Patents Represented by Attorney Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP
  • Patent number: 8338051
    Abstract: This invention relates to an electrode catalyst for a fuel cell comprising catalyst metal particles of noble metal-base metal-Ce (cerium) ternary alloy carried on carbon materials, wherein the noble metal is at least one member selected from among Pt, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag and Au, the base metal is at least one member selected from among Ir, Co, Fe, Ni and Mn, and the relative proportion (i.e., the molar proportion) of noble metal:base metal:Ce (cerium) is 20 to 95:5 to 60:0.1 to 3. The electrode catalyst for a fuel cell inhibits deterioration of an electrolyte membrane or an electrolyte in an electrode catalyst layer, improves durability, and, in particular, improves the capacity for power generation in the high current density region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Cataler Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takahashi, Yosuke Horiuchi, Takahiro Nagata, Tomoaki Terada, Toshiharu Tabata
  • Patent number: 8341555
    Abstract: An image managing apparatus includes a storage part, an input part, a grouping-processing part, a representative image extraction part, a folding-button preparing part, a folding-screen preparing part and an output part. An image is stored in the storage part. A user's instruction is input by the input part. The grouping-processing part is configured to classify images displayed on a screen into a group for display based on the instruction. The representative image extraction part is configured to extract an image in the group as a representative image of the group. The folding-button preparing part is configured to generate a folding button for displaying the representative image of the group on the screen. The folding-screen preparing part is configured to generate an image-listing screen (“folding screen)”) on which the representative image of the group and an ungrouped image are displayed when the folding-button displayed on the screen is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Ayatsuka, Yukiko Sakata, Junichiro Sakata, Nariaki Satoh
  • Patent number: 8340990
    Abstract: A method for supply chain design may include identifying nodes, links connecting the nodes, and replenishment strategies for moving materials along the links, in a supply chain. The method may also include determining a value indicative of the complexity of the supply chain based on a characteristic of the nodes, links, and replenishment strategies. The method may also include identifying whether core competencies of the nodes are underutilized. The method may also include reducing the complexity of the supply chain to increase utilization of the core competencies of the nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Cline, Sarah N. Pick, William P. Newton
  • Patent number: 8340345
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing fratricide including an emitter that emits a signaling code at a wavelength, the signaling code representing a coded message; a receiver that captures an image of a field of view including the emitter and generates image information corresponding to the captured image; a translation system that: receives the image information, and decodes the coded message from the image information; and a output device that outputs the decoded message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Cejay Engineering, LLC
    Inventors: Derek Haynes, Stuart M. Jenkins, Michael P. Thomas
  • Patent number: 8338833
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a silicon carbide semiconductor substrate in which a silicon carbide buffer layer doped with germanium and a semiconductor device layer are sequentially laminated on the buffer layer, a silicon carbide semiconductor substrate obtained by the method and a silicon carbide semiconductor in which electrodes are disposed on the silicon carbide semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Japan Fine Ceramics Center
    Inventors: Akinori Seki, Yukari Tani, Noriyoshi Shibata
  • Patent number: 8340755
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electric field control device that can transmit a quasi-electrostatic field more efficiently. There is provided an electric field control device that applies electric fields to an electric field application subject, which includes a first electrode and a second electrode that generate the electric fields, a frame that is arranged around the first electrode and second electrode, and is connected to the first electrode and second electrode, an opening that is formed at one end of the frame, and an output unit that outputs a first signal to the first electrode, and outputs a second signal to the second electrode, wherein, when the electric fields are generated from the first electrode and second electrode, the output unit outputs the second signal to the second electrode so that the potential of the frame is not changed temporally and made constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyoaki Takiguchi
  • Patent number: 8340469
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a band-shaped area selecting section, an angle selecting section, and a control section. The band-shaped area selecting section selects, from among band-shaped areas each having a first angle with respect to a second direction orthogonal to a first direction, a first band-shaped area having a maximum height, which satisfies a condition that the first band-shaped area is on one side of a first point group, which is in the first direction and on one side of a second point group, which is in a direction opposite to the first direction. The angle selecting section selects a candidate for the first angle. The control section effects control to repeat selecting of the first band-shaped area and selecting of the candidate for the first angle, and obtains the finally selected first band-shaped area as a processing result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsuharu Ohki
  • Patent number: 8341748
    Abstract: A method for detecting breaks in a border of a network is disclosed. The method may include monitoring network regulation and shaping traffic passing through the border. The method may also include providing, by a first confederate server on a first side of the border, a first connection request to a second confederate server on a second side of the border. Further, the method may include providing, by the second confederate server on the second side of the border, a second connection request to the first confederate server on the first side of the border. The method may also include executing a network diagnostic command if one or more of the first or second connection request is granted. Further, the method may also include copying any outputs of the network diagnostic command to a file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Traenkenschuh, Terry E. Jones, Richard V. Rosetto
  • Patent number: 8341264
    Abstract: A method of presenting advertising to viewers in a computer network environment includes monitoring a viewer's interactions with an associated computer system, and adjusting a timing of displayed advertisements on the viewer's associated computer system based on one or more of the viewer's monitored interactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: AOL Inc.
