au Automatic roll-back and return-to-position for header tilt on an agricultural machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST A windrower with a harvesting header with a crop cutting assembly for severing crop from the ground windrower has a header pitch sensor for measuring a fore/aft pitch angle and a hydraulic system. The hydraulic system moves the header between an operating height and a raised position, and also controls a fore/aft pitch angle. An electronics control module provides an output to activate solenoid valves in the hydraulic system to move the header between the operating height and the raised position and to select a desired pitch angle. When the header moves from the operating height to the raised position, the electronics control module operates the header hydraulic system to move the header to the zero-tilt condition, and upon lowering the header back the operating height, the electronics control module automatically returns the header to the selected pitch angle it was in at the start of the cycle. Full Article
au Control apparatus for unmanned autonomous operating vehicle By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST In an apparatus for controlling an unmanned autonomous operating vehicle having an electric motor supplied with power from a battery for operating an operating machine, and magnetic sensors for detecting intensity of a magnetic field of an area wire and controlled to run about in an operating area defined by the area wire through wheels driven by the prime movers to perform an operation using the operating machine and to return to a charging device installed on the area wire so as to charge the battery, there is provided with a turn-back portion formed by bending the area wire at an appropriate position and again bending the area wire to return in a same direction with a predetermined space so as to divide the operating area into a plurality of parts and vehicle running is controlled to be prohibited from going across the turn-back portion. Full Article
au Automatic driveshaft coupler for auto header hookup By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT An agricultural harvester (100) comprises a self-propelled vehicle (102); a feederhouse (104); a driveshaft (114) supported on the feederhouse (104), the driveshaft (114) having a first coupler (116) fixed to one end of the driveshaft (114), the first coupler (116) comprising a coupler body (420), a piston (416) disposed in the coupler body (420), and a first key (302) mechanically coupled to the piston (416) to be extended or retracted by the piston (416) to engage a mating coupler on a second driveshaft (120) of an agricultural harvesting head (106) that is supported on the feederhouse (104). Full Article
au Rake positioned between a flail rotor and an auger By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A flail rotor head attachment for use with any type harvesting machine having crop residue processing elements and including an input opening for receiving crop residue. The attachment includes a frame structure for operatively coupling the attachment to the harvesting machine, a flail rotor and an auger each mounted on the frame structure and a drive mechanism for rotating the flail rotor and the auger. The flail rotor includes a plurality of cutting elements for picking up and chopping crop residue from a field. The auger includes at least two flightings positioned in opposite directions for funneling crop residue towards the opening of the harvesting machine. Another embodiment includes a rake positioned between the flail rotor and the auger, the rake and the flail rotor rotating in the same direction and the auger rotating in an opposite direction. Full Article
au Baler automatic stopping sequence By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system is provided that automatically stops a tractor as a function of a status of a round baler. This may include a controller such as a baler controller directly or indirectly detecting initial movement of an actuator that moves a wrapper assembly. Based on this detection, conditions for starting a wrap procedure may be determined either by actuator position or by a time period required for moving the wrapper assembly from a home position to a wrap start position. A time period required to bring the tractor to stop may be determined and compared with the time period required for the wrapper assembly to move from the home position to the wrap start position. The baler controller may send a tractor halt command signal for stopping the tractor to coordinate and synchronize bringing the tractor to a complete stop at the same time that the wrapping material is inserted and applied onto the bale at the beginning of a wrapping procedure. Full Article
au METHOD OF USING A SURFACTANT-CONTAINING SHRINKAGE MATERIAL TO PREVENT PHOTORESIST PATTERN COLLAPSE CAUSED BY CAPILLARY FORCES By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A first photoresist pattern and a second photoresist pattern are formed over a substrate. The first photoresist pattern is separated from the second photoresist pattern by a gap. A chemical mixture is coated on the first and second photoresist patterns. The chemical mixture contains a chemical material and surfactant particles mixed into the chemical material. The chemical mixture fills the gap. A baking process is performed on the first and second photoresist patterns, the baking process causing the gap to shrink. At least some surfactant particles are disposed at sidewall boundaries of the gap. A developing process is performed on the first and second photoresist patterns. The developing process removes the chemical mixture in the gap and over the photoresist patterns. The surfactant particles disposed at sidewall boundaries of the gap reduce a capillary effect during the developing process. Full Article
