US08916375B2
The present invention provides an integrated microfluidic analysis system. The system contains at least a first (pre-reaction treatment) domain for treating a sample prior to subjecting the sample to a chemical reaction. The following domains are optionally added to the first domain: a second (reaction) domain for reacting the chemical of interest in the sample; and a third (post-reaction separation) domain for separating products and reactants coming out of the reaction domain. The integrated microfluidic analysis system of the present invention is most applicable to PCR analysis.
US08916373B2
The present invention in the art of biochemistry claims novel and non-naturally occurring mutant human superoxide dismutase 1 (hsod1) variant polypeptides, their encoding nucleic acids, and recombinant cells thereof. The inventor rationally designed mutant hsod1 variants using structural observations and complimentary experimentation. The designed mutant hsod1 variant products claimed have multiple potential industrial applications including as novel therapeutics.
US08916371B2
The present invention provides compositions or vaccines that contain a recombinant EHV-1 that elicit an immune response in animals against equine herpesvirus, including compositions comprising said recombinant EHV-1, methods of vaccination against equine herpesvirus, and kits for use with such methods and compositions.
US08916364B2
The invention relates to a nitrilase having improved activity in the reaction of a nitrile to form the corresponding carboxylic acid, in particular with respect to reacting 2-methylglutaronitrile, 1-(cyanomethyl)cyclohexane-1-carbonitrile, and benzonitrile. The nitrilase according to the invention is related to nitrilase from acidovorax facilis.
US08916355B2
The invention relates generally to novel genes expressed in normal but not Neurogenin-1-deficient animals. The invention relates specifically to a novel family of G protein-coupled receptors and a novel family of two-transmembrane segment proteins that are expressed in dorsal root ganglia, and a method of screening for genes specifically expressed in nociceptive sensory neurons.
US08916354B2
Provided are a bladder cancer diagnosis composition containing APE1/Ref-1, a bladder cancer diagnostic kit containing an antibody which specifically binds to the APE1/Ref-1, and a method of measuring APE1/Ref-1 concentration in biological samples through an antigen-antibody binding reaction using the antibody which specifically binds to the APE1/Ref-1. According to the invention, the APE1/Ref-1 protein concentration in serum of bladder cancer patients is significantly higher than in healthy subjects, and more particularly, it significantly increases in the serum of patients with stage 2 or later bladder cancer.
US08916351B2
A method of amplifying a nucleic acid includes combining a first linear primer with a polymerase and a circular probe. The circular probe contains at least one antisense sequence to a second nucleic acid sequence and at least one antisense sequence to the first linear primer. The method also includes producing at least one repeat of an antisense copy of the circular probe by rolling circle amplification. The antisense copy contains at least the second nucleic acid sequence. The method further includes generating more than one second linear primers from each copy of the second nucleic acid sequence; and hybridizing the second linear primers to more than one of the circular probes. A ribbon probe includes a circular probe and a lock probe. The lock probe contains at least a cleavable linker, and the circular probe and the lock probe are unable to dissociate without cleaving the cleavable linker.
US08916347B2
The invention provides for sequencing a nucleic acid molecule based on the detection of base incorporation by the release of pyrophosphate (PPi) using a new enzyme system comprising adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) and its substrate ADP-glucose.
US08916330B2
The present invention provides a resist composition giving a resist pattern excellent in CD uniformity and focus margin. A chemically amplified photoresist composition comprises a resin (A) and an acid generator (B), and the resin (A) contains, as a part or an entirety thereof, a copolymer (A1) which is obtained by polymerizing at least: a (meth)acrylic monomer (a1) having C5-20 alicyclic hydrocarbon group which becomes soluble in an aqueous alkali solution by the action of an acid; a (meth)acrylic monomer (a2) having a hydroxy group-containing adamantyl group; and a (meth)acrylic monomer (a3) having a lactone ring, and the copolymer (A1) has a weight-average molecular weight of 2500 or more and 5000 or less, and a content of the copolymer (A1) is not less than 50 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the resin (A).
US08916324B2
The present invention provides a toner containing base particles formed by emulsifying or dispersing, in an aqueous medium, a toner composition liquid which is obtained by dissolving or dispersing, in an organic solvent, at least a binder resin soluble in the organic solvent and a colorant masterbatch containing a colorant and a colorant dispersion resin, wherein the colorant dispersion resin is a resin having sparing solubility defined below: where the “sparing solubility” means that when 4 parts by mass of the colorant dispersion resin are added to and mixed with 10 parts by mass of the organic solvent, the mixture becomes white turbid at 25° C. or becomes a transparent solution once at 25° C. and then becomes white turbid within 12 hours.
US08916322B2
The present disclosure describes toner that is composed substantially of biodegradable and recycled materials.
US08916320B2
A process for making a latex emulsion including contacting at least one amorphous polyester resin with at least two organic solvents to form a resin mixture, adding a neutralizing agent, and deionized water to the resin mixture, removing the solvent from the formed latex, and separating the solvent from water. Further, the process is carried out above the resin Tg for making the latex, which drives the latex particle size under 100 nm, where toners made from the latex show improved charging performance.
US08916316B2
The present invention relates to a reflective mask blank containing in this order, a substrate, a multilayer reflective film that reflects exposure light, and an absorber layer that absorbs the exposure light, in which the reflective mask blank further contains a fiducial mark indicating a reference position of the multilayer reflective film, which is formed in a concave shape or in a convex shape on a surface of the multilayer reflective film or on a surface of one layer formed between the multilayer reflective film and the absorber layer, and the fiducial mark is formed so as to have a reflectivity different from an area surrounding the fiducial mark with respect to a light with a prescribed wavelength and is transferred to a layer formed on the fiducial mark.
US08916309B2
A fuel-cell stack includes a proton-exchange membrane, a first electrode, a second electrode, a first current-collecting metal plate, a first gas diffusion layer, and first and second layers that contact each other. The first electrode and second electrodes are fixed on corresponding sides of the membrane. The first gas diffusion layer is interposed between the first current-collecting plate and the second electrode. The first layer is fixed on the first current-collecting plate, while the second layer is fixed to the first gas diffusion layer. Both layers include a polyurethane matrix containing conductive fillers. The second layer makes contact with the first layer.
US08916304B2
A hydrogen generator includes: a reformer (102) configured to generate a hydrogen-containing gas by a reforming reaction using a raw material; a combustor (104) configured to heat the reformer; an air supplying device (106) configured to supply combustion air to the combustor; a first heat exchanger (108) configured to recover heat from a flue gas discharged from the combustor; a first heat medium passage (110) through which a first heat medium flows, the first heat medium receiving the heat recovered from the flue gas in the first heat exchanger; a first pump (112) configured to cause the first heat medium in the first heat medium passage to flow; a heat accumulator (140) configured to store the heat recovered by the first heat medium; and a controller (114) configured to cause the first pump to operate in a cooling step that is a step of cooling down at least the reformer by supplying the air from the air supplying device to the combustor in a state where the combustor is not carrying out combustion during a stop processing
US08916292B2
The present invention provides a positive electrode for a lithium rechargeable battery, a lithium rechargeable battery including the same, and a method of fabricating the lithium rechargeable battery. An antigelling agent is added in a positive electrode slurry to prevent gelation, and the positive electrode of the present invention is made with the antigelling agent added positive electrode slurry. During fabrication of the positive electrode by using a lithium nickel-based or manganese-based composite oxide for a positive electrode active material, gelation is prevented. A lithium rechargeable battery made with the positive electrode of the present invention shows a high capacity and excellent stability and reliability.
US08916290B2
A battery having an electrode assembly located in a housing that efficiently utilizes the space available in many implantable medical devices is disclosed. The battery housing provides a cover and a shallow case a preferably planar, major bottom portion, an open top to receive the cover opposing the bottom portion, and a plurality of sides being radiused at intersections with each other and with the bottom to allow for the close abutting of other components located within the implantable device while also providing for efficient location of the battery within an arcuate edge of the device. The cover and the shallow case being substantially hermetically sealed by a laser weld technique and an insulator member disposed within the case to provide a barrier to incident laser radiation so that during welding radiation does not impinge upon radiation sensitive component(s) disposed within the case.
US08916289B2
An electrochemical element comprises a container and a sealing plate for sealing an opening of the container. The container is sealed with the sealing plate by welding a portion of the brazing material on the sealing plate and a portion of the metal film of the container which make contact with each other together in a state where a first electrode active material, a separator, a second electrode active material and an electrolyte are contained in the container. An electricity collector sheet is electrically connected to the first electrode active material or the second electrode active material, whichever is closer to the opening of the container. At least a portion of the electricity collector sheet extends to the end portion of the container so that the container and the sealing plate are welded together with the extending portion of the electricity collector sheet in between. Thus, the manufacturing process may be simplified so that the welding of the container and the sealing plate can be easily carried out even when the container and the sealing plate are reduced in size.
US08916278B2
A battery pack includes a battery cell including a cell tab, a protective circuit board including an internal terminal coupled to the cell tab and a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) device connected to the internal terminal, and a heat transfer member contacting the cell tab. The heat transfer member may be attached to the cell tab as well as the PTC device. Heat generated in the battery cell, the cell tab, and the internal terminal is quickly transferred to the PTC device through the heat transfer member to quickly interrupt current flow when the battery cell is exposed to high temperature. Therefore, the battery pack may have the improved stability and reliability.
US08916271B2
Briefly, the present disclosure provides a film, tape or outer layer of a composite part comprising: a) at least one layer comprising a crosslinked polymer selected from the group consisting of crosslinked polyurethane, crosslinked polyurea, and crosslinked mixed polyurethane/polyurea polymer; and in some embodiments b) an adhesive layer. In some embodiments the layer additionally comprises a non-crosslinked polymer forming a semi-IPN with the crosslinked polymer. In some embodiments the non-crosslinked polymer may be selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyurea, and mixed polyurethane/polyurea polymer. In some embodiments the crosslinked polymer may additionally comprise an acrylate-containing component.
US08916266B2
Provided is a coating composition excellent in antifouling properties, transparency and hydrophilicity, wherein the coating composition contains (A) a metal oxide particle having a number average particle size of 1 nm to 400 nm; and (B) a polymer particle, in which the content of an aqueous-phase component in the component (B), represented by the expression (I), is 20 mass % or less, where (I)(%)=(dry mass of a filtrate obtained by filtering the component (B) at a molecular cutoff of 50,000)×(100−total mass of solid content)/(mass of the filtrate−dry mass of the filtrate)×100/the total mass of solid content.
US08916259B2
A multilayer thermoplastic film having polycarbonate layers is disclosed, in which a first layer comprises a first polycarbonate that comprises repeat units derived from one or more of a monoaryl monomer (II) and/or (III), and a diaryl monomer (IV) as defined herein. A second layer, adjacent to the first layer and coextruded therewith, comprises another polycarbonate that is not the same as a polycarbonate in the first layer. The first layer provides improved properties, for example hardness, impact, and/or scratch resistance.
US08916258B2
A display apparatus that includes a mask layer composed of transparent portions and opaque portions, the mask layer being superimposed over a pattern layer comprising light portions and dark portions. The mask layer can be moved relative to the pattern layer between a first position, whereby certain portions on the pattern layer are selectively obscured, and a second position whereby other portions on the pattern layer are selectively obscured. The mask layer can be moved relative to the second level by the movement of an actuating member coupled thereto as a function of ambient physical conditions. The ambient conditions may include, for example, temperature, pressure, humidity, acidity, voltage, fill level and the like.
US08916249B2
Disclosed herein is a polymeric composition. The polymeric composition includes: (A) a propylene/a-olefin interpolymer; (B) an ethylene-based polymer; (C) a block composite comprising: i) a propylene-based crystalline polymer; ii) an ethylene/a-olefin polymer; and iii) a block copolymer comprising a propylene-based crystalline block and an ethylene/a-olefin block. The polymeric composition provides improved heat seals when formed into film, film layer, or flexible containers such as a retort pouch.
US08916228B2
Biomedical scaffolds are described that may be used, for example, for the treatment of bone diseases and bone reconstruction and restoration. The described scaffolds having ingress and habitiaion property for cells and growth factors with serum by capillary action via engineered micro-channles. Also, the scaffolds permit nutrient and ion flow such that bone regeneration in the area surrounding the scaffold is promoted. Kits that include such scaffolds and methods of preparing and using such scaffolds are also provided.
US08916207B2
A corneal cover or corneal implant to be placed within or onto the surface of the cornea is made of bony fish scales and a contact lens is made of bony fish scales.
US08916205B2
Biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles comprising an inner core formed of a photodynamic agent capable of being activated to generate cytotoxic singlet oxygen are prepared. These nanoparticles have anti-cell proliferation activity and are useful in treating both cancerous and non-cancerous conditions including actinic keratosis, psoriasis and acne vulgaris. Preferably, the photodynamic agent is a hypocrellin B derivative while the polymeric nanoparticle comprises polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid or poly(lactide-co-glycolide). Hypocrellin-comprising nanoparticles are demonstrated to be activated by light or hydrogen peroxide.
US08916204B2
The invention provides methods for predicting or determining the response of a mammalian tumor to a chemotherapeutic agent and for treating a mammalian tumor comprising detecting and quantifying the SPARC protein or RNA in a sample isolated from the mammal. The invention further provides kit for predicting the response of a mammalian tumor to a chemotherapeutic agent, comprising a means for the isolation of protein or RNA from the tumor, a SPARC protein or RNA detection and quantification means, control RNAs, and rules for predicting the response of the tumor based on the level of SPARC protein or RNA in tumor.
US08916202B2
The present invention relates to a floating granule comprising a solid core, on which an active ingredient is supported and also comprising a compound which is capable of generating a gas discharge which is constituted by an alkaline agent, characterized in that it does not comprise an acid agent which is capable of generating a gas discharge.
US08916201B2
The present invention refers to controlled release granular compositions of mesalazine and their use in the treatment of inflammatory pathologies of the intestinal tract. The aforesaid granular compositions comprise: a) a central core comprising an inert substrate; b) an intermediate layer comprising mesalazine and one or more physiologically acceptable excipients; c) a gastro-resistant coating. The present invention then refers to a process for obtaining the aforesaid granular compositions.
US08916200B2
Functional nanoparticles may be formed using at least one nanoimprint lithography step. In one embodiment, sacrificial material may be patterned on a multilayer substrate including one or more functional layers between removable layers using an imprint lithography process. At least one of the functional layers includes a functional material such as a pharmaceutical composition or imaging agent. The pattern may be further etched into the multilayer substrate. At least a portion of the functional material may then be removed to provide a crown surface exposing pillars. Removing the removable layers releases the pillars from the patterned structure to form functional nanoparticles such as drug or imaging agent carriers.
US08916196B2
The apparatus and methods of the present invention are of use for the production of emulsion-based microparticles containing a biological or chemical agent. In particular, the apparatus provides a vessel; packing material situated inside such vessel and may further provide material capable of insertion into both ends of said vessel for enclosure of the packing material. In a particular embodiment, the apparatus is a packed bed apparatus. The methods include production of emulsion based microparticles containing a biological or chemical agent. The usefulness of the present invention is that the apparatus and methods of the present invention provide for a low-shear, non-turbulent, production of emulsion-based microparticles that provides a narrow, reproducible, particle size distribution, capable of use with both large and small volumes that is capable of being conveniently scaled up while providing predictable emulsion properties.
US08916193B2
There is provided a complex comprising rifaximin and a complexing agent, wherein the complexing agent is a polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) or a cyclodextrin. There is also provided a process for preparing the complex, a pharmaceutical composition including the complex, and therapeutic uses of the complex.
US08916190B2
A method of inducing hemostasis in a wound using a hemostatic product. A dextran support is provided. At least one hemostatic agent stabilizer is mixed with at least one hemostatic agent to form a hemostatic agent and stabilizer mixture. The at least one hemostatic agent includes at least one of thrombin and fibrinogen. The hemostatic agent and stabilizer mixture is associated with the dextran support. The hemostatic product is applied to the wound in which a bodily fluid is present. The at least one hemostatic agent is released from the hemostatic product to induce hemostasis in the wound.
US08916189B2
This invention is intended to provide cell aggregates that can reproduce functions of the myocardium, such as the function of beating, and thus are available for myocardial regenerative therapy, and to provide a cell culture support for producing the same.According to this invention, a cell culture support for forming string-shaped cardiomyocyte aggregates, which has a substrate portion having one surface on which at least one linear cell-adherent region is formed is provided.
US08916184B2
An implant system and a method for controlling the natural and artificial microenvironments surrounding an implanted device using an artificial tissue system (ATS) and includes methods of diagnostic and testing related thereto. The ATS, among other things, induce better integration, function, and extended lifespan of the devices at the site of implantation. The ATS includes cells, such as naturally occurring, engineered, and/or artificial cells; matrices such as natural, engineered, artificial and/or hybrid matrices; tissue response modifiers (TRM); and/or cell response modifiers (CRM). The specific composition of the ATS is based on the nature of the tissue in which ATS-device combination is implanted and the nature of the implant device, as well as the required function and lifespan of the implanted device. Additionally, the ATS, as well as ATSdevice combinations can be utilized in vitro to aid in the design of improved ATS, devices and ATS-device combinations for in \>ivo uses.
US08916183B2
This document discloses molecules having the following formulas (“Formula One” &“Formula Two” and “Formula Three”) The Ar1, Het, Ar2, R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 are further described herein.
US08916177B2
Methods for prolongation of climax time in a patient in need thereof are presented, as are methods for treating premature ejaculation by local administration of a Clostridial neurotoxin, such a botulinum neurotoxin, to the patient, are provided.
US08916174B2
The present invention is directed to a DNA vaccine for immunization against HIV. The invention comprises a DNA molecule that has a sequence encoding a plurality of viral proteins capable of stimulating an immune response against HIV. The DNA molecule is rendered safe for use as a vaccine by the disruption of genes encoding reverse transcriptase, integrase, and Vif. The DNA molecule is further rendered safe by at least a partial deletion of the 3′ LTR.
US08916165B2
The invention provides improved agents and methods for treatment of diseases associated with beta amyloid (Aβ). Preferred agents include antibodies, e.g., humanized antibodies specific for Aβ.
US08916161B2
The present invention provides a method of treating BPH using modified pore-forming proteins (MPPs). These MPPs are derived from naturally occurring cytotoxic proteins (nPPs) that kill cells by forming pores or channels in the cell membrane, resulting in cell death. The MPPs are generated by modification of the nPPs such that they are capable of being selectively activated at normal prostate cells. Such modification may include the addition of a prostate-specific protease cleavage site to the activation sequence, and/or the addition of a prostate-specific targeting domain to allow selective targeting of prostate cells. These MPPs are capable of selectively targeting and killing normal prostate cells in vivo. The MPPs may be used either alone or in combination with other therapies for the treatment of BPH.
US08916149B2
Provided are polypeptides comprising a variant activated protein C comprising one or more amino acid substitutions selected from the group consisting of K146R, D172N, C212R, K146G, R147G, R177G and combinations thereof. Also provided are nucleic acids encoding the polypeptides, and cells, compositions and kits containing the polypeptides and nucleic acids. Also provided are methods of treating sepsis in a subject comprising administering to the subject one or more of the provided polypeptides or nucleic acids. Methods of screening for polypeptides with enhanced activated protein C and for an agent for treatment of sepsis are provided. Finally, provided is a method of treating sepsis in a subject comprising administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more RGD-containing peptides.
US08916143B2
The present disclosure provides injectable synthetic and biodegradable polymeric biomaterials that effectively prevent seroma, a common postoperative complication following ablative and reconstructive surgeries. Provided biomaterials include physically crosslinked hydrogels that are thixotropic, display rapid chain relaxation, are easily extruded through narrow gauge needles, biodegrade into inert products, are well tolerated by soft tissues, and effectively prevent seroma in a radical breast mastectomy animal model.
US08916142B2
The invention relates to a supramolecular polymer obtained from the reaction of (i) an amine bearing a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group: imidazolidone, trimethyleneurea or triazine, which is capable of associating by means of hydrogen bonds and (ii) at least one fatty acid monomer comprising at least one reactive function, a dimer of identical or different fatty acids and/or a trimer of identical or different fatty acids, or a derivative of said fatty acid(s) which is selected from a fatty acid ester, and a fatty acid chloride.
US08916133B2
The invention relates to fluorinated compounds and their use as anti-epileptic, muscle-relaxing, fever-reducing and peripherally analgesically acting medications and as imaging agents. Novel fluorinated 2-amino-4-(benzylamino)phenyl carbamate derivatives of ezogabine and pharmaceutically acceptable salts or solvates thereof and their use are described.
US08916131B2
The present invention relates to radiopharmaceuticals and in particular to a radiopharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of Formula (I): and polysorbate as an excipient. The radiopharmaceutical composition of the invention reduces problems encountered with prior art compositions comprising the same class of compounds. Also provided by the invention is a method for the preparation of the radiopharmaceutical composition of the invention as well as particular uses of the radiopharmaceutical composition.
US08916130B2
A method of synthesizing a crystalline molecular sieve having an MSE framework type comprises crystallizing a reaction mixture comprising a source of water, a source of an oxide of a tetravalent element, Y, selected from at least one of silicon, tin, titanium, vanadium, and germanium, optionally a source of a trivalent element, X, a source of an alkali or alkaline earth metal, M, and a source of organic dications, Q, such as 3-hydroxy-1-(4-(1-methylpiperidin-1-ium-1-yl)butyl)quinuclidin-1-ium, 3-hydroxy-1-(5-(1-methylpiperidin-1-ium-1-yl)pentyl)quinuclidin-1-ium, 1,1′-(butane-1,4-diyl)bis(1-methylpiperidin-1-ium), 1,1′-(pentane-1,5-diyl)bis(1-methylpiperidin-1-ium), 1,1′-(hexane-1,6-diyl)bis(1-methylpiperidin-1-ium), and 1,1′-((3as,6as)-octahydropentalene-2,5-diyl)bis(1-methylpiperidin-1-ium).
US08916129B2
A new family of crystalline aluminosilicate zeolites has been synthesized that has been designated UZM-43. These zeolites are similar to previously known ERS-10, SSZ-47 and RUB-35 zeolites but are characterized by unique x-ray diffraction patterns and compositions and have catalytic properties for carrying out various hydrocarbon conversion processes. Catalysts made from these zeolites are useful in hydrocarbon conversion reactions.
US08916123B2
Ammonia is synthesized using electrochemical and non-electrochemical reactions. The electrochemical reactions occur in an electrolytic cell having a lithium ion conductive membrane that divides the electrochemical cell into an anolyte compartment and a catholyte compartment. The catholyte compartment includes a porous cathode closely associated with the lithium ion conductive membrane. The overall electrochemical reaction is: 6LiOH+N2→Li3N (s)+3H2O+3/2O2. The nitrogen may be produced by a nitrogen generator. The non-electrochemical reaction involves reacting lithium nitride with water and/or steam as follows: Li3N (s)+3H2O→3LiOH+NH3 (g). The ammonia is vented and collected. The lithium hydroxide is preferably recycled and introduced into the anolyte compartment. The electrolytic cell is shut down prior to reacting the lithium nitride with water. The cathode is preferably dried prior to start up of the electrolytic cell and electrolyzing Li+ and N2 at the cathode.
US08916117B2
A method for the reduction of corrosion in a treatment unit acid used for separating hydrogen sulfide from and acid gas stream using an alkaline absorption solution. Ions comprising the S2− and/or HS− ions formed by the absorption of the hydrogen sulfide in the absorbent solution are subjected to in situ electrochemical oxidization to form polysulfide ions which form a protective coating on the surfaces of the unit.
US08916116B2
The invention provides a process for the leaching of a laterite ore, concentrate, tailings or waste rock for the recovery of value metals, at least one value metal being nickel. The laterite ore or concentrate is subjected to a leaching step with a lixiviant comprising hydrochloric acid to leach nickel from the laterite ore, followed by a liquid/solids separation step. The liquid obtained is subject to solvent extraction with a dialkyl ketone, to obtain a solution rich in iron and a raffinate. Separation of iron from cobalt and nickel is obtained.
US08916105B2
Provided is a multi-stack cure system. The system includes a chamber having an inlet port and an outlet port. A magazine is mounted in the chamber. A plurality of substrates having encapsulants are loaded in the magazine. A heater is mounted at the chamber and serves to heat the plurality of substrates having the encapsulants. A loading unit is positioned adjacent the inlet port. The loading unit has a transfer device and a push bar. A substrate recognition device is mounted in the loading unit. A control device is connected to the substrate recognition device. The inlet port has a size larger than each of the plurality of substrates having the encapsulants and smaller than the magazine.
US08916102B2
Non-woven mat including magnesium aluminum silicate glass fibers and amorphous refractory ceramic fibers, bio-soluble ceramic fibers, and/or heat-treated silica fibers. Embodiments of the nonwoven mat surprisingly have a Resiliency Value after three thermal cycles from 25° C. to 700° C./400° C. of the Real Condition Fixture Test at least 1.1 times greater than the Resiliency Value of a comparable non-woven mat consisting of any individual type of fibers of the non-woven mat. The non-woven mats are useful, for example, in pollution control devices and other thermal insulation applications.
US08916097B2
A controller for an automated immunoassay system is provided to manage the system resources and control the flow of samples under test. The controller allows tests to be run dynamically instead of in a serial, first in first out flow. The controller evaluates the set of tests to be run and generates a sequencing strategy. The sequencing strategy is based on the paths specified for each type of assay, the numbers of tests to be run, the priority of each test and the resources required for each test. In addition, the controller can resolve resource allocation conflicts and modify the sequencing strategy as test conditions change during operation.
US08916096B2
According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the analyzer includes a reagent driving disk that accommodates a reagent configured for analysis and that transports the reagent to a desired position, and a fixed disk that has a reagent stand-by position in which to make a reagent container containing the reagent, temporarily stand by, and a magnetic particles stirring position for stirring magnetic particles. A portion of the reagent stand-by position is constituted by a loading system. A reagent container moving unit moves reagent containers containing the reagent, between the reagent driving unit and the fixed disk, according to analytical request status. Providing in a part of the fixed disk the loading system constructed so that reagent containers containing the reagent can be mounted therein during operation enables changing of reagent containers, irrespective of an operational status of the reagent driving disk, and the system to having cold-storage functionality.
US08916094B2
A system providing for on-site reclamation and re-use of reclaimed antimicrobial solution includes a dispenser, at least one receptacle, piping, and at least one pump. The dispenser sprays antimicrobial solution toward moving raw food products. Unspent antimicrobial solution that did not contact the moving raw food products and rebound antimicrobial solution that did contact the raw food products combine to form a reclaimed antimicrobial solution. The reclaimed antimicrobial solution is collected in the receptacle and is pumped through the piping to a location for reuse.
US08916093B2
The disclosure relates to an apparatus (10) for decontaminating an enclosure that includes a passage having an inlet (18) to receive a carrier gas from the enclosure, an outlet (31) to discharge the carrier gas to the enclosure, a fan (21) for causing a low of carrier gas through the passage from the inlet to the outlet, and a vapour generator (19) where a decontaminant vapour is introduced into the flow of carrier gas to be discharged with the flow at the outlet to decontaminate the enclosed space. A further fan (33) delivers a separate flow of gas from the enclosure bypassing the passageway in which the decontaminant vapour is introduced to be delivered into the enclosure from outlet vents (32) adjacent the vapour outlets (31) to assist in dispersing the carrier gas containing decontaminant vapour throughout the enclosure.
US08916086B2
A process is provided for producing fibers which includes forming a plurality of bubbles on the surface of a fiber spinning solution, applying a voltage between the solution and a counter-electrode spaced apart therefrom to cause jets to extend from the bubbles to the counter-electrode, and treating the solution with a surfactant to stabilize the bubbles.
US08916085B2
A component is provided that includes at least one passageway. In another aspect, a component, such as a lamp or a vehicular washer jet, is made of layers of material, a light curable material and/or multiple built-up materials. Another aspect uses a three-dimensional printing machine to emit material from an ink jet printing head to build up a component.
US08916084B2
A method for fabricating a three-dimensional object including depositing a first amount of an ultraviolet curable phase change ink composition comprising an optional colorant and a phase change ink vehicle comprising a radiation curable monomer or prepolymer; a photoinitiator; a reactive wax; and a gellant upon a print region surface; successively depositing additional amounts of the ultraviolet curable phase change ink composition to create a three-dimensional object; and curing the ultraviolet curable phase change ink composition.
US08916081B2
A method for using a Poisson's ratio material includes a carbon nanotube film structure is provided. The carbon nanotube film structure includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes. A first part of the carbon nanotubes are aligned a first direction, a second part of the carbon nanotubes are aligned a second direction. The first direction is substantially perpendicular to second direction. When the Poisson's ratio material is stretched or compressed substantially along the first or second direction, a Poisson's ratio value is negative.
US08916076B2
A pressure maintaining device for a resin injecting system, including a first chamber that can be connected to a pressurizing device and is able to be connected to a vacuum generating device; a second chamber that can be connected to a resin injection network of the injection system by a resin injection pipe and a resin outlet pipe, the first chamber and the second chamber being arranged so that the one is unable to leak into the other; a flexible body able to transmit pressurizing of the first chamber to the second chamber so as to apply pressure to the injection network of the injection system; a perforated rigid plate able to limit the deformation of the flexible body when the vacuum is created in the first chamber.
US08916074B2
According to a method for making a resin hollow body, in a primary-formation process, molten resin is injected into spaces defined by dies to form resin components. In a die-moving process, each component is held in at least one die. Joining edges of the components are brought close through relative movement of the dies to make a predetermined arrangement of the components. In a secondary-formation process, molten resin is injected into a region where the edges are adjacent. The edges are joined to form an outer wall, partition wall, and hollow portion of the hollow body. At least one of the edges constituting the partition wall includes a linear groove. In the die-moving process, the partition-wall-constituting edges are brought into contact to define by the groove a linear hollow cavity surrounded with the edges. In the secondary-formation process, the cavity is filled with molten resin to join the partition-wall-constituting edges.
US08916072B2
Gradient-index (GRIN) lens fabrication employing laser pulse width duration control, and related components, systems, and methods are disclosed. GRIN lenses can be fabricated from GRIN rods by controlling the pulse width emission duration of a laser beam emitted by a laser to laser cut the GRIN rod, as the GRIN rod is disposed in rotational relation to the laser beam. Controlling laser pulse width emission duration can prevent or reduce heat accumulation in the GRIN rod during GRIN lens fabrication. It is desired that the end faces of GRIN lenses are planar to facilitate light collimation, easy bonding or fusing of the GRIN lens to optical fibers to reduce optical losses, polishing to avoid spherical aberrations, and/or cleaning the end faces when disposed in a fiber optic connector, as non-limiting examples.
US08916067B2
A method and composition wherein carbonaceous nano-scaled filler material is subjected to atmospheric plasma treatment using carbon monoxide as the active gas. The treatment with carbon monoxide plasma has been found to significantly increase the incorporation of oxygen groups on the surface of the filler material without degrading the surface and thus serves to increase wettability and dispersion throughout the matrix. The composite that incorporates the treated filler material has enhanced mechanical and electrical properties.
US08916062B2
A composition for forming an electrode. The composition includes a metal fluoride, such as copper fluoride, and a matrix material. The matrix material adds capacity to the electrode. The copper fluoride compound is characterized by a first voltage range in which the copper fluoride compound is electrochemically active and the matrix material characterized by a second voltage range in which the matrix material is electrochemically active and substantially stable. A method for forming the composition is included.
US08916060B2
The present invention provides a lubricating oil for a compression type refrigerator including a polyvinyl ether-based compound containing an alkylene glycol or polyoxyalkylene glycol unit and a vinyl ether unit in a molecule and having a molecular weight in a range of 300 to 3,000, and a dehydrating agent. The lubricating oil for a compression type refrigerator of the present invention has high miscibility and high viscosity index, and excellent in stability without degradation and alteration due to hydrolysis under carbon dioxide atmosphere.
