; and a sensor for detecting an edge of the medium, the liquid ejecting apparatus controlling ejection of the liquid from the plurality of nozzles in accordance with a result of the detection of the sensor. In this liquid ejecting apparatus, the position, in the carrying direction, of the sensor is at the same position of or on an upstream side of a nozzle located most upstream in the carrying direction, of among the plurality of nozzles. In this way, it is possible to arrange the sensor for detecting the edge of the paper at the most suitable position, and to suppress waste of ink that is ejected from the nozzles.
US08061796B2
A method of generating halftone print data for overlapping end portions of a pair of consecutive printhead segments in an array of two or more printhead segments is disclosed. Generally an end portion of a first printhead segment overlaps an end portion of a second printhead segment, in which each printhead segment includes a plurality of ink ejection nozzles. The method includes generating a dither value from a dither matrix, and then combining the dither value with an overlap signal, which represents an extent of overlap of the end portions, to produce an output value. A mathematical operation is then performed on continuous tone print data using a comparator, based on the output value, to produce the half tone data.
US08061794B2
Techniques for spoofing an imaging device adapted for reading data from an electrical storage device to determine a volume of ink in an ink container include providing a replacement electrical storage device for use with the ink container, the replacement electrical storage device comprising memory locations; and responding, by the replacement electrical storage device, to reads of memory locations of the replacement electrical storage device by returning data to the imaging device which causes the imaging device to calculate an inaccurate initial volume of ink stored in the ink container.
US08061789B2
A storage device. The storage device has at least one pivot arm that is pivotally mounted to a support frame. A storage rod is attached to the pivot arm(s). The pivot arm(s) control the movement of the storage rod between a conveniently accessible lower use position and an upper storage position. In a preferred embodiment the storage device is mounted inside a closet and is used in conjunction with storage drawers that rest on the floor. Also, in a preferred embodiment a linear actuator is connected to the pivot arm and controls the pivoting of the pivot arm.
US08061779B2
A frame structure of a seat back for a vehicle contains a seat back frame which includes a framework disposed endlessly along a peripheral edge of a panel frame in a plane form with a substantially rectangular shape, the framework including a steel tube portion with a closed rectangular cross-section into which a pressed member is formed by welding in accordance with a position where the seat back for the vehicle is fixed to a vehicle body, the steel tube portion contains a surface on which the seat back for the vehicle is fixed.
US08061773B2
A support apparatus for a child's safety seat allows the user to adjust the tilt of the safety seat while maintaining a child in a safe position. The support apparatus comprises a base portion, an upper portion connected to one end of the base portion, and a bottom portion connected to an opposite end of the base portion. The upper and bottom portions may be attached to the base by adjustable hinges, or they may be attached in a fixed position. A foot support is attached to the bottom portion. The bottom portion engages the floor of a vehicle for added support. The bottom portion further includes protective braces extending from the bottom portion and running vertically along its length. Multiple protective braces create channels in which children place their legs on foot supports within each channel. A child safety seat adapted to receive the invention is also disclosed.
US08061765B2
A vehicle body has a central tunnel with an open tunnel region which contains profiled closing parts which are disposed spaced apart from one another in the vehicle longitudinal direction and which are arranged and fastened between longitudinally running turned-out portions of the central tunnel. The central tunnel is fastened to a vehicle base.
US08061763B2
The invention relates to a device for a motor vehicle for protecting vehicle occupants when there is an impact of energy directed laterally at a motor vehicle door due to a collision, having a connecting structure which has at least two parts with a first part permanently connected with the motor vehicle door and a second part permanently connected with an energy-absorbing region of the motor vehicle body located in the vehicle interior. Both parts via at least one common joint region can be operationally connected with each other to conducting-away of at least part of the energy input laterally acting on the motor vehicle door in the region of the motor vehicle body. The energy impact acting on the motor vehicle door is conducted away from the pivot bearing by a force acting linearly and horizontally via the first and the second part to the first end of the second part permanently connected with the motor vehicle body.
US08061761B1
A tailgate cover includes at least one pocket to securely fit over a tailgate. In some embodiments, the tailgate cover includes two or three pockets. The tailgate cover is made of stretchable material such as a stretchable fabric which enables the cover to be stretched securely over the tailgate. To further secure the tailgate cover over the tailgate, any coupling device is able to be used. The tailgate cover is able to include any graphic and/or text.
US08061760B2
A folding top for a vehicle includes a cover, a frame assembly having rear and front top bows, a light, and a securing device. The cover has a top cloth and an interior covering which are spaced apart from one another. The bows extend through the spacing between the top cloth and the covering. The top cloth and the covering are stretched over the bows with the opening of the covering being rearward of the rear bow. The bows are movable between a closed position in which the cover is raised and an opened position in which the cover is lowered. The light is positioned within the opening of the covering. The securing device extends through the spacing between the top cloth and the covering between the front bow and rearward of the rear bow. The securing device tensions the light against the rear bow when the cover is raised.
US08061759B2
An actuation mechanism for a tarping system includes a double coil spring mountable on a pivot shaft of the mechanism. A bushing is mounted on the pivot shaft and within the double coil spring. The bushing includes an eccentric external periphery that limits the deflection of the spring, particularly at the transition points between the center portion and each of the coil portions of the spring. As the spring winds or coils, the coil portions progressively contact the eccentric periphery of the bushing to not only limit further movement of the coil portions, but also to provide support for those portions under load.
US08061756B2
An electrically operated seat slide apparatus includes a lower rail fixed to a floor of a vehicle body, and an upper rail slidably disposed to the lower rail. A seat is connected to the upper rail. A screw shaft is disposed inside the upper rail. A nut is threadedly connected to the screw shaft and connected to the lower rail. A motor is disposed to side of the upper rail. A gear box is fixed to the upper rail to transmit a rotation of the motor to the screw shaft. Additionally, first and second plates are provided for allowing an impact load applied to the upper rail to be directly transmitted to the screw shaft so as to prevent the impact load from being transmitted through the gear box to the screw shaft, and for setting a moving range of the nut.
US08061755B2
A vehicle, in particular electric wheelchair, having a chassis and a driver's seat which is fastened thereto and can be set in its inclination with respect to the chassis. The vehicle includes an inclination sensor which determines the angular position (α) of the seat surface of the driver's seat with respect to the horizontal (H), an adjusting device which is connected to the chassis and to the driver's seat, and a control and regulating device which is operatively connected to the inclination sensor and the adjusting device and via which the driver's seat can be pivoted by the adjusting device in such a manner that its seat surface is always situated essentially parallel to the horizontal (H).
US08061754B1
The present invention provides an assembly for extending the bed of a pickup truck, having a hitch receiver and a down folded tailgate past the end of tailgate and providing a ramp function. By supporting the assembly by both an attachment to the hitch receiver and supporting the assembly on the down folded tailgate the assembly can support more weight and at greater distances and angles the previous bed extenders and ramp combinations.
US08061743B2
A bumper reinforcement member 1 includes a small groove 2 and a large groove 3. The large groove 3 is arranged to encompass the small groove 2 inside the groove. When the bumper reinforcement member 1 is deformed, directions of the deformation of the lateral face of the small groove and the deformation of the lateral face of the large groove are oppose to each other, and thus the peak load and the energy absorption amount of the bumper reinforcement member 1 can be increased with a simple configuration.
US08061740B2
A ball and socket coupling is provided. The ball and socket coupling includes a ball body having a passage extending therethrough and a ball portion, and a socket body having a conduit extending therethrough and a ball receiving portion configured to receive the ball portion of the ball body. The ball and socket coupling also includes retaining structure disposed in the passage of the ball body and the conduit of the socket body, where the retaining structure is configured to operatively couple the ball body and the socket body together for permitting relative motion therebetween. The ball and socket coupling further includes motion limiting structure associated with the retaining structure and configured to limit relative motion between the ball body and the socket body to rotation about a single axis that is perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow through the ball and socket coupling.
US08061736B2
Binders and binder spines are disclosed that provide for easy insertion of labels into binder slots and also easy removal and replacement of labels in the binder slots. One printed material binder according to the present invention comprises a hardcover binder having front and back binder panels that are joined at a binder spine. The spine has a transparent cover and the spine comprises a spine support that is longitudinally foldable to open a space between binder spine and transparent cover. This open space allows for insertion of labels between the binder spine and transparent cover. When the spine support is returned flat, the label is held between the binder spine and transparent cover.
US08061731B2
According to one embodiment of the invention, a ski brake is positioned on a ski, such that a ski brake device is integrated into a bottom side of a ski and comprises a squeegee cut tread with an open position and a closed position. The squeegee cut tread has an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the squeegee cut tread exposes the inner surface to a snow surface in the open position when the ski bottom side is in a flexed position. The squeegee cut tread exposes the outer surface to the snow surface in the closed position when the ski bottom is in a non-flexed position.
US08061726B2
As a result of a configuration and position of an upper transverse link and of a lower transverse link, a wheel pivot axis is created which has a point of intersection with an area region of a vertical wheel central transverse plane and a wheel central longitudinal plane. An adjustment of the wheel in a toe-out sense takes place under the influence of braking forces and an adjustment of the wheel in a toe-in sense takes place under the influence of drive forces. Furthermore, as a result of different mount characteristics at the lower transverse link and at the track rod, it is ensured that, in the event of side forces, the wheel which is at the outside of the corner is adjusted in a toe-out sense.
US08061721B2
The apparatus of the present invention provides the user with a receptacle for a hot tub cover that can be moved away from the hot tub thereby preventing blocking of the view. The apparatus of the present invention is dimensioned such that it will accept both foldable and non-foldable type covers and can be used with both round and rectangular tubs. Further, the vertical support member of the apparatus is angled such that when the cover is stored it is prevented from blowing out.
US08061719B2
A drill chuck has a chuck body centered on and rotatable about an axis and formed with angled guides and respective jaws slidable in the guides axially forward and radially toward each other and axially rearward and radially away from each other. An annular tightening element is limitedly axially shiftable on the sleeve between a front position and a rear position. Screwthreads engaged between the element and the jaws axially displace the jaws forward on rotation of the element in a tightening direction and axially displace the jaws rearward on rotation of the element in an opposite loosening direction. Respective annular arrays of teeth angularly fixed on the element and the body are interengaged and prevent relative rotation of the element and body in the rear position of the element and are spaced and permit relative rotation of the element and body in the front position of the element.
US08061717B2
A positioning and clamping device or tools and/or workpieces, comprising a base body, a piston arranged such as to be displaceable in the base body, a pin which may be connected to the piston and at least one locking mechanism, for locking the positioning and clamping device relative to a tool or workpiece holder which has a complementary form to the base body. The base body has a cylinder housing for housing the piston with a clamping cone between the piston and the pin with control surfaces formed on the clamping cone and the piston, with further control surfaces on the locking mechanism, cooperating with the control surfaces of the clamping cone and the piston and the locking mechanism is arranged to be radially displaceable in the base body.
US08061713B2
Disclosed is a geometric puzzle comprising a plurality of three-dimensional components of at least one type, each component of the same type being derived by notionally dividing a fundamental shape into a plurality of equal parts, said fundamental shape being selected from the group consisting of a regular tetrahedron having edges of equal length and a regular pyramid with a square base and also having edges of equal length, said components being capable of assembly into multiple composite shapes. Each component may be equal and identical to one another or each pair of components may comprise mirror images of one another. Surfaces of said components may be provided attractive magnetic elements to hold said components in a composite shape.
US08061705B1
A document feeding mechanism includes a frame, a document picking means positioned in the frame for picking up and conveying a document, a stopper means positioned in the frame for blocking the conveyance of the document, a supporting portion cooperating with the stopper means for supporting the document picking up means while the document picking up means is raised at a predetermined level, and a blocking portion restricting a rotatable angle of the stopper means for blocking the conveyance of the document while the document picking up means is raised at the predetermined level. The document feeding means is kept at the predetermined level via the cooperation of the supporting portion and the stopper means for supporting the document feeding means. Since, the document feeding mechanism has high reliability to resist shake and crash for preventing the document picking up means from being drooped.
US08061703B2
A sheet-feeding type scanning apparatus and an automatic sheet feeding method are provided. The sheet-feeding type scanning apparatus includes a scanning module, a first sheet input tray, a first sheet pick-up roller assembly, a sheet ejecting tray, a sheet transfer channel, a plurality of transfer roller assemblies, a sheet ejecting roller assembly, a sheet-feeding sensor and a clutch module. Once a first sheet article of multiple sheet articles placed on the first sheet input tray are fed into the internal portion of the sheet-feeding type scanning apparatus to trigger the sheet-feeding sensor, the clutch module is disabled. At this moment, a second sheet article placed on the first sheet input tray fails to be fed by the first sheet pick-up roller assembly. Therefore, the double feeding problem is solved.
US08061701B2
A sheet folding apparatus includes: a saddle-stitching unit configured to stitch a center of a sheet bundle; a folding unit configured to fold the sheet bundle at the center to form a fold; a loading base onto which the sheet bundle conveyed from the folding unit is loaded; a nipping plate configured to be pressed to and separated from the loading base in parallel to the loading base and to nip the sheet bundle loaded onto the loading base; and first and second rollers that move along a direction of the fold while nipping and pressing the fold of the sheet bundle nipped by the nipping plate to reinforce the fold. Here, a surface, which faces the loading base, of the nipping plate is provided with an elastic member.
US08061698B2
A geometric shaped side bearing pad includes a top and a surface extending an angle θ towards the top, wherein the bearing pad has a geometric shape and a non-linear spring rate which levels out a reaction force without buckling. The surface of the bearing pad can have two sides or four sides, can have spacing within the surface, or can be solid. The angle θ can be within the range of about 20 degrees and 85 degrees, and may preferably be within the range of about 30 degrees and 45 degrees to achieve non-linear load/deflection. The top of the bearing pad can have a slot defined therethrough to accommodate a protrusion in a fixture to engage the bearing pad. The bearing pad can provide a friction contact with an object and enables lateral force transfer to the bearing pad, thereby providing lateral stiffness.
US08061694B2
In a vibration isolation device 10, a connection rod 12 penetrates through a cavity part 104 of a rubber elastic body 44 and the inner circumferential side of a main body plate 14. In addition, a stopper rubber 98 fixed on the outer circumferential side of a rod main body 13 of the connection rod 12 is placed in the cavity part 104 of the rubber elastic body 44. This allows the rod main body 13 aligned in overlying relation with the rubber elastic body 44 along the axial direction of the connection rod 12 to be stored in the device. Thus, a stopper member 96 fixed to the rod main body 13 of the connection rod 12 can form a stopper mechanism. Therefore, while suppressing the increase in dimension along the axial direction of the device, the dimension along the axial direction of the device can be prevented from expanding by the stopper mechanism for preventing the excessive displacement along the direction orthogonal to the axis of the connection rod 12.
US08061692B1
A floor isolation system includes a platform and a multidirectional spring unit. The platform has rolling supports that isolate the platform from lateral movements of a substrate. The platform further has sliding supports that (1) prevent the platform from moving freely during daily service and (2) dampen lateral movements of the platform caused by the lateral movements of the substrate. The multidirectional spring unit links the substrate and the platform to provide a spring force in any horizontal direction that limits the lateral displacements of the platform. The multidirectional spring unit includes a spring secured to the substrate, a fairlead, and a cable having one end secured to the spring and another end passing through the fairlead and secured to the platform.
US08061686B2
A pinch valve includes a valve body having a slot which is configured to allow a web of substrate material to pass therethrough. The valve body has a sealing surface which includes a first curved portion with a first radius of curvature. A dynamic seal element is configured to engage the valve body and includes a second curved portion having a second radius of curvature which is larger than the first radius of curvature. An actuator is operable to selectively bias the dynamic seal element into and out of engagement with the valve body so that when it is biased into engagement with the valve body the web of substrate material is engaged between the sealing surfaces of the dynamic seal element and the valve body. Also disclosed is a processing system which includes the pinch valve.
US08061685B2
A solenoid valve includes a tubular coil bobbin 12 having a coil 13 wound around the outer peripheral surface thereof, a core 8 arranged inside the coil bobbin 12, a yoke 7 for fixing the core 8, a plunger 10 having a central axis coaxial to that of the core 8 and being movable in the axial direction, and a valve housing 5 having ports 3, 4, wherein the yoke 7 is provided, in the outer surface thereof, with a fitting hole 7d projecting tubularly for receiving and fixing the core 8 inserted therein and securing it in place, and the core 8 is provided with a projection 8a to be inserted into the fitting hole 7d and a flange 8b to abut against the inner surface of the yoke 7.
US08061681B2
Methods and apparatus to couple actuator stems and rod end bearings are described. An example apparatus includes a bearing having a body and a portion extending from the body in which the portion includes an internally threaded bore. An actuator stem has a first end that includes an internally threaded bore. An externally threaded stud threadably engages the bores of the rod end bearing and the actuator stem to couple the rod end bearing and the actuator stem.
US08061679B2
The present invention is directed to a notebook/laptop computer stand adapted to support a notebook/laptop computer and having a recessed surface area portion to sufficiently cool the computer while situated thereon.
US08061672B1
A securing device for securing a wall to an I-beam. The securing device includes two members that coupled to the sides of an I-beam and are secured together so as to couple the securing device to the I-beam. The two members define a surface that is spaced from the bottom surface of the I-beam that can receive fasteners and the thickness of the two member is such that ordinary fasteners can be used to secure a wall component to the two members of the securing device thereby reducing the need to drill, weld or otherwise attach wall members directly to the I-beam.
US08061666B1
A pole adapter assembly for a pole luminaire includes an adapter body having an upper end, a lower end and an aperture for receiving a pole at the lower end, one of a raised area or a recessed area located on the body between the upper end and the lower end, a multi-point contact area along one plane of the body beneath the one of a raised area or recessed area having a first rib opposite a first set fastener, a second rib opposite a second set fastener and spaced from the first rib and the first set fastener, and at least one fastener and opposed nut disposed between the first and second ribs and the first and second set fasteners.
US08061661B2
A system and a method according to the invention reduce wake turbulence of an aircraft in that a component affixed to the extremity of the wing of an aircraft disturbs the rolling action of the air in the region of the outer wing by periodic hingeing movements.
US08061654B2
A locking system, in particular a locking system for aircraft landing gears. A space-saving, simple construction and little maintenance requirement of the locking system is achieved by at least one electromechanical drive unit, whose torque is transmitted to a drive shaft with a cam disk via axle-crossing transmitting. With the torque, the cam disk can move the locking system from the locked into the unlocked condition.
US08061642B2
A cutter device for a crushing machine includes a rotary cutter base body and plural cutters. The rotary cutter base body is formed integral and has an outer peripheral side axially and equidistantly formed with plural annular ribs respectively provided with plural flat cut surfaces. Each flat cut surface is formed integral with a protruding fixing base with a fixing hole for locking each cutter on the fixing base. Each cutter body is formed with a cutting side disposed with at least four arcuate cutting edges extending toward the center to form a bulging portion, with the cross section of the cutter side formed with a double-curved surface for thickening the cutter to prolong its service life. The fixing bases are formed integrally with the rotary cutter base body to increase their strength.
US08061636B2
A jet mill in which crushed material introduced into a crushing chamber is comminuted by gas being sprayed from a plurality of gas-jet nozzles, wherein high-efficiency pulverization is performed by optimizing various pulverization conditions according to the type of crushed material or other such properties. The direction in which gas is sprayed into the crushing chamber is variable adjustable; the spraying direction of each nozzle is displaced simultaneously by the electromotive actuator; swirl flow is produced in three dimensions, including the flow of a directional component that is perpendicular to the horizontal swirl flow; and a fine-powder discharge port of a first pulverization chamber and a fine powder introduction port of a second pulverization chamber are communicatingly connected by a ventilation duct.
US08061634B2
A shredder head adapted to indicate the thickness of the material to be shredded and to possibly deactivate the shredder if the thickness exceeds a predetermined maximum.
US08061632B2
A fuel injector for internal combustion engines provided with a fuel feeding channel, the feeding channel having an axis and an injection outlet; an injection valve to control the outlet; an injection valve having a shutter arranged inside the feeding channel to define, within the feeding channel, a first fuel introduction section, the shutter being movable from and to a closing position along the feeding channel, which has a second section; and an annular sealing seat arranged on the feeding channel upstream of the outlet; an elastic member for normally keeping the shutter in the closing position; an actuator mechanism connected to the shutter to displace the shutter itself from the closing position and to an opening position of the outlet; and a hydraulic resistance that is provided along the feeding channel upstream of the annular sealing seat to balance the forces acting upon the shutter.
US08061626B2
A remote climate control system is for an electric vehicle without a combustion engine and having a rechargeable electrical power source and an electrical Ventilation blower selectively powered thereby, a sensor associated with the rechargeable electrical power source, and a data communications bus extending throughout the hybrid vehicle. At least one of the electrical Ventilation blower and the sensor is coupled to the data communications bus. The remote climate control system includes a remote transmitter and a receiver to be positioned at the hybrid vehicle for receiving signals from said remote transmitter. A vehicle remote climate controller cooperates with said receiver and to be coupled to the data communications bus extending within the hybrid vehicle for communication thereover to selectively operate the electrical Ventilation blower responsive to the sensor and said remote transmitter.
US08061625B2
A radio frequency (RF) IC card device with very high frequency comprises an IC device (102), a radio frequency interface device (103), an RF antenna (104), an IC card interface (106) and an RF interface (107). Particularly, said RF interface device (103) and the RF interface (107) operate in a frequency band of UHF (ultra high frequency) or SHF (super high frequency); said RF antenna (104) is directly integrated on an IC card (100); the RF IC card device with very high frequency exchanges data with other RF devices via the RF interface (107).
US08061608B2
A card reader includes a hollow base provided with a USB standard metal casing at one side, and an electric module mounted in the USB standard metal casing and the hollow base and defining with the USB standard metal casing an electronic card receiving space for accommodating an electric card such that the accommodated electronic card is insertable with the USB standard metal casing into a USB port of an electronic apparatus for two-way data transfer (reading or storing) between the electronic card and the electronic apparatus.
US08061605B2
Inventory control and monitoring system uses an RFID reader to read tags on multiple lights passing through a portal. A light turns green after all the tags have been read. Information from those tags is added to an inventory database, which keeps track of which lights, and how many of each kind of light, is in stock. Locations of the lights can also be added to the inventory system.
US08061597B2
A system and method for disputing individual items that are the subject of a transaction includes storing, in a database, a record of a transaction in which a plurality of goods or services were sold to an individual that owns a transaction card through which access to monetary funds may be obtained, so that the transaction is identified by a transaction identifier. Also, information identifying each good or service that is a subject of the transaction is associated with said transaction identifier. A cost associated with one of the goods or services associated with the transaction identifier is disputed, without subjecting costs of all goods or services that are associated with said transaction identifier to dispute.
US08061596B2
A system and method for substantially immediate issuance of transaction cards includes at least one unassigned transaction card including a storage medium having a card number encoded thereupon. The system also includes a computing system configured to receive application information from an applicant that has been provided said unassigned transaction card, and to activate the unassigned transaction card so that access to monetary funds is extended to the applicant through said unassigned transaction card, upon an evaluation of said application information indicating that the applicant has been approved for access to the monetary funds. The unassigned transaction card bears no visible marking presenting information concerning the applicant and encodes no information concerning said applicant upon the storage medium of said unassigned transaction card.
US08061588B2
An improved cup comprising a top portion and a base sleeve connected to the sidewall of the top portion. The base sleeve is at least partially formed of an insulating material. The base sleeve is formed of a one piece material that eliminates a seam at the bottom of the cup.
US08061582B2
A method of joining pipes (3) to produce underwater pipelines (2), wherein the facing free ends (15) of two adjacent pipes (3), aligned along an axis (A), are welded to define a cutback (18); a protective sheet (22) of plastic material is extruded close to the cutback (18); and the protective sheet (22) is wound about the cutback (18).
US08061579B2
Processes for forming an enhanced material or structure are disclosed. The structure typically includes a preform that has a first common surface and a recess below the first common surface. A filler is added to the recess and seams are friction stir welded, and materials may be stir mixed.
US08061578B2
A solder preform has gaps extending from the boundary of preform towards the preform center. During reflow soldering, the gaps close from the center towards the boundary. This allows flux and gasses to escape the interface between the solder and the substrate. Particularly, flux accumulates in the spaces formed by the gaps and is forced to the edge of the solder preform as the gap closes. In further embodiments, channels are formed on one or both surfaces of the solder preform. In addition to further assisting in the escape of gas and flux during reflow, the channels and gaps increase the effectiveness of oxygen purging using inert or reducing gasses in the reflow chamber. Additionally, the channels and gaps increase the effectiveness of vacuum solder.
US08061572B2
A cargo carrier having a U-shaped hitch sleeve on its bottom and legs with wheels on its sides. A hitch shaft is inserted into a trailer hitch on a vehicle and the U-shaped hitch sleeve fits over the hitch shaft. The legs have an internal screw type jack mechanism to raise and lower the cargo carrier to place the U-shaped hitch sleeve above and over the hitch shaft, and to raise the legs so that the vehicle can transport the cargo carrier on the hitch shaft without having to remove the legs. The wheels allow the cargo carrier to be portable when not connected to the vehicle. They also allow the U-shaped hitch sleeve to be aligned above the hitch shaft to permit lowering the U-shaped hitch sleeve down over the hitch shaft for the insertion of bolts through the U-shaped hitch sleeve and hitch shaft, thereby fastening the cargo carrier to the hitch shaft. The legs are positioned inside the cargo carrier, and a continuous loop chain engages all the legs so that adjustment of one leg adjusts all of the legs simultaneously to raise or lower the cargo carrier.