au Burial vault system and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST A concrete burial vault system having a layered construction of castable material encased in an inner liner and an outer casing of a thermoplastic polymer such as polypropylene utilizes the liner and casing as a mold for the concrete and enables monolithic molds with self-supporting securing tabs. This system allows the liner and casing to be manufactured at a central location and then transported to a plurality of use locations to be filled with concrete. The manufacturing method supports the system and provides an assembly advantage. Full Article
au Burial vault carapace and method for customizing a burial vault carapace By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST A decorative carapace for a burial vault including a carapace having a top surface and a substrate having a decorative graphic, the substrate being attached to the top surface of the carapace. Full Article
au Acrylic urn vault By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST The sealing acrylic urn vault of the invention includes a generally square sheet of ⅝″ cast acrylic serving as the base and a generally square top portion which will have four adjacent side walls bonded to its edges and protruding downward. Each opposing side wall will be bonded length-wise to each adjoining side, creating a seamless cast acrylic box, open at the bottom, that lowers onto the acrylic base. Attached to the base are four 0.625″ tall ⅝″ thick acrylic guide rails, bonded equidistant from the outside base edge on all four sides of the base. This “railing system” is the fastening guide for the acrylic top portion which lowers onto the base with the inside of the four side walls bonded with the outside edges of the four guide rails. Full Article
au Burial vault system and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A concrete burial vault system having a layered construction of castable material encased in an inner liner and an outer casing of a thermoplastic polymer such as polypropylene utilizes the liner and casing as a mold for the concrete and enables monolithic molds with self-supporting securing tabs. This system allows the liner and casing to be manufactured at a central location and then transported to a plurality of use locations to be filled with concrete. The manufacturing method supports the system and provides an assembly advantage. Full Article
au Portable electronic device with auxiliary input device and flex connector therefor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A portable electronic device includes a lower housing and an upper housing slidable relative to the lower housing between closed and open positions. The upper housing includes an auxiliary input device and a display. A primary flex connector electrically connects the lower and upper housings. At least one secondary flex connector may electrically connect the primary flex connector to the auxiliary input device or the display. The upper housing may include a cover plate that is removable to allow access to at least a portion of the flex connectors. Full Article
au Lock assembly having secured setscrew configuration to prevent unauthorized handle removal By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A lock assembly includes a coupling mechanism connected to a spindle assembly. The coupling mechanism has an outer sleeve having a longitudinal interior opening that extends along a first axis. An operator handle includes a proximal lock core opening, and a distal shaft portion having an axial opening configured to receive the outer sleeve. The distal shaft portion and the outer sleeve are configured to define a through path oriented across the longitudinal interior opening of the outer sleeve. A portion of the through path at the outer sleeve is configured to threadably receive a setscrew to fasten the operator handle to the outer sleeve. A keyed lock core has a tailpiece that is positioned in the longitudinal interior opening of the outer sleeve to obstruct the through path and block access to the setscrew via the through path to prevent unauthorized removal of the operator handle. Full Article
au METHOD FOR MOUNTING A HYDRAULIC BRAKING APPARATUS ON A BICYCLE, HYDRAULIC BRAKING APPARATUS AND MOUNTING TOOL By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 08 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method for mounting a flexible tube associated with braking hydraulics on a bicycle between a braking control member and a braking member. The method provides a mounting cable for use in locating the flexible tube within a bicycle frame element while the ends of the flexible tube are exposed so a respective end can be connected to the control member and the braking member. The method simplifies the insertion process and reduces damage to the flexible tube. A tool for inserting the flexible tube is also provided. Full Article
au Staged combustion of sulfureous combustible effluents with recovery of the sulfur in the claus process By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A process for advantageously efficiently treating a sulfureous combustible effluent stream by recovering the sulfur in elemental form comprises a step of combustion of the sulfureous combustible effluent stream with an oxidant gas in excess, and then a step of post-combustion of the effluents from the combustion step with an acidic gas. The stream of the post-combustion effluents, free of chemical compounds that are harmful to the efficacy of the Claus catalysts, is treated in a Claus unit, which performs the recovery of the sulfur in elemental form. Full Article
