meth USER INTERFACE CONTROL LAYOUT METHOD AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments of this disclosure relate to the field of multimedia technologies, and disclose a user interface control layout method and an electronic devices. The user interface control layout method includes the following steps: creating a relative layout container, where the relative layout container is used to contain child controls, and the child controls are a relative layout container or a normal control; specifying an attribute of a child control for the relative layout container; generating the child control; and if the child control is a relative layout container, repeating the foregoing steps, until all the child controls in the relative layout container are normal controls. In some embodiments of this disclosure, multiple UI controls of different sizes or types may be generated one by one through layout and arrangement, and the UI controls of different sizes or types may be nested with each other, and thereby UI interfaces based on different rules can be quickly implemented to meet different requirements of various products for UI control arrangement. Full Article
meth UI PRODUCING APPARATUS, UI PRODUCING METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT To improve efficiency of UI production, a UI producing apparatus includes: a UI producing unit configured to allow a user to design UI screens which correspond to contents, respectively; a multi-preview executing unit configured to generate contexts for controlling the UI screens, respectively, and configured to simultaneously display previews corresponding to the UI screens, respectively, based on the contexts; a coordination unit configured to, responding to an event generated on at least one of the UI screens, provide a message, which includes information about the event, to one of the contexts corresponding to another one of the UI screens, in order to cause the UI screens to coordinate with each other; and a screen generating unit configured to modify the one of the contexts, based on the message, so as to generate the UI screens. Full Article
meth SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING TASK-EMBEDDED DOCUMENTS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method and system are provided for processing a document comprising a plurality of content portions. An editing copy of the document is generated. The editing copy includes embedded code identifying at least one task corresponding to at least one content portion of the document, the code defining at least one user interface element for presentation proximate to the at least one content portion and within the editing copy when the editing copy is rendered and presented. The editing copy is sent to a user system for rendering and presentation at the user system. When a user interface element for a task is activated at the user system, a request is sent to the system to execute the identified task; the task is executed and a result sent to the user system for presentation. Full Article
meth RDX ENHANCEMENT OF SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPLEMENTING REUSABLE DATA MARKUP LANGUAGE (RDL) By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Methods and systems in accordance with the present invention allow users to efficiently manipulate, analyze, and transmit eXtensible Business Reporting Language (“XBRL”) reports. They allow users to automatically build financial reports that are acceptable to governing agencies such as the IRS. In one embodiment, the reports are developed by a parser that transforms text documents into software elements containing a format with a hierarchal relationship between the software elements, and an editor that develops reports by referencing the software elements transformed from the text documents. Methods and systems in accordance with the present invention also enable reports to be automatically scheduled by gathering desired information from an accounting system, formatting the information into an XBRL document, and transmitting it to an end source. Furthermore, systems and methods in accordance with the present invention allow a user to translate an XBRL document into RDL format and use the RDL system to manipulate and analyze it. Full Article
meth METHOD AND DEVICE FOR EXTENDING A LAYOUT TEMPLATE OF AN APPLICATION COMPONENT By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present application provides a method and a device for extending a layout template of a component. The method includes determining an inheritance relationship between a component to be extended and an existing component, generating extension information of the component to be extended according to the inheritance relationship, where the extension information includes identification (ID) information of the existing component, the inheritance relationship, and content to be extended. The method further includes acquiring a layout template object of the existing component according to the ID information of the existing component, where the layout template object is configured with at least one element item of the corresponding component, and updating the element item in the layout template object according to the inheritance relationship and the content to be extended to obtain a layout template object. A layout template is extended using an inheritance relationship between objects to simplify the management of the layout templates and the complexity of maintenance and updates. Full Article