US08061570B1
An assembly for securing an apparatus to a facemask includes a U-shaped frame extending along similarly shaped portions of the facemask. Removable attachment clips secure the frame to the facemask. Two cylindrical pins with circumferential radiused grooves are attached to and extend from the top portion of the frame. The pins mate with bores in a clevis assembly, to which the apparatus can be attached. A spring-loaded bar spans between the bores. The bores in the clevis assembly receive the pins and the spring-bias causes the bar to engage with the grooves to secure the clevis assembly to the frame. A lever is rotatably attached to the clevis assembly. Pivoting the lever works against the spring-bias to lift the bar out of the grooves, disengaging the pins, and allowing the clevis assembly to be disengaged from the frame and facemask.
US08061563B1
A container for containing a flowable material includes first and second sheet portions selectively sealed together along a perimeter of said container to define a closed cavity for containing the flowable material therein. The cavity includes a dispensing portion at a periphery of the container, with the dispensing portion being configured for dispensing the flowable material from the cavity when the dispensing portion is opened. The base and/or the side regions of the container may comprise at least one substantially rigid region with at least one weakened portion to facilitate folding of the base and/or side regions at the weakened portion or portions to assist in dispensing the flowable material from the container.
US08061560B2
A passive chute assembly includes: a chute configured to receive objects to be dispensed, the chute having an outlet; and a passive dispensing unit attached to the chute outlet. The passive dispensing unit has a staging portion, wherein objects are captured prior to dispensing. The staging portion is movable between a staging position, in which objects may be captured within the staging portion, and a dispensing position, in which the objects may be fed gravimetrically into a receptacle positioned below the dispensing unit. The staging portion includes an adaptive opening that, when the staging portion moves to the dispensing position, opens adaptively corresponding to a diameter of the receptacle.
US08061548B1
A segregation disk and method of separately storing items in a collapsible, tubular container uses segregation disks for segregating the collapsible container into multiple chambers of user-selectable size. The segregation disks are generally planar disks having a diameter slightly greater than the interior diameter of the container, and formed of a flexible material that have a plurality of radial slits extending inwardly from their periphery to form a plurality of flexible wedges. At the terminus of each radial slit is a tear break, generally a circular hole. An integral pull tab extends from a peripheral region of one of the flexible wedges to facilitate removal.
US08061545B2
A two part container adapted to separately hold consumable foodstuffs. The two part container provides a convenient device for transporting different foodstuffs in a separated fashion using a single container.
US08061539B2
A storage system is provided including fixed and mobile frames disposed in modules forming the storage system. Each module also includes one or more mounting rails formed with engagement structures that can be utilized to attach storage bins and slat wall pegs, among other structures, to the rails in order to hold various items within the bins and rails in various configurations on the rails. The rails and other supporting structures such as shelves and work surfaces can also be secured to the frames, optionally in inclined configurations with respect to the frames. The frame structures and storage modules are readily conformable to accommodate different environments and uses for the storage system.
US08061528B2
Reprocessable medical devices that have been disposed of in a sharps container are recovered, disinfected or sterilized, sorted, and packed for reprocessing in a generally continuous process. In one embodiment, either a sharps container or at least a portion of its contents is successively and controllably conveyed, either manually or automatically, through a plurality of processing stations that are configured to perform different operations. The operations performed by the processing stations can include, for example, detecting and identifying contents, cleaning and disinfecting, opening the sharps containers, separating and sorting their contents, and disposal of contents that are non-reprocessable. Reprocessable medical devices can be sorted by type as they move along on a conveyor.
US08061525B2
A protective element for a cross member or shaft housing of a frame in a screening arrangement. The protective element is attachable to the cross member or shaft housing by wrapping the protective element around the cross member or shaft housing and clamping a first portion of the protective element to a second portion of the protective element by at least one clamping device. The protective element has an outwards facing surface, which is wear-resistant to withstand wear from piece goods or particle goods impinging or sliding on the outwards facing surface.
US08061523B2
A purifier is provided that is capable of uniformly sucking powder in a width direction of the sieve layers even when the purifier is configured to be provided with an air distribution chamber formed as being tapered upward and to have a horizontal cyclone provided above the air distribution chamber.The air distribution chamber is configured of paired inclined surfaces formed as being tapered upward, has a suction passage formed as a horizontal cyclone placed above the air distribution chamber. Also, a plurality of barrier walls are provided in the air distribution chamber in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of sieve layers, the air distribution chamber is sectioned by the barrier walls into a plurality of chambers, and rectifying plates are further provided to the air distribution chamber at a narrow position between the paired inclined surfaces to prevent non-uniformity of suction of powder on the sieve layers.
US08061518B2
A protective brush cover is described for use with a makeup brush. In some versions, the protective brush cover comprises a body and a closing feature. In some versions the protective brush cover comprises a body, a lid, and a securing feature. In some versions, the body is operable to hold the head of a makeup brush, and the body may further have an opening such that the handle of the makeup brush may extend through the opening.
US08061516B2
A quick release device holder for portable electronics devices that protects soft and impressionable housing materials from damage during insertion and removal. The quick release device holder includes a backing plane formed with a substantially rigid spine portion and a receiver pocket adjacent to a first end thereof. One or more latching arms extend from the backing plane spaced away from the receiver pocket, each of the one or more latching arms further including a resiliently flexible stem portion coupled to the backing plane and having a head portion spaced away from the backing plane. The head portion further includes one or more rollers coupled thereto in a position spaced away from an interior surface of the backing plane, and a retention tongue between the one or more rollers and the interior surface of the backing plane and being set back from a circumference of the one or more rollers.
US08061514B2
A closing device (1) for an anti-theft case (100) is described, equipped with a closing/opening system adapted to be actuated by a detaching device or uncoupling device, and further equipped with means for securing to such anti-theft case (100) so that the closing device (1) can be applied to or removed from the anti-theft case 100) only when this latter one is open. An anti-theft case (100) equipped with a closing device (1) is further described.
US08061505B2
A conveying device for conveying and aligning flat products or stacks of flat products, in particular printed products, includes leading pins for stop on a leading edge of conveyed products and trailing pins or pushers for stop on a trailing edge of the conveyed products. The products are insertable between the leading and trailing pins and are thus aligned by the pins. A distance between successive pushers is adjustable without parts of the device having to be exchanged.
US08061504B2
The present invention provides an apparatus for extracting parts from a general-purpose storage for various vehicle models, the apparatus including a synchronization bar and a driving bar, which transfer driving force by a pneumatic cylinder for providing power of linear reciprocating movement, and an automatic part dropping unit that drops the parts placed on a plurality of plates rotated by the rotation of a plurality of shafts configured to be rotated by the transferred driving force.
US08061503B2
The system comprises a first conveyor and singularization line for fruit and vegetable products defined within a V-slot made in a body and presenting two first motorised belts installed on opposite walls which define the slot near the bottom of the slot and two motorised belts installed on each of said walls on a higher level than said first belts; said first belts presenting a different speed from that of said second belts.
US08061502B2
A device is disclosed for discharging elongate, coarse bulk products—such as bottle preforms—from a product hopper. The device includes a product hopper with a discharge opening and a rotating disc that is configured to receive bulk products passing through the discharge opening.
US08061501B2
A conveyor line for fruit or vegetables has a plurality of rollers defining seats for the products therebetween. At a selection station, a first member detects at least one feature of the product, and at a sorting station, a second member diverts similar products toward the same destination. Upstream of the selection station, the direction of rotation of the rollers is controlled to cause each product to settle correctly in its seat or shift into an adjacent seat, so that during detection of the features of the products, the products remain properly seated.
US08061496B2
A vehicle includes an automatic transmission having an engine, an input member, a stationary center support, and a selectable one-way clutch (SOWC) positioned within the stationary center support. A SOWC selection mechanism is formed integrally with the center support, and rotates a slide plate during a predetermined transmission operating mode. A piston in a first bore of the selection mechanism rotates the slide plate in a first rotational direction to engage the SOWC, and a return spring in a second bore of the selection mechanism rotates the SOWC in a second direction to disengage the SOWC. The slide plate has a tab portion, and the piston and the return spring alternately apply a respective first and second force to opposite sides of the tab portion to rotate the slide plate, either directly or via an adapter ring.
US08061492B2
Suitcase for transport of tools or the like, which includes a box-shaped bottom (1), a corresponding lid (2) and a flip-up handle (3) on the side of the bottom (1). The bottom (1) and the lid (2) are connected with each other by one or more hinges. A lock is provided for locking the lid (2) to the bottom (1), and said lock includes a latch device (4), which is turnably mounted on the bottom (1) on the same side of the suitcase as the handle (3). Said latch device (4) is adapted so that by turning, it engages with the lid (2) and fixes the lid in its closed position. The latch device (4) and the handle (3) have interacting cam means (22 and 23), which effect turning of the latch device (4) into the locked position when the handle (3) is turned to flipped-up position.
US08061487B2
A bicycle caliper brake includes a cable housing at an upper end of a first arm; a pivotal second arm comprising a coupling member at one end and a stepped groove on a bottom edge of the coupling member; a brake cable loosening and tightening device comprising a first unit, a second unit for pivotably securing the device to the coupling member, and a hole; a cable fastener secured to the first unit; a brake cable passing the cable housing to be fastened at the cable fastener; and a spring depressible trigger pin comprising a C-ring at one end, the trigger pin being driven through the groove and the hole to releasably secure the C-ring to the hole. Pressing the trigger pin will unfasten the C-ring and pivoting the device about the second unit will loosen the brake cable and increase a distance between brake pads at arms' ends.
US08061482B2
An energy absorption device for a safety line, includes two sections (1, 2) capable of being set in relative motion with friction so that it absorbs energy. This energy absorption device is designed so that one of the sections has at least two parallel cable portions (6a, 6b), each capable of being displaced between a pair of jaws (4a, 4b) formed on the other section. A tensioner for a safety line incorporating such a device is disclosed. Application to the installations for working under difficult conditions with the installation of safety lines.
US08061468B2
A vehicle having a sufficient length of exhaust pipe and a member disposed above a rear suspension that is not too high. An exhaust pipe is connected to a rearward side of an engine. A rear suspension absorbs shocks generated when a rear wheel moves up and down. A coil-form part of the exhaust pipe is located between the rear suspension and a tire house of the rear wheel, within which the rear wheel moves up and down.
US08061459B2
The present invention provides a traction control method for a tracked vehicle such as a military tank. The method includes calculating a track proportionality factor and a vehicle proportionality factor based on predefined attributes of the tracked vehicle. A minimum turn radius of the tracked vehicle is calculated based on the velocity of the tracked vehicle, the maximum coefficient of friction between the tracks of the tracked vehicle and the ground (0.7), and gravitational acceleration (9.80665 m/s2). A sprocket rotational speed is calculated based on the pitch diameter of the tracked vehicle sprockets and the velocity of the tracked vehicle. Based on the preceding calculations, the method of the present invention calculates a required track speed differential configured to turn the tracked vehicle at the minimum turn radius. If a commanded turn radius is less than the minimum turn radius, the track speed differential of the tracked vehicle is limited to the required track speed differential to prevent the tracked vehicle from slipping.
US08061457B2
An impact tool that includes an impact body made from a superhard material bonded to a substrate at a non-planer interface, the impact body having a pointed geometry that includes a substantially frustoconical portion between an apex and a base end, the substantially frustoconical portion including a tapered side wall with at least two different, contiguous slopes that together form an interior included angle which is greater than 135 degrees, and with the thickness of the impact body, as measured from the apex to the non-planar interface, being greater than the thickness of the substrate.
US08061456B2
A cutting element for an earth boring bit, may include a PDC layer having a flat on a periphery thereof, the flat terminating longitudinally at an edge spaced from a cutting face of the PDC layer. A chamfer adjacent to the cutting face desirably has a length that exceeds its depth. A cutting element may additionally include a chamfer along the entire circumference, multiple step-wise, radially adjacent chamfers, and multiple circumferentially spaced portions of the uppermost radius of the PDC layer of the cutting element that each includes a chamfer with an associated flat. Additionally, a cutting element may include a flat terminating at a radial edge with the cutting face of a PDC layer.
US08061454B2
An ultra-hard and metallic construction comprises an ultra-hard component that is attached to a metallic component via a braze joint. The braze joint is interposed between the ultra-hard component and the metallic component, and comprises a first braze material bonded to a surface of the ultra-hard component. The braze joint includes an intervening layer in direct contact with the first braze material, and that is formed from a rigid material. The braze joint further comprises a second braze material that is interposed between the intervening layer and the metallic component, and that is different from the first braze material.
US08061451B2
Systems for controlling deviations during drilling operations, including a transmission housing and a bearing assembly secured between a stator housing and a drill bit. Two stabilizers are secured to the transmission housing, and one stabilizer is secured to the bearing assembly to provide enhanced stability to the lower portion of the drill string. The stabilizers can have a triangular shaped body for increasing flow area, reducing annular velocity, and increasing stiffness of the system. The stabilizers can be rotationally offset from one another to facilitate maintaining the gauge of the borehole. The transmission housing can be a one-piece construction to minimize connections within the system and improve reliability. The stabilizers can include laser clad metal surfaces and diamond dome inserts to prevent wear and erosion. A triangular reamer can be included beneath the stabilizers to further prevent wear to the stabilizers and to add stability to the drill bit.
US08061444B2
Methods and apparatus to form a well are disclosed. An example method involves determining a reservoir fluid map associated with at least a portion of a reservoir. The first fluid map has first fluid composition data associated therewith. The example method also involves measuring a formation fluid and determining a second fluid composition data based on the measurement. The second fluid composition data is compared with the first fluid composition data associated with the reservoir fluid map, and a well trajectory is adjusted based on the comparison.
US08061439B2
A rock breaking device employs a falling weight and a striker pin or other tool held within a tool holding structure supported by a recoil assembly includes a number of isolator structures that protect the rock breaking device by absorbing excess forces that may be applied to the recoil assembly. Each isolator structure includes a front plate that extends below a lower side of a recoil tube flange. In new rock breaking devices, the front plates may be incorporated as part of the isolator structures. Alternatively, an existing rock breaking device can be retrofitted by welding a heavy plate onto the front of an existing front plate of the isolator structures. The heavy plate extends beyond the lower side of the recoil tube flange to provide greater strength.
US08061437B2
A nail gun with a rapidly attachable and detachable magazine assembly includes a nail gun, a magazine assembly and a quick joining mechanism. A handle portion of the nail gun has a quick joining pillar adapted to engage with the quick joining mechanism to attach the magazine assembly to the nail gun. By simply snap-fitting the quick joining pillar into a fixing element of the quick joining mechanism, the quick joining mechanism can naturally fix the quick joining pillar into the fixing element, and thus, the magazine assembly can be attached to the nail gun by simply a single action. Moreover, by pulling a pull rod of the quick joining mechanism and withdrawing the quick joining pillar from within the fixing element, the magazine assembly can be attached from the nail gun by also simply a single action.
US08061436B2
A mobile basket for consolidation work on walls is provided with a main frame, configured in the front part for hoisting and for translating the new basket up and down a wall and having legs fitted on the sides of said main frame. A secondary frame or cage is structured for supporting a magazine of drill rods, as well as a mast or drill and a mechanical hand applied to the secondary frame or cage positions parallel to its longer side and essentially perpendicular to the main frame. The mechanical hand, positioned between the mast or drill and the magazine, is configured to take a rod from the magazine and transfer it to the mast or drill.
US08061430B2
A downhole contraction joint. The downhole contraction joint can include at least one anti-rotation assembly. The anti-rotation assembly can include a first tubular member at least partially disposed within a second tubular member. An axial slot can be formed through at least a portion of the first tubular member, and at least one key can be at least partially disposed within the second tubular member and the axial slot. The downhole contraction joint can also have at least one resetting assembly disposed at a first end of the anti-rotation assembly. The resetting assembly can include a c-ring secured to the second tubular member. The first tubular member can be secured to the lock ring, and the lock ring can be aligned with the c-ring. The downhole contraction joint can also include at least one control line assembly disposed about a portion of the anti-rotation assembly.
US08061428B2
A subsea wellhead assembly includes a wellhead housing, a production tree, a tubing hanger adapted to land in the wellhead assembly inside the wellhead housing without a need for angular orientation, a bridge member on the tubing hanger in the production tree, a port radially formed through the tubing hanger or the bridge member, a production port radially through the tree head housing, and an annular production flow passage that circumscribes the bridge member lower portion on one end and optionally circumscribes the tubing hanger on its other end. The annular production flow passage is in communication with both the production port and the radial port in the tubing hanger or bridge member so that fluid can be produced from the well via the annular production flow passage without necessity to orientate the tubing hanger.
US08061420B2
An isolation tool for use in a tubular. The isolation tool comprising gripping members and sealing members to engage and seal the isolation tool to an inner wall of the tubular at a desired location in the tubular. The isolation tool further comprising a locking system that allows the isolation tool to be set in a desired position within the tubular. The locking system prevents the isolation tool from any further movement which would unset it from the desired position.
US08061416B2
A heat exchanger which is especially used as an oil cooler in the motor vehicle industry includes interconnected plates. Outwardly closed cavities are embodied between the plates and are alternately supplied with a first or second medium by at least one supply line and one discharge line, and a corresponding medium flows through them. The plates are profiled in such a way that contact points are created between the respective profiles of the plate, and the plates are interconnected in the region of the contact points. The plates are designed such that the current from the first or second medium forming between the plates, from the corresponding supply line to the corresponding discharge line, does not follow a linear path.
US08061409B2
A mold that can prevent molten metal from leaking out of it as well as from leaking onto a parting plane of the mold. The mold includes a lower mold having a concave portion that has the shape of a product, into which the amount of molten metal required to produce a casting is poured and an upper mold comprising a convex portion that has the shape of the casting, and forming a cavity that molds the casting, when the upper mold overlaps the lower mold. A structure is formed so as to have certain clearances between the lower mold and the upper mold such that molten metal is prevented from leaking onto the parting plane that is formed where the upper mold and the lower mold overlap, when the casting is produced.
US08061400B2
A fastener assembly for a pneumatic tire includes a protruding portion, a fastener, and a securable attachment. The protruding portion is integrally formed with a sidewall of the tire and extends away from the sidewall of the tire. The protruding portion has an annular outer surface and a knob. The fastener has an annular inner surface and an annular outer surface. The annular inner surface engages the annular outer surface of the protruding portion. The annular outer surface has a recess. The securable attachment has an annular inner surface for engaging the recess of the outer surface of the fastener such that the securable attachment is secured to the fastener and both the securable attachment and the fastener are secured to protruding portion of the sidewall of the tire.
US08061383B2
A fuel additive system of a fuel delivery system of a vehicle includes an additive tank assembly, and a dosing unit in communication with the additive tank assembly to control the amount of additive dosed to the fuel tank. The additive tank assembly includes a pressurized tank of generally torispherical or ellipsoidal shape, a tank conduit with one end in communication with a sump in the pressurized tank and an opposite end extending out of the pressurized tank, and a valve in communication with the tank conduit near the opposite end thereof and being normally closed under pressure from the pressurized tank. The dosing unit includes a housing having an inlet passage in communication with the tank conduit, and a valve actuator in the inlet passage to displace the valve of the additive tank assembly to an open position once the dosing unit is assembled to the additive tank assembly.
US08061381B2
There is provided a seat assembly for use in a downhole oil pump ball valve. The assembly includes a seat, a seat rest, and a ball. The seat is used for seating the ball of the ball valve. The seat has an outer wall and a top surface and a curved shoulder surface between the outer wall and the top surface. The seat rest receives the seat, and the seat rest has a curved corner surface so that when the seat is assembled with the seat rest the seat and seat rest are in substantial contact at all points of the curved shoulder surface and the curved corner surface.
US08061376B2
A posterior walker is disclosed comprising: a foldable, tubular frame; adjustable handles; wheels including anti-rollback wheels in the back and pivoting wheels in the front; a flexible, adjustable lower back support strap; features to adjust the handling and stability of the walker, to meet the mobility and standing needs of persons with unsteady gait and standing posture, namely an adjustable weighting means; and optionally backpack storage. In one embodiment, the adjustable weighting means is provided by use of weighted stability cuffs.
US08061366B2
Presented is a hair restraint which is placed on a user's ponytail to assist in keeping the ponytail tangle free during sleep. The device includes a drawstring, a drawstring lock, and may be utilized with a headband which gathers the hair and holds it into a ponytail while the device is attached. The ponytail can be formed in the back of the users head or more towards the top of the user's head to provide less of an obstruction while the user is sleeping.
US08061358B2
The present embodiment relates to the use of a musculoskeletal repositioning device in the birthing process by causing increased muscular strength and decreased muscular tension especially during the “push” phase of child birth. The device guides the condyles and articulating discs of the temporomandibular joint from a neutral or passive position into an active power position.
US08061355B2
An exhaust port assembly comprising a conduit carries a flow of gas. A vent assembly having a fixed exhaust area is provided on the conduit for venting a flow of exhaust gas from within the conduit to ambient atmosphere. The vent assembly is configured so as to minimize noise associated with the flow of exhaust gas passing to atmosphere, diffuse the flow of exhaust gas passing to ambient atmosphere over a relatively large area, and minimize the area occupied by the venting assembly on the conduit.
US08061354B2
An apparatus for supplying a respiratory gas to a patient within the scope of the diagnosis and/or the treatment of sleep-related breathing disorders includes an electronic signal processing device for generating a pressure control signal on the basis of indicative signals relating to the breathing activity and/or the physiological state of a person. The signal processing device includes a signal inputting device and an extraction device for generating data field entries according to predefined signal analysis procedures. A pressure signal generator is provided for generating the pressure control signal, taking into account determined data field entries which are at least selected by the extraction device.
US08061353B2
A method and device that can vary the dose of a gaseous drug provided to a patient based on a comparison of the normal resting breath rate for each individual patient and the current breath rate of the patient so that the patient does not become desaturated.
US08061350B2
A process and a device for dosing a pharmaceutical agent, preferably a liquid, are proposed. To achieve an enhanced dosing accuracy, a first component that is produced in batches, such as a shaped seal, is combined with a second component, such as a guide pipe selected from a suitable group guide pipes, wherein the suitable group of second components is selected based on at least one decisively significant value of the respective batch first components and is distinguished by an essential value of the second component which will optimize the sealing between the first and second components.
US08061342B2
A rapid feed paintball loader for use on a paintball gun for force feeding paintballs is provided. The paintball loader includes a container for holding a plurality of paintballs, a paintball agitator rotating about an axis and rotatably mounted in the container, the paintball agitator including at least two fins extending substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation, the fins spaced apart from each other forming a gap therebetween large enough to accommodate more than one paintball. At least two paintballs are positioned in the gap between the fins. A motor is configured to rotate the paintball agitator. The container includes an exit tube exiting from the bottom portion of the container and leading to an inlet tube of the paintball gun. A microprocessor and sensor may also be provided. The agitator may include a central dome-shaped area.
US08061336B2
The invention provides a PCV system for a V-type engine, where an oilmist extraction port, through which oilmist to be supplied to an oil separator is taken out from the engine, is formed at a position corresponding to the lateral center of the top portion of a chain case of the engine, and the oil separator has an oil discharge hole, and is connected to a PCV valve. A rib, which extends from the floor wall of the oil separator toward a wall opposite to the floor wall, is arranged inside the oil separator. The rib forms a dead-end portion that is open in the direction opposite to the direction toward the PCV valve side, and forms a dead-end in the direction toward the PCV valve side. An oil return passage connected to the oil discharge hole is provided with a container portion.
US08061334B2
A device for recycling and cooling exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine is disclosed, comprising a first exhaust-gas heat exchanger and a second exhaust-gas heat exchanger, wherein the first and second exhaust gas heat exchangers are combined in a structural unit and form a module.
US08061331B2
Disclosed herein is a fuel injector for an internal combustion engine, which includes a high pressure pump for pressure feeding high pressure fuel of the internal combustion engine; a fuel rail for accumulating the fuel that has been pressure fed by the high pressure pump; an injection valve for injecting, into a cylinder, the fuel accumulated in the fuel rail; a fuel pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of the fuel that is accumulated in the fuel rail; an electromagnetic relief valve for discharging the pressure accumulated fuel of the fuel rail; and an electronic control unit for controlling opening and closing of the electromagnetic relief valve. The electronic control unit repeats the opening and closing of the relief valve to discharge the fuel pressure in stages so that the fuel pressure in the fuel rail is decreased down to the target fuel pressure.
US08061324B2
A piston-type internal combustion engine is formed of a high performance synthetic resin material. The cylinders and pistons have an octagonal profile. Two or three rows of pin roller bearings are positioned in transverse semi-cylindrical grooves formed on the cylinder walls, to afford smooth, low-friction rolling contact and to seal the compression from leaking around the piston. There are angle support pieces fitted within the annular channels at respective vertices or corners, and are adapted for rotationally supporting the ends of adjacent pin roller bearings.
US08061320B2
A lift transmitting component (1), particularly for a gas exchange valve train or a fuel pump drive of an internal combustion engine, and a method of manufacturing such a lift transmitting component comprising a housing (2) and a bearing pin (6) fixed in a reception bore (5) of the housing (2) as also a roller (4) rotatable about the bearing pin (6) and optionally mounted on a rolling bearing, said bearing pin (6) being connected to the housing (2) by positive engagement through radially widened front ends (8), the bearing pin (6) is core-hardened over its entire length with a core hardness of at least 58 HRC and its front ends (8) are widened by radial spot riveting.
