US09082005B2

A method is provided for sketch segmentation via smart scribbles, the results of which are especially suitable for interactive real-time graphics editing applications. A vector-based drawing may be segmented into labels based on input scribbles provided by a user. By organizing the labeling as an energy minimization problem, an approximate solution can be found using a sequence of binary graph cuts for an equivalent graph, providing an optimized implementation in a polynomial time suitable for real-time drawing applications. The energy function may include time, proximity, direction, and curvature between strokes as smoothness terms, and proximity, direction, and oriented curvature between strokes and scribbles as data terms. Additionally, the energy function may be modified to provide for user control over locality control, allowing the selection of appropriately sized labeling regions by scribble input speed or scribble input pressure. Once the drawing is labeled, a wide range of drawing applications are enabled.
US09081995B2

An apparatus includes the primary components of an EAS system and a hand-supportable and countertop-supportable bar code symbol reading system having a housing with a light transmission window covered by an optically transparent faceplate having outer dimensions closely matched to the light transmission window. About the optically transparent faceplate, a faceplate bezel is mounted embodying a coil of electrically conductive wire having terminals connected to an electrical interface circuit, which is connected to a flexible EAS cable extending from the electrical interface circuit. The flexible EAS cable extends towards electrical drive circuitry associated with the EAS subsystem, for powering the coil during EAS tag deactivation operations controlled by the host computer system.
US09081994B2

An RFID reading terminal can be configured, responsive to receiving a user interface action, to capture an image of at least one part of a physical structure sustaining a plurality of inventory items, locate and decode optical decodable indicia into a message comprising an identifier of the physical structure. The RFID reading terminal can be further configured to retrieve from a database, using the identifier of the physical structure, a reference image and/or a description of the physical structure. The portable RFID reading terminal can be further configured, while being moved to follow an imaginary trajectory within the physical structure, to repetitively capture an image of the physical structure using the imaging device, determine orientation and the current spatial position of the RFID reading terminal relative to the physical structure responsive to identifying one or more objects within each captured image, and displaying the RFID scan trace.
US09081987B2

A document image authenticating server and method for using the same are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises a document receiving interface to capture images of documents associated with one or more workflows and tag the collected document with workflow information indicative of its associated workflow; a first memory to store images of documents captured by the document receiving interface and metadata, the first memory being accessible for verification operations performed with respect to the workflow; a second memory to store a log that includes entries with one or more media identifiers corresponding to the captured images, the second memory being accessible for verification operations performed with respect to the workflow; a first unit to generate log data corresponding to the images associated with workflows captured at the document receiving interface and to store the log data in the log; and a second unit to provide information about the log to another application.
US09081985B1

A computing device operates in a secure operating mode in response to user selection. Computer hardware is initialized to verify a bootloader of an operating system, and the bootloader verifies the operating system kernel. The kernel then verifies operating-system level executable files. After verification, a limited set of the verified files is loaded into a portion of the memory that is subsequently marked by the kernel as read-only. These files are executed to provide a basic Internet browser session; all other files are identified as non-executable. When the user accesses an authorized website and conducts a transaction that requires a user to provide information, the information is encrypted during transmission of the network. In addition, such information cannot be accessed by other parties since the information provided is not persisted at the computing device.
US09081983B2

A distribution database includes at least one central database, in which data of use-value given by data a releaser and the values of use are stored, and several local databases, each of which is based at a data releaser's site, and which are bisynchronous with the central database. A method for data distribution and verification is provided. The data distribution database provides security and timeliness and requires lower levels of hardware resources. The method for data distribution and verification pertaining to this invention may enhance the data transmission range and use efficiency, and at the same time prevent the interest of the original data releaser against any harm as a result of data retransmission, and also assure shared interest and security for data users.
US09081975B2

Systems and methods for sharing information between distributed computer systems connected to one or more data networks. In particular, a replication system implementing methodologies for sharing database information between computer systems where the databases use different classification schemes for information access control is disclosed.
US09081959B2

A non-transitory processor-readable medium storing code representing instructions to cause a processor to perform a process includes code to cause the processor to receive a set of indications of allowed behavior associated with an application. The processor is also caused to initiate an instance of the application within a sandbox environment. The processor is further caused to receive, from a monitor module associated with the sandbox environment, a set of indications of actual behavior of the instance of the application in response to initiating the instance of the application within the sandbox environment. The processor is also caused to send an indication associated with an anomalous behavior if at least one indication from the set of indications of actual behavior does not correspond to an indication from the set of indications of allowed behavior.
US09081958B2

Reputations of objects are determined by a reputation system using reports from clients identifying the objects. Confidence metrics for the clients are generated using information determined from the reports. Confidence metrics indicate the amounts of confidence in the veracity of the reports. Reputation scores of objects are calculated using the reports from the clients and the confidence metrics for the clients. Confidence metrics and reputation scores are stored in correlation with identifiers for the objects. An object's reputation score is provided to a client in response to a request.
US09081952B2

Systems and methods for efficient and timely electronic new user authentication in a digital mailbox system using a sliding scale approach to include one or more identity authentication systems as appropriate for system security needs are provided. The system first obtains new user name and address data. Because the address is an important data point, the system first verifies the address before expending the resources of an identity data search. If the address is valid, the system calls an identity verification system and provides an identity quiz to the user based upon additional identity verification data. If the user passes the quiz, then a new account is setup and any other systems users having an account at that address are notified.
US09081951B2

Techniques for managing identities are provided. In some examples, identity management, authentication, authorization, and token exchange frameworks may be provided for use with mobile devices, mobile applications, cloud applications, and/or other web-based applications. For example a mobile client may request to perform one or more identity management operations associated with an account of a service provider. Based at least in part on the requested operation and/or the particular service provider, an application programming interface (API) may be utilized to generate and/or perform one or more instructions and/or method calls for managing identity information of the service provider.
US09081948B2

An embodiment relates generally to a method of using a token. The method includes embedding the token with at least one action and detecting a presence of the token. The method also includes authenticating the token; and executing an applet in response to a valid authentication of the token.
US09081933B2

The method for extracting a capacitance from a layout is disclosed. The method decomposes a first net into a first and a second component, and decomposes a second net into a third and a fourth component. The method may obtain a first capacitance for the first component and the third component by a first method, and obtain a second capacitance for the second component and the fourth component by a second method different from the first method. A library with a plurality of entries may be provided, wherein each entry has a component pair comprising a component of the first net and a component of the second net, and a pre-calculated capacitance for the component pair. The first method may be to search a library to find a pre-calculated capacitance. The second method may be to obtain the first capacitance by an equation solver on the fly.
US09081931B2

A first gate level feature forms gate electrodes of a first transistor of a first transistor type and a first transistor of a second transistor type. A second gate level feature forms a gate electrode of a second transistor of the first transistor type. A third gate level feature forms a gate electrode of a second transistor of the second transistor type. The gate electrodes of the second transistors of the first and second transistor types are electrically connected to each other through an electrical connection formed by linear-shaped conductive structures. The gate electrodes of the second transistors of the first and second transistor types are positioned on opposite sides of a gate electrode track along which the gate electrodes of the first transistors of the first and second transistor types are positioned.
US09081925B1

A method of estimating performance of a design can include selecting a segment of the design for hardware emulation within an emulation system implemented within an integrated circuit. The emulation system can include a generic accelerator coupled to a processor of the integrated circuit. The method further can include modifying the design, using a processor of a host system, to invoke the generic accelerator in lieu of executing the selected segment within the processor of the emulation system during emulation.
US09081918B2

Models of underground formations. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including creating a model of an underground formation. The creating may include: calculating a set of probabilities associated with a first horizontal location, each probability indicative of a likelihood of finding abutting geological layers; estimating a plurality of successions of geological layers to create a plurality of estimated successions, and the estimating using the set of probabilities; determining, for each of the estimated succession, a value indicative of how closely each estimated succession matches a measured succession, the measured succession determined by a seismic survey; and selecting from the plurality of estimated successions based on the values, the selecting creates a selected succession of geological layers, and the plurality of modeled values associated with the first horizontal location determined based on the selected succession of geological layers.
US09081915B2

An improved Modal Assurance Criterion for comparing two mode shapes obtained from modal analysis of a multi-component structure is disclosed. In one embodiment, a first mode shape vector and second mode shape vector for a first mode shape and second mode shape of the multi-component structure, respectively, are formed by grouping modal displacement at each node associated with each component in the multi-component structure. Further, modal assurance criterion (MAC) between the first mode shape vector and second mode shape vector is computed by dividing a square of sum of magnitudes of correlation of the modal displacement at each component for the first mode shape vector and second mode shape vector in the multi-component structure with a product of squared magnitudes of the first mode shape vector and second mode shape vector. Furthermore, the first mode shape and second mode shape of the multi-component structure are compared using the MAC.
US09081911B2

In an example, an apparatus includes a memory storing a hypervisor, where the hypervisor is configured to determine whether one or more universal serial bus (USB) devices in communication with the hypervisor are authorized to communicate with a guest operating system of the hypervisor and, after determining that the one or more USB devices are authorized to communicate with the guest, virtualize the one or more USB devices at the guest operating system and transfer messages between the one or more USB devices and the virtualized USB device.
US09081909B2

An electronic device and a method for switching mode of a Thunderbolt connector thereof are provided. The electronic device includes a core unit, a PCIe device, a Thunderbolt control unit, a first switch circuit and a second switch circuit. The Thunderbolt control unit has a host mode and an end-point device mode. A common terminal of the first switch circuit is coupled to a PCIe port of the PCIe device. A first selection terminal of the first switch circuit is coupled to a first PCIe port of the core unit. A common terminal of the second switch circuit is coupled to a PCIe port of the Thunderbolt control unit. A first selection terminal of the second switch circuit is coupled to a second PCIe port of the core unit. A second selection terminal of the first switch circuit is coupled to a second selection terminal of the second switch circuit.
US09081904B2