US08916059B2
A switching device for medium, high, or extremely high voltage, wherein at least one voltaged component of the switching device is enclosed in an enclosure and the enclosure is filled with a filling medium. The filling medium includes at least one compound from the group of fluorinated ketones, or consists of the same.
US08916045B2
The invention concerns an installation for treating biological liquid comprising a platform provided with an edge running front-to-back, a pump (105), a filtration assembly (111, 150), a pre-filtration assembly (114) having an inlet point and an outlet point respectively belonging to first and second T-shaped branching connectors (137, 156), two pre-filtration components (115a, 115b) aligned in a front-to-back direction on said platform along said front-to-back edge and each provided with inlet (157, 158) and outlet (159, 151) nozzles, said installation comprising first and second conduits (152, 153) connected to said first T-shaped connector and respectively to said inlet nozzles and third and fourth conduits (154, 155) connected to said second T-shaped connector and respectively to said outlet nozzles (159, 151), which inlet and outlet nozzles and conduits are on an opposite side of said pre-filtration components (105) to said front-to-back edge of said platform.
US08916043B2
A process for the conversion of coal into fuel bases comprises two successive direct liquefaction stages in ebullated bed reactors followed by a fixed bed hydrocracking stage. This process can produce excellent quality fuel bases (kerosene and diesel).
US08916040B2
Methods of determining a corrected analyte concentration in view of some error source are provided herein. The methods can be utilized for the determination of various analytes and/or various sources of error. In one example, the method can be configured to determine a corrected glucose concentration in view of an extreme level of hematocrit found within the sample. In other embodiments, methods are provided for identifying various system errors and/or defects. For example, such errors can include partial-fill or double-fill situations, high track resistance, and/or sample leakage. Systems are also provided for determining a corrected analyte concentration and/or detecting some system error.
US08916034B2
A thin-film forming sputtering system capable of a sputtering process at a high rate. A thin-film forming sputtering system includes: a vacuum container; a target holder located inside the vacuum container; a target holder located inside the vacuum container; a substrate holder opposed to the target holder; a power source for applying a voltage between the target holder and the substrate holder; a magnetron-sputtering magnet provided behind the target holder, for generating a magnetic field having a component parallel to a target; and radio-frequency antennae for generating radio-frequency inductively-coupled plasma within a space in the vicinity of the target where the magnetic field generated by the magnetron-sputtering magnet has a strength equal to or higher than a predetermined level. The radio-frequency inductively-coupled plasma generated by the radio-frequency antennae promotes the supply of electrons into the aforementioned magnetic field, so that the sputtering process can be performed at a high rate.
US08916033B2
A gas decomposition apparatus having any one of the following structures: 1) a structure wherein an anode and a cathode on a solid electrolyte layer each have extended regions; the extended regions of the anode and those of the cathode are alternately extended to have a gap between the anode and the cathode; the cathode is higher in electric resistance than the anode; and a cathode electroconductive region connected electroconductively to a power source and made of an electroconductive material is extended in a direction crossing the direction in which the extended regions of the cathode are extended, thereby connecting the extended regions of the cathode electroconductively to each other; and (2) a structure which has an electroconductor layer through which the negative electrode of a power source is electroconductively connected to a cathode; and which is a structure wherein the cathode is laminated on the electroconductor layer to contact the layer, laminates each composed of a solid electrolyte layer and an anode are positioned on the cathode to have a gap between any adjacent two of the laminates, and the anodes are electroconductively connected to the positive electrode of the power source.
US08916026B2
A pulp making process in which fibrous cellulosic material is pulped to form an aqueous suspension of cellulosic material, the suspension is drained through a screen to form a pulp sheet and that the pulp sheet is dried to form a dry market pulp, in which a water soluble cationic polymer is added to the suspension as the sole drainage aid wherein the water-soluble cationic polymer is either, i) a copolymer comprising (a) between 1 and 70 mole % (meth)acrylamide and (b) between 30 and 99 mole % (meth)acryloyloxyethyl-trimethyl ammonium chloride with an intrinsic viscosity between 5 and 9 dl/g; or ii) a hydrolysed homopolymer of vinylformamide comprising between 1 and 100 mole % vinyl amine units and having a K value of between 45 and 240. The process of the invention provides improved drainage time and solids content of the dewatered pulp.
US08916022B1
Systems and methods of forming plasma are provided. In an embodiment, by way of example only, a plasma generation system includes a container comprising an insulating material, a means for forming a first plasma within the container from a processing gas, the first plasma including charged particles, a means for extracting a portion of the charged particles from the first plasma and storing the portion of extracted charged particles on the insulating material, and a means for forming a second plasma from the extracted portion of the charged particles and a second portion of the processing gas.
US08916021B2
Embodiments of the present invention generally provide chamber components with enhanced thermal properties and methods of enhancing thermal properties of chamber components including bonding materials. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for fabricating a composite structure. The method includes applying a bonding material to a first component, and converting the bonding material applied to the first component to an enhanced bonding layer by heating the bonding material to outgas volatile species from the bonding material. The outgassed volatile species accumulates to at least 0.05% in mass of the bonding material. The method further includes contacting a second component and the enhanced bonding layer to join the first and second components.
US08916015B2
A pledget for a tampon having improved leakage prevention of bodily fluid after the tampon is inserted in the vagina. A method of manufacturing the pledget can include a step of bringing a contact member into communication with a fibrous material. The method can include a step of compressing the fibrous material into a pledget for a tampon.
US08916008B2
The present invention provides a steel part for machine structural use whose fatigue strength and toughness are improved and a manufacturing method thereof. A steel part made of a steel containing, in mass %, C: 0.05 to 0.20%, Si: 0.10 to 1.00%, Mn: 0.75 to 3.00%, P: 0.001 to 0.050%, S: 0.001 to 0.200%, V: 0.05 to 0.20%, Cr: 0.01 to 1.00%, Al: 0.001 to 0.500%, and N: 0.0080 to 0.0200%, and a balance being composed of Fe and inevitable impurities, in which a steel structure contains a bainite structure having an area ratio of 95% or more, a bainite lath width is 5 μm or less, V carbide having an average grain diameter of not less than 4 nm nor more than 7 nm dispersedly exists in the bainite structure, and an area ratio of V carbide in the bainite structure is 0.18% or more.
US08916007B2
The object of this present invention is to provide novel means for inhibiting elution of hexavalent chromium from a chemical conversion coating. A composition for chemical conversion treatment comprises at least 0.1 g/L of a polyphenol and at least 1.5 g/L in chromium ion equivalent of an aqueous trivalent chromium compound and has a pH of 6 or less. A chemical conversion coating formed on a metallic surface of a member by contacting the surface with the composition for chemical conversion treatment has a hexavalent chromium content of 0.04 μg/cm2 or less after exposure to an environment having a temperature of 80 degrees C. and a relative humidity of 100% for 120 hours. The content of hexavalent chromium is measured by a method compliant with EN15205. A composition containing at least 0.1 g/L of a polyphenol can be used as a composition for post-coating treatment of a chemical conversion coating obtained by conventional chemical conversion treatment.
US08916005B2
A slurry and slurry coating process for forming a diffusion aluminide coating on a substrate, including internal surfaces within the substrate. The process involves preparing a slurry of a powder containing a metallic aluminum alloy having a melting temperature higher than aluminum, an activator capable of forming a reactive halide vapor with the metallic aluminum, and a binder containing an organic polymer. The slurry is applied to surfaces of the substrate, which is then heated to burn off the binder, vaporize and react the activator with the metallic aluminum to form the halide vapor, react the halide vapor at the substrate surfaces to deposit aluminum on the surfaces, and diffuse the deposited aluminum into the surfaces to form a diffusion aluminide coating. The process can be tailored to selectively produce an inward or outward-type coating. The binder burns off to form an ash residue that can be readily removed.
US08915996B2
A filler composition for use in a casting formulation, where the filler composition includes a mineral filler, hollow plastic microspheres, and a food grade and non-flammable liquid, and where when the filler composition is mixed with a casting resin an OSHA 8-hour Permissible Exposure Limit set for Particulates Not Otherwise Regulated is not exceeded.
US08915994B2
[Problem to be solved] A non-aqueous ink, which has excellent pigment dispersion stability and can achieve reduction or elimination of print-through, thereby achieving high print density, is disclosed.[Solution] The non-aqueous ink contains at least a pigment and an organic solvent, wherein the organic solvent contains a five-membered heterocyclic compound having a C═O bond in an amount of 50 mass % or more of the organic solvent, and the content of a polymer component in the ink is 20 mass % or less relative to the pigment.
US08915988B2
The invention relates to a device for separating a flowing medium mixture into at least two fractions with differing mass density. The device comprises an inlet for the medium mixture to be separated, which connects to first separating means for separating the flowing mixture in at least a first and a second fraction, and that connect to first and second outlet means for discharging the first and second fractions. The device further comprises a feedback loop comprising second separating means between the second outlet means and the inlet means of the first separating means. The invention also relates to a method for separating a flowing medium mixture into at least two fractions with differing mass density, using the claimed device. The device and method allow to obtain a more selective separation, particularly in purifying natural gas.
US08915983B2
A range extractor hood includes a screen, at least one filter element and at least one pivot bearing which swingably supports the at least one filter element on the screen. At least one locking member retains the at least one filter element to the screen. Located on the screen is a releasing device for, at least partially, releasing the locking member and retention of the filter element.
US08915975B2
Method for the preparation of a composite electrode and accumulator or battery including at least one composite electrode, the method includes a step of pouring a medium including at least one ionic liquid, a lithium, sodium or magnesium salt with at least one inorganic molecular precursor or a polymerizable monomer, the medium being in excess, and an in situ polycondensation or polymerization step.
US08915971B2
A lock and modular system for securing an electronic device. The system includes a device security module that couples to an electronic device and secures the electronic device to its location. A monitor module ensures that the device security module is coupled to the electronic device before a data security module allows the electronic device to operate. The monitor module may also require that the device security module be recognized before the electronic device will operate. If the device security module is coupled and recognized, the user is prompted to provide an encryption key. If the key is correct, the electronic device will operate. The user may have a limited number of attempts to provide the encryption key. If the user makes too many attempts, the electronic device is disabled and the data thereon destroyed. If the device security module is uncoupled during operation, the electronic device is shut down.
US08915970B2
A transdermal implant assembly including a transdermal bone fixator configured for anchoring into a bone. The fixator includes a longitudinally extending shaft configured to be received into a recess of the bone, and a spindle defining a cavity. A compliant biasing member is disposed within the cavity and an end cap is removably coupled to the spindle to seal the cavity. The compliant biasing member is accessible for adjustments from the external environment.
US08915959B2
The subject invention relates to a valve replacement system together with methods of preparation and use, are provided for endovascular replacement of a heart valve in a host. The valve replacement system includes up to five components: a prosthetic valve device, a valve introducer device, an intraluminal procedure device, a procedure device capsule, and a tissue cutter. The system provides for endovascular removal of a malfunctioning valve and subsequent replacement with a permanent prosthetic heart valve.
US08915958B2
Apparatus for use in conjunction with implanting a collapsible and re-expandable prosthetic heart valve in a patient by means that are less invasive than traditional open-chest, open-heart surgery. The apparatus may include a one-way valve for preventing blood from escaping from the patient's circulatory system when that system is entered to implant the prosthetic heart valve. The apparatus may include various forms of cutters for gaining access to the patient's circulatory system. The apparatus may include various forms of devices for quickly closing the access to the patient's circulatory system after the prosthetic heart valve has been implanted.
US08915947B2
A portal for accessing a desired lamina portion of a desired cervical vertebra to perform a laminoplasty. In one aspect, a laminoplasty portal is presented that defines an interior conduit and has a first sidewall section and a second sidewall section.
US08915943B2
The present invention relates generally to self-retaining systems for surgical procedures, methods of manufacturing self-retaining systems for surgical procedures, and their uses.
US08915942B2
The invention discloses a skin wound closure device capable of promoting skin wound healing and characterized by being capable of randomly adjusting stitching force for a wound. The skin wound closure device includes a support structure respectively arranged at both sides of a skin wound, at least one locking device is arranged above the support structure, the locking device includes a locking bar and a locking buckle arranged on the support structure, the locking bar is movably connected within the locking buckle, and a locking member is arranged on the locking buckle and can lock or loosely fit the locking bar in the locking buckle. Arrangement of the locking member allows doctors to loosely fit the locking bar in the locking buckle by controlling the locking member, randomly move the support structure and the locking device towards the direction close to the skin wound or the direction away from the skin wound, and lock the locking bar in the locking buckle by the locking member after proper movement, thus achieving the purpose of randomly adjusting the stitching force for the skin wound. The skin wound closure device is suitable for widespread application to healing treatment of skin wounds.
US08915938B2
A method of treating a constricted sinus passageway of a patient includes traversing the canine fossa region of the patient so as to form a passageway in the sinus cavity. A cannula is positioned in the passageway. A visualization tool such as an endoscope is passed through a lumen or channel in the cannula to aid in visualization of the anatomical site of interest. A balloon dilation catheter is then deployed through or along the cannula so as to place the balloon within or across the constricted anatomical space (e.g., ostium). The balloon is then expanded so as to expand at least a portion of the constricted anatomical space. Alternative embodiments include the use of an optional guide wire and incorporating a endoscope lumen through the balloon dilation catheter.
US08915931B2
A surgical clip is provided for ligating or transecting tissue, such as vessels, other tubular ducts, and the like and a surgical clip applier device for delivering and applying the surgical clip to the tissue. The surgical clip can include a spine and opposed arms extending from the spine where the arms can define a clamping length. In a resting state, the clip can be biased to a closed position such that the ends of each opposed arm are disposed in proximity to each other. With such biasing, when applied to a tissue, such as with a surgical clip applier, the clip can exert a positive clamping pressure to the tissue along the clamping length to seal the tissue and limit passage of fluids, such as blood, from the tissue.
US08915917B2
An intramedullary nail has a proximal part for engagement with a proximal bone fragment and a distal part for engagement with a distal bone fragment. A motion assembly interconnects the parts and allows limited axial relative motion of the proximal and distal parts. This limited axial motion provides micromotion and in some embodiments also dynamization. The nail may comprise a stem for fastening to one bone fragment and an insert within the stem for fastening to the other bone fragment, the insert being adapted to guide insertion of a bone screw through the stem and to prevent relative rotation of the distal and proximal bone fragments. The motion assembly may include spring bias and/or damping means between the parts, possibly including one or more Belleville washers.
US08915913B2
An electrosurgical instrument for minimally invasive surgery, the instrument including two gripping parts which can be brought together into a gripping direction or moved apart counter to the gripping direction. At least one gripping part includes three or more electrically conductive sections, electrically insulated relative to each other. Each electrically conductive section may be separately connected to a high frequency (RF) current generator such that each electrically conductive section can be configured in various electrical configurations by the RF current generator.
US08915911B2
The present invention provides devices and systems, as well as methods, of electric field delivery and non-thermal or selective ablation of target tissue regions, including selective ablation of cancerous cells and solid tumors. A method of the present invention includes delivering an electric field to a tissue, including positioning an electrode within a target tissue region comprising cancerous cells, and applying an alternating electrical current to the target tissue so as to non-thermally ablate cancerous cells of the target tissue region around the electrodes.
US08915910B2
Phase end point determination is provided to automatically halt the application of energy to tissue. Prior to the application of energy, the phase end point determination is identified by measuring the product of permittivity and conductivity of the tissue to be treated. An electrosurgical system can include an electrosurgical generator, a feedback circuit or controller, and an electrosurgical tool. The feedback circuit can provide an electrosurgery endpoint by determining the phase end point of a tissue to be treated. The electrosurgical system can include more than one electrosurgical tool for different electrosurgical operations and can include a variety of user interface features and audio/visual performance indicators. The electrosurgical system can also power conventional bipolar electrosurgical tools and direct current surgical appliances.
US08915902B2
A transfer system suitable for medicaments comprising a vial socket, a housing having first and second open ends with the first open end being releasably connected to the vial socket, a needle hub mounted within the housing, a needle having first and second piercing ends mounted in the needle hub, a vial having a neck and a body, the vial being inserted in the vial socket and being non removably retained therein, a cartridge having a plunger sealing an open end thereof and a septum located at an opposite end of the cartridge, and an activation cap for causing the needle to penetrate a septum of the vial and the septum of the cartridge to permit transfer of components therebetween.
US08915894B1
In various embodiments of the invention, the components can include a hemostatic vacuum cup which can utilize ancillary or self-contained vacuum generation, and a therapeutic agent which is supplied prior, simultaneously or subsequent to the application of a vacuum with the ultimate aim of slowing or arresting the flow of blood in a bodily tissue or organ. The invention relates to a hemostatic vacuum cup which can utilize ancillary or self-contained vacuum generation. The cup produces a hemostatic effect by the physical application of the device upon a traumatized tissue site and through the delivery of an agent, such as one that assists in hemostasis, antinociception, coagulation, sterilization, or other effective wound healing agents including antibiotics, antiseptics and antioxidants. The cup can be adapted to deliver the therapeutic agent, by methods integral to the vacuum cup. The therapeutic agent can be delivered in the form of a sponge, cellulose or other filter material.
US08915892B2
Extracorporeal blood treatment methods are usually performed with anticoagulation of the blood. In regional anticoagulation with citrate, sometimes a blood clot is observed in the extracorporeal circulation at the point of addition of the calcium substitution solution. In such a case, the treatment must be interrupted. To prevent such an interruption, the point of addition is configured as a T-piece having a spiral structure for generating turbulence.
US08915890B2
Medical device assemblies having a connection mechanism for securely connecting a hub to fluid storage containers in a luer slip relationship are described. An exemplary medical device includes a hub forming a cavity, a second indicating element disposed within the cavity that engages the hub. Additional features of the medical device include a second indicating element contoured to form a line contact with the hub. In a specific configuration, the hub includes a first indicating element attached to the hub and extending proximally into the cavity having a protrusion. In a more specific configuration, the medical device includes a fluid storage container that has an indication system for visually indicating optimal fluid-tight engagement of the hub and the fluid storage container.
US08915889B2
A medicament dispensing mechanism is disclosed that is configured to eject successive doses of the medicament from a medicament chamber. An embodiment of the dispensing mechanism includes a housing and a plunger rod configured for ejecting the doses of medicament from the chamber. The dispensing mechanism further includes an actuation mechanism that comprises a trigger associated with the housing and having a ready and a fired position with respect thereto. The trigger is configured for manipulation by a user for successive movement in a generally axial dosing motion from the ready position to the fired position in which the trigger is associated with the plunger rod to cause the plunger rod to eject one of the doses of a predetermined volume and a resetting motion from the fired position to the ready position that comprises axial rotation, wherein the trigger is uncoupled from the plunger rod during the resetting motion.
US08915886B2
An autoinjector includes a housing (10) to receive a syringe (14), and a drive mechanism including first and second springs (30, 32) operating in tandem via an intermediate member (34), on a plunger (42). The plunger is retained in a locked position by a trigger. Release of the trigger causes the first spring to advance the syringe to an arrest point whereafter the second spring extends within the syringe to expel a dose.
US08915882B2
A needle assembly adapted for fluid communication with a cartridge containing a substance to be delivered to a subject, the needle assembly characterized by a biasing device (70) arranged to apply a biasing force on a needle (28, 116) to cause the needle (28, 116) to protrude outwards of a housing (30, 112) to pierce the subject, and biasing device release apparatus (60) including a biasing device arrestor (62) that initially blocks movement of the biasing device (70) and which releases the biasing device (70) when the safety latch (32, 122) moves to a position that permits moving the needle holder (26, 118) to cause the needle (28, 116) to protrude outwards of the housing (30, 112).
US08915880B2
The present invention relates to a funnel for a breast pump. Milk expressed from a user's nipple is known to pool at a user's breast. The funnel for a breast pump according to the present invention comprises a breast receiving portion (29) and a nipple receiving chamber (34) to receive a user's nipple. The nipple receiving chamber (34) is defined by an inner surface (36) of an outer wall (37), wherein the inner surface (36) of the outer wall (37) extends from the breast receiving portion (29), and a lower section (40) of the inner surface (36) diverges away from an opposing upper section (39) of the inner surface (36) and a user's nipple received in the nipple receiving chamber. The present invention also relates to a breast pump comprising a funnel.
US08915872B2
A medical sling made from material that is suitably shaped for use in a medical application has sides, portions of which are smoothed to prevent abrasion of surrounding tissue.
US08915869B2
A patient monitoring device to be worn on a limb of a patient. Some embodiments of the patient monitoring device include at least one sensor assembly configured to detect a measurement indicating a distance around the patient's limb and a communications subassembly configured to transmit the measurement to at least one external computing device. Other embodiments of the patient monitoring device include at least one sensor assembly configured to detect a measurement indicating a distance around the patient's limb and at least one processor configured to detect whether the distance around the patient's limb has increased indicating edema. Some embodiments include an accelerometer configured to detect device orientation and/or patient activity information. The patient activity information may be analyzed by an external computing device and/or the patient monitoring device to determine whether the patient's activity level has declined indicating a medical problem.
US08915865B2
Medical devices for navigation through anatomy, including guidewires, which may have a core wire, a slotted tubular member, or both. Embodiments may have coils, including non-circular cross-section edge-wound marker coils, extended coil tips, and soldered or glued mesial joint coils. Core wires may have a step, ridge, or taper at the joints to the tubular member, and may be flattened at the distal tip. Radiopaque material may be located inside the tubular member, and the distal tip may be heat treated to make it shapeable. Additional tubular members or coils may be used concentrically or in line and may enhance flexibility, provide radiopacity, reduce friction, or reduce material or manufacturing cost. Tubular members may be chamfered or tapered continuously or incrementally. Slots may be arranged in groups, such as groups of tree, and may be equal in depth or unequal in depth to provide a steerable or compressible tip.
US08915864B2
The invention is directed to a system and method for separating and collecting one or more tissue specimens from a target site within a patient and flushing the specimen to remove blood, debris and the like before the specimen is removed from the biopsy device. The flow of flushing fluid to the tissue collector is preferably controlled to coincide with delivery of one or more specimens to the collecting tray or basket of the device or after the receipt of the specimen within the tissue collector to ensure that the fluid is applied to a fresh specimen. The tissue tray or basket within the tissue collector has an open or foraminous portion to facilitate removal of fluid, such as the applied fluid and blood, and other debris from the tissue specimens on the tray. Vacuum is provided within the tissue collector, preferably under the tray to remove fluid and debris from the collector interior.
US08915860B2
Systems and methods are described herein to evaluate a candidate medication as it relates to a subject's cardiovascular health. A processing component is employed to measure a first value of one or more cardiovascular markers, via a computer, which are associated with a circulatory system of each subject that is to receive the candidate medication. The candidate medication is administered to each subject and a second value of one or more cardiovascular markers are measured subsequent to the administration as of the candidate medication. Continued testing of the candidate medication can be continued dependent upon the change in the one or more cardiovascular markers.
US08915854B2
A method and system for providing ultrasound treatment to a tissue that contains a lower part of dermis and proximal protrusions of fat lobuli into the dermis. An embodiment delivers ultrasound energy to the region creating a thermal injury and coagulating the proximal protrusions of fat lobuli, thereby eliminating the fat protrusions into the dermis. An embodiment can also include ultrasound imaging configurations using the same or a separate probe before, after or during the treatment. In addition various therapeutic levels of ultrasound can be used to increase the speed at which fat metabolizes. Additionally the mechanical action of ultrasound physically breaks fat cell clusters and stretches the fibrous bonds. Mechanical action will also enhance lymphatic drainage, stimulating the evacuation of fat decay products.
US08915843B2
A light source apparatus for an endoscope, which has a lamp, a power source, a light adjustment control module that controls power to be supplied to the lamp within a range not more than an upper limit power based on a brightness instruction signal, and a continuous lighting sensing module that measures a continuous lighting time period from time when the lamp shifts from being extinguished to being lighted, compares the continuous lighting time period with a predetermined upper limit time period, and initializes the continuous lighting time period while the lamp is extinguished, wherein the upper limit power is set to a first upper limit power when the continuous lighting time period has not reached the upper limit time period, and changed to a second upper limit power lower than the first upper limit power in a stepwise manner when the upper limit time period has not been reached.
US08915842B2
Methods and devices are provided for providing irrigation and/or suction to a surgical site and maintaining clear visibility through a lens of a scoping device during a surgical procedure. In general, the methods and devices can allow for a surgical instrument to maintain visibility during a surgical procedure using a fluid conduit coupled to the surgical instrument. A surgical device can include a sheath having at least one lumen extending therethrough configured to allow a surgical viewing instrument to be disposed therein. The sheath can also have a passageway extending therethrough configured to allow fluid to flow therethrough. The fluid conduit can be configured to be movable between positions that can allow alternative directions of fluid toward and/or away from a viewing element on the surgical instrument and fluid away from the viewing element and toward a surgical field in a body cavity.
US08915830B2
A quick change conveyor roll assembly for metal or glass processing comprising an inner roll shaft having a rigid and elongated cylindrical surface supported and rotationally driven by an associate rotor mean. At least one removable spool having a cylindrical body with a first diameter, a hollow interior therethrough and a collar rigidly adapted at a first end, the collar having a second diameter whereby the second diameter is greater than the first diameter. At least one removable and replaceable insulated roll sleeve being slidably mounted over at least a portion of said removable spool and abutting said collar, the insulated roll sleeve including at least one layer of an insulation material and a securing means operably adjustable to hold said roll sleeve about said removable spool at a second end in a predetermined location on said inner roll shaft.
US08915825B2
An adjustable stepping structure for aerobic exercise is disclosed having a platform and a plurality of support elements. The support elements include a downwardly arcuate notch or channel for receiving a sidewall or endwall of the platform, allowing the platform to be arranged in multiple angled orientations.
US08915818B2
There are provided a hub bearing, a speed reduction mechanism, and an in-wheel motor, including an inner race portion which is fixed to a support mechanism, an outer race portion which is connected to a wheel, and a rolling element which is disposed between the inner race portion and the outer race portion, and the outer race portion includes an outer race member, a wheel flange, and a fixation mechanism. The end surface of the wheel flange away from the outer race member in a direction parallel to a rotation shaft extends to the rotation shaft in relation to the inner race portion in the radial direction of the rotation shaft. Further, the inner race portion includes a first inner race member which is fixed to the support mechanism, a second inner race member which is inserted into the outer peripheral surface of the first inner race member, and a locking nut which is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the first inner race member so as to be near the wheel in relation to the second inner race member and is threaded into the first inner race member, and the end surface of the locking nut away from the wheel in a direction parallel to the rotation shaft is positioned near the wheel in relation to the contact surface of the outer race member against the wheel flange.
US08915813B2
A continuously variable hydrostatic transmission (10) having torque division for a vehicle comprises a first hydrostatic unit (H1) operating as a pump and a second hydrostatic unit (H2) operating as a motor, and further a planetary drive (12), a first shaft (W1) on the drive side and a summing means (W6). The power present at the first shaft (W1) is divided by way of the planetary drive (12) to a mechanical transmission branch (Z9, W2, Z1, Z2) and a hydraulic transmission branch (Z7, W3, Z4, Z5, Z6, H1, H2) formed by the two hydraulically coupled hydrostatic units (H1, H2) and is combined again at the summing means (W6). In such a transmission, a compact and simplified design and great flexibility in application are achieved in that the power transmission between the first shaft (W1) and summing means (W6) can be controlled exclusively by varying the displacements of the hydrostatic units (H1, H2).
US08915809B2
The amusement ball for a user having an inner surface membrane filled with air, a thin puncturable unit covering the inner surface membrane and an outer membrane unit covering the thin puncturable unit. The thin puncturable unit includes one or more first chambers and a thin puncturable membrane attached to the one or more first chambers. The outer membrane unit includes one or more second chambers and a non-permeable outer membrane attached to the one or more second chambers. A user applies a pressure on a specific location of the inner surface membrane through the outer membrane unit resulting in the bursting of the thin puncturable membrane and release of the liquid from one or more first chambers to one or more second chambers. The liquid then appears on the inner surface of outer permeable membrane.
US08915805B2
The object of the present invention is to provide an extended playing surface for paddle/racquet-based games, in particular table tennis. A playing surface is provided comprising four curved rebounding surfaces each with a vertical rebounding side wall configured so that two curved surfaces attach or extend on each side of a substantially horizontal playing surface thereby forming a continuous rebounding playing surface. A net is positioned perpendicular to the length of the horizontal playing surface at its mid point, allowing two or more opposing players to use the curved, vertical sidewall and horizontal surfaces as rebounding surfaces to serve, return and rally a spherical target object over the net.
US08915803B2
A golf ball comprising: a core comprising at least one layer A, a cover comprising at least one layer B, an intermediate layer C disposed between the core and the cover, and a coating D applied on an outermost surface of the golf ball. At least two of layer A, layer B, layer C and coating D comprise a golf ball color contributing component comprising a color and contributing to an overall golf ball color, wherein at least two golf ball color contributing components have different saturations. The overall golf ball hue is substantially similar to the hue of each color contributing component; the overall golf ball saturation is different than the saturation of at least one color contributing component and the overall golf ball chroma is different than the chroma of at least one color contributing component.
US08915794B2
Golf club heads which include an iron type golf club head body include a ball striking face, a rear surface opposite the ball striking face (e.g., including a perimeter weighting member) and a multi-legged bridge member which indicates the location of the center of gravity of the golf club head body. Golf clubs including these club heads and methods of making such golf club and golf club heads also are provided.
US08915791B2
A convertible toy includes a body portion and a base selectively coupled to the body portion. The body portion includes a seat portion, a first pair of leg portions extending from the seat portion, and a first axle extending between the first pair of leg portions. The body portion also includes a second pair of leg portions extending from the seat portion and a second axle extending between the second pair of leg portions. The base includes a curved support portion, a first coupling member coupled to the curved support portion, and a second coupling member coupled to the curved support portion. The first axle of the body portion is selectively coupled to the first coupling member in at least one degree of freedom and the second axle of the body portion is selectively coupled to the second coupling member in at least two degrees of freedom.
US08915788B2
A universal joint carried by an elongate body having an axis. The universal joint has an inner race that pivots omni-directionally within an outer race and a series of first and second opposed cavities formed in the inner race and the outer race. There are a plurality of torque transfer elements, each torque transfer element having a first portion that engages a first cavity and a second portion that engages a corresponding second cavity. The first cavity is a socket that permits rotation of the first portion within the first cavity as the inner race pivots omni-directionally within the outer race and the second cavity is a track oriented in the direction of the axis of the elongate body. The second portion moves along the track as the inner race pivots omni-directionally within the outer race of the second portion along the track. The second portion has at least one drive surface that engages an inner surface of the track at more than one point along the direction of the track.
US08915782B2
A game management system includes: a resonant tag which records card identification information and is provided with each of a plurality of cards; a wireless ID tag which records chip identification information and is provided with each of a plurality of chips; a first identification information detector which is provided with a game table and detects the card identification information concerning each of the plurality of cards; a second identification information detector which is provided with the game table and detects the chip identification information concerning each of the plurality of chips; a readout unit which is provided with the game table and acquires personal information for identifying a participant in a game; and a PTS server and a accumulation/analysis server which manage tracks and results of the game played on the game table in association with the personal information based on the card and chip identification information.
US08915775B2
An exhaust system includes: an exhaust pressure controller interposed in an exhaust passage and including: a pipe body including a side peripheral wall in which at least one port is formed; and a gas introduction wall for introducing an exhaust gas flowing from an upstream side of the pipe body so that the exhaust gas flows downstream without coming into direct contact with the port and vicinity thereof, one face of the gas introduction wall forming a pressure control path together with an inner face of the side peripheral wall while another face of the gas introduction wall forming an exhaust gas path along which the exhaust gas flows. The port communicates with the pressure control path, and the pressure control path communicates with the exhaust gas path at part downstream of the port.