meth EMOJI INPUT METHOD AND DEVICE THEREOF By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present disclosure describes an emoji input method and a device thereof. The emoji input method may include: detecting a user operation that starts an emoji conversion function; receiving a plurality of user input words; segmenting the plurality of user input words to obtain a keyword candidate; searching for an emoji corresponding to the keyword candidate based on a mapping relationship between the keyword and emojis; and displaying the emoji. Full Article
meth SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SUGGESTING EMOJI By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Implementations of the present disclosure are directed to a method, a system, and an article for suggesting emoji for insertion into a communication having text or other content. A plurality of features corresponding to the communication are obtained and provided to a plurality of emoji detection modules. A set of emoji and first confidence scores are received from each emoji detection module and provided to at least one classifier. A proposed set of candidate emoji and second confidence scores are received from the at least one classifier. A candidate emoji is inserted into the communication. Full Article
meth SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ANALYZING ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS TO DYNAMICALLY IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND VISUALIZATION OF COLLABORATIVE WORK ENVIRONMENTS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Systems and methods for managing a collaborative environment are provided. A plurality of sheets is stored in a collaboration system. The collaboration system tracks user interactions with the plurality of sheets and generates a collaboration graph based on the interactions. The collaboration graph is analyzed to determine similarities between the sheets and/or the users. One or more visualizations are generated based on the collaboration graph and the determined similarities. In some embodiments, the collaboration system is able to provide project management information even for dynamic workflows that are not explicitly defined. Full Article
meth SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING REAL-TIME AND HISTORICAL DATA AND GENERATING PREDICTIVE GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACES By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Computer implemented systems and methods are provided for generating a predictive graphical user interface. In some embodiments, a system for generating a predictive graphical user interface may comprise at least one processor configured to receive real-time and historical data associated with utilization of a facility. The at least one processor may be configured to generate, based on the real-time and historical data, instructions to display a user interface depicting a first representation of utilization of the facility at a first time. The at least one processor may be configured to receive a request to display a second representation of utilization of the facility, the request including a selection of a second time, and generate, based on the real-time and historical data, instructions to display, within the interface, a second representation of utilization of the facility, the second representation reflecting utilization at the second time, wherein the second time is a future time relative to the first time. Full Article
meth METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CAPTURING SCREEN ON MOBILE DEVICE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method and an apparatus for capturing a screen on a mobile device, the method including: receiving, at the mobile device, a screen-capturing request for a current interface, where the current interface includes first data, and the first data includes personal information; and generating, according to screen-capturing request, a screen capture image for the current interface, where the first data in the current interface is replaced in the screen capture image with second data which is predefined. These embodiments avoid the need to manually mask an image by starting a dedicated image editing tool to anonymize a screen capture image, thereby significantly lowering the relatively high technical threshold of anonymization processing, reducing the error rate, and improving the modification quality of anonymization. Moreover, the replacement is directly made to the image while the screen is captured without interfering with normal use of reading. Full Article
meth INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD AND TERMINAL, AND COMPUTER STORAGE MEDIUM By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed are an information processing method and terminal. The method includes: acquiring a first operation (101); in response to the first operation, selecting a plurality of pictures from a local information base or an information base pulled and obtained by a background server, and displaying the same on a user interface of a terminal (102); acquiring a second operation (103); in response to the second operation, partitioning to-be-added first target information into a plurality of items of second target information according to a preset rule, and overlaying the plurality of items of second target information on the plurality of pictures in one batch (104); and forming complete information corresponding to the first target information by the plurality of items of second target information, the second target information being partial information in the first target information (105). Full Article