A method is provided for enabling electronic representation of a removable or fixed data storage device having a non-volatile memory as an operating system-standard disk directly accessible to a main bus of a computing appliance having a peripheral component interface connector and a motherboard. The method includes the acts (a) providing a peripheral component interface ported to a memory controller on the device, the memory controller for controlling host access to the non-volatile memory, (b) providing disk control registers and or bus control registers including appropriate disk and or bus protocols and commands in the peripheral component interface on the device, and (c) connecting the device to the peripheral component interface connector of the computing appliance.
US09081900B2

Systems and methods for mining a temporal requirement from a block diagram model of a closed loop control system are disclosed. One embodiment of a method includes simulating the closed loop control system of a vehicle to obtain simulation traces and determining a candidate requirement by instantiating a template requirement with values of the simulation traces to locate parameter values that suggest that the template requirement is fulfilled. Some embodiments of the method include determining whether a counterexample to the candidate requirement exists; and in response to determining that the counterexample to the candidate requirement exists, obtaining the counterexample to the candidate requirement and adding the counterexample to the simulation traces for inspection.
US09081896B1

Disclosed are various embodiments for generating a replacement binary for emulation of an application. A computer ingests native object code and identifies a central processing unit (CPU) from the native object code. The computer transforms the native object code to produce replacement object code. When executed on the computing device, the replacement code invokes an emulator for the CPU to execute the native code.
US09081895B2

A processor stores an address of a first instruction of a first instruction set into a first register. The processor determines that a first instruction set location of the first instruction address matches a breakpoint instruction set location of a breakpoint instruction address stored in a second register, wherein the second register includes a state bit. The processor retrieves the first instruction. The processor determines that a breakpoint instruction offset of the breakpoint instruction address identifies the first instruction as the breakpoint. The processor sets the state bit of the second register. The processor removes the first instruction based on the state bit being set and then re-retrieves the first instruction. The processor tags the first instruction and generates an interrupt based on either the tagged first instruction being next to completion or the tagged first instruction being completed.
US09081881B2

A computer system for use in load testing a service-oriented architecture (SOA) service has a processor and a memory storage device in communication with the processor. The processor is adapted to receive an XML message, an address for a service to be tested, an action compliant with a protocol for exchanging structured information in a decentralized, distributed environment and associated with the service; create and store in memory a template message package compliant with the protocol; create a populated message package compliant with the protocol by incorporating in the template message package the XML message, the address and the action; establish a connection to the service and furnish one or more documents and attachments to the service; and receive a response from the service.
US09081872B2

Systems and methods for indexing and searching data, such as file contents and/or metadata. In one exemplary method, an index corresponding to files on a storage device is created. Index is partitioned into subindexes according to certain criteria, such as the location of files or exclusivity of access to files. Subindex contains the entire content of files or metadata describing files, in addition to identifiers leading back to files' physical storage. Index is maintained by moving files' index entries from one subindex to another as files change in relation to the partition criteria, such as changing location. Searching some subindexes, like one corresponding to files in a shared folder, is done with permission checking. Searches of certain other subindexes, like one corresponding to the home folder of the user searching, are done without permission checking the underlying files resulting in a performance improvement.
US09081871B2

A search control in a user interface enables a user to search documents on text or a tag.
US09081859B2

Methods and apparatuses for assessing user interest scores of users of a mobile network are provided. A method includes for each of a plurality of users (A) determining initial interest scores corresponding to user's interests and interest scores of friends of the user for the user's interests, based on browsing information, and (B) assessing user's interest scores based on the initial interest scores, the interest scores of the friends and friends' influence. The method further includes outputting a list including a subset of the users selected based on the user's interest scores.
US09081857B1

The relevance or ranking of various dynamically-determined instances of content can be adjusted or otherwise improved based on aspects such as the freshness or seasonality of the content. In many conventional relevance or ranking algorithms, factors such as popularity, performance, and profit are used to determine which content to present to a user, as well as how to display the selected content. Such algorithms do not necessarily reflect domain-specific knowledge very well, and thus fail to accurately select content that is of differing levels appeal at various ages of the content and/or during various seasons of the year. Freshness and/or seasonality adjustment scores can be used to generate improved relevance, selection, or ranking determinations for various categories of content.
US09081851B2

A set of ordered predicted completion strings are presented to a user as the user enters text in a text entry box (e.g., a browser or a toolbar). The predicted completion strings can be in the form of URLs or query strings. The ordering may be based on any number of factors (e.g., a query's frequency of submission from a community of users). URLs can be ranked based on an importance value of the URL. Privacy is taken into account in a number of ways, such as using a previously submitted query only when more than a certain number of unique requesters have made the query. The sets of ordered predicted completion strings is obtained by matching a fingerprint value of the user's entry string to a fingerprint to table map which contains the set of ordered predicted completion strings.
US09081848B2

An apparatus categorizes knowledge elements that an investigator derives from source materials into issue categories. The issue categories may be predefined based on the type or nature of the investigative matter or user-defined as circumstances dictate. The apparatus also allows for preparation of a narrative based on the knowledge elements and source materials. A hopper allows a user to view and access the categorized knowledge elements during preparation of the narrative. Accordingly, through this collaboration process, investigators may produce a narrative more accurately and efficiently. Further, the apparatus links the text in the narrative back to the knowledge elements and the source materials which may be easily accessed via the links to enable them to be reviewed to determine whether the relevant text in the narrative is firmly based thereon. Thus, review of the work product created with the apparatus may be simplified.
US09081846B2

Technologies are described herein for generating a local copy of a virtualized application package from a local installation. An empty copy of the virtualized application package is generated from a skeleton file. The skeleton file contains a hash value computed from each data block in the virtualized application package. The component files of the application are retrieved from a virtual file system representation of the location installation of the application, and each component file is divided into one or more blocks of data. A hash value is computed for each block of data and the skeleton file is searched for a hash value corresponding to a data block of the virtualized application file that matches the hash value computed for each block of data. If a match is found, the block of data is copied to the corresponding data block of the empty copy of the virtualized application package.
US09081838B2

Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for database record recovery. A method may include determining a target database record format. The method may further include using the target database record format to evaluate source data for presence of database records matching the target database record format. The method may additionally include, in an instance in which a database record is determined, based on the evaluation, to be present in the source data, recovering the database record from the source data. Corresponding apparatuses and computer program products are also provided.
US09081833B1

Systems and methods for providing a tooltip based on search results within a social network are provided. A method includes receiving a search query within the social network. The method also includes determining a set of search results responsive to the search query. The set of search results is from within the social network. The set of search results includes search results of a first type and search results of a second type. The method also includes providing for display of plural ones of the search results of the first type. The method also includes determining whether a number of search result of the second type exceeds a threshold number. The method also includes, providing, in a case where the number of search results of the second type exceeds the threshold number, for display of a tooltip. The tooltip indicates the second type.
US09081832B2

Methods and apparatus for providing leaf pages as sublinks for a webpage in response to a search query. A search query may be received from a user and search results obtained based on the search query. A plurality of leaf pages associated with a webpage of the search results may be identified. The webpage may be provided as a main search result to the search query and sublinks to the leaf pages may be provided as sublinks of the main search result. At least one category of the leaf pages may be identified and the sublinks to the leaf pages may be sorted according to a sorting scheme of the category.
US09081829B2

A system to collect and analyze performance metric data recorded in time-series measurements, converted into unicode, and arranged into a special data structure. The performance metric data is collected by one or more probes running on machines about which data is being collected. The performance metric data is also organized into a special data structure. The data structure at the server where analysis is done has a directory for every day of performance metric data collected with a subdirectory for every resource type. Each subdirectory contain text files of performance metric data values measured for attributes in a group of attributes to which said text file is dedicated. Each attribute has its own section and the performance metric data values are recorded in time series as unicode hex numbers as a comma delimited list. Analysis of the performance metric data is done using regular expressions.
US09081828B1

Embodiments are directed towards a controller that provides individual network accessibility to a storage drive. The controller may include a first connector operative to couple with a storage-drive connector, a second connector operative to couple with a backplane connector of a multi-storage-drive chassis, memory, and processor. The controller may convert communication received through the first connector into an Ethernet protocol for output through the second connector, and convert communication received through the second connector into a storage-drive protocol for output through the first connector. A physical shape of the controller may fit adjacent to the storage-drive connector and occupy less space than is bounded by peripheral edges of an end of a separate housing of a storage drive coupled to the storage-drive connector. The controller may manage power provided to the storage drive and may coordinate with other controllers to manage power-up sequences of multiple storage drives.
US09081822B2

Content-based retrieval of digital pathology images (DPI) is a fundamental component in an intelligent DPI processing and management system. The fundamental procedure of the retrieval is evaluating the similarity between the query image and every image in the database with some distance function, and sorting of the latter based on their distances to the query. A novel approach to optimally combine a set of existing distance functions into a stronger distance that is suitable for retrieving DPI in a way respecting human perception of image similarity is described herein.
US09081815B2

A method, device and computer program product for a golf course searching system. Various characteristics of golf courses are stored in a database. A user may log onto the golf course searching system and define parameters of a golf course of interest and the system will output information about which golf courses the user should pursue.
US09081814B1

An embodiment may receive a question at a computing device; obtain a search result set in response to the question; identify, using the computing device, one or more entities that are associated with at least one document referenced by the search result set; select, using the computing device, one or more relevant entities identified as being associated with (i) documents referenced by the search result set and (ii) the question; and output, using the computing device, an answer to the question based at least on the selected one or more entities.
US09081811B2

A method of matching identification data comprising: acquisition of a data record comprising a plurality of fields; selection of matched records stored in a database, the data records having fields of type corresponding to the fields of the record acquired, the selection comprising for each record of the database: comparison of at least one field with the corresponding field of the record acquired, the comparison defining a discrete metric with at least three states of which a first state corresponds to an identity; and search for the match by traversal of a finite automaton in which each transition corresponds to at least one state of the comparison metric for at least one field, the finite automaton having at least two final states: matched and unmatched.
US09081807B2

Systems and methods for invalidating and regenerating pages. In one embodiment, a method can include detecting content changes in a content database including various objects. The method can include causing an invalidation generator to generate an invalidation based on the modification and communicating the invalidation to a dependency manager. A cache manager can be notified that pages in a cache might be invalidated based on the modification via a page invalidation notice. In one embodiment, a method can include receiving a page invalidation notice and sending a page regeneration request to a page generator. The method can include regenerating the cached page. The method can include forwarding the regenerated page to the cache manager replacing the cached page with the regenerated page. In one embodiment, a method can include invalidating a cached page based on a content modification and regenerating pages which might depend on the modified content.
US09081806B2