US08061313B2
A variable valve device is constructed to prevent inclination of a sliding surface of a high speed rocker arm. In an engagement surface where a connecting pin and the engagement portion of a high speed rocker arm are in contact, the center of the width of the surface in the direction of the cam shaft is provided closer to the high speed rocker arm than the center of the width in the direction of the camshaft of a cam contact surface where the high speed cam and the sliding surface of the high speed rocker arm are in contact. The low speed rocker arm includes a cam receiver and a connecting portion. The width of the connecting portion is larger than that of the cam receiver. The side surface of the connecting portion projects beyond the side surface of the cam receiver. The high speed rocker arm includes a cam receiver and a connecting portion. The side surface of the connecting portion and the side surface of the connecting portion are provided in the cam contact surface and within the width of the surface in the direction of the camshaft.
US08061312B2
A lift of a valve of an engine may continuously be varied by an apparatus that includes: an input cam provided on an input shaft; a pivot shaft provided in parallel with the input shaft; a lever that rotates around the pivot shaft by a rotation of the input cam and operates the valve; and a lift varying device capable of varying a relative distance between the pivot shaft and the input shaft.
US08061309B2
The disclosure relates to an internal combustion engine with a cooling circuit having a water jacket portion in the cylinder block and a water jacket portion in the cylinder head which has an intake portion and an exhaust portion. Flow from the intake and exhaust portions mix in an outlet housing which has a cylinder head outlet thermostat. A coolant pump provides flow to a first branch to the exhaust portion and a second branch to the water jacket portion in the cylinder block. A block thermostat is located in the second branch downstream of the coolant pump and upstream of the water jacket portion in the cylinder block. The intake portion of the water jacket portion in the cylinder head is fluidly coupled to the water jacket portion in the cylinder block.
US08061300B2
A device provides positive reinforcement and treats for a domesticated animal urinating in a predetermined location. The positive reinforcement includes a message from the owner. A treat is exposed after the owner's message is played to further reward the animal. Absorbent paper is used at the predetermined location for collecting the urine and activating the voice and treat bowl. After a preset time, the used absorbent paper is removed and new absorbent paper is provided automatically. Another version includes a device that uses a single sheet of absorbent paper.
US08061299B2
A deposition system includes a vacuum reaction chamber with a substrate holder positioned in it. The substrate holder is for carrying a substrate therein. A sputtering apparatus is also positioned in the vacuum reaction chamber. The sputtering apparatus is configured to direct sputtered material towards the substrate to form a sputtered material region thereon. A plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) apparatus is positioned in the vacuum reaction chamber. The PECVD apparatus is configured to deposit a PECVD material region thereon the substrate. The first PECVD apparatus includes a first PECVD electrode movable from a first position towards the substrate and a second position away from the substrate.
US08061298B2
A stent mandrel fixture for supporting a stent during the application of a coating substance is provided. A method supporting a stent during the application of a coating substance is also provided.
US08061292B2
A wetness indicating composition is disclosed that changes color in response to a change in pH. The composition comprises a water-insoluble, thermoplastic polymer composition, a superabsorbent polymer, a wetness indicator, and surfactant. The wetness indicating composition is useful in disposable absorbent articles, e.g., disposable diapers, feminine napkins, medical dressings and beddings for humans and animals.
US08061286B2
A sewing machine that is capable of sewing an embroidery pattern on a work cloth includes a storage device that stores embroidery data to identify a shape of the embroidery pattern and reference line data to identify a pattern position and a pattern angle. The sewing machine also includes an imaging device that captures an image of the work cloth onto which a marker is affixed, and a detection device that detects a marker position and a marker angle based on information of the image captured by the imaging device. The sewing machine further includes a conversion device that converts the embroidery data based on the pattern position, the pattern angle, the marker position, and the marker angle. The sewing machine further includes a sewing control device that controls sewing of the embroidery pattern based on the embroidery data obtained after conversion.
US08061280B2
An apparatus for delivering a beneficial agent is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including a water collection chamber. A water-transporting membrane is provided to communicate with the water collection chamber. An extraction chamber receives water through the water-transporting membrane, expanding the extraction chamber. A dispensing chamber, containing a beneficial agent, is configured to contract upon expanding the extraction chamber. This causes the dispensing chamber to expel the beneficial agent through a subterranean delivery channel, such as a rigid hollow spike. In certain embodiments, a rate adjustment mechanism may control the rate that water is received through the water-transporting membrane, thereby controlling the rate the beneficial agent is expelled. The water-transporting membrane has features that repel osmagent from passing through to the water collection chamber. The apparatus features steady rate performance without refreshing the water chamber and low temperature sensitivity.
US08061275B1
A fragmentation warhead includes a cylindrical body, and an explosive charge disposed within the innermost part of the warhead body. Upon detonation of the explosive charge, the warhead body is ultimately caused to shear and break into fragments with controlled sizes, shapes. This invention enables target-adaptable fragmentation output based selectively controlling the size of preformed fragments ejected. Preformed tungsten alloy fragments of a first “small” size “A” are sintered to be joined into a plurality of larger size fragments “B”, using a tungsten alloy matrix. The B fragments are then joined into a desired shell shape and thickness and sintered into a fragmenting shell body using a different tungsten alloy matrix with bonds of melting point considerably lower than amongst the A fragment bonds.
US08061273B2
A signal transmission tube may be made by disposing a reactive polymeric material within a confinement tube and leaving a portion of the tube interior unoccupied. The tube may be formed by disposing a layer of paint comprising the reactive polymeric material on the interior surface of the confinement tube, extruding the confinement tube over an elongate rod that comprises the reactive polymeric material. The rod preferably has a high surface area configuration, e.g., the rod may comprise a longitudinal bore therethrough or may be star-shaped, cross-shaped, etc. Alternatively, the signal transmission tube may be made from the reactive polymeric material. Optionally, a sheath may be extruded over the tubular reactive polymeric material. In various embodiments, the confinement tube or sheath may be configured to be fractured or substantially consumed by the reaction of the reactive polymeric material. Optionally, the reactive polymeric material may comprise a glycidyl azide polymer.
US08061270B2
Methods for high-speed printing include deposition of individual drops of an aqueous solution on top of a hydrophobic ink applied to a print cylinder. The methods further include stripping away the ink from the area of the cylinder not covered by the aqueous solution and transferring the ink covered by the aqueous solution to a print medium.
US08061264B2
A device for heating milk includes a body (2) having: a steam injecting conduit and a milk conduit emerging into a suction chamber; and a heating chamber (4) extending from an outlet of the suction chamber to an outlet (7) through which the heated milk can flow outside said body (2). The heating chamber (4) includes a globally helical inner conduit (40). A coffee machine including such a device is also disclosed.
US08061263B1
A sensor head/brew cup with liquid level sensor probes which rotate down into the server to avoid damage to the probes by the server. The sensor head/brew cup moves as a unit, thereby eliminating any gap between the brew cup and the sensor head through which the brewed liquid must pour, thereby preventing spillage. The moveable sensor head/brew allows beverage brewing devices to use servers of various heights. Raising the sensor head/brew cup causes the level sensor probes to rotate upward out of the server, thereby protecting the probes from impact by the server when it is removed from the brewing device. When the level sensor probes are in the upward position they touch electrical contacts completing a self-test circuit confirming electrical continuity through the level sensor probes.
US08061262B2
A stepper motor suitable for use in a medical imaging environment has (a) a cylindrical central gear having an external surface with circumferentially distributed and radially directed teeth, (b) a shaft for mounting the central gear such that it is constrained to move in rotational motion about its centerline, (c) a cylindrical hoop gear having a bore with an internal surface having circumferentially distributed and radially directed teeth, (d) level arm crank mechanisms for mounting the hoop gear such that it is constrained to move in translational-circular motion about the central gear's centerline, wherein this central gear is further configured to fit within the hoop gear's bore in such a manner that a plurality of the central gear and hoop gear teeth intermesh and cooperate so that the planetary movement of the hoop gear causes the central gear to rotate, and (e) piston mechanisms for applying a fluid pressure driven force to specified points on the hoop gear so as to cause its movement.
US08061257B2
A cementitious armor panel assembly including cementitious armor panel with ballistic and blast resistant properties attached to a frame structure to produce a protective structure. The cementitious armor panels have a continuous phase resulting from the curing of an aqueous mixture of an inorganic cement binder, an inorganic mineral filler having a particle size of about 150-450 microns, a pozzolanic mineral filler, a polycarboxylate based superplasticizer self-leveling agent, and water. The mixture may also contain alkanolamine, and acid or acid salt. Prior to curing, the continuous phase is reinforced with fiber uniformly distributed in the continuous phase before it is cured to form the panel. The panel may be reinforced with a skin attached to at least one surface of the panel.
US08061256B1
A cartridge loop for an ammunition belt having a coupling interface with an opening and a pair of substantially parallel lines side walls having a compliant tab formed therein to deflect easily without deforming the loop when a coupling is engaged in the interface is provided. The compliant tab is formed by a U-shaped cut-out from the loop across the side walls to the front face of the coupling interface. The walls of the interface are separated by a distance and the coupling has first and second ends connected by a link connecting the first and second ends, the first end having a locking head with four sides having a diagonal that forms an interference fit with the compliant tabs formed in the side walls.
US08061254B2
A flash suppressor for use with a firearm includes a generally cylindrically shaped housing having a series of horizontal groves about its exterior. An internal thread located at the proximal end of the housing is present for threadedly securing the housing to the muzzle of a firearm. There is a tapered chamber located between the internal threads and the opening which precedes the expansion chamber of the flash suppressor. The expansion chamber progressively expands being smallest at the proximal end and gradually increasing in diameter towards the distil end. Longitudinally extending, progressively helically shaped perforations are formed through the housing and in communication with the internal expansion chamber. These perforations are generally equally distributed about the housing except the bottom area which has no perforations present.
US08061251B2
A power tool includes a base, a table supported by the base for pivoting movement about an axis, a coarse adjustment assembly between the base and the table, and a fine adjustment assembly between the base and the table. The fine adjustment assembly includes a rotating member supported by one of the base and the table, and an engagement surface provided by the other of the base and the table. The rotating member is selectively engageable with and rotatable along the engagement surface to finely adjust the angular position of the table relative to the base. The angular position of the table relative to the base is coarsely adjustable using the coarse adjustment assembly when the rotating member is disengaged from the engagement surface. The fine adjustment assembly disengages the coarse adjustment assembly and maintains the coarse adjustment assembly disengaged when the rotating member is engaged with the engagement surface.
US08061249B1
A pipe cutting apparatus having a frame and first and second pipe support arms. The pipe support arms are pivotally attached to the frame. First and second pipe support members on the first and second arms together with a third pipe support member securely grip the pipe at substantially equally circumferentially spaced locations. A camming member is used to place the first and second pipe support arms in predefined locations for holding differently sized pipes. An linkage assembly causes the third pipe support member to biasingly engage the pipe. A two-part tool shield is provided together with a depth adjusting assembly for facilitating the cutting and beveling of the pipe. A power transmission assembly transfers power from a motor on the frame to a tool located on a pivoting arm. The frame may be manufactured using an adhesive filler material for enhancing the rigidity, strength and accuracy of the components.
US08061248B2
A machine for slitting plane packaging blanks includes at least one rotatable slitting roller with at least one knife for producing a front edge slit and/or a rear edge slit in each packaging blank. The knife is sector-shaped, and defined by two knife end edges. A first knife portion adjacent a first knife end edge is adapted to cut the front edge slit out in a front edge of the blank. A second knife portion adjacent a second knife end edge is adapted to cut a rear edge slit out in a rear edge of the blank and rearwards through the rear edge while the blank is advanced through the machine at a uniform speed.
US08061247B2
A deflectable lifting device can be mounted to a support form, work surface or other member of a material conveyance system. According to embodiments, the deflectable lifting device can have a base that mounts into the support, and a bendable arm arranged in the pathway of a material conveyance system, such as a paper stripping or paper blanking work station. When a sheet or web of material travels over the deflectable lifting device, the bendable arm can bend and deflect downwards, but still contact the sheet or web with a gently humped or arcuate portion, providing a small margin of elevation or lift to the sheet or web. The sheet or web can therefore be elevated above edges, holes, or other obstructions in the pathway that could jam or snag the delivery of the material. The deflectable lifting device can comprise an arcuate portion or head over which the sheet or web can slide in a bearing fashion.
US08061246B2
Miter saws are disclosed having a base, a blade supported by the base, a detection system adapted to detect a dangerous condition between a person and the blade, and a reaction system associated with the detection system to cause a predetermined action to take place upon detection of the dangerous condition. The blade is rotatable, and moves into a cutting zone to cut a workpiece. The predetermined action may be to stop the blade from rotating, to create an impulse against movement of the blade into the cutting zone, or to cause the blade to move away from the cutting zone. The reaction system may include a brake member coupled to a housing.
US08061244B2
A cutoff saw assembly incorporates a robot assembly with a compliant cutting apparatus to remove various undesired metal extensions from a casting. The assembly cooperatively and conjunctively controls the position of the casting using the robot assembly and the force exerted by the cutting apparatus on the casting using a compliance control system. The compliance control system includes a compliance actuator that is connected to a compliance regulator. Both the robot assembly and the compliance control system are connected to a system controller. The compliance actuator is connected to the cutoff blade to actively vary the force of the cutting blade with respect to the casting. The compliance regulator, which is connected to the system controller, will measure and regulate the pressure in the compliance actuator, such that the robot assembly and compliance control system can apply the required force to cut the casting.
US08061236B2
A bicycle pedal apparatus is provided formed from two identical halves comprising a plurality of holes. A bolt secures the two halves through the holes and projects out beyond the surface of the pedal, thereby performing a dual role of securing the two halves together and serving as a traction mechanism. The pedal bodies rotate about a pedal axle either directly on the axle or on bearings. In embodiments utilizing bearings, two different bearings are used, roller bearings to bear the rotational load and thrust bearings to bear any axial load. The pedal axle can be tapered with a flanged head and resides in a cavity in the pedal body that substantially conforms to the shape of the pedal axle so as to minimize movement of the pedal axle within the pedal body.
US08061234B2
An adjustable lever assembly for a motorcycle master cylinder includes a first element pivotally connected to the master cylinder, and a manually operable second element pivotally connected to the first element. An adjuster rotatably mounted on the second element can be turned to adjust the angular rest position between the first and second elements.
US08061230B2
A device for operating a gearbox, which operating device comprises a operating rod, a shift finger connected to the operating rod, and at least two electric motors acting upon the operating rod, the rotors of the electric motors being arranged on the operating rod so that a first electric motor is adapted to moving the operating rod by linear movement in the axial direction of the operating rod along the axis (A) of the operating rod and thus controls the lateral travel of the shift finger, and a second electric motor is adapted to effecting rotary movement to turn the operating rod about the axis (A) of the operating rod and thus controls the longitudinal travel of shift finger, when the respective electric motors are energized.
US08061228B2
The actuator for a motor vehicle has an electric motor having an output shaft. A gear comprising a spindle nut and a gear case is connected to the output shaft. A spindle engages the spindle nut. A bracket forms an at least partial surrounding grip abut the gear case. A pivot bearing is provided between the gear case and the bracket. Further, an abutment lying substantially opposite the pivot bearing is formed between the gear case and the bracket.
US08061220B2
A device for simultaneously dispensing a solution containing a sample to a test device and aspirating the sample from the device. In one embodiment the device is hand-held and includes a control mechanism, e.g., button for activating the dispensing and aspiration of the sample. The testing device may take the form of a multi-well plate with a plurality of wells arranged in rows and columns, with the bottom of the wells formed as a photonic crystal biosensor. The device can be configured with dispense and aspirate manifolds and associated dispense and aspirate ports which are positioned in all the wells along a row or column of wells so as to simultaneously aspirate and dispense solution to all the wells in a row or column of the multi-well plate.
US08061217B2
An apparatus for measuring a flow rate of a powder when a powder is conveyed by using air as a carrier gas, which apparatus measures the flow rate based on the change of capacitance of the powder to be measured. The apparatus that can measure the flow rate of a powder with high accuracy by compensating for the effect of the thermal drift of the capacitance. It includes a protecting pipe for conveying a powder, a housing pipe having measuring electrodes, and a transducer for outputting an output of the measuring electrode to a display. It further includes an atmospheric temperature sensor and a carrier gas-temperature sensor 31. The sensor 31 is directly fixed to the protecting pipe 20 at a place that does not overlap the housing pipe 10, and includes a circuit for compensating for the output of the measuring electrode, which output is the capacitance determined based on a graph of a curve of the relationship between a capacitance and a flow rate, based on the difference between the output of the atmospheric temperature sensor and the output of the carrier-gas-temperature sensor.
US08061207B2
Generally speaking, the method of the present invention is performed by making various ultrasonic scans at preselected orientations along the length of a material being tested. Data from the scans are then plotted together with various calculated parameters that are calculated from this data. Lines or curves are then fitted to the respective plotted points. Review of these plotted curves allows the location and severity of defects within these sections to be determined and quantified. With this information various other decisions related to how, when or whether repair or replacement of a particular portion of a structure can be made.
US08061204B2
An accelerometer includes a substrate having a surface and a movable electrode. The movable electrode is mounted on the surface of the substrate and movable along an axis substantially parallel to the surface of the substrate in response to acceleration. A light-permeable region is defined in the movable electrode. A plurality of photosensitive regions and a plurality of non-photosensitive regions are defined in the surface of the substrate. The photosensitive regions and the non-photosensitive regions are spatially separated. The light-permeable region overlies only a portion of one of the non-photosensitive regions when at rest, and the light-permeable region overlies a portion of at least one of the photosensitive regions when the accelerometer is subjected to acceleration, such that the corresponding photosensitive region generates an output current.
US08061197B2
A jigger system for measuring and dispensing accurate volumes of fluid, the system comprising a first jigger having a base and one or more walls extending upwardly from the base to define an interior cavity, the interior cavity being divided into two or more segments and being open at the top.
US08061196B2
An ultrasonic sensor for measuring the level of liquid in a vessel has an elongated tubular probe, a tube within the probe, and a transducer that converts electrical energy to ultrasonic energy mounted at or near one end of the tube so as to transmit ultrasonic energy horizontally across the probe. An element having a surface that reflects ultrasonic energy is at an angle, preferably of about 45°, to the probe longitudinal axis opposite to an ultrasonic energy emitting part of the transducer to reflect ultrasonic energy received from the transducer upwardly in the probe to an air-liquid interface from which it is downwardly reflected to the angled reflector element that directs the energy reflected from the interface back to the transducer for conversion to an electrical signal that is used by an electronic module to measure the liquid level in the probe which is the liquid level in the vessel.
US08061183B2
A protective cap is provided for a sensor having a sensor element, which is disposed in a housing and includes a connection side and a measuring side, for determining gases in gas mixtures. The protective cap delimits a sensor element chamber having at least one flow outlet and an antechamber that has at least one flow inlet and is in fluid connection with the sensor element chamber in order to protect the sensor element on the measuring side. A condensate separator is provided in the antechamber. A device for deviating the flow is provided between the sensor element chamber and the antechamber and a device for accelerating the flow is provided on a flow outlet side of the sensor element chamber. A gas sensor is equipped with the protective cap.
US08061181B2
An apparatus for providing information pertaining to the orientation of a vehicle to which the apparatus is coupled includes a chassis having a first interior surface and an inertial-sensor assembly disposed within the chassis and having a first exterior surface. A first sensor element is mounted on the first interior surface, and a second sensor element is mounted on the first exterior surface. At least one of the first and second sensor elements is configured to generate a first signal corresponding to an angle of displacement of the second sensor element with respect to the first sensor element.
US08061180B2
A method of calibrating an electrically actuated hydraulic valve in a system that controls the flow of hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic cylinder connected to a machine element operates automatically. The system includes an ultrasonic sensor providing an indication of the position of the machine element. The calibration method includes the step of automatically applying a command signal to the hydraulic valve while monitoring the ultrasonic sensor to determine the level of the command signal required to cause the hydraulic cylinder to begin to move. The calibration method includes the additional step of automatically applying in succession a plurality of command signals of increasing level to the hydraulic valve while monitoring the ultrasonic sensor to determine the speed of movement of the hydraulic cylinder resulting from each of the command signals. Finally, the calibration method includes the steps of storing the level of the command signal required to cause the hydraulic cylinder to begin to move, and storing the speed of movement of the hydraulic cylinder resulting from each of said plurality of command signals of increasing level.
US08061179B2
A high pressure pump includes a pump housing. A piston rod located within the pump housing defines a plurality of pump cavities and a plurality of piston cavities. Movement of the piston within the piston cylinder pumps the fluid from the piston cavities out of the high pressure pump. The continuous pumping of HWBF from the pump housing provides fluid at a relatively constant flow and pressure. The HWBF pressure is also at a higher pressure than traditional single stage high pressure pumps can provide.
US08061178B2
Self-aligning tools may be used to install and reposition an expandable structure in a workpiece. A self-aligning installation system may include an expansion mandrel, self-aligning nose cap assembly, and an installation tool for driving the mandrel. The expansion mandrel is sized to fit within a passageway of an expandable member such that the expandable member radially expands when the expansion mandrel is moved through the passageway. The self-aligning nose cap assembly moves relative to the installation tool and mandrel. A self-aligning seating system can be used to move the installed expandable member. The self-aligning seating system includes a seat backing, a seat base, and a pull rod coupled to the seat backing and extending through the seat base. The seat backing slidably engages the seat base to permit rotation of the pull rod.
US08061175B2
The invention deals with a sheet-metal bending machine containing a lower machine part and an upper machine part mounted on it in a movable way where on either of the upper and lower machine part there is a pair of working tools designed as a bending arm and a holding arm where the principle is that the upper machine part (3), or at least the pair of the working tools connected to it, is, in relation to the lower machine part (2), or at least in relation to the pair of the working tools connected to it in the feeding direction (L) of the processed metal sheet (14), mounted in a mutually horizontally sliding bond.
US08061168B2
A key with a very large number of code combinations. The key includes a longitudinally extending key blade with a wave-like side code pattern forming a wave-like surface including a ramp portion at a free end portion of the key blade with the wave-like guide being formed on the key blade at a side surface. A key contacting portion engages the wave-like side code pattern and is positioned by way of a specific pivotal position of the finger. A specific asymmetric displacement of the key contacting portion is formed in an asymmetric free end of the finger so that the specific pivotal displacement of the key contacting portion is available relative to the specific pivotal displacement relative to the wave-like side code pattern. The number of possible code combinations is consequently further increased.
US08061159B2
A soft sided insulated container assembly includes a first portion having an insulated, soft sided external wall structure, and an internal, substantially rigid molded plastic receptacle mounted therein. It has a cover structure that includes a reinforcement member for engaging a land region of the molded receptacle, thereby tending to yield an interface tending to have a sealing relationship. The container may also include a thermal storage element, and the container may have an accommodation for receiving the thermal storage element.
US08061154B2
A cooling system for the cooling of heat producing devices in an aircraft is designed with a central cold producing device, at least one cold consumer and a cold conveyance system which connects the cold producing device and the cold consumer. With this cooling system, the cold conveyance system has at least one cooling circuit which supplies a cooled cold carrier medium from the cold producing device to at least one cold consumer and brings the cold carrier medium back to the cold producing device, so that at least one cold consumer is supplied with the cold produced in the cold producing device.
US08061151B2
Disclosed is a compressor (12) for a refrigeration system (10) including a housing (30) and at least one compressor impeller (24, 26) located in the housing (30) capable of compressing a refrigerant flow (14) through the compressor (12). At least one refrigerant pathway (44, 62) is located inboard of an outer surface (48) of the housing (30) and extends from a first compressor impeller (24). Further disclosed is a refrigeration system (10) including a compressor (12) having at least one refrigerant pathway (44, 62) located inboard of an outer surface (48) of the housing (36) and extending from a first compressor impeller (24) of at least one compressor impeller (24, 26). Further disclosed is a method of flowing refrigerant through a compressor (12).
US08061146B2
A compact heat exchanger pedestal array for augmenting heat transfer in a machine is disclosed. The compact heat exchanger pedestal array includes a wall having first and second surfaces. The first surface faces a heated flow path and the second surface partially forms a flow path for cooling fluid. A plurality of pedestals extend from the second surface of the wall. At least one turbulator strip extends between adjacent pedestals. The turbulator strips and pedestals are operable for mixing the cooling fluid to increase heat transfer from the wall to the cooling fluid.
US08061140B2
A high efficiency combined cycle internal combustion and steam engine includes a cylinder and a piston with an internal combustion chamber outward of the piston, a fixed cylinder cap and a steam expansion chamber inside the piston. The cylinder cap can be heated to reduce condensation of steam entering from a steam generator fired by waste combustion heat. Following exhaust, residual steam can be recompressed prior to admitting the next charge of steam. A wrist pin connected to an inner end of the piston skirt inwardly of the cylinder cap is coupled to a connecting rod secured to a crankshaft. One valve or a pair of steam inlet valves are connected to communicate in series within the cylinder cap inside the piston. The steam mass admitted is regulated to reduce fuel consumption. Coolant can be superheated in the combustion exhaust manifold.
US08061133B2
The invention relates to a piston steam engine having flash vaporization. Said inventive piston steam engine can be operated with various working mediums and at different temperatures. The liquid working medium is successively injected into individual prechambers of the vapor machine cylinder. The inlet temperature of said working medium is adapted to the expansion step in the working cycle of the machine in relation to the respective point in time of injection.
