Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Armstrong Teasdale LLP
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Patent number: 8262363Abstract: A blade for a wind turbine includes a body adapted for movement in response to wind flow past the blade body. The body has an inner surface defining an interior chamber and an opposite outer surface. At least one damping element extends from the inner surface of the body. The at least one damping element is configured to facilitate reducing an amount of noise generated by and propagating through the blade.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2008Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Brandon Gerber, Nicholas K. Althoff, Benoit Petitjean
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Patent number: 8265866Abstract: A navigation device is described that includes a processing device, a memory communicatively coupled to the processing device, the memory including a database of cartographic navigation map data, a first sensor operable to provide location data to the processing device, a display operatively coupled to the processing device, and an image acquisition device operatively coupled to the processing device. The processing device is programmed to, when in a first mode of operation, to cause the display to display a portion of the cartographic navigation map data, the displayed portion based on the location data received by the processing device.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2010Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Francesco Altamura, Simone Cortesi
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Patent number: 8260690Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an apparatus used to present a participant with a virtual reality simulation of a shopping environment. For example, the system of the present invention may be used to simulate the environment of a retail store where consumer goods are purchased. In one embodiment, a virtual reality station may include a number of functional systems that collectively provide an apparatus for capturing test subject feedback. The systems may include a participant interface and/or simulation control system, a support structure interconnection system, and a computer system configured to generate and present an immersive virtual reality environment on one or more display screens connected to the support structure.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2007Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Ramin Eivaz, Matthew K. Gruttadauria, Mark Edwards
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Patent number: 8257015Abstract: A steam turbine is provided. The steam turbine includes a rotor shaft including a plurality of buckets coupled thereto. The steam turbine further includes a stationary component coupled to a steam turbine casing, wherein the stationary component is coupled upstream from the buckets such that a wheelspace is defined between the buckets and the stationary component. The stationary component includes a first ring coupled to the steam turbine, a second ring coupled to the steam turbine radially inward from the first ring, and at least one airfoil extending between the first ring and the second ring. The steam turbine includes a cooling fluid flowpath defined through at least the first ring, the airfoil, and the second ring. The cooling fluid flowpath is configured to channel a cooling fluid to the wheelspace.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2008Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Mark Kevin Bowen, Stephen Roger Swan, Michael Earl Montgomery
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Patent number: 8261044Abstract: The distributed data handling and processing resources system of the present invention includes a) a number of data handling and processing resource nodes that collectively perform a desired data handling and processing function, each data handling and processing resource node for providing a data handling/processing subfunction; and, b) a low latency, shared bandwidth databus for interconnecting the data handling and processing resource nodes. In the least, among the data handling and processing resource nodes, is a processing unit (PU) node for providing a control and data handling/processing subfunction; and, an input/output (I/O) node for providing a data handling/processing subfunction for data collection/distribution to an external environment. The present invention preferably uses the IEEE-1394b databus due to its unique and specialized low latency, shared bandwidth characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2007Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: Gary A. Kinstler
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Patent number: 8256575Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing a flow of ambient air into a bearing lubricating oil system are provided. The system includes a lubricating oil bearing cover that is stationary with respect to the bearing wherein the bearing is configured to support a portion of a rotatable machine shaft. The cover includes a first end cap extending radially inwardly towards the shaft such that a cavity surrounding the bearing is formed by the cover and the first end cap and a set of seal rings positioned substantially concentric with the shaft and forming a seal against lubricating oil flow. The seal rings include a plurality of wire bristles extending radially inwardly from the end cap wherein the wire bristles are configured to extend to a surface of the shaft when assembled and the bristles are configured to present a tortuous flow path to gas infiltrating the cavity.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2007Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Nathan Robert Berberich