Various embodiments of systems and methods of optimizing a database are described herein. Database tables are rated based on at least one of table size and table growth rate. One or more of the database tables are then selected based on the rating of the database tables. Archiving objects for the one or more selected tables are obtained. An archiving object includes one or more archiving programs and defines data related to a business object. The archiving objects are ranked based on dependencies between them. Based on the ranking of the archiving objects, an archiving schedule including an archiving order for the archiving objects is generated. The archiving schedule is then displayed.
US09081799B2

A facility for identifying a location in a printed document is described. The facility obtains an image of the printed document, and extracts gestalt information from text occurring in the image of the printed document. The facility compares the extracted gestalt information to an index of documents and, based upon this comparison, identifies a document that includes the gestalt information.
US09081795B2

Systems and methods are discussed to share real-time electronic content among social contacts. The current location of a mobile device is determined to be at a live event. For example, GPS functionality may be used to determine the current location of the mobile device at a live event. A live event vicinity associated with the live event is determined. The live event vicinity comprises a geographic area proximate the live event. One or more social contacts may be determined to be within the live event vicinity. Electronic content may be captured using the mobile device. For example, a photograph may be taken using the mobile device. The captured electronic content may be shared with one or more social contacts that are determined to be within the live event vicinity.
US09081792B1

Optimizing backup of whitelisted files. In one example embodiment, a method of optimizing backup of whitelisted files may include a whitelist analysis phase that may include identifying a set of allocated blocks in a source storage at a point in time, identifying whitelisted files that are already stored in a deduplication storage, and determining whether one of the whitelisted files is stored in the source storage by analyzing file attribute data stored in file system metadata in the source storage. If so, the whitelist analysis phase may include pruning the set of allocated blocks to exclude the allocated blocks that correspond to content of the one whitelisted file and associating logical locations of the content of the one whitelisted file as stored in the source storage with logical locations of the content of the one whitelisted file as stored in the deduplication storage.
US09081790B2

An electronic data storage and transmission system. A plurality of electronic data objects may be associated to a plurality of electronic data indicators, and the associations may be combined. Contextual awareness of a second location may allow generation of streamlined electronic data objects. Electronic spatial data objects may be automatically contiguously combined and compression may be leveraged with combination efficiencies. Combinations of electronic data objects may be threshold limited. Transmission of electronic data may achieve effective compression and effective transmission rates exceeding a benchmark network transmission rate of an electronic data communications network.
US09081784B2

A device relative to a delta indexing method for a hierarchy file storage including a from-end side file server and a back-end side file server is provided. The front-end side file server creates a file update list for accumulating a file update history in a file system therein, a search server requests the file update list to the front-end side file server, and the front-end side file server supplies path name information of a targeted file in the back-end side file server in addition to the file update list, thereby, the search accesses tot the back-end side file server to be able to acquire necessary information for a search index update.
US09081777B1

Methods and systems for collecting, aggregating and displaying social media content are provided. Social media content can be aggregated from multiple social media providers and presented to a user as a social stream, which can be grouped and/or filtered. In some cases a user can view social media content grouped by social entity, social contributor and/or social tag.
US09081774B2

Methods and systems for providing related web pages are disclosed. One method includes identifying a plurality of web pages, wherein the plurality of web pages each have a relationship with the first file, wherein the world wide web provides a platform for sharing web pages, and wherein each web page includes a document or information resource that is suitable for the world wide web and is accessible through a web browser. The method further includes generating a list of inquiries based on the plurality of web pages, providing, the list of inquiries to at least one author of the first file, receiving from the at least one author at least one response to the list of inquiries, selecting a subset of the plurality of web pages based on the at least one response, and storing information related to the selected subset of the plurality of web pages.
US09081762B2

In one embodiment, a translator quality assurance system may rate a translation using a mapping chart. A data interface 150 may access a translation dictionary matching a source language to a target language. A processor 120 may map automatically a sentence pair having a source sentence 310 in a source language and a target sentence 320 in a target language at a linguistic level using the translation dictionary. A user output device 170 may display a translation quality report of the target sentence 320.
US09081758B2

An approach to determine a power-on-hour offset for a memory device that is newly-installed into a computer system is provided, which subtracts a current power-on-hour count of the memory device from a current power-on-hour value of a power supply that supplies operative power to the memory device within the computer system. In response to the computer system powering down, an accumulated power-on-hour for the memory device is determined by subtracting the power-on-hour offset of the memory from a current power-on-hour value of the computer system power supply. The determined power-on-hour offset and accumulated power-on-hour values are saved into one or more designated bytes of a free area of electrically erasable programmable read-only memory of the memory device that are available for data storage by a memory controller, and wherein data stored therein persists after operative power is lost to the memory device, the memory controller or the computer system.
US09081756B2

A method and apparatus for populating a form with data is described. In one embodiment of the invention, a form is displayed to the user via the target application. Each form has one or more data receptacles. The data receptacles of a form are filled with data when the user executes a data population command. The form completion program executes the data population command when a graphical representation of a particular data set is placed over the form. Each data set is stored in an encrypted manner and is accessible to users who enter the appropriate information into an authentication mechanism. To populate a form with data the form completion program obtains an image of the form and then searches for a template file that resembles the form image to within a certain threshold. The template files are typically stored on the computer hosting the target application in a template directory that is arranged according to a predefined structure. The form completion program is configured to search for templates that resemble the form image in the template directory to within a certain threshold.
US09081751B2

A video server has a table generator, a rebuild processor, and a rebuild controller. The table generator generates a management table of content data ID that specifies the content data and the write location of the content data in the storage unit where the content data are recorded. When a problem takes place in at least one of the storage devices, the rebuild processor executes a rebuild process to recover the content data of the troubled storage device. When a rebuild start request is generated by the rebuild processor, the rebuild controller controls the start and stop of the rebuild process by referring to the management table.
US09081745B2

Methods and electronic devices for configuring an electronic device based on personal identification information are described. In one example aspect, the method may include: obtaining personal identification information in a first application; and based on the personal identification information and one or more predetermined rules, determining if a second application should be loaded onto the electronic device.
US09081742B2

Described embodiments provide a system having a plurality of processor cores and common memory in direct communication with the cores. A source processing core communicates with a task destination core by generating a task message for the task destination core. The task source core transmits the task message directly to a receiving processing core adjacent to the task source core. If the receiving processing core is not the task destination core, the receiving processing core passes the task message unchanged to a processing core adjacent the receiving processing core. If the receiving processing core is the task destination core, the task destination core processes the message.
US09081734B2

Restoring from a legacy OS environment to a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) pre-boot environment, including: storing, under the UEFI pre-boot environment, context in the UEFI pre-boot environment that needs to be preserved, where the context in the UEFI pre-boot environment that needs to be preserved includes CPU execution context; restoring a first portion of the CPU execution context in response to the UEFI pre-boot environment failing to load the legacy OS; making a CPU associated with the UEFI pre-boot environment enter into System Management Mode, and restoring a second portion of the CPU execution context under the System Management Mode; and exiting from CPU System Management Mode, thereby returning to the UEFI pre-boot environment.
US09081733B2

In general, techniques are described for implementing a 16-point inverse discrete cosine transform (IDCT) that is capable of applying multiple IDCTs of different sizes. For example, an apparatus comprising a 16-point inverse discrete cosine transform of type II (IDCT-II) unit may implement the techniques of this disclosure. The 16-point IDCT-II unit performs these IDCTs-II of different sizes to transform data from a spatial to a frequency domain. The 16-point IDCT-II unit includes an 8-point IDCT-II unit that performs one of the IDCTs-II of size 8 and a first 4-point IDCT-II unit that performs one of the IDCTs-II of size 4. The 8-point IDCT-II unit includes the first 4-point DCT-II unit. The 16-point IDCT-II unit also comprises an inverse 8-point DCT-IV unit that includes a second 4-point IDCT-II unit and a third 4-point IDCT-II unit. Each of the second and third 4-point IDCT-II units performs one of the IDCTs-II of size 4.
US09081731B2

If a Hadamard matrix HN of order N=BF is a Kronecker product HFHB of an order F Hadamard matrix and an order B Hadamard matrix, then transformation by HN may be implemented by a fast Hadamard transform at coarse scale followed by fast Hadamard transforms at fine scale. Alternatively, transformation by HN may be achieved by performing order B transforms on columns of a two-dimensional array and order B transforms on rows of the array. As another alternative, transformation by HN may be achieved by computing intermediate values based on linear combinations of input elements and then computing linear combinations of the intermediate values. For compressive signal acquisition, any row of HN may be generated by concatenating selectively modified copies of a corresponding row of HB. Thus, modulation patterns may be generated on the fly.
US09081728B2

A system and method are disclosed for providing efficient data storage. A plurality of data segments is received in a data stream. The system preliminarily checks in a memory having a relatively low latency whether one of the plurality of data segments may have been stored previously in a data segment repository. The memory having the relatively low latency stores data segment information. In the event that the preliminary check determines that one of the plurality of data segments may have been stored in the data segment repository, a memory having a relatively higher latency is checked to determine whether the data segment has been stored previously in the data segment repository.
US09081725B2

In a method for protecting digital information, a processor converts a protected address range into a plurality of address blocks of a storage device based on a preset conversion unit, and generates an address block rearranging rule using the address blocks as a parameter. When it is desired to load data into a space of an address batch of the protected address range, the processor converts the address batch into a plurality of address blocks based on the conversion unit, locates rearranged addresses of the address blocks in the protected address range according to the address block rearranging rule, and loads the data into spaces of the rearranged addresses.
US09081703B2

Methods and apparatuses are provided for facilitating sharing device connections across multiple physical and/or virtual (logical) computers. A method may include receiving a USB device request from a virtual host controller driver of a client when a host is not in a power save mode and passing a USB device request to a host controller driver of the client when the host is in a power save mode. A method may also include activating a sharing switch of a host controller to connect a device connection port to the host when the host is not in a power save mode and to connect the device connection port to the client when the host is in a power save mode. Corresponding apparatuses and computer program products are also provided.
US09081702B2