au Auxiliary Antenna Array for Wideband Sidelobe Cancellation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Described embodiments provide sidelobe cancellation for Simultaneous Transmit and Receive systems. The sidelobe cancellation system includes an array having a primary aperture and an auxiliary array. The auxiliary array includes a plurality of antenna elements disposed adjacent to at least one side of the primary aperture. Each element of the auxiliary array is coupled to a variable attenuator, a variable phase shifter or a variable true time delay unit. A controller tunes the auxiliary array to cancel sidelobes of the primary aperture by adaptively selecting an attenuation value of the variable attenuator, a phase shift value of the variable phase shifter and a time delay value of the variable true time delay unit for each element of the auxiliary array. The auxiliary array operates as an adaptive finite-impulse response (FIR) filter with each antenna element of the auxiliary array operating as an adaptive tap of the adaptive FIR filter. Full Article
au Automated high-throughput seed sampler and methods of sampling, testing and bulking seeds By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An automated method for analyzing seeds generally includes collecting image data from individual seeds using a seed sampling system, determining at least one characteristic of each of the individual seeds based on the collected image data, and removing tissue from each of the individual seeds using the seed sampling system. The method also includes, prior to removing the tissue sample from each of the individual seeds, adjusting at least one operational parameter of the seed sampling system based on the at least one characteristic of the seed from which the tissue is to be removed to thereby allow for generally consistent removal of tissue from each of the individual seeds. In some aspects, the method further includes analyzing the tissue removed from the seeds for presence or absence of at least one characteristic, and selecting seeds based on presence or absence of the at least one characteristic. Full Article
au Automated systems for removing tissue samples from seeds, and related methods By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A seed sampling system is provided having an automated seed loading assembly including a seed bin and being operable to singulate seeds from a plurality of seeds within the seed bin. The system also includes an automated seed sampling assembly operable to remove tissue samples from the singulated seeds, and an automated seed transport assembly operable to transfer the singulated seeds from the seed loading assembly to the seed sampling assembly. The seed transport assembly includes multiple retention members. Each of the retention members is movable relative to the seed loading assembly and to the seed sampling assembly. The seed transport assembly is operable to position one of the multiple retention members adjacent to the seed loading assembly for engaging one of the singulated seeds, while positioning another of the retention members adjacent to the seed sampling assembly for presenting another of the singulated seeds to the seed sampling assembly. Full Article
au Automated high-throughput seed sample handling system and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method and apparatus for processing seed or seed samples includes an autonomous sorter which sorts seed by pre-programmed criteria. Optional features can include a counter to autonomously ensure the correct number of seeds to a seed package, a cleaning device, a sheller, and a label applicator. A conveyance path, controlled automatically, can move the seed to appropriate and desired stations during the processing while maintaining the sample segregating from other samples. Validation of the sample can be pre-required and information about the sample can be derived and stored for further use. Full Article
au Automated contamination-free seed sampler and methods of sampling, testing and bulking seeds By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An automated seed sampler system includes an imaging device for obtaining images of seeds, an orienting device for orienting the seeds based on the images, and a sampling station for removing tissue from the oriented seeds. In some aspects, the system also includes a transport subsystem for supporting the oriented seeds and conveying the oriented seeds to the sampling station. A method for removing tissue from seeds includes imaging the seeds, orienting the seeds based on image information obtained from the seeds, and removing tissue from the oriented seeds. In some aspects, the method also includes transporting the oriented seeds in a transport subsystem to a sampling station for removing the tissue from the oriented seeds, and/or collecting the tissue removed from the oriented seeds so that a one-to-one correspondence exists between the tissue and the sampled seeds, and/or analyzing the tissue for characteristics indicative of genetic and/or chemical traits. Full Article
au AUTONOMOUS MOBILE PLATFORM AND VARIABLE RATE IRRIGATION METHOD FOR PREVENTING FROST DAMAGE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A rover includes a base having wheels and a propulsion system coupled to the wheels to propel the rover around a field. A tower is coupled to the base and extends over the base. Sensors are set on the tower and the base and are configured to sense environmental conditions around the rover at different elevations. A computing system includes a processor and memory. The memory is configured to receive measured data from the sensors and determine an amount and manner of water to be dispensed on plant life in the field. Full Article
