Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130063439 | MATERIAL TROUBLE SHOOTER - A materials trouble shooter is provided for use with 3D models in computer graphics. An error texture is displayed that is distinguishable from textures without errors. If a texture is missing or is applied incorrectly to the 3D model, an error texture is displayed using an error shader instead of a regular shader for the texture for which an error in loading or application has been detected. | 03-14-2013 |
20130063460 | VISUAL SHADER DESIGNER - An integrated development environment includes a visual shader designer engine that enables a user to create a pixel shader embodied as a directed acyclic graph. The directed acyclic graph contains nodes, where each node is associated with an operation that is used to generate a color characteristic of a final rendered model. The visual shader designer engine displays a rendered image at each node that is the result of the node's operation during development of the directed acyclic graph. An error texture is rendered in a node when an erroneous condition is detected in rendering a node's operations. | 03-14-2013 |
20130063472 | CUSTOMIZED IMAGE FILTERS - An interactive development environment enables a user to create a customized image filter through a user interface that provides the developer with a capability to create a directed acyclic graph representing the mathematical operations and values that generate a customized visual effect. During development of the customized image filter, a visual shader designer engine may execute the operations and values associated with each node in a prescribed order and display the rendered outcome in the render view area of each node. In this manner, the developer is able to quickly visualize the visual effect produced by the image filter in real time. | 03-14-2013 |
20140146039 | SELF-DISCLOSING CONTROL POINTS - A smart object represents a 3D graphics object whose control points are disclosed to a user. The control points are displayed for a user to use in performing simple and complex transformations on the 3D graphics object. The control points are positioned in areas where transformations are more likely to be made by a user. A transformation may be an action along one or more axes of the object, such as, rotation, scaling, and translation. The user may utilize the control points to perform a series of transformations that create a particular 3D graphics object without requiring expertise in the 3D graphics modeling application. | 05-29-2014 |
20140149944 | DIRECT MANIPULATION USER INTERFACE FOR SMART OBJECTS - A direct manipulation user interface provides a user with a means to interact with control points associated with smart objects to create and modify complex 3D graphic objects. The direct manipulation user interface includes a precision control mechanism that enables a user to specify precise measurements for a transformation through the user's interaction with a control point. The direct manipulation user interface also includes a history bar that enables a user to scroll back to a previous stage in the design process and to undo a sequence of transformations through the user's interaction with the history bar. | 05-29-2014 |
20140168248 | RUNTIME TRANSFORMATION OF IMAGES TO MATCH A USER INTERFACE THEME - An application that generates a user interface includes multiple assets, such as icons, that are overlaid onto other user interface elements, such as tool bars, menus, windows, etc. The assets may be configured at runtime to match a user interface theme that utilizes specific colors, fonts, and styles. The application, at runtime, configures an asset to match the user interface theme by adjusting the luminosity of the pixels in the asset. A subset of pixels in the asset is matched to the color of a target background color by altering the luminosity of the subset of pixels in the asset to match the luminosity of the target background color. The luminosity of the remaining pixels is adjusted to match the theme. | 06-19-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090250397 | WATER SOFTENER WITH INTEGRATED WATER FILTRATION - Systems and methods for filtering and softening water in combination are disclosed. The systems may include a water filtering system, having a water filter and a water softening system connected to the water filtering system. In addition, a controller may be connected to the water filtering system and the water softening system via wired or wireless connections. The methods may include filtering incoming water, monitoring the hardness of the incoming water, and softening the incoming water when the water hardness is above a maximum level. Furthermore, the performance of the water filtering system may be altered in response to the performance of the water softening system. In addition, the performance of the water softening system may be altered in response to the performance of the water filtering system. | 10-08-2009 |
20100108585 | WATER TREATMENT ASSEMBLY - A water treatment assembly includes a housing having a plurality of water treatment component interfaces. The water treatment assembly also includes a plurality of water treatment components selected from a group of a particulate filter component, a taste and odor filter component, a lead and mercury filter component, a water softener component, and a water disinfection component, wherein each of the water treatment components are coupled to a respective one of the water treatment component interfaces. Plumbing lines provide flow communication between the components, and the plumbing lines include a system water inlet and a system water outlet. | 05-06-2010 |
20120037095 | HOT WATER MIXING VALVE WITH FAILURE DETECTION - A mixing valve comprises a housing including first and second inlet passages and a third outlet passage. The first passage is connectable in a high temperature fluid supply line. The second passage is connectable with a low temperature fluid supply. The third passage selectively communicates with the first and second passages. A valve assembly is mounted within the housing. The valve assembly includes a thermostat element and a valve body actuatable by the thermostat element. The thermostat element is contactable thermally by the high temperature fluid passing through the first passage. The valve body is operable under the influence of the thermostat element to regulate flow of low temperature fluid and provide a mix ratio of high temperature fluid and low temperature fluid that results in a mixed fluid having a selected temperature flowing out of the third passage. The mixing valve is adapted to provide feedback to a consumer of a failure condition. | 02-16-2012 |