meth METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND MEDIA FOR NAVIGATING THROUGH A STREAM OF CONTENT ITEMS By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Methods, systems, and media for navigating through content are provided. In some embodiments, the method comprises: receiving a first plurality of interactive stream items; causing the first plurality of interactive stream items to be presented in a first presentation mode; receiving a first user selection of an interactive stream item from at least a portion of the first plurality of interactive stream items; continuing to receive the stream of content including a second plurality of interactive stream items; determining a second presentation mode based at least in part on a content type associated with the second plurality of interactive stream items; causing the second plurality of interactive stream items to be presented in a second presentation mode; receiving a second user selection indicating that the interactive stream item is no longer selected; and causing the second plurality of interactive stream items to be presented in the first presentation mode. Full Article
meth Methods and Systems for Managing Multiple Communication Sessions from a Single On-Screen User Interface By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT An exemplary communication session management system concurrently presents a plurality of session icons within a single on-screen user interface, each session icon representative of a respective communication session and configured to visually indicate a session status of the respective communication session. The communication session management system further detects a user action performed by a user with respect to one of the plurality of session icons, modifies a communication session in response to the user action, and graphically indicates the modification of the session status of the communication session. Corresponding systems and methods are also described. Full Article
meth SOUND OBJECT CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD BASED ON ADDITIONAL IMAGE OBJECT By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed is an apparatus and method for controlling a sound object based on an additional image object. A sound object controlling method includes displaying image objects synchronized with a plurality of sound objects, respectively, on a display; and controlling a sound object synchronized with an image object selected by a user from among the image objects displayed on the display. The sound object includes metadata that includes playback location information of the sound object on a specific space, sound level information of the sound object, and display location information of the image object synchronized with the sound object on the display. Full Article
meth Lock apparatus and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Lock assembly and method of coding and recoding locks. Some embodiments of a lock include a housing, a lock cylinder, a plurality of tumblers, a plurality of codebars, and a sidebar. Some embodiments of a lock include a housing, a lock cylinder, a plurality of tumblers, a plurality of code blocks, a sidebar, and a codebar. Full Article
meth Method for maintaining a door in a closed position on an over-the-road vehicle By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of preventing a first door on an over-the-road vehicle from moving from a closed position into an open position. The first door has a first latch assembly that cooperates with a second latch assembly to releasably maintain the first door in its closed position. One of the first and second latch assemblies is maintained in place by at least one fastener extended into a first opening. With the at least one fastener loosened, the first locking assembly is placed on one of: a) one of the doors; or b) the vehicle frame after which a fastener is tightened into the first opening to thereby: i) maintain one of the first and second latch assemblies in place and secure the operatively placed first locking assembly. With the first door in the closed position, a locking device can be connected to the first locking assembly and another part on the vehicle to thereby maintain the first door in the closed position. Full Article
meth Apparatus and method for operating a gas turbine engine during windmilling By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes a windmill pump driven by a spool. A first pump driven by said spool with an air-oil cooler is located downstream of the first pump. A second pump is also driven the spool with an air-air precooler located downstream of the second pump. A method of operating a gas turbine engine during a “windmilling” condition includes driving a windmill pump with a spool during a “windmilling ” condition. A lubricant is communicated to a geared architecture with the windmill pump. A first pump is driven by the spool and an air-oil cooler is located downstream of the first pump. Full Article