au AUTONOMOUS MOBILE PLATFORM AND VARIABLE RATE IRRIGATION METHOD FOR PREVENTING FROST DAMAGE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A rover includes a base having wheels and a propulsion system coupled to the wheels to propel the rover around a field. A tower is coupled to the base and extends over the base. Sensors are set on the tower and the base and are configured to sense environmental conditions around the rover at different elevations. A computing system includes a processor and memory. The memory is configured to receive measured data from the sensors and determine an amount and manner of water to be dispensed on plant life in the field. Full Article
au Multifunctional tool for automotive air conditioning system testing and maintenance By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT An automotive tool for servicing air-conditioning (AC) systems equipped with quick-connect adaptors. May be used to service modern refrigerant R132A-compatible systems or retrofitted older systems. The tool is adapted for attaching, detaching, opening, and closing valved T-adaptors used to attach gas lines and pressure gauges such as required for adjusting pressure in AC systems at full operational pressure and temperature, and particularly finds use when the “hi-tap” and “lo-tap” fittings are in hard to reach places around the engine block or chassis. The tool includes swappable extension arms so that length and angular geometry may be adjusted as needed. The tool aids in avoiding injury on dangerously hot surfaces and moving fan blades or belts. Surprisingly, using two such tools, one for the high tap and one for the low tap, a mechanic may work each tool singlehandedly to complete any necessary pressure adjustments. Full Article
au Easy to change automobile tires By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST Apparatus for installing and removing road wheels from a motor vehicle, which may include a powered jack permanently mountable to the vehicle and a powered tool for tightening and loosening lug nuts and screws. The jack is an assembly incorporating two screw operated jacks, each for lifting one corner of the vehicle. The jack may include a manual controller having a power cord which is inserted into the cigarette lighter socket of the vehicle and which selectively operates any of up to four screw operated jacks. The powered tool may include plural sockets for engaging all lug nuts and screws simultaneously. The jack and powered tool may each have respective power cords which are insertable into the cigarette lighter socket or alternatively into a power port of the manual controller. The invention may comprise a kit including one or more jacks, the powered tool and optionally a jack stand. Full Article
au Hydraulic hose cutting device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A cutting device includes a first part and a second part which is pivotably connected to the first part. A first fixing portion is located in the top side of the first part. The second part has a second fixing portion defined in the underside side thereof and facing the top side of the first part. The second fixing portion is located corresponding to the first fixing portion. A reception slot is defined axially in the second part and communicates with the second fixing portion and the underside of the second part. A blade is inserted into the reception slot. A hole is defined through the first part for receiving a hydraulic hose. A pressing member is pivotably located in a recess in one side of the first part and is able to press the hydraulic hose passing through the hole and the recess. Full Article
au CURABLE COMPOSITION, LAMINATE, AND AUTOMOBILE HEADLAMP LENS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Provided are: a curable composition that makes it possible to form a cured film having excellent wear resistance and weather resistance; a laminate that is provided with the cured film; and an automobile headlamp lens. The curable composition makes it possible to obtain a cured film in which the relationship between a haze value (ΔHx) that is obtained by a wear resistance test and a haze value (ΔHy) that is obtained by a weather resistance test satisfies ΔHy≦−0.3 ΔHx+5.0 when a cured film having a thickness of 10 μm is produced. Full Article
au STRAIN GAUGE POLYMER COMPRISING PHOTOCHROMIC COLORANT By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A composite manufacture includes an extrudable thermoplastic matrix and a photochromic colorant, the photochromic colorant conferring to the composite a reversible strain-induced color change property. Methods include adding photochromic colorant to an extrudable thermoplastic polymer matrix to form a mixture, heating the mixture to form a composite, the photochromic colorant conferring to the composite a reversible strain-induced color change property. The composite manufactures can be used in cable coatings permitting visual detection of mechanical stresses in a wire based on the reversible strain-induced color change property. Full Article
