1774results about How to "Big impact" patented technology

Embodiments of the present invention are generally related to a system and method for comprehensive management and minimization of insurance loss. In particular, insurance perils and insured assets are monitored, potential perils to insured assets are assessed, possible actions are determined, and selected actions are executed involving actors such as the policyholder, insurance agent, mitigation responder, and insurance appraiser. Particular embodiments address damage mitigation during peril and incident management after peril, to the policyholder and / or insured assets. Particular embodiments address the interaction between re-insurance companies and the aforementioned actors and / or insurance companies or cedants to integrate the information and resources of each respective party to provide more comprehensive and economically efficient loss mitigation.

A column-store database computer system responsive to database requests for the update and retrieval of data from within a stable data table providing for the storage of database tuples within a column-store organized database structure. A positional delta tree data structure is implemented in the memory space of the computer system and is operatively coupled in an update data transfer path between a database engine interface and the stable data table. The positional delta tree data structure includes a differential data storage layer operative to store differential update data values in positionally defined relative reference to database tuples stored by the stable data table.

Wind operated electrical generating apparatus includes a housing designed to be attached to the front of a vehicle and formed to extend substantially the length of the front of the vehicle for intercepting air flow produced by movement of the vehicle. The housing is further formed with an opening designed to direct intercepted air flow into a channel. A turbine is rotatably mounted within the housing in the channel for rotation of the turbine with air flow in the channel and an electrical generator is attached to the turbine for rotation with the turbine. The housing can be attached to the front bumper of a vehicle or be attached in lieu of the front bumper.

The present invention provides an articulating TLIF inserter device operable for placing, positioning, and inserting a spinal implant into an intervertebral space with minimum tissue disruption and maximum inline impaction forces, including: an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and an axis; an ergonomic handle disposed at the proximal end of the elongate shaft; an articulating joint mechanism disposed at the distal end of the elongate shaft; and an inserter piece coupled to the articulating joint mechanism, wherein the inserter piece is operable for selectively retaining the spinal implant, and wherein the articulating joint mechanism is operable for selectively actuating the inserter piece between one or more substantially off-axis configurations and a substantially on-axis configuration with respect to the elongate shaft. The articulating TLIF inserter device also includes a release mechanism disposed one of at and near the ergonomic handle, wherein the release mechanism is coupled to and operable for selectively actuating the articulating joint mechanism.

A device for measuring a mechanical property of a tissue includes a probe configured to perturb the tissue with movement relative to a surface of the tissue, an actuator coupled to the probe to move the probe, a detector configured to measure a response of the tissue to the perturbation, and a controller coupled to the actuator and the detector. The controller drives the actuator using a stochastic sequence and determines the mechanical property of the tissue using the measured response received from the detector. The probe can be coupled to the tissue surface. The device can include a reference surface configured to contact the tissue surface. The probe may include a set of interchangeable heads, the set including a head for lateral movement of the probe and a head for perpendicular movement of the probe. The perturbation can include extension of the tissue with the probe or sliding the probe across the tissue surface and may also include indentation of the tissue with the probe. In some embodiments, the actuator includes a Lorentz force linear actuator. The mechanical property may be determined using non-linear stochastic system identification. The mechanical property may be indicative of, for example, tissue compliance and tissue elasticity. The device can further include a handle for manual application of the probe to the surface of the tissue and may include an accelerometer detecting an orientation of the probe. The device can be used to test skin tissue of an animal, plant tissue, such as fruit and vegetables, or any other biological tissue.

A substrate is patterned by performing immersion lithography on a photoresist layer on the substrate using carbon dioxide. The immersion layer may be provided and / or removed and / or the photoresist layer may be developed, dried and / or removed using carbon dioxide. The immersion layer can include liquid and / or solid immersion layers. The need for organic solvents in immersion lithography can thereby be reduced or eliminated.