meth Dual-line pump unit, lubrication system, and related apparatus and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A dual-line pump unit for supplying lubricant includes a reservoir having an interior for holding lubricant. A first pump is provided for pumping lubricant from the reservoir through a first main line to a lubricant distribution system. A second pump is provided for pumping lubricant from the reservoir through a second main line to the lubricant distribution system. During a first stage of operation, the first pump operates to pump lubricant from the reservoir through the first main line to the lubricant distribution system and the second pump is idle, the second main line venting back to the reservoir via the second pump. During a second stage of operation, the second pump operates to pump lubricant from the reservoir through the second main line to the lubricant distribution system and the first pump is idle, the first main line venting back to the reservoir via the first pump. Full Article
meth Method for metered dispensing of lubricant By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a method for metered dispensing of lubricants using a lubricant dispenser comprising a reservoir chamber filled with lubricant, a gas generating unit for electrochemically generating gas, a piston acted on by the generated gas for outputting the lubricant from the reservoir chamber, and an electronic control unit for controlling the electrochemical gas generation. According to the invention, the temperature of the lubricant or the environment is measured at time intervals, and an average temperature value is derived from a plurality of measured temperature values. Using stored correction values describing the temperature-dependence of the electrochemical gas generating rate, a control parameter determining the electrochemical gas generation is set for the average temperature value, having the requirement that the gas generating rate at the average temperature value corresponds to the target value that correlates to prescribed dispensing time. Full Article
meth Crankshaft having optimized crankpin lubrication, and related engine and method for producing the lubrication system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a crankshaft comprising at least: a journal; a first crankpin; a second crankpin; a first arm connecting the first crankpin to the journal; a second arm connecting the second crankpin to the journal; a first pipe extending away from the first crank pin toward the journal and leading onto the surface of the first crankpin on the transverse median plane thereof, and substantially passing to the center of the median plane of the second arm; and a second conduit extending away from the second crankpin toward the journal and leading onto the surface of the second crankpin on the transverse median plane thereof, and substantially passing to the center of the median plane of the second arm, characterized in that the shape of the crankshaft is such that it cannot also comprise a diametric pipe within the transverse median plane of the journal fluidly adjoining the first pipe and the second pipe, and the crankshaft comprises a third non-diametric pipe within the transverse median plan of the journal fluidly connecting the first pipe and the second pipe. Full Article
meth Method for feeding grease composition for grease-feeding By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed is a method for feeding a grease composition for grease-feeding to bearing units comprising 35 to 85 wt. % of fluorine-based grease and 65 to 15 wt. % of fluorine-based organic solvent; the method comprising jetting the grease composition into an inner portion of a bearing unit, such as a bearing for a conveyor chain having a grease-feeding hole, so as to feed the fluorine-based grease in an amount accounting for 10 to 45 volume % of the space volume in the bearing. According to the grease-feeding method, the grease composition for grease-feeding can be effectively applied to a bearing unit having a grease-feeding hole (nipple), thereby can be sufficiently supplied to a lubrication part, and allows grease-feeding without leakage from the bearing unit. Full Article
meth Gas cooler and method for cooling gas By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT There is disclosed a gas cooler 20 for providing high-pressure sealing gas to a bearing chamber. The cooler comprises a turbine 22; a turbine inlet 24 arranged to receive gas to drive the turbine and a turbine outlet 26 arranged to deliver gas output from the turbine; a compressor 28 arranged to be driven by the turbine 22; a compressor inlet 30 arranged to receive gas to be compressed by the compressor and a compressor outlet 32 arranged to deliver gas output from the compressor 28; and a cooler outlet 36 in fluid communication with the turbine outlet 26 and the compressor outlet 32 so as to deliver high-pressure sealing gas comprising gas merged from the turbine outlet 26 and the compressor outlet 32. Full Article
meth System and method for lubricating gears in a wind turbine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system and method for lubricating gears in a wind turbine blade pitch drive are provided, wherein the pitch drive comprises a drive pinion gear with gear teeth that engage a pitch bearing gear coupled to a respective wind turbine blade. A grease distributor is configured to mount onto and rotate with the pinion gear, and is configured to deliver grease from an external grease supply to at least one valley defined between adjacent teeth of the pinion gear in a contact area of the pinion gear with the bearing gear without the distributor contacting inter-engaging teeth of the bearing gear. Full Article
