tom An open letter to Tom Hanks, from a Wilson By www.inlander.com Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 01:30:00 -0700 [IMAGE-1] The truth is, Tom, we never had a chance. I didn't choose my name.… Full Article Arts & Culture
tom What We Need to Understand About Asymptomatic Carriers if We’re Going to Beat Coronavirus By www.inlander.com Published On :: Sat, 04 Apr 2020 06:43:00 -0700 ProPublica’s health reporter Caroline Chen explains what the conversation around asymptomatic coronavirus carriers is missing, and what we need to understand if we’re going to beat this nefarious virus together. By Caroline Chen, ProPublica In the early days of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S., around the last week of February, I joked to a colleague that maybe now, finally, people would learn how to wash their hands properly.… Full Article News/Nation & World
tom Automatic chemical assay classification using a space enhancing proximity By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A computer implemented method for automatic chemical assay classification, the method comprising steps the computer is programmed to perform, the steps comprising: receiving a plurality of sets of parameters, each one of the received sets of parameters characterizing a respective assay of a chemical reaction, calculating a space enhancing proximity among points representative of assays of qualitatively identical chemical reactions, and representing each one of at least two of the received sets of parameters as a respective point in the calculated space, and dividing the points in the calculated space into a number of groups, according to proximity among the points in the calculated space, each group pertaining to a respective chemical reaction, thereby classifying the assays. Full Article
tom Computing device with automated conversion of units By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for computer-implemented unit-conversion method, the method comprising identifying a first numerical value in a first system of units displayed on a computing device, converting the first numerical value in the first system of units into a second numerical value, and displaying the second numerical value and the second system of units on the computing device. Full Article
tom Custom configuration for a calculator based on a selected functionality By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Examples disclose a computing system comprising a computing device with a display surface to detect a selection of functionality from a list of functionalities to be disabled on a calculator. Further, the computing device creates a custom configuration based on the selected functionality. Additionally, the examples also disclose a calculator with a processor to integrate the custom configuration, the custom configuration restricts the selected functionality on the calculator. Full Article
tom Automatic pinning and unpinning of virtual pages for remote direct memory access By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT In one exemplary embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a remote direct memory access (RDMA) device, a plurality of RDMA requests referencing a plurality of virtual pages. Data transfers are scheduled for the plurality of virtual pages, wherein the scheduling occurs at the RDMA device. The number of the virtual pages that are currently pinned is limited for the RDMA requests based on a predetermined pinned page limit. Full Article
tom System and method for automated assignment of virtual machines and physical machines to hosts By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system and method for reconfiguring a computing environment comprising a consumption analysis server, a placement server, an infrastructure management client and a data warehouse in communication with a set of data collection agents and a database. The consumption analysis server operates on measured resource utilization data to yield a set of resource consumptions in regularized time blocks, collects host and virtual machine configurations from the computing environment and determines available capacity for a set of target hosts. The placement server assigns a set of target virtual machines to the target set of hosts in a new placement. In one mode of operation the new placement is nearly optimal. In another mode of operation, the new placement is “good enough” to achieve a threshold score based on an objective function of resource capacity headroom. The new placement is implemented in the computing environment. Full Article
tom Automatic WSDL download of client emulation for a testing tool By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method is disclosed which may include analyzing communication requests in a business process between a client and a server offering a service application to be tested. The method may further include identifying a call to a web service in the analyzed communication. The method may also include determining a location of a Web Service Description Language (WSDL) file relating to the web service on a remote server and downloading the WSDL file from the determined location. A computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for performing the method and a computer system are also disclosed. Full Article