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for communications in a distributed software system. An operation request from a remote computer is received, and provisionally executes an operation identified by the operation request. A first message is generated. The first message contains a transaction identifier identifying the operation request, an unsuccessful indicator flag, and a temporary data store. The temporary data store identifies tentatively written data generated by the operation. The first message is stored in a message store. If the successful completion of the operation is detected, a second message is generated. The second message contains the transaction identifier as well as a successful indicator flag. The second message is stored in the message store, and the message is transmitted to the remote computer. If the failure of the operation is detected, the message stored in the message store is transmitted to the remote computer.

A process for improving the yield and efficiency of an ethanol fermentation plant that receives organic fermentable feedstock material, prepares the feedstock for fermentation, ferments the feedstock with yeast to produce ethanol, and produces stillage as a byproduct of ethanol fermentation. The process steps which can be operated independently or in combination, may include, but are not limited to, degrading fatty acids in the fermentable feedstock material prior to fermentation; degrading cellulose and hemicellulose present in the feedstock prior to fermentation; adding a surfactant to the fermentable feedstock; separating a liquid fraction from the stillage; recycling the liquid fraction to be combined with the fermentable feedstock; recovering a solid fraction from the stillage; and introducing at least a portion of the solid fraction to an anaerobic digester to produce methane.

A method for testing the effect of a skin care product includes measuring a mechanical property of skin tissue using nonlinear stochastic system identification, applying the product to the skin, repeating the measurement of the mechanical property after the application of the product, and comparing the before and after measurements to quantify the effect of the product.Measuring the mechanical property of the skin can include placing a probe against a surface of the skin, perturbing the skin with the probe using a stochastic sequence, and measuring the response of the skin to the perturbation. Perturbing the skin can include indenting the skin with the probe, extending the skin with the probe, and sliding the probe across the skin surface. The mechanical property may be indicative of skin compliance, skin elasticity, skin stiffness, or skin damping. The mechanical property can be dependent on perturbation depth and may be measured at a plurality of anatomical locations.

Two-dimensional and three-dimensional optical coherence tomography is obtained by differential imaging of full-frame interference images using a white light source. Full-color tomographic imaging is also possible by processing the three-color channels of the interference images. A technique is described to obtain two-dimensional OCT images with full natural color representation. In a particular embodiment, the interference image is acquired using a color camera and the three-color channels are processed separately, recomposing the final image. In an additional embodiment, the interference images are acquired using separate red, blue and green light sources and the three color channels are combined to recompose the final image.

An annular metal-to-metal sealing system, for use in wellhead systems and having many other uses, has a metal member defining an annular internal or external sealing surface for which sealing is intended. An annular seal body composed of high strength metal material is positioned in concentric relation with the annular sealing surface and is sufficient flexible to become spring loaded, typically during assembly, for continuous application of a spring force. The annular seal body defines one or more annular seal retainer grooves each having an annular soft metal sealing insert therein, with a portion thereof exposed for sealing engagement with the annular sealing surface. The spring loaded characteristic of the annular seal body applies constant force to maintain the soft metal seal insert in constantly energized sealing relation with the annular sealing surface and maintains effective sealing even when dimensional changes to the sealing surface occur due to temperature or pressure changes.

Disclosed herein are compositions, preparation methods, and use of thermally conductive materials comprising silicone composition curable by hydrosilylation, thermally conductive fillers, and phthalocyanine. The novel composition retains its desirable pliability after cure even when kept at an elevated temperature for an extended period.

An improved solution for generating depth maps using time-of-flight measurements is described, more specifically a time-of-flight imager and a time-of-flight imaging method with an improved accuracy. A depth correction profile is applied to the measured depth maps, which takes into account propagation delays within an array of pixels of a sensor of the time-of-flight imager.

The present invention is directed to plants that display an altered oil content phenotype due to altered expression of a HIO103.1 nucleic acid. The invention is further directed to methods of generating plants with an altered oil content phenotype.

A head protection helmet comprises an impact resistant shell comprising a cavity for accommodating a user's head and an array of crushable bodies having a hollow closed configuration, e.g. flutes in corrugated material. The crushable bodies each having an axis that extends outwardly from the cavity to absorb impact forces exerted along the direction of the axis.