Techniques described enable efficient swapping of memory pages to and from a working set of pages for a process through the use of large writes and reads of pages to and from sequentially ordered locations in secondary storage. When writing pages from a working set of a process into secondary storage, the pages may be written into reserved, contiguous locations in a dedicated swap file according to a virtual address order or other order. Such writing into sequentially ordered locations enables reading in of clusters of pages in large, sequential blocks of memory, providing for more efficient read operations to return pages to physical memory.
US09081694B2

Systems and methods are described for managing applications in a computer system. An operating system kernel such as Linux can be started and executed at different addresses other than the address typically used for such kernels. An operating system kernel can accommodate end of memory and size of memory that do not comply with normal system specifications. Mechanisms are described that change methods for exception vector handling using a software fix. Dual and/or multi-core systems can run applications in both SMP and ASMP modes without needing any hardware changes. Separate instances or similar copies of an OS such as Linux can be executed on multiple cores in ASMP mode. In SMP mode, Linux or another OS can run as a single instance of the OS.
US09081691B1

Described are techniques for performing recovery processing in a data storage system. A providing a flash-based memory is provided with includes cached write data that has not been destaged to a data storage device. It is determined whether said flash-based memory has a threshold amount of storage available thereon. If the flash-based memory does not have the threshold amount of storage available thereon, portions of the cache write data are destaged until said flash-based memory has a threshold amount of storage available thereon. Received data requests are processed in accordance with a first policy different from a second policy used in connection with processing received data requests if said flash-based memory has a threshold amount of storage available thereon.
US09081683B2

The present disclosure provides advantageous methods and systems for input/output processing workflows in a heterogeneous data volume. One embodiment relates to a method of writing data to a heterogeneous data volume having multiple disk classes of storage. A class of storage tier for the data write is selected using operating modes for the tiers, where the operating mode for a tier instance depends on statistical measures of operating parameters for that tier. One operating mode is an elastic mode, where the chance that a tier instance is selected may vary depending on a statistical measure of an operating parameter in relation to lower and upper threshold values. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.
US09081678B2

An apparatus for controlling a supply voltage to an electronic processing arrangement comprising a processor or a memory element, the apparatus being configured to receive an output of the electronic processing arrangement and comprising: error detection means for detecting errors in an output of the electronic processing arrangement; and means for adaptively varying the supply voltage to the electronic processing arrangement based on an analysis of errors detected in the output of the electronic processing arrangement. The apparatus may further comprise means for correcting errors detected in the output of the electronic processing arrangement.
US09081677B2

An input bit error ratio estimating method executed by a communication control unit includes a computing, a condition determining, a first input BER estimating, a second input BER estimating, a third input BER estimating, and an input BER estimation result outputting. In the condition determining, the communication control unit determines which of a plurality of conditions set in advance to be narrowed down to one has been established, based on a post-internal decoding residual error detection ratio. Based on the condition that is determined in the condition determining as one that has been established, the communication control unit selects one out of a plurality of processing procedures for estimating the input BER, namely, selects one of the first input BER estimating to the third input BER estimating and executes the selected processing.
US09081676B2

Operating computer memory in a computer including dynamically monitoring, by a predictive failure analysis (‘PFA’) module, correctable memory errors and memory temperature and managing cooling resources in the computer in dependence upon the correctable memory errors and memory temperature.
US09081674B2

The present disclosure includes methods and apparatuses for dual mapping between program states and data patterns. One apparatus includes a memory and a controller configured to control a dual mapping method comprising: performing a base conversion on a received data pattern and mapping a resulting base converted data pattern to one of a first number of program state combinations corresponding to a first group of memory cells; and determining a number of error data units corresponding to the base converted data pattern and mapping the number of error data units to one of a number of second program state combinations corresponding to a second group of memory cells. The number of error data units are mapped to the one of the second number of program state combinations corresponding to the second group of memory cells without being base converted.
US09081673B2

A microprocessor according to the present invention includes instruction execution unit that executes an instruction to output an access request to a memory according to a first protocol; memory control unit that converts the access request according to the first protocol to an access request according to a second protocol to perform an access control to an external memory to output the access request; selection unit that selects whether to access the external memory using the memory control unit; and interface unit that externally outputs one of the access request according to the first protocol and the access request according to the second protocol based on the selection result in the selection unit.
US09081657B2

An apparatus for abstract memory addressing. A processor for generating an abstract memory address. A base register for storing a base memory address. An adder for adding the base memory address to the abstract memory address and generating a physical address for a device memory. A pointer register for storing the physical address, wherein the pointer register is directly coupled to the device memory.
US09081651B2

Energy consumption of a vehicle is optimized while traveling a route assembled of road segments between a first position and a destination. A speed profile generator is located at least partially off of the vehicle and uses an energy consumption model of the vehicle together with road grade data corresponding to the route to calculate an optimal speed profile. The speed profile specifies target speeds for respective locations on the route for traversing the route with an optimized energy consumption. The speed profile generator compares energy consumption for a plurality of feasible speed profile trajectories between a maximum trajectory and a minimum trajectory in order to identify the optimal speed profile. A speed updater is responsive to a current position of the vehicle and the optimal speed profile to initiate the target speed for the current position.
US09081649B2

A vehicle includes a motor, a movable partition, a controller, a sensor, and a power source. The movable partition is operably coupled with the motor. The controller is associated with the movable partition and is configured to detect a resting position of the movable partition. The sensor is coupled with the controller and is configured to detect a vehicular condition. The power source is in electrical communication with the motor and the controller and is configured to facilitate passage of electrical current to each of the controller and the motor. Passage of electrical current to the motor facilitates movement of the movable partition. If passage of electrical current to the motor is interrupted, the controller is configured to detect the resting position of the movable partition after passage of a delay time. The delay time changes in response to changes in the vehicular condition.
US09081645B2

A computer-implemented method for generating software license types, includes collecting, by a processor, a plurality of software product functions, creating, by the processor, a plurality of content space specification files that includes the plurality of software product functions, processing, by the processor, the plurality of content space specification files to generate a plurality of software license types and outputting, by the processor, the plurality of software license types.
US09081642B2

Evaluating computer driver update compliance including applying a hashing algorithm to the contents of a driver repository, yielding a first hash value, the driver repository containing installed drivers for a computer; dating the first hash value; storing the first hash value and the date of the first hash value; identifying a candidate update for a driver installed in the repository, the candidate update having an update date; again applying the hashing algorithm to the contents of the driver repository, yielding a second hash value; comparing the first hash value and the second hash value; if the first hash value and the second hash value match, comparing the date of the first hash value and the update date; and if the update date is later than the date of the first hash value, reporting that the candidate update has not yet been installed.
US09081641B2

A communication device includes a first receiving unit configured to receive first metainformation indicating a target update required for a program of the communication device from an update information providing device, the first metainformation including information about a dependency version that is another version of update dependent upon the target update; a determining unit configured to determine whether the dependency version is newer than a device version which is a current version of update of the communication device; a second receiving unit configured to receive second metainformation indicating an update for the dependency version from the update information providing device if the dependency version is newer than the device version; and an update process unit configured to execute the update for the dependency version on the basis of the second metainformation and execute the target update based on the first metainformation after executing the update for the dependency version.
US09081637B2

A component-based software product manager system and method are provided. Various software products for electronic appliances include common components that are shared there between and variable components that are not commonly shared there between and instead are exclusive to individual products. The component-based software product manager system and method combine and associate components with one another while managing a large-scale software asset in units of the components. The system and method described herein improve the cooperation and the reusability of software products.
US09081634B1

An apparatus is disclosed. This apparatus includes a digital signal processing (“DSP”) block having a preadder-register block coupled to receive first through fourth input operands. A multiplier is coupled to the preadder-register block to receive a multiplicand operand and a multiplier operand. A first register block is coupled to the multiplier to receive sets of partial products from the multiplier. A second register block coupled to receive the third operand input. An arithmetic logic unit (“ALU”) block is coupled to the pre-adder-register block, the first register block and the second register block. The ALU block includes four input multiplexers and an ALU, where the ALU is coupled to receive outputs from each of the four input multiplexers.
US09081627B1

A computer system includes computing resources and workload containers to which the resources can be allocated. A workload manager plans 1) a reallocation of the computing resources among said containers, and 2) a transfer sequence for units of the computing resources to implement said reallocation. The transfer sequence is selected as a function of a ranking of resource allocations and/or delay-related costs in implementing the reallocation.
US09081623B1

Disclosed are various embodiments for a resource allocation application. Usage data for application program interfaces is aggregated over time. Limits for an allocation of resources for each of the application program interfaces are calculated as a function of the usage data. Limits are recalculated as new application program interfaces are added.
US09081618B2

Described herein are methods and related apparatus for the allocation of computing resources to perform computing tasks. The methods described herein may be used to allocate computing tasks to many different types of computing resources, such as processor cores, individual computers, and virtual machines. Characteristics of the available computing resources, as well as other aspects of the computing environment, are modeled in a multidimensional coordinate system. Each coordinate point in the coordinate system corresponds to a unique combination of attributes of the computing resources/computing environment, and each coordinate point is associated with a weight that indicates the relative desirability of the coordinate point. To allocate a computing resource to execute a task, the weights of the coordinate points, as well as other related factors, are analyzed.
US09081613B2

An integrated hybrid system is provided. The hybrid system includes compute components of different types and architectures that are integrated and managed by a single point of control to provide federation and the presentation of the compute components as a single logical computing platform.
US09081609B2

A system and method are disclosed for an image processing system including a threaded scheduler providing compact and efficient dataflow as a pipeline management and data flow layer.
US09081602B1

A computing cloud comprising at least one computing node having a Virtual Machine (VM) running on a user level. A plurality of additional computing nodes, each node having a Hypervisor with the highest privilege level, a Virtual Machine Monitor (VMM) running with no higher privileges than the Hypervisor, and a plurality of Virtual Machines (VMs) running on a user level. Each node has a Primary operating system (POS) running within the one of its VMs. The POS has direct access to hardware devices of the corresponding computing node. The other VMs use the corresponding POS of its node to access the hardware devices.
US09081597B2