au INTELLIGENT AUTOMATIC SHOE AND CARTRIDGE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 27 Apr 2017 08:00:00 EDT Card-reading shoes may include an input area configured to support cards therein. A card-reading system may be located within the card-reading shoe, the card-reading system including at least one sensor configured to detect at least a rank and suit of each card processed by the card-reading shoe. A toggle weight may be pivotally mounted proximate an output end of the shoe. The toggle weight may be configured to selectively rotate to enable cards to be removed from the card-reading shoe via the output end and to selectively remain stationary to prevent removed cards from being reinserted into the card-reading shoe via the output end. The card-reading shoes may optionally include a removable cartridge including a delivery end configured to enable manual removal of cards from the removable cartridge when the removable cartridge is removed from the input area. Full Article
au CONTROL MODULE FOR AUTONOMOUS TARGET SYSTEM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 25 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT A portable control module autonomously positions a target deployed in a combat simulation course. The module chassis is bullet-resistant and angled to deflect errant shots, and encloses a control circuit having an adjustable target exposure delay, an adjustable target exposure duration, means for receiving a trigger signal representing movement of a human body, means for revealing the target when the exposure delay lapses after triggering, means for enabling, only when the target is revealed, hit detection means detecting a shot striking the target, and means for concealing the target responsive to earliest occurrence of the shot detection or lapse of the target exposure duration. The module may include means for relaying the trigger signal to other modules within a cooperative decentralized target control system. A method for the autonomous position control is also disclosed. Full Article
au METHODS FOR AUTOMATICALLY GENERATING A CARD DECK LIBRARY AND MASTER IMAGES FOR A DECK OF CARDS, AND A RELATED CARD PROCESSING APPARATUS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method of automatically generating a calibration file for a card handling device comprises automatically generating a calibration file stored in memory of a main control system for a card handling device. Automatically generating the calibration file comprises identifying at least one parameter associated with a rank area around a rank of at least a portion of the card, identifying at least one parameter associated with a suit area around a suit of the at least a portion of the card, and storing the at least one parameter associated with the rank area and the at least one parameter associated with the suit area in the calibration file. Additionally, a method of automatically generating deck libraries for one or more decks of cards comprises automatically generating a plurality of master images for the cards of the first deck type using the parameters from the calibration file. Full Article
au AUTOMATED CARD SHUFFLING AND DEALING DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An automated playing card, shuffling and dealing device in turn shuffles and in turn deals playing cards of two playing card sets, includes two card slot assemblies each disposed with a shuffled card box and a dealt card box. A control unit controls a dealing element to align with the playing card set in the shuffled card box of the card slot assembly at a card drawing position, sequentially draw the cards in the playing card set, and move the uncovered cards to the corresponding dealt card box. Meanwhile, the control unit controls a shuffling machine to align with the playing card set in the dealt card box of the card slot assembly at a card shuffling position. After the dealing process is complete, the control unit exchanges the positions of two card slot assemblies. Accordingly, shuffling and dealing in turn are completed in an uninterrupted and automated manner. Full Article
au AUTOMOTIVE HVAC SYSTEM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A vehicle heating, ventilation, and air cooling (HVAC) system that includes a module, an evaporator, and a heater core; the module defines a defrost outlet, a side window outlet, a front face outlet, and a front foot outlet. The evaporator and heater core are both housed within the module. The defrost outlet being open and closed by a defrost door, the side window outlets being open and closed by a plurality of demist doors. The defrost door and demist doors share a common shaft, a torsion spring around the shaft allows the defrost door to remain offset from the demist doors. Full Article
au Automobile Interior Temperature Stabilizer By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An automobile interior temperature stabilizer includes a holder adapted for placing within a vehicle cabin and a temperature stabilizing member which is made of latent heat material that absorbs and releases heat without rising in its temperature and is disposed in the holder, wherein the temperature stabilizing member has a threshold temperature range that the temperature stabilizing member is arranged for absorbing cabin heat within the vehicle cabin to cool down the vehicle cabin when an interior temperature of the vehicle is higher than the threshold temperature range, and the temperature stabilizing member is arranged for releasing stored heat to the vehicle cabin to warm the vehicle cabin when an interior temperature of the vehicle is lower than the threshold temperature range. Therefore, the automobile interior temperature stabilizer is able to maintain the cabin temperature of the vehicle without using any power from the vehicle. Full Article