US08915773B2
A method and a system for separating the spinal column from a carcass middle part, comprising the steps of providing a digital representation of an outer surface of the carcass middle on the basis of, e.g., an optical scan, determining a cutting path (1c) for a cutting device for the separation of the spinal column from the carcass middle on the basis of digital processing of the scan, and subsequently separating the spinal column from the carcass middle by causing a relative movement between the middle and the cutting device and simultaneously causing the cutting device to engage the carcass middle, wherein the relative movement between the middle and the cutting device during the spinal column separation to achieve a cut along the predetermined cutting path (1c).
US08915771B2
A vacuum assembly for removing debris formed on the surface of a work chuck after a wafer grinding process by positioning a vacuum source above the work chuck and then activating the vacuum source.
US08915762B2
A catamaran vessel with hybrid propulsion engines for driving propeller propulsors and pump-jet propulsors. The vessel includes two side hulls and a mobile platform that can be moved between upper and lower positions relative to the side hulls to accommodate navigation conditions. The engines are selectively coupled to the propeller propulsors, the pump jet propulsors, and control mechanisms changing the position of the mobile platform-between the upper and lower positions.
US08915759B2
A terminal connector with an electric wire includes a bottom portion, a wall, a plurality of connection pieces, and an auxiliary wall. An end portion of the electric wire is placed on and connected to the bottom portion. The electric wire includes a core wire exposed at the end portion. The wall is provided continuously from the bottom portion and integrally rises from one side of the bottom portion extending to another side. One of the connection pieces extends from one end of the bottom portion and another one of the connection pieces extends from one end of the wall and the connection pieces are contacted and connected to an opposing terminal connector. The auxiliary wall is provided continuously from another end of the wall that is opposite from the one end from which the connection piece extends. The auxiliary wall extends downwardly to the bottom portion.
US08915758B2
The invention relates to an electrical connector having a plurality of contact housings and a lock housing. The plurality of contact housings are vertically positioned upon each other. Each contact housing having a first end, a second end, and a step portion disposed between the first end and the second end. The lock housing includes a cover plate extending across an upper side of the plurality of contact housings and a lock arm extending from the cover plate and engageable with at least one of the plurality of contact housings. The lock arm includes an end portion engageable with the step portion.
US08915747B2
This disclosure relates generally to a connector assembly. Optionally, first conductive members form a first row. Second conductive members include a first subset forming a second row and a second subset forming a third row, the second and third rows being parallel and offset with respect to one another. Individual ones of the first and second conductive members are arranged to be coupled at a first end to a corresponding contact. At least one of the first and second subsets has a vertical displacement to form a common row of the second conductive members at a second end of the second conductive members. Individual ones of the first conductive members are arranged to be coupled proximate a second end of the first conductive members to the second end of a corresponding one of the second conductive members.
US08915746B2
A connector component for operably coupling a removable integrated circuit component such as a Micro SIM™, to a host PCB is provided. The connector component is configured to fit within an aperture formed within the host PCB and houses the removable integrated circuit component within an internal cavity. The connector component includes a coupling portion configured for coupling to the top face of the host PCB, and a port for insertion and removal of the removable integrated circuit component which is exposed within the bottom face of the host PCB. The connector component may be made flush with the bottom face of the host PCB, and the host PCB may optionally be populated on one side only.
US08915733B2
A method of heating a charge material by controlling heat flux in a tilt rotary furnace is disclosed. Combustion by the burner forms a heat release profile including a high heat flux region. The positioning of the high heat flux region is controllable by providing a controlled amount of secondary or staged oxidant. The burner is configured and controlled to position a region of high heat flux at a position corresponding to an area requiring greater heating, such as the area of maximum charge depth in the furnace to provide substantially uniform melting and heat distribution.
US08915730B2
A three-dimensional modeling apparatus includes a stage, a head, a movement mechanism, and a control unit. The head supplies a process liquid that is one of a solution and a dispersion liquid onto the stage to cause a material that constitutes a three-dimensional object to be precipitated out of the process liquid by evaporating one of a solvent and a dispersion medium therefrom. The movement mechanism relatively moves the head and the stage. The control unit controls a drive of the movement mechanism to form the three-dimensional object.
US08915722B1
Tapered valve guide and spring retainer assemblies are described for use in plunger pump housings that incorporate corresponding outwardly flared discharge and suction bores, as well as structural features for stress-relief. Plunger pumps so constructed are relatively resistant to fatigue failure because of stress reductions, and they may incorporate essentially any style of valves, including top and lower stem-guided valves and crow-foot-guided valves, in easily-maintained configurations. Besides forming a part of valve guide and spring retainer assemblies, side spacers may be shaped and dimensioned to improve volumetric efficiency of the pumps in which they are used. The present disclosure provides, for the first time, the use of tungsten carbide valve seats, which significantly increase durability and service life of a pump, especially when abrasive fluids are being pumped, as in various oilfield operations.
US08915719B2
The present invention teaches providing heating elements into the nose of an intermediate distance piece of a cryogenic reciprocating pump in order to warm the piston packing seals of the pump. The heating elements increase the temperature of the piston packing seals to limit deformation of the seals while the pump is in operation. In addition, a warm, dry vapor purge may be provided to the interior of the intermediate distance piece to reduce or eliminate rime from interfering with the piston packing seals.
US08915713B2
The present application thus provides an airfoil for use in a turbine. The airfoil may include a wall, an internal cooling plenum, and a cooling hole extending through the wall to the cooling plenum. The cooling hole may include an offset counterbore therein.
US08915711B2
A centrifugal compressor wheel including a hub, a web extending radially from the hub, and a plurality of blades carried by the wheel. The web includes an erosion indicator of the wheel.
US08915703B2
A variable inlet guide vane assembly includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced inlet guide vanes mounted to pivot to change an angle of the guide vanes relative to an air flow. An actuator actuates the plurality of inlet guide vanes to change the angle, and is positioned radially inward of the inlet guide vanes.
US08915701B2
A piping assembly and a method for connecting an inner shell and an outer shell in a turbine system are disclosed. The piping assembly includes an inner fitting for connection to the inner shell and an outer fitting for connection to the outer shell. The piping assembly further includes an attenuation member extending between the inner fitting and the outer fitting and comprising an attenuation curve. The attenuation curve permits movement of the attenuation member in at least one of a longitudinal direction, a radial direction, or a tangential direction.
US08915694B2
Disclosed examples relate to loading devices for loading bars for machining in machine tools. A disclosed example loading device is adapted to move a bar from a starting position to an end position and to feed the bar from the end position to the machine tool, comprising a rest portion for supplying the loading device with at least one bar lying on the rest portion in the starting position, and a movable transport for transporting the bar from the starting position to the end position. The transport is adapted to transport the bar downward in a downward movement due to its gravity along a downwardly inclined guiding portion, the bar being supported by a first support portion of the transport.
US08915693B2
A robot arm for transporting semiconductor wafers includes a hand, a lower arm link, and an upper arm link. The hand is connected to the lower arm link via a first joint, and the upper arm link is connected to the lower arm link via a second joint. The lower arm link is capable of being separated at a location between the first joint and the second joint.
US08915691B2
Apparatus for transporting frac sand and/or proppant for use in standard ISO intermodal containers and for delivering frac sand and/or proppant to well sites. Configured for being inserted into a container and adapted for transporting frac sand and proppant from a quarry or other frac sand supply source to a well site. A plurality of inlet ports disposed atop the roof, with the inlet ports receiving the frac sand from a frac sand supply source into a funnel-hopper, and a plurality of outlet ports for receiving the frac sand and proppant within the funnel-hopper and delivering the frac sand and proppant proximal to the well site. An in situ valve apparatus disposed within the hopper assembly for effectuating industry standard continuous pressurized discharge of stored frac sand material into a discharge pipe for delivery downhole.
US08915683B2
The present invention relates to a latch device for securing and/or guiding at least one cargo item on a cargo deck, wherein the latch device comprises: a sliding guide carriage extending longitudinally; a bearing in which the sliding guide carriage is movably supported in such a way that the sliding guide carriage is pivotable out of a restraining position into an inoperative position; at least one releasing device which is attached to the latch device by way of at least one articulation in such a way that the releasing device can be brought out of a blocking position into a releasing position, wherein in the blocking position the releasing device acts on the sliding guide carriage in such a manner that said carriage is locked in the restraining position, wherein the releasing device has at least one releasing device ramp section which is designed and arranged in such a manner that a cargo item approaching longitudinally pivots the releasing device out of the blocking position into the releasing position.
US08915682B2
A CNG cylinder mounting device for a vehicle according to the present invention has parts different from the typical CNG cylinder mounting device: the gas cylinder supporting frame has a feature of a steel plate shaped into two gas cylinder placement frame units. Each unit uses a belt to fasten the upper cylinder, locks the gas cylinder to the cylinder placement frame unit, and has four cylinder placement frame supporting sleeves underneath. The cylinder placement frame supporting sleeves are placed on the bed supporting bracket whereas the bed support is placed on the bored bed floor and has four bracket supporting sleeves under the floor inside the through holes.
US08915675B1
Access and connection for a buried pipeline, wherein a hole is dug to a buried pipeline, a riser pipe is disposed within the hole, and one or more powered tools are lowered into the hole and activated such that work is performed on the pipeline without the need for anyone to be lowered into the hole. Because no one needs to be physically present down in the hole at the pipeline, the hole, and thus the surface disturbance can be much smaller than conventional pipeline work methods.
US08915666B2
A taper coupling structure includes a groove, serving as a hollowed part, provided in a rear end surface of a hub. The groove is formed continuously in the circumferential direction and uniformly in the radial direction. In the state in which a taper shaft is fitted in the hub, the groove interferes with the taper shaft in the radial direction. An inner shell part, which is a portion on the inside of the groove in the radial direction, has a low radial rigidity because of the presence of the groove. For this reason, if a force is applied from the hollow portion of a flange part toward the outside in the radial direction, the diameter of the inner shell part is liable to be increased in the radial direction by elastic displacement (deflection).
US08915665B2
An improved nib for writing with ink on media that comprises a tube having a proximal opening, a slanted distal opening, an interior wall and an exterior wall, an exposed writing tip at a distal end of the nib, wherein the tip has a groove extending from the tip along at least a portion of the interior wall, and a slit extending from the tip along a part of the nib, wherein the tip is made of a ceramic material.
US08915663B2
A writing instrument that includes a shaft and an eraser exit device. The eraser exit device includes an eraser protection sleeve that is mobile at least in rotation relative to the shaft so that the eraser can assume a maximum exit configuration and a retraction configuration, and an eraser holder provided with at least a first longitudinal guiding member directly interacting with a first complementary guiding member connected to the shaft so as to prevent any rotation movement between the holder and the shaft, and provided with at least a second guiding member that interacts with a second complementary guiding member connected to the sleeve. The sleeve has a front portion surrounding the rear end of the shaft and a rear portion having an inner guiding portion including the second complementary guiding member.
US08915657B2
Provided are an opto-electric hybrid board and a manufacturing method therefor. The opto-electric hybrid board includes an optical waveguide unit and an electric circuit unit having an optical element mounted thereon, the electric circuit unit being coupled to the optical waveguide unit using coupling pins. The optical waveguide unit includes fitting holes for fitting the coupling pins thereinto, which are formed in a surface of an overcladding layer, located and formed at predetermined locations with respect to one end surface of a core. The electric circuit unit includes fitting through holes for fitting the coupling pins therethrough, located and formed at predetermined locations with respect to the optical element. The optical waveguide unit and the electric circuit unit are coupled to each other in a state in which the coupling pins fit through the fitting through holes and fit into the fitting holes.
US08915652B2
Optical connectors can be easily attached to and detached from a housing.An optical connector device 11 adapted to be connected to a mating optical connector device 81 includes a first housing 31 for receiving and holding optical connectors 61, a second housing 41 for holding the first housing 31 in a floating manner, and a fixing member 51 for fixedly attaching the second housing 41 to an attachment object 201. To-be-locked portions 35, 37 of the first housing 31 and locking portions 43, 44 of the second housing 41 detachably engage with each other and cause the first housing 31 to engage with the second housing 41 in a floating manner. The to-be-locked portions 35, 37 and the locking portions 43, 44 engage with each other in a direction perpendicular to a direction A1 of connection to the mating optical connector device 81.
US08915650B2
A mechanism for adjusting the rotation direction and the speed of an inner ring and an outer ring of a rotary bearing is provided. The mechanism includes a base, a main bearing module being through the base, multiple supporting rotary bearings mounted on the base and surrounded the main bearing module, and a transmission mechanism. In the application for contact type bearing, it also includes multiple rolling elements. In the application for non-contact type bearing, it also includes a fluid. The present invention provides with the transmission mechanism to connect with the main bearing module to make the inner ring and the outer ring rotate properly.
US08915648B2
A synthetic resin-made thrust sliding bearing includes a synthetic resin-made upper casing, a synthetic resin-made lower casing, and a synthetic resin-made thrust sliding bearing piece interposed between the upper casing and the lower casing.
US08915646B2
Temperature accuracy is improved, conversion gain is increased without increasing current density and parasitic resistance errors and other problems with conventional bandgap reference temperature sensors are eliminated by generating a signal proportional to temperature from three samples, where the signal is defined as a difference between a first difference and a second difference, the first difference comprising a difference between a second sample and a first sample, the second difference comprising a difference between a third sample and the first sample, and where the signal is defined to cancel parasitic components in the first, second and third samples.
US08915640B2
Disclosed is a display device including a plurality of channels for forming a specific pattern, in which each of the channels includes: a light source module comprising one or more light sources for generating optical signals having different wavelengths; a driving module for controlling on/off or strength of the optical signal generated in the light source module; an optical waveguide for transferring the optical signal generated in the light source module to an outside without a loss of the optical signal; and a scattering pattern for scattering the optical signal transferred through the optical waveguide and displaying the scattered optical signal to the outside.
US08915637B2
A light source module including a light guide plate, a plurality of light emitting devices, and a plurality of first reflective devices is provided. The light guide plate has a plurality of through holes and a light emitting surface. The through holes pass through the light emitting surface. Each of the through holes has a first side wall and a second side wall opposite the first side wall. At least one of the light emitting devices is disposed in each of the through holes. Each of the light emitting devices is capable emitting a light beam. The light beam enters the light guide plate from the first side wall of the through hole which the light emitting device is disposed in and leaves the light guide plate from the light emitting surface. The first reflective devices are disposed on the second side walls of the through holes.
US08915630B2
An exterior mirror system for a vehicle includes an exterior mirror assembly having an indicator having at least one light emitting diode. The indicator may include a light guiding element that guides light emitted by the at least one light emitting diode. The at least one light emitting diode may be associated with circuitry of the exterior mirror assembly. During low ambient lighting conditions at night, the intensity of light emitted by the at least one light emitting diode of the indicator is reduced under photosensor control to a nighttime intensity level. The nighttime intensity level is greater than about 0.3 candela and is less than about 200 candelas.
US08915629B2
A light fixture assembly including a bracket defined by an arcuate base and a clip dovetailed to the bracket within the base. The clip and the bracket define cooperative serrations to permit rotatable adjustment of the clip relative to the base about a longitudinal axis to provide different orientations for a light source within the case.
US08915626B2
A laser transmitter projects a beam of laser light and rotates the beam about an axis which is generally normal to the beam. The transmitter includes a laser beam source, and a lighthouse. The lighthouse encloses, at least in part, the laser beam source while permitting the beam of laser light to be projected there through. The lighthouse includes a plurality of transparent panels, and a panel support of elastomeric material. The panel support engages the plurality of transparent panels and supports them in a peripheral configuration such that they surround the laser beam source.
US08915619B2
A light emitting module (100), lamp and a luminaire are provided. The light emitting module (100) comprises a housing (106), a solid state light emitter (112), a luminescent element (102) and a thermal conductor (104). The housing (106) comprises a light exit window at a first side of the housing (106) and the housing (106) comprises a base (108) at a second side of the housing being different from the first side, the housing (106) enclosing a cavity (114) comprising cavity material being light transmitting. The solid state light emitter (112) is provided within the cavity (114) and is coupled to the base (108). The solid state light emitter (112) is configured to emit light of the first color range into the cavity (114). The luminescent element (102) being optically arranged in between the solid state light emitter (112) and the light exit window. The luminescent element (102) comprises luminescent material for converting at least a part of the light of the first color range into light of a second color range being different from the first color range. The thermal conductor (104) is arranged within the cavity (114) and has a thermal conductivity that is higher than a thermal conductivity of the cavity material. The thermal conductor (104) is thermally coupled to the luminescent element (102) and is thermally coupled to the base (108).
US08915613B2
A lighting device is disclosed that includes one or more master circuit boards configured to power light emitting diodes. The lighting device also includes modular light boards with arrays of light emitting diodes that interchangeably couple to the matched connectors on the master circuit board. The master circuit boards and the modular light boards are positioned within a housing with one or more diffuser lenses. In accordance with the embodiments of the invention, master circuit boards and modular light boards are mounted in a stacked arrangement to emit light from opposed sides of the housing. In further embodiments of the invention, the lighting device includes a controller for independently controlling light output from each master circuit board.
US08915612B2
An illumination system (1;30;40;60;70;90) for spot illumination comprising: a tubular reflector (3;31;61;91) with a reflective inner surface, the tubular reflector having an entrance aperture (9), and an exit aperture (10) being larger than the entrance aperture; and a light-source array (2;33;41;63;71;93) comprising a plurality of light-sources arranged in a physical light-source configuration to emit light into the tubular reflector at the entrance aperture thereof. The tubular reflector (3;31;61;91) comprises a plurality of reflective surfaces (14a-g) each being arranged to provide a primary mirror image of the light-source array, the primary mirror image having a primary mirror image light-source configuration; and the light-source array (2;33;41;63;71;93) is configured in such a way that, for each of the primary mirror image, at least half of all secondary mirror images of the light-source array resulting from reflection of the primary mirror image by the reflective surfaces (14a-g) exhibit secondary mirror image light-source configurations that are different from the physical light-source configuration.
US08915611B2
A luminaire providing wide angle up lighting using light wells is provided. The luminaire can include a frame having a center plate and side walls. LED modules can be disposed adjacent to opposite side walls such that the LED modules are oriented towards each other. The luminaire can include light wells positioned over each of the LED modules such that light emitted by the LED modules may be reflected within the light wells until it is transmitted by a lens region of the light well at a wide angle relative to the nadir of the luminaire. The light wells can include reflective layers disposed on all surfaces surrounding the LED modules, and a transmittance lens region through which light, emitted by the LED modules as point sources, can exit the fixture as a surface of light. Light emitted by LED modules and light wells disposed on opposite sides of the luminaire can provide a bat wing distribution of up light.
US08915592B2
Apparatuses and methods employing ocular surface interferometry (OSI) employing polarization and subtraction for imaging, processing, and/or displaying an ocular tear film are disclosed. The apparatuses and methods can be employed for measuring tear film layer thickness (TFLT) of the ocular tear film, which includes lipid layer thickness (LLT) and/or aqueous layer thickness (ALT). An imaging device is focused on the lipid layer of the tear film to capture optical wave interference interactions of specularly reflected light from the tear film combined with a background signal(s) in a first image. The imaging device is focused on the lipid layer of the tear film to capture a second image containing background signal(s) in the first image. The second image can be subtracted from the first image to reduce and/or eliminate background signal(s) in the first image to produce a resulting image that can be analyzed to measure tear film layer thickness (TFLT).
US08915571B2
A color ink printing system includes a plurality of print head cartridges each including a modular printhead made up of a plurality of print head tiles; a print head chassis for supporting the plurality of print head cartridges; and a maintenance chassis for supporting a plurality of maintenance cradles, the maintenance chassis is actuable between a storage position and an operational position. Each of the plurality of print head cartridges is held stationary with respect to a platen on which print media is propagated. Each print head cartridge is a monochrome print head cartridge ejecting a fluid different to the remaining print head cartridges. One or more of the plurality of print head cartridges includes a plurality of ventilation slits defined in the vicinity of the print head tiles, having applied thereto a suction force for sucking ink aerosol particles away from the print head tiles.
US08915567B2
An image recording device including a transport unit that transports a recording medium from a first drive roller to a second drive roller by rotating a first drive roller and a second drive roller across which a recording medium is stretched, a support member that supports the recording medium between the first drive roller and the second drive roller, a recording unit that ejects liquid on the recording medium supported on the support member and records an image, a detection unit that detects tension of the recording medium moving toward the second drive roller away from the support member, and a control unit that gives tension to the recording medium by controlling the torque of the second drive roller based on the recording medium tension detected by the detection unit.
US08915560B2
A disclosed example dishwasher includes a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, a rack for holding utensils for treatment within the treating chamber, a first wheel coupled with the tub, a second wheel coupled with the rack at an angle other than perpendicular, and a track. The track can have first and second channels in a back-to-back relationship for respectively receiving the first and second wheels to slidably mount the rack to the tub.
US08915556B2
A track chain assembly for a crawler type work vehicle includes a plurality of links pivotally connected together at respective link joints. Each link joint includes a bushing, a pin, and at least one elastomeric bearing. Each elastomeric bearing includes an inside diameter (ID) engaging the pin and an outside diameter (OD) engaging a link and/or bushing. Each elastomeric bearing includes a plurality of alternating metal layers and elastomer layers.
US08915555B2
In the brake control device, a wheel-cylinder hydraulic pressure (Pw) obtained by adding the linear-valve pressure difference to a master-cylinder hydraulic pressure (Pm) is applied to the wheel cylinder while the vehicle is running. When an operation of a brake pedal is started while the vehicle is running (t1), the driving of the hydraulic pump is started. Thereafter, when the vehicle is stopped (t2), the driving of the hydraulic pump is stopped. When the start of movement of the vehicle is detected during an operation of returning the brake pedal (t4) and an operation of re-depressing the brake pedal is detected (t5) in this state (specifically, while the vehicle is in a stopped state, the hydraulic pump is in a stopped state, and the brake pedal is being operated), the driving of the hydraulic pump is started (t5).
US08915550B2
A cold planer includes a frame and a cutting mechanism having a rotatable cutter configured to cut material of a substrate. An anti-slabbing mechanism is coupled to the frame and includes an upwardly oriented base plate, and a plurality of skids. The skids are arranged in a first subset and a second subset positioned upon opposite outboard sides of a forwardly projecting plow, and downwardly depend from a base plate of the anti-slabbing mechanism, for applying a slabbing opposition force to uncut material of the substrate.
US08915545B2
A chair for use in combination with a table. The chair has a seat, a back and four legs. To the back, an upper backrest and a lower backrest are secured. The lower backrest can rotate with respect to the back. While projecting forwards from the back, the lower backrest engages with the upper surface of the top plate of the table. The chair is therefore supported, with the legs suspended above the floor.
US08915539B2
A structure for a front portion of a vehicle is provided with a windshield lower member. The windshield lower member includes a windshield lower member main body, and an extended portion formed so as to extend frontward from a front end portion of the windshield lower member main body. The extended portion includes a base portion formed so as to continue from a front end portion of the windshield lower member main body, a weight portion extending in an obliquely front-upward direction from a front end portion of the base portion, and a weak portion that extends in a vehicle width direction at a boundary between the base portion and the weight portion, and that has lower rigidity than the base portion.
US08915522B2
A loop (5) is attached to a grip (1) of a pole using a ball and socket joint. The ball and socket joint encompasses a ball (7) that is held with the capacity to turn and pivot in a recess (8) in the head (4) of the grip (1).
US08915517B1
An apparatus that mounts in a horizontal disposition on the frame member(s) of a knee scooter for the transportation of goods between locations. The apparatus is a generally rectangular main body member having recesses in the top surface thereof of various shapes for the lodging of articles in the recesses for the retention thereof during the operation of the knee scooter. Straps are provided for the retention of articles that are not disposed in the recesses, but instead will rest on the top surface of the apparatus, such as books or a newspaper for carrying same from place #1 to place #2. The apparatus is removably mounted to the frame member(s) of the scooter by medium size spring type grip clips or a clamp formed form a bar held by machine screws. Anti-torque attachments mountable facing forward are also shown.
US08915505B2
A single handled two-wheeled gimbaled bucket dolly or hand truck is configured to lift, transport and pour the contents of a bucket or container with minimal operator effort. This dolly may use a horizontal “C” shaped frame cross member and two rigid vertical gimbaled columns to support a pivoting bucket or a modular tray or basket. This apparatus allows the bucket to be tilted a 180 degrees on its horizontal axis and to effortlessly dispense its contents and to transport the bucket or tray across uneven terrain.
US08915498B2
The invention is a device that modifies the target aperture for the standard game board for the traditional lawn game known as cornhole or bean bag toss. The device, when inserted into the game board's target aperture, replaces the open hole with a circular shaped “trapdoor” that opens only when directly struck by a tossed game bag. When opened, the trapdoor allows the passage of the game bag through the game boards target aperture. The device includes a spring hinge mechanism that returns the trapdoor to the closed position after the bag has passed through the opening. The device is designed so that it can be quickly and easily inserted into and removed from the target aperture of the game board without moving or damaging the game board.
US08915495B2
A media transport assembly includes a loadstop drive assembly to gather and compress a media stack in a media tray before a pick and feed cycle, and a pick drive assembly to pick a sheet of media from the media stack and feed the sheet of media to a media path. The loadstop drive assembly is positioned on one side of a gear wall and the pick drive assembly is positioned on an opposite side of the gear wall such that the pick drive assembly is driven by the loadstop drive assembly through the gear wall.
US08915491B2
A method for operating a collection system for printed products includes drawing off the printed products from discharge device(s) disposed at corresponding discharge point(s) in the collection system. The printed products are deposited on a collection section during a cycle period of the discharge device(s) so as to form a bundle of printed products. The bundle is transferred to a subsequent conveying mechanism having receiving pockets. It is determined whether at least one missing printed product exists due to an incorrect drawing off from the discharge point(s). A repair process is initiated and controlled in which the at least one missing printed product is drawn off from the corresponding discharge point(s) at a time corresponding to a subsequent recurrent pocket-related cycle of the subsequent conveying mechanism in a subsequent cycle period of the discharge device(s). The at least one missing printed product is inserted in the relevant receiving pocket.
US08915489B2
A method is specified for the production of a flexible circuit configuration, which allows the manufacturing of such flexible circuits on a carrier film cost-effectively and with high precision. For this purpose, the carrier film is fastened at the beginning of the method on a rigid frame, which encloses an inner area, and spans the inner area using an inner surface. After finishing of a layer structure and optionally additional method steps, structures for flexible circuit configurations which are created over the inner surface may be cut out easily by cutting the flexible circuit configurations out of the inner surface as a cutout. Through the fastening of the carrier film on the frame, it is ensured during the various method steps of the production of the flexible circuit configuration that the carrier film, which is flexible per se, always forms a level foundation for the various method measures, in particular the photolithographic structuring of layers of a layer structure.
US08915488B1
A septic aerator with a top end and a bottom end, a first pipe spaced apart from a parallel second pipe, a Tee atop each pipe, a first T-junction joining the two Tee's atop the pipes, an elbow atop each of the Tee's atop the pipes, a collar affixed on each pipe proximal to the bottom end, an air space disposed between the collars and the pipes, a plurality of injection holes disposed within the pipes and, in communication with the air spaces, a Tee's disposed below each of the collars, a second Tee junction connecting the Tee's affixed below the collars, a plurality of inlet holes disposed in each Tee below each collar, an air line disposed between the pipes and extended above the top end, an air Tee connected to the air line, the air Tee in communication with the first collar and the second collar airspaces.
US08915483B2
A valve comprising a valve housing with a valve bonnet, an inlet opening and an outlet opening, the valve bonnet having a passage for a valve stem, the passage having a sidewall and the valve stem comprising a valve disk for closing the valve by bringing the valve disk in contact with a valve seat in the valve housing, the passage in the valve bonnet comprising at least a first section with a first cross sectional area and a second section with a second cross sectional area that is smaller than the first cross sectional area. The sidewall in the passage is in direct contact with the valve stem at the second section with the second cross sectional area.
US08915475B2
An adjustable mailbox post comprises a vertical support member rotatably attached to a cross-member. The cross-member extends through a transverse channel in the support member, such that a forward arm of the cross-member extends from the forward side of the support member, and a rear arm of the cross-member extends from the rear side of the support member. The forward arm supports a mailbox platform, to which a mailbox can be attached. Using a spring mechanism and/or an extendable strut, the forward arm of the post can be lifted from a horizontal position appropriate for mail delivery to an elevated position, in which the mailbox is out of the reach of passing snow-plows. Latching mechanisms are used to secure the forward arm of the post in either the horizontal delivery position or the elevated safety position.
US08915474B1
A deployable solar panel array featuring in-line solar panels and side solar panels, where the side solar panels are configured to deploy in a staggered fashion after deployment of the in-line panels. A passive deployment mechanism governs the deployment sequence.
US08915469B2
The invention relates to an aircraft comprising: a drainage system for condensation water formed in the aircraft between an upper zone thereof where the condensation water is formed and a lower zone where it is collected, a thermal insulation blanket (16) having two opposite faces, a first face (16a) of which is arranged facing the fuselage. The drainage system includes a drainage duct (18, 24) which extends into the upper zone along the second opposite face (16b) of the insulation blanket and which is connected to a pass-through device (30; 40) for the blanket placed beneath the upper zone. In this way, the drained condensation water passes through the blanket through the pass-through device and then is drained to the lower zone, between the first face of the blanket and the fuselage.
US08915461B2
A mandrel cupping assembly for releasably engaging unsupported ends of a plurality of mandrels is disclosed. The mandrel cupping assembly comprises a cupping arm turret having a cupping arm turret central axis, a mandrel cup cooperatively associated with each mandrel of the plurality of mandrels, at least three motion limiting devices disposed upon the cupping arms distal from the fulcrum, and a first actuator.
US08915457B2
A process for making a fibrillated blend of lyocell and cellulose pulp fibers in which a blend of lyocell and cellulose pulp fibers is provided. The lyocell is from 25% to 75% of the total weight of the blend of lyocell and cellulose pulp fibers. The blend is refined in a high shear field device to provide a blend of fibrillated lyocell and pulp fibers having a diameter of 10 to 500 nanometers and a fiber length of 50 to 500 μm. The high shear field device can be a homogenizer or colloid mill.
US08915454B2
A drinking straw includes a tube having an upper end including a first opening, a lower end including a second opening, and an outer wall extending between the upper and lower ends. A wrapper covers the tube and a securing element permanently attaches the wrapper to the outer wall of the tube. The wrapper is adapted to be opened for exposing the first and second openings of the tube while the securing element maintains the attachment of the wrapper to the tube. The outer wall of the tube has an inner surface, whereby at least two opposing sections of the inner surface of the outer wall are joined together for forming a bifurcated opening adjacent an end of the tube. The bifurcated opening defines a total area that is smaller than the area of the opening at the opposite end of the tube.
US08915448B2
An antenna device is arranged to transmit or receive a radio frequency communication signal to or from an external device such as a reader/writer, and is arranged such that an antenna resonance circuit including an antenna coil and a capacitor is connected to an additional resonance circuit including an inductor and a capacitor. A radio frequency IC device preferably includes the antenna device and a radio frequency IC. The antenna device is constructed such that a change in characteristics thereof caused by a change in the distance between a radio frequency IC device and a reader/writer is minimized, and the radio frequency IC device performs communication with high reliability.
US08915446B1
Various apparatus having removable member and carrier for same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a card with carrier includes a sheet of material having a central area, a bottom area, and another area. The bottom area is lowerly adjacent and foldable relative to the central area, and the another area is adjacent and foldable relative to the central area. The central area, the another area, and the bottom area are initially of a unitary construction. A card is coupled to or formed by the another area and is separable from the central area. Folding the bottom area inwards towards the central area forms a pocket configured to retain the card.