tom Automated generation of two-tier mobile applications By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The disclosure generally describes computer-implemented methods, software, and systems for creating and using two-tier mobile applications. A computer-implemented method includes identifying at least a portion of a database to be associated with a mobile application, retrieving a set of metadata associated with the at least a portion of the identified database, automatically generating a set of mobile application source code for directly accessing the at least a portion of the database based on the set of retrieved metadata, and compiling the set of mobile application source code into a distributable mobile application, the distributable mobile application configured to directly access the identified database associated with the mobile application. In some instances, the identifying, retrieving, generating, and compiling operations are performed at design time, while at runtime, the mobile application is executable by a mobile device and, during runtime execution, can request database-related information directly from the identified database. Full Article
tom Custom code lifecycle management By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method is provided to manage program code that runs in a computer system comprising: producing a management information structure that identifies a managed system within the computer system; producing a master object definition information structure that provides a mapping between master objects and corresponding managed code objects that run in the computer system; and requesting extraction of information from the managed system identified by the master information structure that relates to managed code objects that the object definition information structure maps to master objects. Full Article
tom Algorithm for automated enterprise deployments By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of automating the deployment of a number of enterprise applications on one or more computer data processing systems. Each enterprise application or update is stored in a dynamic distribution directory and is provided with identifying indicia, such as stage information, target information, and settings information. When automated enterprise deployment is invoked, computer instructions in a computer readable medium provide for initializing deployment, performing deployment, and finalizing deployment of the enterprise applications or updates. Full Article
tom System and method for automated updating of map information By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Traffic information readings corresponding to a vehicle are received, the readings including at least a location. The traffic information readings are compared to information already within a map database, and are used to derive additional map information augmenting or correcting that already within the database, the additional map information subsequently being stored in the database. Additional information that is derived includes the presence of stop signs and traffic lights at intersections, the legality of turns at certain times of day, and the connectedness or non-connectedness of road segments. Full Article
tom System and method for automated simulator assertion synthesis and digital equivalence checking By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system, method, and computer program product for automatically generating equivalent assertions in different forms for different verification tools, which may be analog or digital. A user submits a set of logic assertions that, if unclocked, are converted to clocked assertions by generating and skewing clocks to ensure simulator uniformity. A stimulus is generated, perhaps at random, or input. A test bench is either input or synthesized. For each verification tool, the test bench is simulated and simulation results are captured. An assertion status difference engine evaluates result differences between the verification tools, and identifies and outputs differences indicating a significant inconsistency. Errors in verification tool implementation and user assertion coding can be detected. The simulators used may include SPICE and Verilog, or any other simulators that differ in type, simulation algorithm, input format, or vendor implementation. Full Article
tom Automated integrated circuit design documentation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of creating a datasheet includes obtaining integrated circuit data from at least one data source, creating a data structure including the integrated circuit data obtained from the at least one data source, and creating a datasheet using data contained in the data structure. The datasheet is created in a human-readable format. Full Article
tom Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for implementing physical design using force models with custom connectivity By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed are methods, systems, and articles of manufactures for implementing physical designs by using multiple force models to iteratively morph a layout decomposition. In addition to attractive force model(s) or repulsive force model(s), the physical implementation also uses a containment force model for grouping multiple design blocks or for confining a node of a cell within the boundary of a container. Another aspect is directed at deriving a first force model at the first hierarchical level from a second force model at the second hierarchical level by directly modifying the second model based at least in part on characteristic(s) of the first hierarchical level and of the second hierarchical level. In a design with multiple hierarchies, a cell-based force model is also used to ensure child nodes of a parent cell stay within a close proximity of the parent node of the parent cell. Full Article
tom Automatic disclosure detection By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of detecting pre-determined phrases to determine compliance quality is provided. The method includes determining whether at least one of an event or a precursor event has occurred based on a comparison between pre-determined phrases and a communication between a sender and a recipient in a communications network, and rating the recipient based on the presence of the pre-determined phrases associated with the event or the presence of the pre-determined phrases associated with the precursor event in the communication. Full Article