au SEMI-EXHAUSTIVE RECURSIVE BLOCK DECODING METHOD AND DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 18 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments of the invention provides a decoder for decoding a signal received through a transmission channel in a communication system, said signal carrying information symbols selected from a given alphabet and being associated with a signal vector, said transmission channel being represented by a channel matrix, wherein said decoder comprises: a sub-block division unit (301) configured to divide the received signal vector into a set of sub-vectors in correspondence with a division of a matrix related to said channel matrix;a candidate set estimation unit (305) for recursively determining candidate estimates of sub-blocks of the transmitted signal corresponding to said sub-vectors, each estimate of a given sub-block being determined from at least one candidate estimate of the previously processed sub-blocks,wherein said candidate set estimation unit is configured to determine a set of candidate estimates for at least one sub-block of the transmitted signal by applying at least one iteration of a decoding algorithm using the estimates determined for the previously processed sub-blocks, the number of candidate estimates determined for said sub-block being strictly inferior to the cardinal of the alphabet and superior or equal to two, the decoder further comprising a signal estimation unit (306) for calculating an estimate of the transmitted signal from said candidate estimates determined for said sub-blocks. Full Article
au Auto darkening filter adapter frame assembly for a welding helmet By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An adapter frame assembly is provided to receive and support an extra-large 110 mm×110 mm ADF, safety lens and diopter within the viewing window of an existing welding helmet. The adapter frame assembly provides for replacement of the safety lens without removing the ADF and installation or removal of a diopter without removing the safety lens or diopter. The ADF, safety lens and diopter are all easy to install and change. Full Article
au Procedurally Generating Background Music for Sponsored Audio By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 18 May 2017 08:00:00 EDT A content server generates sponsored audio including procedurally generated background music. The content server obtains reference music features describing musicological characteristics of reference songs as well as sponsored audio information received from a third-party. The content server determines music generation parameters based on the sponsored audio information and based on a music model mapping the reference music features to music generation parameters. The music model may incorporate machine learning techniques to improve the mapping. The content server generates background music by using the determined music generation parameters as input to a procedural music algorithm, and generates sponsored audio by combining the generated background music concurrently with an audio voiceover obtained from the sponsored audio information. The sponsored audio is provided to a client device, which presents the sponsored audio to a user. Full Article
au AUTOMATIC TUNING FLOATING BRIDGE FOR ELECTRIC STRINGED INSTRUMENTS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 01 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method, computer program product, and system for automatically tuning a stringed instrument. An initial height of a first string of an instrument having a plurality of strings and a floating bridge is determined. The height of the plurality of strings is determined using a bridge sensor. The floating bridge is locked. A frequency of the first string is analyzed. In response to determining the frequency of the first string does not match a predetermined frequency, a tuning peg servo motor to adjust a tuning peg, thereby adjusting a string tension of the first string. The one or more bridge servo motors adjusts a spring tension until the spring tension of the one or more springs equals the string tension of the first string. In response to determining the first string is tuned, the floating bridge is unlocked. Full Article
au AUTOMATIC TUNING FLOATING BRIDGE FOR ELECTRIC STRINGED INSTRUMENTS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 01 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method, computer program product, and system for automatically tuning a stringed instrument. An initial height of a first string of an instrument having a plurality of strings and a floating bridge is determined. The height of the plurality of strings is determined using a bridge sensor. The floating bridge is locked. A frequency of the first string is analyzed. In response to determining the frequency of the first string does not match a predetermined frequency, a tuning peg servo motor to adjust a tuning peg, thereby adjusting a string tension of the first string. The one or more bridge servo motors adjusts a spring tension until the spring tension of the one or more springs equals the string tension of the first string. In response to determining the first string is tuned, the floating bridge is unlocked. Full Article
au SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONVERTING TEXTUAL MESSAGES TO MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 01 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method for converting textual messages to musical messages comprising receiving a text input and receiving a musical input selection. The method includes analyzing the text input to determine text characteristics and analyzing a musical input corresponding to the musical input selection to determine musical characteristics. Based on the text characteristic and the musical characteristic, the method includes correlating the text input with the musical input to generate a synthesizer input, and sending the synthesizer input to a voice synthesizer. The method includes receiving a vocal rendering of the text input from the voice synthesizer and generating a musical message from the vocal rendering and the musical input. The method includes generating a video element based on a video input, incorporating the video element into the musical message, and outputting the musical message including the video element. Full Article