US08915438B2
Differences in the output of the printed barcode caused by differences interpreting the barcode generating code of an application program are absorbed so that the barcode desired by the user can be printed. The printer driver 32 of the host computer 11 extracts the character data contained in plural blocks of input barcode generation data, combines the extracted character data to generate a character data array, and based on the generated character data array generates and outputs a single barcode generation command CMB to the printer 12.
US08915434B2
A card reader guide for use in a fascia of a self-service terminal is described. The card reader guide defines a card reader aperture extending in a first direction through which a customer may insert a data card. The card reader guide also comprises: a first protrusion extending (i) along part of the card reader aperture through which a magnetic stripe of the card passes, and (ii) towards the customer, wherein the first protrusion defines a stripe path in registration with the magnetic stripe of the card as the card is inserted by the customer; a second protrusion, opposite to, and aligned with, the first protrusion, and extending (i) along the part of the card reader aperture through which the magnetic stripe of the card passes, and (ii) towards the customer; and a magnetic reader detector located in the first protrusion at the stripe path.
US08915418B2
The present invention ensures a good bonding state between the electrode terminals of electronic components and the electrodes of a substrate, and achieves an increase in productivity and a downsizing of the substrate. The present invention includes: an applying step of applying a metal fine powder paste on each of multiple electrodes that are provided on a substrate; a component placing step of placing multiple electronic components with different heights, on the multiple electrodes, respectively; an organic film placing step of placing an organic film on the multiple electronic components; an organic film compressing step of applying a first pressure to the electronic component side with a pressing member and equalizing the height of the organic film; and a bonding step of applying a second pressure to the electronic component side with a compressing member on heating for a predetermined time and sintering the metal fine powder paste.
US08915412B2
A cup holder assembly for use in an automotive vehicle is provided. The cup holder assembly includes a panel and cup holder. The panel includes a top surface. The top surface includes at least one beverage container opening configured to receive a cup holder. A pocket is formed on the top surface of the panel and a cushion is disposed within the pocket. The panel may be covered with a skin such as a synthetic leather so as to cover the panel.
US08915406B2
The invention concerns a dosing unit for a powder dispenser comprising two dosing chambers (2,3) each chamber comprising: one upstream inlet (21, 31) and one downstream outlet (22, 32), an upstream means (23, 33) for opening and closing the inlet, a downstream means (24, 34) for opening and closing the outlet, the upstream means (23, 33) closing the inlet (21, 31) when the downstream means (24, 34) opens the outlet (22, 32) and reciprocally, wherein the upstream means (23) of the first chamber closes the first chamber (2) when the upstream means (33) of the second chamber opens the second chamber (3) and reciprocally.
US08915403B2
A fixed-amount discharge squeeze container (10) which discharges a specific amount of content liquid from a discharge port by squeeze deformation of a container body (11) includes a squeeze-deformable plastic-made container body (11) and a squeeze operating portion (14) to perform squeeze operation is arranged at a barrel portion (13) of the container body (11). The squeeze operating portion (14) has a cross-sectional shape formed with a compression face portion (16) having a mountain-like section including a pair of inclined face portions (15) arranged along two faces intersecting obtusely and a compression support portion (18) having an arc-shaped section which is jointed integrally with foot parts (19b) of the compression face portion (16) respectively via an edge line portion (17). The compression face portion (16) is restricted so as not to be flipped into a valley-like shape after the inclined face portions (15) deforms until force to expand the distance between the bilateral foot parts (19b) vanishes.
US08915400B2
A fluid dispenser having a fluid reservoir including a shoulder from which there extends a neck defining an opening; and a dispenser member, such as a pump or a valve, including a body that is held in stationary manner in the opening of the reservoir. At least one source of radiation is disposed in the proximity of the neck, outside the neck, above the shoulder.
US08915379B2
The present invention discloses a novel method to improve the selectivities of polybenzoxazole (PBO) membranes prepared from aromatic polyimide membranes for gas, vapor, and liquid separations. The PBO membranes that were prepared by thermal treating aromatic polyimide membranes containing between 0.05 and 20 wt-% of a poly(styrene sulfonic acid) polymer. These polymers showed up to 95% improvement in selectivity for CO2/CH4 and H2/CH4 separations compared to PBO membranes prepared from corresponding aromatic polyimide membranes without a poly(styrene sulfonic acid) polymer.
US08915377B2
A method of determining the length distribution in the population of glass or plastic fibers in, for example, a fiber reinforced polymeric article wherein the fibers recovered from a representative article are immersed in a non-polar liquid and the combination of the liquid and fibers is passed through a sieve stack while an applied high electric field produces a relatively uniform alignment of the fibers as they pass through the sieves thereby improving the accuracy of the filtering process.
US08915369B2
The present invention provides a jointed liquid crystal glass panel package box, which includes a box body and a plurality of brackets mounted to the box body. The box body includes a frame and a hollow plate arranged inside the frame. The frame includes two opposite first frame members, two opposite second frame members, and four L-shaped connection members connecting between the first frame members and the second frame members. The first and second frame members are of a linear configuration. Each first frame member includes a plurality of first frame member units and a plurality of first couplers each connecting between two first frame member units. Each second frame member includes a plurality of second frame member units and a plurality of second couplers each connecting between two second frame member units. A plurality of water-resistant pads is arranged between the first couplers and the first frame member units.
US08915368B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) glass substrate storage tray includes a frame. Each surface of the frame is configured with a plate, the frame and the plates enclose to form a closed box, and the plate on surface of the frame where an opening for the LCD glass substrate to be selected and placed is located forms a box door that is installable or removable from the frame.
US08915367B2
A zipper-type loading container for transporting glass substrates in which an increased number of glass substrates can be loaded for transport, thereby increasing the convenience of workers. The loading container for transporting glass substrates includes a loading frame having a loading surface, which supports the lower end of the glass substrates, and a backing surface, which supports the rear surface of a batch of the glass substrates. A cover frame is provided on the loading frame, and slides on the loading frame in forward and backward directions of the loading frame, and cover the upper end and the sides of the glass substrates. A zipper-type opening/closing sheet is provided on the front portion of the cover frame, and opens and closes the front portion of the cover frame.
US08915362B2
The disclosure relates to a multifunctional sharps container having a first dispensing compartment for storing unused sharps and a second compartment for receiving used sharps. The first and second compartments are separated by a generally liquid impermeable partition fixed to the walls of the container. In addition, the first and second compartments are provided with apertures and structures for conveying the sharps, out of and into the compartments respectively, which are functional in at least two orientations of the container.
US08915357B2
A transformable carrying case includes a first cover and a second cover pivotably coupled to the first cover. The transformable carrying case may be transformable between at least three distinct positions including a closed position in which the first cover is disposed substantially on top of the second cover, an open position in which the first cover is substantially coplanar with the second cover, and a stand position in which the second cover is in a folded condition defining a prop surface to prop an object at an oblique angle relative to the first cover.
US08915354B1
A foldable and collapsible jewelry storage device including a flexible substratum having a top portion and two opposing substantially planar surfaces, a plurality of pockets disposed on at least one of the surfaces, and an attachment clasp disposed adjacent to a top edge of at least one of the pockets. A hanger is attached to the top portion of the substratum to provide a point of attachment to a rigid body, such as a closet rod. Each of the pockets comprises a flexible translucent strip attached to the substratum along at least the lower edge and sides of the strip, leaving the top edge open, forming a storage pocket. The pockets are spaced apart and arranged in a matrix or grid. The attachment clasp provides enhanced organization for longer jewelry pieces and prevents kinking and tangling. The substratum may comprise two layers with a hanger disposed between the two.
US08915350B2
A device and a method for rearranging flexible flat items, in particular printed products, which are delivered continuously in a delivery flow, relative to the delivery direction of the delivery flow. The items are delivered in an incoming delivery flow in a first delivery direction and with substantially identical orientation of the surface normals thereof, and in a predetermined cycle, to a diverting region. There, the delivery in the first delivery direction is ended and the individual items are accelerated in a second delivery direction, which is perpendicular to the first delivery direction and to the orientation of the surface normals in the incoming delivery flow, by an acceleration element which acts on the items in the diverting region in a predetermined cycle. The delivery flow moving in the second delivery direction is subsequently diverted.
US08915327B2
A system and method for operating a large single engine sweeper includes a transfer case assembly inserted into the chassis drive train of the vehicle on which a package of sweeping equipment is mounted. In road mode operation, power from the chassis engine passes through a chassis automatic transmission, through a transfer case assembly to the differential and real wheel assembly. In sweep mode, power passes from a propel hydraulic motor into the transfer case assembly and then to the differential and real wheel assembly.
US08915325B2
A swing arm (25) including a pivot portion (57) pivotally supported by a vehicle body frame (2) and an arm portion (100) extending from the pivot portion (57) towards a back side of a vehicle body. The arm portion (100) includes a box-shaped case (58) being integrally formed with the pivot portion (57) and having one side in a width direction of the vehicle body opened, and a case cover (59). A harness (64) pulled out from the motor (60) is fixedly supported on the case (58) side at a first position proximate to the motor (60), and extended to a control device (52) at a front side of the vehicle body from the arm portion (100) through a grommet (66, 67) arranged at a front wall (597) of the case cover (59) at a second position on the pivot portion (57) side.
US08915324B2
An electric bicycle and a control method thereof are disclosed. The disclosed electric bicycle includes a direction sensor to sense a rotation direction of pedals, a pedal load controller to adjust a load applied to the pedals, and an electronic control unit to release the load applied to the pedals through the pedal load controller when the sensed rotation direction is a reverse direction.
US08915316B2
Vehicle traction module (1) comprising—a pair of runners ((11,12), (21,22), (42, 43)), side by side according to a first direction (X)—first moving means ((14, 17, 19), (24, 31, 28), (45,48,49)) suitable to generate an alternate and reciprocal approaching and departing of the runners along the first direction (X),—the pair of runners ((11,12), (21,22), (42, 43)), having a cylindrical symmetry shape wherein the respective axis of symmetry lie along the first direction (X),—second moving means ((15, 16, 18, 17), (30,26 31, 27), (40, 41) suitable to generate a rotation of the runners along the first direction (X).
US08915308B2
Automatic height control of a dozer blade, the input from the slow absolute height sensor is combined with an input from a gyroscope that measures the instant rotation and recalculates it into a vertical height change using the length of the supporting arms. The combination obtains the accuracy of the absolute height information and an increased speed of measurement resulting in a compensated height estimate that is input to a hydraulic control system of the feedback type. This enables much more aggressive control even though the hydraulic system has an unknown linearity and delay associated with it. The gyroscopic sensor forms an IMU with one degree of freedom to compensate for drawbacks of the absolute height sensor with regard to delay, noise and update rate to obtain a frequent, time-correct height position with a reduced level of noise by means of a calculation based on both types of sensor output.
US08915303B2
A method of servicing an electric submersible pump in a well with a positive wellhead pressure includes providing production tubing in the well casing, a coil tubing string within the production tubing having an electric submersible pump at a downhole end of the coil tubing string, and a pump-receiving housing above the injection port of the wellhead. With the injection port sealed and the pump-receiving housing opened, the electric submersible pump may be inserted or removed from the pump-receiving housing. With the pump-receiving housing closed and the injection port opened, the electric submersible pump may be moved to or from the production tubing in the well.
US08915290B2
The invention relates to a diecasting die (7) and a diecasting method for sprueless diecasting, in particular in a diecasting hot-runner system (1), wherein the diecasting die (7) is provided in a feeding region (8) for forming a plug of solidified molten material (22) that interrupts a flow of the molten material and can be completely remelted.The problem addressed by the present invention is therefore that of providing a diecasting die and a diecasting method according to the preamble of the invention that are suitable for different molten materials, in which a heating acts directly on the molten material with high power and largely without delay, a cooling is not required and the injection-molding method can be carried out at a high operating machine speed and under feeding conditions that can be monitored and reproduced well.The problem is solved by the feeding region (8) comprising direct resistance heating that produces a melting heat and is in direct thermal contact with the molten material (22). The problem is also solved by a diecasting method with the method steps of closing the casting mold, heating the diecasting die (7), melting the plug in the feeding region (8), stopping the heating, injecting the molten material (22) into the casting mold, maintaining the pressure of the molten material (22), solidifying the molten material (22) in the casting mold and in the feeding region (8) of the diecasting die (7), opening the casting mold (43, 44) and removing a cast part from the casting mold.
US08915279B2
A rotary lamination apparatus includes a die, a punch, a rotation drive source, a mounting table, at least one proximity sensor, and a determining device. The punch punches core pieces from a thin plate material. The rotation drive source drives and rotates the die about the central axis of the die. The mounting table is arranged in the inner space formed by the die. The core pieces are rotated and laminated on the mounting table. The proximity sensor detects whether the die is in the proximity of a predetermined position in a non-contact manner after the die has stopped rotating. The determining device determines whether the die is stopped at the predetermined position based on a detection result from the proximity sensor.
US08915278B2
A press apparatus for curing adhesive on inner adhesion surfaces of substantially continuous wood products (1) under synchronous compression heating. The apparatus includes at least two presses (2) having a mutual distance from each other fulfilling the precondition: L/(n−1), where L is the working length of each press and n is the number of presses in series.
US08915265B2
A double-walled above-ground storage tank includes a primary tank and a secondary tank, and an interstitial space; an containment chamber formed by a primary chamber wall and a secondary chamber wall, forming a chamber interstitial space therebetween, and an exterior door assembly; and at least one pipe and valve assembly wherein the pipe originates in the tank interior volume and the valve is disposed within the chamber.
US08915262B2
A mass flow controller (MFC), a method for calibrating an MFC, and a method for operating an MFC are disclosed. The MFC may include a valve that is adjustable between a closed position and an open position to control a flow rate of a fluid responsive to a control signal, a thermal mass flow sensor that provides an indication of the flow rate of the fluid, calibration data including data that relates the control signal to the flow rate of the fluid at a plurality of fluid flow rates, and a control system that provides, based upon the calibration data and run time data, an adjustable non-zero starting control signal to the valve when the valve is closed to more quickly respond to a set point signal.
US08915254B2
A smoking device for generating and releasing smoking vapor free from contamination into the mouth of a user comprising a mouthpiece for providing vapor for inhalation to a user including a tubular casing containing a heater for heating a smoking substance at a substantially constant low temperature by regulating the flow of fuel by a thermal regulator and further having means for visual indication of the operation of the device.
US08915246B2
The invention relates to a dosing device for inhaling a powdery substance, particularly of a medical nature, which is arranged in a storage chamber above a trailing bottom and can be brought from said storage chamber into an evacuation readiness position, and having a display (A) associated with the actual filling level in the area of the device wall. In order to further develop a dosing device of the type in question particularly with regard to an improved display in an advantageous manner, it is proposed that the display (A) be composed of a strip tape carried along by the bottom and deflected by 180°, wherein the deflection area of the strip tape lies behind the transparent device wall.
US08915242B2
The present invention relates to a device for collecting and utilizing energy generated by the sun, comprising a layered construction provided with a substrate layer and a cover layer comprising a curable mortar, wherein there is arranged on the substrate layer a tube system through which a fluid can be transported in order to regulate the temperature in the tube system, this tube system being at least partially embedded in the mortar, and wherein the mortar of the cover layer comprises insulating granules, cement, water and additives. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a layered construction for a device for collecting and utilizing energy generated by the sun.
US08915239B2
A heater assembly can be used with a gas appliance. The gas appliance can be a dual fuel appliance for use with one of a first fuel type or a second fuel type different than the first. The heater assembly can include at least one pressure regulator, a housing, and an actuation member. The housing has a first fuel hook-up for connecting the first fuel type to the heater assembly, a second fuel hook-up for connecting the second fuel type to the heater assembly, and an internal valve. The actuation member can control the position of the internal valve based on whether the first or the second fuel hook-up is used.
US08915237B2
A separator for separating contaminants from a fluid stream has first and second chambers coupled by an aperture through which fluid can pass. An actuator can adjust the crossectional area of the aperture according to a pressure differential between the first chamber and a pressure reference. An impaction surface can deflect the first fluid stream after it enters the second chamber such that contaminants are separated from the stream. A pump generates a pressure differential across the aperture. It includes a third chamber having a second inlet for receiving a second fluid stream into the third chamber. The second inlet includes a convergent nozzle for accelerating the second fluid stream, and a third inlet for receiving the first fluid stream downstream of the impaction surface, the third inlet being arranged relative to the second inlet such that the second fluid stream can entrain and accelerate the first fluid stream.
US08915236B2
A control system for an engine includes first and second modules. The first module determines an oxygen concentration within an intake manifold of the engine. The second module regulates a flow of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) into the intake manifold based on the determined oxygen concentration. In a homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine, the second module may also disable an HCCI combustion mode of the HCCI engine based on the oxygen concentration.
US08915229B2
An engine includes a head cover covering an upper part of a cylinder head to accommodate a valve gear mechanism and an injector. The head cover is separatable into a lower cover body and an upper cover body detachable from and attachable to the lower cover body. The lower cover body includes a fuel pipe and a relay connector. Through the fuel pipe, fuel is supplied to the injector. The fuel pipe penetrates through the lower cover body. The relay connector is configured to relay power supply from outside the head cover. The relay connector is attached to the lower cover body. One end side of an injector harness disposed in the head cover is coupled to a terminal portion of the injector. Another end side of the injector harness is coupled to the relay connector.
US08915227B2
A spark plug of internal combustion engine is disclosed. The spark plug includes: a main body having main thread on lower outer side; an insulator mounted in a hollow portion of the main body; a ground electrode to correspond to a central electrode extending from the lower end of the terminal rod; a primary combustion chamber forming shell having female thread to be screw-coupled with the main thread, male thread to fix a combustion chamber, and an ejection hole; the primary combustion chamber formed between the main body and the primary combustion chamber forming shell and having changeable volume; and a heat exchange member disposed between the main body and the insulator to exchange heat caused by flame and to block leak of volatile gas; wherein the main ejection hole has a single main ejection hole and at least two auxiliary ejection holes formed around the main ejection hole.
US08915223B2
Provided is a valve timing control apparatus that allows relaxation of manufacturing precision of a driving-side rotary member and a driven-side rotary member and that achieves space saving at the same time. An urging member includes at least one trough-folded portion and at least one crest-folded portion, one end side contact portion formed between one terminal end of the urging member and the trough-folded portion and coming into contact with a sealing element, and other end side contact portion formed between the other terminal end of the urging member and the crest-folded portion and coming into contact with a partitioning portion. In association with urging of the urging member, the distance between the one end side contact portion and the other end side contact portion along the urging direction is decreased and the angles of the trough-folded portion and the crest-folded portion are decreased.
US08915205B2
A self-aligning fairlead latch device is provided for guiding and securing an anchor chain between an offshore structure and an anchor. The fairlead latch device includes a latch housing pivotally mounted to a fairlead housing. The latch housing includes one or more latches for securing the anchor chain in place. The fairlead latch device further includes an upper retainer component that is coupled to an upper support structure and a lower support structure. The coupling of the upper retainer component to the support structures allow the fairlead latch device to be relocated by lifting of the device from the support structures.
US08915197B2
A deck table is provided that includes a table section and a clamping mechanism that are attachable to a number of vertical posts in order to position the support surface on the posts in a horizontal position. The table section includes support surface and a bottom support that can be positioned against the posts and engaged by the clamping mechanism that extends between the posts. The clamping mechanism is rotatably attached to the table section and can be releasably engaged with the vertical posts to enable the table to be readily repositioned and/or removed from the posts, as desired, without disassembly of the component parts of the table.
US08915194B2
Hopper cars both open and covered and discharge control systems are disclosed. Each hopper car may include at least one hopper and a center sill which defines in part a longitudinal axis of the hopper car. At least one discharge opening may be formed proximate a lower portion of each hopper. A respective door assembly may be pivotally mounted adjacent to each discharge opening to control the flow of lading from the respective discharge opening. Each discharge control system may include a common linkage and associated secondary linkages operable to move associated door assemblies between a first position and a second position. A power source including a motor, an air cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder may be disposed on the railway car to move the common linkage. For other hopper cars a wayside drive system may be releasably engaged with a capstan operable coupled to the common linkage.
US08915188B2
A detonator includes a flying plate propelled by a squib stage including at least one first pyrotechnic composition and/or one first explosive, the plate being propelled onto a relay stage including at least one secondary explosive, wherein the detonator is provided with thermal insulation surrounding the squib stage for delaying the temperature rise thereof.
US08915178B2
A minute pressure grill includes an upper grill unit and a lower grill unit. It further includes a U-shaped lift pole, which is rotately connected to the two sides of the upper grill unit. The two ends of the U-shaped lift pole are separately disposed with a first cavity. The first cavity is disposed with a pressure spring and a J-shaped lock catch to drive the pressure spring to compress or release. A pair of arc lead rails are disposed separately on the two sides of the lower grill unit. With the rotation of the J-shaped lock catch inside the U-shaped front pole and the J-shaped lock catch is compressed tightly to the arc lead rails, the food is pressed by the upper grill unit. The food is pressed with the cooperation of the pressure spring and the lock catch.
US08915176B2
In one embodiment, a hydraulic blocking rotary actuator including a stator housing having a through bore to position a rotor assembly. A rotor assembly includes an output shaft and at least one rotary piston disposed radially about the output shaft. The rotary piston includes an integral first vane element and an integral second vane element each with peripheral longitudinal faces substantially concentric to the other. A continuous seal groove is disposed in peripheral longitudinal faces and lateral end faces of the rotary pistons. A continuous seal is disposed in the continuous seal groove. The bore through the stator housing includes an interior cavity with surfaces adapted to receive the rotor assembly. With rotation fluid ports blocked the housing cavity is sealed with the continuous piston seal for hydraulic blocking, preventing actuator displacement by external forces. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08915175B2
A pneumatic cylinder includes a cylinder block, two piston rods, and two pairs of pistons. The cylinder block defines two receiving portions parallel to each other. Each receiving portion defines a first air chamber and a second air chamber; the second air chamber is in series with the first air chamber Each piston rod is partially received in one receiving portion. Each pair of pistons is sleeved on one piston rod, with two pistons received in the first air chamber and the second air chamber, respectively.
US08915167B2
There is disclosed a cork screw made up of a spiral screw for driving into a cork to thereby remove the cork from a bottle. The spiral screw is attached to a handle for driving the spiral screw into the cork. The handle passes through a flange that, along with a cork screw stop, provides a countervailing force as the spiral screw is used to drive a cork back into a bottle. An upper stop, integral to the cork screw is included. The upper stop maintains the position of the cork screw relative to the bottle as the cork is being removed from the bottle using the spiral screw. A lower stop, integral to the cork screw is also included. This lower stop maintains the position of the cork screw relative to the bottle as the cork is being returned to the bottle using the spiral screw.
US08915162B2
A compliant gear assembly includes a hub subassembly including a first hub component defining a first axis and a second hub component movable relative to the first hub component in a controlled direction perpendicular to the first axis. A gear ring, which is rotatably mounted on the hub subassembly and defines a gear ring axis of rotation, is coupled to move with the second hub component between a biased position in which the gear ring axis of rotation is coaxial with the first axis and a translated intermediate stop position in which the gear ring axis of rotation is parallel to but not coaxial with the first axis. A spring component is coupled between the first and second hub components, biases the second hub component toward the biased position, and provides a variable spring force that increases as the second hub component is moved toward the translated intermediate stop position.
US08915155B1
A device (10) for monitoring the integrity of a wooden post (40) including an outer sleeve (11), a moveable pin (12), a spring (24) and a measuring rod (50). The outer sleeve (11) is adapted to be mounted in a pre-formed recess (41) of complementary size and shape extending from the outer surface (43) of a wooden post (40) substantially into the center (45) thereof. The moveable pin (12) is mounted within the outer sleeve (11) and has a head (18) arranged normally to bear against wood at the center (45) of the post (40). The spring (24) is arranged to urge the pin head (18) against wood at the center (45) of the post (40). The measuring rod (50) denotes any movement of the pin (12) further into the post (40).
US08915147B2
A method for operating a Coriolis mass flowmeter in which a simple and reliable detection of a multi-phase flow is implemented by determining at least one first measured value for at least one state variable that is dependent on the amplitude in a multi-phase medium, exciting the measuring tube with the oscillation generator to oscillate at a predetermined oscillation frequency and a first amplitude, and to oscillate with the excitation frequency and a second amplitude, detecting the resulting oscillation of the measuring tube and determining at least a second measured value for the state variable that is dependent on the amplitude in a multi-phase medium from the determined resulting oscillation, and using the deviation of at least one of the first measured value from at least a corresponding second value as an indicator for the presence of a multi-phase flow.
US08915145B1
Multiphase mass flow metering system and method using density and volumetric flow rate determination
A system and method for calculating the mass flow rate of a fluid stream are presented. The system includes an inlet pipe that receives the fluid stream, a density determination end, a volumetric flow rate determination end, and an outlet pipe. The density determination end may have pipe sections that are connected to each other, a weighing system to determine the apparent mass of the fluid stream, and inlet and outlet supports. The volumetric flow rate determination end of the system may be a piping system, displacer, displacer position sensors and a piping support system designed to determine the average flowing velocity of the fluid stream. The resulting density and volumetric flow rate measurements are multiplied to determine the mass flow rate of the fluid stream. The system and method are applicable to both single- and multi-phase streams and can be used in onshore and offshore applications.
US08915144B2
The invention relates to a method for measuring a material flow by means of microwaves, a sensor arrangement for measuring a material flow by means of microwaves and a device having a sensor arrangement, and to the use of a monostatic continuous wave radar for measuring a moving material flow consisting of particles or fluid. This has the advantage that the material flow consisting of particles or fluid can be quantitatively detected and/or the particles can be counted.
US08915141B2
Pressure sensor unit for sealed attachment to a fluidic system comprising a mounting member, a membrane cavity extending through the mounting member with an opening in contact with the fluidic system when the sensor unit is attached thereto, a membrane formed at the distal end of the membrane cavity, and a membrane deflection sensor, wherein the membrane is separated from the mounting member by a stress insulating member arranged to isolate the membrane from stress and strain in the mounting member.
US08915136B2
A method is provided of determining the internal cross-sectional area of a pipe along its length. The method includes the steps of: (a) filling the pipe with a first fluid; (b) feeding a second fluid into the pipe at a known flow rate, a meniscus being formed between the first and the second fluid, and the meniscus moving along the pipe as the second fluid displaces the first fluid in the pipe; (c) ultrasonically detecting the position of the meniscus as it moves along the pipe; and (d) determining from the second fluid flow rate and the meniscus position, the internal cross-sectional area of the pipe along its length.
US08915115B2
A piston prover comprises a measurement cylinder; a hydraulic cylinder coupled with a downstream end of the measurement cylinder; a measuring piston that moves a predetermined distance through the measurement cylinder during a measurement due to a fluid flow to eject a reference volume of fluid; and a piston rod that is movably in the hydraulic cylinder, wherein the measuring piston and the piston rod are separately constructed. When returning the measuring piston to a predetermined upstream measurement standby position, the piston rod moves the measuring piston to set the measuring piston at the predetermined measurement standby position, and thereafter only the piston rod is moved from upstream to downstream and is accommodated in the hydraulic cylinder.
US08915112B2
A coil spring end forming apparatus is provided that includes a pair of horizontally disposed parallel rollers 8; a mandrel 22; a stopper 20 that is provided adjacent to the circumferential surface of the mandrel 22 and is moved up or down and rotated integrally with the mandrel 22; a clamp jig 24 that is provided so as to be movable toward or away from the mandrel 22 and that holds a semi-formed spring 30 in cooperation with the mandrel 22, and a pusher 12 for pushing the semi-formed spring 30 toward the stopper 20, wherein in a state in which the axis of the mandrel 22 is positioned between the axes of the parallel rollers 8 and the semi-formed spring 30, a clamp portion 2 holds the semi-formed spring 30 at the inner side of a triangle formed by the axes of the parallel rollers 8 and the semi-formed spring 30 and rotates around the axis along the winding direction of the semi-formed spring 30 to form a pigtail portion at one end of the semi-formed spring 30, and a coil spring end forming method is further provided.
US08915109B2
Provided is a manufacturing method of a spiral duct including an elbow. The manufacturing method includes: bending projecting wave portions of metal plate members upward by a ball caster, the metal plate members being cut in such a manner that a straight lines and waves are formed; transferring the metal plate members using a pair of transfer rollers which are rotated by a first motor installed in a manufacturing apparatus of a spiral duct including an elbow; pressing a single folded portion and a double folded portion of the metal plate members using upper and lower pressing rollers while the transferred metal plate members are rolled into a circular shape by a joint jig; and cutting the elbow formed by the manufacturing apparatus using upper and lower cutters. According to the invention, an elbow curved at a gentle angle can be formed, and the projecting wave portions of the metal plate members are bent so as to form the elbow. Therefore, a fluid can smoothly flow along the curved portion of the elbow. Further, as the elbow is formed by consecutive processes, it is possible to increase productivity.
US08915106B2
The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for processing information (20, 21, 22, 23) in connection with the preparation and/or development of objects by spatially distributed planning groups, the information relating to the current state of preparation and/or development. In order to enable creative working in spatially distributed planning groups, it is proposed that the apparatus (1) have the following components: at least one output apparatus (3a, 3b) for reproducing the information (20, 21, 22, 23) at each location (2a, 2b); at least one server (4) for processing the information (20, 21, 22, 23); at least one connection apparatus (5a, 5b) for connecting the output apparatuses (3a, 3b) and further participant terminals (6, 7) at each location (2a, 2b); a data communication network (8) for connecting the connection apparatuses (5a, 5b) to the server (4); and means (10) for processing the information (20, 21, 22, 23) in such a manner that information (20, 21, 22, 23) manipulated using a terminal (6, 7) or in another manner is automatically reproduced in real time on all output apparatuses (3a, 3b) at all locations (2a, 2b).
US08915104B2
An appliance system that includes an appliance group containing at least two appliances, a first appliance designed to perform a first consumer function related to the first appliance and a second appliance that is separate from the first appliance and designed to perform a second consumer function related to the second appliance. The appliance system also includes a thermal energy generator, typically a heat pump, where the thermal energy heats at least one thermal energy bearing fluid and is operably connected to the first and second appliances to deliver thermal energy to the first and second appliances simultaneously or at different times via one or more of the thermal energy bearing fluids.
US08915102B2
A clothes-treating apparatus is disclosed. According to the present invention, the clothes-treating apparatus includes a steam spraying unit capable of preventing water condensed from steam from flowing into an accommodating space containing clothes and it has an improved steam spraying unit to enhance work efficiency when a worker assembles parts thereof.
US08915096B2
A method for producing a silica container includes forming a preliminarily molded substrate, wherein a first powdered raw material is fed to an inner wall of an outer frame having aspiration holes while rotating the outer frame; forming a preliminarily molded intermediate layer, wherein a second powdered raw material added with an aluminum compound or a crystal nucleating agent as an additive is fed to an inner wall of the preliminarily molded substrate; and forming an inner layer, wherein the preliminarily molded substrate and the preliminarily molded intermediate layer are degassed by aspiration from a peripheral side with heating from an inside forming a substrate and an intermediate layer, and a third powdered raw material having a high silica purity is spread from inside the substrate having the formed intermediate layer with heating from the inside forming an inner layer on an inner surface of the intermediate layer.
US08915089B2
A system is provided for detecting and controlling flashback and flame holding in a combustor of a gas turbine. The system includes at least one flame indicator disposed in a combustor and at least one detector disposed downstream from the flame indicator. The flame indicator may be configured to produce light when exposed to a flame and the detector may be configured to detect the light produced by the flame indicator.