tom Automated communication integrator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus includes a plurality of applications and an integrator having a voice recognition module configured to identify at least one voice command from a user. The integrator is configured to integrate information from a remote source into at least one of the plurality of applications based on the identified voice command. A method includes analyzing speech from a first user of a first mobile device having a plurality of applications, identifying a voice command based on the analyzed speech using a voice recognition module, and incorporating information from the remote source into at least one of a plurality of applications based on the identified voice command. Full Article
tom System, method and program product for providing automatic speech recognition (ASR) in a shared resource environment By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A speech recognition system, method of recognizing speech and a computer program product therefor. A client device identified with a context for an associated user selectively streams audio to a provider computer, e.g., a cloud computer. Speech recognition receives streaming audio, maps utterances to specific textual candidates and determines a likelihood of a correct match for each mapped textual candidate. A context model selectively winnows candidate to resolve recognition ambiguity according to context whenever multiple textual candidates are recognized as potential matches for the same mapped utterance. Matches are used to update the context model, which may be used for multiple users in the same context. Full Article
tom Detecting automated identities in computer user communities By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A computer-implemented method of detecting automated identities, including. The method includes, using one or more computing devices, providing for display to a user a first representation of a first profile for a first identity and a second representation of a second profile for a second identity, providing for display to the user a choice indication mechanism for indicating a judgment about the first representation of the first profile for the first identity and the second representation of the second profile for the second identity, receiving an indication of the judgment from the user about the first representation of the first profile for the first identity and the second representation of the second profile for the second identity, and determining whether at least one of the first identity, the second identity, or the user is more or less likely to be automated, based at least in part on the received indication. Full Article
tom Arrangement for automatically switching a videorecorder on and off in the absence of a code signal but in presence of a FBAS signal By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 Feb 1991 08:00:00 EST The disclosed device enables the recording of television broadcasts which are preprogrammed in a memory. The presence of data lines of the television signal in combination with the presence of a color television signal is checked. When the data lines stop, the video recorder is switched on in real time by a clock time signal. Full Article
tom Automatic program ventilation control system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 1998 08:00:00 EST An automatic programmed ventilation control system for operating a fan includes a fan drive circuit; a duty, cycle control circuit including means for selecting a duty cycle and means for setting the selected duty cycle; a timing circuit including means for selecting the time of day and means for setting the selected time of day; a fan speed control circuit including means for selecting a fan speed and means for setting the selected fan speed; and a manual override switch circuit for overriding the set duty cycle and fan speed for operating the fan at a predetermined speed for a preselected period of time. Full Article
tom Wristwatch with atomic oscillator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A wristwatch, which comprises an atomic oscillator comprising a system for detecting the beat frequencies obtained by the Raman effect. Full Article
tom Automatically preventing large block writes from starving small block writes in a storage device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A mechanism is provided in a storage device for performing a write operation. The mechanism configures a write buffer memory with a plurality of write buffer portions. Each write buffer portion is dedicated to a predetermined block size category within a plurality of block size categories. For each write operation from an initiator, the mechanism determines a block size category of the write operation. The mechanism performs each write operation by writing to a write buffer portion within the plurality of write buffer portions corresponding to the block size category of the write operation. Full Article
tom Automatic detection and correction of magnetic resonance imaging data By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Systems and methods for processing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data are provided. A method includes receiving MRI data comprising a plurality of k-space points and deriving a plurality of image data sets based on the MRI data, each of the plurality of MRI image sets obtained by zeroing a different one of the plurality of k-space points. The method further includes computing image space metric values for each of the plurality of image data sets and adjusting a portion of the MRI data associated with ones of the image space metric values that fail to meet a threshold value to yield adjusted MRI data. Full Article