A virtualization manager receives a request to perform a command in a virtual machine system and executes a plurality of transactions associated with the command, each of the plurality of transactions comprising one or more operations executed on entities in the virtual machine system. The virtualization manager commits changes made to the entities in the virtual machine system as a result of the plurality of transactions to a management database for the virtual machine system. In addition, the virtualization manager generates a business entity snapshot corresponding to a first transaction of the plurality of transactions, the business entity snapshot comprising state information for one or more entities in the virtual machine system affected by the first transaction.
US09081594B1

A method is used in managing data storage in virtual systems. A data storage system is queried through a universal framework module of the data storage system. The universal framework module includes a first set of interfaces associated with a format used by a virtual system to communicate with the data storage system. Information associated with the data storage is retrieved from a platform specific module of the data storage system. The platform specific module provides the information to the universal framework module. The platform specific module includes a second set of interfaces based on a type of the data storage system.
US09081591B2

A user interface generation apparatus 1 has an application program execution unit 11, a user interface generation unit 13, a user interface display unit 24, and a memory unit 50 for storing information on characteristics of an apparatus itself as well as object definition information defining objects composing a user interface. The user interface generation unit 13 generates a compound user interface by selecting object definition information stored in the memory unit 50, setting a margin for when the selected object is arranged based on the object definition information and the information on characteristics of the apparatus itself, and arranging the object in a predetermined area of the display unit based on the margin.
US09081585B1

A virtual driver interface and strategy are presented for interfacing a device driver with an application. Devices connected to a computing device and device drivers capable of communicating with the device are provided on the computing device. The virtual driver interface determines which of the device drivers to use to allow an application to interact with a device based on a strategy.
US09081581B2

An out-of-order processor 4 groups program instructions together to control their commitment to complete processing. If an instruction within a group has a source operand dependent upon a plurality of destination operands of other instructions then this is identified as a size mismatch hazard. When the program instruction having the size mismatch hazard reaches a commit point within the processor, then it is flushed together with any speculatively executed succeeding program instructions. Furthermore, the group of program instructions containing the program instruction containing the program instruction having the size mismatch is divided into a plurality of groups of program instructions each containing a single program instruction which are then replayed through the processing mechanisms.
US09081573B2

A computer system may include a main display and an external display coupled, for example, to the computer system through a universal serial bus digital visual interface link. In response to the detection of an indication of a suspension of the system to a reduced power consumption state, such as the S3 sleeping state, the external display may be automatically repainted. In addition, the current image layers and coordinates may be automatically stored to a frame buffer.
US09081563B2

Apparatus and a method for causing scheduler software to produce code which executes more rapidly by ignoring some of the normal constraints placed on its scheduling operations and simply scheduling certain instructions to run as fast as possible, raising an exception if the scheduling violates a scheduling constraint, and determining steps to be taken for correctly executing each set of instructions about which an exception is raised.
US09081560B2

A system for tracing operations during application execution and executing the traced operations on a second processing unit. The tracing involves identifying attempts to execute software that performs particular functions that would benefit from execution on a particular piece of non-compatible hardware and, rather than executing the code, recording the requests and the data inputs to each of the requests. At a point during execution of the software system such as, for example, when either a memory threshold has been exceeded for recording the requested code and inputs, or results are needed for the requested code, the corresponding code executable on the non-compatible hardware is identified and executed. Thereafter, the results from the execution on the non-compatible hardware are received and processing continues.
US09081555B2

A method and apparatus for derating current and for derating current for a camera flash. The method comprises monitoring a local junction temperature of a module. The local junction temperature is converted into a local junction current. The local junction current is then compared with a reference current, which is independent of temperature. After the current comparison and subtraction is made, a derate control current is obtained to generate the LED reference current. After the temperature crosses the temperature threshold, the derate control current is derated. Both the temperature threshold and current derate slope are programmable and precisely controlled. The LED output current is regulated and proportional to the LED reference current. If the local junction temperature is greater than the temperature threshold, the LED output current is derated at the moment of the camera flash to avoid thermal overload.
US09081552B1

In one embodiment, a display panel includes a plurality of display elements, and image control circuitry coupled to the display elements. A power supply circuitry is coupled to the display elements. A housing encloses the display elements and the image control circuitry. The housing is sealed with respect to external elements. A first integrated data and power cable extends from outside the housing, through a housing wall and electrically connected to the image control circuitry and the power circuitry. A second integrated data and power cable extends from outside the housing, through the housing wall and electrically connected to the image control circuitry and the power circuitry.
US09081543B2

A docking device for connecting an electronic device includes a base and a connector. The connector has a body and a connecting port on the base. The body is provided on the base to be moved between a first position and a second position. The connecting port is hidden in the base when the body is moved to the first position, and the connecting is exposed to connect the electronic device when the body is moved to the second position. The docking device may be incorporated in a portable projector.
US09081542B2

Systems and methods are provided for controlling functions associated with a touch-sensitive device (100) capable of being worn by a user. The touch-sensitive device (100) includes a substrate (110) with an outside surface (112) and an inside surface (114) opposite from the outside surface (112). A first contact sensing component (120) generates a first signal upon detection of a first contact with the outside surface (112), and a second contact sensing component (130) generates a second signal upon detection of a second contact with the inside surface (114). A processor (140) may be configured to interface with the first contact sensing component (120) and the second contact sensing component (130) and perform operations including: analyzing the first signal and the second signal to determine that a predetermined condition is satisfied, and in response to the analyzing, initiating a function associated with the predetermined condition.
US09081534B2

A method for generating recommendations for achieving goals is described. The method includes receiving a goal for a user account. The goal is associated with an activity that is trackable via a monitoring device. The method further includes receiving tracking data associated with the monitoring device. At least part of the tracking data is associated to the activity. The method includes receiving geo-location data associated with the monitoring device. The geo-location data is correlated to the tracking data. The method includes analyzing the received tracking data and geo-location data to characterize a current performance metric for the activity and generating a recommendation for the user account. The recommendation identifies the current performance metric and a suggested action and location for increasing the current performance metric to achieve the goal.
US09081529B1

Described herein are systems and methods for modifying electronic books (“eBooks”). A server processes eBook data to determine portions of one or more source fonts comprising various glyphs used in presenting the eBook. An embedded font is generated which includes those portions of the one or more fonts which are used in the particular eBook data. Because the unused portions of the one or more fonts are omitted, the overall size of the embedded fonts may be less than those of the source fonts. A custom character map may be generated as part of the embedded font which provides for increased document security.
US09081528B2

An information processing system including at least one computer including a receiving unit that receives a request to a predetermined destination, a generating unit that generates authority identifying information for identifying operation authority of an apparatus in response to the request, and a sending unit that sends the authority identifying information to a destination different from a transmission source of the request.
US09081526B2

A method used in first and second information processing apparatuses in communication with an image forming apparatus. The method includes a transfer step of transferring print setting information for controlling the image forming apparatus from the image forming apparatus to the second information processing apparatus, an acquisition step of acquiring the print setting information transferred in the transfer step from the second information processing apparatus, an input step of inputting the print setting information acquired in the acquisition step into a printer driver in a form that can be identified by the printer driver; and a print control step of controlling a printing operation by using the print setting information inputted in the input step.
US09081524B2

A printing system includes an information processing apparatus and a printing apparatus, the information processing apparatus including a printer driver, the print job packet containing a print job described in printer description language, the printing apparatus including: an engine including a fuser; a main CPU that performs operation control of the engine; a power supply portion that performs the following: providing power to the main CPU and delivering power to the engine by the main CPU performing the energization control while normal operation mode is ON; and shutting down power to the main CPU and the engine while power saving mode is ON; and a sub CPU that performs the following: receiving power from the power supply portion while power saving mode is ON; and giving a proxy response to the print job packet to activate the main CPU, the sub CPU consuming less power than the main CPU.
US09081523B2

A non-transitory computer readable recording medium records a job transmission program for transmission of a job to an electronic device. The electronic device includes a job executable state and an energy saving state. The job transmission program includes the followings as processes that the computer executes: receiving a transmission instruction of a job; determining whether or not the job is set as an energy saving job that can save power consumption in the electronic device; acquiring a state of the electronic device; queuing, when the job is an energy saving job and the acquired state of the electronic device is the energy saving state, transmission of the energy saving job; and transmitting, when the state of the electronic device is changed from the energy saving state to the job executable state, the queued energy saving job to the electronic device.
US09081517B2

A system and method for automatically updating with hardware clock tree settings on a system-on-a-chip (SOC). A SOC includes a hardware clock control unit (HCCU) coupled to a software interface and a clock tree. The SOC also includes multiple integrated circuit (IC) devices, wherein each IC device receives one or more associated core clocks provided by one or more phase lock loops (PLLs) via the clock tree. The HCCU receives a software-initiated request specifying a given IC device is to be enabled. The HCCU identifies one or more core clocks used by the given IC device. For each one of the identified core clocks, the HCCU configures associated circuitry within the clock tree to generate an identified core clock. The HCCU may also traverse the clock tree and disable clock generating gates found not to drive any other enabled gates or IC devices.
US09081514B2

The operation of a FIFO buffer memory includes writing the data at input to the memory in a single write location, and making the single write location available for writing an input datum with a shift of the datum written in the single write location to another location of the memory. At each operation of writing of an input datum in the single write location, there is scheduled shifting of the datum written therein to another location, without waiting for a new write request, thus eliminating the combinational constraint between the two operations.
US09081509B2

An example is a method for determining at least one migration destination for resources of one migration source physical storage system, with physical storage systems, which provide resources to a virtual storage system recognized by a host as one storage system, as migration destination candidates. The method defines at least one migration group from the resources included in the migration source physical storage system so that resources for which the predetermined management permissions are assigned to the same administrator are included in the same migration group, and determines at least one migration destination of the at least one migration group, on a condition that resources in the same migration group are migrated to the same physical storage system among the physical storage systems.
US09081506B2