meth Method to display a foot ornamentation system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method to display a foot ornamentation system includes obtaining a foot ornamentation system that has a bottom band constructed from an elastomeric material for compressing the system snugly against a foot. The system has a first side panel and a second side panel that are flexible for conforming to a contour of a foot side. The system has a decorative member with an interior surface that has a smooth profile and a non-slip surface for interfacing with the foot top surface. The method includes donning the system by expanding an interior open area of the system via the stretchable bottom band then sliding over an end of a foot into a first position where the decorative member is located on a foot top surface. The method includes donning footwear with an open top that allows the system to be displayed. Full Article
meth System and method for toning footwear By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Systems and methods for toning footwear include a combination of a support ring, an insole with a cushioning material configured to contact a user's foot, and an outsole with one or more convex regions to create instability in the footwear. The support ring or stiffener band can be coupled to the outsole between the insole on one side and the forefoot and heel toning convexities on the other side. In some embodiments, the stiffener band can be formed of a material different from and stiffer than the material of the outsole. In accordance with various embodiments, when a user wears the toning footwear while walking, an increase in both the toning and strengthening of the calves, hamstrings and/or glutes results. Full Article
meth Foot manifolds, apparatuses, systems, and methods for applying reduced pressure to a tissue site on a foot By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Apparatuses, systems, and methods for applying reduced pressure to a tissue site on a foot are provided. An apparatus may include an insole and a tissue contacting surface covering at least a portion of the insole. At least one portion of the tissue contacting surface is removable to form a void. The apparatus may also include a reduced-pressure interface for receiving reduced pressure from a reduced-pressure source, and at least one flow channel fluidly coupled to the reduced-pressure interface and the void. Full Article
meth Shoe ornament structure and method for making the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A shoe ornament structure, comprises: a base layer, a sub-base layer, a ground color layer, a ornamental layer, a blocking wall and a transparent layer. The ground color layer has a predetermined thickness and is formed on the sub-base layer. The ornamental layer is formed with different grains or color or materials and located on the ground color layer. The blocking wall of a height 0.5-0.7 mm is formed on ornamental layer, and the transparent layer is formed in the area defined by the blocking wall. Full Article
meth Shoe with ventilation system obtained by direct injection method on upper and mould therefor By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A shoe (1) is disclosed comprising: an insole (1) fixed to the upper (T) and comprising a slot (10) in the heel area and a plurality of holes (11) in the plantar surface area. A ventilation system (2) comprises: a pump (4) disposed in the slot (10) of the insole, a membrane (3) fixed in the lower surface of the insole (1) under the holes (11), a connection pipe (20) connecting the chamber (40) of the pump with the spaces (32) of the membrane and an outlet conduit (21) connecting the chamber of the pump (40) with the outside to exhaust air. An outsole (9) obtained by directly injecting expandable material in a mold covers the ventilation system, insole and lower part of the upper (T). A mold (S) for performing said direct injection is also disclosed. Full Article
meth Compositions comprising refrigerant and lubricant and methods for replacing CFC and HCFC refrigerants without flushing By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A composition comprising a refrigerant and a lubricant is disclosed, wherein the refrigerant comprises (i) a fluorocarbon selected from the group consisting of R125, R134a, R32, R152a, R143a, R218 and mixtures thereof, and (ii) a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of propane, n-butane, isobutane, n-pentane, isopentane, dimethyl ether, and mixtures thereof; the lubricant comprises (iii) a hydrocarbon-based lubricant component; and (iv) a synthetic lubricant component; and the synthetic lubricant component is less than 30% by weight of the total lubricant. Also disclosed are methods of replacing refrigerants in refrigeration or air conditioning systems containing a refrigerant comprising a CFC or HCFC and a lubricant. The methods involve adding to the system (a) a replacement refrigerant comprising (i) a fluorocarbon selected from the group consisting of R125, R134a, R152a, R32, R143a, R218 and mixtures thereof, and (ii) a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of propane, n-butane, isobutane, n-pentane, isopentane, dimethyl ether, and mixtures thereof; and (b) a synthetic lubricant component; wherein after refrigerant replacement the synthetic lubricant component is less than 30% by weight of the total amount of lubricant in the system. Full Article