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Patent number: 8257261Abstract: An ultrasonic imaging apparatus includes a 3D tomographic image data capturing device which captures 3D tomographic image data from a 3D region inside a subject, a region-of-interest setting device which sets a 3D region of interest corresponding to the 3D region in an image memory, a surface image extracting device which extracts data on a surface image, in the 3D region of interest, of a massive tissue included in the 3D region, a stereoscopic display generating device which generates stereoscopic display data, and a display device which displays the stereoscopic display data. The region-of-interest setting device displays a 2D tomographic image of a 2D region including the massive tissue on the display device, allows setting of a marker indicating a periphery of the massive tissue in the 2D tomographic image, and generates the 3D region of interest according to data on the marker's position.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2008Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLCInventor: Sotaro Kawae
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Patent number: 8256042Abstract: A collapsible bed frame includes a first cross unit including a first link member pivotally coupled to a second link member at a first pivot point, and a support unit operatively coupled to the first cross unit. The support unit includes a first slider that is slidably coupled to the first link member. A first support member has a first end that is pivotally coupled to the second link member and an opposing second end that is pivotally coupled to the first slider. A second slider is slidably coupled to the first support member. A second support member has a first end that is pivotally coupled to at least one of the second link member and a connector operatively coupled to the second link member, and an opposing second end that is pivotally coupled to the second slider.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2009Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: North Pole LimitedInventors: Lee Pil Yul, Huang Changjiu, Ye Zhengyi
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Patent number: 8257496Abstract: A weighing system is provided for a continuous Czochralski process that accurately measures the weight of the crucible and melt during crystal growth to control the introduction of feedstock in order to keep the weight approximately constant. The system can measure the weight of the crucible while the crucible is rotating, and is insensitive to vibrations of the melt surface as well as variable torques on the crucible shaft induced by the rotation. The system also measures the weight of the crucible and its contents in order to control the amount of feedstock recharged after an ingot is withdrawn.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2008Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Solaicx, Inc.Inventors: David L. Bender, Gary Janik, Roy P. Crawford, David E. A. Smith
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Patent number: 8259479Abstract: A power conversion system for providing power to an electrical grid is described. The system includes a boost converter coupled to a photovoltaic (PV) array and configured to control a PV array voltage. The system also includes an inverter coupled to the boost converter by at least one conductor and configured to regulate a voltage drop across the at least one conductor. The system also includes a system controller configured to control operation of the boost converter and the inverter.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2010Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert Gregory Wagoner, David Smith, Allen Michael Ritter, Mark E. Shepard
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Patent number: 8260020Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media are provided for image based CT Number and volume corrections for thin objects in computed tomography systems. For example, in one embodiment a method is provide which computes an average computed tomography (“CT”) value and volume of voxels that are part of an object. Thereafter, a surface area and a surface CT Number, a boundary area and a boundary CT Number, and a corrected CT Number and a corrected volume for the object are computed. Embodiments of the invention also include other methods, computer-readable mediums, apparatuses, and systems that contain features similar to the features in the above described method.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2008Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: Morpho Detection, Inc.Inventor: Walter Garms
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Patent number: 8260545Abstract: A method is described for generating a navigation chart. The navigation chart includes a plurality of allocated areas corresponding to symbols for a plurality of chart features. The method includes identifying an unallocated area of the navigation chart proximate to a symbol for one chart feature of the plurality of chart features. A first label and a second label are determined for the one chart feature. The first label includes a plurality of feature attribute indicators, and the second label includes a subset of the plurality of feature attribute indicators. A label is selected from among the first label and the second label based on dimensions of the unallocated area. At least a portion of the unallocated area is allocated to the selected label, and the navigation chart is displayed.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2009Date of Patent: September 4, 2012Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Sven D. Aspen, Kevin S. Schlatter, Robert Henry, Stephen A. Lewis, Danny M. Price, Robert Black
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Patent number: 8251934Abstract: A method of using a neck brace to move a neck of a person or stabilize the neck includes connecting a vest of the neck brace to a torso of a person. A support member of the neck brace is connected to the vest. A chin support of the neck brace is connected to a chin of the person. Force is applied between the support member and the chin support to move the chin support relative to the support member. A cam member of the neck brace guides movement of the chin support relative to the support member.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2007Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Bonutti Research, Inc.Inventor: Peter M. Bonutti