A tape apparatus includes a controller and a plurality of tape drives. The controller controls reading from and writing onto magnetic tapes by the use of the plurality of tape drives. Furthermore, when the controller receives a data write request, the controller writes received data both onto one of main data magnetic tapes and onto an auxiliary data magnetic tape. In addition, each time the controller receives a data write request, the controller writes received data onto a corresponding main data magnetic tape and adds the received data onto a common auxiliary data magnetic tape.
US09081500B2

In one example, a method may include outputting, by a computing device and for display, a graphical keyboard comprising a plurality of keys, and receiving an indication of a gesture. The method may include determining an alignment score that is based at least in part on a word prefix and an alignment point traversed by the gesture. The method may include determining at least one alternative character that is based at least in part on a misspelling that includes at least a portion of the word prefix. The method may include determining an alternative alignment score based at least in part on the alternative character; and outputting, by the computing device and for display, based at least in part on the alternative alignment score, a candidate word based at least in part on the alternative character.
US09081498B2

A computer-implemented method comprising, at an electronic device having a display and means for receiving user input, said method comprises: displaying on the display, while maintaining at least a portion of the graphical user interface on the display, a menu containing one or more functions selectable by the user; and further comprising, altering at least a portion of the graphical user interface on the display so as to reduce the obscuration of the graphical user interface by the menu.
US09081496B2

A mobile terminal and a method of controlling the operation of the mobile terminal are provided. The method of one embodiment includes displaying an electronic document on a display module; responsive to detecting a scroll command, scrolling the electronic document in a particular direction at a particular speed; and changing a speed of scrolling the electronic document upon encountering a scroll limit during the scrolling of the electronic document. Therefore, it is possible to set a scroll limit in an electronic document and thus to automatically slow down or stop the scrolling of the electronic document upon encountering the scroll limit.
US09081495B2

An apparatus and a method for processing data of a terminal are provided. The method includes displaying a feature point extracting method selection window for selecting a feature point extracting method for extracting feature point information which specify data according to displayed data, in a Data save mode which saves at least one data displayed on one screen, extracting the feature point information according to the data by using the feature point extracting method selected through the feature point extracting method selection window, and saving at least one feature point information extracted according to the data as group feature point information.
US09081494B2

An electronic device simultaneously displays on a touch-sensitive display a first user interface object and a second user interface object. The second user interface object has formatting attributes, one or more of which are distinct from corresponding formatting attributes in the first user interface object. The device detects a first contact on the first user interface object and a second contact on the second user interface object. While continuing to detect the first contact and the second contact, the device detects movement of the second contact across the touch-sensitive display, and moves the second user interface object in accordance with the movement of the second contact. The device changes one or more formatting attributes for the second user interface object to match corresponding formatting attributes for the first user interface object if the second user interface object contacts the first user interface object while moving.
US09081480B2

An approach for using multiple menus with a graphical user interface is disclosed. A multiple menu comprises a menu panel with two or more selection regions, each of which is associated with a base menu. A user requests the menu panel without selecting a menu object displayed on a display unit, such as by right-clicking. The menu panel is displayed along with one base menu, and other base menus are displayed by the user moving the cursor to another selection region. The user selects a menu item from a base menu to cause the application to execute the function associated with the menu item. The selection regions of the menu panel do not include information describing the content of the associated base menus. By arranging the base menus around the menu panel, cursor movement is minimized to improve user efficiency in using the application.
US09081478B2

A unified process management system for creating and executing processes from a remote computer, the system comprising a central server having an associated process database, a process builder and a process player tools located on the remote computer. The process builder tool the process builder tool is configured so as to allow a user to create or edit a process by linking smart icons having associated functionalities using directional links and storing the created process in the process database of the central server. The process player tool is configured so as to allow a user to execute a process selected process from a list of available processes in the database.
US09081475B2

A system and method for providing time-sensitive information to a handset using a scrolling ticker. The method includes receiving the time-sensitive information at a server, determining the time period before the next update for a second set of information, and if less than a pre-determined value, then streaming the time sensitive information at the end of the time period to the handset. If the time period is greater that than the pre-determined value, then streaming the time-sensitive information immediately. In an alternative embodiment, a method is provided which includes determining a base schedule for periodically streaming the information to a handset via a scrolling ticker, receiving time-sensitive information relating to an event, determining a second schedule for periodically streaming time-sensitive information related to the event, and streaming the time-sensitive information in accordance with the second schedule during a time period associated with the event.
US09081473B2

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for identifying an object. In one aspect, a method includes receiving an image of a first location. The image depicts a layout of objects located at the first location and a visual code for each object. A user interface is generated for the first location using the image and the codes. The user interface depicts the objects and a user interface element for each visual code. Each user interface element is selectable to identify the object associated with the visual code. The user interface is provided for display at a second location. Selection data is received that specifies a selection of a particular user interface element. Command data is sent to a computer located at the first location, which causes the computer to highlight the object associated with the visual code of the selected user interface element.
US09081466B2

A system and method are described herein that provide for dynamically controlling a chart visualized in a user interface by turning business objects visualized in the chart into clickable action buttons to trigger corresponding business actions. Business objects are retrieved from a backend server and displayed as visual representations in a chart rendered in a calendar application user interface. A user clicking or tapping a visual representation in the chart triggers a corresponding predefined action that has been customized in the connected system or backend server and is dynamically assigned to the chart control based on the business context of the calendar application.
US09081463B2

Systems and methods for run-time editing of a web page are provided. In certain embodiments, an engine is provided for enabling run-time editing of a web page. A web page's source code includes code that defines run-time edit capabilities that are permitted for editing content of the output presentation of the page. A run-time edit engine is provided that is operable to interpret the code included in the page's source code that defines the run-time edit capabilities permitted for the page's output presentation. In response to a user requesting to perform run-time editing of an output presentation of a page that is being presented on a browser, a run-time edit engine may enable editing via the browser of the content of the output presentation in accordance with the run-time editing capability defined in the page's source code.
US09081456B2

A capacitance detection apparatus for a touch panel includes an N number of capacitors. The detection apparatus generates an N number of different input signals, and provides an ith input signal of the input signals to an ith capacitor. The N number of input signals correspond to a delayed sequence of a maximum length sequence or the maximum length sequence. The detection apparatus sums up an N number of response signals, which are generated after providing the N number of input signals to the N number of capacitors, to generate a summed signal. The summed signal is multiplied by the ith input signal and integrated to generate an ith integrated signal. The detection apparatus estimates capacitance values of the N number of capacitors according to the N number of integrated signals, respectively.
US09081448B2

A digitizer system utilizing two location measurement techniques that operate in cooperation to improve the operation of the digitizer. The first location measurement technique provides a first, or coarse, stylus location. The second location measurement technique provides a second, or fine, stylus location.
US09081444B2

A touch display apparatus includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a light emitting part, a light receiving part and a light transmitting element. The second substrate faces the first substrate. The light emitting part is adjacent to a first side of the first substrate, and generates and emits light to the first substrate. The light receiving part is adjacent to a first side of the second substrate at a same side of the touch display apparatus as the first side of the first substrate, and receives light from the second substrate. The light transmitting element connects a second side of the first substrate opposing the first side of the first substrate to a second side of the second substrate opposing the first side of the second substrate.
US09081442B2

A touch panel configured to compensate for negative pixel effect is disclosed. The panel can be configured to increase a capacitive sense signal, indicative of a touching or hovering object, in order to compensate for an increase in negative capacitance when the object is poorly grounded. To perform the compensation, the panel can be configured to have split sense lines so as to increase the number of electric fringe fields forming the sense signal, thereby providing a sense signal that is substantially stronger than the negative capacitance signal. Each sense line can be split into two or more strips.
US09081440B2

The present invention provides a method and device for writing on a capacitive touch screen, which includes a guarding pattern and a conductive strip pattern exposed from each other, and a stylus. The conductive strip pattern includes a plurality of first conductive strips provided with a driving signal and a plurality of second conductive strips that provide mutual capacitive coupling signals, and the guarding pattern is provided with a DC signal. The stylus has a conductive pen head and a pen body. When the human body holding the pen body is not electrically coupled to the conductive pen head, the location of the conductive pen head can be determined by sufficient change in capacitive coupling caused by the conductive pen head capacitively coupling to the guarding pattern and the conductive strip pattern.
US09081437B2

A system and method are provided to enable the indication positions of respective indicators (e.g., fingers) to be detected (multiple-point detection) and also to enable detection of the users of the indicators (user detection). Signal generators for generating different signals for respective users are provided, and the signals from the signal generators are supplied to a sensor section through indicators. In a multi-touch and multi-user detecting device 1, a transmitting section 200 supplies determined signals to respective transmitting conductors 11Y. Respective receiving conductors 12X receive the signals from the transmitting conductors 11Y and also the signals from the signal generators of the users. Based on these signals, a user-and-position identifying circuit 33A and a position detecting circuit 34A in a receiving section 300A function to detect indication positions indicated by the respective indicators as well as the users using the indicators.
US09081434B2

Disclosed herein is a touch panel including a glass cover, a light transmitting conductive film, a flexible circuit board, a light blocking print layer, and a colored print layer.
US09081429B2

A touch control device is provided, comprising a touch control module, a display module, a connecting member, and a ventilation film. The connecting member connects the touch control module with the display module, wherein a chamber is formed between the connecting member, the touch control module, and the display module. Specifically, the connecting member comprises a protruding portion forming a passage and a hole, wherein the passage communicates the chamber with the hole. Additionally, the ventilation film is disposed on the protruding portion and covers the hole, wherein the air in the chamber is exhausted from the touch control device through the passage and the hole.
US09081424B2

A method of compensating an error of an input device and an apparatus thereof. An electromagnetic induction pen including a coil for electromagnetic induction spaced apart from a nib of the pen is prepared. A sensor board is provided in the apparatus in which a voltage or current for electromagnetic induction of the electromagnetic induction pen output. A disposition state of the sensor board is determined. The voltage or the current is adjusted and provided to the sensor board formed according to a sensed rotation state of the sensor board or terminal in order to compensate for an error generated due to a distance between the nib and the coil. An error is compensated for by allowing coordinates according to the electromagnetic induction formed on the sensor board and varied with the rotation disposition state of the sensor board to correspond to a position of the nib.
US09081409B2