US08915088B2
A method for controlling a flow of fuel to a starting gas turbine engine includes controlling the flow of fuel to the engine by controlling fuel pressure to the engine, and modulating the flow of fuel to the engine if engine exhaust gas temperature approaches a given exhaust gas temperature to lower the engine exhaust gas temperature below the given exhaust gas temperature.
US08915079B2
A brake actuator unit capable of improving the pedal feeling. The brake actuator unit includes a housing, a master cylinder connected to one end of the housing and provided therein with first and second pistons arranged in parallel to each other, an operating fluid reservoir coupled to an upper portion of the master cylinder to store operating fluid, a simulator accommodated in the master cylinder to provide repulsive force to a pedal, an input shaft moving back and forth according to an operation of the pedal, a control plunger slidably moving back and forth together with the input shaft, first and second output shafts positioned corresponding to first and second pistons to move back and forth together with the control plunger, and a pedal displacement sensor connected to the input shaft.
US08915078B2
A system and method for generating energy from tuning the natural frequency of masses relative to a ground plane and an external force. In some embodiments the external force is the action of the waves. The system has a first mass movable relative to the ground plane, wherein the external force induces an oscillation in the first mass relative to the ground plane. A second movable mass is carried by and movable relative to the first movable mass. The second movable mass creates kinetic energy as the result of varying the position of the second movable mass relative to the first mass. The system adjusts or tunes the frequency of various components in relation to the natural frequency of the waves. The energy created by the relative motion can be converted to various forms of energy including electrical energy.
US08915076B2
A system for providing pressurized hydraulic fluid includes an engine driven main pump and an electrical motor driven auxiliary pump. The auxiliary pump provides hydraulic fluid at line pressure to shift control subsystems during a vehicle launch while the main pump provides hydraulic fluid to cooler or lubrication subsystems during the vehicle launch. A pressure regulation valve regulates the pressure of the hydraulic fluid from the main pump. Once the main pump reaches a critical speed, the main pump provides hydraulic fluid at line pressure to the hydraulic control system and the auxiliary pump is turned off.
US08915074B2
A method for determining whether an accumulator is filled to a predetermined level with a hydraulic fluid includes commanding a current to a solenoid, providing pressurized hydraulic fluid to the accumulator, setting a timer to an initial value, incrementing the timer, determining if the timer is greater than a timer threshold value, measuring a current to the solenoid if the timer is greater than the timer threshold value, calculating a modified current as a function of the measured current, the timer value, and the commanded current, comparing the modified current to a threshold, and determining that the accumulator is filled to the predetermined level if the modified current is greater than the threshold.
US08915069B2
Arrangement for introducing a liquid medium into exhaust gases from a combustion engine: an exhaust gas line (2), an injection chamber (3) bounded in radial directions by a tubular wall (8), an injector (13) injects the liquid medium into the injection chamber; a mixing duct (14) to which the injection chamber has an outlet (10) for delivering exhaust gases; a bypass duct (15) which has an outlet (17) via which it is connected to the mixing duct, and an endwall (7) at the injection chamber's downstream end and demarcating the chamber from the mixing duct, such that the chamber's outlet is situated at the periphery of the endwall. The outlet of the bypass duct is close to the outlet of the injection chamber so that the exhaust gases which flow into the mixing duct via the chamber's outlet will collide with the exhaust gases which flow into the mixing duct via the outlet of the bypass duct.
US08915067B2
Provided is a diesel engine which can efficiently regenerate a diesel particulate filter. The control for regeneration using an ECU includes a first regeneration by burning particulate matter at slightly more than 300° C. for 20 minutes when the accumulation of particulate matter exceeds a first threshold; a second regeneration by burning particulate matter at approximately 560° C. for 30 minutes by an additional injection to remove particulate matter other than ash when the accumulation of particulate matter exceeds the first threshold for a first predetermined period of time, or every 100 hours; and a third regeneration by burning particulate matter at approximately 600° C. for 15 minutes by an additional injection to remove particulate matter other than ash when the accumulation of particulate matter exceeds a second threshold and an emergency regeneration switch is pushed, or after 50 hours since the second or third regeneration and the emergency regeneration switch is pushed.
US08915051B1
A method of transferring a plurality of tablets of a product from a first blister card including a first plurality of blisters to a second blister card including a second plurality of blisters includes discharging the plurality of tablets from the first plurality of blisters of the first blister card. Then, each of the plurality of tablets are guided along one of a plurality of passageways defined by a transfer fixture positioned between the first blister card and the second blister card. Finally, the plurality of tablets are received in the second plurality of blisters of the second blister card.
US08915042B2
A steel frame structure includes brackets connected to columns to allow the columns to be connected to a girder. Each bracket includes a U-shaped plate having a bottom plate, side plates extended upwardly perpendicularly from both ends of the bottom plate, and base plates extended outwardly from the side plates, a vertical plate welded perpendicularly to the center of the bottom plate of the U-shaped plate in such a manner as to be parallel to the side plates, and a horizontal plate welded to the top end of the vertical plate in such a manner as to be parallel to the bottom plate of the U-shaped plate. The girder has a generally U-shaped section.
US08915040B2
A temporary plastic barrier section includes a plastic shell having first and second plastic connection portions integrally formed on opposite ends thereof; and a rigid straight elongate member, wherein the rigid straight elongate member lies substantially adjacent to at least a portion of each of the first and second connection portions, and wherein the rigid straight elongate member includes connection points at the distal ends thereof which are configured to align substantially with the first and second connection portions.
US08915038B1
A dynamic concrete form includes a sleeve defining a passage extending between first and second open ends. A first attachment feature extends outwardly in a first direction from the sleeve at the first open end and a second attachment feature extends outwardly in a second direction that is opposite the first direction at the second open end. In a first position, the passage has a first axial length, the first open end lies in a first plane, and the second open end lies in a second plane. In a second position, the passage has a second axial length that is greater than the first axial length, the first open end lies in the first plane or a first new plane that is parallel to the first plane, and the second open end lies in the second plane or a second new plane that is parallel to the second plane.
US08915035B2
A laminated floor tile includes the following layers laminated together into a single unit, a base having an underside, an upper surface, and perimetric edges, the base being formed of a high impact copolymer material designed to provide a slight flexure, the base including tabs designed to interact with adjacent floor tiles to hold the adjacent tiles fixedly in place, and panels extending upwardly from the perimetric edges of the base and forming the upper surface into a tray shape, graphic media positioned on the base within the tray, and a clear protective layer overlying the graphic image.
US08915030B2
The present invention is premised upon a photovoltaic device suitable for directly mounting on a structure. The device includes an active portion including a photovoltaic cell assembly having a top surface portion that allows transmission of light energy to a photoactive portion of the photovoltaic device for conversion into electrical energy and a bottom surface having a bottom bonding zone; and an inactive portion immediately adjacent to and connected to the active portion, the inactive portion having a region for receiving a fastener to connect the device to the structure and having on a top surface, a top bonding zone; wherein one of the top and bottom bonding zones comprises a first bonding element and the other comprises a second bonding element, the second bonding element designed to interact with the first bonding element on a vertically overlapped adjacent photovoltaic device to bond the device to such adjacent device or to the structure.
US08915022B2
A system for management of a roof having first and second decks covering an unconditioned space in a building and a peak, the system having a first channel extending from proximate a lower end of the first deck towards the peak and a second channel extending from proximate a lower end of the second deck towards the peak. The system further includes a router positioned proximate the peak, the router enabling air flowing to the peak from the first channel to be selectively routed to one of a plurality of directions.
US08915017B2
The invention relates to a drive device (20) for entrance and exit devices for public transportation vehicles, comprising a drive unit (22) that is arranged in and drives a rotary column (24) rotating about a rotational axis Z-Z during opening and closing operations, said column opening and closing the entrance and exit device. The drive unit (22) is held on the vehicle via a retaining component (40). The retaining component (40) acts as counter bearing for a torque of the drive unit (22). Between the drive unit (22) and the retaining component (40), a coupling device (72) is arranged, which enables a rotation of the drive unit (22) about the rotational axis Z-Z when a threshold value of the torque acting upon the drive unit is exceeded. Between the coupling device (72) and the retaining component (40), a bearing is provided, which enables a tumbling motion of the rotary column (24) with the coupling device (72) and prevents a rotation about the rotational axis Z-Z.
US08915012B2
A convertible fishing lure assembly includes a lure body having at least one body section and a channel extending longitudinally therethrough and terminating in oppositely disposed open ends. A securing member, and in at least some embodiments a sleeve, is removably disposable within the channel. The securing member is dimensioned and disposed to include opposite ends being simultaneously disposed through the open ends of the channel for connection to fishing tackle components disposed exteriorly of the body section. Both the channel and the securing member have corresponding cross sectional configurations to restrict rotation of the securing member within the channel. The lure body may include a plurality of body sections each having a channel extending therethrough with a securing member removably disposed therein, wherein the body sections are movably interconnected to one another through interconnection of corresponding ends of the different securing members.
US08915011B1
A mechanical hook assembly for catching fish. The hook assembly comprises a hook having an elongated shank, bend, and point. A spring-biased trigger resides adjacent the hook and comprises an elongated distal point guard, an intermediate latch, a proximal spring shaft, and spring. The spring normally urges the hook assembly into an open spread condition, such that the spring shaft of the trigger extends outwardly at an angle to the shank of the hook and in a direction opposite the bend. A catch is located beside the shank of the hook.
US08915009B2
Embodiments provide modular illumination systems that may be used with any handgun platform, and are not specific to any make or model. Some embodiments may provide lighting, for instance visible light and/or infrared light for use in low light or dark environments. Also provided in various embodiments are aiming and/or sighting systems that may be equipped with an IR sight or a laser sight, such as a red or green laser. In various embodiments, the illumination modules may couple to the handgun via a mounting member that is integral to the handgun body, and the mounting member may be recessed or otherwise concealed and/or protected by the handgun body. Thus, in various embodiments, no portion of the mounting member (or the corresponding mounting element on the illumination module) is exposed or visible when the illumination module is coupled to the mounting member, and a conventional holster may be used.
US08915005B2
A folding stock assembly for a firearm includes a butt stock portion; a receiver interface portion; and a bidirectional hinge assembly configured to allow the butt stock portion to bidirectionally pivot with respect to the receiver interface portion.
US08915003B2
An ammunition compartment is located in the grip of a firearm's handle. The handle has a hinged door that opens to the compartment. The ammunition is mounted on a strip clip which slides into grooves in the inner walls of the compartment. The strip clip has a tab which extends outside the compartment when the door is open so that the ammunition can be quickly pulled from the compartment to load the firearm.
US08914989B2
A clothes dryer and method for forming and supplying a treating chemistry solution to a laundry load located in the treating chamber of the clothes dryer.
US08914985B2
The present invention relates to a light beam emission device for a measuring device for changing the optical properties of a light beam as well as to a corresponding method and to a measuring instrument which uses the light beam emission device, wherein the optical properties of the light beam can be changed automatically thereby from one state to another state. The light beam emission device comprises a base body with an opening for the passage of the light beam; a head which is arranged rotatably around a rotation axis on the base body, and which corresponds substantially to the propagation direction of the light beam through the base body; an optical element, which is arranged turnably around a turning axis on the head; and a turning mechanism for producing a turning of the optical element around the turning axis; wherein the turning mechanism is designed to turn the optical element to a first position and to a second position, second position in which the optical element is located in the light beam, so that the optical properties of the light beam are changed depending on the function of the optical element.
US08914978B2
A manufacturing method of an application roller that applies a coating solution onto a surface of a substrate, wherein the application roller includes a roller body that includes a large diameter portion and small diameter portions coaxially extended from both ends of the large diameter portion, the manufacturing method includes: overlaying a resin layer on at least an outer periphery of each of the small diameter portions; forming a masking portion on the outer periphery of each of the small diameter portions by processing an outer periphery of the resin layer; and forming an application groove portion on an outer periphery of the large diameter portion.
US08914977B2
A vehicle wheel according to the present invention includes a hollow-state hollow portion and a solid-state non-hollow portion inside an outboard bead seat in a radial direction, which are provided in series in a circumferential direction of the wheel, the non-hollow portion having a cross section with a larger area than a hole cross section of a valve hole and having the valve hole formed therein. This structure prevents a sealing structure for ensuring hermetic performance from being complicated as compared to a wheel having the valve hole in the hollow portion, thus simplifying a mounting structure of an air valve. A method for manufacturing such a vehicle wheel allows formation of the valve hole in the non-hollow portion. Machining dust generated through a cutting process can thus be prevented from entering the hollow portion and remaining therein.
US08914970B2
A tunneling magnetoresistive sensor has an extended pinned layer wherein both the MgO spacer layer and the underlying ferromagnetic pinned layer extend beyond the back edge of the ferromagnetic free layer in the stripe height direction and optionally also beyond the side edges of the free layer in the trackwidth direction. A patterned photoresist layer with a back edge is formed on the sensor stack and a methanol (CH3OH)-based reactive ion etching (RIE) removes the unprotected free layer, defining the free layer back edge. The methanol-based RIE terminates at the MgO spacer layer without damaging the underlying reference layer. A second patterned photoresist layer may be deposited and a second methanol-based RIE may be performed if it is desired to have the reference layer also extend beyond the side edges of the free layer in the trackwidth direction.
US08914965B2
An outer member and an inner member constituting a wheel bearing device are assembled and the brake rotor is fixed to the hub ring of the inner member. In this state, the pad slide surfaces of the brake rotor are lathed with the reference provided by a wheel pilot end surface. Alternatively, the wheel pilot end surface of the hub ring by chucking the knuckle pilot of the outer member with the wheel bearing device put in its assembled state, and the pad slide surfaces of the brake rotor are lathed with the reference provided by the wheel pilot end surface.
US08914963B2
A mounting station for automatically assembling a razor that includes a shaving cartridge and a razor handle. The mounting station includes providing a razor handle and a shaving cartridge, automatically connecting a first rearwardly protruding connector of the shaving cartridge to the free end of the first handle connector of the razor handle, and then automatically connecting the second rearwardly protruding connector of the shaving cartridge to the free end of the second handle connector of the razor handle to form a razor.
US08914961B2
A method is provided for evaluating a crimp procedure in a manufacturing process. In one embodiment, the method includes, but is not limited to, completing a crimp procedure on a single wire. The method further includes, but is not limited to, evaluating a quality of the crimp procedure based on time-domain reflectometry. The method still further includes, but is not limited to, generating reporting data based on the evaluating.
US08914960B2
A device (10) for removing the tooth brush head from the body of an electrical tooth brush is described. Device (10) includes a tooth brush head engaging member (12), a seat member (14) for seating against a body of an electrical-tooth brush and a screw-threaded member (16) positioned operatively between the tooth brush head engaging member (12) and the seat member (14), so as to cause the tooth brush head engaging member (12) to displace relative to the seat member (14) in response to angular displacement of the screw-threaded member (16).
US08914950B1
The communication and/or electrical cord organizer and cover includes a tubularly-shaped member of an undefined length, which is outfitted with a fastening means that runs along the length so as to enable opening and sealing off of the tubularly-shaped member. The organizer and cover further includes at least one connector tube that can attach itself in perpendicular orientation to any location along the tubularly-shaped member in order to provide a branching effect for ingress or egress of any electrical or communication cord with respect to the tubularly-shaped member. The connector tubes each include a serrated collar member that pierces a hole through the tubularly-shaped member, and from which threadings are provided on both the serrated collar member and the respective connector tube for securement to the tubularly-shaped member.
US08914927B1
A pillow and play mat assembly comprising an infant support pillow with an attached activity or play mat. The pillow includes a bolster surrounding a recessed central well. The mat includes a padded panel with a flexible bumper. The bumper is repositionable so that it can extend from the panel upwardly or downwardly. In the fully deployed or play mode, the play mat extends sidewardly from the support pillow and the bumper extends upwardly to enclose the play area defined by the mat. In the stowed or carrying mode, the play mat is folded under the support pillow and the bumper is inverted to at least partially enclose the side of the pillow. In an intermediate position, the play mat is folded under the pillow and the bumper extends downwardly to slightly elevate the pillow.
US08914926B2
A folding portable sleeping table comprises a planar member rotatably connected to at least one longitudinal support member. A support arm has a proximal and a distal end. The proximal end of the support arm is rotatably connected to the planar member. The longitudinal support member has notches to engage the distal end of the support arm. The longitudinal support member has a hollow interior sized to accept at least one extendable member. A base member is positioned on a lower end of the at least one extendable member. The at least one extendable member is adjustably secured to the at least one longitudinal support member whereby the base member and the at least one extendable member can extend in and out relative to the at least one longitudinal support member.
US08914925B2
A mobile diagnostic assembly (20) of the type for supporting a patient in a prone position along an examination surface includes a support frame (22) having a top (26) extending between a front edge (38) and a rear edge (40) and defining at least one opening (48) for receiving pendant breasts of the patient in the prone position. The support frame (22) is movable to a testing position for disposing the rear edge (40) adjacent the examination surface. A flap (50) extends from the rear edge of the top for overlaying an examination surface in the testing position to support the prone patient along the examination surface and said flap and said top to prevent movement of the support frame relative to the examination surface. A pivot (54) is disposed between the flap and the top for establishing rotation of the flap from the testing position to cover said top.
US08914912B2
An improved fishing or hunting wader, exposure suit or foul weather pants/bib incorporates a novel waterproof connectable hatch to provide access for urination. The low profile and lightweight waterproof hatch is centered over the groin area and allows the wearer of a fishing wader, or similar foul weather gear pants, to be able to quickly open the hatch and urinate without removing the cumbersome garment. A hinged or connectable lid may swing upwards and downwards and features a hook-and-loop fastener, a magnetic, or mechanical fastener so that the lid is held up in place and out of the way. After urination, the lid may conveniently snap back into place against a seal or O-ring thereby forming a water tight seal.
US08918908B2
Systems and methods for accessing digital content using electronic tickets and ticket tokens in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a user device includes a processor, a network interface, and memory configured to store an electronic ticket, and a ticket token, and the processor is configured by an application to send a request for digital content, receive a ticket token from a merchant server, wherein the ticket token is generated by a DRM server and associated with an electronic ticket that enables playback of the requested digital content, send the ticket token to a DRM server, receive an electronic ticket that enables playback of requested digital content, request the digital content associated with the electronic ticket, and play back the requested digital content using the electronic ticket.
US08918898B2
Providing access at a jobsite to an electronic record of a locate operation. Data related to the locate operation is acquired by locate equipment and transmitted to a data repository for storage in the electronic record of the locate operation. A site-specific access mechanism is provided that establishes a link to the electronic record of the locate operation. In one example, the site-specific access mechanism is a physical mechanism, such as a printout of a website address, a barcode, or an RFID tag. In another example the site-specific access mechanism is a virtual mechanism, such as geographic location information provided by a location tracking system (e.g., GPS apparatus) and/or derived from information available to a wireless communications system or WiFi network. In one aspect, the access mechanism may be configured for use at the jobsite only by a person particularly authorized to access the electronic record of the locate operation.
US08918894B2
An information processing device for anonymizing personal information being linkable to an individual includes an anonymization policy providing unit which provides an anonymization policy in which priority is added to each of a plurality of kinds of anonymization processes to enhance anonymity for at least one item which can be related to said personal information; an anonymization process selecting unit which selects in sequence from an anonymization process of low priority to an anonymization process of high priority, in case said plurality of kinds of anonymization processes being contained in said anonymization policy which said anonymization policy providing unit provides is applied; an anonymization processing unit which applies said plurality of kinds of anonymization processes in said sequence selected by said anonymization process selecting unit to said personal information which an information user uses; and an anonymity evaluating unit which provides said personal information to which said anonymization process was applied up to the anonymization process concerned to said information user, in case it is judged that said personal information to which said anonymization process was applied had anonymity.
US08918877B1
Signature compilation on a security device is disclosed. A first set of malware signatures is received. The first set of signatures is compiled at a first time. A second set of malware signatures is received. The second set of signatures is compiled at a second time that is different from the first time. A determination of whether a file is malicious is made based at least in part by performing a scan using the first and second compiled signatures.
US08918873B1
The instant disclosure describes various exemplary systems and methods for exonerating an untrusted software component based solely on a trusted software component's non-optional or “hard” dependency on the untrusted software component. In one example, a method for exonerating untrusted software components in this manner may include: 1) identifying a dependent software component, 2) determining that the dependent software component is a non-optional dependent component of at least one trusted software component, and then 3) classifying the dependent software component as a trusted software component. As detailed herein, such a method may enable security software to quickly and efficiently exonerate untrusted components by association without having to scan or perform other intrusive and/or resource-intensive security operations on such untrusted software components.
US08918871B1
According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for signaling optimization in a wireless network utilizing proprietary and non-proprietary protocols. A first session is established between an application on a mobile device and a local proxy on the mobile device, a second session is established between the local proxy and a proxy server not located on the mobile device, and a third session is established between the proxy server and a content server. A byte stream present within the first and second sessions is monitored to identify patterns within the byte stream. If a pattern is found, the pattern is used to determine a behavior of the application. If that behavior is one that is a candidate for optimization, signaling optimization is performed between the application and the content server. Signaling optimization includes dismantling the second session, replaying the pattern to the application via the first session, and replaying the pattern to the content server via the third session.
US08918857B1
A system and method for a distributed multi-processing security gateway establishes a host side session, selects a proxy network address for a server, uses the proxy network address to establish a server side session, receives a data packet, assigns a central processing unit core from a plurality of central processing unit cores in a multi-core processor of the security gateway to process the data packet, processes the data packet according to security policies, and sends the processed data packet. The proxy network address is selected such that a same central processing unit core is assigned to process data packets from the server side session and the host side session. By assigning central processing unit cores in this manner, higher capable security gateways are provided.
US08918856B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a trusted intermediary for use in a system in which access control decisions may be based at least in part on information provided in claims. The intermediary may request claims on behalf of a network resource to which access is requested, and submit the claims for a decision whether to grant or deny access. The decision may be based at least in part on one or more access control policies, which may be pre-set or dynamically generated. Because the intermediary requests the claims and submits the claims for an access control decision, the network resource (e.g., a server application) need not be configured to process claims information.
US08918852B2
A method of authenticating a user using a server and an image forming apparatus using the same, the method including: transmitting, from an image forming apparatus to a first server that functions as an authentication server, user authentication information; determining if the first server authenticates the user based on the user authentication information; and transmitting, to a second server that processes image data, the user authentication information if the first server authenticates the user, wherein the second server authenticates the user based on the transmitted user authentication information authenticated by the first server. Thus, the user of the image forming apparatus can be automatically authenticated by the second server by authenticating the user on the first server.
US08918842B2
A command filter module filters receives a plurality commands intended for receipt by devices interconnected within a utility grid. The command filter module may authorize the plurality of commands for execution by the respective devices based on predetermined set of command rules. Historical and real-time data may be implemented by the command filter module to perform an authorization decision for the plurality of commands. Authorized commands may be transmitted by the command filter module for receipt by the respective devices. The command filter module may generate rejection messages corresponding to unauthorized commands. The rejection messages may be transmitted to a source of an unauthorized command.
US08918841B2
Methods, articles of manufacture, and apparatus for hardware interface access control for mobile applications are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes restricting an application from accessing a set of hardware interfaces of a mobile device, and providing a virtual interface to the application via which the application is to access a first hardware interface in the set of hardware interfaces, the virtual interface provided by a program in a kernel layer of an operating system of the mobile device to control at least one of access or a method of access to the first hardware interface in the set of hardware interfaces, the first hardware interface that is accessible via the virtual interface being unknown to the application.
US08918838B1
Systems, devices, and methods for performing rate limiting on a received packet based on logged packet information and rules list determination where for each packet from a set of one or more packets, packet information is logged in a data store by comparing the received packet with previously received packets. Determining if the received packet is part of an established connection or if the received packet is part of a new connection and if determined that the packet is of an established connection, then performing a set of rules on a subset of packets, if however it is determined that the packet is of a new connection, then performing the set of rules on all the received packets. Additionally, determining whether the packet is part of a created rules list and if the packet is determined to be part of a created rules list, then bypassing filtering for the packet; if however the packet is determined to not be part of a created rules list, then assigning escalating time-based IP traffic blocks against the packet.
US08918834B1
Techniques for crafting custom policies for entities (e.g., users, applications, etc.) based on past behavior of the entities are described herein. In one example, the techniques are implemented in a network-based environment. In this environment, a remote-computing service may include multiple different resources that provide different services to customers of the remote-computing service. For instance, the remote-computing service may provide a network-based storage service, a network-based compute service, a network-based payment service, or any other network-based resource. Users and/or applications of a particular customer may then access these resources via an interface provided by the remote-computing service. After tracking a user or application's access to these resources for a certain period of time, the remote-computing service may recommend or create a custom policy for the user or application based on the requests made by the user or application.
US08918824B2
A system for generating and sending a Logical Node identification signal as part of a data stream is disclosed. The system also includes subscriber stations capable of receiving and extracting Logical Node identification information from a data stream. The subscriber stations create new messages including the Logical Node identification signal and send the message to the transmission network system control, such that switching of data streams to an appropriate channel over the information transmission network is done consistent with the network topology.
US08918821B2
A client device includes a client-side proxy that is operable to receive server playlist data corresponding to the selected one of the plurality of video programs, to generate proxy playlist data corresponding to the selected one of the plurality of video programs based on the server playlist data and to send the proxy playlist data to the video player. In particular, the client-side proxy generates the proxy playlist data by translating the server playlist data from a first playlist format, such as a sliding window format of the HLS protocol, to a second playlist format, such as an event playlist format.
US08918820B2
A method and system for a video workflow automation platform (VWAP) is described.
US08918819B1
A method and system of automated remote collaborative learning broadcasting. A computer-based server receives a plurality of video feeds for a remote interaction. Server receives unique user identifier and bandwidth of unique user viewing a remote interaction. Unique user is identified based upon bandwidth connection as either active or passive. Local audience viewers receive the plurality of video feeds and may select a video feed among the plurality of video feeds. Local audience viewers may seamlessly switch between the plurality of video feeds based upon individual preference. Server tracks local audience viewer's video feed selection. Remote audience viewers receive single video feed determined by local audience viewer selection. Minimum video switching time must be met before switching single video feed to a new view. Video threshold automatically switches video feed based upon prolonged static view if predetermined criteria is met.
US08918808B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set top box having a controller to obtain display parameters associated with a display device, adjust a format of media content at the set top box based at least in part on the display parameters where the adjustment is of one or more portions of a display of the media content, and transmit the media content from the set top box to the display device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08918805B2
The present invention describes a method for synchronizing data of an interactive content with the audio and/or video of TV broadcasting. Especially, but without limitation, the method of the present invention is for synchronizing subtitles for digital TV applications.
US08918794B2
Technologies are generally described for efficient datacenter management. In some examples, client jobs on a datacenter are subcontracted out to another datacenter so that the subcontracted jobs can be pulled back to the original datacenter when capacity becomes available again. A captive aggregator module combining network message, command management, data analysis on QoS effects of traffic relay, and strategic management decides whether it makes sense to keep tasks captively aggregated. A middleware system for testing true performance of an application or surrogate and optimizing among multiple datacenters based on true performance evaluates candidate datacenters prior to subcontracting jobs from the original datacenter. The middleware deploys the application to multiple candidate clouds to perform substantially similar tasks on resources that claim to be roughly equivalent in price/performance. The middleware receives data on actual cost and resource consumption, analyzes differences, and redistributes actual work tasks to take advantage of differences.
US08918790B2
Disclosed are a method of and system for profiling a computer program. The method comprises the steps of using a utility application to execute the computer program; and on the basis of said execution of the computer program, identifying specific performance requirements of the computer program. A profile of the computer program is determined from said identified performance requirements; and based on said determined profile, resources for the computer program are selected from a grid of computer services.
US08918788B2
The present invention provides a scheduling method for a data processing system comprising at least one physical CPU, and one or more virtual machines each assigned to one or more virtual CPUs, the method comprising: a first scheduling step in which one of said virtual machines is elected to run on said physical CPU; and a second scheduling step in which at least one of the virtual CPUs assigned to the elected virtual machine is elected to run on said physical CPU. The second scheduling step is applied to the virtual machine only. When a virtual machine instance is elected to run on a given CPU, the second level scheduling determines the virtual CPU instance to run. The second level scheduling is global and can cause a virtual CPU migration from one physical CPU to another. In order to ensure correct task scheduling at guest level, virtually equivalent (in terms of calculation power) virtual CPUs should be provided to the scheduler. This is achieved by the second level scheduler using a virtual CPU election criteria based on time statistics.
US08918781B1
A product deployment system of an electronic document is described. An example product deployment system includes a deployment processor, a remote execution module, and a plan manager. The deployment processor may be configured to receive a request to deploy an application, generated a deployment plan, provide the deployment plan to the plan manager, and trigger a command to be sent from the remote execution module to the target hosts in the target host set. The plan manager provides the deployment plan to the target host set in response to receiving the identification of the deployment plan from the target host set. The plan manager may also monitor execution of the deployment plan by the target host set without saving a state of deployment process that is being performed at the target host set. The plan manager may also react to perceived failures that may occur at the target host set.
US08918780B2
An approach for assuring quality of a software installer is presented. A first view of a system is recorded. The installer is executed to create installed components for an application, and subsequently, a second view of the system is recorded. Based on a recorded change between the first and second views, information about the installed components is recorded. The installation is determined to be successful or unsuccessful. If successful, selected installed components are removed. The installer is executed to reinstall the selected installed components. The reinstallation is verified. A third view of the system is recorded. An uninstaller is executed to uninstall the software application. A fourth view of the system is recorded. The uninstallation is verified. A report is generated using the first, second, third and fourth views.
US08918779B2
Implementations are described of a computing device that migrates data and software applications from a first computing device to a second computing device, in order to preserve data and other application-related customizations.
US08918774B2
A method, computer program product, and system for updating a computer system may include collecting data describing usage characteristics on a customer computer system. Available updates may be stored on a support system together with one or more relevant rules. A recommendation engine may be used to analyze the data describing usage characteristics and to recommend one or more changes based on evaluation of one or more relevant rules for each available update. Changes having one or more attributes and one or more successor relationships to recommend for installation in the computer system may be selected.
US08918767B2
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for transforming source code to await execution of asynchronous operations. Embodiments of the invention simplify authoring and use of asynchronous methods, by generating statements that use well-defined awaitable objects to await completion of asynchronous operations. For example, a computer system can transform a statement that requests to await the completion of an asynchronous operation into a plurality of statements that use a predefined pattern of members of an awaitable object corresponding the asynchronous operation. The pattern can include one or more members configured to return a completion status of the asynchronous operation, one or more members configured to resume execution of the asynchronous method at a resumption point when the asynchronous operation completes, and one or more members configured to retrieve completion results. Accordingly, the plurality of statements can use these members to await execution of the asynchronous operation.
US08918766B2
Annotation information associated with entities of a computing system can be added to a forest generated from the entities where the structure of the forest reflects relationships between the entities. Annotations associated with a child node can be propagated to all parent nodes of the child node all the way up to one or more root nodes of the annotated forest. Annotations associated with a child node can be propagated to a specified depth or place or at nodes with one or more particular characteristics or annotations. The propagation can be performed on-demand to all or some subset of nodes. The annotated forest can be analyzed to determine nodes to which a set of conditions apply.
US08918743B1
A method and apparatus of a novel full chip edge-based mask three-dimensional (3D) model for performing photolithography simulation is described. The method applies a thin mask model to a mask design layout to create a thin mask transmission. The method generates a thick mask model that has a plurality of edge-based kernels. The method applies the thick mask model to the mask design layout to create a mask 3D residual. The method combines the thin mask transmission and the mask 3D residual to create a mask 3D transmission.