A system and method for introducing a loopback capability for Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) bi-directional traffic trunks are discussed. MPLS is an emerging technology, which integrates Internet Protocol (IP) routing with label switching techniques. MPLS intends to provide new capabilities in the area of traffic engineering for IP networks. These traffic engineering capabilities will have to be combined with a set of complementary operation, administration and maintenance (OA&M) functions for effectively managing and operating MPLS-based networks. One such function is loopback. A loopback function provides the capability to transmit a OA&M packet on one or more segments of a bi-directional traffic trunk (BTT) in a MPLS network. Using a loopback function, parameters of a BTT, such as connectivity, delay and other Quality of Service (QoS) parameters, can be tested. The system and method provide different techniques for implementing loopback in an MPLS network.

The invention discloses a large automatic ultrasonic dish washing machine. The large automatic ultrasonic dish washing machine comprises an ultrasonic washing tank, an air-drying tank and a collecting tank in sequence from front to back. The ultrasonic washing tank is internally provided with ultrasonic emitting head devices and a driving device, and the driving device is connected with the ultrasonic emitting head devices and used for driving the ultrasonic emitting head devices to work. Each ultrasonic emitting head device comprises an ultrasonic transducer and a high pressure air nozzle which enables input high pressure air to form bubbles in a cleaning fluid, each ultrasonic transducer is used for providing energy for the cleaning fluid, the bubbles in the cleaning fluid are broken to produce an impact force, and the impact force is utilized for washing dishes to be washed. The large automatic ultrasonic dish washing machine is simple and exquisite in structure and is used for washing dishes and the like; the high pressure gas is introduced, the strength of ultrasonic waves produced by the emitting head devices is high, the impact force and friction force of the ultrasonic waves produced by breaking of the bubbles are large, no surfactant or detergent is needed, the effect is good, and environmental protection and sanitation are achieved.

The present invention is directed to innovative and unique mathematical models that capture key constraints, process kinetics and control structures such that a wide envelope of hydrogen gas and associated light gas supply, distribution and use can be modeled. The present invention is also directed to a real time optimization (RTO) computer application for effective optimization of hydrogen and associated light gas supply and distribution and, thereby, consumption, in a refinery that employs said models and solves an objective function, as well as to a method and refinery using the same. The objective function can be an economic objective function such as the minimization of cost for hydrogen supply and distribution or the maximization of profit based on a valuation of products made by hydrogen consumers in the hydrogen system minus the corresponding cost of the hydrogen supply and distribution.

An annular metal-to-metal sealing system, for use in wellhead systems and having many other uses, has a metal member defining an annular internal or external sealing surface for which sealing is intended. An annular seal body composed of high strength metal material is positioned in concentric relation with the annular sealing surface and is sufficient flexible to become spring loaded, typically during assembly, for continuous application of a spring force. The annular seal body defines one or more annular seal retainer grooves each having an annular soft metal sealing insert therein, with a portion thereof exposed for sealing engagement with the annular sealing surface. The spring loaded characteristic of the annular seal body applies constant force to maintain the soft metal seal insert in constantly energized sealing relation with the annular sealing surface and maintains effective sealing even when dimensional changes to the sealing surface occur due to temperature or pressure changes.

A packaged semiconductor device (100) has a first (110) and a second (111) side, the second side including a plurality of metal terminals (120) extending to the first side. Each terminal includes an oblong groove (122) extending to the first side and ending in an orifice (123) at the first side. The terminals are made of a base metal and may have a solder-wettable surface except for the terminal surface (121) exposed at the first device side.

A vehicular heating system comprising a passenger compartment air-conditioner and a radiative heater which heats a foot area of a passenger, said vehicular heating system detecting foot vent heat which said foot vent air flow has and controlling said passenger compartment air-conditioner and said radiative heater in accordance with that heat.