US08061131B2
A cylinder head adapted to be mounted to a cylinder block of an internal combustion engine has a cooling jacket at least partially integrated in the cylinder head. The engine has two groups of cylinders: inside cylinders and outside cylinders. Each cylinder has at least one exhaust port, each leading to an individual duct. Individual ducts of outside cylinders converge to form an outside combined duct. In a four-cylinder, individual ducts of inside cylinders converge to form an inside combined duct with the inside combined duct remaining separated from the outside combined duct by the cooling jacket. The inside combined duct is farther away from the mounting surface of the cylinder head to the cylinder block than the outside combined duct. The cooling jacket includes: upper, middle, and lower cooling jackets and connectors between the upper and lower cooling jackets.
US08061124B2
One embodiment is a method including providing an exhaust aftertreatment system including an adsorber, commanding rich operation wherein the adsorber is provided with increased reductant, and ending rich operation upon the first of a commanded rich operation threshold being met or a confirmed rich operation threshold being met. Other embodiments include additional methods, software, apparatuses and systems. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits shall become apparent from the following description and drawings.
US08061113B1
A gradual engagement system for use in power equipment is herein described. The gradual engagement system causes a clutch pulley to rotate around a clutch arm when an engagement tensile force is applied by an engagement spring. The engagement spring is attached to a pivot arm which is also connected to the clutch arm. The gradual engagement system allows the clutch arm to be pressed against a drive belt in a gradual fashion, providing for a smooth engagement of the various components of the power equipment.
US08061105B2
A projected corner structure in which two upright columns 3 and 4 substantially rectangular in cross section are disposed on a diagonal line in a pair of bracket-shaped runners (1, 2) arranged at an angle of about 90° on a floor surface. A corner upright column 5 of a synthetic resin including an outer end portion 5b having an outer surface formed in the form of a circular arc stands upright fitted into a substantially angular clearance C formed on an exterior side between the upright columns. Projecting portions 9 and 10 are formed integrally on lateral portions on both sides of the corner upright column, and are arranged to fit over interior side surfaces of the respective upright columns, and are fastened to the upright columns by countersunk screws 11 and 12. The resulting structure combines simplified construction with increased strength, improved appearance, and decreased cost.
US08061103B2
There are provided panel assemblies (2) for forming building structures. A panel assembly (2) comprises a panel (3) and a first connector means for forming part of a connector assembly (1) for connecting the panel (3) to a body (5). Said connector assembly (1) comprises said first connector means, a second connector means, one or more securement members (30) and optionally a link member (200). The connector means are arranged such that in use they can be positioned in a connecting configuration in which a channel is defined. The channel having an opening on a facing side of the panel (3) for receiving securement members (30) which can be located to restrict relative movement of the panel (3) and body (5). Also provided are kits for forming building structures, building structures and methods of assembling structures.
US08061094B2
An installation mount for an in-wall component has a sloped spackle rim around a recessed opening. The recessed opening is shaped to accept either a sanding shield or a component cover. While the sanding shield is in the recessed opening, an installer could spackle the front surface of the installation mount and can then sand the spackle away until the sanding shield is exposed, creating a surface that is flush with the rest of the wall. The sanding shield could then be so that the sanding shield could be used to protect the interior of the installation mount during sanding, while the component cover could be used while the component cover is in use to protect the component and provide a flush-mount look and feel.
US08061093B2
A window frame surrounds a window box in a wall having horizontally extending siding elements that are connected along overlapping horizontal seams and unconnected edges that are juxtaposed with the window box. The window box has top, bottom, and opposed side elements connected together to define a rectangle, wherein the top element has a transverse outer edge. The window frame has top, bottom, and opposed side frame elements connected together to define a rectangular frame, each element having front and back faces and inner and outer edges whereby the back faces of the window frame elements cover the unconnected edges of the siding and the inner edges of the frame elements closely surround the elements of the window box. A rigid strip is attached to the inner edge of the top element of the window frame and projects over and is vertically supported by the outer edge of the top element of the window box. A “J” hook is attached to the back of each side element of the window frame for engaging a seam in the siding.
US08061089B2
A turf anchor typically includes an upright and three or four spikes which are insertable into the ground to mount the upright above ground with substantial stability. The turf anchor may be pressed by foot or hammered to force the spikes into the ground and may be used for securing a mailbox or various other outdoor items.
US08061086B2
A threshold system, having a threshold and a flashing removably connected to the threshold is disclosed. The threshold system including a threshold and a flashing removably connected to the threshold. The threshold having a front incline, a front support, an arm, with the front support and the arm forming a portion of the front incline and extending toward a threshold front. the arm includes an underside and a hook, whereby the hook bends back toward a threshold rear. A frontal pocket is defined by a space within a flashing receiving space between a hook upper side and underside of the arm.
US08061085B2
To further prevent stairway falls, an otherwise conventional handrail, of the type that is mounted on the sidewall of a stairway and has an upper portion which is configured to be easily grasped by one utilizing, is modified by providing it with a two-part cavity in the interior of the handrail, with its first part being a slot that extends from the handrails' exterior surface and its second part being a bore that is situated in the handrail's interior and joined with the slot so as to make the bore accessible from the handrail's exterior surface. This modified handrail is also to provided with a wrist securing device that works in cooperation with the handrail's cavity for keeping the wrist of a user in close proximity to the handrail when the user is traversing the stairway.
US08061081B2
A wrapper for wrapping a flower pot and/or floral grouping is disclosed. The wrapper is constructed of a sheet of material having an extension attached to a portion of the sheet of material. When the wrapper is formed about a flower pot to form a decorative cover, upper edges of the sheet of material and extension cooperate to form a skirt portion preferably having at least two separate edges providing a “two-sheet” effect in the decorative cover. The wrapper may have extensions on opposing ends of the sheet of material and may have one or more additional overlapping extensions.
US08061080B2
The invention relates to a controlling device (10) for a greenhouse (15), with a computerized control element (20), a lighting element (30) and at least one detector element (40), wherein the lighting element (30) and the detector element (40) are connected with the computerized control element (20), wherein the lighting element (30) comprises at least one light emitting mean (31), emitting a light (32), wherein the light (32) illuminates a plant (70) growing in the greenhouse (15).
US08061078B2
A germinating unit (1) includes at least one seed (3) as well as additives. The germinating unit includes a carrier material (2) penetrable by a root tip (4) and/or a sprout (5) extending from the seed. The carrier material (2) can fix the orientation of the seed. Several germinating units can be joined to form a seed tape (6). The seed tape includes a longitudinal tissue (7). The carrier material portions (2a, 2b, 2c) cover or include their respective seed(s) (3a, 3b, 3c). When the seed(s) have been inserted in the carrier material through a cut in said carrier material or through insertion of a tube therein, said seed(s) maintain(s) its/their position relative to the germinating unit because said carrier material squeezes about or retains said seed(s).
US08061070B2
There are disclosed embodiments of a marking clip for marking garments which may be stacked flat on a surface. The marking clip is generally U-shaped with leg portions joined by a bight portion and is preferably molded of flexible, resilient, plastics material and bears repetitive indicia along the outer surface of the leg and bight portions. Two or more marking clips may be coupled to provide selected combinations.
US08061064B2
A wear assembly for excavating equipment includes a base fixed to the excavating equipment, a wear member fit over the base, and a lock to releasably hold the wear member to the base. The wear member includes side relief to reduce drag on the system. The wear member and the base each includes a hemispherical front end and a generally trapezoidal rear portion. The base includes a nose and a stop projecting from the nose to cooperate with the lock without an opening being needed to receive the lock into the nose. The lock is an elongate lock positioned generally in an axial direction and which holds the wear member to the base under compressive loads.
US08061058B2
A restriction sensor system for identifying the existence of blockages in exhaust conduits of clothes dryers. The restriction sensor system may be used as a retrofit system that is capable of being installed on existing clothes dryers. The restriction sensor system may include a fitting configured to be coupled to an exhaust conduit of a clothes dryer and a blockage indicator housing positioned remote from a clothes dryer. The pressure sensing device may be capable of determining changes in air pressure in the exhaust conduit. Once the air pressure present in the exhaust conduit exceeds a threshold air pressure, the pressure sensing device may send a signal to an indicator to generate an alarm, which may be a visual alarm or audible alarm, or both.
US08061054B2
An adjustable picture and wall hanging device comprising an elongated strap having thereon a pair of spaced sliders, each slider having a point thereon to enable a spot to be marked on a wall, and a level centrally mounted on the strap for facilitating leveling of the device so that the item to be mounted will be level. Alternatively the level can be on one slider. This device enables pictures and other items to be hung on a wall in a simple, quick and easy manner.
US08061053B2
A downhole tool for measuring a diameter of a borehole that includes a mandrel and a collet is disclosed. The collet is disposed about the mandrel that includes a tapered surface formed on an outside surface of the mandrel that increases in diameter across a portion of the mandrel. The collet includes deflectable arm portions with a borehole engagement portion that are adapted to engage the borehole. The borehole engagement portions in-turn may then engage the tapered surface or the steps of the mandrel, such that the collet can move with respect to the mandrel. With this movement of the collet, the outer diameter of the collet may progressively decrease, thereby also decreasing the outer diameter of the downhole tool.
US08061042B2
The mowing head (1) comprises: a body (3), which can be engaged to a motor shaft and defines a peripheral edge (3C); at least one member for anchorage (9) of a cutting line (F), with an elastically loaded eccentric oscillating element, which co-operates with a surface of contrast fixed to the body for anchoring said cutting line. The oscillating element (11) projects from the peripheral edge of the body of the mowing head with a knurled edge (11Z), which forms a gripping surface for causing oscillation of the oscillating element and release of the cutting line.
US08061039B2
A razor cartridge which has a housing with a pocket defined by a front wall and a rear wall. The pocket has a seat surface and at least one of the front and rear walls include one or more flexible segments. One or more blades are mounted within the housing. An elongated skin contacting member is provided that comprises a shaving aid composite that has one or more water-leachable shaving aid materials. The elongated skin contacting member has a body portion with an upper skin contacting surface and a base portion which is disposed at least partially within the pocket. The base portion has a bottom surface spaced apart from the seat surface. The base portion extends laterally outwardly from the body portion and is in mechanical engagement with the one or more flexible segments to secure the skin contacting member to the housing.
US08061038B2
A rolling bearing assembling method includes: providing a subassembly member in which a cage and an outer ring raceway of an outer ring are combined with each other; disposing a rotary member that includes groove portions formed on an outer circumference thereof, concentrically with the outer ring so that the plurality of groove portions confront respectively pockets of the cage; disposing a guide member including a guide hole, above the rotary member; supplying tapered rollers from the guide hole between the pockets and the groove portions, respectively; rotating the rotary member by a predetermined angle so that the tapered rollers are pushed radially outward by raised portions between the adjacent groove portions thereby accommodating the tapered rollers into the pockets, respectively; providing the seal ring on the inner ring raceway; and assembling the hub main body together with the outer ring.
US08061035B2
Structures and methods for joining composite fuselage sections and other panel assemblies together are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a shell structure configured in accordance with the present invention includes a first panel portion positioned adjacent to a second panel portion. The first panel portion can include a first stiffener attached to a first composite skin, and the second panel portion can include a second stiffener attached to a second composite skin. The shell structure can further include a fitting extending across a first edge region of the first panel portion and a second edge region of the second panel portion. A first end portion of the fitting can be attached to the first stiffener and the first composite skin, and a second end portion of the fitting can be attached to a second stiffener and a second composite skin, to join the first panel portion to the second panel portion.
US08061032B2
A process for fabricating a metallic component is disclosed. The process includes performing multiple electroforming steps on an object to form metallic layers. The process includes performing between the electroforming steps masking and patterning steps using a non-conductive material. The resulting metallic component has either a single layer or multiple layers of cooling or heat transfer channels, which may be at right angles in adjacent layers. The non-conductive material can be removed during the process by a solvent or by melting. The object on which the metallic component is formed may be a flat or shaped mandrel from which the metallic component can be removed. The metallic component is particularly useful in forming optical components for use in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) systems and in cooling and heat transfer systems.
US08061021B2
The method of replacing the electrical components of a monitoring system. The method includes attaching a housing that contains a battery, sensor and other electronic components to a container. Next, a first lid that contains electronic components that are electrically connected to the sensor in the housing via an electronic cable is removed by detaching the electric cable from the electronic components of the lid. A second lid is then provided wherein the electric cable is electrically connected to the second lid at which point in time the second lid is secured to the housing to complete the replacement.
US08061006B2
A kit of parts for use in the manufacture of a particle cassette for a needleless syringe device. The kit may include a first cassette part having a first rupturable membrane sealed thereto and a second cassette part having a second rupturable membrane sealed thereto. The first and second cassette parts may be arranged to be attachable together so as to create a chamber for the confinement of particles between the first and second membranes. The first and second cassette parts may be substantially annular and the first cassette part defines a receptacle for receiving particles. The second cassette part may be attachable concentrically around or inside the first cassette part.
US08061005B2
A method comprises loading a tooling module onto a module carrier unit, inserting the module carrier unit into a molding press so that the carrier unit rests on a supporting member of an injection molding press, and closing the molding press until the tooling module is mated to an ejection side of a mold base.
US08060990B2
A closure and tightening device buckle comprising a tightening lever (5; 25; 25′; 45; 45′) wherein it comprises a docking element (7; 27; 27′; 47; 47′), wherein the tightening lever (5; 25; 25′; 45; 45′) is mounted so as to be able to rotate about a shaft (8; 28; 28′; 48; 48′) relative to the docking element (7; 27; 27′; 47; 47′) and wherein it comprises a docking lock (11; 31; 31′; 51; 51′) capable of locking/unlocking a binding of the docking element (7; 27; 27′; 47; 47′) on a matching insert (2; 22; 22′; 52; 52′).
US08060989B2
The invention relates to a device 1 for loading machines handling bulk materials, in particular materials that may be in baled or balled form, such as fibres, yarns, threads or debris from woven or non-woven or plastic textile products. Said device 1 comprises: a hopper 8; a conveying device placed on the base of said hopper 8, to convey a strip of material 3 in a backward conveying direction 4 through an opening 14 and into a machine to be loaded; a knife 15 having a blade 17 that can undergo a reciprocating movement approximately perpendicular to the conveying direction 4 so as to cut the material conveyed into the opening 14; and a device for balancing the reciprocating movement of said blade 17.
US08060969B2
A cloth accessory includes a cover member of a soft and flexible material, which forms an enclosure having an opening therein. An insert is configured to fit within the cover member and hold the opening of the cover member in an open position with a substantially constant size and shape. A cloth is coupled to the cover member and has a first and second configuration. The cloth is retracted substantially into the cover member for storage in the first configuration. In the second configuration the cloth is extended through the insert and the opening of the cover member, and substantially out of the cover member for use while remaining coupled to the cover member. An associated method for cleaning or treating a device includes providing a cloth accessory, orienting the cloth into the second configuration and contacting a device with the cloth to clean or treat the device.
US08060967B1
A rotating hair brush with a fins or similar implement projected into the moving path of the brush bristles. The fins automatically remove the hair/fur from the brush bristles. The amount of exposed bristles can be varied and completely concealed inside of the housing. The brush core can contain the batteries and/or motor to reduce the overall size of the assembly. A suction device can be attached to remove dislodged debris. The overall structure contains all of the components such as the motor, power source, brush and hair removal fins in a single housing. The brush is removable and can be exchanged for another with a different bristle configuration.
US08060966B2
The present invention is directed to a precast girder that is used as the outer-most lateral girder in a bridge superstructure. In one embodiment, the girder is comprised of a first flange, a second flange that is separated from the first flange, and a web that connects the first flange to the second flange so that the resulting combination of the first flange, second flange, and web generally has an I-beam cross-section. The girder further includes an edge portion that is connected to the second flange and extends away from the first and second flanges.
US08060950B1
An ear shading hat attachment includes a movable flap portion and a stationary flap portion associated with the flap, two spring hinges formed between the movable flap portion and the stationary flap portion capable of flexing in response to a desired amount of tensioning applied to the spring hinges, wherein the desired amount of tensioning is equal to or ranges between a minimum or a maximum amount of tensioning; and a slot disposed between the spring hinges adapted to control the spring strength of the spring hinges, wherein the stationary flap portion forms part of the stationary base, and wherein the movable flap portion pivots about the stationary base to position the movable flap portion in either a stowed position and a deployed position.
US08060949B2
In accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment, a protective glove for lacrosse, hockey and like sports is disclosed. The protective glove can have a hand receiving portion that can include finger portions, a thumb portion, a metacarpal portion and a wrist portion. The hand receiving portion can have a dorsal side and a palm side. A plurality of protective elements that can include non-gel protective sections and at least one impact gel piece can be on the dorsal side of the hand receiving portion. A lower forearm portion can be attached to the hand receiving portion. An exemplary impact gel piece can be a polyurethane gel piece, which can be made substantially of polyurethane polymers and can be encapsulated. The exemplary impact gel piece can be disposed on at least a portion of one boundary between the thumb portion and metacarpal portion of an exemplary protective glove.
US08060948B2
A hand-mounted carrier is provided comprising a panel member overlaying at least a portion of the back of the hand. The carrier includes an upper surface facing away from the hand and a lower surface facing toward the hand. The upper surface defines a mounting area thereon for securing at least one accessory. At least one loop member is attached to the panel member for at least partially wrapping around at least one finger of the hand to partially anchor a portion of the panel member to the hand. At least one strap is attached to the panel member for at least partially wrapping around the wrist of the hand to anchor at least a portion of the panel member to the hand.
US08060944B2
An apparatus and method for providing a sock for holding shin guards/pads (e.g., soccer shin guards/pads) in position along a player/participant's shin. The apparatus may include an upper section for substantially covering a lower part of a user's leg such as a shin and, optionally, a lower section for substantially covering a player's foot and/or ankle connected to the upper section to form a sock. The upper section has a compression section having a compression factor of less than about 9 inches in order to hold and/or secure a shin-guard in place upon a player/participant's shin. The compression section may comprise an upper compression section and a lower compression section separate and distinct from the upper section.
US08065737B1
Described herein is technology for, among other things virus scanning for block-level distributed application management. The technology involves storing blocks of a root image on a first storage unit and storing blocks of leaf images on respective second storage units. The leaf images include additional data blocks not previously contained in the root image and changes made by respective compute nodes to the blocks of the root image. The technology includes receiving a notification from one of the compute nodes that the root image has been scanned for viruses and providing the notification to other compute nodes.
US08065732B1
A system can be configured using configuration objects that have the ability to refer to one another. In one embodiment, the present invention includes such a system having a plurality of objects used to configure the system, each object having a uniform resource identifier (URI), and an object reference table to enable the plurality of objects to reference each other without using URIs.
US08065729B2
Provided is a method and apparatus for generating a network attack signature capable of generating a signature having a high reliability while minimizing a whitelist used to prevent false positive. An application header and application data are separated from each other to measure byte distributions of the application header and the application data from an input packet. When an attack signature is generated by analyzing the measured byte distributions, a substring of the application data is used to generate the attack signature, and a substring of the application header is used as supporting information on the signature.
US08065723B2
A disclosed network communication device corresponds to IP communications and is capable of performing IPsec communication. The network communication device includes a setting unit configured to obtain and set an operation mode specified by an administrator user; a detecting unit configured to detect a communication error caused by an incorrect portion in an IPsec setting; and a changing unit configured to change the IPsec setting, based on the operation mode set by the setting unit, to correct the incorrect portion or to cancel the IPsec communication, in the event that the communication error is detected.
US08065721B1
The invention is directed to techniques for managing filter rules applied to network traffic at a network device. A network device merges multiple filter rules associated with separate filter matching modules to reduce lookup cycles in a forwarding path of the network device. The network device may thus simultaneously apply multiple filter rules in a reduced number of clock cycles. A network device comprises an interface that receives packets from a network, a filter memory that stores a plurality of filters, and a plurality of filter matching modules that apply the filters to packets in a forwarding path of the network device. A filter control module merges two or more filters each associated with a different one of the filter matching modules into a single merged filter, and stores the merged filter to the filter memory. The network device applies the merged filter to packets in the forwarding path.
US08065720B1
Methods and systems for managing secure communications are provided. An external client establishes secure communications with a secure site. During the secure session, the external client attempts to access potentially insecure references. These potentially insecure references are inspected before being made available to the external client. In some instances, the potentially insecure references are translated into secure references, which suppress normally occurring security warning messages that are issued to the external client. In other instances, the potentially insecure references are processed by a proxy on behalf of the external client and appear to the external client to occur within the secure session.
US08065707B1
A method for providing a combined TV/PC video stream for TV display is provided. A TV video chip having a video input port for receiving a PC monitor display signal and an input for receiving a TV broadcast signal is provided, as well as a PC graphics chip. A PC monitor display signal is sent from the PC graphics chip to the TV video chip. The TV video chip mixing the PC monitor display signal with the TV broadcast signal to generate a combined TV/PC video stream in a format for TV display. A method for generating a combined TV/PC video stream in a format for TV display is further provided. A stream of encoded TV frames is received and the encoded frames are decoded to provide a stream of decoded TV frames. The stream of decoded TV frames is stored into a memory. A PC monitor display signal is provided and is converted into a stream of PC frames. The stream of PC frames are stored into the memory. At least a part of the TV frames and at least a part of the PC frames are read from the memory to output a combined TV/PC video stream and serializing the combined TV/PC video stream, the TV/PC video stream being in a format for TV display.
US08065704B2
A method for updating an electronic service guide (ESG) that includes sending version information of the ESG currently maintained by the server along with ESG data to a terminal. When the server receives an ESG request carrying second version information from the terminal, the server compares the first version information with the second version information and if the first version information differs from the second version information, the server sends the first version information and the ESG data that is related to the ESG requested by the terminal and updated relative to the ESG corresponding to the second version information to the terminal. The present disclosure also discloses a system for updating an ESG, an ESG server and a terminal. With the present disclosure, ESG update is more specific and processing load of the terminal is reduced.
US08065703B2
A system and method is provided for use in connection with delivering content that is targeted to users of a broadcast network. In order to select content that is targeted to users of the broadcast network, signals are received from a plurality of customer premise equipment devices (CPEs) of the network users via a broadcast network interface. Based on the received signals, broadcast assets (e.g., programming, advertisements etc.) are selected from a collection of available asset options. Accordingly, at least a portion of the selected assets are inserted into a content stream of the broadcast network. Once the content stream is broadcast over a broadcast network interface, at least a portion of the selected assets area available for receipt by at least a portion of the CPEs. The CPEs generate reports regarding assets delivered such that asset providers can be billed based on guaranteed targeted impressions.
US08065700B2
Methods and apparatus for identifying audio/video content using temporal characteristics of a signal are disclosed. The disclosed apparatus and methods receive a signature associated with audio/video content presented at a monitored site, wherein the signature is based on a plurality of time intervals associated with audio features of the audio/video content presented at the monitored site and identify the audio/video content presented at the monitored site based on the received signature.
US08065698B2
Default media services are provided to a multi-user multimedia device over a communications network responsive to identification of the multi-user multimedia device. Additional media services are provided to the multi-user multimedia device over the communications network responsive to obtaining confirmation that a particular one of a group of users of the multi-user multimedia device is currently using the multi-user multimedia device. Demographic information for the particular one of the group of users and device information for the multi-user multimedia device may be provided to an advertiser over the network in real-time, for example, so that advertising may be targeted accordingly. Related methods, systems, and devices are also discussed.
US08065695B1
A user at a computing device interacts with a networked site so that the user can log in thereto. The site receives a selection to log in and in response downloads at least one replacing driver for bypassing a corresponding driver operating on the computing device that may possibly copy log-in data including authentication credentials as entered by the user. Each replacing driver is loaded into an operating system of the computing device so as to bypass the corresponding possibly copying driver and be employed in the operating system rather than such corresponding bypassed driver. The site then delivers a log-in screen to a presentation application of the computing device after each replacing driver has been loaded. The presentation application displays the log-in screen and the user enters the log-in data thereinto. Accordingly, each non-trusted and bypassed driver is unable to copy the entered log-in data.
US08065694B2
The removable optical disc storage cartridge stores a plurality of optical disc media in a substantially stacked orientation for later extraction and presentation to a picker in an optical disc storage library. Each optical disc media is stored on a separate extractor that slides between a retracted and a stored position. An extractor tab, accessible outside or inside of the removable optical disc storage cartridge, is connected to each one of the extractors located within the removable optical disc storage cartridge. The removable optical disc storage cartridge further includes a security front door that operates between a closed and open position and further includes a locking element. The locking element may be operated by the picker or a release element contained on a magazine that handles multiple disc storage cartridges. The removable optical disc storage cartridge also includes seals to prevent dust from entering the removable optical disc storage cartridge.
US08065693B2
Provided is a clamping device of a spindle motor including a body, a stopper, a weight, and an elastic member. The stopper is coupled to the body. The weight is coupled to the stopper. The elastic member elastically supports the stopper. According to one embodiment, at least a portion of each stopper is coated with a material having a specific gravity higher than the specific gravity of the body. This material provides the weight coupled to the stopper.
US08065691B2
The invention provides a portable customizable desktop environment, enabling a User to replicate and use the User's preferred desktop configuration on any computing device by means of an enabled portable memory device such as USB drive. Further, the portable desktop can be encapsulated, such that little if any trace of the use of the portable desktop are glean-able from the host computer. Also provided is a method of learning to duplicate a program's environment requirements within the portable desktop environment. The invention further provides a means for providing universal synchronization of a portable customized desktop, thereby preserving data and providing alternate access by User.
US08065685B2
Systems, methods and apparatuses for embodiments of a transformation engine for structured documents are disclosed. More specifically, instruction code may be generated by a compiler from transformation instructions for a structured document. Embodiments of the transformation engine may comprise hardware circuitry operable to execute the instruction code to process a structured document according to the transformation instructions such that output for an output document is generated.