tom System and method for automatic detection of a plurality of SPO2 time series pattern types By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The disclosed embodiments relate to pulse oximetry. An exemplary pulse oximeter comprises a probe that is adapted to be attached to a body part of a patient to create a signal indicative of an oxygen saturation of blood of the patient, and a processor that is adapted to receive the signal produced by the probe, to calculate an SPO2 value based on the signal, to detect a plurality of pattern types of SPO2 indicative of pathophysiologic events, and to produce an output indicative of a detected one of the plurality of pattern types. Full Article
tom Device and method for electroimpedance tomography By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A device for electroimpedance tomography with an electrode belt (2), which has electrodes (E1 . . . E16), wherein at least two groups (5, 6) of electrodes located next to each other are formed and the electrodes of one group are contacted with at least one, multiwire feed cable (7, 8). For a reduced noise level during data acquisition, provisions are made for at least one electrode (E9) of two mutually adjacently located electrodes (E8, E9) of two different groups (5, 6) to have an additional electrode feed line (15), which is led over the feed cable (7) of the adjacent group (5). Full Article
tom Method for bottom-up graphene sheet preparation and bandgap engineering By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A combination of a substrate selected from silicon, silicon carbide or a metal and a grapheme precursor having the following properties: (a) an aromatic structure that forms the basis of the graphene structure, said aromatic structure being selected from the group consisting of: benzene, naphthalene, pyrene, anthracene, chrysene, coronene, and phenanthrene, or a cyclic or acyclic structures which can be converted to aromatic structures and (b) functional groups that can react with each other to form additional aromatic structures. Full Article
tom Automatic testing and remediation based on confidence indicators By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An asset health monitoring system (AHMS) can assign a confidence indicator to some or all the services of a computing service provider. In response to drops in the confidence indicators, the AHMS can automatically initiate testing of services and/or computing assets associated with the services in order to raise confidence that a particular service and its computing assets will perform correctly. Further, the AHMS can automatically initiate remediation procedures for the particular service and/or specific computing assets that fail the confidence testing. By automatically triggering testing and/or remediation procedures, the AHMS can increase reliability of the computing service provider by preemptively identifying problems. Full Article
tom Automated emergency power supply test using engine exhaust temperature By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Aug 2015 08:00:00 EDT An automated emergency power supply system (EPSS) and testing solution that records generator load values and engine exhaust temperature values to evaluate whether an EPSS test satisfies legislated test criteria. The EPSS test is carried out under software control, which initiates a test by instructing an automatic transfer switch (ATS) to change its status to a test status, causing the essential loads to be powered by a generator instead of a main utility power source. Power monitors record the ATS and generator status during the test as well as electrical parameter data from the ATS and generator and exhaust temperature data and other engine parameter data from the generator. When the test is concluded, the ATS is instructed to return the status to normal so that power delivery is resumed from the main power source. The electrical and engine parameter data is analyzed and compared against legislated test criteria to determine a pass/fail result of the EPSS test. Full Article
tom Automated system and method for blood components separation and processing By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST A blood processing centrifuge comprising: a rotor having an axis of rotation and being controllably spun around the axis, a mechanism for processing whole blood within the rotor while spinning, a computer controlling blood processing operations, the computer being mounted to the rotor and spinning therewith. Full Article
tom Systems and methods for identifying personalized vascular implants from patient-specific anatomic data By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments include methods of identifying a personalized cardiovascular device based on patient-specific geometrical information, the method comprising acquiring an anatomical model of at least part of the patient's vascular system; performing, using a processor, one or more of geometrical analysis, computational fluid dynamics analysis, and structural mechanics analysis on the anatomical model; and identifying, using the processor, a personalized cardiovascular device for the patient, based on results of one or more of the geometrical analysis, computational fluid dynamics analysis, and structural mechanics analysis of anatomical model. Full Article