    Inventors: Harry W. Morris, David Lowell Lippke, Bob Watkins, Eric Bosco, Colin Steele
  • Patent number: 8340497
    Abstract: Disclosed is a recording apparatus to record data in a recording medium. The apparatus includes: an input portion to input moving picture data; an encode portion to encode the moving picture data input by the input portion; a storage portion which uses a first storage area to store frame image data, i.e., data for any frame image contained in the moving picture data encoded by the encode portion and uses a second storage area to store the moving picture data except the frame image data; a recording portion to record the moving picture data stored by the storage portion in the recording medium; a decode portion to decode the moving pictured at a encoded by the encode portion; and a thumbnail image generation portion to generate a thumbnail image based on the frame image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Masayuki Kuwata
  • Patent number: 8340875
    Abstract: A hydraulic system for lifting a work tool of a mobile machine is disclosed. The hydraulic system may have a pump, a lift actuator, a lift valve arrangement, and a lift sensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of an actual lift velocity. The hydraulic system may also have a tilt actuator, a tilt valve arrangement, and at least one operator interface device movable to generate a second signal indicative of a desired lift velocity and a third signal indicative of desired tilt velocity. The hydraulic system may further have a controller configured to command the lift valve arrangement to meter pressurized based on the second signal, command the tilt valve arrangement to meter pressurized fluid based on the third signal, and command the tilt valve arrangement to meter pressurized fluid and maintain a desired tilt angle of the work tool during lifting based selectively on the first and second signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron R. Shatters, Steven C. Budde, John T. Reedy, Robert E. Stone
  • Patent number: 8341007
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for forecasting demand for objects, such as products, parts, etc. in a managed supply chain. In one embodiment, a method for forecasting demand is provided that comprises the step of determining a forecast profile including a forecast model and a forecast parameter to be assigned to a set of data forming the basis of the forecast. The determining step may include the steps of performing at least one forecast test on the set of data to identify the significance of a forecast model in the set of data, and determining iteratively the value of a forecast parameter, wherein the forecast parameter is determined based on the outcome of performing the at least one forecasting test. Further, the method may include the step of automatically assigning the determined forecast profile to the set of data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: SAP AG
    Inventor: Ralph Moessner
  • Patent number: 8340174
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image processing device for coding image data, which is divided by a given pixel count into macroblocks, on a macroblock-by-macroblock basis, the image processing device including: a quantization section configured to quantize image data on a macroblock-by-macroblock basis; a detection section configured to detect a macroblock containing a given color pixel from the image data; and a control section configured to control the quantization section, the control section including a distance calculation section configured to calculate the distance between a given image position in a picture of the image data and an image position in the macroblock detected by the detection section, and a bitrate control section configured to control the quantization section so that a higher bitrate is assigned with decreasing distance calculated by the distance calculation section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Wada, Takao Nozawa
  • Patent number: 8341098
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus including: evaluation information extracting means extracting evaluation information from evaluation of every user for an item; preference information creating means for creating preference information indicating a preference of every user on the basis of the evaluation information extracted by the evaluation information extracting means and an item characteristic amount indicating a characteristic of the item; space creating means for creating a space in which the user is located, according to the preference information; and display control means for controlling display of the user located in the space, according to the space created by the space creating means and the preference information. The apparatus may be applied to, for example, an image display apparatus which displays server images for providing a variety of items and information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kei Tateno, Shinya Ohtani, Yoshiyuki Kobayashi, Mari Saito
  • Patent number: 8336970
    Abstract: A link for a track-type machine is disclosed. The link may have a body portion. The link may also have an aperture extending through the body portion. The aperture may have a cylindrical portion. Additionally, the aperture may have an annular groove formed in the cylindrical portion. The aperture may also have a tapered portion. The tapered portion may abut the cylindrical portion, and may taper toward the cylindrical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Eric James Johannsen, Mark Steven Diekevers
  • Patent number: 8340907
    Abstract: A slippage condition response system for a first machine of a plurality of machines is disclosed. The response system may have a sensing system configured to sense a parameter indicative of a slippage condition of the first machine. Additionally, the response system may have a locator configured to sense a parameter indicative of a location of the first machine. The response system may also have a transmitter. In addition, the response system may have a controller, which may be in communication with the sensing system, the locator, and the transmitter. The controller may be configured to monitor the location of the first machine. The controller may also be configured to monitor the parameter indicative of a slippage condition of the first machine. Additionally, the controller may be configured to transmit to an offboard system at least one location where the first machine experienced a slippage condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Lee Stratton, Brian Mintah, Gary Edward Hull, James Decker Humphrey, Bryan J. Everett
  • Patent number: 8334160
    Abstract: A semiconductor photovoltaic device comprises a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface and the second surface being opposed to each other, a plurality of trenches extending into the semiconductor substrate from the first surface, the first surface being a substantially planar surface, a dopant region in the semiconductor substrate near the first surface and the plurality of trenches, a first conductive layer over the semiconductor substrate, and a second conductive layer on the second surface of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Lof Solar Corporation
    Inventors: Brite Jui-Hsien Wang, Naejye Hwang, Zingway Pei
  • Patent number: 8334676
    Abstract: A lithium ion secondary battery (100) has a property of securing a flat charge-discharge capacity range (FC) in which fluctuation of terminal voltage is 0.2 V or lower in both the cases where the battery is charged and discharged with electric current having a current value of 1 C over a capacity range of 50% or more of the electric capacity range having a theoretical electric capacity as an upper limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomitaro Hara, Takeshi Abe, Akira Tsujiko
  • Patent number: 8335646
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for presenting a route using a route presentation that provides both a context map and one or more detail route maps. Narrative instructions for the route also may be presented. The presentation of the context map and the one or more detail route maps may be interactive. The route presentation also may be user controllable such that a user may control the portions of a route that are printed. The route presentation also may include a re-routing feature that allows a user to request that a new route be identified that avoids a particular maneuver or maneuvers in a route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: AOL Inc.
    Inventor: David W. Nesbitt
  • Patent number: 8333521
    Abstract: A shutter assembly includes a base having a stop and a central aperture, a permanent magnet rotatably mounted on the base, and a shutter blade directly mounted on the magnet and configured to move between an open position exposing the aperture and a closed position blocking the aperture. The magnet contacts the stop in the open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: VA, Inc.
    Inventor: David Viglione