A pneumatic lower extremity gait rehabilitation training system includes a support device for reducing the burden of supporting a user's body weight by lower extremity in a walking therapy, an exoskeleton rehabilitation device for adjusting the user's walking coordination at a treadmill, a center-of-gravity adjusting device for adjusting a change of upper and lower centers of gravity, and a remote monitoring device for receiving and capturing a signal of an angle displacement of a joint mechanism in a walking cycle. The user may support her / his body weight by the support device and the center-of-gravity adjusting device to reduce the gravity exerted onto the user's legs. The exoskeleton rehabilitation device improves the flexibility, safety and lightweight of walking and requires fewer driving elements. The remote monitoring device sends analyzed signals to the treadmill to adjust the user's walking speed, so as to improve the rehabilitation effect.

A hammer that that reduces vibration and provides advantageous balance and mass distribution having a handle portion comprising an I-shape sectional profile and a head comprising a cavity formed therethrough. The hammer may further comprise various nail or other fastener removal structures, such as a claw, slots, notches, or the like. The hammer may further include a nail-starter with magnetic nail retention.

A deflector device for motor vehicles, the front part of the chassis which comprises a left-hand and right-hand longitudinal beam, arranged before a front wheel and configured by a deflector that projects from the longitudinal beam in a substantially horizontal manner and backward at an angle to protect said front wheel in the case of a collision. The deflector device prevents the vehicles from being caught and being pushed off the road in the event of a partially overlapping frontal collision. The deflector device comprises a deflection element which can be longitudinally displaced from a rest position to an operational position, said deflection element consisting of a slider guided on or in the deflector and a forward-facing shoulder.

A system for generating electrical energy using a naturally occurring temperature difference is disclosed. The system provides electrical energy by thermally coupling a conduit that conveys hot material from a petroleum reserve and cold deep-level water to opposing sides of a thermoelectric element. The thermoelectric element generates electrical energy based on the temperature difference between these two surfaces.

A method to achieve acceptable query performance even when a database query optimizer chooses an inefficient query plan due to poor cardinality (row count) estimation includes generating a batch sort query plan which includes a row count operation and a reorder operation. The batch sort, and in particular the reorder operation, is not required to satisfy the query but without these operations the query plan may prove to be inefficient. When the row count operation determines that the query plan is inefficient, the row reordering operation reorders rows for more I / O efficient processing. The results of both the row count operation and the reorder operation are used to produce the desired rowset to satisfy the input query without discarding any retrieved rows. The combination of the row count operation and reorder operation allows a graceful degradation of query performance where the original query plan selected by a query optimizer without the batch sort or reorder operation would execute in an I / O inefficient manner.

An out-of-order renaming processor is provided with a register file within which aliasing between registers of different sizes may occur. In this way a program instruction having a source register of a double precision size may alias with two single precision registers being used as destinations of one or more preceding program instructions. In order to track this data dependency the double precision register may be remapped into a micro-operation specifying two single precision registers as its source register. In this way, scheduling circuitry may use its existing hazard detection and management mechanisms to handle potential data hazards and dependencies. Not all program instructions having such data hazards between registers of different sizes are handled by this source register remapping. For these other program instructions a slower mechanism for dealing with the data dependency hazard is provided. This slower mechanism may, for example, be to drain all the preceding micro-operations from the execution pipelines before issuing the micro-operation having the data hazard.

A display apparatus includes an information display capable of providing information at an external display surface. A fiber optic image guide includes a bottom surface and a top surface. The bottom surface of the fiber optic image guide is optically coupled to the external display surface of the information display. The top surface of the fiber optic image guide includes a non-planar portion and / or does not define a single plane. The information display may be a liquid crystal display. In one preferred application, the display apparatus of the present invention finds use in a digital watch to provide design elements including, for example, features such as a touchable image output surface or magnification via a tapered fiber optic image guide.

A vehicle steering system includes: a steering actuator that imparts a steering force to a steering mechanism of a vehicle; an automatic steering controller that performs an automatic steering control by controlling the steering actuator; a driving state detector that detects a driving state of the vehicle during the automatic steering control; a threshold value setting unit that variably sets a threshold value for permitting an intervention in the automatic steering control; and an automatic steering intervention unit that intervenes in the automatic steering control based on a threshold value set by the threshold value setting unit.