US08918742B2
The present invention relates to methods and systems for designing gauge patterns that are extremely sensitive to parameter variation, and thus robust against random and repetitive measurement errors in calibration of a lithographic process utilized to image a target design having a plurality of features. The method may include identifying most sensitive line width/pitch combination with optimal assist feature placement which leads to most sensitive CD (or other lithography response parameter) changes against lithography process parameter variations, such as wavefront aberration parameter variation. The method may also include designing gauges which have more than one test patterns, such that a combined response of the gauge can be tailored to generate a certain response to wavefront-related or other lithographic process parameters. The sensitivity against parameter variation leads to robust performance against random measurement error and/or any other measurement error.
US08918739B2
A method for display-independent recognition of a graphical user interface (GUI) control, the method comprising capturing a screenshot of a GUI of a computerized application, determining a cursor position in the screenshot, analyzing an area surrounding the cursor position, to identify a GUI control, and storing an image of the GUI control.
US08918734B2
A reduced virtual keyboard system for text input on electronic devices is disclosed. Text input is performed by creating a tracing trajectory. Dynamic prediction solutions are created during the tracing process, thus avoiding the need for a user to complete the entire word trajectory. The system also allows a mixture of tapping actions and sliding motions for the same word. The system may comprise a Long Words Dictionary database having first letters corresponding to predetermined keys of the keyboard. Alternatively, the system uses a Dictionary and a database management tool to find long words.
US08918715B2
According to a preferred aspect of the instant invention, there is provided a system and method that allows the user to present standard 2D multimedia data (photo, video) to an audience in a stereoscopic 3D presentation. The system allows the user to transfer standard 2D multimedia content into a stereoscopic 3D multimedia work by automatically placing the individual 2D multimedia input material into specific placeholder sections in specially prepared and provided S3D multimedia themes.
US08918714B2
A system and method for printing a multimedia document including a multimedia content in the form of video, animation or graphics. While printing a multimedia document including a video file, instead of printing the default poster view, a set of frames extracted from the video file is printed. In one embodiment of the invention, the frames are extracted from the video file using a frame extraction algorithm and temporary layout of the set of frames is created for printing. User can configure to print the set of frames in the same area of the video file in the multimedia document, or can configure to print them in a separate page.
US08918710B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, a parser provides the portion identifiers (e.g., Xpath(s) in case of XML data files) of at least some of the data elements to the applications. As a result, the applications may be relieved from the task of computing the XPath(s) for various data elements. The implementation of applications may be simplified as a result. In one embodiment, prior API (application programming interface) is extended to provide the XPath(s). In an alternative embodiment, custom API is provided to enable the applications to obtain the XPath(s).
US08918697B2
An apparatus and method are provided for transmitting and receiving a quasi-cyclic Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) code in a multimedia communication system. In the method, a signal transmission apparatus generates a quasi-cyclic LDPC code, and transmits the quasi-cyclic LDPC code to a signal reception apparatus. The quasi-cyclic LDPC code is generated by encoding an information word vector using a child parity check matrix, generated by performing one of a scaling operation, a row separation operation, and a row merge operation on a parent parity check matrix. In the scaling operation, a size of the child parity check matrix is determined. In the row separation operation, each of rows included in the parent parity check matrix is separated. In the row merge operation, the rows included in the parent parity check matrix are merged.
US08918696B2
A method for decoding data is disclosed. The method includes partitioning a low-density parity check (LDPC) matrix into a plurality of groups, each comprising one or more check node layers. The method further includes selecting one of the groups based at least in part on a cost function, the cost function based at least in part on information associated with a variable node, or information associated with a check node, or both. The method further includes performing LDPC layered decoding on the selected group.
US08918695B2
Methods and apparatus for early stop algorithm of turbo decoding are disclosed. An example method comprises of combination of comparing of hard decisions of soft outputs of the current iteration and the previous iteration and comparing the minimum log likelihood results against a threshold. The decoding iteration is stopped once the hard decisions are matched and the minimum soft decoding result exceeds a threshold.
US08918694B2
A decoder performs forward error correction based on quasi-cyclic regular column-partition low density parity check codes. A method for designing the parity check matrix reduces the number of short-cycles of the matrix to increase performance. An adaptive quantization post-processing technique further improves performance by eliminating error floors associated with the decoding. A parallel decoder architecture performs iterative decoding using a parallel pipelined architecture.
US08918684B2
To provide a write amplifier that is connected to bit lines, a read amplifier that is connected to the bit lines via a first switch, and a relief memory element that includes a write port that is connected to the bit lines via a second switch, and a read port that is connected to the read amplifier via a third switch. When there is a request to access a defective memory cell, during a write operation, the second switch is turned on and write data is supplied from the write amplifier to the relief memory element via the bit lines, and during a read operation, the first switch is turned off and the third switch is turned on, and then read data read from the relief memory element is supplied to the read amplifier without being routed via the bit lines.
US08918678B2
According to exemplary embodiments, a computer implemented method for functional testing of a processor design includes accessing a test template from a library of test templates, wherein the test template is configured to test a first selected function of the processor and inputting the test template to an automated test generation tool executed by a computer. The method further includes generating an instruction sequence based on the test template by the automated test generation tool and injecting an event instruction to the instruction sequence during the generating of the instruction sequence by the automated test generation tool, the injecting of the event instruction preserving testing of the first selected function of the processor and the event instruction being configured to test a second selected function of the processor. The method includes verifying a function of the processor by analyzing responses of the processor to the instruction sequence.
US08918672B2
Mechanisms for controlling access to storage volumes on the secondary storage system is provided. A determination is made as to whether a first site computing device has sent a notification of a failure condition of a first site. In response to a determination that the notification of the failure condition of the first site has not been received, secondary workloads of a second site computing device are permitted to access storage volumes on the secondary storage system. In response to a determination that the notification of the failure condition of the first site has been received, a mode of operation of the second site is modified from a normal mode of operation to a failure mode of operation. In the failure mode of operation, the storage system controller of the second site blocks at least a portion of access requests from secondary workloads of the second site computing device.
US08918659B2
A power supply circuit receives power from a power supply and supplies the power to loads including a main controller and a first sub-controller performing response action through a network when the supply of power to the main controller is blocked and the image forming apparatus is connected to the network. A second sub-controller controls the blocking of the supply of power to the main controller. The sub-controller determines whether to block the supply of power to the main controller, determines a connection state of the image forming apparatus to the network when the first determination unit determines to block the supply of power, blocks the supply of power to the first sub-control unit according to the determination result, and detects a factor for resuming the supply of power to the main controller and a factor for blocking the supply of power to all or a part of the loads.
US08918658B2
In accordance with the present disclosure, a system and method for an interleaved, multi-stage phase array voltage regulator is described. The interleaved, multi-stage phase array voltage regulator includes a first phase array with a plurality of first power stages and a second phase array with a plurality of second power stages. The interleaved, multi-stage phase array voltage regulator may also include a voltage control loop that at least partially controls a duty cycle of the first phase array and the second phase array. Also, the interleaved, multi-stage phase array voltage regulator may include a current control loop that at least partially controls which of the plurality of first power stages and second power stages are active.
US08918652B2
A system and method for BIOS and controller communication is provided herein. The system may include an information handling system that includes a central processing unit coupled to a memory. The memory may contain a basic input/output system (BIOS). The information handling systems may also include a controller coupled to a nonvolatile memory and a register coupled to the central processing unit and the controller. The controller may be operable to store a key in the nonvolatile memory; write the key to the register in response to a signal from the BIOS; receive a command from the BIOS; verify the command is from the BIOS using the key; and execute the command if the command is from the BIOS.
US08918640B2
An apparatus and a method for using a Secure Removable Media (SRM) in Digital Rights Management (DRM) are provided. The method for using the SRM in Digital Rights Management (DRM) includes determining, at a plurality of content service providers, an SRM usage rule and providing the determination to a trust authority using an eXtensible Markup Language (XML); receiving messages comprising the SRM usage rule from the content service providers and sending the messages to an apparatus together with an electronic signature; and receiving the messages comprising the SRM usage rule and changing an operation of the apparatus according to requirements of at least one content service provider. Thus, various content business models can be realized.
US08918631B1
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a first identifier and a private key after a network device has been included in a data center switch fabric control plane, authenticating the network device based on the private key, sending a second identifier to the network device, and sending a control signal to the network device based on the second identifier. The first identifier is associated with the network device and unique within a segment of the data center switch fabric control plane. The second identifier is unique within the segment of the data center switch fabric control plane.
US08918620B2
A storage control apparatus includes a controller configured to control to convert an access to logical volume into an access to associated RAID group in response to an access to the corresponding virtual volume on the basis of access conversion information, monitor frequency of access to each of logical volumes, select a logical volume on the basis of the monitored frequency of access, move data stored in a RAID group corresponding to the selected logical volume to a different RAID group corresponding to a logical volume to be a data shift destination, and update the access conversion information to convert access to the RAID group corresponding to the selected logical volume into access to the different RAID group.
US08918619B2
There are provided a storage system and a method of operating thereof. The method comprises: a) representing to a plurality of hosts an available logical address space divided into one or more logical groups (e.g. logical volumes, virtual partitions, snapshots, combinations of a given logical volume and its respective snapshot(s), etc.), and b) mapping between one or more contiguous ranges of addresses related to the logical address space and one or more contiguous ranges of addresses related to the physical address space, wherein said mapping is provided with the help of one or more mapping trees, each tree assigned to a separate logical group in the logical address space. Mapping between contiguous ranges of addresses related to the logical address space and contiguous ranges of addresses related to the physical address space can be a) mapping between LBA and DBA addresses; b) mapping between VUA and VDA addresses; c) mapping between LBA and VDA addresses; and d) mapping between VUA and DBA addresses, wherein virtual unit addresses (VUA) characterize a first virtual layer operable to represent the logical address space, and virtual disk addresses (VDA) characterize a second virtual layer operable to represent the physical storage space.
US08918617B2
Embodiments relate to methods, systems and computer program products for defragmenting storage class memory by comparing a utilization rate of the storage class memory to a threshold value. If the utilization rate of the storage class memory is greater than the threshold value, the potentially wasted storage space is then compared to the combined storage capacity of the unclaimed extents of the storage class memory. If the potentially wasted storage space is greater than the combined storage capacity of the unclaimed extents of the storage class memory, a determination is made whether a defragmentation was recently performed. Based on determining that the defragmentation was not recently performed, or that it was recently performed and was productive, performing a defragmentation of the storage class memory.
US08918616B2
The subject disclosure relates to analyzing memory allocations for one or more computer-implemented processes. In particular, in conjunction with employing tags for tracking memory allocation commands, currently allocated memory can be examined for various characteristics of inefficient memory use. For example, as memory is initially allocated, a predetermined bit pattern can be written to the newly allocated memory. Thus, detection of the predetermined bit pattern can be indicative of wasted memory use. Moreover, additional features can be provided to both analyze data and present views associated with that analysis relating to identification of memory fragmentation, over-allocation, sparse memory use, duplication of allocations, multiple module loads, and so forth.
US08918615B2
An embodiment of this invention is an information storage system comprising a plurality of storage systems connected to be able to communicate. Each of the plurality of storage systems includes default storage system identification information which is the same to the plurality of storage systems, common volume identification information for uniquely identifying volumes provided by the plurality of storage systems to a host computer among the plurality of storage systems, and a controller configured to return the default storage system identification information to the host computer in response to a request from the host computer and to process a read or write request to a volume accompanying the common volume identification information from the host computer.
US08918614B2
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for using an alias volume name for a volume to allocate space to a data set. An assignment of a plurality of volumes to a data set is maintained, wherein the volumes are configured in a storage system. A request is received to extend the data set. A determination is made as to whether one of the volumes previously assigned to the data set has an allocation amount of available space in the storage system in response to the request to extend the data set. An alias volume name is assigned to the data set for the previously assigned volume determined to have the allocation amount of available space, wherein the alias volume name provides an alternative name for the previously assigned volume. The allocation amount of available space is assigned to the data set for the alias volume name.
US08918606B1
Techniques for providing incremental backups are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a computer implemented method for providing incremental backup validation comprising setting one or more electronic storage indicators each indicating a respective allocated portion of electronic storage, setting one or more changed data indicators each indicating data changed in a respective allocated portion of the electronic storage since a prior backup, and comparing the one or more electronic storage indicators with the one or more changed data indicators to identify one or more allocated portions of the electronic storage containing data that is unchanged since the prior backup for backup validation.
US08918604B2
An information processing apparatus, an information processing method and a program may provide that information to be processed by an application program recorded on a recording medium can be taken over and used by an application program recorded on a different recording medium. The application program serving as a content, a first root certificate issued to the application program, and a second root certificate issued before the first root certificate is issued to the application program may be recorded on the recording medium. The information processing apparatus, which executes the application program, creates, in the memory, a first folder for storing data to be processed by the application program, the first folder associated with the first root certificate; and copies data stored in a second folder, the second folder associated with the second root certificate, to the first folder in a case where the second folder exists in the memory.
US08918596B2
The systems and methods described herein may be used to implement scalable statistics counters suitable for use in systems that employ a NUMA style memory architecture. The counters may be implemented as data structures that include a count value portion and a node identifier portion. The counters may be accessible within transactions. The node identifier portion may identify a node on which a thread that most recently incremented the counter was executing or one on which a thread that has requested priority to increment the shared counter was executing. Threads executing on identified nodes may have higher priority to increment the counter than other threads. Threads executing on other nodes may delay their attempts to increment the counter, thus encouraging consecutive updates from threads on a single node. Impatient threads may attempt to update the node identifier portion or may update an anti-starvation variable to indicate a request for priority.
US08918591B2
A data processing system includes a system interconnect, a processor coupled to the system interconnect, and a cache coherency manager (CCM) coupled to the system interconnect. The processor includes a cache. A method includes generating, by the CCM, one or more snoop requests to the cache of the processor; storing the one or more snoop requests to the cache of the processor into a snoop queue; setting a cache enable indicator to indicate that the cache of the processor is to be disabled; in response to setting the cache enable indicator to indicate that the cache of the processor is to be disabled, selectively invalidating the one or more snoop requests to the cache of the processor, wherein the selectively invalidating is performed based on an invalidate snoop queue indicator of the processor; and disabling the cache.
US08918589B2
A memory controller (101) according to this invention includes: a command generation unit (102) which generates access commands each including a physical address, based on an access request including a logical address indicating a rectangular area in image data; and a command issuance unit (105) which issues, to a memory (0), the access commands generated by the command generation unit (102). The command generation unit (102) includes a group determination unit (104) which determines a group to which a bank including data to be accessed belongs, based on the physical address corresponding to the access request. The command generation unit (102) generates a pair of a first and a second access commands which share a prefetch buffer between two banks belonging to different groups, when data to be accessed is continuous across two banks belonging to different groups.
US08918588B2
Techniques for replacing one or more blocks in a cache, the one or more blocks being associated with a plurality of data streams, are provided. The one or more blocks in the cache are grouped into one or more groups, each corresponding to one of the plurality of data streams. One or more incoming blocks are received. To free space, the one or more blocks of the one or more groups in the cache are invalidated in accordance with at least one of an inactivity of a given data stream corresponding to the one or more groups and a length of the one or more groups. The one or more incoming blocks are stored in the cache. A number of data streams maintained within the cache is maximized.
US08918586B1
Some embodiments are directed to an object addressable storage (OAS) system that stores a plurality of objects, a method for use in an OAS system and at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium encoded with instruction that, when performed by a computer perform a method for use in an OAS system. Each object may include a plurality of fragments. A tiered storage environment comprising a plurality of storage tiers may be used. In response to a command, metadata associated with the fragment and a policy may be accessed. A storage tier may be selected for one or more fragments of the object based on the policy and the metadata associated with the fragment.
US08918581B2
A storage management system decouples application write requests from write requests to a flash-based storage device. By placing a layer of software intelligence between application requests to write data and the storage device, the system can make more effective decisions about when and where to write data that reduce wear and increase performance of the storage device. An application has a set of performance characteristics and writes data with a frequency that is appropriate for the application, but not necessarily efficient for the hardware. By analyzing how data is being used by an application, the system can strategically place data in the storage device or even avoid using the storage device altogether for some operations to minimize wear. One technique for doing this is to create an in-memory cache that acts as a buffer between the application requests and the storage hardware.
US08918564B2
Methods managing data communication between a peripheral device and host computer system are provided. A physical interface for communicating data between a peripheral device and the plurality of applications executing on the host computer system is opened and controlled by a software module. A first virtual interface and a second virtual interface of the software module are exposed to an operating system of the host computer system, and the operating system exposes the first virtual interface and the second virtual interface to the first application and the second application. The first virtual interface is used for communicating data between the peripheral device and the first application through the physical interface, and the second virtual interface is used for communicating data between the peripheral device and the second application through the physical interface.
US08918560B2
A controller for a storage device is connected to a host system and the storage device. A buffer memory includes first and second storage areas. A timer counts a preset given time in response to an instruction to start counting and sends a deadline notification when A given time is elapsed. A command responding portion, when receiving a read command from the host system, instructs the timer to start counting and thereafter outputs a read instruction to read data from the storage system. A data processing portion, in response to the read instruction by the command responding portion, reads specified data from the storage device and holds the read data in the second storage area of the buffer memory. A read control portion sends the host system the data held in the second storage area of the buffer memory when the deadline notification is received from the timer.
US08918558B2
Method and structures for performing round robin priority selection receive an input vector into an input port. The methods and structures group the bits of the input vector into groups of bits and supply the groups of bits to round robin priority selectors. Then, the methods and structures simultaneously identify an individual group priority bit within each group of bits based on the starting bit location, using the round robin priority selectors. The methods and structures also choose, using the group selector, a round robin priority selector based on the starting bit location. The methods and structures then output, from the group selector to a multiplexor, the individual group priority bit of the selected round robin priority selector. Following this the method outputs, from the multiplexor, an output vector having a first value (e.g., 1) only in the individual group priority bit output by the group selector.
US08918556B2
An information-processing method performed in an information-processing apparatus, the information-processing apparatus performing wireless communication with a first apparatus and wire communication with a second apparatus, the information-processing method including the steps of: transmitting an interrupt signal to the second apparatus by using the wire communication when data is received from the first apparatus; receiving, by using the wire communication, a clock signal from the second apparatus which receives the interrupt signal; and transmitting and receiving, by using the wire communication, data between the information-processing apparatus and the second apparatus.
US08918546B2
An electronic apparatus such as an audio apparatus enables both digital and analog data to be communicated over a data bus such as a universal serial bus (USB) with a single low-cost connector such as a USB connector. According to an exemplary embodiment, the electronic apparatus includes a connector operative to couple the electronic apparatus to one of a digital device and an analog device. A controller is operative to determine whether the connector is coupled to the digital device or the analog device. A switch is operative to couple the connector to one of a digital element and an analog element responsive to the determination.
US08918544B2
A method for configuring a remote-control system includes querying via a bus a High Definition Multi-Media Interface (HDMI) display for an Extended Display Identification Data (EDID) for the HDMI display; receiving via the bus from the HDMI display the EDID for the HDMI display; and storing via a processor in a memory the EDID and a link between the EDID of the HDMI display a set of command codes configured for controlling the HDMI display.
US08918541B2
The present invention is an architecture and technology for a method for synchronizing multiple streams of time-based digital audio and video content from separate and distinct remote sources, so that when the streams are joined, they are perceived to be in unison.
US08918540B2
A method of coordinating communications between a plurality of Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs) operating in connection with differing communication languages. A common language is provided which includes common language commands and common language data objects. Common language commands are communicated from a user to a plurality of UAVs through a UAV Interoperability Agent (UIA), which converts the common language commands to UAV-specific commands which can be understood by the specific UAV. Additionally, UAVs send data in a native platform format to the UIA, which converts the native platform data to common language format for collection and interpretation by the user.
US08918535B2
A method and system is provided for controlling bandwidth rate limiting and client rendering rate limiting in a video delivery network. The method provides network service providers with a means for overriding video delivery data rates selected through dynamic client bitrate adaptation, as well as video data rendering rates of the clients, to limit the impact of network congestion. A system is also specified for implementing a client and a proxy computer in accordance with the method. The system works transparently with standard HTTP-based video delivery systems and includes an HTTP proxy cache infrastructure to support bandwidth rate limiting and client rending rate limiting. The system further provides for administrative overrides of client bitrate selection and client bandwidth usage.
US08918533B2
In one example, an apparatus includes a processor configured to provide information to a client device for accessing data for a first representation of a video sequence and a second representation of the video sequence, and to provide information to the client device indicating that the client device can, during transmission of the data for the first representation, switch to the second representation without experiencing a presentation gap when displaying the video sequence and without simultaneously executing more than one decoder to decode the data for the first representation and the second representation during the switch, in response to a first request from the client device to retrieve data from the first representation. In this manner, the client device may use the information to perform seamless switching between the representations.
US08918521B2
Embodiments are disclosed herein that are related to preserving battery life of a mobile device. One disclosed embodiment provides, for example, in a mobile device server, a method for sending messages to a mobile endpoint utilized concurrently with a non-mobile endpoint. The method comprises receiving a first message sent from a different user and sending the first message to the mobile endpoint. The method further comprises receiving a second message sent by the user from the non-mobile endpoint and, in response, suspending a session with the mobile endpoint. In response to receiving a third message from the mobile endpoint, the method comprises resuming the session with the mobile device.
US08918520B2
Methods and systems are provided for exchanging information between companies in a partnership. One method embodiment includes operatively associating a first company with a transaction directory through a directory management portal. The transaction directory is configured to permit establishment of at least one connection to a translation engine for permitting at least one transaction to occur through the connection. The method also includes connecting at least a second company to the translation engine to permit the transaction to occur between at least the first and second companies. The transaction includes an exchange of information between at least the first and second companies.
US08918519B1
A user device may communicate registration information to a paging service system and receive a page message from the paging service system via out-of-band signaling. The page message may include a request to establish a communication session with a device, and out-of-band signaling may include a communication channel not dedicated for call session transmissions. The user device may select an in-band channel based on the page message, where the in-band channel comprises a communication channel dedicated for call session transmissions, and establish a communication session with the device using the in-band channel.
US08918515B1
An interstitial manager (100) monitors (210) network communications received by a client computer and detects (215) a potential to initiate contact with a remote computer system. When a potential to initiate contact with a remote computer system is detected (215), the interstitial manager (100) determines (220) whether the potential to initiate contact with the remote computer system entails redirection to an alternate location. The determination (220) of whether the potential to initiate contact with the remote system entails redirection is responsive to satisfying at least one condition from the group of conditions consisting of determining whether a client browser attempts to contact an address associated with the remote computer system, and identifying at least one link embedded within the network communication possessing characteristics consistent with interstitial redirection. Responsive to determining (220) that the potential to initiate contact with the remote computer system entails redirection to an alternate location, the interstitial manager (100) invokes (230) interstitial management procedures.
US08918509B1
A device determines a portion of data generated by a technical computing environment (TCE) program, where the portion of the data is determined based on an initial availability of a resource of a server device. The device provides the portion of the data to the server device for execution, and receives, from the server device, results associated with execution of the portion of the data. The device calculates an availability of the resource based on the results associated with execution of the portion of the data, and provides, to the server device for execution, additional data generated by the TCE program, where the additional data is determined based on the availability of the resource of the server device. The device receives, from the server device, results associated with execution of the additional data, where the receiving is performed by the device.
US08918505B2
Providing prioritization of user online access to an online commerce site. Third party applications using API function calls to access an online commerce site are restricted to specific services by an access rule. An access rule defines which API server on the online commerce site a specific third party application may access when using a specific API function call. In this way, the operator of the online commerce site may prioritize server access per service level agreements based on a specific third party application and API function call.
US08918494B2
Systems and methods for managing computing systems are provided. One system includes a capture device for capturing environmental inputs, memory storing code comprising a management module, and a processor. The processor, when executing the code comprising the management module, is configured to perform the method below. One method includes capturing an environmental input, identifying a target device in the captured environmental input, and comparing the target device in the captured environmental input to a model of the target device. The method further includes recognizing, in real-time, a status condition of the target device based on the comparison and providing a user with troubleshooting data if the status condition is an error condition. Also provided are physical computer storage mediums including a computer program product for performing the above method.
US08918491B2
A method for the operation of network management systems, according to which values of attributes relating to an element are presented to a first manager and values of attributes relating to an element, which correspond to the values of the first manager, are presented to a second manager. The first and second manager determine the same identification information according to the same rule and using at least some of the values as well as store said identification information independently from a modification of the values of attributes relating to the respective element. The identification information is used during communication between the first manager and the second manager for identifying the element.
US08918490B1
A method, apparatus, and system are directed toward configuring a dependency relationship between resources in a cluster. A dependency relationship between a dependent in a first resource group and a dependee in a second resource group is declared. The dependency relationship might include a locality based qualifier and/or a time based qualifier. The locality based qualifier includes a Local Node, Any Node, or From Resource Group Affinity relationship. The time based dependency qualifier includes a Strong dependency, Weak dependency, Online Restart dependency, or Offline Restart dependency. The declaration might be made using a graphical user interface, property list, configuration file, or the like. A candidate node on which to activate the first resource group is determined. The dependent is brought online on the candidate node based on whether an instance of the dependee is online on a node specified by the locality based qualifier.
US08918489B2
In a method for automatically connecting a mobile device to a server, an update command is periodically sent to a first server wirelessly connected to the mobile device after the mobile device enters a sleep mode. The update command requires a network status of the first server. The mobile device is waken when the network status is not acquired within a predetermined time period. Alternate servers are searched for to generate a list of server names. A target server is selected from the list, and a connection command is sent to the target server for establishing a connection between the mobile device and the target server. Network setting information is acquired from the target server. The connection between the mobile device and the target server is established according to the network setting information.
US08918486B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a controller can be operable to generate a target list of subscribers by filtering a list of potential target users of an application existing on a source device by removing target subscribers from the target list of subscribers according to selection criteria. The controller can be further operable to transmit to devices of the target list of subscribers content associated with the application that when accessed invites the target list of subscribers to use the application, and to provision the application on at least one device associated with the target list of subscribers. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08918476B2
The present disclosure relates to the field of communications, and discloses a method for page redirection and a WAP gateway, which reduces the time delay the terminal experiences when acquiring pages. In the present disclosure, the WAP gateway requests, when receiving a page request from a user terminal, a page requested by the user terminal from a service provider; and when a page returned by the service provider satisfies a page redirection criterion, the WAP gateway performs a page redirection, and returns the page obtained after the redirection to the user terminal. The page redirection criterion is that the page contains redirection serial status codes indicating that a redirection is needed, or that the page contains an “onenterforward” mark. The WAP gateway retains the “Cookie” information included in the page returned by the service provider.
US08918469B2
According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for sharing Diameter binding data. The method includes receiving, by a first Diameter signaling router (DSR), a first Diameter message requiring processing. The method also includes selecting, by the first DSR, a processing element to perform the required processing from a plurality of processing elements. The method further includes routing, by the first DSR, the received first Diameter message to the selected processing element. The method further includes creating, by the first DSR, a binding record associating the selected processing element with information associated with the received first Diameter message. The method further includes communicating, by the first DSR, the binding record to a second DSR.
US08918468B1
A method and apparatus of processing communications with end users are disclosed. One example method may include detecting a message or post on a website over the Internet that matches a monitoring company's keywords or rules and processing the message by parsing the message and performing a natural language interpretation of the message and processing the parsed message to determine the user's topic of interest. In response, the method may further provide generating a response to the message based on the user's requested objective and sending the response to the user acknowledging the user's topic of interest. Live agents may be notified to check the status of a message and continually override automated message responses to ensure the integrity of the responses.
US08918466B2
Various features are provided for analyzing and processing email messages including determining if an email message is unwanted, and blocking unwanted messages. Email traffic is monitored by analyzing email messages addressed to known invalid email addresses. Email messages addressed to invalid email addresses are sent to a central control site for analysis. One embodiment tries to ensure that the distance between the invalid addresses and closest valid addresses is significant enough so that the invalid addresses are not inadvertently used for non-spam purposes. Another embodiment of the invention provides for distributed “thin client” processes to run on computer systems or other processing platforms. The thin clients emulate an open relay computer. Attempts at exploiting the apparent open relay computer are reported to a control center and the relay of email messages can be inhibited. Another embodiment provides for analysis and tuning of rules to detect spam and legitimate email. The approach adjusts various factors according to changing, current email data that is gathered from present, or recent, email traffic. Another embodiment takes into account statistics of erroneous and intentional misspellings. Groups of similar content items (e.g., words, phrases, images, ASCII text, etc.) are correlated and analysis can proceed after substitution of items in the group with other items in the group so that a more accurate detection of “sameness” of content can be achieved. Another embodiment uses authentication and security methods for validating email senders, detecting the sameness of messages, tracking the reputation of the sender, and tracking the behavior of the sender. Another embodiment profiles users to intelligently organize user data, including adapting spam detection according to a user's perceived interests.
US08918464B1
A method, device, system or article of manufacture is provided for social networking. In one embodiment, a method comprises hosting, by a master server, a plurality of client devices for a conference event, wherein each of the plurality of client devices is associated with a member of a community, wherein the master server is associated with a first computer program running on a first computer hardware system; identifying that a capacity of the master server is not sufficient to host the conference event; initiating, in response to identifying that the capacity of the master server is not sufficient for hosting the conference event, a secondary server, wherein the secondary server is associated with a second computer program running on a second computer hardware system; and assigning a portion of the plurality of client devices to the secondary server.
US08918457B2
A computer implemented method optimizes a configuration of an information technology (IT) infrastructure. A processor establishes a technology rule set, which defines technology weights of an IT infrastructure by mapping capabilities of IT infrastructure components to IT infrastructure attributes needed to execute a specific workload. A candidate IT infrastructure for executing the specific workload is then configured. The processor then receives responses, provided by a customer, to an attribute questionnaire. Each question in the attribute questionnaire is mapped to an IT infrastructure attribute of the candidate IT infrastructure, and the responses define a customer's level of agreement/disagreement with the technology weights. In response to the processor determining that the candidate IT infrastructure fails to meet the customer's expectations, the candidate IT infrastructure is reconfigured until the customer's expectations are met.
US08918447B2
In one aspect, a method comprises: receiving, by a first processing system, information indicating that a second processing system has content that is to be provided to the first processing system; receiving, by the first processing system, content and at least one identifier from the second processing system; determining, by the first processing system and based at least in part on the at least one identifier, whether the content is another version of content previously received by the first processing system; receiving, by the first processing system, information indicating that a third processing system is to receive content from the first processing system; and transmitting, by the first processing system, the content, at least one identifier and version information to the third processing system, wherein the version information indicates whether the transmitted content is another version of content that has been previously transmitted by the first processing system to the third processing system.
US08918444B2
The filter device includes a filter for filtering the input signal with a first set of filter coefficients, and for filtering the input signal with a second set of coefficients, a frequency domain correlator for correlating a first subset of frequency domain components of the first filtered signal to obtain a first correlation value, and for correlating a second subset of frequency domain components of the second filtered signal to obtain a second correlation value, wherein the first subset of correlated frequency domain components and the second subset of correlated frequency domain components are respectively located within a predetermined range of the correlated signals, and a processor for selecting either the first set of filter coefficients or the second set of filter coefficients upon the basis of the first correlation value and the second correlation value for filtering the input signal.
US08918442B2
A random number generator of a processor comprises a whitener for reducing the bias in random numbers generated by the random number generator. The whitener receives a random number of a first length read by an array of latches with inputs from an array of oscillators. The whitener dynamically creates a mask of the first length based on a parity of at least one previous random number read from the array of latches during at least one cycle prior to reading the random number. The whitener applies a compare operation between the random number and the mask to generate a whitened random number of the first length, with reduced bias, without reducing randomness.
US08918439B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide lifecycle storage management for data within a Cloud computing environment. Specifically, a set of policies can be defined that allow for automatic valuation of the data and migration of the data between a set of storage tiers. Before a policy set is deployed, it can be assessed to determine effects it will have on cost, performance, and data location. Based on data characteristics and access patterns, a set of policy recommendations can be provided that predict the value of the data over time, and offer an improved migration strategy for moving the data between the set of storage tiers as the value of the data changes.