tom Systems and methods for identifying personalized vascular implants from patient-specific anatomic data By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments include methods of identifying a personalized cardiovascular device based on patient-specific geometrical information, the method comprising: generating a patient specific model of at least a portion of a patient's vasculature from image data of the patient's vasculature and one or more measured or estimated physiological or phenotypic parameters of the patient; determining pathology characteristics from cardiovascular geometry of the patient specific model; defining an objective function for a device based on design considerations and one or more estimates of hemodynamic and mechanical characteristics; optimizing the objective function, by simulating at least one change in devices and evaluating the objective function using fluid dynamic or structural mechanic analysis; and using the optimized objective function to either (i) select a device from a set of available devices or (ii) manufacture a desired device. Full Article
tom Computer-implemented systems and methods for testing large scale automatic forecast combinations By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Jun 2015 08:00:00 EDT Systems and methods are provided for evaluating performance of forecasting models. A plurality of forecasting models may be generated using a set of in-sample data. Two or more forecasting models from the plurality of forecasting models may be selected for use in generating a combined forecast. An ex-ante combined forecast may be generated for an out-of-sample period using the selected two or more forecasting models. The ex-ante combined forecast may then be compared with a set of actual out-of-sample data to evaluate performance of the combined forecast. Full Article
tom Atomic layer deposition of metal sulfide thin films using non-halogenated precursors By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for preparing a metal sulfide thin film using ALD and structures incorporating the metal sulfide thin film. The method includes providing an ALD reactor, a substrate, a first precursor comprising a metal and a second precursor comprising a sulfur compound. The first and the second precursors are reacted in the ALD precursor to form a metal sulfide thin film on the substrate. In a particular embodiment, the metal compound comprises Bis(N,N'-di-sec-butylacetamidinato)dicopper(I) and the sulfur compound comprises hydrogen sulfide (H2S) to prepare a Cu2S film. The resulting metal sulfide thin film may be used in among other devices, photovoltaic devices, including interdigitated photovoltaic devices that may use relatively abundant materials for electrical energy production. Full Article
tom Algorithm for the automatic determination of optimal AV and VV intervals By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Methods and devices for determining optimal Atrial to Ventricular (AV) pacing intervals and Ventricular to Ventricular (VV) delay intervals in order to optimize cardiac output. Impedance, preferably sub-threshold impedance, is measured across the heart at selected cardiac cycle times as a measure of chamber expansion or contraction. One embodiment measures impedance over a long AV interval to obtain the minimum impedance, indicative of maximum ventricular expansion, in order to set the AV interval. Another embodiment measures impedance change over a cycle and varies the AV pace interval in a binary search to converge on the AV interval causing maximum impedance change indicative of maximum ventricular output. Another method varies the right ventricle to left ventricle (VV) interval to converge on an impedance maximum indicative of minimum cardiac volume at end systole. Another embodiment varies the VV interval to maximize impedance change. Full Article
tom Disposable electrode and automatic information recognition apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 15 Dec 2015 08:00:00 EST A disposable electrode includes: an electrode pad; and a connector, connecting the electrode pad to a defibrillator, and including an information holder that can be provided with a transmissive opening or a light reflective member, the information holder holding information about at least an expiration date, depending on presence or absence of the transmissive opening or the light reflective member, the information holder allowing the information to be notified from the defibrillator when the connector is connected to the defibrillator. Full Article
tom Stripper roll for use with calendering drives processing elastomeric mixes By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method and apparatus are provided for automatic and hands-free threading of an elastomeric mix into a calender set of rolls comprising one or more pairs of rolls that have a nip between them. A stripper roll is positioned next to one of the rolls forming the nip and is rotated so that the outer surface of the stripper roll moves in a direction opposite to the outer surface of the adjacent roll. The stripper roll removes all or a desired portion of the elastomeric mix from the adjacent roll and causes the same to transfer to another roll. Variables such as e.g., the relative surface speed of the stripper roll, diameter of the stripper roll, and distance of the outer surface of the stripper roll from the adjacent roll can be manipulated to control the amount of the elastomeric mix that is stripped by the stripper roll. Full Article
tom Automated setup process for metered combustion control systems By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method is provided for the automated setup of a metered combustion control system for controlling operation of a boiler combustion system. The automated setup process includes both commissioning and controller tuning, rather than tuning the carbon monoxide and/or oxygen trim controller after the commissioning process has been completed. The oxygen trim controller or the carbon monoxide trim controller is used to identify the air/fuel ratio. Full Article
