Method for creation of detailed body measurement parts from extrapolation of standard chart data
US Patent 8,073,560
December 6, 2011
A method for modifying standard ANSI body sizing charts extrapolation sizes outside of the standard sizes if necessary. In a subsequent step, the user may incorporate different upper and lower body sizes. Correction factors are then applied if a tall/short, full/slender body type is selected. A new chart is output to the user in human readable form.
Methods and systems for detection of hazard to aviation due to convective weather
US Patent 8,068,050
November 29, 2011
Systems and methods for improving output of weather information. A weather radar system receives weather reflectivity values. A processing device stores the received weather reflectivity values into a three-dimensional buffer, calculates a sum of the reflectivity value stored in a column of cells within the three-dimensional buffer, and assigns a first hazard indication to the cells of the column when the result of the calculation is above a first threshold. A display device generates a weather display based on data stored in the three-dimensional buffer. The weather display includes a display icon associated with the hazard indication when a cell from the three-dimensional buffer has been selected for the weather display.
Locking differential having a split-center driver
US Patent 8,066,607
November 29, 2011
A locking differential includes a housing with an interior chamber in which a two-piece split-center driver is located. The split-center driver is positioned on opposite sides of a cross-pin assembly. A pair of axially spaced output shafts extend from the interior chamber and are coupled to a pair of side gears. The split-center driver gear and a centered cam member are arranged co-axially about the adjacent ends of the output shafts, and annular clutch members are operable to disconnect an overrunning output shaft.
MEMS accelerometer
US Patent 8,065,915
November 29, 2011
Microelectromechanical (MEMS) accelerometer and acceleration sensing methods. A MEMS accelerometer includes a proof mass suspended by at least one hinge type flexure, at least one planar coil located on the proof mass, and at least one magnet positioned such that a magnetic flux field passes through the at least one planar coil at an angle between approximately 30 degrees and approximately 60 degrees relative to the coil plane. In an example embodiment, the angle is approximately 45 degrees. The at least one magnet may include a first annular magnet positioned on a first side of the proof mass and a second annular magnet positioned on a second side of the proof mass. A method includes sensing a capacitance of a pickoff in the MEMS accelerometer and rebalancing the MEMS accelerometer by sending a current through the planar coil.
Avocado tool
US Patent D648,992
November 22, 2011
The ornamental design for the avocado tool, as shown and described.
Pepper corer
US Patent D648,991
November 22, 2011
The ornamental design for the pepper corer, as shown and described.
Predicted path selection system and method for hazard coding in selectively constrained aircraft con
US Patent 8,065,043
November 22, 2011
A surveillance system detects potential hazards and alerts the pilot to them. The alerts can be modified to indicate proximity to the predicted path of the aircraft. An autopilot receives instructions from a flight management system (FMS) regarding a planned path and is subject to constraints preempting the planned path. The surveillance system selects which of the planned and a constrained path will be followed for alerting and hazard coding purposes. Means are disclosed to determine when the constrained path will be followed by comparing the current position of an aircraft, the planned path, and the constraint data. Current positions exceeding the tolerance cause the surveillance system to select the planned path as the future path to be followed. If initiation of a constraint has been detected and the current position is within the tolerance, the surveillance system selects the constrained path as the future path.
Method for cross-range enhancement of real-beam radar imagery
US Patent 8,063,817
November 22, 2011
Methods and apparatus for enhancing the resolution of a radar image in the cross-range direction. An example method includes receiving a plurality of received power samples in the cross-range dimension as the radar antenna scans and calculating a window function from the antenna beam response pattern. Then for each of a plurality of positions of the window function along the azimuth axis, multiplying the received response pattern by the window function at that position, yielding a product function for each position. Finally, the method includes calculating an estimated azimuth bin offset, resulting estimated target location, and a reflected power value corresponding to the integral of the product function from the product function of each position. A reconstructed azimuth bin array developed from the estimated target locations and reflected power values is substituted for the original received cross-range received power values, yielding a resolution-enhanced map image.
Multifunctional two-way remote control device
US Patent 8,063,749
November 22, 2011
A remote control device for communicating between a computer system and a plurality of electronic devices. The remote control device includes a radio frequency (RF) transmitter, a RF receiver, an optical transmitter, a memory unit, and a processor in data communication with the memory unit, the RF transmitter, the RF receiver, and the optical transmitter. The processor includes a first component that instructs the optical transmitter to emit at least one signal in response to information received by the RF receiver from a computer.
Method and apparatus to minimize computer apparatus initial program load and exit/shut down processi
US Patent RE42,936
November 15, 2011
A method to reduce and thereby improve the initial program load time of a computing apparatus operating system and thus provides for near instantaneous user interaction. When practicing the instant invention, a computing apparatus operating system or application processing component is loaded neither sequentially nor completely, but rather on an as required basis. The invention’s “required only” loading of processing components persist through subsequent operation and shut down of the computing apparatus with each loaded task creating a checkpoint record of processing modifications to non-volatile memory. Such checkpointing allows shut down processing of the apparatus to consist of merely flushing memory buffers in the apparatus checkpointed non-volatile memory of the apparatus to permanent storage and powering off of the apparatus, with subsequent initial program load (IPL) sequencing referencing the checkpointed records to minimize future system initialization elapsed time.