US08918437B2
A method and apparatus for improving the performance of a CMS system configured for bursting is disclosed. The CMS may be configured to automatically scan the CMS for unused document fragments and “clean up” the repository by reinserting the unused document fragments back into a corresponding source document. Thus, embodiments of the invention do not rely on beforehand knowledge and policy setting as current approaches. Rather, an autonomous method is used to manage document fragments by detecting and reinserting unused fragments back into their original documents.
US08918436B2
A hybrid database table is stored as both a row and a column store. One or more techniques may be employed alone or in combination to enhance performance of the hybrid table by regulating access to, and/or the size of, the processing-intensive column store data. For example during an insert operation, the column store data may be searched for a uniqueness violation only after certain filtering and/or boundary conditions have been considered. In another technique, a hybrid table manager may control movement of data to the column store based upon considerations such as frequency of access, or underlying business logic. In still another technique, querying of the hybrid table may result in a search of the column store data only after an initial search of row store data fails to return a result.
US08918427B1
Various embodiments of a system and method for providing input/output virtualization for a file are disclosed. The system may include a filter program that intercepts a write request for a particular file and stores change information specifying the data and the write location indicated by the write request. However, the file itself is not modified. The filter program may also intercept a read request referencing the file and determine whether change information representing a write request to write data at the location specified by the read request has been previously stored. If so then the data specified by the change information is returned in response to the read request.
US08918426B2
Mechanisms are provided for performing a role engineering project for applying security roles to access operations targeting resources. A plurality of data objects representing one or more user identities, permissions, and resources of an organization computing system are received. One or more filter criteria for filtering the plurality of data objects to generate a subset of data objects for consideration during the role engineering project are received. The one or more filter criteria specify a scope of the role engineering project. The one or more filter criteria are applied to generate the subset of data objects. Role engineering project operations are performed on the subset of data objects to generate one or more security roles. The one or more security roles are deployed to the organization computing system to control access operations targeting resources of the organization computing system.
US08918424B2
For managing homeowner association messages, a communication module receives a message. A storage module stores the message. The communication module communicates the message to accounts through at least one of a plurality of communication channels in accordance with structured message restrictions. The structured message restrictions comprise full access, partial access, and no access restrictions. Each message comprises a message category of a plurality of message categories comprising a homeowner message, a confidential board member message, and a board member message. Each account is classified with an account class of a plurality of account classes. The account classes comprise a homeowner class, a board member class, and a property manager class. The structured message restrictions permit full access, partial access, or no access to the message for each account.
US08918418B2
In one embodiment, a method includes accessing a social graph that includes a plurality of nodes and edges, identifying a nodes corresponding to a page currently accessed by a first user, generating one or more structured queries, where each structured query comprises a reference to the identified node and one or more edges that are connected to the identified node, and transmitting one or more of the structured queries to the first user for display on the page.
US08918415B2
A computer-implemented method, computer-implemented system, and a computer program product for answering a database-based query of a computerized database system. The method includes: generating a canonical individual ind' with respect to a role and a concept, for an existential restriction in an ontology used in the computerized database system; converting implicit data in original data into explicit data using the canonical individual ind' and the ontology; and retrieving an answer meeting all query conditions in a query from the original data and the converted explicit data. The computer-implemented system includes: a canonical individual generation unit; a data conversion engine; and a query unit.
US08918410B2
Systems and methods are provided for identifying data variable rules during initial data exploration. In one example, a computer-implemented method of determining a role for a data variable is disclosed. The method comprises identifying to a plurality of data nodes a set of data records containing data values assigned to each data node, a maximum number of levels to record in a sorted data structure at the data nodes, and the data node responsible for each of a plurality of variables. The method further comprises receiving for each variable from the data node responsible for the variable a plurality of unique data values for the variable, a count for each of the unique data values and an overflow count for the variable, wherein the number of unique data values does not exceed the maximum number of levels. A role for a variable can be determined based upon the unique data values, counts and overflow count for the variable.
US08918409B2
User affinity profiles are defined based upon analyzing the selection of users when they build personal expressions. A system is configured to display a plurality of user-selectable objects on each user system. Each user then selects and arranges the user-selectable objects to create a personal expression. The system analyzes the user selections across a number of personal expressions and defines the user affinity profiles based upon the analysis. The user affinity profiles can be useful for various purposes such recommending products, optimizing product packaging, and generating content that is meaningful to groups of users.
US08918404B1
Implementations generally relate to displaying content items in a user interface in a social network system. In some implementations, a method includes determining a first subset of content items from a plurality of content items. The method also includes computing importance scores for the content items in the first subset, and aggregating the importance scores of the content items in the first subset. The method also includes determining a second subset of content items from the plurality of content items, computing importance scores for the content items in the second subset, and aggregating the importance scores of the content items in the second subset. The method also includes selecting one of the first and second subsets based at least in part on aggregated importance scores of the first and second subsets, and causing the content items of the selected subset to be displayed in a user interface.
US08918403B2
Semantically ranking content in a website (110) with a computerized ranking device (105) includes: parsing content from the website (110) into multiple autonomous content blocks (415-1 to 415-17) with the computerized ranking device (105) and assigning an importance ranking with said computerized ranking device (105) to each of the content blocks (415-1 to 415-17) based on a degree to which a substance of the content block (415-1 to 415-17) is relevant to one of a plurality of predefined categories.
US08918397B2
A computer implemented method for clustering customers includes receiving a source set of customer records, wherein each customer record represents one customer, and each customer record includes at least one data attribute, and each data attribute has an attribute value; pre-processing the source set of customer records to generate a pre-processed set of customer records; executing a clustering algorithm on the pre-processed set of customer records to group the pre-processed set of customer records into clusters of a pre-defined number. The pre-processing comprises: determining the type of a customer in the source set of customer records; using a type attribute value to indicate the type of the customer in its customer record; normalizing data attribute values and type attribute values; weighting to the data attribute values and the type attribute values respectively to obtain weighted attribute values of the data attribute and weighted attribute values of the type attribute.
US08918396B2
An information processing apparatus determines a weight of each physical feature for hierarchical clustering by acquiring training data of multiple pieces of content in triplets with label information indicating a pair specified by a user as having a highest degree of similarity among three contents of the triplet and executing hierarchical clustering using a feature vector of each piece of content of the training data and the weight of each feature to determine the hierarchical structure of the training data. The information processing apparatus updates the weight of each feature so that the degree of agreement between a pair combined first as being the same clusters among three contents of the triplet in a determined hierarchical structure and a pair indicated by label information corresponding to the triplet increases.
US08918391B2
A computer network implemented peer forum system and method enabling question and answer rates to be increased by automatically routing questions and receiving answers to and from peers. Information is input into network via a user interface. A peer forum system enables users to ask and answer questions. A forums database captures questions and answers provided via the peer forum system. A stage database pulls and stores questions from the forums database. A question router pulls the questions from the stage database and finds peers who can answer the questions using a peer search module that uses implicit and explicit user profiles to determine the best subject matter experts to answer the questions. A set of throttle rules is associated with the question router for determining if a peer is eligible to answer a question. A delivery system delivers a communication to eligible peers requesting an answer to the question.
US08918388B1
A method and apparatus for a data warehouse built on top of MapReduce is provided. A virtual view is defined on top of the common star or snowflake data warehouse schema. A SQL-like, but much more succinct, query language is provided to leverage the virtual view. Many advanced query processing features leveraging the virtual view are also provided. Further, several optimization techniques ranging from data compression and access method to multi-query optimization and exploiting materialized views are provided. Further, a technique to seamlessly integrate the data warehouse system into any ad-hoc MapReduce jobs is provided. Thus, fully leveraging the power of both MapReduce and data warehouse technologies is achieved.
US08918382B1
This disclosure relates to learning common spelling errors of metadata terms associated with content through content matching, such as content matching using fingerprints.
US08918380B2
Methods, systems and devices for performing incremental updates of a partial database stored on a client device from a computer system containing the database of which the partial database is a subset. A first database record which has been inserted into, deleted from or changed in the server database as a result of a database operation is identified in order to perform a corresponding operation on the client device. In addition, a second record that has not been inserted, deleted or changed, but that is related to the first record through a constraint, is identified. The second record is inserted into or deleted from the partial database through a database operation performed on the client device such that the constraint is fulfilled in the partial database. Identification of records is based on database logs and on the structured relationship between record types.
US08918376B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for managing electric vehicle charging information. In one embodiment, the process receives charging process data. The charging process data may be stored in a data repository and associated with a user to form historical user data. The process then generates a notification in response to detecting a condition for triggering the generation of the notification. The notification comprises a set of recommendations for achieving a set of optimization objectives. In addition, the set of recommendations are derived from at least one of the historical user data and a remote data source. Thereafter, the process presents the notification to a user using a set of notification preferences.
US08918375B2
The subject disclosure is directed towards partitioning a file into chunks that satisfy a chunk size restriction, such as maximum and minimum chunk sizes, using a sliding window. For file positions within the chunk size restriction, a signature representative of a window fingerprint is compared with a target pattern, with a chunk boundary candidate identified if matched. Other signatures and patterns are then checked to determine a highest ranking signature (corresponding to a lowest numbered Rule) to associate with that chunk boundary candidate, or set an actual boundary if the highest ranked signature is matched. If the maximum chunk size is reached without matching the highest ranked signature, the chunking mechanism regresses to set the boundary based on the candidate with the next highest ranked signature (if no candidates, the boundary is set at the maximum). Also described is setting chunk boundaries based upon pattern detection (e.g., runs of zeros).
US08918367B2
A method is described that comprises executing a non distributed transaction by reading persistent data from a database and performing executions with the persistent data. A prepare command is sent to the database after a change to be made to the persistent data as a consequence of the non distributed transaction's execution is confirmed. A commit command is sent to the database to cause the database to commit the change to the database.
US08918362B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems, methods, and computer storage media for replicating data in a distributed computing environment utilizing a combination of replication methodologies. A full-object replication may be utilized to replicate a full state of an object from a primary data store to a secondary data store. A checkpoint created after initiating the full-object replication may be parsed to identify changes to the object that have been entered since initiating the full-object replication. This replication process is referred to as a delta-checkpoint replication methodology. Additionally, in an embodiment, a log-based replication methodology may be utilized. The log-based replication may communicate data from a log of the primary data store to the secondary data store. It is also contemplated in an exemplary embodiment that when the log-based replication fails to maintain a throughput threshold, one of the other replication methodologies may be initiated, at least temporarily.
US08918346B2
A method identifies electric load types of a plurality of different electric loads. The method includes providing a load feature database of a plurality of different electric load types, each of the different electric load types including a first load feature vector having at least four different load features; sensing a voltage signal and a current signal for each of the different electric loads; determining a second load feature vector comprising at least four different load features from the sensed voltage signal and the sensed current signal for a corresponding one of the different electric loads; and identifying by a processor one of the different electric load types by determining a minimum distance of the second load feature vector to the first load feature vector of the different electric load types of the load feature database.
US08918345B2
The present invention provides a method of operating a network comprising the steps of: analyzing a first datastore comprising data representing historical network performance; creating or more indices within the first datastore; creating one or more probability networks in accordance with one or more of the created indices; determining from the one or more probability networks a conditional probability associated with an alarm event; and' if the conditional probability determined is less than a threshold value, disregarding the associated alarm event; or if the conditional probability determined is greater than a threshold value, using the associated alarm event in conjunction with other historical network data to predict future alarm events.
US08918339B2
A social networking system user may associate an emoji representing the user's emotional reaction with a content item presented by the social networking system. The user is presented with one or more emoji maintained by the social networking system and selects an emoji for associating with the content item. If certain emoji are selected, the social networking system prompts the user for compensation or requests compensation from an entity associated with the selected emoji. The selected emoji is associated with the content item and a connection, or other information, between the user and the object identifying the selected emoji is stored by the social networking system. The selected emoji may be displayed with the content item to the user and to other users connected to the user.
US08918332B2
Systems, methods, and a user interface for automatically scheduling a media play is disclosed. The user can specify criteria for play of the media play, including times, stations, and/or external criteria such as a weather condition or the occurrence of an event. Information relevant to the entered criteria is received and assessed against the criteria to determine if the criteria are met. Responsive to the received information meeting the criteria for play of the media play, an accessor accesses the media play inventory and inserts the media play into a media feed.
US08918327B2
A customer service status analysis device includes: a first time obtaining unit configured to detect occurrence of a prescribed customer service event and obtain an occurrence time of the prescribed customer service event based on image information provided by an imaging device capturing images of an interior of a commercial establishment; a second time obtaining unit configured to obtain an occurrence time of a prescribed customer service event from a sales information management device; a time period information obtaining unit configured to obtain time period information relating to customer service based on the occurrence time of the customer service event obtained by the first time obtaining unit and the occurrence time of the customer service event obtained by the second time obtaining unit; and an output information generation unit configured to generate output information representing a result of analysis based on the time period information.
US08918310B2
Method, system, and computer readable medium for creating clusters of text in an electronic document
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for navigating electronic texts. According to an aspect, a method may include determining text subgroups within an electronic text. The method may also include selecting a text seed within one of the text subgroups. Further, the method may include determining a similarity relationship between the text seed and one or more adjacent text subgroups that do not include the selected text seed. The method may also include associating the text seed with the one or more adjacent text subgroups based on the similarity relationship to create a text cluster.
US08918285B1
One example of testing for water contamination in geographic areas to determine a risk of water contamination includes determining a risk of water contamination. A computer system receives identification of a geographic area in which a risk of water contamination is to be determined. In response, the system determines a number of potential complaints of water contamination in the geographic area by applying the number of one or more correlated sources of water contamination located in the geographic area. The system determines a risk factor representing a risk of water contamination in the geographic area based, in part, on the number of potential complaints. The system can provide the risk factor as the risk of water contamination in the geographic area.
US08918284B2
A method, system, device, and computer readable medium for a displaying a predicted route of a user. It can be determined whether a predicted route is within a displayed range of the map. If the predicted route is not within the displayed range of the map, the displayed range of the map can be automatically changed such that the predicted route is within the displayed range of the map.
US08918283B2
A navigation apparatus includes: a map data storage unit 11a for storing map data in which a guide map location pointer 20 is included in data showing each guide point; a guide map data storage unit 11b for, for each guide point, storing guide map data which are used for drawing different views as guide maps; a processing unit 17 for, when a detected current position reaches a guide point shown by map data acquired from the map data storage unit, acquiring guide map data corresponding to a current situation from a location of the guide map data storage unit which is shown by a guide map location pointer included in data showing the guide point, and combining the guide map data with the map data to generate display data; and a display output unit 15 for displaying a map and a guide map according to the display data.
US08918282B1
Turn restrictions are identified and associated with an intersection. Geographic data is collected over a period of time from mobile devices located near the intersection. A geometric pattern is derived from the geographic data. A comparison between the geometric pattern and predefined geometric patterns associated with turn restrictions is performed. A turn restriction for the intersection is determined based on the comparison.
US08918281B2
A navigation apparatus provides a guidance about an exiting road of a circular intersection based on a prestored road and a learned road. The navigation apparatus determines whether or not the learned road is included in connection roads of the circular intersection. When the learned road is not included in the connection roads of the circular intersection, the navigation apparatus provides the guidance about the circular intersection in an exit number mode. When the learned road is included in the connection roads of the circular intersection, the navigation apparatus device provides the guidance about the circular intersection in a learned road guidance mode.
US08918275B2
With use of GPS, an action-history recording apparatus obtains latitudes and longitudes representing places of user's action where a user is acting, and stores action-history data containing place names indicating the places of user's action at a predetermined processing timing. In the case where, the place of user's action is a specific place unique to the user, where the user visits customarily or frequently, the user is allowed to enter an arbitrary name independent of the latitude and longitude. The name entered by the user is used as a pace name to be contained in action-history data. In this way, the apparatus obtains a place name appropriate for the user and the user can use the name conveniently as the place name of the user's action.
US08918272B2
When a driver leaves a vehicle as indicated by a separation event such as the driver's portable wireless communication device (WCD) losing Bluetooth connectivity with the vehicle, the WCD uploads to a cloud server its GPS location before the driver has been able to walk away from the vehicle an appreciable distance. The location is recorded and the driver subsequently can use its WCD to communicate with the server to obtain map information showing the current location of the WCD and the location recorded at the separation event, so that the driver knows the location of her vehicle relative to her current location.
US08918257B2
In a linear solenoid 107n, an electromagnetic coil 71n, a pressure sensor 72n, and label resistors 73n and 74n for correcting an inherent variation in a pressure detection characteristic are integrated; the standard characteristic of the pressure sensor 72n is stored in a control module 120M; when driving is started, the resistance values of the label resistors 73n and 74n are read, the pressure detection characteristic of the utilized pressure sensor 72n is corrected, and an excitation current for the electromagnetic coil 71n is controlled in such a way that a target adjusted hydraulic pressure is obtained. Even when due to a change in the oil temperature, the valve opening characteristic of the linear solenoid 107n changes, the adjusted hydraulic pressure is controlled to be constant.
US08918255B2
A method for preventing a collision of a vehicle involves continuously detecting an operation of a brake pedal of the vehicle and concluding a risk of collision if the brake pedal is operated quickly. A position and a movement of objects in the vehicle surroundings relative to the vehicle are detected and evaluated regarding the risk of collision. When a risk of collision has been detected, an evasion maneuver of the vehicle is automatically carried out, if the evaluation of the risk of collision reveals that a collision can be prevented by an evasion maneuver but not by a braking manoeuvre.
US08918250B2
A system and method displays information using a vehicle-mount computer. The system includes (i) a computer touch screen for inputting and displaying information; (ii) a motion detector for detecting vehicle motion; (iii) a proximity sensor for detecting proximity to an item; and (vi) a vehicle-mount computer in communication with the computer touch screen, the motion detector, and proximity sensor, the vehicle-mount computer including a central processing unit and memory. The vehicle-mount computer's central processing unit is configured to store information associated with user-selected information from the computer touch screen and to display a zoomed view of the user-selected information on the computer touch screen. Further, the vehicle-mount computer's central processing unit is configured to override screen-blanking when user-selected information is displayed.
US08918247B2
A vehicle is provided with an air conditioning device that heats a passenger compartment, using cooling water passing through an internal combustion engine as a heat source, and a seat heater, which heats a seat in the passenger compartment by using an electric power from a battery as a heat source. An electronic control device performs EV travel of the vehicle by driving a motor generator while setting the internal combustion engine to a stop state and restarts the internal combustion engine when a cooling water temperature becomes equal to or less than a predetermined temperature during the EV travel. When a heating request is output to make the air conditioning device heat the passenger compartment during vehicle travel, the electronic control device reduces the heating degree of the air conditioning device and increases the heating degree by the seat heater during EV travel in comparison with non-EV travel.
US08918240B2
A method and system used to identify an optimal hybrid vehicle operating mode based on a variety of potential factors, and then recommend the optimal operating mode to the driver so that they can make an informed decision regarding their operating mode selection. In one embodiment, the method uses geographic-, vehicle- and/or environmental-related factors to establish one or more operating zones, monitors the location of the hybrid vehicle and determines when it is within one of the operating zones, and then determines an operating mode that is optimal for that particular operating zone.
US08918233B2
A technique for providing multiple undo and redo operations for flight management systems is disclosed. In one embodiment, in a method of providing multiple undo and redo operations for a flight plan in a flight management system, a temporary flight plan and a reference flight plan are created upon initiating a first revision on a created or default active flight plan. The temporary flight plan includes a copy of the active flight plan and the initiated first revision. The reference flight plan is a copy of the active flight plan. Further, multiple undo and redo functions are enabled upon initiating multiple revisions on the temporary flight plan for performing multiple undo and redo operations on the temporary flight plan.
US08918228B2
An engine ECU compares an acceleration value with a reference value, which corresponds to an accelerator operation value inputted in response to a user operation on an accelerator pedal, and stores vehicle behavior data when the acceleration value exceeds the reference value. After determining that the acceleration value is larger than the reference value and storing the vehicle behavior data, the reference value is changed to a larger value. After determining that the acceleration value is smaller than the reference value and, for example, a period in which the acceleration value remains lower than the reference value, reaches a set period, the reference value is changed to a smaller value. Thus, the number of times of storing the vehicle behavior data is equalized among vehicle users.
US08918224B2
A power management apparatus includes a communication unit to receive power rate information from a power provider and receive power consumption information and reservation information from an electric device, and a controller to decide an operation order on the basis of power consumption information and reservation information of the electric device, perform scheduling to decide an operation start time on the basis of the power rate information and reservation information in the operation order, and control an operation time of the electric device on the basis of the scheduling result. As a result, the power management apparatus performs optimum scheduling of an electric device using power rate information provided from the power provider, and power consumption information and reservation information of the electric device, resulting in an increase in user satisfaction.
US08918219B2
A user-friendly programmable thermostat is described that includes a central electronic display surrounded by a ring that can be rotated and pressed inwardly to provide user input in a simple and elegant fashion. The current temperature and setpoint are graphically displayed as prominent tick marks. Different colors and intensities can be displayed to indicate currently active HVAC functions and an amount of heating or cooling required to reach a target temperature. The setpoint can be altered by user rotation of the ring. The schedule can be displayed and altered by virtue of rotations and inward pressings of the ring. Initial device set up and installation, the viewing of device operation, the editing of various settings, and the viewing of historical energy usage information are made simple and elegant by virtue of the described form factor, display modalities, and user input modalities of the device.
US08918216B2
A robot system includes a robot, a robot controller, and a portable remote operating device. The portable remote operating device includes a display unit, an acquiring unit, and a display switching unit, and is connected to the robot controller. The acquiring unit acquires a reception/transmission process and a customized screen, which are created by a user. The display switching unit switches between the customized screen and a previously-prepared standard screen at a predetermined time during the operation of the robot.
US08918212B2
A bend sensor is used to determine force applied to a robotic arm. The force may be an external force applied to the arm, an internal actuation force, or both. In some aspects, a stiffening element is used to restore the arm to a minimum kinematic energy state. In other aspects, the stiffening element is eliminated, and the arm is fully actuated.
US08918208B1
Methods and systems for robot cloud computing are described. Within examples, cloud-based computing generally refers to networked computer architectures in which application execution and storage may be divided, to some extent, between client and server devices. A robot may be any device that has a computing ability and interacts with its surroundings with an actuation capability (e.g., electromechanical capabilities). A client device may be configured as a robot including various sensors and devices in the forms of modules, and different modules may be added or removed from robot depending on requirements. In some example, a robot may be configured to receive a second device, such as mobile phone, that may be configured to function as an accessory or a “brain” of the robot. A robot may interact with the cloud to perform any number of actions, such as to share information with other cloud computing devices.
US08918200B2
A method and apparatus for determining the position and type of food located in a food compartment wherein the food compartment may contain or hold solids or liquids. For example, the method includes a sensor to determine the type of the solid or liquids located in the food compartment or container. The sensor may also be used to determine the position or location of the food. The method contemplates having at least one and may include multiple containers or food compartments wherein a container holds liquids and a food compartment holds solids or semi-solids. By determining the type and location of the food in the food compartment an individual may select a certain type of food from a specific food compartment. In addition, transmitting the location or position of the food to the feed arm results in a more efficient delivery system. Further, knowing the type of food located in the food compartment enables transmission of data to a remote location wherein the data includes or is the basis for information or reports relating to the type of food consumed, including the nutritional value thereof. In addition, the sensor may also monitor the food compartment and/or container and send data, including images, in real-time to a remote location.
US08918194B2
A mounting-line power control device (100) includes: a target value obtaining unit (110) which obtains, for each mounting line, a target value for demand power for a first period; a priority obtaining unit (120) which obtains a first priority level of each mounting line; a target value changing unit (130) which decreases the target value for the demand power of a second mounting line in the first period when the demand power of a first mounting line in the first period exceeds its target value, the second mounting line having the lower first priority level than the first mounting line; and a power usage changing unit (140) which reduces power used in the first period by the component-mounted board production apparatus included in the second mounting line, such that the demand power of the second mounting line in the first period does not exceed the decreased target value.
US08918190B2
An implantable device for evaluating autonomic cardiovascular drive in a patient suffering from chronic cardiac dysfunction is provided. A stimulation therapy lead includes helical electrodes configured to conform to an outer diameter of a cervical vagus nerve sheath, and a set of connector pins electrically connected to the helical electrodes. A neurostimulator includes an electrical receptacle into which the connector pins are securely and electrically coupled. The neurostimulator also includes a pulse generator configured to therapeutically stimulate the vagus nerve through the helical electrodes in alternating cycles of stimuli application and stimuli inhibition that are tuned to both efferently activate the heart's intrinsic nervous system and afferently activate the patient's central reflexes by triggering bi-directional action potentials. The neurostimulator includes a recordable memory storing a baseline heart rate. The neurostimulator includes an integrated leadless heart rate sensor configured to continually monitor heart rate in light of the baseline heart rate.
US08918181B2
A stimulation system stimulates anatomical targets in a patient for treatment of dry eye. The system may include a controller and a microstimulator. The controller may be implemented externally to or internally within the microstimulator. The components of the controller and microstimulator may be implemented in a single unit or in separate devices. When implemented separately, the controller and microstimulator may communicate wirelessly or via a wired connection. The microstimulator may generate pulses from a controller signal and apply the signal via one or more electrodes to an anatomical target. The microstimulator may not have any intelligence or logic to shape or modify a signal. The microstimulator may be a passive device configured to generate a pulse based on a signal received from the controller. The microstimulator may shape or modify a signal. Waveforms having different frequency, amplitude and period characteristics may stimulate different anatomical targets in a patient.
US08918178B2
Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for treating a variety of diseases and disorders that are primarily or at least partially driven by an imbalance in neurotransmitters in the brain, such as asthma, COPD, depression, anxiety, epilepsy, fibromyalgia, and the like. The invention involves the use of an energy source comprising magnetic and/or electrical energy that is transmitted non-invasively to, or in close proximity to, a selected nerve to temporarily stimulate, block and/or modulate the signals in the selected nerve such that neural pathways are activated to release inhibitory neurotransmitters in the patient's brain.
US08918176B2
Various embodiments concern assessing a degenerative cognitive disorder of a patient based on a plurality of episodes of non-motor epileptiform bioelectrical activity. The non-motor epileptiform bioelectrical activity can be detected from one or more bioelectrical brain signals. A worsening cognitive disorder may be indicated by an increase in one or more of intensity, duration, and frequency of occurrence of the episodes of non-motor epileptiform bioelectrical activity. A therapy can be delivered to reduce one or more of intensity, duration, and frequency of occurrence of the episodes of non-motor epileptiform bioelectrical activity. The delivery of the therapy can be controlled based on the plurality of episodes of non-motor epileptiform bioelectrical activity.
US08918175B2
Electrical stimulation therapy may be delivered to a patient to selectively and independently address different conditions of a pelvic floor disorder of the patient. The conditions of a pelvic floor disorder may include, for example, a lower urinary tract dysfunction (e.g., urinary or fecal incontinence) and sexual dysfunction (e.g., an impaired sexual reflex response to a sexual stimulus). In some examples, a system is configured to selectively deliver a first electrical stimulation therapy that is configured to elicit an inhibitory physiological response from the patient related to voiding, a second electrical stimulation therapy that is configured to improve a sexual reflex response of the patient to a sexual stimulus, and a third electrical stimulation therapy that is configured to both elicit the inhibitory physiological response from the patient related to voiding and increase a sexual response of the patient to a sexual stimulus.
US08918171B2
A method and device for delivering therapy that includes an electrode to sense cardiac signals and to deliver a therapy, a monitoring module detecting a cardiac event in response to the sensed cardiac signals using first detection criteria, a sensor emitting light and detecting emitted light scattered by a tissue volume adjacent the sensor to generate a corresponding detected light intensity output signal, a control module coupled to the sensor to control light emission of the sensor in response to delivering the therapy, and a controller coupled to the monitoring module, the therapy delivery module and the sensor, the controller configured to determine tissue oxygenation measurements in response to the output signal, determine a tissue oxygenation trend in response to the tissue oxygenation measurements, determine a recovery index in response to the determined tissue oxygenation trend, and control one or both of detecting a cardiac event by the monitoring module and delivery of therapy by the therapy delivery module in response to the determined recovery index.
US08918165B2
The present invention relates generally to medical devices for electrode positioning during implantation procedures. A cardiac signal measuring device measures cardiac signals sensitive to inherent differences between cardiac tissue and blood using at least one electrode of a medical lead arranged at a distal tip of the medical lead and at least a second electrode arranged at a distance from the distal electrode and being connectable to the measuring unit. An analyzing module acquires cardiac signals measured during predetermined measurement sessions. The analyzing module determines at least one cardiac signal value based on the cardiac signals for each measurement session and analyzes changes of the cardiac signal values between different measurement sessions to determine a position of the electrode relative a tissue border. A maximum of the change of the cardiac signal values between two successive measurement sessions indicates that the electrode has reached the tissue border.
US08918163B2
The invention facilitates transport of an immobilized, anesthetized small animal across multiple single-modality or multiple-modality imaging workstations at the same or different physical locations without loss of subject positional information. The animal holder is compatible with preclinical animal imaging stations such as micro-CT, micro-MR, micro-PET, micro-SPECT, and FMT. The animal holder is configured to be accommodated by (for example, fit within) individual imaging chambers of such instruments and is fabricated from materials that are compliant with all of the imaging modalities used. In certain embodiments, an integrated set of fiducial marker wells accommodates the dispensing of markers that are picked up by several modalities simultaneously in multiple planes. The fiducial markers then are aligned in standard image processing or image analysis software with simple image translation and rotation operations, without the need for more advanced scaling, distortion or other operations.
US08918160B2
A method for generating a map of a region of a patient's body containing one or more lesions that provides information about MR diffusion properties and/or level of suspicion of malignancy. Performing at least one first scan of the region with an MRI apparatus set to a first b value to obtain a first matrix of pixel or voxel values, int(B1); performing at least one second scan of the region with the apparatus set to a second b value to obtain a second matrix of pixel or voxel intensity values, int(B2); deriving a first computed value that is a monotonic function of ln(int(B1)/int(B2); multiplying each computed value by a value proportional to int (B1) to obtain a second computed value; and producing a representation of all the second computed values that is indicative of the likelihood that one or more of the lesions are malignant.
US08918159B2
A system and method for creating at least one angiographic image using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system includes acquiring, with the MRI system and using parallel imaging techniques, a pre-contrast image data set and a post-contrast image data set of a portion of a subject having a vascular structure extending therethrough and subtracting the pre-contrast and the post-contrast image data set to generate a difference angiogram data set. The method includes reconstructing the difference angiogram data set into at least one aliased angiogram, creating a region of interest (ROI) mask from an image of the portion of the subject, and indicating a masking border surrounding the vascular structure and substantially excluding tissues surrounding the vascular structure. The method then includes de-aliasing the at least one aliased angiogram using the ROI mask to create an angiogram of the portion of the subject.
US08918158B2
The invention discloses a method, a system, a computer program and a device for determining the surface charge and/or dipole densities on heart walls. Using the foregoing, a table of dipole densities ν(P′, t) and/or a table of surface charge densities ρ(P′, t) of a given heart chamber can be generated.
US08918146B2
A method and apparatus is provided for adjusting the gain imparted to a signal by an audio transducer such as a microphone and/or a speaker, which is employed by an electronic device having a multi-touch screen user input. The method begins when pressure applied to the multi-touch screen by a user is detected. The pressure is detected while the user is providing or receiving audible signals to or from, respectively, the audio transducer. Next, the user is identified based on a pre-established user profile that identifies the user based on a pressure profile that is obtained by the multi-touch screen. The pressure profile represents at least a contour of a portion the user's head such as the user's ear, cheek or the like. Once the user has been identified, pre-established user-selectable settings associated with the identified user are retrieved from memory. Finally, the gain imparted to the signal by the audio transducer is adjusted upward or downward based at least in part on the detected pressure and in accordance with the user-selectable settings.