tom Reader fabrication method employing developable bottom anti-reflective coating By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed are methods for making read sensors using developable bottom anti-reflective coating and amorphous carbon (a-C) layers as junction milling masks. The methods described herein provide an excellent chemical mechanical polishing or planarization (CMP) stop, and improve control in reader critical physical parameters, shield to shield spacing (SSS) and free layer track width (FLTW). Full Article
tom Developable bottom antireflective coating composition and pattern forming method using thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a developable bottom antireflective coating (BARC) composition and a pattern forming method using the BARC composition. The BARC composition includes a first polymer having a first carboxylic acid moiety, a hydroxy-containing alicyclic moiety, and a first chromophore moiety; a second polymer having a second carboxylic acid moiety, a hydroxy-containing acyclic moiety, and a second chromophore moiety; a crosslinking agent; and a radiation sensitive acid generator. The first and second chromophore moieties each absorb light at a wavelength from 100 nm to 400 nm. In the patterning forming method, a photoresist layer is formed over a BARC layer of the BARC composition. After exposure, unexposed regions of the photoresist layer and the BARC layer are selectively removed by a developer to form a patterned structure in the photoresist layer. The BARC composition and the pattern forming method are especially useful for implanting levels. Full Article
tom Automatic performance apparatus storing and editing performance information By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 04 Sep 1990 08:00:00 EDT An automatic performance apparatus includes a memory device, an input device, a write device, a switching device, and a write control device. The memory device stores performance information. The input device inputs the performance information. The write device sequentially writes the performance information at predetermined addresses of the memory device on the basis of an operation of the input device. The switching device commands rewriting. In response to a command from the switching device, the write control device returns a write address of the memory device to an immediately preceding start point of a predetermined music composition unit having two or more notes, thereby enabling an easy and accurate edit of the once stored performance information. Full Article
tom Modular automated assistive guitar By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 23 Oct 2007 08:00:00 EDT A modular automated assistive guitar is described comprising a base assembly, a pick assembly, a strumming mechanism and a fretting mechanism which, in combination with a standard guitar or similar stringed musical instrument (e.g., banjo, steel guitar, ukulele), forms a musical device that can be played by an individual with a range of independence, cognitive and physical abilities. The base assembly accepts, positions, and secures a standard guitar. The pick assembly includes quick attach and spring-loaded features for attaching and detaching picks, in addition to flexibility for smooth interaction with the guitar strings. The strumming mechanism provides cyclic motion and speed control to create pleasant and variable rhythm from the mounted guitar. The fretting mechanism allows a user to change chords and tone. An unmodified, traditional guitar is preferably used in the musical device. The guitar is easily interchangeable with another guitar or other stringed instrument, at the convenience of the user. The modular automated assistive musical device, with or without the guitar, is compact, light, portable, and easily adjustable to different individual's needs, motor skills, and dexterity. Full Article
tom Automotive timing chain system component and method thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT One embodiment may include an automotive timing chain system component (10, 12) such as a tensioner arm (10) or a chain guide (12) that, during use, bears directly or indirectly against a chain (22) of an automotive timing chain system (14). The component (10, 12) may have an elongated body (16, 116) made into a generally hollow shape by a hydroforming process. The body may have a first open free end (26, 126) and a second open free end (28, 128). Full Article
tom Universal synthetic lubricant additive with micro lubrication technology to be used with synthetic or miner host lubricants from automotive, trucking, marine, heavy industry to turbines including, gas, jet and steam By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT It is known by the inventor that a universal synthetic lubricant additive that can greatly enhance the performance standards of existing lubricants, petroleum based or synthetic, imparts a new and desirable property not originally present in the existing oil or it reinforces a desirable property already possessed in some degree can greatly benefit the consumer. Although additives of many diverse types have been developed to meet special lubrication needs, their principal functions are relatively few in number. This universal synthetic lubricant additive (invention) with micro lubrication technology, when used as directed will reduce the oxidative or thermal degradation of the host oil, substantially reduce the deposition of harmful deposits in lubricated parts, minimize rust and corrosion, control frictional properties, reduce wear, temperature, sludge, varnishes and prevent destructive metal-to-metal contact, reduce fuel consumption and harmful emissions while improving performance through increased horsepower and torque. Full Article