meth Air conditioner and method for controlling the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An air conditioner and control method thereof is provided which may be controlled to adapt operation to changes in power rates. The method may include receiving electric power related information, determining whether a current power rate included in the received information is higher than a preset reference value, determining occupancy of a space to be air conditioned if the current power rate is higher than the preset reference value, and controlling a flow rate of air supplied to the space based on the determined occupancy. Full Article
meth Cryopump and vacuum pumping method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A cryopump 10 includes: a first cryopanel including a radiation shield 18 having a shield opening 20 and a louver 23 arranged in the shield opening 20; a second cryopanel 24 surrounded by the first cryopanel; and a refrigerator 14 configured to cool the first cryopanel to a first cooling temperature and to cool the second cryopanel to a second cooling temperature lower than the first cooling temperature. A rough surface 42 is formed on the louver 23. Full Article
meth Methods for removing heat from enclosed spaces with high internal heat generation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Methods are provided for cooling data centers based on a cooperative system including a plurality of Indirect Air-Side Economizers, also referred to as Recirculation Air Cooling Units, that are advantageously operated in conjunction with one or more Side Stream Filtration Units or filters inclusive to a portion of the IASE/RACUs, and one or more Make-Up Air Dehumidification/Humidification Units for the introduction of ventilation air and control of humidity within the enclosed space. An objective of the systems and methods according to this disclosure is to provide the necessary rejection of heat, removal of particulate from the air, and control of the absolute moisture content of the air within a data center. Full Article
meth Ice maker for a refrigerator appliance and a method for operating the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An ice maker for a refrigerator appliance and a method for operating the same are provided. The ice maker includes a mold body that is rotatable relative to an ejector. The ejector is configured for selective receipt within the mold body to assist with removal of ice from the mold body. The ice maker also includes at least two sensors for monitoring rotational motion of the mold body. Utilizing the at least two sensors, the ice maker can monitor ice removal from the mold body. Full Article
meth Ice making device and control method using electrostatic capacitance By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An ice making device may include an ice tray, a water-supply part for supplying water to the ice tray, an electrostatic capacity sensor having two or more electrodes attached to the ice tray, a water quantity detecting section for detecting a water quantity in the ice tray on a basis of variation of an electrostatic capacity between the electrodes of the electrostatic capacity sensor, and an ice frozen detecting section for detecting water supplied to the ice tray having been frozen on the basis of the variation of the electrostatic capacity between the electrodes of the electrostatic capacity sensor. A control unit for the ice making device controls the water-supply part, an ice tray drive part and an ice detecting part on the basis of variation of the electrostatic capacity between the electrodes of the electrostatic capacity sensor. Full Article
meth Industrial fluid circuits and method of controlling the industrial fluid circuits using variable speed drives on the fluid pumps of the industrial fluid circuits By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An industrial fluid circulating system having at least one fluid circulation circuit, includes a plurality of pumps connected in parallel to circulate the fluid through each of the fluid circulation circuit, a separate motor driving each pump, a load detector to sense operating loads on the system and each circuit, and a speed control to vary the speed of each motor to thereby vary the pumping capacity of each pump in response to the detected load on the system, each pump of each respective circuit running simultaneously at a substantially similar speed or a predetermined equal reduced speed of the respective circuit or an almost equal reduced speed or a similar reduced speed. Full Article
meth Condenser cooling system and method including solar absorption chiller By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system configured to thermally regulate exhaust portions of a power plant system (e.g. steam turbine) is disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes: a condenser adapted to connect to and thermally regulate exhaust portions of a steam turbine; and a cooling system operably connected to the condenser and adapted to supply a cooling fluid to the condenser, the cooling system including a solar absorption chiller adapted to adjust a temperature of the cooling fluid. Full Article
meth Apparatuses and methods for thermodynamic energy transfer, storage and retrieval By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Systems and methods for transferring and optionally storing and/or retrieving thermal energy are disclosed. The systems and methods generally include a heat engine and a heat pump, the heat engine including first isothermal and gradient heat exchange mechanisms, and the heat pump including second isothermal and gradient heat exchange mechanisms. The heat engine and the heat pump exchange heat with each other countercurrent across the first and second gradient heat exchange mechanisms, the first isothermal heat exchange mechanism transfers heat to an external heat sink, and the second isothermal heat exchange mechanism receives heat from an external heat source. Full Article