A damage detection and remediation system includes a sensing device for detecting damage events related to a structure of interest. Such damage events may include impact from a ballistic object, a tamper event, a physical impact, or other events that may affect structural integrity or cause failure. Illustratively, the sensing device is in communication with a measurement system to determine damage criteria, and a processing system which is configured to use the damage criteria to determine, for example, a direction of the initiation point of a ballistic causing the damage event.
US09081399B2

A charge pump regulator circuit includes an oscillator and one or more charge pumps. One or more oscillating signals are generated by the oscillator. Each oscillating signal has a frequency or amplitude or both that are variable dependent on a variable drive signal. For some embodiments having multiple oscillating signals, each oscillating signal is phase shifted from a preceding oscillating signal. For some embodiments having multiple charge pumps, each charge pump is connected to receive a corresponding one of the oscillating signals. Each charge pump outputs a voltage and current. For some embodiments having multiple charge pumps, the output of each charge pump is phase shifted from the outputs of other charge pumps. A combination of the currents thus produced is provided at about a voltage level to a load.
US09081396B2

A voltage divider circuit is provided that automatically and dynamically adjusts its voltage divider chains as a supply voltage changes. The voltage divider circuit includes a plurality of voltage divider branches having different divider factors to divide the supply voltage and obtain a divided supply voltage. Additionally, a control circuit is coupled to the plurality of voltage divider branches and adapted to automatically monitor the supply voltage and dynamically select a voltage divider branch from among the plurality of voltage divider branches to maintain a selected divided supply voltage within a pre-determined voltage range.
US09081393B2

A programmable controller for homes and/or buildings and their related grounds, such as thermostat, that has a display and an external interface. The external interface may be use for uploading electronic images and/or other information from an external data source, and may use the uploaded electronic images and/or other information for programming and/or updating the controller and/or for viewing the electronic images and/or other information on the display of the controller.
US09081392B2

A mixing valve (10) includes a valve body (12) having a hot fluid inlet (14), a cold fluid inlet (16), a mixed fluid outlet (18), and a cavity (20) in the valve body (12) between the inlets (14, 16) and the outlet (18). Mixing valve (10) includes a liner (30, 130, 230, 430, 530, 630, 730, 830) positioned in valve body (12) and a valve member (40, 140, 240, 340, 440, 540, 640, 740, 840) movable therein between a first position restricting the flow of hot fluid and a second position. Liner (30, 130, 230, 430, 530, 630, 730, 830) includes a downstream valve seat (74, 174, 274, 474, 574, 674, 774) that, when engaged by valve member (40, 140, 240, 340, 440, 540, 640, 740, 840), restricts flow of hot fluid past valve member (40, 140, 240, 340, 440, 540, 640, 740, 840).
US09081385B1

Methods and systems for lane boundary detection using images are described. A computing device may be configured to receive, from an image-capture device coupled to a vehicle, an image of a road of travel of the vehicle. The computing device may be configured to identify a pixel in the image based on an intensity of the pixel and a comparison of the intensity of the pixel to respective intensities of neighboring pixels. Based on the intensity of the pixel and the comparison, the computing device may be configured to determine a likelihood that the pixel belongs to a portion of the image depicting a lane marker on the road. Based at least on the likelihood, the computing device may be configured to and provide instructions to control the vehicle.
US09081382B2

An autonomous vehicle is provided that includes an autonomous vehicle control system, a dialysis machine, and an interface providing an electrical communication between the dialysis machine and the autonomous vehicle control system. The dialysis machine is configured to perform a dialysis treatment on a patient while the autonomous vehicle is under the control of the autonomous vehicle control system. A vehicle is also provided that includes a navigation system, a dialysis machine, and an interface between the navigation system and the dialysis machine. The vehicle can be a car, a train, a plane, or another vehicle.
US09081377B2

A closed-loop control structure for positioning a load with the aid of an electric motor includes a device for the active damping of unwanted, low-frequency vibrations. The closed-loop control structure has a position controller, a speed controller, and a current controller, which together, form a cascaded control loop. Damping signals which counteract unwanted, low-frequency vibrations are applied to the control loop, at least one first and one second damping signal of different phase angle being derived from a single sensor signal, and the first damping signal being injected between the position controller and the speed controller, and the second damping signal being injected between the speed controller and the current controller.
US09081371B2

A method for synchronizing an operating clock with a time clock in an automation network comprising a plurality of sync slaves that are to be coordinated and a time sync master, wherein the plurality of sync slaves are synchronized with respect to the time clock by the time sync master, and wherein the plurality of sync slaves derive their operating clock from the time clock.
US09081370B2

A time-to-digital converter includes first and second phase distribution circuits and N time-to-digital conversion circuits. The first and second phase distribution circuits each includes a plurality of frequency dividers connected in a tree structure. The first and second phase distribution circuits each divides a signal received by the frequency dividers of root nodes into N signals. The first and second phase distribution circuits each outputs the N signals each having a different phase. The N time-to-digital conversion circuits each converts a phase difference between an i-th signal (where i is an integer from 0 to N−1) that is output from the first phase distribution circuit and another i-th signal that is output from the second phase distribution circuit into a digital value.
US09081368B2

Mechanism for driving an information indicator connected to a timepiece movement and varies according to a plurality of periods, during each of which the information changes, step by step, to a maximum value that varies between n and n−m. The mechanism includes a drive wheel including a first set of gear teeth arranged to advance by n steps per period, m retractable teeth borne by the wheel, encoding cams corresponding to the retractable teeth, each cam corresponding to one maximum value n−x of the information, x being between 1 and m, for a period, and a drive unit to provide adequate rotation speed to the cams relative to the wheel such that, when the information reaches a maximum value n−x for a period, x retractable teeth pass in an operative position and then return to an inoperative position, the wheel advancing by x additional steps for the period.
US09081367B2

Timepiece including a back and display element, the timepiece being inscribed between first and second mutually parallel reference planes, the first plane being tangential to the back, and the second plane lying on the same side as the display element. The timepiece contains a movement which includes a framework. The framework includes at least two components positioned one on each side of a reference axis perpendicular to the first and second planes, on each of which components there are mounted a balance and an escapement, which together respectively form a platform escapement, each balance being mounted to pivot about an axis of rotation in the corresponding component. The framework further includes at least one support element having at least one bearing surface on which at least one of the platform escapements is positioned so that the axis of rotation is inclined with respect to the reference planes and intersects them.
US09081365B2

A regulating system (110) for a horology movement (12) comprising a first sub-system (11) including: a first oscillator (O111) which includes a first balance (B111) and a first balance spring (S111); a first element (M111) for displacement of the first balance spring (S111); and a first element (A111) for activation of the first displacement element (M111), at an instant, or substantially at an instant, when the speed of the first balance (B111) is zero.
US09081342B2

A fixing device includes: a tubular member; a heater; a nip member including a base portion, a connecting portion, and a flange portion; a backup member; and a guide member. The tubular member is circularly movable in a circularly-moving direction. The guide member has a part positioned upstream of the nip member in the circularly-moving direction and configured to guide the tubular member. The part has an end portion containing a most downstream end at which the tubular member is directed to a position between the nip member and the backup member. The nip member and the guide member define a first imaginary plane containing a line connecting a first curved portion provided by a boundary region between the connecting portion and the base portion, and the most downstream end. The first imaginary plane is positioned opposite to the heater relative to a first end of the flange portion.
US09081338B2

An image forming apparatus includes: a fixing device having a heating member, a heat source, a rotating member, and a temperature sensor; and a control device configured to control the heat source, wherein, in a case of a low temperature state where the temperature of the heating member is lower than a predetermined temperature, the control device to control the heat source such that the temperature of the heating member rises with a gradient equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and wherein, in a case of a high temperature state where the temperature of the heating member at the print-instruction receiving time is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature, the control device to control the heat source such that the temperature of the heating member rises with a gradient smaller than that in the normal mode.
US09081337B2

A fixing device includes a fixing member, a pressure member, and a guiding member. The guiding member includes a first guide surface, a second guide surface, and a pair of third guide surfaces consecutively installing both end portions in the axial direction of the first guide surface and both end portions in the axial direction of the second guide surface. The first end edge of the first guide surface has a first circular arc shape arranged such that a center portion in the axial direction projects toward the downstream side in the rotation direction with respect to both end portions in the axial direction. The second guide surface is one of a curved surface in a second circular arc shape arranged such that a center portion in the axial direction is close to the first circumference surface with respect to both end portions in the axial direction.
US09081336B2

An image forming apparatus includes process cartridges forming a toner image on a sheet by using a toner containing a parting agent, an exposure device, an intermediate transfer belt, primary transfer rollers, secondary transfer rollers, a fixing roller and a pressing rotating member which fix the toner image formed on the sheet, a blower fan configured to adjust the temperature of the sheet on which the toner image is fixed, a pair of discharge rollers which conveys the sheet, the temperature of which is adjusted, and a controller which controls the blower fan such that the temperature of the sheet S after contact with the pair of discharge rollers rises to a melting point of the parting agent or higher, or the temperature of the sheet S before contact with the pair of discharge rollers falls to below the melting point of the parting agent.
US09081335B2

According to an embodiment, provided is a transfer device including: a nip forming member that abuts against a surface of an image carrier carrying a toner image; and a transfer voltage application unit that applies a transfer voltage including a DC component and an AC component. The transfer voltage is an alternating voltage in which a supply voltage having polarity in a transfer direction and a return voltage having polarity opposite. A time average value Vave of the transfer voltage is set to be at polarity in the transfer direction and is set to be closer to a peak value Vt of the supply voltage relative to a center value Voff between a maximum and minimum value. An absolute value of the peak value Vr of the return voltage is set to be larger than an absolute value of the time average value Vave.
US09081333B2

An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a transfer member disposed facing the image bearing member to form a transfer region therebetween, a transfer bias application device to apply to the transfer region a transfer bias including a direct current (DC) component and an alternating current (AC) component to transfer the toner image onto the recording medium as the recording medium passes through the transfer region, and a controller operatively connected to the transfer bias application device to allow, during a bias change period in a sheet absent period in which the image bearing member rotates and no recording medium passes through the transfer region, the transfer bias application device to selectively apply to the transfer region one of the transfer bias without the AC component and the transfer bias with a peak-to-peak voltage of the AC component less than that applied in image formation.
US09081330B2