au AUDIO PROCESSING DEVICE, METHOD OF AUDIO PROCESSING, STORAGE MEDIUM, AND ELECTRONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 15 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A delay time counter in a DSP cyclically counts a sampling clock from zero to a delay time sampling count and issues a delay time interrupt to a CPU each time the sampling clock count reaches the delay time sampling count. The CPU measures a time difference between each time the DSP issues the delay time interrupt and each time sequence clock interrupts occur a number of times corresponding to the delay time. Then, in order to reduce this time difference, the CPU increases or decreases a maximum count that is set to the sequence clock counter. Therefore, in the next delay process, the shift between the time by which the automatic performance is advanced by the CPU (which is equal to the delay time) and the timing of the delay process executed by the DSP (which is also equal in length to the delay time) will be corrected. Full Article
au METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTING TUNABLE PASSIVE ANTENNAS, AND AUTOMATICALLY TUNABLE ANTENNA ARRAY USING THIS METHOD By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a method for automatically adjusting a plurality of tunable passive antennas, for instance a plurality of tunable passive antennas of a radio transceiver using several antennas simultaneously. The invention also relates to an automatically tunable antenna array using this method. An automatically tunable antenna array of the invention has 4 user ports, and comprises: 4 tunable passive antennas, the 4 tunable passive antennas operating simultaneously in a given frequency band and forming a multiport antenna array; 4 sensing units; 4 feeders; a signal processing unit delivering a tuning instruction; and a tuning control unit, the tuning control unit receiving the tuning instruction from the signal processing unit, the tuning control unit delivering tuning control signals to the tunable passive antennas, the tuning control signals being determined as a function of the tuning instruction. Full Article
au PATCH ANTENNA ARRAY FOR TRANSMISSION OF HERMITE-GAUSSIAN AND LAGUERRE GAUSSIAN BEAMS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An antenna array includes a plurality of patch antennas including a plurality of layers. Each of the plurality of layers are separated by a distance and each support a portion of the plurality of patch antennas. A plurality of connectors are each associated with one of the plurality of layers and supply a signal for transmission by the associated layer. A feed network on each of the plurality of layers provides a connection between a connector associated with the layer and the portion of the patch antennas located on the layer. Each layer transmits a signal having a different orthogonal function applied thereto that multiplexes each of the signals having a different orthogonal function applied thereto onto a single transmission beam. A parabolic reflector reflects the single transmission beam from the plurality of layers of the antenna array. Full Article
au METHODS FOR TREATING EXHAUST GAS IN A PROCESSING SYSTEM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Methods and apparatus for treating an exhaust gas in a foreline of a substrate processing system are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for treating an exhaust gas in an exhaust conduit of a substrate processing system includes: flowing an exhaust gas and a reagent gas into an exhaust conduit of a substrate processing system; injecting a non-reactive gas into the exhaust conduit to maintain a desired pressure in the exhaust conduit for conversion of the exhaust gas; and forming a plasma from the exhaust gas and reagent gas, subsequent to injecting the non-reactive gas, to convert the exhaust gas to abatable byproduct gases. Full Article
au Wearable Automatic Injection Device and Related Methods of Use By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Exemplary embodiments provide wearable automatic injection devices for providing an injection of a therapeutic agent into a patient. The wearable automatic injection device includes a housing having a patient contact portion securable to the patient, an injection needle for insertion into the patient, and a prefilled syringe assembly for holding the therapeutic agent. The prefilled syringe assembly includes a distal stopper and a proximal stopper penetrated by a penetrating needle. The penetrating needle is in fluid communication with the patient injection needle. Full Article
au METHODS AND DEVICES FOR AUTOFLUSH SYRINGES By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Described herein are syringe devices, systems and methods. In general, the syringe may include a first chamber and a cartridge movable within the first chamber. The cartridge may include a cartridge chamber and a valve in fluid communication with the cartridge chamber and the first chamber and having an open configuration and a closed configuration. The valve may allow movement of a liquid out of the cartridge chamber while in a open configuration. The cartridge may also include a second end, movable within the cartridge chamber, and a locking mechanism having a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, the locking mechanism preventing movement of the second end within the cartridge chamber while in the locked configuration. Full Article