meth Beverage cooler, a refrigerator comprising such a beverage cooler and a method for cooling beverage By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a beverage cooler having an in-line operating cooling unit for instant cooling of beverage flowing through the same, comprising a cooling container (5) having an inlet (10) and an outlet (11), for feeding the beverage to and from the cooling container, respectively, and a cooling tube (14) located inside the cooling container. The cooling container (5) is adapted to be located in an ambient temperature which is above the freezing point for the beverage, wherein the cooling tube (14) is adapted to carry a cooling fluid having a temperature below the freezing point of the beverage and is located such that the beverage can pass between the cooling tube and an outer wall of the cooling container (5). Hence, the beverage will pass by the cooling tube and be cooled from it and freeze to solid phase in the area closest to the cooling tube, whereas the outside of the cooling container, having a temperature above the freezing point of the beverage, will ensure a free passage of non-frozen beverage closest to the outside wall of the cooling container. Full Article
meth Apparatus and method for separating droplets from vaporized refrigerant By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for separating droplets from vaporized refrigerant. The droplet separator according to the invention has a separation vessel, where the droplets gravitationally separate from the vaporized refrigerant. A partition plate has been arranged in the separation vessel, which partition plate divides the separation space into two separation parts. Thereby the refrigerant is arranged—to pass firstly through the first separation space on the first side of the partition plate, —then to transfer to the second side of the partition plate, i.e. to the second separation space—then to pass through the second separation space on the second side of the partition plate. Full Article
meth Vacuum insulated door structure and method for the creation thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A vacuum insulated door structure comprises a first wall having a first edge, outer sidewalls that extend from the first edge to a perimetrical lip, a first inner surface and a first outer surface. A second wall has a second inner surface, a second outer surface and a second edge coupled to the perimetrical lip forming a cavity volume. The second wall includes inner sidewalls defining a second wall opening. The inner sidewalls extend to a back wall and define a second wall offset. A tubular member includes a first end coupled to a first conduit opening in the first wall and a second end coupled to a second conduit opening in the second wall offset. A barrier layer is disposed on the first and second walls and the tubular member. A cavity insulation material is disposed within the cavity volume which is hermetically sealed. Full Article
meth Method and system for the continuous or semi-continuous production of flavored ice By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An ice making system includes a flavored liquid, an ice machine and a refrigerated storage bin. The ice making system continuously produces flavored ice pieces for storage in an ice storage bin. A refrigeration system cools the ice storage bin. Full Article
meth Block ice maker with mold body and method of forming fan shaped ice with mold body By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An ice maker has an ice-making vessel having a cylindrical shape, a cooling means, a block ice making mold which is placed inside, and an agitator. The mold includes a main mold body having a plurality of connected L-shaped plates projected radially outward from the central axis; a base plate which is joined to each L-shaped plate, and the top side of the L-shaped plates form a screw insertion part of the mold body such that the agitator fits between the L-shaped plates at a second end of the central axis. Full Article
meth Separation method and apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Separation method and apparatus for separating a gaseous mixture, for example, air, in a cryogenic rectification plant in which a compressed stream is divided into subsidiary streams that are extracted from a main heat exchanger of the plant at higher and lower temperatures. The two streams are then combined and expanded in a turboexpander to generate refrigeration for the plant. The flow rates of the two streams are adjusted to control inlet temperature of a turboexpander supplying plant refrigeration and to minimize potential deviation of the turboexpander exhaust from a saturated vapor state. Control of the expansion ratio can advantageously be applied to allow variable liquid production from the rectification plant. Full Article
meth System and method for cooling heat generating components By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An assembly for cooling heat generating components, such as power electronics, computer processors and other devices. Multiple components may be mounted to a support and cooled by a flow of cooling fluid. A single cooling fluid inlet and outlet may be provided for the support, yet multiple components, including components that have different heat removal requirements may be suitably cooled. One or more manifold elements may provide cooling fluid flow paths that contact a heat transfer surface of a corresponding component to receive heat. Full Article