tom Precision roll turning lathe and automatic tool changer therefor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 04 Feb 2014 08:00:00 EST There is provided an automatic tool changer which, in a precision roll turning lathe which feeds a tool post at a high speed, can automatically change a tool, such as a cutting tool, without stopping the machine, thereby enabling highly efficient ultra-Precision machining of a roll mold for molding of a large-sized plastic sheet. The automatic tool changer includes: a change device including a vertically movable pivot arm having a pivot axis and which pivots in a horizontal plane, a hand portion, mounted at the front end of the arm, for detachably gripping a tool holder, a pivot drive section for pivoting the pivot arm, and a lifting drive section for vertically moving the pivot arm; a tool holder stocker, having a plurality of circumferentially-arranged stages disposed at a predetermined distance from the pivot axis, each stage detachably holding a tool holder; a holder base, mounted to the tool post, for fixing and unfixing a tool holder through the rotation of a clamp shaft; and a clamp shaft operating device including an operating portion for clamping/unclamping the tool holder by rotating the clamp shaft. Full Article
tom Bottom block, a block-transferring tool and a machine tool provided with the block-transferring tool By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 04 Mar 2014 08:00:00 EST A method of placing a bottom block includes: placing bottom blocks on a block storage area in which a spindle can hold the bottom blocks; attaching a block-transferring tool to the spindle, the block-transferring tool having a main shaft attachment attached to the spindle and a block holder for holding the bottom block; and holding the bottom blocks by the block holder of the block-transferring tool and placing the held bottom blocks on a predetermined workpiece placing position on an upper surface of a table by relative movement. Full Article
tom Trim and flame robot end effector with optional automatic blade change feature By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 08 Jul 2014 08:00:00 EDT A combination trimming/flame treatment end effector adapted for mounting to the end of a robotic arm. A trimming blade extends from a main body portion of the end effector for performing a trimming operation. The trimming blade may be mounted in an exchangeable cartridge to facilitate blade changing. Also extending from the main body portion is a flame treatment element for performing a flame treatment operation. The flame treatment element generally comprises a torch or burner. Because both the trimming blade and the flame treatment element are part of the same end effector, the robot simply manipulates the end effector such that the desired one of the trimming blade or the flame treatment element is properly positioned for use. As such, a tooling change can be avoided. While not restricted thereto, it is contemplated that an end effector of the present invention may be used to process vehicle bumper fascias. Full Article
tom Automatic tool changer By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed in an automatic tool changer in which the tool changing time can be shortened by increasing overlapping operations of the turning operation and the axial advancing/retracting operation of a replacement arm. An arm driver (32) is so constituted that the driver performs overlapping operations such that at least a part of the operation for turning a replacement arm (23) by 180° and the operation for advancing/retracting the replacement arm in the axial direction in order to insert or withdraw a tool (37) are performed simultaneously and in parallelism with each other. When the replacement arm (23) is advanced/retracted in the axial direction in order to insert or withdraw a tool, the replacement arm (23) is turned by a predetermined distance in a direction reverse to the direction (so called “normal direction”) for turning the arm by 180° in parallelism with the advancing/retracting operation, and thereafter, the replacement arm (23) is turned in the normal direction. Full Article
tom Module for automatic tool exchange device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided is a module for automatic tool exchange device of novel structure wherein electric signals can be transmitted with high reliability while preventing transmission efficiency from deteriorating between a first coupling member and a second coupling member. An electromagnetic shielding member is arranged on an outer circumference of a core member except for a transmission surface, a gap member having electromagnetic shielding effect lower than that of the electromagnetic shielding member is interposed between the core member and the electromagnetic shielding member, and a first module and a second module are provided, respectively, with coil units equipped with coil heads which are constituted to include a coil member, the core member and the gap member. Full Article
tom Stochastic reflectometer By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed herein are various embodiments of a time-domain reflectometer having a transmitter configured to apply, to a system under test (SUT), an intensity-modulated probe signal generated based on a periodic pseudo-random bit sequence. The reflectometer further has a receiver configured to receive, back from the SUT, a reflected signal corresponding to the probe signal. The receiver converts the received reflected signal into a binary bit sequence using a relatively simple slicer circuit, and without the use of complex analog circuits and/or multi-bit analog-to-digital converters. The binary bit sequence is then compared with the original pseudo-random bit sequence to obtain a measure of the impulse response of the SUT. In some embodiments, the reflectometer has a controllable noise generator that can be used, e.g., to optimize the obtained measure for the detection of multiple SUT defects having significantly differing reflection characteristics. Full Article