au AUTOINJECTOR WITH SHOCK REDUCING ELEMENTS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An injection device, method, and system for drug delivery includes a primary container for storing a drug, the container having a stopper movably disposed in the container for expelling the drug, an injection drive mechanism comprising a plunger for acting on the stopper and an energy source for exerting a force on the plunger to cause the plunger to act on the stopper to expel the drug, the force causing the plunger to accelerate to a velocity prior to acting on the stopper, and a damping mechanism for reducing the velocity of the plunger prior to acting on the stopper. The damping mechanism can include a dashpot or an energy absorbing material associated with the plunger. Alternatively or additionally, the damping mechanisms can include absorbing material disposed between support members of an outer casing of the injection device and the primary container. Full Article
au Needle Protection Device With Gauge Specific Color Coding and Method for Manufacturing Thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT To enable a user to readily determine the gauge of the needle of a needle assembly that has a base and a needle protective housing pivotably attached thereto, the needle assembly is injection molded from a color coded molding material which color was preassigned to correspond to the gauge of the needle. As a result, both the base and the protective housing of the needle assembly have—the same specific color, and reflect or provide an indication of the given gauge of the needle. The needle sheath that covers the needle prior to use may be made of a plastics material that may be clear, or have the same or a different color than that of the needle assembly. The gauge of the needle of a fixed needle syringe could also be ascertained by its color coded needle protective housing. Color coded markings that correspond to the gauge of the needle may also be printed onto the syringe barrel of the fixed needle syringe. Full Article
au CIRCUIT FAULT DETECTION SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed are a circuit fault detection system and method for a circuit fault detection. A circuit fault detection system includes: a detection circuit including a diode, a first resistor, and a second resistor, which are positioned between an applied voltage source and a top of a detection target circuit in series, and a third resistor and a fourth resistor, which are positioned between the detection target circuit and a ground in series, an input unit including a first input terminal configured to receive a voltage measured between the first resistor and the second resistor as an input, and a second input terminal configured to receive a voltage measured between the third resistor and the fourth resistor as an input, a controller configured to detect a failure in the detection target circuit and in an operation of the detection target circuit based on values of the voltages detected by the input unit; and a display unit configured to provide a warning to a user when the failure is detected. Full Article
au METHOD FOR LOCATING A FAULT By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The invention concerns a method for locating a fault affecting an electrical appliance that comprises a communication interface and a female electrical connector, the female electrical connector comprising at least one conductive element mounted movable between an active position and a rest position, the female electrical connector comprising test means connected to the conductive element when same is in the rest position; the locating method comprising: a disconnection step; a test step consisting of testing the communication interface by cooperating with the test means of the female electrical connector; a locating step consisting of locating the fault in the electrical appliance or in an external element. Full Article
au Use of 1,1-diethoxyethane for increasing knocking resistance of automotive gasoline By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to the use of 1,1-diethoxyethane for increasing the knocking resistance of low-boiling gasoline with an initial boiling point (IBP) of 80° C. to 120° C. by at least 40 units (Research Octane Number). Full Article
au Systems and arrangements for mitigating environmental damage caused by storm water carried pollution By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A pollution mitigation system is disclosed. The system can include a valve forming a passage the valve installable to form an orifice in a storm drain retention chamber that passes storm water into a conduit of a storm water management system. The valve having a stem connected to a closure member that can plug the orifice. The valve can have a spring loaded actuator that can move the closure member into a closed position. The system can also include a node such as a wireless sensor node or a mote that has sensors, a transceiver, an antenna, a microcontroller, memory, an energy source and at least one output to control movement of the closure member via the preloaded actuator. The node can have an output that provides the stimulus to the preloaded actuator to cause the preloaded actuator to move the closure member to a position that obstructs the passage in response to either the sensor or a transmission from a mobile telephone such as a cell phone or a smartphone. Full Article