US08065680B2
Method and apparatus for updating user data from multiple data sources in a data gateway are disclosed. The data gateway includes a persistent job table for centrally storing jobs to be processed by the plurality of servers, a server table for centrally storing statuses of activities of the plurality of servers, and a job engine for processing job requests from the multiple data sources using the persistent job table and the server table. The data gateway includes a server farm having a plurality of servers, and where both the persistent job table and the server table reside outside the plurality of servers. The data gateway further includes a virtual Internet Protocol load balancer for dynamically mapping of jobs to be processed to particular servers according to user identifiers.
US08065678B2
A method and apparatus for scheduling the processing of commands by a plurality of cryptographic algorithm cores in a network processor.
US08065677B2
A method, apparatus, system, and computer readable medium are disclosed. In one embodiment the method includes detecting a virtual machine (VM) attempting to communicate with a device coupled to a computer system using a first software plug-in interface that is incompatible with the device. The method continues by temporarily removing the VM from controlling system. Then the first software plug-in interface in the VM is replaced with a second software plug-in interface, which is compatible with the device, without the knowledge of the VM. Then control is returned to the VM and the VM is allowed to resume the communication attempt with the device using the second software plug-in interface.
US08065674B2
A system and method for entity management is provided. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a system administrator is given control over device(s) that can be installed on a computer system(s), and/or how the installation can be performed. Thus, a system administrator can specify device installation policy that prevents the computer system from automatically installing device(s) (e.g., even when an appropriate driver is available to be installed). For example, this policy can be applied to substantially all new devices and/or only a subset of devices. Optionally, policy can also control how device(s) that are already installed will be made available to the computer system.
US08065669B2
A compiler (or interpreter) detects source language instructions performing arithmetic operations using a fixed point format (preferably packed decimal). Where the operation can be performed without loss of precision or violation of other constraints of the source language, the compiler automatically converts the operands to a floating point format (preferably Decimal Floating Point (DFP)) having hardware support, and re-converts results to the original fixed point format. Preferably, the compiler may combine multiple operations and instructions in an expression tree, analyze the tree, and selectively convert where possible. The compiler preferably performs a heuristic cost judgment in determining whether to use a particular conversion.
US08065666B2
Systems and methods that facilitate electronic audit recording and tracking of interactions in an industrial control system via employing a differentiation engine that supplies an object-oriented presentation of an audit trail—and further present a view of a desired segment associated with a PLC program (e.g., a particular run of the PLC program), for an object that an audit is requested for. A user (e.g., a customer of the industrial process) can initially identify an object and subsequently view typically all changes to such identified object. Accordingly, a general requirement for checking every version to determine a change to the object is mitigated.
US08065665B1
Correlating profile data facilitates sophisticated code optimization. Going beyond one to one relationships between code execution hindrances and single code behavior attributes provides insight into code behavior at a finer level of granularity. The capability to aggregate profile data based on multiple code behavior attributes and filter based on instances thereof, allows code optimization decisions to be made based on presentation of profile data from various perspectives. Profile data, which includes code behavior attributes correlated with code execution hindrances, is aggregated based at least in part on a first code behavior attribute. Code behavior attributes include one or more of memory references, memory reference objects, functions, time ranges, processors, processes, threads, and source-level data objects. The aggregated profile data is filtered based on an instance of the first code behavior attribute. The filtered profile data is then aggregated based on one or more additional code behavior attributes.
US08065662B1
A method for compatibility testing that includes executing a test suite to test an application programming interface (API) implementation, wherein the test suite comprises a plurality of compatibility tests that test the compatibility of the API implementation to an API specification. The method also includes requesting sample data for at least one test of the plurality of compatibility tests using a provider interface, wherein the sample data corresponds to the API implementation, and receiving the requested sample data from a provider, wherein the provider implements the provider interface. In addition, the method includes using the sample data by the at least one test to test the API implementation, receiving a result of the at least one test, and reporting a result of executing the test suite using the result of the at least one test.
US08065660B1
A method and an application-building tool for creating and customizing a network management application in a network defined by a plurality of network elements are provided. The customization of the network management application includes providing a customized definition file Further, the customized definition file is associated with the network management application at run time. Thereafter, the network management application is executed within a framework.
US08065650B2
An apparatus having two or more parallel carry chain structures, each of the carry chain structures comprising a series of logical structures, where at least one of the logical structures within each of the carry chain structures has an associated input node, output node and carry node. The input node corresponds to a function input term, the output node corresponds to an output term of the function and the carry node corresponds to a carry value to a following logical structure in the series of logical structures.
US08065646B2
A method for analyzing an design of an integrated circuit, the method includes defining possible timings of signals to be provided to the integrated circuit and calculating hold violations; characterized by including a stage of determining relationships between clock events and corresponding data/control events that ideally precede the clock events, in response to the possible timing of signals; and determining hold parameters in response to the relationships. A computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of instructions, the set of instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to define at least one internal delay of a designed component, characterized by causing the processor to define a cell that is characterized by multiple hold times and multiple setup values for a certain clock skew value.
US08065640B1
In one embodiment of the invention, a method is disclosed including executing one or more commands of a work script to perform work on a portion of a netlist of an integrated circuit design; receiving an indication of a program fault in a first integrated circuit (IC) design program performing work on the portion of the netlist in response to the one or more commands of the work script; and generating a debug work script associated with the work script in response to the program fault, the debug work script including an identification of the portion of the netlist of the integrated circuit design upon which work was being performed during the program fault.
US08065637B2
A semiconductor device having a physical pattern based on a designed pattern is provided. The designed pattern includes a target pattern and a correction pattern. The target pattern includes a first portion of an edge with a first distance between the first portion and a pattern opposed thereto, a second portion of the edge with a second distance between the second portion and a pattern opposed thereto, which is different from the first distance, and a third portion of the edge having a first region of the edge with the first distance between the first region and the pattern opposed thereto.
US08065628B2
A dynamic user interface for previewing live content includes multiple tiles. Information for multiple pieces of live content available from a gallery is obtained, and this information is presented in the multiple tiles of the user interface in accordance with a current user interface layout. In accordance with one aspect, this current user interface layout changes automatically over time as the user interface is displayed. In accordance with another aspect, one or more of the multiple tiles is displayed in the user interface more prominently than the other tiles, and which information is to be displayed in the one or more tiles is based at least in part on a received fee.
US08065615B2
The subject invention provides a method of retrieving information (10) associated with an object (12) present in a media stream (14). The method includes the steps of accessing the information (10) during playback of the media stream (14) on any device and defining user-selectable regions (18) in a layer (20) separate from the media stream (14). The layer (20) is preferably a clear applet for receiving and storing the user-selectable regions (18). The defining of the user-selectable region (18) is performed without editing individual frames of the media stream (14). A link (34) is associated between the user-selectable region (18) and the information (10) associated with the object (12) to identify the location where information (10) associated with the object (12) is stored. In operation, the layer (20) is disposed adjacent the media stream (14) without interfering with playback of the media stream (14) in the player. During playback of the media stream (14), the user-selectable regions (18) are capable of being selected. Once the user-selectable region (18) is selected, the information (10) associated with the object (12) is then displayed.
US08065608B2
An improved system for determining compliance between a source document structure in accordance with a source schema and a target schema includes: data storage; and a processor for executing software code. The software code causes the processor to: create a source schema description and a target schema description; receive the source document which includes an ordered tree structure with labeled elements and including a subtree; identify all corresponding element types in the source and target schemas for grouping the corresponding element types into element type pairs; classify each element type pair; and confirm compliance of the source document.
US08065601B2
A system and related methods for tagging data, especially in the context of a web-based application, includes various features associated with a tag bar. A text field is displayable in conjunction with such tag bar, as is a list of any potential tags. Data can be received corresponding to a tag to be added to the tag bar. Once the tag bar has been added, it is displayed in the tag bar.
US08065596B2
A modified classical Viterbi decoder which can take extrinsic information and output hard decisions. A modified Viterbi decoder is provided comprising a branch metric unit, the unit having a calculator; and a processor adapted to compute a revised branch metric by combining the initial branch metric and an additional weight parameter. The modified classical Viterbi decoder computes a branch metric by summing an initial branch metric and the additional weight parameter.
US08065590B2
A RAID disk drive controller (FIG. 33) implements disk storage operations, including striping and redundancy operations with multiple disk drives connected via respective SATA ports (520). Configurable data path switch logic (460) provides dynamic configuration of two or more attached drives into one or more arrays. Data transfers are synchronized locally by leveraging the SATA port transport layer FIFO (530). Synchronous transfers allow on-the-fly redundancy (XOR) operations (FIG. 36) for improved performance and reduced hardware complexity. XOR accumulator hardware (FIG. 42-FIG. 43) reduces buffer requirements for multiple DMA channels otherwise required for synchronization, and various narrow and wide striping modes are supported.
US08065581B2
Methods and apparatus are presented for dynamically controlling the re-transmission scheme of acknowledgment signals. A source transmits a first data packet over a slot s1. If channel conditions are favorable, source transmits a second data packet over slot s2, which precedes the reception of any acknowledgment signals. A destination receives first data packet over slot d1 and second data packet over slot d2. Destination decodes first data packet during slots d2 and d3, and second data packet over slots d3 and d4. Destination transmits an acknowledgment signal (ACK1) associated with first data packet during slot d4. Rather then transmitting the second ACK1 associated with first data packet over slot d5, destination preempts this slot with an acknowledgment signal ACK2, which is associated with second data packet transmitted by source. Hence, destination is configured to overwrite the repetition of a previous acknowledgment in order to transmit a new acknowledgment.
US08065577B2
Functional circuits and cores of circuits are tested on integrated circuits using scan paths. Using parallel scan distributor and collector circuits for these scan paths improves test access of circuits and cores embedded within ICs and reduces the IC's power consumption during scan testing. A controller for the distributor and collector circuits includes a test control register, a test control state machine and a multiplexer. These test circuits can be connected in a hierarchy or in parallel. A conventional test access port or TAP can be modified to work with the disclosed test circuits.
US08065576B2
A semiconductor chip is described having a plurality of processing cores. The semiconductor chip also includes a plurality of test controllers. Each test controller is associated with a different one of the processing cores. The semiconductor chip also includes a test port having a first serial input and a first serial output. The first serial input is to receive serial test input data provided to the semiconductor chip. The first serial output is to provide serial output data provided by the semiconductor chip. The semiconductor chip further includes switch circuitry coupled to the test port and the plurality of test controllers. The switch circuitry is to route the serial test input data to one of the plurality of test controllers and to route the serial output data from one of the plurality of test controllers to the first serial output. The semiconductor chip further includes a configuration register coupled to the switch circuitry to establish the switch circuitry's routing configuration.
US08065568B2
The system for detecting a failure on a communication network according to an objective basis by analyzing an alarm log output by a management server of the communication network and evaluating a degree of abnormality of the communication network tracing back to a more significant factor causing the alarm, calculates an occurrence intensity of the more significant factor 500 causing an alarm based on the recording contents of the alarm, and detects a failure derived from the more significant factor of the communication network based on the calculated intensity of occurrence of said more significant factor 500.
US08065565B2
The method executes the application and if there are no errors from the execution of the application, the method ends. If errors exist, the errors are collected from the execution of the application in an error report. Labeled application paths are created by adding a unique label to individual application paths where the application paths are individual loops and individual functions in the application. An analysis is created of the labeled application paths by executing the application with the labeled paths, reviewing the error report for data related to the labels and if an error is sufficiently related to application paths with labels, storing the path that created the errors in a report. If an error is not sufficient related to the application path with labels, the method is repeated by the creating the analysis again by substituting additional application paths for the application paths.
US08065563B2
A booting system includes: a non-XIP memory, for storing a plurality of booting images, wherein the booting images comprise a source image and a plurality of duplicates of the source image; an XIP memory, coupled to the non-XIP memory; and a code shadowing module, coupled to the non-XIP memory and the XIP memory, for shadowing a specific booting image to the XIP memory if no errors are detected when carrying out error detection (EDC) checking on the specific booting image; wherein if at least a specific part of a booting image does not pass EDC checking, the code shadowing module shadows error-free parts of the booting image to the XIP memory, carries out EDC checking on at least a duplicate of the specific part, and then shadows an error-free part corresponding to the specific part to the XIP memory.
US08065562B2
Power-backup capabilities are provided by implementing a variety of different methods, systems and devices. According to one such implementation, a capacitive storage circuit is operated at a threshold voltage that is set to provide sufficient power to operate backup functions of a data storage device, and that is further selectively adjusted during a test period to maintain such sufficient power while also providing power to carry out test functions. In other implementations, the threshold voltage is set in response to operating characteristics of one or more of a data storage device to which backup power is to be provided and the capacitive storage circuit itself. The threshold voltage is reduced or otherwise maintained at a low level that is yet sufficient to supply appropriate power (e.g., thus maintaining the capacitive circuit at a voltage level that is about as low as possible, which can enhance operational characteristics of the capacitive circuit).
US08065560B1
A method and apparatus for achieving high availability for applications and optimizing power consumption within a datacenter is provided. In one embodiment, a method for providing high availability and optimizing power consumption within a datacenter comprises upon execution of an application at a target node amongst a plurality of nodes in a datacenter, selecting a failover target node amongst the plurality of nodes for the application, and reserving a failover capacity of at least one resource of the selected failover target node.
US08065559B2
The present invention provides methods and systems for performing load balancing via a plurality of virtual servers upon a failover using metrics from a backup virtual server. The methods and systems described herein provide systems and methods for an appliance detecting that a first virtual server of a plurality of virtual servers having one or more backup virtual servers load balanced by an appliance is not available, identifying at least a first backup virtual server of a one or more backup virtual servers of the first virtual server is available, maintaining a status of the first virtual server as available in response to the identification, obtaining one or more metrics from the first backup virtual server of a one or more backup virtual servers, and determining the load across the plurality of virtual servers using the metrics obtained from the first backup virtual server associated with the first virtual server.
US08065554B2
Provided a communication device and a method of self-healing thereof. The communication device is characterized by one or more operational functions and comprising one or more resources operatively coupled to at least one sensor, said sensor directly or indirectly coupled to a recovery block, wherein the device is configured to held an emergency configuration related to at least one of said operational functions and/or at least one of said resources; the sensor is configured to monitor at least one of said resources for information, indicative of at least one possibly malfunctioned resource, and to report, directly or indirectly, this information and/or derivative thereof to the recovery block; and the recovery block is configured to initiate at least one remedial action in respect of at least one of said resources in case the received information and/or derivative thereof meets a certain criterion, wherein said remedial action to be provided in accordance with the emergency configuration.
US08065545B2
Activation of an external sensor coupled to an electronic device will change the frequency of a low power oscillator in the electronic device that runs during a low power sleep mode of the electronic device. When a change in frequency of the low power oscillator is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode. In addition, when a change in frequency from an external frequency source is detected, the electronic device will wake-up from the low power sleep mode.
US08065543B2
A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and system, the method including, in some embodiments, determining an impedance of a power distribution network of a load for a range of frequencies, and adjusting a functionality of the load based on a relationship between the impedance of the power distribution network for the range of frequencies and the functionality of the load.
US08065539B2
An AC-to-DC adapter provides power to information handling systems at different power levels based on the power rating of the information handling system. An adapter manager sets a first lower level at an over current protection circuit unless the information handling system sends identification information that indicates the information handling system is rated to accept a second higher power level, such as by sending a low signal pulse through a serial communication line. While the identification information is present and external power is applied to the adapter, the adapter manager sets a second higher level at an over current protection circuit to allow output of a second higher power level.
US08065534B2
A state store having state information therein is stored on a computing device. Information at least nearly unique to the computing device is obtained, and a number of locations at which at least a portion of the state store is to be stored at is determined. Pseudo-random file names and corresponding paths are generated based at least in part on the obtained information, whereby the generated file names and corresponding paths are likewise at least nearly unique to the computing device, and the generated file names and path are paired to form the locations. Thereafter, the state store is stored according to the generated locations.
US08065533B2
A method of and device for granting access to content on a storage medium, including obtaining cryptographic data from a property, such as a wobble, of the storage medium, reading helper data from the storage medium, and granting the access based on an application of a delta-contracting function to the cryptographic data and the helper data. The delta-contracting function allows the choice of an appropriate value of the helper data, such that any value of the cryptographic data which sufficiently resembles the original primary input value leads to the same output value. Substantially different values of the cryptographic data lead to different values of the output.
US08065529B2
Brain waves are used as a biometric parameter to provide for authentication and identification of personnel. The brain waves are sampled using EEG equipment and are processed using phase-space distribution functions to compare digital signature data from enrollment of authorized individuals to data taken from a test subject to determine if the data from the test subject matches the signature data to a degree to support positive identification.
US08065525B2
A typing typeprint is used to validate users for access to a computer system. The typeprint may also include a timestamp or voice stamp for further security. Multi-modal biometric protection is provided by supplementing keystroke-scan methods with fingerprint, voice-scan, signature-scan and/or mouse-scan verification. The authentication program may be built into a keyboard.
US08065523B2
Proposed is an apparatus and method of preventing the leakage of information from an external storage apparatus even when such external storage apparatus is stolen or accessed from an unauthorized host computer. This external storage apparatus accessible from a host computer or another external storage apparatus via a network encrypts or decrypts data written from a host computer to be stored in the storage area, sends a request for existence confirmation to the host computer or the other external storage apparatus every predetermined period of time, and zeroizes an encryption key to be used in the encryption calculation for encrypting or decrypting data to be performed by the encryption calculation unit based on the result of a response from the host computer or the other external storage apparatus in reply to the request.
US08065520B2
An embodiment of the invention includes a secure server. A user at a terminal, communicatively coupled to the secure server by a secure link, can obtain web pages from web sites in a network, in encrypted form, via the secure link. Addresses associated with the web pages are altered to make it appear as if the web pages come from the secure server rather than from the web sites. Spoofing units may be used as alternative access points to the secure server, with the secure server sending the requested web pages directly to the terminal. In general, address rewriting and other manipulation can be performed on the requested web pages, such that the true sources of the web pages are disguised and such that subsequent communications from the terminal are directed to the secure server and/or spoofing unit, rather than to the true source of the web pages. Components of the user's privacy may be sold, or advertisements may be provided, in exchange for protection of the user's identity.
US08065517B2
A system and method for transferring information include generating a public/private key pair for programming equipment and sending the programming equipment public key to a certificate authority. A programming equipment certificate is generated using the programming equipment public key and a private key of the certificate authority. The programming equipment certificate and a certificate authority certificate are sent to the programming equipment. Information is transferred to or from the programming equipment in response to an authentication using the programming equipment certificate and the certificate authority certificate.
US08065510B2
A system comprises a processor and non-volatile storage coupled to the processor. The non-volatile storage comprises firmware that is executable by the processor. The processor determines whether the firmware is available to be executed. If the firmware is not available to be executed, the processor determines a location across a network and retrieves a second firmware image from that location.
US08065509B2
A persistent security system comprises a computing system comprising an operating system (OS), a basic input/output system (BIOS) and a hard disk drive (HDD), the OS configured to initiate a call to the BIOS to cause the BIOS to write an instance of a security routine to the HDD.
US08065508B2
In some implementations, a computer-implemented method includes storing a plurality of acceleration profiles in a mobile device; receiving accelerometer data from an accelerometer in the mobile device; correlating the accelerometer data with one accelerometer profile in the plurality of accelerometer profiles; and activating a user application of the mobile device that is associated with the correlated accelerometer profile. Each acceleration profile can correspond to a sequence of acceleration forces a mobile device would be subjected to when carried with a user during an activity that corresponds to the correlated acceleration profile.
US08065497B2
A data management method, a controller and a storage apparatus thereof are provided. The method is adapted for a storage apparatus having a plurality of blocks. Parts of the blocks are linked to configure a plurality of mother and child blocks (M&C block). The data management method includes: (a) checking whether a mother and child block currently to be written with data is the same of a mother and child block which has been most lately written with data; (b) when it is determined that the mother and child block currently to be written with data is not the same of the mother and child block which has been most lately written with data, saving a transient data of the mother and child block currently to be written with data to a mother and child block transient relationship table.
US08065492B2
Various embodiments are disclosed of a failure detection system for a solid-state data storage system that can experience difficulties, such as system failure or loss of data integrity, when it runs out of spare storage locations. Spare storage locations can be used by a solid-state data storage system to replace storage locations that have become defective. In one embodiment, a count is kept of the available spare storage locations in a system, or sub-system, and when the amount of available spare locations drops to a threshold value, an action can be taken to avoid the consequences of an impending failure. In other embodiments, the available spare storage locations are monitored by keeping track of the percentage of initially available spare locations still remaining, by keeping track of the rate of new spare locations being used, or by other techniques. In various embodiments, the early failure detection system responds to detection of a possible impending failure by taking one or more of a variety of actions, including, for example, sending an alert notification, enabling additional storage capacity, copying portions of the data stored in the system to other secure storage locations, shutting the system down, and taking no action.
US08065487B2
A design structure embodied in a machine readable storage medium for of designing, manufacturing, and/or testing for shared cache eviction in a multi-core processing environment having a cache shared by a plurality of processor cores is provided. The design structure includes means for receiving from a processor core a request to load a cache line in the shared cache; means for determining whether the shared cache is full; means for determining whether a cache line is stored in the shared cache that has been accessed by fewer than all the processor cores sharing the cache if the shared cache is full; and means for evicting a cache line that has been accessed by fewer than all the processor cores sharing the cache if a cache line is stored in the shared cache that has been accessed by fewer than all the processor cores sharing the cache.
US08065486B2
A cache memory control circuit includes a selecting section configured to be capable of selecting, in a predetermined order, each way or a predetermined two or more ways of a cache memory having multiple ways; a comparing section configured to detect a cache hit in each way; and a control section configured to, upon detection of a cache hit, stop a selection of the respective ways or the predetermined two or more ways at the selecting section.
US08065485B2
A method for determining whether to store binary information in a fast way or a slow way of a cache is disclosed. The method includes receiving a block of binary information to be stored in a cache memory having a plurality of ways. The plurality of ways includes a first subset of ways and a second subset of ways, wherein a cache access by a first execution core from one of the first subset of ways has a lower latency time than a cache access from one of the second subset of ways. The method further includes determining, based on a predetermined access latency and one or more parameters associated with the block of binary information, whether to store the block of binary information into one of the first set of ways or one of the second set of ways.
US08065481B1
A RAID system is provided which can be implemented as a hardware RAID system while avoiding certain shortcomings of previous RAID systems. The RAID system makes it possible to avoid or reduce the number of buffers or processors and can take advantage of drive logic to achieve RAID functions or enhancements. RAID functionality can be provided in a manner to accommodate one or more ATA drive interfaces. To avoid drive replacement problems, host requests for drive serial numbers are responded to with a mirror serial number. In one embodiment, the read address is used to select which drive will perform a read operation.
US08065455B2
A method for data communication of bus users of an open automation system such that any bus user with an individual and interactive communication may be connected provides for a communication controller (KC) made up of at least one freely-programmable communication-ALU (RPA, TPA, PEA), with several commands being encoded on a command code for the communication-ALU optimized for particular communication functions, and logic function blocks (FI, Z, V, CRC) are arranged in parallel in the communication ALU (RPA, TPA), which carry out particular communication functions, the communication functions not being definitively defined but rather being formed on the basis of the freely-programmable and communication function optimized communication ALUs (RPA, TPA, PEA), wherein several commands are carried out in a system cycle and transitions between various networks can be carried out.
US08065454B1
An adapter having a plurality of functions and a plurality of ports, in which the mapping between functions and ports is configurable. In certain embodiments, device memory can be programmed with a desired mapping scheme that overrides a default mapping scheme for the adapter. In certain embodiments, device memory can be reprogrammed with a different desired mapping to enable the adapter to dynamically respond to system conditions.
US08065446B2
A system, apparatus and method are provided for discerning a host interface, the method including connecting a pull resistor to the interface, sequentially applying a pull voltage to the pull resistor, measuring a loaded electrical characteristic of the interface while the sequentially applied pull voltage is applied to the pull resistor, comparing the loaded electrical characteristic with a predetermined value, and identifying a specification of the interface in accordance with the comparison.
US08065443B1
An improved computerized device and system for data collection and communication. The system can include component identification capability, multiple communication options, multiple optical reading and imaging options and multiple audio components. Further, the computerized can include a removable shock protection system. Multiple additional features and combinations of features are also disclosed.
US08065442B1
Technologies are described herein for high-performance and space efficient journaling mechanisms. A journal queue can buffer incoming I/O operations. The queue can be read by a journal write module. The journal write module can form metadata headers to store into the journal along with each I/O operation. Compound metadata headers may be formed for multiple I/O operations and the combination of multiple I/O operations may be efficiently stored to the journal as one journal write. Multiple journal entries may be written into the journal in parallel while maintaining the sequential ordering of the journal. A queue depth threshold can be established for determining if journal entries should be combined into compound entries or not. Multiple concurrent readers can support continuous data protection, and various data replication features. Each reader can be represented as a reader pointer and a journal writer can invalidate reader pointers when related data is overwritten.