20120060829 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WITH SOLAR WATER HEATER - A water heater system is provided with a solar water heater and an electric water heater having one or more electric heating elements. The solar and electric water heaters are configured to provide a common hot water output. A controller is operatively configured with the water heaters and receives a first signal indicative of a current power demand state of an associated electric utility. In response to the received signal, the controller operates the electric water heater in an energy savings mode during periods of high power demand wherein power consumption of the electric heating elements is restricted. The controller is operatively configured to modulate the degree of power consumption restriction placed on the electric heating elements in the energy savings mode as a function of current hot water supply capacity of the solar water heater. | 03-15-2012 |
20130043252 | WATER SEEPAGE ABATEMENT IN WATER HEATERS - A water heater system includes a water heater, a cover, a shroud and at least one ring. The water heater includes a tank, a layer of foam surrounding the tank and a wrapper surrounding the layer of foam. The cover is positioned on a top edge of the water heater. The shroud is positioned over the cover. The at least one ring is positioned around at least one of an inlet port and an outlet port of the water heater. The cover, shroud and at least one ring are operative to prevent a liquid from coming into contact with at least one of the layer of foam surrounding the tank and one or more components covered by the shroud. | 02-21-2013 |
20130044998 | FOAM DAM FOR APPLIANCE - An apparatus includes an inner rim, a base wall, a side wall and an outer rim. The inner rim has a first opening formed therein. The base wall extends outward from an inner edge of the inner rim and is integral with the inner rim. The side wall extends outward from an outer edge of the inner rim and is integral with the inner rim. The outer rim has a second opening formed therein and an inner edge integral with the side wall. The inner rim, base wall, side wall and outer rim are formed to prevent liquid seepage to one or more surrounding components of an appliance in which the apparatus is installed. | 02-21-2013 |
20130199460 | CONDENSER FOR WATER HEATER - A water heater comprises a tank, a cylinder coil section and a return-flow coil section. The cylinder coil section is in a heat transfer relationship with the tank and encircles a first portion of the tank. The return-flow coil section is in a heat transfer relationship with the tank and encircles a second portion of the tank. The cylinder coil section and the return-flow coil section are continuous over at least the first and second portions of the tank. | 08-08-2013 |
20140124051 | HEAT TRANSFER FOR HEAT PUMP WATER HEATER - A water heater is provided that improves heat transfer between the coils of the heat exchanger of a refrigerant-based heating system and the water in the heater's water tank. Grooves can be added to the exterior of the water tank. The coils of the heat exchanger are positioned within the grooves on the exterior surface of the water tank. Additional features may also be used to further improve heat transfer. Methods for constructing such water heater are also provided. | 05-08-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090138090 | ARTICULATING INTERVERTEBRAL DISC PROSTHESIS - An artificial intervertebral disc for implantation between two adjacent vertebrae includes superior and inferior shells connected in a ball and socket arrangement. The inferior shell preferably incorporating a convex portion that cooperates with a concave portion on the superior shell. A resilient nucleus is provided within an enclosure defined by the opposing inner surfaces of the shells and biases the shells against each other. The ball portion can be provided in either fixed or slidable arrangement. The superior and inferior shells are also provided with cooperating male and female portions whereby the shells positively engage each other, thereby preventing separation, but allowing any desired articulation there-between. The artificial disc of the invention includes various resistance means for restricting and limiting the range of rotational and translational motion between the shells. | 05-28-2009 |
20100222885 | ARTIFICIAL INTERVERTEBRAL DISC - An artificial intervertebral disc for implantation between two adjacent vertebrae includes superior and inferior shells connected in a ball and socket arrangement. The inferior shell preferably incorporating a convex portion that cooperates with a concave portion on the superior shell. A resilient nucleus is provided within an enclosure defined by the opposing inner surfaces of the shells and biases the shells against each other. The ball portion can be provided in either fixed or slidable arrangement. The artificial disc of the invention includes various resistance means for restricting and limiting the range of rotational and translational motion between the shells. | 09-02-2010 |
20110054617 | INTERVERTEBRAL DISC PROSTHESIS HAVING BALL AND RING STRUCTURE - An artificial intervertebral disc comprises two opposing shells having opposing inner surfaces and oppositely directed outer surfaces. The outer surfaces are adapted for locating against adjacent vertebrae. The inner surface of one shell including a ball and the inner surface of the other shell including a cooperating ring are adapted to restrict articulation of the ball within a defined region. | 03-03-2011 |
20110093075 | ARTIFICIAL INTERVERTEBRAL SPACER - An artificial intervertebral spacer comprises a first arm and a second arm, each of the arms having first and second ends and wherein the first ends of each of the arms are connected together and wherein the second ends of each of the arms are generally separated from each other and divergently extend in a common direction. In a preferred embodiment, the first ends of the arms are joined to form a third arm. In a further preferred embodiment, the spacer comprises a generally Y-shaped structure. In other embodiments, at least two spacers are combined to provide an intervertebral distracting device. | 04-21-2011 |
20110230913 | FACET JOINT PROSTHESIS - A facet joint prosthesis comprises a pair of facet elements for engaging the superior and inferior articular processes of a facet joint. The facet elements are provided with one or more articulating surfaces for articulating movement there-between. The facet elements are also provided with a positive engagement means for preventing separation of the elements and/or to limit relative movement there-between within a pre-determined range. In one aspect, the invention provides a spacer for positioning between the facet elements and for distracting the facet joint. The spacer may also serve to form an artificial lateral mass between the superior and inferior articulating surfaces. The spacer may be provided with engagement means for positively engaging one or both of the facet elements. | 09-22-2011 |
20110295319 | DYNAMIC PEDICLE SCREW - A bone screw, such as a pedicle screw, comprises en elongate structure having a head, an anchoring portion or tip distal from the head, and an open, helical body extending there-between. In one embodiment, the invention provides a screw having an anchoring portion, which engages bone and which includes a means for engaging a driver or the like whereby the screw is driven into the bone by the anchoring portion. A method of driving a screw is also provided. | 12-01-2011 |