meth Method and Apparatus for Tuning USB Power Delivery Signals By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A USB interface to provide power delivery negotiated through a dedicated transmission channel includes a transmitter circuit including a digital-to-analog converter having an output coupled with an input of a transmission filter, a receiver circuit including an analog-to-digital converter having an input coupled with an output of a receiving filter, and a switching circuit configured in an operating mode of the USB interface to connect an output of the transmission filter and an input of the receiving filter to a connection node of the dedicated transmission channel. Full Article
meth Capability Determining Method, Capability Configuration Method, Host, Terminal Device, and System By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A capability determining method for a terminal device, a host, and a system is provided. The capability determining method includes acquiring, by the host, a capability supported by the terminal device. The method also includes determining, by the host according to the capability supported by the terminal device and a capability supported by the host, a capability supported by both the terminal device and the host, and using the capability supported by both the terminal device and the host as an overlapping capability, where the overlapping capability is used by the terminal device to perform capability configuration. The method also includes sending the overlapping capability to the terminal device. Full Article
meth SERIAL DATA COMMUNICATIONS SWITCHING DEVICE AND A METHOD OF OPERATING THEREOF By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT The present application relates to a serial data communications switching device and a method of operating the serial data communications switching device. The serial data communications switching device comprises one host port for connecting to a host device; a plurality of client ports each for connecting to one of a plurality of client devices; an arbiter configured to arbitrate the permission to send a message sequence between the plurality of the client devices according to an arbitration scheme; and a TX flow analyzer adapted to detect a client transmission received at one of the client port from a current client device currently having granted the permission and to instruct the arbiter to maintain the granted permission for the current client device for the ongoing client transmission. Full Article
meth METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SWITCHING STATE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A method of switching an apparatus state of a first apparatus having a first universal serial bus (USB) interface connected via a connecting wire with a second USB interface of a second apparatus is provided. The method may include receiving a state switching instruction, setting a level of a configuration channel (CC) in a USB interface circuit corresponding to the first USB interface from a first high level to a first low level via a logic controller of the first apparatus when the state switching instruction instructs the first apparatus to perform a master-to-slave switch, and setting the level of the CC in the USB interface circuit corresponding to the first USB interface from the first low level to the first high level via the logic controller of the first apparatus when the state switching instruction instructs the first apparatus to perform a slave-to-master switch. Full Article
meth COMMUNICATION SYSTEM WITH SERIAL PORTS FOR AUTOMATICALLY IDENTIFYING DEVICE TYPES AND COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLS AND METHOD THEREOF By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A communication system with serial ports for automatically identifying device types and communication protocols and method thereof are described. The communication system and method are capable of automatically identifying the device types and communication protocols of interface devices with different serial device numbers which are disposed in the serial port architecture. Furthermore, the drivers are capable of performing a serial communication based on the serial port architecture for matching the device types and communication protocols correspondingly, thereby reducing the development and manufacturing costs of communication system. Moreover, the user of an application program module only needs to provide the device numbers and data control information without the cooperation of hardware circuits and manufacturing technique of the interface devices to complete the automatic control and monitoring tasks of the interface devices to increase the utilization convenience. Full Article
meth METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING A PCI DEVICE CONTROLLER FROM MASQUERADE ATTACKS BY MALWARE By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Thu, 22 Jun 2017 08:00:00 EDT A technique allows for protecting a PCI device controller from a PCI BDF masquerade attack from Ring-0 and Ring-3 malware. The technique may use Virtualization technologies to create guest virtual machines that can use a hypervisor to allocate ACPI information from ACPI tables to a secure VM and using extended page tables (EPT) and VT-d policies to protect the MMIO memory range during illegal runtime events. Full Article