US08065427B1
An apparatus, method, and computer readable medium is disclosed for synchronizing a performance of a plurality of presentation content portions at a network node, wherein, e.g., when two such content portions are to be presented concurrently at the network node, at least one is delayed until the other such portion can be presented concurrently therewith. That is, these two portions may be received by the network node at times sufficiently far apart so that the earlier received content portion must have its presentation appropriately delayed in order to be presented concurrently with the second content portion. In one embodiment, the content portions are transmitted via at least a portion of the Internet to a plurality of network nodes, wherein the presentation system can distribute the presentation content data to the network nodes via a plurality of network routes and presentation formats. In particular, a first portion of the content data may be provided as slides in, e.g., HTML, while a second portion of the content data may be provided as an audio/video stream.
US08065422B2
A method comprising the steps of (A) generating a call for a first operating system at a host, (B) sending the call for the first operating system from the host to a storage array over a network, (C) generating a response to the call for the first operating system from the host, (D) sending the response from the storage array to the host over the network and (E) capturing and storing the response in a device.
US08065417B1
A system, method, and computer readable medium for managing registration, by a content broker, of one or more resources with one or more service providers are provided. A content broker obtains registration information for registering the one or more resources with a service provider. The registration information may include a request to publish one or more resources to a service provider, an identification of the one or more resources, service provider selection criteria provided by the content provider or otherwise selected, and the like. The content broker transmits a service provider generation request corresponding to the registration information to the service provider. Then, the content broker manages and processes data pursuant to registration of the one or more resources with the service provider. The process can further include causing the generation of a user interface by the content broker for requesting registration of the one or more resources with a service provider using a single control.
US08065416B2
A playlist acquisition unit acquires a playlist including a view segment of contents for a user. The view segment has a start position and an end position in the contents. A copyright information acquisition unit acquires copyright information of the contents from a copyright management apparatus via a network. The copyright management apparatus manages copyright information of each content. A view right information acquisition unit acquires view right information of the user to view the contents. A viewable playlist composition unit composes a viewable playlist by editing the playlist using the copyright information and the view right information. The viewable playlist includes restriction information of the view segment.
US08065410B1
A system provides an agent that executes remotely from a web site and can measure performance associated with the web site. The agent obtains a script containing at least one transaction to be performed with the web site. The transaction(s) define a sequence of page requests identifying web pages to obtain from the web site. The agent executes the script to perform the transaction with the web site. Performance of the transaction includes retrieving the sequence of web pages and identifying respective performance metrics including performance metrics associated with obtaining respective objects defined within each web page, and performance metrics associated with obtaining a complete version of each web page. The agent transmits the performance metrics associated with execution of the transaction defined by the script to a repository.
US08065408B2
Maintaining a current network address between a network device and a network management system (NMS) that enables central configuration control over a number of network devices. Network devices with dynamically changeable network addresses provide address updates to a listener system, which maintains a database of current IP addresses relative to device names. The network devices communicate with the listener system via a listener network address and a first predefined port. The NMS submits a device name to the listener system in a request for a current network address via a second predefined port. The listener system optionally checks a local hosts file and/or DNS server before resolving a current network address from the device name associated with a unique MAC address. The listener system provides the NMS with the current network address when requested by the NMS or immediately if the NMS registers for immediate notification of an address change.
US08065405B2
A method and system for aggregating presence information generated by multiple devices associated with a single user is presented. A server acting as a presence agent on behalf of a first user and the first user's computing device receives and responds to a subscription request generated by a computing device operated by a second user that wishes to be permitted as a watcher of the first user. If the server is not capable of acting as a presence agent, then the first user's computing device assumes the role of a presence agent.
US08065401B2
Methods and structures for assuring proper sequencing of processing of SAS frames received over multiple physical ports of a SAS wide port. A frame scheduler element is communicatively coupled with a SAS transport layer and with a corresponding plurality of link layers operable as a SAS wide port. The frame scheduler receives a request from the transport layer to locate or select a next received frame for further processing. The frame scheduler interacts with the plurality of link layer processing elements having received frames stored within to locate the link layer that has the requested next frame. The frame scheduler then coordinates operation of that link layer and the transport layer to effectuate the transfer of the required next frame.
US08065398B2
Method and apparatus for application-driven storage provisioning on a unified network storage system
A configuration for a network-accessible storage device is prepared by automatically computing a configuration parameter based on a setup parameter that pertains to an application-level function of the network accessible device. Software and systems that implement or use aspects of the invention are also described and claimed.
US08065389B2
A method of transferring content (CONT1, CONT2) between at least two devices (DEV1, DEV2, DEV3), the devices (DEV1, DEV2, DEV3) being capable of outputting said content (CONT1, CONT2), and a device (DEV1) itself is disclosed. First, said devices (DEV1, DEV2, DEV3) are connected via associated interfaces (INT1, INT2, INT3). Then, there is a detection or negotiation which of the devices (DEV1, DEV2, DEV3) is currently outputting content (CONT1, CONT2). Finally, content (CONT1, CONT2), which is currently being output, is transferred from the corresponding outputting device or devices (DEV1, DEV2) to the other device or devices (DEV1, DEV2, DEV3) via said interfaces (INT1, INT2, INT3).
US08065375B2
A system for managing message volume and timing, which permits messages from multiple sources to be spaced apart over time, with the pacing controlled in part by the type or priority of the message. The system permits the volume of messages to be reduced by aggregating messages according to a set of rules and by discarding or delaying messages that are sufficiently similar and sent too close together. In addition, the system allows message sources to be notified when a recipient has not received a message within a designated time period. The system can be implemented as a centralized pacing system or through use of a data storage system accessible by the message sources.
US08065366B2
Disclosed are a system and method for distributing a blog post based on personal networking, and a server to be applied thereto. The system includes a writer terminal unit, which makes a series of settings for forming a blog post containing contents posted by a writer through the writer's blog registered with an online community service, and then distributes the blog post to at least one or more acquaintances blogs registered to personal networking with the writer, sharer/distributor terminal units, which make setting for posting the blog post on the acquaintances blogs, or distributing the blog post to at least one or more other acquaintances blogs registered to personal networking with sharers/distributors, and a service management server, which differentially provides management authority for the blog post to each of the writer and the sharers/distributors, and integrally manages the blog post distributed to a plurality of blogs, based on a path along which the blog post is distributed. The system and method distributes a blog post containing a writer's specific purpose of posting, such as a help-wanted notice, step by step through blogs registered with an online community service, based on trust relationships, thereby providing a notice platform, which is so efficient that an advertiser who writes a blog post, such as a help-wanted notice, can quickly find a qualified person, based on his/her trust relationships.
US08065362B2
There is provided a system for facilitating updating of stored event data of a scheduling device, the event data adaptable for use in generating an event reminder message for receipt by a client resulting in corresponding response data in response to the event reminder message, the system comprising: an upload module configured for receiving a data package including the event data and at least one of a client data and service provider data associated therewith; a filter module configured for removing unnecessary data from the data package in accordance with predetermined filter settings to provide a modified data package; a communication module for configuring the modified data package for transmission to a server for use in generating the event reminder message; and a download module configured for receiving a notification package including the response data translated into a native language format of the scheduling device suitable for updating the stored event data, wherein the notification package is subsequently sent to the scheduling device for updating of the corresponding event data.
US08065355B2
The present invention relates to an interpolation FIR (finite impulse response) filter having multiple data rates in a mobile communication system, and a method of filtering data using the same. In the method of filtering data using the interpolation FIR filter, a first filter uses an FIR low pass filter that restricts a band to satisfy a bandwidth corresponding to a data spectrum mask required in the mobile communication system. The other filters use interpolation FIR halfband filters that are implemented by a small number of taps. Accordingly, the interpolation FIR filter having multiple data rates can be easily implemented, and can be easily applied to the mobile communication system that transmits and receives data having various data rates.
US08065353B2
A customer search terminal system may be configured to accept customer product searches and identify corresponding products and product information. A method for determining the efficacy of the customer search terminal may include receiving customer usage information including data related to customer usage of a customer search terminal and may also include receiving product sales information including data related to products sold at a point-of-sale terminal. The method may further include generating customer purchase behavior information by correlating the received customer search terminal usage information with the received product sales information when a product is sold at the point-of-sale terminal within a prescribed time period relative to a search for the product on the customer search terminal.
US08065350B2
Herein described is a method and system for providing shared access to data residing within a data pool of a data storage device. Aspects of the invention incorporate the use of one or more mechanisms by which access to the data occurs. The one or more mechanisms may be enabled or disabled by way of one or more selections that are made using a user interface. In a representative embodiment, the user interface may comprise a web browser. The method may involve assigning one or more values to one or more variables and subsequently executing a software program. The software program invokes one or more share access mechanisms when the one or more values are equal to one or more enabling values. The system may comprise a memory that is used to store the software program and a processor that is used to execute the software program.
US08065347B1
A clinical trial management system and associated methods are provided to manage individual clinical trials running under multiple protocols at once. The disclosure allows clinical trials to be amended during the course of the study with reduced risk of loss of time or data. Patients may be started under one clinical trial protocol and be moved to another upon approval from the doctor or hospital managing their involvement in the study. In an embodiment, patient data is not moved or altered during a change in protocol to provide a more secure clinical trial system.
US08065346B1
A graphical user interface (GUI) architecture is configured to enable efficient management of resources in a storage system environment. The GUI architecture is embodied within a namespace and storage management (NSM) application as a GUI toolkit configured to produce reusable GUI components, such as a navigation frame, a wizard and a dialog box. In particular, the reusable wizard allows users to make intelligent choices toward successful completions of desired actions by, e.g., only requesting information needed to accomplish those actions.
US08065341B2
Systems and methods are provided for transferring data. In one implementation, a method is provided for transferring data between a sending device (e.g., a server) and a receiving device (e.g., a client). The method may include sending, from the receiving device, a data query to request data from the sending device and receiving, form the sending device, a data result model in response to the data query. The data result model may include a table block. The method may also include analyzing the data result model to regenerate the data for storage at the receiving device. Analyzing the data result model may comprises reading at least one column definition and at least one data row from the table block, the data row including a row flag, a null location list, and a row payload field including the non-null data to be transferred to the receiving device. The method may further include processing each mapped data row to provide the regenerated data for storage at the receiving device.
US08065339B2
A hierarchy of nodes is created, each node being one of associated with an item retrieved according to a condition and associated with a category of information including the item. It is determined whether at least one of the nodes is redundant in the hierarchy. The at least one of the nodes is pruned from the hierarchy if the at least one of the nodes is redundant.
US08065336B2
A computer-implemented method of defining a set of annotation elements to map a concept to electronic data as input data; generating a mapping rule, according to the set of annotation elements defined and a sample of the input data; mapping the concept to the input data by applying the mapping rule to the input data; and generating a semantic instance of the input data based upon the mapping of the concept to the input data. The set of annotation elements to map the concept to the input data are a selected ontology corresponding to the input data, a selected ontology concept from the selected ontology, a mapping of a word or word phrase in the sample input data to the selected ontology concept from the selected ontology, and a pattern of the mapped word or word phrase relative to a structure of the sample input data.
US08065334B2
A system and method of warranty insight solution are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes populating a data mart with data from a number of sources, text analyzing and mining the unstructured data of the data mart according to a uniform structure, performing root cause analysis assistance on staged data mart data, generating root cause analysis output from the root cause analysis, merging the root cause analysis output with the data of the data mart, and generating final output based on a portion of the merged data of the data mart. The data may include data selected from a group including warranty claim data, traceability data, supplier data, manufacturer data, retailer data, customer data, component data, service data, failure data, field data, vehicle failure fault codes trough telematics, and collection center data.
US08065327B2
This disclosure describes techniques that enable a subscriber of a data center to manage a site collection group hosted by the data center. A site collection group is a set of site collections that belong to a single subscriber. A site collection is a collection of websites. A website is a collection of related resources. Each of the site collections is associated with an “owner”. As described herein, the data center presents management interfaces that enable owners of site collections to manage the site collections. In addition, the data center presents management interfaces that enable subscribers to manage architectural aspects of their site collection groups.
US08065325B2
A system and a method create metadata for media files. The metadata may be information relating to, based on and/or associated with the media files. The metadata of the media files may be searched by one or more terminals. An event database connectable to a terminal may use a location, a date and/or a time of creation of the media files to associate specific events with the media files. Further, the specific events may be used by the database to create keywords associated with the media files. As a result, the system and the method may organize and/or may provide searching for media files. A web page may be generated for an event that accumulates the media files related to the event.
US08065323B2
An aspect of the present invention performs offline validation of data in database system for foreign key constraints. In an embodiment, a foreign key constraint defined for a database system is identified and an SQL script designed to verify whether data values stored in a foreign key column of a detail table is present in a primary key column of a master table (corresponding to the identified foreign key constraint), is generated. The SQL script is executed to determine whether the data stored in the database system satisfies the identified foreign key constraint.
US08065321B2
An apparatus and method of searching an electronic document are disclosed. A document that is assumed to contain a search symbol set is searched. The search symbol set is a symbol set being extracted from a plurality of symbols representing a search request when the symbol set being extracted satisfies a predetermined condition.
US08065316B1
A system and method for generating query refinement suggestions may include collecting refinement data for at least one received source query. The collected refinement data is then clustered to form at least one cluster. At least one potential refinement query suggestion is identified from the refinement data within the at least one cluster.
US08065315B2
A search middleware may be used to receive search requests regarding a software incident associated with a software application. The search requests may be populated with attribute values determined based on context data associated with the software application and collected in association with the software incident. The search requests may be dispatched to a subset of a plurality of solution repositories, even if the solution repositories have different interfaces and/or search technologies. The resulting solution documents retrieved from the solution repositories may be compiled for presentation on a solution search interface.
US08065314B2
The present invention is directed to a method for identifying one or more matching formulas for matching color and appearance of a target coating containing effect pigments. The present invention is also directed to a system for identifying one or more matching formulas for matching color and appearance of a target coating containing effect pigments.
US08065311B2
Described is a paid search advertising technology in which advertisements associated with bidding keywords are ranked by relevance when returning one or more advertisements in a response to a query. A relevance score is computed for an advertisement based on the bidding keyword and page data (text and/or other page content) of the advertisement. The relevance score may be based on a similarity vector score computed from a keyword vector and page data vector relationship, combined with a proximity score computed from the keyword's bigram set and the page data bigram set. When a query is received, advertisements are selected based on the proximity of the query to each advertisement's bidding keyword, providing candidate scores. Each candidate score is modified (e.g., multiplied) into a final score based on its respective advertisement's relevance score. The final scores are then used to re-rank the advertisements relative to one another.
US08065307B2
The present invention may be used to analyze subject content, search and analyze reference content, compare the subject and reference content for similarity, and output comparison reports between the subject and reference content. The present invention may incorporate and utilize text from intrinsic and/or extrinsic subject documents. The analysis may employ a variety of metrics, including scores generated from a natural language processing system, scores based on classification similarity, scores based on proximity similarity, and in the case of analysis of patent documents, scores based on measurement of claims.
US08065306B2
Terms (e.g., words) used in an expert domain that correspond to terms in a naïve domain are detected when there are no vocabulary pairs or document pairs available for the expert and naive domains. Documents known to be descriptions of identical topics and written in the expert and naive domains are collected by searching the Internet. The frequencies of terms that occur in these documents are counted. The counts are used to calculate correspondences between the vocabularies of the expert and naive language expressions.
US08065304B2
In one illustrative embodiment, a computer implemented method using asymmetric memory management is provided. The computer implemented method receives a request, containing a search key, to access an array of records in the asymmetric memory, wherein the array has a sorted prefix portion and an unsorted append portion, the append portion alternatively comprising a linked-list, and responsive to a determination that the request is an insert request, inserts the record in the request in arrival order in the unsorted append portion to form a newly inserted record. Responsive to a determination that the newly inserted record completes the group of records, stores an index, in sorted order, for the group of records.
US08065293B2
An indexing system uses a graph-like data structure that clusters features indexes together. The minimum atomic value in the data structure is represented as a leaf node which is either a single feature index or a sequence of two or more feature indexes when a minimum sequence length is imposed. Root nodes are formed as clustered collections of leaf nodes and/or other root nodes. Context nodes are formed from root nodes that are associated with content that is being indexed. Links between a root node and other nodes each include a sequence order value that is used to maintain the sequencing order for feature indexes relative to the root node. The collection of nodes forms a graph-like data structure, where each context node is indexed according to the sequenced pattern of feature indexes. Clusters can be split, merged, and promoted to increase the efficiency in searching the data structure.
US08065286B2
A system allowing a query to be submitted to a server that locates a human searcher to perform a search. The searcher performs a search including using conventional tools, browser, and provides results to the user. A searcher who produces result(s) accepted by the user is rewarded and the results can be used when a similar query is submitted by another user. The searcher is located by comparing keywords of the query to keywords for which the searcher has registered and a high ranking searcher may be chosen by the system based on various factor(s). While the search is performed, information including videos, games, advertisements, etc., may be provided to the user based on keywords of the query and selection by the searcher. The reward for the searchers can be based on revenue from advertisements.
US08065278B2
The present invention provides a mechanism to selectively restore portions of a monolithically backed up database, while maintaining hierarchical relationships and other metadata relationships of the restored portions of the database. Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer-readable storage medium that provides for receiving a request to restore a selected object from among a plurality of backed up objects in a database backup, locating information associated with the selected object in the database backup, and restoring the object-to-restore using the information associated with the selected object in a target area. Database table metadata is gathered from the backed up database at the time the backup was created in order to locate the information associated with the selected object.
US08065275B2
A server computer identifies a cached document and its associated cache update history in response to a request or in anticipation of a request from a client computer. The server computer analyzes the document's cache update history to determine if the cached document is de facto fresh. If the cached document is de facto fresh, the server computer then transmits the cached document to the client computer. Independently, the server computer also fetches an instance of the document from another source like a web host and updates the document's cache update history using the fetched instance of the document.
US08065271B2
To realize backup that gives no influence on on-line performance at low cost, provided is a storage system including one or more disk storage devices, a tape storage device, and a controller for controlling the at least one disk storage device and the tape storage device. The controller stores a copy of data stored in a first volume in a third volume, reads the copy of the data stored in the first volume from the third volume to store the copy in a first tape storage medium of the tape storage device, stores a copy of data stored in a second volume in the third volume, and reads the copy of the data stored in the second volume from the third volume to store the copy in a second tape storage medium of the tape storage device.
US08065269B2
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for immediately updating a materialized view in a relational database management system. The method includes the steps of creating a materialized view defined over a base table, executing an update statement on the base table, computing a delta of the base table by comparing images of the base table before execution of the update statement and after execution of the update statement, computing a delta of the materialized view based on the delta of the base table, and updating the materialized view using the delta of the materialized view.
US08065266B2
Some embodiments provide a system for processing relationship data that expresses relationship between various entities. In some embodiments, the entities are entities associated directly with an enterprise. The entities in some embodiments described below also include entities associated indirectly with the enterprise through other entities. However, one of ordinary skill will realize that some embodiments might only track relationships between entities directly associated with an enterprise. In some embodiments, the system consolidates disparate relationship data sets that relate to the same set of entities. For instance, in some embodiments, the system includes several data storages that store relationship data. For at least two entities, at least two different data storages store two different relationship data sets that differently express the relationship between the two entities. The system includes a hierarchy manager that receives the two different relationship data sets and consolidates the two different relationship data sets into one relationship data set that best expresses the relationship between the two entities.
US08065250B2
Methods and apparatus for predictive analytics generally comprise one or more artificial agents and an agent factory. An artificial agent may be responsive to at least one of an internal data set and an external data set. Further, an artificial agent may produce a correlation data set relating an outcome data set and at least one of the internal data set and the external data set. In addition, an artificial agent may produce a predictability value corresponding to the correlation data set. The agent factory may be responsive to the outcome data set. Also, the agent factory may produce the artificial agent in response to the outcome data set.
US08065248B1
A method including training a plurality of learning systems, each learning system implementing a learning function and having an input and producing an output, initializing one or more data structures, and evaluating a target sample is described. Also described are methods that include initializing one or more data structures and evaluating a target sample for a best match.
US08065237B2
Various embodiments for aggregating packages into a pouch in a shipping environment are disclosed. For example, package details associated with a package are compared to one or more incompatibility factors, and if the package details do not match the one or more incompatibility factors, a package identifier uniquely identifying the package is added to a pouch manifest. If the package is not compatible with the pouch, an error message may be displayed to a user indicating that the package is incompatible. In addition, package details may be compared with compatibility factors identifying criteria for packages that are compatible with the pouch and questionable compatibility factors identifying criteria for packages that may be compatible with the pouch. Compatibility factors and questionable compatibility factors may include, for example, service options, delivery notification options, or destination zip code(s).
US08065236B2
A method for converting coined money to another type of value proceeds by receiving a plurality of coins into a coin processing machine. The coins are processed with the coin processing machine to determine a value of the coins. An electronic record of the determined value is produced using the coin processing machine. Further, the record of the determined value is electronically transmitted from the coin processing machine to a remote storage location.
US08065233B2
Transaction processing of online transactions at merchant sites determines the likelihood that such transactions are fraudulent, accounting for unreliable fields of a transaction order, which fields do not reliably identify a purchaser. A scoring server using statistical model uses multiple profiles associated with key fields, along with weights to indicate the degree to which the profiles identify the purchaser of the transaction.
US08065229B2
A method and apparatus for providing a competitive bid from a provider comprising receiving billing data from a user, the billing data including provider information, location, and total bill amount. The method further comprising calculating a complex usage pattern based on the billing data and statistical data for the location. The method additionally comprising calculating a competitive bid for the user, based on the complex usage pattern and a pricing structure of the provider.
US08065225B1
A computer-implemented method for processing an application for a mortgage loan, such that the mortgage loan is configured to include a set of financial lending requirements and further include certain financial lending risks associated with financing the mortgage loan. The steps of the method include receiving the mortgage loan application, processing the mortgage loan application through an electronic database, applying the set of financial lending requirements to the mortgage loan application, generating a listing of at least one eligible lender or loan product based on the application of the financial lending requirements to the mortgage loan application, and submitting the mortgage loan application to the eligible lender, the mortgage loan being configured such that the financial lending risks are configured to be absorbed by a secondary mortgage market investor.
US08065222B2
A system and method for news-based trading are developed. According to one method, a trader can pre-define a trading strategy including a number of trading rules to be applied based on a comparison of one or more estimated event values to the respective actual event values to be released at some later time. The example method further includes, upon receiving one or more actual event values via a user input or directly from outside sources, executing one or more predefined trading rules selected based on the comparison of the received actual event values to the respective estimated indicator values.
US08065218B2
Systems and methods for providing an insurance premium in association with an insurance strike price for a commodity are disclosed. By paying the insurance premium a consumer may obtain price protection for a commodity purchase. In particular, in one embodiment a consumer may obtain the right to be reimbursed for any amount paid over the insurance strike price for the commodity.
US08065216B2
The invention provides a method of displaying an evaluation tool for evaluating a proposed commission on behalf of a professional at the time of carrying out a transaction. Using a principal and share/unit price for the proposed transaction, the method identifies nearest neighbour historical transactions. A graph is displayed showing the professional's proposed commission in relation to these nearest neighbour historical transactions. The professional can modify the proposed commission in light of the historical data before executing the transaction and charging the commission.
US08065213B2
Systems or methods for managing transactions within a controlled environment facility provide an information management engine integrating transaction functionality and telephone calling functionality, establish an account associated with a resident of the controlled environment facility, and use the information management engine to conduct transactions associated with residents of the controlled environment facility. The transactions include at least requests, by the resident, for deposits into the account by a party outside of the controlled environment facility. The systems or methods accept requests from the resident and utilize the telephone calling services of the information management engine to facilitate the request for deposit. The systems or methods may place calls to the individuals outside the controlled environment facility to interact with the individual, request the deposit and accept such deposits.
US08065212B2
Systems and methods for providing gaming activities, these particularly relating to gaming activities implemented in conjunction with a flexible credit arrangement. A consumer is allocated one or more entries in a gaming activity based on a level of transactable flexible credit held by that consumer. For example, the allocation of entries is increased or decreased subject to a corresponding increase or decrease in transactable flexible credit held by the consumer. In some aspects of the present invention, one or more prizes for the gaming activity are funded in whole, or in part, by way of supplementary contributions realized on the basis of consumers' participation in a flexible credit infrastructure.
US08065203B1
Systems and methods for providing estimations for a product for purchase at a plurality of stores. Groups of stores are generated based upon similarity of store demand data. For each group, a distribution is determined with respect to the attribute of the product. The distribution is used to provide estimations with respect to the product to be provided at the stores.
US08065195B2
A universal shopping cart is provided that obtains and orders products and services from different merchants located on the Internet. The consumer completes all of their shopping on the shopping site and is not directed to another merchant's site to complete an order. The universal shopping cart provides a monitoring service that allows the consumer to monitor a product for specified criteria. The order injection system places orders for products contained within the universal shopping cart from affiliated and non-affiliated merchants. Specific ordering details required from merchants external to the shopping site are hidden from the consumer. For external merchant sites that require a consumer account before allowing the product to be purchased, the shopping site creates a new consumer account without intervention from the consumer. Once the products are ordered, the consumer may keep track of the ordered products from the shopping site.
US08065191B2
Disclosed is an electronic quantity purchasing system which is a host computer that a user may access to purchase quantities of goods or services at a locked-in price for later redemption. The preferred communication means employed is via secure, high-speed Internet access. Data storage is electronic. Users employ the system to make an instant purchase of a small or large quantity of a commodity, such as gasoline at the current purchase price. Users can redeem all or part of their balance for real product at a physical location in the future when desired. The redemption will draw down the user's account balance at the locked-in purchase price, so the user is able to circumvent the market price in effect at the time of redemption.