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Patent number: 8251935Abstract: The present invention provides an orthosis for stretching tissue around a joint of a patient between first and second relatively pivotable body portions. The orthosis includes a first member affixable to the first body portion and including a first extension member defining an arcuate channel therein. A second member affixable to the second body portion is also included and has a second extension member having an arcuate shape extending there from. The second extension member is operatively connected to the first extension member and travels through and within the arcuate channel, along the arcuate path, when the second arm member is moved from a first position to a second position relative to the first member.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2007Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Bonutti Research, Inc.Inventors: Boris P. Bonutti, Peter M. Bonutti, Kevin R. Ruholl, Glen A. Phillips
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Patent number: 8250848Abstract: A method of assembling a steam turbine power system with a coolant source is provided. The method includes providing a first steam turbine train including a first high pressure turbine assembly, a first low pressure turbine assembly coupled in flow communication with the first high pressure turbine assembly, and a first condenser coupled in flow communication with the first low pressure turbine assembly. The method also includes providing a second steam turbine train including a second high pressure turbine assembly, a second low pressure turbine assembly coupled in flow communication with the second high pressure turbine assembly, and a second condenser coupled in flow communication with the second low pressure turbine assembly.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2009Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: John Edward Sholes, Jr., Raub Warfield Smith
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Patent number: 8251668Abstract: A method for assembling a rotating machine and a blade attachment mechanism are provided. A first dovetail slot having a first axial length and a second dovetail slot having a second axial length are each formed in the attachment mechanism such that the second dovetail slot is radially outboard of the first dovetail slot. First axial length is greater than the second axial length and each slot is substantially parallel to an axial centerline of the rotating machine. A first dovetail lobe having a third axial length that is shorter than the first axial length and a second dovetail lobe having a fourth axial length, shorter than the first axial length and longer than the third axial length, are each formed in the attachment mechanism and positioned to correspond with first and second dovetail slot, respectively, such that the second dovetail lobe is radially outward from the first dovetail lobe.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2009Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Donald Joseph Kasperski
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Patent number: 8255867Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating a wiring diagram based on a wiring configuration stored in a memory device. The wiring configuration is deconstructed, a new wiring configuration is constructed on a grid that includes a plurality of fields. The new wiring configuration is based on the wiring configuration. The wiring diagram is generated based on the plurality of fields.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2010Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Carey S. Chaplin, Monica C. Rosman LaFever
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Patent number: 8254656Abstract: A method and system for selective resolution improvement in computed tomography (CT) scanning. The method includes receiving scan data representative of a scanned object from a CT scanner and reconstructing the scan data using a first algorithm to create a first set of reconstructed data. A region of interest is identified within the first set of reconstructed data. A portion of the scan data corresponding to the region of interest is reconstructed using a second algorithm to create a second set of reconstructed data. The first set of reconstructed data and the second set of reconstructed data are combined to create combined reconstructed data.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2009Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Morpho Detection, Inc.Inventors: Eugene Alex Ingerman, Samit Basu, Jed Pack, Todd Gable
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Patent number: 8245973Abstract: A method for improving the conspicuity of aircraft is described that includes determining onto which exposed portions of an aircraft surface a retro-reflective material is to be placed, and attaching the retro-reflective material to the exposed portions such that an observer of the retro-reflective material is provided with an indication of a size, location, and orientation of the aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2007Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Richard A. Cote, Ty A. Larsen
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Patent number: 8250407Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use in correcting a data transaction. A data transaction including a plurality of transaction values is received from a data provider. At least a portion of the transaction values is validated. When the validation of at least one transaction value fails, a validation failure notification including a link is provided to a user. When the link is selected, the transaction values are provided via a presentation interface, and erroneous transaction values are distinguished from non-erroneous transaction values. A correction request message including the erroneous transaction values may be generated and sent to a user associated with the data provider. A revised transaction may be received from the data provider and executed to correct the erroneous transaction values.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2010Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Rebecca J. Garcia, William E. Wojczyk, Jr.