US08918145B2
A system and method for provisioning a wireless service provider through a mobile device using a SIM card within the mobile device accesses a server via a wireless hub using the SIM card and requests comparison data relating to a plurality of wireless service providers. The comparison data is provided to the mobile device from the server responsive to the request, and the mobile device displays this comparison information. A user selection is provided selecting a particular wireless service provider using the mobile device, and the selected wireless service provider is established as the wireless service provider for the mobile device.
US08918140B2
A portable audio/video playback apparatus of the present invention comprises an apparatus main body 1 and a broadcast receiver unit 4 removably attached to the apparatus main body. The apparatus main body 1 includes interfaces 32, 33 for connecting thereto the broadcast receiver unit; an audio processing circuit 22 connected to one interface 32 for processing and feeding an external audio signal to a speaker 24; and a video processing circuit 27 connected to the other interface 33 for processing and feeding an external video signal to a display 13. The broadcast receiver unit 4 includes interfaces 55, 56 connected to the foregoing interfaces 32, 33 and decoders 47, 48 for feeding an audio signal and a video signal included in a received television broadcast signal to the interfaces 55, 56.
US08918139B2
An electronic device may include antenna structures. Wireless transmitter circuitry such as cellular telephone transmitter circuitry and wireless local area network circuitry may transmit signals using the antenna structures. A wireless receiver may receive signals from the antenna structures through an adjustable-linearity amplifier. The wireless receiver may operate in a receive band such as a satellite navigation system receive band. During operation of the electronic device, control circuitry in the device may analyze the frequencies and powers of the transmitted signals to determine whether there is a potential for interference for the receive band to be generated in the adjustable-linearity amplifier. In response to determining that there is a potential for interference, the control circuitry may increase the linearity of the adjustable-linearity amplifier.
US08918131B2
An apparatus for transmitting data in a communication system supporting multi-carriers determines the priority of the multi-carriers and transmits information on the priority to a terminal. Thereafter, the transmitting apparatus allocates data to the multi-carriers in accordance with the priority and transmits the allocated data to a data receiving apparatus, and the data receiving apparatus receives data to be transmitted from the data transmitting apparatus in accordance with information on the priority.
US08918122B2
A method for downlink paging is provided. The method includes determining a number of bits of a user equipment identifier based on an on/off cycle of a user equipment and a paging group count. The method further includes assigning a paging frame in a communications channel, where the paging frame is selected based upon the on/off cycle of the user equipment, the paging group count, and the number of bits of the user equipment identifier.
US08918121B2
In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes detecting a current context associated with a mobile computing device and determining, based on the current context, whether to switch the mobile computing device from a current mode of operation to a second mode of operation during which the mobile computing device monitors ambient sounds for voice input that indicates a request to perform an operation. The method can further include, in response to determining whether to switch to the second mode of operation, activating one or more microphones and a speech analysis subsystem associated with the mobile computing device so that the mobile computing device receives a stream of audio data. The method can also include providing output on the mobile computing device that is responsive to voice input that is detected in the stream of audio data and that indicates a request to perform an operation.
US08918119B2
Apparatus and method for providing map service using global positioning service in a mobile terminal
An apparatus and method for providing a map service using a global positioning service in a mobile terminal includes determining a current position of the mobile terminal. A moving path of the mobile terminal is recorded. If content for key point marking are generated, a tag icon corresponding to the content is inserted into a point representing the current position of the mobile terminal. A map message includes the moving path, the tag icon, and the content.
US08918117B2
Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of estimating a location of a mobile device. For example, a location estimation entity (LE) may be configured to receive from a server location-based location-enabling source (LES) information identifying one or more location-enabling sources based on a location area of a mobile device, and to communicate with the one or more identified location-enabling sources information for estimating the location of the mobile device.
US08918116B2
The exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses enabling reduction of interference in a wireless system in order to assist a user equipment in performing positioning measurements. According to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a radio network node is configured to: receive a measurement report from the UE comprising signal quality measurements related to interfering cells; to select a set of most interfering cells and to determine a level of reduction of transmission activity to be executed at specific time for a determined duration.
US08918115B2
A method and location server (120) enable determining a position of a target device (105). The method includes receiving at the location server (120), from the target device (105), a distance message identifying a relative distance between the target device (105) and one or more base stations (115). Next, it is determined at the location server (120) that a primary positioning method is unavailable. In response to the primary positioning method being unavailable, a position of the target device (105) is determined using both a) an alternative positioning method and b) the relative distance between the target device (105) and the one or more base stations (115) that was identified in the distance message.
US08918111B2
Provided are a device-to-device (D2D) group communication method and a device using the same. The method includes transmitting a scheduling request for D2D group communication to a base station, receiving first radio resource information for a status report of D2D data to be transmitted from the base station, transmitting a D2D buffer status report to the base station through a first radio resource, receiving second radio resource information including D2D resource allocation information necessary for the D2D group communication from the base station, and transmitting control information for the D2D group communication including a D2D group identifier (ID) as a device ID and D2D user data to two or more communication partner devices belonging to the D2D group.
US08918110B2
The present invention relates to a segment identifier detection method performed by a terminal if a segment being administrated by a base station in a wireless communication system has the frequency reuse factor of 3 and 2 at the same time. In particular, the method comprises: acquiring a cell identifier and a segment identifier corresponding to the cell identifier from a secondary advanced preamble (SA-preamble) that has been received from the base station; determining a frequency reuse factor of the base station; and if the frequency reuse factor is 2 and the obtained segment identifier is a third segment identifier, transforming the segment identifier corresponding to the cell identifier into a first segment identifier or a second segment identifier.
US08918106B2
A relay station includes a reception section that receives a first radio frame sent from a base station, and a transmission section that sends a second radio frame that includes a downstream data signal included in the received first radio frame, to a mobile station located in a cell of the relay station. When it is determined that a first identifier of a handover-destination cell, included in a first radio frame, matches a second identifier of the cell of the relay station, included in the second radio frame, and that the transmission timing of the first identifier matches the transmission timing of the second identifier, a time shift section of the relay station shifts the transmission timing of the second radio frame sent from the transmission section so as to make the transmission timing of the first identifier different from the transmission timing of the second identifier.
US08918103B2
A server can receive, from a mobile device, a reference location and one or more measurements of signal from signal sources. Each signal source is associated with a signal source location in a location database. The server can use the measurements and the signal source locations to validate the reference location. The server can use the validated reference location to validate the signal source locations, including detecting moved signal sources.
US08918099B2
A method and system is disclosed enabling deconfliction between a ground-based radio and an airborne radio while both radios are in wireless data communication with a ground-based cellular network via the same ground-based connection node or tower. An orthogonal plurality of time/frequency segments is divided into a ground group of segments and an air group of segments by dynamically placing a frequency barrier between the two groups. Through dynamic allocation between groups and between the plurality of time/frequency segments within each group, interference free communication may coexist while both radios are wirelessly connected to the same tower. Additionally, an uplink (from airborne radio to tower) frequency may be moved to a second, distant frequency band to deconflict with the uplink and downlink first frequency band allotted to the ground-based radio while the downlink from tower to airborne radio remains within the first frequency band.
US08918090B2
A timer configuration method for a core network in a wireless communication system is disclosed. The timer configuration method comprises receiving a mobility management request from a mobile device; and setting a mobile reachable timer to a value no less than a back-off timer value when the core network rejects the mobility management request with the back-off timer value.
US08918087B1
A method. The method comprises maintaining a regional data store of landscape models for each of a plurality of base stations, wherein each regional data store is proximate to its corresponding base station and wherein each landscape model is derived from a plurality of images of a landscape located proximate to the base station. The method further comprises receiving a request for a landscape image from a mobile access terminal in the serving area of a first base station, wherein the first base station is one of the plurality of base stations and wherein the request for the landscape image identifies a landscape model maintained by the first base station. The method further comprises transmitting the landscape image to the mobile access terminal by the first base station, wherein the landscape image is created based on the landscape model identified in the request.
US08918079B2
An apparatus and methods are disclosed for authenticating users of wireless telecommunications terminals. In particular, the present invention enables the timing and type of authentication challenges to vary based on one or more of: the user's current geo-location, the current day and time, the presence or absence of other nearby users, and the identity of any nearby users. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, the re-authentication time period (i.e., the length of time between authenticating and re-authenticating a user) and the authentication challenge type (e.g., username/password, fingerprint recognition, etc.) can be determined based on these factors. The present invention is advantageous in that it enables the shortening of the re-authentication time and the selection of a more secure type of authentication challenge when it is more likely that a user's wireless telecommunications terminal might be accidentally left behind or stolen.
US08918078B2
A mobile communications device for communicating with a wireless network, including an electronic storage having data stored thereon, a processor connected to the storage for accessing the data, a communications sub-system connected to the processor for exchanging signals with the wireless network and with the processor, a user input interface connected to send user input signals to the processor in response to user action, and a security module associated with the processor for detecting a trigger condition and automatically taking a security action if a bypass user action is not detected after detection of the trigger condition.
US08918077B2
Methods for adding minutes to a calling plan having a calling plan period. The methods including determining whether a threshold number of minutes have been reached during the calling plan period; and incrementally adding minutes to the calling plan when the threshold number of minutes has been reached. The cost per minute of the added minutes is less than the high-cost per minute rate normally associated with exceeding the threshold number of minutes during the calling plan period.
US08918075B2
A method and system for determining and verifying a location of wearable mobile devices (e.g., digital glasses, watches, etc.) in emergency situations with emergency messages including legacy 911, E911 and text-to-911 messages. The method and system provide a current physical geographic location for wearable mobile devices (e.g., spot, chair, desk on in a room on a building floor, campus, enterprise, city, state, region, country, continent, etc.), in an emergency situation such as an accident, fire, terrorist attack, military incident, weather, flood event, etc. and forward the current physical geographic location to a legacy 911 network, a Emergency Services IP networks (ESInet) or text-to-911 Short Message Services (SMS) networks.
US08918072B2
A mobile wireless LAN communications device may include a portable, handheld housing, and a wireless LAN transceiver carried by the housing. A polarization diversity wireless LAN antenna may be included for cooperating with the wireless LAN transceiver to communicate over a wireless LAN. The polarization diversity wireless LAN antenna may include a first antenna element coupled to the wireless LAN transceiver having a first shape and a first polarization, and a second antenna element coupled to the wireless LAN transceiver having a second shape different from the first shape. The second antenna element may also have a second polarization different from the first polarization.
US08918070B2
Apparatus and methods are disclosed related to tuning a resonant frequency of an LC circuit. In some implementations, the LC circuit can be embodied in a low noise amplifier (LNA) of a receiver. The receiver can include a component configured to generate an indicator of received signal strength indication (RSSI) of a radio frequency (RF) signal received by the receiver. A control block can adjust the resonant frequency of the LC circuit based at least in part on the indicator of RSSI. As another example, the receiver can include an oscillator, such as a VCO, separate from the LC circuit that can be used to tune the resonant frequency of the LC circuit. These apparatus can compensate for variation in a zero imaginary component of an impedance across the LC circuit.
US08918064B2
A transmitter front-end for wireless chip-to-chip communication, and potentially for other, longer range (e.g., several meters or several tens of meters) device-to-device communication, is disclosed. The transmitter front-end includes a distributed power amplifier capable of providing an output signal with sufficient power for wireless transmission by an on-chip or on-package antenna to another nearby IC chip or device located several meters or several tens of meters away. The distributed power amplifier can be fully integrated (i.e., without using external components, such as bond wire inductors) on a monolithic silicon substrate using, for example, a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process.
US08918054B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide an interference elimination method, an interference elimination device and a communication system, which are used to implement the effective elimination of signal interference of a receiving end. The method includes: according to a received signal, reconstructing a main cell signal, obtaining the reconstructed main cell signal, and subtracting the reconstructed main cell signal from the received signal, so as to obtain a first residual signal; according to the first residual signal, reconstructing an interference cell signal, and obtaining the reconstructed interference cell signal; and according to the received signal and the reconstructed interference cell signal, obtaining an interference-eliminated main cell signal. According to the interference elimination method, the interference elimination device and the communication system in the embodiments of the present invention, the interference elimination may be performed on the received signal effectively.
US08918052B2
In a case where a communication control apparatus incorporated by a portable device detects a communication request from an external device and decides whether to perform communications, it is hard to determine, with a high degree of precision, whether the owner of the portable device incorporating the communication control apparatus has an intention to use the portable device in response to the communication request. In order to solve this problem, there are included a distance measuring means for measuring spatial distances from any given objects that have distances of a particular range in a direction of a particular range and that are adjacent to each other; a condition storing means for storing predetermined distance conditions; and a communication means that becomes, based on a result of comparison of the values of the spatial distances with the distance conditions, communicatable in response to the externally received communication request.
US08918051B1
A mobile device includes a first interface module, a second interface module, and a control module. The first interface module is configured to interface the mobile device to a first wireless network and to receive data from a transmitting device via the first wireless network. The second interface module is configured to interface the mobile device to a second wireless network. The control module is configured to determine based on the data received when to switch a link to the transmitting device from the first wireless network to the second wireless network. The control module is further configured to transmit a message that informs the transmitting device not to transmit the data to the mobile device via the first wireless network in response to the link being switched to the second wireless network.
US08918050B2
A user can initiate the transmission of data on a mobile device by making physical contact with another device. The physical contact can be any type of physical touch that is referred to as a “tap” or “tapping.” When a tap is detected by a device, the device may initiate near field communication (NFC) with the other tapping device. NFC may be used to communicate data between the two devices, or NFC may be used to exchange sufficient information to allow the devices to establish a communication channel via another communication link. In some embodiments, an NFC-enabled mobile device can be used to gather group data relating to users having mobile devices that are within NFC range of one another and which initiate the aggregation of group data by the tapping of three or more devices.
US08918037B2
This disclosure relates to a developing device supplying a non-magnetic one-component developer onto an image bearing member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed. The developing device has an accommodating portion, a supply roller, a development roller, and a regulating member. The accommodating portion accommodates the developer. The supply roller holds the developer accommodated in the accommodating portion on the outer circumferential surface thereof. The development roller has a roller portion, and a rotational shaft member. The roller portion receives the developer supplied from the supply roller and holds a developer layer on the outer circumferential surface thereof. The rotational shaft member is arranged to extend along a rotational axis and has at least one magnet portion. The regulating member is a plate member arranged to be surface contacted onto the surface of the developer layer on the development roller and having part thereof configured of a magnetic member.
US08918035B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a developing apparatus which can provide images having superior image density and less fogging.The present invention relates to a developing apparatus wherein a magnetic toner-carrying member has a work function value at the surface within a specific range, a toner regulating member which regulates toner carried on the magnetic toner-carrying member is formed by a specific material at a portion contacting the magnetic toner, and has a ratio [W/B] of the amount W of silica fine powder to the theoretical specific surface area B of the magnetic toner satisfying a specific relation.
US08918032B2
A toner cartridge for an imaging device having a housing having a toner reservoir and an exit port in fluid communication with the toner reservoir. A drive shaft rotatably mounts within the toner reservoir. A toner platform is movably coupled to the drive shaft and is nonrotatable but slidable relative to the housing. A resilient arm is positioned within the reservoir and biased toward an initial position in the path of the toner platform. When the drive shaft rotates, the toner platform translates toward the exit port. When the toner platform contacts the resilient arm, the resilient arm moves to permit the toner platform to pass and when the toner platform moves further toward the exit port the resilient arm returns to the initial position. The resilient arm may mount on the inner surface, the toner to platform or the drive shaft.
US08918028B2
A toner conveying path forming member forms a toner conveying path with a hollow capable of conveying toner. The toner conveying path forming member includes an inner wall a part of which is pressed by an elastic toner conveying member provided in the toner conveying path; and a protrusion that is provided on an inner wall surface of at least a part of the inner wall to protrude toward the hollow.
US08918019B2
The developer cartridge includes a developing roller, a supply roller, an input gear, a developing roller gear, a supply roller gear, a first intermediate gear, and a second intermediate gear. The input gear is inputted with a drive force from an outside. The developing roller gear rotates about a first axis to drive the developing roller by the drive force. The supply roller gear rotates about a second axis parallel to the first axis to drive the supply roller by the drive force. The first intermediate gear rotates about the second axis. The first intermediate gear engages the input gear to receive the drive force therefrom. The second intermediate gear is engaged with the first intermediate gear and the developing roller gear so as to transmit the drive force from the first intermediate gear to the developing roller gear.
US08918017B2
A cartridge detachably mountable to a main assembly of the image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member; a frame having an opening for exposing the image bearing member; a movable shutter member movable between a closing position for closing the opening and an open position for opening the opening; and a holding portion for abutting to the shutter member to hold the shutter member at the closing position, wherein the shutter member is elastically deformable to ride over the holding portion to permit the shutter member to move from the closing position to the open position.
US08918016B2
A process cartridge detachably installable in an image forming apparatus including a first sub-unit to hold an image carrier, a second sub-unit to hold a developer bearing member, a first positioning member to position first ends of the image carrier and the developer bearing member in a longitudinal direction, respectively, and a second positioning member to position second ends of the image carrier and the developer bearing member opposite the first ends in the longitudinal direction, respectively. The second sub-unit has a protruding portion protruding outward to a first end of the second sub-unit beyond the first positioning member in the longitudinal direction. An opposing surface of the protruding portion provided to face the first positioning member is dimensioned to conform to a cross-section of the first positioning member perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
US08918012B2
An image forming apparatus includes a casing having an opening that is open upward, a cover configured to open and close the opening, a process cartridge, and a guide. The guide is configured to guide the process cartridge in the casing while changing a position of the process cartridge. The process cartridge includes a photosensitive member, a first guided portion and a second guided portion. The guide includes a first guide configured to guide the first guided portion and a second guide configured to guide the second guided portion. The second guide has an upper portion disposed on an upstream side in an attaching direction of the process cartridge, and a lower portion extending smoothly from a lower end of the upper portion to a stop position in which the second guided portion is disposed. The lower portion is curved away from the first guide.
US08918006B2
An image processing apparatus includes a living body detection unit configured to detect approaching of a living body based on a detection output depending on a distance to the living body, an operation unit configured to receive an operation command from a user, a history recording unit configured to record a history of a detection output of the living body detection unit and a history of an operation performed on the operation unit, and a determination unit configured to determine a threshold value of the detection output, the threshold value being used by the living body detection unit as a determination reference value in determining whether a living body is detected, the determination of the threshold value being made based on the history recorded in the history recording unit as to the detection output of the living body detection unit and as to the operation performed on the operation unit.
US08918000B2
A recording material detection apparatus having a detecting device configured to detect a surface state of a recording material on the basis of reflected light from a surface of the recording material includes a reference surface to be irradiated with light from a light source, the detecting device includes a light-shielding portion configured to control conditions for detecting information relating to the surface state of the recording material on the basis of the reflected surface from the reference surface, and cover a portion of the reference panel other than the reference surface so as to prevent the light from the light source from being reflected from the portion of the reference panel other than the reference surface and being received by the light-receiving unit.
US08917999B2
An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable heating member for heating an image on a recording material in a nip; a nip-forming member for forming the nip together with the heating member; a rotatable rubbing member for rubbing the heating member; a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the heating member; a moving mechanism for moving the rubbing member from a position where it is spaced from the heating member to a position where it rubs a surface of the heating member; and a controller for executing, by moving the rubbing member to the position where it rubs the surface of the heating member, a rubbing operation such that the rubbing member rubs the surface of the heating member. The controller executes the rubbing operation depending on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor when the recording material passes through the nip.
US08917990B2
The present invention relates to a method and devices for fast protection of an optical network system, in particular for a Passive Optical Network (PON), such as a Gigabit-capable Passive Optical Network (GPON). In the method, it is detected that the communication from a first optical network device is lost. Switching of functionality is initiated from a first optical line termination device to a second optical line termination device, and a control message is sent from the second optical line termination device to the first optical network device such that the first optical network device is prevented from moving into initial state. Furthermore, the method comprises determining and setting timing settings for the first optical network device.
US08917982B1
A system and method is disclosed for enabling user friendly interaction with a camera system. Specifically, the inventive system and method has several aspects to improve the interaction with a camera system, including voice recognition, gaze tracking, touch sensitive inputs and others. The voice recognition unit is operable for, among other things, receiving multiple different voice commands, recognizing the vocal commands, associating the different voice commands to one camera command and controlling at least some aspect of the digital camera operation in response to these voice commands. The gaze tracking unit is operable for, among other things, determining the location on the viewfinder image that the user is gazing upon. One aspect of the touch sensitive inputs provides that the touch sensitive pad is mouse-like and is operable for, among other things, receiving user touch inputs to control at least some aspect of the camera operation. Another aspect of the disclosed invention provides for gesture recognition to be used to interface with and control the camera system.
US08917976B2
An information processor includes: a recording portion configured to record a table describing a correspondence relationship between reproduction information in accordance with which reality information as reality of contents is specified to be reproduced and which is adapted to share the same reality information with any other suitable reproduction information, and the reality information to which the reproduction information refers, with respect to all of pieces of reproduction information recorded in a recording medium, in one file; a deleting portion configured to delete the reproduction information instructed; and an updating portion configured to update the table when the reproduction information is deleted.
US08917963B2
A MEMS based alignment technology based on mounting an optical component on a released micromechanical lever configuration that uses multiple flexures rather than a single spring. The optical component may be a lens. The use of multiple flexures may reduce coupling between lens rotation and lens translation, and reduce effects of lever handle warping on lens position. The device can be optimized for various geometries.
US08917961B2
An apparatus consisting of stacked slab waveguides whose outputs are vertically staggered is disclosed. At the input to the stacked waveguides, the entrances to each slab lie in approximately the same vertical plane. A spot which is imaged onto the input will be transformed approximately to a set of staggered rectangles at the output, without substantial loss in brightness, which staggered rectangles can serve as a convenient input to a spectroscopic apparatus. A slit mask can be added to spatially filter the outputs so as to present the desired transverse width in the plane of the spectroscopic apparatus parallel to its dispersion.
US08917959B2
An analyzing element (10) is provided with a sample chamber (11) into which a gas or liquid sample is introduced; detection light waveguides (12a, 12b) arranged adjacent to the sample chamber (11) for guiding detection light for detecting a sample; and a detection light inputting section (13) for inputting the detection light, which is traveling in a direction along the detection light waveguides (12a, 12b), into the detection light waveguides (12a, 12b) from the end surface of the detection light waveguides (12a, 12b). The detection light waveguides (12a, 12b) have an exposed surface (14) exposed in the sample chamber (11).
US08917958B2
An electrical waveguide transmission device accepts a differential electrical input signal (e.g., S+ and S−) propagating along two separate signal conductors with grounded electrical return paths, and outputs the differential input signal to a series push-pull traveling wave electrode Mach-Zehnder optical modulator over a pair of output conductors that act as a return path for each other and provide a desired characteristic impedance matching that of the Mach-Zehnder optical modulator.
US08917956B1
A method of enhancing spatial resolution of an image. An image is accessed. The image comprises a set of confident pixels and an unconfident pixel positioned adjacent to each confident pixel of the set of confident pixels. The set of confident pixels comprises four or fewer pixels and corresponds to a plurality of known depth values, the unconfident pixel comprises an unknown depth value. A best depth hypothesis for the unconfident pixel is determined using a filter module in which the plurality of known depth values are used as depth hypotheses. The unconfident pixel is updated as a confident pixel using the best depth hypothesis.
US08917953B2
Disclosed is a layout software routine which automatically creates complex and aesthetically pleasing layouts without any user interaction, though user interaction is possible.
US08917946B2
The image coding method is used to code images to generate a coded stream. The image coding method includes: writing, into a sequence parameter set in the coded stream to be generated, a first parameter representing a first bit-depth that is a bit-depth of a reconstructed sample in the images; and writing, into the sequence parameter set, a second parameter which is different from the first parameter and represents a second bit-depth that is a bit-depth of an Intra Pulse Code Modulation (IPCM) sample in the images.
US08917935B2
Detecting text using stroke width based text detection. As a part of the text detection, a representation of an image is generated that includes pixels that are associated with the stroke widths of components of the image. Connected components of the image are identified by filtering out portions of the pixels using metrics related to stroke width. Text is detected in the image based on the identified connected components.
US08917934B2
Foreground objects of interest are distinguished from a background model by dividing a region of interest of a video data image into a grid array of individual cells that are each smaller than that a foreground object of interest. More particularly, image data of the foreground object of interest spans a contiguous plurality of the cells. Each of the cells are labeled as foreground if accumulated edge energy within the cell meets an edge energy threshold, if color intensities for different colors within each cell differ by a color intensity differential threshold, or as a function of combinations of said determinations in view of one or more combination rules.
US08917921B2
An image processing apparatus which uses a tomogram group formed from a plurality of object tomograms or measurement data for generating the plurality of object tomograms, wherein the tomograms parallel to a plane containing first and second directions and aligned in a third direction different from the first and second directions, are provided. The image processing apparatus includes a storage unit which stores the tomogram group. The image processing apparatus specifies a plurality of tomograms from the tomogram group, and sets higher priorities for the specified tomograms or a predetermined number of tomograms adjacent to the specified tomograms than for other tomograms. The image processing apparatus reads out the tomogram group from the storage unit in descending order of the set priorities, and provides it to subsequent processing.
US08917914B2
The present invention provides a novel system and method for identifying individuals and for face recognition utilizing facial features for face identification. The system and method of the invention comprise creating facial features or face patterns called face pattern words and face pattern bytes for face identification. The invention also provides for pattern recognitions for identification other than face recognition. The invention further provides a means for identifying individuals based on visible and/or thermal images of those individuals by utilizing computer software implemented by instructions on a computer or computer system and a computer readable medium containing instructions on a computer system for face recognition and identification.
US08917901B2
The present invention relates to a method, apparatus, computer code and algorithm for determining the surface profile of an object. The invention involves capturing three or four images of the object at different planes of which some of the images can be taken outside the depth of field of the optical system and some inside the depth of the field of the optical system. The invention may have particular application in instances of surface analysis and security applications under ambient lighting conditions.
US08917899B2
A system is provided that includes a processor and a network interface coupled to the processor. The system also includes a system memory coupled to the processor. The system memory stores watermarking instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to mark digital media with information that identifies the system.
US08917897B2
Provided is a microphone capable of reducing a plane area seen from above, and further increasing a capacity of a back chamber of an acoustic sensor. An interposer 52 is mounted on a top surface of a circuit board 43, and an acoustic sensor 51 is mounted on the top surface thereof. A signal processing circuit 53 is accommodated in a space 70 provided in the interposer 52, and mounted on the circuit board 43. The acoustic sensor 51 is connected to the circuit board 43 through a wiring structure provided in the interposer 52. The acoustic sensor 51, the interposer 52 and the like are covered by a cover 42 put on the top surface of the circuit board 43. In the cover 42, a sound introduction hole 48 is opened in a position opposed to the front chamber of the acoustic sensor 51. The interposer 52 is formed with a ventilation notch 71 for acoustically communicating a space below a diaphragm 56 of the acoustic sensor 51 with a space inside the cover 42 and outside the interposer 52.
US08917893B2
A hearing aid includes a device housing (2) in which a programmable sound processing device is received on a carrier. The carrier is provided on a main surface with a conductor track which lies exposed in an opening (8) in an outer casing of the device housing (2). A coupling connector (20) of an external programming device can be received in the opening in order to place the conductor track on the main surface of the carrier into direct and operative contact with a corresponding conductor track on the coupling connector. A separate connector for the purpose of programming and tuning the sound processing device to the individual hearing characteristics and/or wishes of a user can thus be omitted from the hearing aid.
US08917884B2
A signal processing device includes at least two sound signal input elements, an orthogonal transformer, a phase difference determiner, and a virtual spectrum generator. Two sound signals in a time domain are received from the two respective sound signal input elements. The orthogonal transformer orthogonally transforms the two sound signals in the time domain into two respective spectral signals in a frequency domain. The phase difference determiner determines a phase difference between the two spectral signals in the frequency domain. The virtual spectrum generator generates a virtual spectral signal in the frequency domain in accordance with the phase difference and one of the two spectral signals.
US08917883B2
According to some aspects, a system for controlling an electronic device including an audio accessory coupled to the electronic device. The audio accessory has at least one speaker adapted to provide audio output and a plurality of resistive switches. The electronic device has a bias voltage source adapted to provide power to the resistive switches via a bias resistor and a ground connection, and a measurement module. The measurement module is adapted to monitor a bias point to determine which of the at least one switch has been engaged based on effect of the resistive switches on the ground offset voltage after compensating for a ground offset voltage caused by the audio output.
US08917882B2
Techniques for utilizing a plurality of switches to reduce crosstalk in a headset jack for accommodating both European and North American type headset plugs. In an aspect, a six-switch solution is provided to selectively couple first and second terminals of the jack to a ground and a microphone terminal, and further to selectively couple a ground sensing input to the first or second terminal of the jack. The ground sensing input is provided to left and right audio channel amplifiers for driving the corresponding left and right terminals of the headset, to provide a common-mode reference level to the left and right audio channel amplifiers. In another aspect, at least four physical pins are provided to couple the switches to the ground and microphone terminals of the jack, and the connections between the ground sensing inputs and the jack may be provided adjacent to the jack for better isolation.
US08917876B2
SPL monitoring systems are provided. A SPL monitoring system includes an audio transducer configured to receive sound pressure, a logic circuit which calculates a safe time duration over which a user can receive current sound pressure values and an indicator element which produces a notification when an indicator level occurs. An SPL monitoring information system includes a database which stores data such as a list of earpiece devices and associated instrument response functions. The logic circuit compares a request with the data in the database and retrieves a subset of data and sends it to an output control unit. The output control unit sends the subset of data to a sending unit.
US08917874B2
Method and apparatus for processing audio signals are provided. The method for decoding an audio signal includes extracting a downmix signal and spatial information from a received audio signal, generating surround converting information using the spatial information and rendering the downmix signal to generate a pseudo-surround signal in a previously set rendering domain, using the surround converting information. The apparatus for decoding an audio signal includes a demultiplexing part extracting a downmix signal and spatial information from a received audio signal, an information converting part generating surround converting information using the spatial information and a pseudo-surround generating part rendering the downmix signal to generate a pseudo-surround signal in a previously set rendering domain, using the surround converting information.
US08917871B2
Implementations and techniques for asymmetrical chaotic encryption are generally disclosed. One disclosed method for asymmetrical encryption includes determining a ciphertext control block from data, where the ciphertext control block is based at least in part on one or more Chebyshev polynomials. The method also includes encrypting at least a portion of the data into an encrypted ciphertext block, where the encrypted ciphertext block is based at least in part on Logistic Mapping, and in which a final ciphertext includes the encrypted ciphertext block and the ciphertext control block
US08917869B2
A “fair play” online gaming system comprises a deal server for generating an encrypted set of gaming elements (such as cards) and a play server for controlling a set of operations within a game. The play server is coupled to the deal server and receives encrypted gaming elements from the deal server in response to commands. The gaming system also includes an audit server that is coupled to the play server, where the audit server is used to send and receive information between the play server and one or more online players communicating via the internet. Importantly, the deal server and the play server cannot communicate with the internet and cannot be accessed by untoward individuals, thus providing fair play conditions for an online game.
US08917868B2
A video processing device includes a data segmentation generator that receives a domain selection, n, and that segments input A/V data into n data blocks. An encryption processing device receives an encryption depth selection, k, and a range selection, m, and sequentially encrypts each of the n data blocks m times using k different keys to generate n encrypted data blocks. An output formatter generates encrypted A/V data from the n encrypted data blocks.