US08065190B2
Systems and methods are disclosed herein which that enable a first party, such as a child, to selected one or more items offered by an online retailer and to send a request to a second party, such as a parent or guardian, to request that the second party purchase the item or items for the first party. The systems and methods provide the second party with the ability to view requests received from the first party, to set limits on the number of requests and the amounts of the requests that the first party may make. The second party may also designate the parties to whom the first party may submit purchase requests. The child may also submit request to one or more non-parental contributors who may contribute money toward the purchase the one or more items for the child.
US08065182B2
The present invention provides a system for implementing a loyalty program on a network-wide level. The system associates UPC and SKU data on a network level to reward consumers and/or to analyze the data for a variety of business purposes, such as market segmentation analyses and/or analyses relating to consumer spending behaviors or patterns for example. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the association of UPC and SKU data by the system facilitates implementation of an incentive or loyalty program by providing a universal rewards currency. This universal rewards currency may be “spent” by participants who have earned rewards and accepted by the other participants in the multi-tiered network created by the system. The network may comprise any number of participants, including consumers, retailers (and any of their employees), manufacturers, third-party providers, and the like. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the association of UPC and SKU data by the system facilitates data analysis on a network level based upon several factors, including a consumer ID, consumer profile, retailer ID, SKU number, UPC, manufacturer ID, and/or the like. The system may compile any of the above data across multiple entities for the purpose of data analysis, such as analyses which may be employed in strategic planning and marketing for example.
US08065166B2
The disclosure herein provides methods, systems, and devices for managing, transferring, modifying, converting and/or tracking medical files and/or medical system messages. In certain embodiments, the foregoing may generally be based on requesting medical files at a first medical facility, identifying the requested medical files at a second medical facility, initiating a secure network connection between the first and second medical facility, modifying a header portion of the medical files based on patient identification information created by the first medical facility, and other processing steps.
US08065154B2
The present invention broadly comprises a computer-based method for aiding aphasics having gross and fine motor impairments in efficiently communicating, comprising the steps of storing alphanumeric characters in a database, calculating statistics of the alphanumeric characters based on frequency used and most recent used, and, predicting a response according to the statistics of the alphanumeric characters, wherein the steps of storing, calculating, and predicting are performed by a general purpose computer specially programmed to perform the steps of storing, calculating, and predicting.
US08065153B2
An audio reader device for reading printed infrared media includes a linear sensor device sensitive to infra-red. A processor is operatively connected to the sensor device and is configured to read and decode infra-red audio data on the media. A memory is operatively connected to the processor for storing the audio data. A sound processing integrated circuit and speaker arrangement is operatively connected to the memory for playback of the audio data. A roller arrangement feeds the media past the linear sensor device.
US08065151B1
A method and system are disclosed for providing a dialog interface for a website. The method comprises at each node in a website, computing a summary, a document description and an alias. A dialog manager within a spoken dialog service utilizes the summary, document description and alias for each website node to generate prompts to a user, wherein nodes in the website are matched with user requests. In this manner, a spoken dialog interface to the website content and navigation may be generated automatically.
US08065144B1
A method for speech recognition. The method uses a single pronunciation estimator to train acoustic phoneme models and recognize utterances from multiple languages. The method includes accepting text spellings of training words in a plurality of sets of training words, each set corresponding to a different one of a plurality of languages. The method also includes, for each of the sets of training words in the plurality, receiving pronunciations for the training words in the set, the pronunciations being characteristic of native speakers of the language of the set, the pronunciations also being in terms of subword units at least some of which are common to two or more of the languages. The method also includes training a single pronunciation estimator using data comprising the text spellings and the pronunciations of the training words.
US08065143B2
Systems, methods, and computer readable media providing a speech input interface. The interface can receive speech input and non-speech input from a user through a user interface. The speech input can be converted to text data and the text data can be combined with the non-speech input for presentation to a user.
US08065141B2
A signal processing apparatus includes a decoding unit, an analyzing unit, a synthesizing unit, and a selecting unit. The decoding unit decodes an input encoded audio signal and outputs a playback audio signal. When loss of the encoded audio signal occurs, the analyzing unit analyzes the playback audio signal output before the loss occurs and generates a linear predictive residual signal. The synthesizing unit synthesizes a synthesized audio signal on the basis of the linear predictive residual signal. The selecting unit selects one of the synthesized audio signal and the playback audio signal and outputs the selected audio signal as a continuous output audio signal.
US08065133B1
The invention is a method of testing a storage network that includes a method of handling data at the port and bus level. The method includes emulating targets in computer memory, receiving data from initiators, and passing to computer memory only a portion of the data received. Bandwidth of internal memory and paths to memory are de-coupled from devices under test attached to ports, such that full bandwidth testing is possible at all test clients simultaneously. Data passed on a wire is returned or discarded at the port or bus level. The invention is useful for testing networks that have high bandwidths, and for testing large storage area networks.
US08065132B2
Computer-implemented systems and methods for executing stochastic discrete event simulations for a stochastic model through a design of experiments approach. Streams of random numbers are associated with stochastic model components that are sources of random variation within the stochastic model. A system is configured to manage the streams while the stochastic model is being executed during a simulation.
US08065123B2
Systems and methods for performing quantity takeoff computations from computer aided design drawings
One or more embodiments of the invention set forth methods for performing quantity takeoff computations from computer aided design (CAD) drawings. The user initiates the quantity takeoff of an instance of a drawing object by manually selecting one or more geometries that visually represent the instance. The quantity takeoff engine identifies or creates a takeoff object that is associated with the drawing object. A takeoff object may include the dimension of geometry to quantify, the object parameter to be quantified, and the takeoff calculations to be performed. The takeoff measurement tool quantifies the instance and adds markup information to the CAD drawings to represent the determined quantity. Subsequently, the quantity takeoff engine performs takeoff calculations and adds the quantity and cost information to a takeoff report representing all previous selected instances. Advantageously, these techniques allow the user to incrementally create takeoff reports without making any manual measurements.
US08065121B2
The present invention relates to a pin-less registration method for a plurality of laminate elements in a selected stack orientation. The method involves the use of an optical step that images portions of each laminate and determines a required correction factor between an alignment of the laminate element at the pre-alignment station and a preferred stack orientation for the laminate element. A computer operation control system provides instructions for positioning laminate elements to a corrected stack orientation during an assembly of the stack. Following the assembly of the stack an induction welding step occurs at predetermined locations to secure the pinless alignment.
US08065118B2
A method is provided for automatically determining the position of and placing a faceplate assembly on a hearing instrument shell that takes into account patient anatomical features. These anatomical features of the shell are used as landmarks for ensuring that the final position of the faceplate on the hearing instrument is optimized both in terms of esthetics and increased comfort. The protocols defined herein take advantage of the intrinsic features of the human ear anatomy and the geometry of the electronic components to ensure that design and manufacturing of ITEs are optimized for efficiency and the process can be completely automated to ensure consistence and practice reproducibility.
US08065116B2
Systems, methods, and tools for proofing computer-aided design (CAD) objects (e.g., CAD drawings or models). The objects are implemented with CAD software and represent an apparatus. An exemplary method includes receiving a CAD object representing the apparatus, determining criteria for proofing the CAD object, determining rules, extracting items of interest from the CAD object, comparing the extracted items with the rules, and tagging the extracted items based on the comparisons. An exemplary criterion for proofing the CAD object is the process (e.g., a type of casting process) for the apparatus to be manufactured with.
US08065115B2
A method and system for detecting wind noise are adapted to determine whether two of a plurality of sound signals acquired by a plurality of sound receiving units include wind noise. The method includes the following steps: (a) transforming the two sound signals to their corresponding digitized sound signals including a plurality of sound frames; (b) calculating a correlation coefficient of each pair of the corresponding sound frames from the two digitized sound signals; (c) subtracting one of the digitized sound signals from the other, and transforming the resultant digitized sound signal to frequency domain; (d) selecting a frequency bin in frequency domain for each of the sound frames to serve as a frequency boundary, and calculating a dB difference, a low-frequency energy decay factor, and a low-frequency ripple number of each of the sound frames according to the frequency boundary; and (e) determining whether the correlation coefficient, the dB difference, the low-frequency energy decay factor, and the low-frequency ripple number of a respective sound frame comply with a predetermined determination rule, the two sound signals being determined to include wind noise if affirmative.
US08065112B2
An apparatus and method implementable with a software application for checking or assessing exceedances of process variables beyond safe operating limits is described. The process has instruments, a process history database, and one or more external databases. The instruments measure process variables and can be associated with the equipment. The process history database stores a plurality of values of the process variables measured by the instruments. Data of the equipment, the associated instrument, and the safe operating limit for the equipment is defined in a limit sequence of the software application. The process history database is searched for one or more exceedance values that are measured by the defined instrument and that exceed the defined safe operating limit. The “apparent” exceedance values are then imported into the software application. Finally, the user uses the software application to evaluate and validate the exceedance values.
US08065107B1
A method for obtaining an optimized process solution from a set of design of experiments in a cost effective manner is provided. An actual experiment is performed and data from the experiments is obtained. Through statistical analysis of the data, coefficients are obtained. These coefficients are input into an experiment simulator where input parameters and conditions are combined with the coefficients to predict an output for the input parameters and conditions. From simulated results, conclusions can be drawn as to sets of input parameters and conditions providing desired results. Thereafter, physical experiments utilizing the input parameters and conditions may be performed to verify the simulated results.
US08065106B2
A moving light test system allows connecting moving lights to an interface board and conveying the lights and orienting and testing the lights while they are attached to the board. The lights can be mechanically and electrically connected to the board, and once connected, can be tested in multiple ways without reconfiguring or removing the lights. The board has a connector that can be plugged in at various locations, and the board can also be handled by mechanical devices. In this way, once the light is connected to the board, it does not need to be re-handled. In addition, lights can be tested in different orientations.
US08065105B2
A system including a platform having a receptacle adapted to a bottom of a shoe or foot; securing mechanism, associated therewith; a sole for contacting a ground surface; a mechanism associated with the sole and a platform bottom, including: motor and a thrusting element, activated by the motor, the thrusting element adapted to move between the sole and the platform to apply an upward force against the platform bottom, thereby changing a platform height with respect to the sole; a sensor device adapted to associate with a lower limb, and to produce a locomotion data signal, and a microprocessor, operatively connected to the sensor device and motor, adapted to: receive locomotion information based on the signal; process the locomotion information to determine a locomotion phase, and control a timing of the mechanism, based on the determination, to change the height during a locomotion swing phase.
US08065104B2
An inertial measurement unit (IMU) contains three linear acceleration sensors and three rotational speed sensors. For the sensors there are desired installation directions parallel to the co-ordinate axes of a Cartesian co-ordinate system which is fixed to the vehicle. The actual installation directions of the sensors may differ from the desired installation directions owing to incorrect orientations. By comparing accelerations which are measured by the linear acceleration sensors for different attitudes of the vehicle with acceleration values which are known for these different attitudes in the Cartesian co-ordinate system which is fixed to the vehicle, the actual installation directions of the linear acceleration sensors are determined. By using a co-ordinate transformation it is then possible to convert the measured accelerations into the actual accelerations.
US08065103B2
A method for calibrating a position measuring device of an optical device, including a measurement step in which a movable unit of the optical device is moved according to a predefinable scheme in at least one degree of freedom and a position of the movable unit is determined in the at least one degree of freedom. The position of the movable unit is determined in the at least one degree of freedom in a first measurement via a first measuring device of the position measuring device, and the position of the movable unit is determined in the at least one degree of freedom in a second measurement via a second measuring device of the position measuring device sing a reference element connected to the movable unit. In a calibration step, the first measuring device is calibrated using the results of the first measurement and the second measurement. An encoder system is used as the second measuring device. The reference element includes a reference grid of the encoder system.
US08065096B2
An improved pump, reservoir and reservoir piston are provided for controlled delivery of fluids. A motor is operably coupled to a drive member, such as a drive screw, which is adapted to advance a plunger slide in response to operation of the motor. The plunger slide is removably coupled to the piston. A method, system, and an article of manufacture for automatically detecting an occlusion in a medication infusion pump is provided. The electrical current to an infusion pump is measured. Based on a series of measurements of one or more variables, the infusion pump detects whether there is an occlusion in the system.
US08065094B2
A method is provided of calculating the structure of an inhomogeneous sample in which an electron beam is used to cause excitation of x-rays from the sample under known conditions of beam energy and geometry with respect to the sample. Notably the beam current is unknown. Measured x-ray intensity data for the sample corresponding to one or more sets of beam conditions and beam currents are firstly obtained, together with comparative x-ray intensity data for samples having known structures. A beam current factor for each beam condition is estimated and effective x-ray intensity data for each of the sets of conditions are then calculated using the measured and comparative x-ray intensity data and the beam current factor. The structure of the sample is then calculated for each of the sets of conditions using the effective x-ray intensity data. Predicting x-ray intensity data are produced corresponding to the calculated structure and compared with the effective x-ray intensity data. These steps are repeated using revised beam current factors until the predicted and effective x-ray intensity data achieve a predetermined similarity condition.
US08065087B2
A method reduces error contributions to gyroscopic measurements from a wellbore survey system having two gyroscopic sensors adapted to generate signals indicative of at least one component of the Earth's rotation substantially perpendicular to the wellbore and indicative of a component of the Earth's rotation substantially parallel to the wellbore. The method includes generating a first signal indicative of the at least one substantially perpendicular component while the first sensor is in a first orientation; generating a second signal indicative of the at least one substantially perpendicular component while the first sensor is in a second orientation; generating a third signal indicative of the substantially parallel component while the second sensor is in a first orientation; and generating a fourth signal indicative of the substantially parallel component while the second sensor is in a second orientation. The method further includes calculating information regarding at least one of a mass unbalance offset error and a quadrature bias error using the first, second, third, and fourth signals.
US08065086B2
The invention relates generally to the field of oil and gas exploration and specifically to the use of well logs for exploration. This invention is directed to a method for estimating data that would have been collected in a region of a well log where there is a gap. This method uses identified elements in one data set to identify elements in another data set with data values indicative of the same geological characteristic as those in the first data set.
US08065079B2
A method of processing location data at a portable computing device is provided and includes receiving information associated with a user defined location at the portable computing device. The information includes a central point and an entry indication perimeter. An entry alert associated with the user defined location is received at the portable computing device. The location of the portable computing device is monitored to determine when the portable computing device crosses the entry indication perimeter associated with the central point of the user defined location indicating that the portable computing device is proximate to the user defined location. The method further includes switching the portable computing device from a roaming state to an entry state indicating that the portable computing device is about to enter the user defined location. An indication can be provided to the user that the portable computing device has switched to the entry state.
US08065077B2
The present invention relates to an electronic communication device, a portable electronic device, a method, a computer program product, a computer program element, and a system for organizing electronic media data in relation to fix points of geographic locations. The method for organizing electronic media data in relation to fix points of geographic locations, according to the present invention, comprises: obtaining at least one said fix point related to a scheme (step 804), obtaining at least a link to electronic media data under the control of a user (step 808), determining position of said user (step 810), and associating said obtained data with said at least one fix point (step 816), so that a link from said at least one fix point to the associated data can be provided to the user.
US08065076B2
Systems and methods are provided for generating a reference location data set, such as a reference longitude and latitude point, for each of a plurality of point addresses. A reference location data set can be determined for a point address based on a history of prior geocode samples, such as GPS readings, that have been obtained using a portable computing device during a prior delivery to or pickup from the point address. A location data service collects such geocode samples and processes the samples to generate a reference location data set, such as a reference longitude and latitude and a zone of confidence around the reference longitude and latitude, for each unique point address. To determine whether an item is being delivered to a wrong address, current location data obtained during a delivery can be compared against the reference location data generated by the location data service for the delivery address.
US08065074B1
A system and method for more accurately and robustly estimating navigation state of a vehicle by adaptively processing signals from an inertial sensor assembly and other sensors. A navigation system receives signals from two or more sensors to evaluate and correct the attitude estimated by an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF). The navigation system selects sensor signals from the other sensor assemblies and processes the selected sensor signals in conjunction with estimates from the inertial navigation module to obtain more accurate estimates of the attitude. The parameters and conditions for using certain sensor signals may be adjusted based on the characteristics and configuration of the vehicle.
US08065070B2
An electrical power system for an engine powered at least in part by a battery having a battery voltage and including a fuel injector and at least one ionization sensor includes at least one common power supply connected to the fuel injector and the ionization sensor and supplying a voltage higher than the battery voltage for operation of the fuel injector and the ionization sensor at least during an ionization sensing period after spark discharge.
US08065065B2
A lock-up control system including a lock-up differential pressure generator and a controller that is programmed to: when increasing a lock-up differential pressure command value with time to establish the lock-up state of the torque converter, switch a gradient of the lock-up differential pressure command value from a first gradient to a predetermined gradient larger than the first gradient when an actual slip rotation speed is decreased to a predetermined slip rotation speed value or less; and switch the gradient of the lock-up differential pressure command value from the predetermined gradient to a second gradient smaller than the predetermined gradient when the actual slip rotation speed exceeds the predetermined slip rotation speed value again after being decreased to the predetermined slip rotation speed value or less.
US08065061B2
In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a payload control system for a machine having traction devices. The payload control system may have a force sensor configured to measure a force transmitted through the traction devices. The payload control system may also have a speed sensor configured to measure a speed of the machine. The payload control system may further have a controller in communication with the force sensor and the speed sensor. The controller may be configured to modify a weight limit of the machine based on the measured force and the measured speed.
US08065059B2
A device for the semiautonomous support of a parking process of a vehicle, such as a motor vehicle, having a steering device for the steering movement of wheels of the vehicle, having a control device for controlling the steering device, the control device having a computing device for processing input values to form an output value that controls the steering device; the computing device being developed for processing a steering angle, that is maximally achievable at the wheels of the vehicle, together with a steering wheel angle, that is maximally achievable in response to the respective conditions, to form an output value that is designated as a steering wheel angle.
US08065039B2
A control routine for groups of remotely controlled, variable-position, position-aware, transceiver-equipped actuators manages data discrepancies by issuing a first set of generic actuation commands to start and stop the actuators, then polling the actuators to report their achieved positions. The routine then applies a rule to determine a preferred position value from among the reports and issues a second set of position-specific actuation commands to all of the actuators. The routine can further poll the actuators to confirm the extent to which the commands have been realized, and can retain and apply compensation factors for performance deviations in the individual actuators. The routine can further manage multiple groups of actuators, dissimilar activators within groups, assignment of an actuator to more than one group, and application of variable control factors as inputs modifying the rule applied by the routine for determining the commands to be issued.
US08065028B1
The invention provides a method for constructing a composite structure by creating a 3-D actual or non-virtual model of the structure or feature, scanning the model into a computer program, importing the model into a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) program, meshing the model, performing a FEA on the model in the FEA program to determine the materials and the dimensions for the materials making up the composite and building the composite structure.
US08065022B2
Embodiments of the invention can include methods and systems for controlling clearances in a turbine. In one embodiment, a method can include applying at least one operating parameter as an input to at least one neural network model, modeling via the neural network model a thermal expansion of at least one turbine component, and taking a control action based at least in part on the modeled thermal expansion of the one or more turbine components. An example system can include a controller operable to determine and apply the operating parameters as inputs to the neural network model, model thermal expansion via the neural network model, and generate a control action based at least in part on the modeled thermal expansion.
US08065012B2
Disclosed are several apparatuses and methods for applying intracranial electrical stimulation to treat or enhance the neural function of the patient. In accordance with the invention, intracranial electrical stimulation can be administered to treat brain damage, brain disease, and/or brain disorders. Additionally the intracranial electrical stimulation can be applied to a normal healthy brain to enhance neural-function or control sensory functions. The electrical stimulation site(s) of the brain are located where neuroplasticity is occurring, expected to occur, or in a region where neuroplasticity is not occurring. The intracranial stimulation is expected to produce a lasting effect on the intended neural activity by applying subthreshold stimulation to the increasing the resting membrane potential of the neurons at the stimulation site.
US08065009B2
A header assembly for connecting a conductor terminating at a body organ with an implantable medical device is described. The header assembly comprises a base plate, a feedthrough subassembly disposed in the base plate and comprising a ceramic-to-metal seal with first and second feedthrough wires passing through the ceramic-to-metal seal; a first electrically conductive terminal connected to a distal end of the first feedthrough wire and having a first lead opening sized to receive a first portion of a lead for the conductor; a second electrically conductive terminal connected to a distal end of the second feedthrough wire and having a second lead opening sized to receive a second portion of the lead for the conductor; a body of polymeric material molded in a two-part construction to encase the conductive terminals and their feedthrough wires except for a first bore communicating from outside the polymeric body to the first and second lead openings aligned in a first co-axial relationship. Preferably, the polymeric body comprises a first polymeric material such as Techothane® or Polysulfone® encasing the terminals except the bore and an epoxy as a second polymeric material molded over the first polymeric material.
US08065007B2
An implantable medical device that includes a housing having a first shield having an outwardly extending first flange and a second shield having an outwardly extending second flange. The first flange is fixedly engaged with the second flange along a seal to form a housing flange extending outward from the housing, and a surround shroud, having first recessed portions for receiving the housing flange when the shroud is positioned about the housing.
US08064999B2
A medical device and associated method classify a tachycardia according to a site of origin of the tachycardia. Cardiac signals are sensed and a tachycardia event is detected in response to the sensed cardiac signals. Pacing pulses are delivered and a time interval corresponding to a distance traversed by a depolarization associated with the last one of the pacing pulses from a site of delivery of the plurality of pacing pulses is determined. The tachycardia event is classified according to a site of origin in response to the determined time interval.
US08064995B1
A method of operating an automated external defibrillator, the method being implemented by circuitry and one or more processors of the defibrillator, comprising monitoring a pulse signal from the patient; monitoring an ECG signal from the patient; determining whether it is appropriate to deliver a defibrillation shock to the patient, the determination being based at least in part on the content of the ECG signal and on the content of the pulse signal.
US08064993B2
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for assessing the reactivity observable in a certain physiological signal, especially the EEG signal, of a comatose subject. In order to obtain an objective and a reliable measure of the reactivity automatically and without the presence of a trained EEG specialist, a time reference corresponding to a stimulus is detected and the physiological signal data obtained from the subject is aligned with the time reference. Two sets of values are determined for a measure indicative of the amount of irregularity in the physiological signal data, both sets including at least one value of the said measure and having defined positions with respect to the time reference in time domain. Based on the two sets, the apparatus determines whether reactivity is present in the physiological signal data.
US08064982B2
Methods of performing a magnetic resonance analysis of a biological object are disclosed that include placing the object in a main magnetic field (that has a static field direction) and in a radio frequency field; rotating the object at a frequency of less than about 100 Hz around an axis positioned at an angle of about 54°44′ relative to the main magnetic static field direction; pulsing the radio frequency to provide a sequence that includes a phase-corrected magic angle turning pulse segment; and collecting data generated by the pulsed radio frequency. In particular embodiments the method includes pulsing the radio frequency to provide at least two of a spatially selective read pulse, a spatially selective phase pulse, and a spatially selective storage pulse. Further disclosed methods provide pulse sequences that provide extended imaging capabilities, such as chemical shift imaging or multiple-voxel data acquisition.
US08064980B2
A method of initiating a scan in a medical imaging device includes detecting a patient-ready signal from a magnetically and radiographically inert communication device and automatically initiating the scan upon detecting the patient-ready signal.
US08064976B2
Systems and methods for imaging the reflectance of a substrate, such as a tissue substrate, may include a light source, a light transport body configured to project light from the light source to an examination substrate and transmit light reflected by the examination substrate, and an analysis section in optical communication with the light transport body and having a reflectance avoidance imaging module and at least one of a reflectance spectrophotometry module and a fluorescence imaging module. Methods may include utilizing the microcirculatory flow information, oxygen availability information, and the adequacy of oxygenation of tissue cells information, making an early and sensitive determination regarding states of shock in patients.
US08064974B2
Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods that relate to pulse oximetry. Specifically, one embodiment includes an oximeter sensor comprising a light emitting element configured to emit light, a light detector configured to detect the light, a resistor having a resistance value that is detectable by a monitor, and a memory storing a contact resistance value of a connector that is disposed between the monitor and the resistor when the monitor and the oximeter sensor are communicatively coupled.
US08064972B2
A wireless headset having a user interface configured to allow the user to utilize the full functionality of the headset while minimizing the number of physical control inputs necessary is described. The user interface may have a user input control that is configured to control more than one function of the headset. The user interface may also provide audio as well as visual outputs to the user to indicate a particular functionality of the headset being controlled by the user or a particular status of the headset.
US08064964B1
The wireless communication device, which implements voice communication, which further implements a first function and a second function, wherein when the first function is implemented, the video image generator generates a plurality of two-dimensional text images and the plurality of two-dimensional text images are displayed on the display, and when the second function is implemented, the video image generator generates a plurality of three-dimensional graphic images and the plurality of three-dimensional graphic images are displayed on the display, and when a phone call is received, the wireless communication device outputs a specific audio data corresponding to the caller.
US08064952B2
An IC includes a microphone interface, a speaker interface, a baseband processing module, and RF section, a processing module, an on-chip to off-chip connector structure, and a digital audio switching module coupled to: provide the inbound voice signal from the processing module to the handheld speaker interface when the IC is in a remote mode; provide the outbound voice signal from the handheld microphone interface to the processing module when the IC is in the remote mode; provide the inbound voice signal from the processing module to the on-chip to off-chip connector structure when the IC is in a docked mode; and provide the outbound voice signal from the on-chip to off-chip connector structure to the processing module when the IC is in the docked mode.
US08064946B2
An handheld wireless communication device that is cradleable in one hand during text entry. A display, key field and trackball navigation tool are located on a front face of the device. At least some keys of the key field are arranged in key-columns and each of the key-columns is vertically offset from adjacent key-columns. Alphanumeric input keys include several alphabetic keys with letters arranged in a traditional (QWERTY), but non-ITU Standard E.161 telephone letter layout. A microprocessor is provided that receives operator commands from the keys and the trackball navigation tool and which affects corresponding changes to the display based on user input. A menu key is positioned adjacent to the trackball navigation tool that upon actuation displays an available action menu on the display in dependence of the currently running application on the device.
US08064944B2
A method for power control with signal quality estimation for smart antenna communications system is described. The method, for example, starts with a transmit power assignment. Receive weight vector determination is carried out with this assigned transmit power, and the new weights used. An estimate of the resulting received signal quality is obtained and used for another power adjustment.
US08064941B2
In a wireless communication system, an apparatus and method for managing an uplink communication between a network and a plurality of terminals is achieved by transmitting a response condition parameter from the network to the plurality of terminals subscribing to a multicast service. The parameter is associated with controlling the uplink communication of the plurality of terminals. The terminal then applies the response control parameter to a predetermined test and responds to the network if the terminal determines that it is qualified to respond to the network in response to a result of the predetermined test. The network evaluates whether the parameter needs to be transmitted to the plurality of terminals and whether the parameter needs to be updated based on at least part of responses received by the network.
US08064933B2
In a system and method for dialing for a communication device, all phone numbers of a contact in a contact list of the communication device are assigned priorities. All the phone numbers of the contact are ordered according to the priorities. A phone number of the contact are associated with a next phone number according to the order. If a user dials a phone number but the phone number cannot be dialed through, the other phone numbers associated with the phone number are dialed according to the priorities. If all the phone numbers have not been dialed through, the communication device sends a message to a mobile phone number of the contact for informing the user cannot communicate with the contact.
US08064924B2
One or more media is provided for performing a method of utilizing location-based data to manipulate power states of one or more embedded devices on a mobile device. Initially, location-based data from a positioning system (GPS satellite) is received. Generally, the location-based data relates to a global position of the mobile device. The location-based data may then be applied to a set of positional rules, which includes comparing the position-based data against the one or more predefined positional coordinates. Accordingly, the appropriate power level of one or more embedded devices may be determined. Further, if the determination indicates that a present power level of the embedded devices conflicts with the determined appropriate power state, the power state of the conflicting embedded devices is manipulated consistent with the positional rule. As such, this configuration provides for a useful power-management scheme that preserves battery life.
US08064920B2
A digital payload for processing a sub-band spectrum received on an uplink beam at a communications satellite includes a digital channelizer, a digital switch matrix and a digital combiner. The digital channelizer divides the sub-band spectrum into a plurality of frequency slices that can be routed by the digital switch matrix to any of a number of receiving ports. A digital combiner receives the frequency slices and re-assembles them to form one or more output sub-bands for transmission on an output beam of the communications satellite. The digital payload may also include an embeddable digital regeneration module configured to demodulate some or all of the sub-band spectrum to extract a digital bitstream therefrom. The digital bitstream may be processed to implement code-based multiplexing, switching, access control, and other features.
US08064917B2
A mobile communication system in which a mobile station apparatus transmits, to a base station apparatus, uplink data using a physical uplink shared channel assigned by an uplink data transmission permission signal, wherein the base station apparatus: transmits, to the mobile station apparatus, a radio resource control signal including a transmission instruction of reception quality information; and transmits, to the mobile station apparatus, the uplink data transmission permission signal including a transmission instruction of reception quality information, and wherein the mobile station apparatus: periodically transmits, to the base station apparatus, first reception quality information according to a transmission instruction of the reception quality information included in the radio resource control signal; transmits, to the base station apparatus, second reception quality information using the physical uplink shared channel in case that a transmission instruction of the reception quality information is included in the uplink data transmission permission signal; and transmits, to the base station apparatus, the second reception quality information using the physical uplink shared channel in case that transmission of the first reception quality information and transmission of the second reception quality information would occur at the same time.
US08064906B1
A system that automatically delivers telephony network services from a dual mode service technology platform to an external entity. The system includes a sensing component that detects the presence of a mobile handset registered on a cellular network, and registers the mobile handset with a wireless access network. Further, a provisioning component identifies calls to subscribers that are provisioned for the requested telephony network service. Once the calls are identified, the provisioning component extracts the requested data from the incoming calls and routes the data to an external entity for display.
US08064901B2
Systems and methods for remotely evaluating antenna installations in a mobile radio communication system, wherein each antenna installation comprises at least one pair of antenna elements arranged for diversity reception. The received signal strength from a plurality of mobile stations is measured at the respective antenna elements of each pair of antenna elements; the signal strength values from each antenna element are compared for each pair of antenna elements; and, a plurality of comparison results are visually presented on a display as a function of both the comparison result and a parameter related to the position of each of the plurality of mobile stations relative to the location of the base station, whereby differences in reception characteristics between antenna elements of each pair can be detected and such pair can be identified for maintenance.
US08064897B2
A transmission/reception apparatus capable of preventing degradation in system capacity, improving system throughput, and minimizing power consumption of an apparatus is disclosed. In this apparatus, a propagation path determining section (131) determines a propagation path state in all the regions in the used frequency band of a received multicarrier signal based on propagation path estimation information such as a channel estimation value and the like calculated in a propagation path estimating section (126), and specifies a frequency region having a good propagation path state from the used frequency band of OFDM. More specifically, the used frequency band is divided into a plurality of frequency bands (subbands), each comprised of smaller predetermined bandwidth, and by selecting a subband having a good propagation path state in the propagation path determining section (131), a frequency region having the good propagation path state is specified. A transmitting section (110) reports the subband information to a base station.
US08064896B2
Gateway devices maintain presence information for various mobile devices. Each gateway is associated with a zone and manages presence information only for mobile devices associated with that zone. Courier devices back-propagate presence information for the mobile devices to respective gateways based at least on the respective zone associated with each mobile device. The gateways and couriers are dynamically configured such that messages can be pushed from a provider application to a mobile device via any gateway and any courier.
US08064893B1
A method for blocking unwanted messages sent to a mobile device is provided. In one embodiment, messages received when the MDN is deactivated are responded to with a message asking the sender to delete the MDN from the sender's distribution list. In another embodiment, messages are received with a subscription date. The subscription date is compared to the most recent provisioning date of the MDN. If the provisioning date is after the subscription date, then the message is blocked and a reply message may be generated indicating to the sender that the MDN should be removed from the sender's distribution list.
US08064891B2
At present, the existing mechanisms for authorizing a user of a service network operator to access a service provided by a third party service provider are valid for most of the existing services based on a request and an answer, but for transactional services, those where a service delivery implies several transactions, the existing techniques present serious limitations for the operators to fully control the progression of services. To overcome this limitation, the invention provides means and methods to control the progression of a service, service which requires a plurality of transactions, at a first domain where the service has been authorized while the user is using said service provided by a second domain, as well as a verification mechanism for verifying the use of the service between the service network operator and the service provider.
US08064890B1
A system and method is described for providing data to a mobile information system. A broadcast server receives information preferences from a plurality of subscribers to the mobile information system. The broadcast server aggregates these information preferences and transmits the aggregated information preferences to at least one data source providers. The data source providers then assemble data for the mobile information system using the aggregated information preferences.
US08064888B2
Systems and methods for providing user-selectable data when a user is on hold are provided. A communications system can automatically detect when a user is placed on hold. Additionally, a user can indicate when he/she has been placed on hold. After it has been determined that a user is placed on hold, the system can select adaptive information according to predetermined selection criteria and present that adaptive information to the user. A system can also generate contextual data which is related to the content of a current communication and use that contextual data (in addition to any predetermined selection criteria) to select adaptive information that is relevant to a user's communications. Contextual data can be generated before a user is placed on hold by analyzing a communications signal in order to identify keywords that are based on the content of that communication.
US08064883B2
A mobile terminal includes a central process unit (CPU), a subscriber identity module (SIM) card unit for loading a SIM card, and a memory unit having a register and an anti-theft module. The anti-theft module includes an encrypting/binding module capable of being instructed by the CPU to bind an anti-theft password to the SIM card and save the anti-theft password to the register of the memory unit, a password comparing module capable of being instructed by the CPU to compare the anti-theft password with data of an actual SIM card loaded in the mobile terminal, a locking/unlocking module capable of being instructed by the CPU to lock or unlock the mobile terminal, and a data deleting module capable of being instructed by the CPU to delete data of the memory unit.
US08064872B2
An integrated circuit having voltage isolation capabilities includes a first area of the integrated circuit containing functional circuitry that is located in the substrate of the integrated circuit. A second area of the integrated circuit contains an integrated RF isolation circuitry for voltage isolating the functional circuitry. The RF isolation circuitry is located in the metal layers of the integrated circuit.
US08064871B2
A miniaturized dual-balanced mixer circuit based on a multilayer double spiral layout architecture is proposed, which is designed for use to provide a frequency mixing function for millimeter wave (MMW) signals, and which features a downsized circuit layout architecture that allows IC implementation to be more miniaturized than the conventional star-type dual-balanced mixer (DBM). The proposed miniaturized dual-balanced mixer circuit is distinguished from the conventional star-type DBM particularly in the use of a 3-dimensional double-spiral circuit layout architecture for the layout of two balun circuit units. This feature allows the required layout area to be only about 15% of that of the conventional star-type DBM.
US08064864B2
A radio frequency identification (RFID) system includes an RFID reader and an RFID tag. The RFID reader is coupled to transmit first electromagnetic signal via an off-chip winding section of a hybrid on-chip-off-chip transformer. The RFID tag is coupled to receive the first electromagnetic signal via an on-chip winding section of the hybrid on-chip-off-chip transformer, wherein the on-chip winding section derives a second electromagnetic signal from the first electromagnetic signal when the on-chip winding section is within a proximal coupling distance of the off-chip winding section.
US08064862B2
In a radio communication station having N antennas an antenna diversity system and a gain controllable amplifier the gain of the gain controllable amplifier is set by using a first antenna, the signal levels of signals received at the antennas is measured, a group of antennas is determined having a signal level which exceeds the signal level of the first antenna by no more than a predetermined value (X), and out of said group of antennas the antenna with the highest signal level is selected out or the first antenna is selected out if said group is empty.
US08064861B2
An asynchronous receiver system has multiple antennae and an asynchronous receiver circuit with a signal input. The asynchronous receiver circuit receives a wireless signal at the signal input and generates a first quality signal responsive to the received wireless signal. A switch selects one of the antennae for coupling to the input of the asynchronous receiver circuit responsive to a control signal. A controller receives the first quality signal and generates the switching control signal. The controller sequentially selects each one of the antennae, measures the first quality signal and starts a timer with a time value for the selected antenna. The controller selects a next one of the antennae if the measured first quality signal value is below a threshold value and the timer expires and receives a remainder of a data packet based on the measured first signal quality values for the plurality of antennae.
US08064855B2
A transmission apparatus has two modes of power amplifier operation, in which mode 1 is inherently accurate, mode 2 is inherently less accurate, and measurement of a power amplifier output from mode 1 is used to correct a power amplifier output in mode 2. Mode 1 may be a compressed mode and mode 2 may be a non-compressed mode. The apparatus may include a power controller that provides overlapping scaling factor sets for modes 1 and 2 and controls transmission power using the scaling factor sets. Upon a mode transition, the controller uses the overlapping scaling factors and changes the scaling factor set for the mode of a destination of the transition based on actual measurement representative of transmission power, for example, by carrying out power alignment loop operations. A cellular mobile device may include such transmission apparatus. A polar modulation transmitter is also disclosed.
US08064854B2
In a transmitter device of a smart entry system for a vehicle, a transmitter antenna is provided between a variable power circuit and the ground, and is controlled by a switching circuit to transmit a searching radio wave. The transmission power of the antenna, that is, a range of reach of the searching radio wave is variably controlled by a drive output voltage applied to the antenna by a variable power circuit, which converts a battery voltage to the drive output voltage. Data to be transmitted in the searching radio wave is not used to modulate the drive output voltage but is used in an ON/OFF control of the switching circuit.
US08064852B2
Methods and apparatus for dynamically compensating for signal variations in communications transmitters employing switch-mode PAs. An exemplary method includes first identifying a predetermined signal characteristic in an input signal applied to an input of a switch-mode PA. A modulated signal produced at the output of the switch-mode PA containing the identified signal characteristic is then sampled at approximately the same time the identified signal characteristic appears at the output of the switch-mode PA, to generate a digital sample representing an actual value of the identified signal characteristic. An error signal representing the extent to which the actual value deviates from an expected value is then generated. Finally, the DC level and/or gain of the input signal to the switch-mode PA is modified to reduce the error. By reducing the error in this manner, signal variations that adversely affect the accuracy of the switch-mode PA output signal are dynamically compensated for.
US08064851B2
An RF transmitter (60) generates non-DC bias signals (104, 106) configured to improved power-added efficiency (PAE) in the operation of an RF amplifier (94). The RF amplifier (94) generates an amplified RF signal (126) which, due to the addition of the bias signals (104, 106), includes bias-signal-induced RF distortion (48, 50). The bias signals (104, 106) drive a bias-induced distortion cancellation circuit (152) that adjusts the bias signals to compensate for the influence of impedances experienced by the bias signals (104, 106) before being applied to the RF amplifier (94). After mixing with a baseband communication signal (64), adjusted bias signals (186, 188) are combined into a composite baseband signal (76), upconverted to RF in an upconversion section 84, and applied to the RF amplifier (94) where they cancel at least a portion of the bias-signal-induced RF distortion (48, 50).
US08064847B2
A transmit/receive switching circuit is provided. The transmit/receive switching circuit comprises a first transformer to split a transmission signal into a first split transmission signal and a second split transmission signal. The first split transmission signal is out of phase with the second split transmission signal. The transmit/receive switching circuit also comprises a second transformer to split a received signal into a first split received signal and a second split received signal and to combine the first split transmission signal and the second split transmission signal. The first split received signal is out of phase with the second split received signal. The combined transmission signal is supplied to an antenna port and the received signal is received from the antenna port. The transmit/receive switching circuit also comprises a third transformer to combine the first split received signal and the second split received signal and to supply the combined received signal to a receive port of the transmit/receive switch. Finally, the transmit/receive switching circuit comprises first and second switches. Both the first and second switches are coupled to the first transformer and to the second transformer. The first switch switches between coupling the first split transmission signal to the second transformer and coupling the first split received signal to the third transformer. The second switch switches between coupling the second split transmission signal to the second transformer and coupling the second split received signal to the third transformer.
US08064843B2
An electrical component includes a first signal path and a second signal path electrically connected to a common signal path. The electrical component also includes a first filter in the first signal path and a second filter in the second signal path. The electrical component also includes a first matching circuit comprising a shunt arm to ground. The first matching circuit is electrically connected to the first signal path, the second signal path, and the common signal path.
US08064831B2
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a communication module, a communication state notification module, a notification function information obtaining module, and a notification function control module. The communication module executes close proximity wireless transfer. The communication state notification module notifies at least one of a start time and an end time of data transfer executed between the communication module and an external device, the data transfer being executed by the close proximity wireless transfer. The notification function information obtaining module obtains notification function information indicative of a capability relating to a communication state notification function of the external device from the external device. The notification function control module requests the external device to execute or suppress the communication state notification function by the external device, based on the obtained notification function information.
US08064826B2
A device includes a first integrated circuit, a second integrated circuit and an RF bus controller. Each of the first and second ICs includes a radio frequency (RF) bus transceiver. The RF bus controller is coupled to control intra-device RF communications between the RF bus transceivers of the first and second ICs.
US08064824B2
Processing return feeder link signals at a satellite gateway including a first and second receive antennas includes receiving first and second return feeder link signals at the first and second receive antennas, respectively, modulating a phase of the first return feeder link signal to form an adjusted first feeder link signal, combining the adjusted first feeder link signal with the second return feeder link signal to form a combined feeder link signal, detecting periodic amplitude variation in the combined feeder link signal, and shifting a phase of the first return feeder link signal to reduce periodic amplitude variation in the combined feeder link signal.
US08064821B2
The invention relates to a local communication network between a mobile telephone and a fixed-line telephone through a relay antenna and a connection for data transmission, connecting the antenna to a fixed radio-frequency station. The transmission connection is a wireless transmission connection at a radio frequency.
US08064818B2
The present invention enables provision of a service in which a distribution method of content is changed depending on a location of a mobile station. Specifically, if a user of mobile station MS is located in a country where the usage of content is not permitted, content server CS detains the content temporarily, and after confirming that the user has moved to a country where the usage of the content is permitted, sends the detained content to mobile station MS of the user. When detaining the content, content server CS checks whether an expected date of the user moving to a country where the usage of the content is permitted is within a distribution period of the content, and if so, detains the content.
US08064804B2
A conductive member includes, a conductive supporting body, an electric resistance-adjusting layer formed in the conductive supporting body, and a space holding member which is formed on each end of the electric resistance-adjusting layer and has a material different from a material of the electric resistance-adjusting layer, the space holding member constantly maintaining a space between an image carrier and the electric resistance-adjusting layer, and the electric resistance-adjusting layer including a resin composition having a thermoplastic resin (A) containing at least an ether group, a fibrous polymer (B), which do not melt in (A) and has an aromatic skeleton in a molecule, and an electrolyte salt (C).
US08064801B2
A drive transmission device that performs drive transmission through a plurality of systems and includes a first involute spline joint to perform drive transmission to a primary rotating body to be driven and a second involute spline joint to perform drive transmission to a secondary rotating body to be driven.
US08064790B2
An invented image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit for fixing a developer image transferred onto a conveyed medium; a temperature detecting unit for detecting a temperature of said fixing unit, a first power supply controller for controlling power supply to said fixing unit based on the detected result of the temperature detecting unit, a second power supply controller for controlling power supply to said fixing unit based on a preset value, a medium detection unit for detecting a medium to be conveyed, and a power supply operation controller for switching control done between said first power supply controller and said second power supply controller based on a position of the medium detected with said medium detection unit. The image forming apparatus can reduce impairment of settling rate of the developer images at the second half of the recording paper during the fixing process.
US08064789B2
An apparatus including: a processor configured to execute system side software that provides system side services to application software; an authentication module setting unit configured to add an authentication module and set the authentication module to perform use restriction of the application software; an authentication information obtaining unit configured to obtain authentication information used to determine whether the use restriction of the application software may be released; and a display unit, wherein the authentication module is configured to cause the display unit to display an authentication screen at a predetermined timing, the authentication module is configured to permit the application software to display a screen for using the application software instead of the authentication screen, and the application software is configured to perform processing based on an operation from a user in response to the authentication information obtained by the authentication information obtaining unit satisfying an authentication condition.
US08064788B2
Printing of information with a distinct tactile feel can be accomplished by electrographic techniques. Such electrographic printing includes the steps of forming a desired print image, electrographically, on a receiver member utilizing standard size marking particles; and in areas of the formed print image, forming raised information by printing at least a first raised image and a second raised image. The print and raised images are fixing on the receiver member. The raised images are applied using toner particles having diameters substantially larger than the diameters standard size toner particles used for applying the print image.
US08064787B2
A method for extending the operating life of a fuser used in an electrophotographic imaging apparatus is disclosed. A control algorithm monitors the number of substrates processed over the lifetime of the fuser and adjusts the fusing temperature of the fuser to compensate for changes occurring in the nip forming members of the fuser. The useful lifetime of the fuser is extended while fusing quality is maintained. A corresponding fuser assembly is also disclosed.
US08064785B2
A fixing device according to this invention includes a heating roller, a heater driver, a thermistor, and a CPU. The heating roller has a heater and heats a recording sheet. The heater driver drives the heater. The thermistor detects a surface temperature of the heating roller. The CPU stops an operation of the heater driver when the surface temperature of the heating roller becomes higher than a predetermined temperature and, thereafter, causes the thermistor to perform detection of the surface temperature of the heating roller for a predetermined time period and issues an alarm about occurrence of a first abnormality when the surface temperature of the heating roller fails to drop in the predetermined time period.
US08064779B2
A receiving apparatus which suppresses threshold-voltage changes. A peak voltage detection block detects the peak voltage of a signal. A bottom voltage detection block detects the bottom voltage of the signal. A stop control block generates a stop signal for stopping the operations to detect the peak voltage and the bottom voltage. A threshold value specification block specifies a threshold voltage derived from the peak voltage and the bottom voltage. When receiving the stop signal, the peak voltage detection block stops the operation to detect the peak voltage and retains the peak voltage detected before the reception of the stop signal while the same signal is being received. When receiving the stop signal, the bottom voltage detection block stops the operation to detect the bottom voltage and retains the bottom voltage detected before the reception of the stop signal while the same signal is being received.
US08064778B2
A fiber-optic transmission system includes a transmitter having a designed chirp value. The transmitter has first and second inputs for receiving first and second input signals, respectively, used to produce a modulated output signal. An optical fiber is responsive to the transmitter for receiving the output signal. A circuit asymmetrically drives the first and second input signals so as to change the designed chirp value of the transmitter to another value. Methods of controlling the chirp of a commercially available transmitters are also disclosed. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims.
US08064770B2
A system and method for spectral loading unutilized channels of a partially loaded WDM system may be used to suppress spectral hole burning (SHB). Dummy tones may be loaded at different loading wavelengths within the band of system wavelengths such that the loading wavelengths are associated with a subset of unutilized channels in the WDM system. The loading wavelengths may be selected and spaced based on a distortion in the gain spectrum of the partially loaded WDM system such that the dummy tones alter the distortion to provide a desired gain spectrum.
US08064762B2
An imaging apparatus includes: continuous imaging mode setting means for setting a continuous imaging mode in which a plurality of captured images including first and second captured images are continuously acquired; and diaphragm control means for controlling a diaphragm in an imaging optical system, wherein in the continuous imaging mode, the diaphragm control means does not drive the diaphragm during a first period from the time of exposure for the first captured image to the time of exposure for the second captured image but maintains the state of the diaphragm at the time of exposure for the first captured image until the time of exposure for the second captured image.
US08064760B2
A dust removal apparatus of a photographing apparatus comprises a movable unit and a controller. The movable unit has an imaging device and is movable. The controller moves the movable unit on a plane that is parallel to a first direction and a second direction. The first direction is perpendicular to an optical axis of a photographing optical system that captures an optical image on a photographing surface of the imaging device. The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction and the optical axis. The controller moves the movable unit to a predetermined position that does not make contact with a boundary of a range of movement of the movable unit, and strikes the movable unit against the boundary of the range of movement in the second direction under the condition where a coordinate value in the first direction of the movable unit is held constant, as a dust removal operation.
US08064759B1
A method comprising receiving an indication from a user that the user wishes to take a picture. The method further comprising receiving motion data for a camera device and analyzing the motion data to determine a motion state of the camera. The method further comprising acting based on the motion data. In one embodiment, acting on the motion data comprises providing feedback to the user regarding a time to take a photo, based on the motion data. In one embodiment, acting on the motion data comprises automatically taking a picture when the motion state is at a particular level. In one embodiment, acting on the motion data comprises automatically taking a picture when the camera is at a correct angle as determined by the motion data.
US08064751B2
The invention comprises an application for recording and the playback of MPEG-2 transport-streams transmitted via DVB-systems with optical discs. Apart from audio- and video-signals, additional information (which describe the content of the DVB-multiplex) will also be transmitted in DVB-SI descriptors. These descriptors correspond to the incoming transport-stream-packets and can be used for comfortable features, like event-triggered start of a recording or automatic generation of play-lists.
US08064750B2
In a picture reproducing apparatus, a scene changing point is detected with respect to contents, and then, a position where a temporal stopping operation is performed and a position where a reproducing operation is restarted are determined by using information of the detected changing point. In detecting the scene changing point, a plurality of threshold values are set to set a changing point level at the scene changing point. When the user instructs temporal stopping of reproduction of contents, the temporal stopping position is displayed to the user using the scene changing point level to allow the user to determine a temporal stopping position in a desirable level. When the user instructs restarting of the reproducing operation of the contents temporarily stopped, a reproduction restarting position is displayed by similarly using a scene changing point level to allow the user to determine a reproduction restarting position in a desirable level.
US08064747B2
The present invention allows a reproducing device that can be used in various device environmental conditions to execute adequate output operation according to a device environmental condition. When reproducing a content signal of audio and video, a reproducing device determines a device environmental condition as the coupling state of the reproducing device and surroundings of the reproducing device. Subsequently, the reproducing device implements control according to output part information and control information that are set with being associated with the device environmental condition. Based on the output part information, either or both of a main-body output unit and an external output unit are controlled as a part for outputting audio or video. In addition, control corresponding to the registered control information is executed inside the device, or details of the control are indicated to a coupled external device.
US08064736B2
A system and method for providing a graphical document are provided. A graphical document is processed to identify one or more ideas associated with the graphical document. The identified ideas may be used to determine concepts to associate with the first electronic document and suggest those concepts for association with the first electronic document for use in a document distribution system that distributes documents based on a price parameter associated with concepts and a performance parameter. A request for a document associated with a concept is received. Responsive to the request, the graphical document is delivered if an association between the one or more ideas and the concept is determined.
US08064735B2
An image data recording and reproducing system comprises an image data input unit, an ID generator generating an ID inserted to image data from the image data input unit, a plurality of image data recorders for recording the image data, and an output unit for outputting the image data recorded into the plurality of image data recorders, wherein each of the plurality of image data recorders has an ID table and an image data storage area, and an ID of the ID table is matched with image data of the image data storage area on the bases of recording position information of the image data.