A developing device includes a developing-device body that includes a supply opening to which toner is supplied and a transporting member that is provided in the developing-device body and that transports the toner and a carrier while stirring the toner and the carrier. The transporting member includes a rotating shaft, a first transporting section, and a second transporting section. The first transporting section and the second transporting section are spirally formed around the rotating shaft. The number of spirals of the first transporting section is less than the number of spirals of the second transporting section. At least a portion of the first transporting section opposes the supply opening of the developing-device body. The second transporting section is formed at a portion other than the first transporting section that opposes the supply opening.
US09081329B2

When a stirring member that stirs developer in a developer containing portion rotates at high speed, toner flies and the detection accuracy of light transmission type toner remaining amount detection is degraded. A developing apparatus including a developer containing portion that contains developer, a stirring member that stirs the developer in the developer containing portion, and a partition member which is disposed to separate the developer containing portion from a space adjacent to the developer containing portion and which bends to block at least a part of a light path, which is formed in the space and used to detect an amount of the developer, when being pressed by the stirring member via the developer.
US09081323B2

A developing device includes a frame configured to store developer, a developing roller arranged at an opening of the frame and configured to bear the developer and to form a developer image on an image bearing member, and a supply roller including a rotational shaft passing through a through-hole provided in the frame and configured to supply the developer to the developing roller, wherein the through-hole is formed so that the supply roller is insertable from an outside of the frame in an axial direction of the supply roller, and has such a size that the supply roller is insertable without rubbing an inner edge of the through-hole.
US09081311B2

An apparatus, in an embodiment, having a patterning device support including a first planar element having a first flow-restricting surface; a second planar element including a second flow-restricting surface facing the first flow-restricting surface; a support driver to linearly move the support along a certain direction relative to the second planar element, wherein the first and/or second flow-restricting surface has one or more projections and/or recesses between the first and second flow-restricting surfaces, and wherein the projection and/or recess on the first and/or second flow-restricting surface is arranged to provide a flow resistance, per unit width of the first and/or second flow-restricting surface perpendicular to the flow, that is lower against flow that is parallel to the certain direction than against flow that is perpendicular to the certain direction. The flow-restricting surfaces may direct gas flow onto a driver part that generates heat.
US09081304B2

A target for measuring an overlay error or a critical dimension of a substrate comprises a grating. In one example, lines of the grating are arranged at an angle of about 45° with respect to edges of the target. As a consequence, the diffraction order of the grating reflection has its sub-maxima not aligned along the line on which the other diffraction orders are positioned, and overlap of intensity with other diffraction orders is reduced.
US09081279B2

A positive resist composition comprises: (A) a resin of which solubility in an alkali developer increases under an action of an acid; (B) a compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with actinic rays or radiation; (C) a resin having at least one of a fluorine atom and a silicon atom; and (D) a solvent; and a pattern forming method using the positive resist composition.
US09081273B2

The radiation-sensitive colored composition contains (A) a dye polymer containing a structural unit having a dye structure polymerized using a chain-transfer agent having a LogP value of 5 or less, and (B) a solvent.
US09081266B2

A light source module includes a shell, a fixed ring, an optical element, a first cover and a light-emitting element. The shell is formed as a tubular shape. The fixed ring, the optical element and the light-emitting element are all received in an inside of the shell, and the first cover is disposed at an end of the shell. In addition, the shell has a first stop part disposed in the inside of the shell, the optical element is disposed between the first stop part and the fixed ring, and the optical element is leant against the first stop part and the fixed ring. The light-emitting element is disposed between the fixed ring and the first cover, and is leant against the fixed ring and the first cover. A projection device using the source light module is also provided.
US09081265B2

Techniques are disclosed for providing a decentralized intelligent nodal lighting system. The intelligent nodal lighting system may be controlled using a wireless protocol, such as Wi-Fi, and each lighting node in the system may have its own independent Wi-Fi address and may receive, store, and interpret commands from a wirelessly connected controller. Each intelligent light node may contain a CPU and memory for storing and interpreting commands from the controller to achieve a desired light color, intensity, or quality. In some embodiments, individual lighting nodes may be dynamically added or removed from the lighting system without interrupting the system's operation.
US09081261B2

An illumination apparatus includes a main body, a movable unit, a first driving unit, a second driving unit, and a control unit. The movable unit is rotatable with respect to the main body and includes a light emitting unit and an optical member disposed in front of the light emitting unit to refract incident light. The first driving unit rotates the movable unit with respect to the main body. The second driving unit moves at least one of the light emitting unit and the optical member to change relative positions. Power is supplied to the second driving unit from a power source that supplies power to the first driving unit. The control unit controls a rotation operation performed using the first driving unit and a moving operation performed using the second driving unit so that the rotation operation is performed after the moving operation is performed.
US09081259B2

A protective lens cover shields the body of a camera lens from damage. The protective lens cover resembles the shape of the lens being shielded and is essentially the same axial length as the lens—that is, the protective lens cover extends from the lens-camera joint to the outer lens element. Hence, the entire body of the lens is covered except for the lens elements and camera mount surface. On the interior surface of the protective lens cover is a cloth material, such as felt, cotton or velvet, affixed to the main body through an adhesive process like glue or tape. The cloth is the sole feature of the protective lens cover that contacts with the camera lens. The remainder of the interior of the protective lens cover provides a small empty space surrounding the lens body, thereby providing a barrier against damage. The protective lens cover being produced by 3D printing means.
US09081256B2

A camera mounting device and associated method are disclosed. The device can securely affix a camera to a strap of varying properties. The device provides a strap attachment mechanism used to connect the device to a strap such as a belt or a backpack strap. The device also includes a camera attachment mechanism used to attach a camera to the device while allowing its locking and release through a quick release mechanism. The device also includes a lens support extension with a support extension sized and oriented to provide secondary support to a long lens of a camera, such as a lens of a SLR-type camera.
US09081255B2

An embedded linear motor drive for an IR camera comprising linear motor components that integrates into a sliding shutter is disclosed. The linear motor components can be a linear array of magnets, or a series of ridges or gear teeth. A motor drive is aligned with the linear motor components. The drive can be a series of coils connected to a power source that can move the shutter when the coils are energized in series. The drive can also be a pinion shaft with a friction wheel at one end or pinion gear that can connect to the ridges or gear teeth and move the shutter when the shaft is rotated.
US09081250B2

This invention relates to an electrophoretic display comprising a plurality of cells, each of said cells comprises: a) partition walls; b) an electrophoretic fluid filled therein; c) a polymeric sealing layer to enclose the electrophoretic fluid within the cell; and d) an interface between the electrophoretic fluid and the sealing layer.
US09081240B2

A liquid crystal display device (100) of the present invention has a plurality of pixels (P) which are in a matrix arrangement and includes: a first substrate (1) which includes a pixel electrode (12) which is provided in each pixel; a second substrate (2) which opposes the first substrate; and a vertical alignment liquid crystal layer (3) which is provided between these substrates, wherein light that is incident on the liquid crystal layer is circularly-polarized light, and the liquid crystal layer modulates the circularly-polarized light, thereby realizing display. The pixel electrode includes at least one cruciform trunk portion (12a), a plurality of branch portions (12b) extending from the at least one cruciform trunk portion in a direction of about 45°, and a plurality of slits (12c) provided between the plurality of branch portions. The second substrate includes a plurality of counter electrodes (22) which are electrically independent of each other in each pixel. According to the present invention, in a liquid crystal display device which includes a vertical alignment liquid crystal, the γ shift can be sufficiently reduced, and decrease of the transmittance can be prevented.
US09081236B2

A liquid crystal display includes: a first substrate including a first through-hole; a second substrate facing the first substrate and including a second through-hole corresponding to the first through-hole; a sealant coupling the first substrate and the second substrate; a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; a spacer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a supporting assistance member including a third through-hole connected to the first through-hole and the second through-hole, wherein the supporting assistance member includes a first supporting assistance member made with the same material as the spacer.
US09081234B2

A liquid crystal panel includes a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) substrate, a CF (Color Filter) substrate and liquid crystal layer arranged between the TFT substrate and the CF substrate. The liquid crystal panel includes a display area and a non-display area, the non-display area surrounds the display area, a sealing material coating area is arranged in the non-display area, and a sealing material is arranged in the sealing material coating area to seal the liquid crystal layer between the TFT substrate and the CF substrate. A first black matrix is arranged inside the CF substrate in the non-display area, devices including a metal layer are arranged inside the TFT substrate in the non-display area, and voids are arranged in the first black matrix of the CF substrate corresponding to at least a part of the devices including the metal layer.
US09081233B2

A polarizing liquid crystal panel includes a first substrate including a first base substrate, a first alignment layer, and a first electrode between the first base substrate and the first alignment layer, a second substrate including a second base substrate, a second alignment layer, and a second electrode between the second base substrate and the second alignment layer, the second substrate facing the first substrate, a spacer between the first and second substrates and maintaining a cell gap therebetween, and a liquid crystal flow preventing portion between the first and second substrates. The liquid crystal flow preventing portion extends in a first direction, and restricts movement of the spacer in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.
US09081225B2

Provided is a liquid crystal display device which is capable of eliminating a non-display region at a peripheral edge of a display screen, and displaying an image on the entire surface thereof. A backlight unit (22) emits parallel rays. The liquid crystal panel (24) transmits the parallel ray as a unit parallel ray in pixel unit, thereby forming an original image. An image enlarging panel (26) is an optical element having a flat-plate shape. The image enlarging panel (26) causes the unit parallel ray of each pixel to obliquely travel by refraction to shift a position of the unit parallel ray in a flat-plate plane, to thereby forms a display image enlarged the original image. A viewing angle enlarging panel (28) expands an angular distribution of the entering unit parallel ray from the image enlarging panel (26), thereby enlarging a viewing angle of the display image.
US09081219B2

The liquid crystal display device includes a transparent electrode formed in a plan form and a strip or strips transparent electrode disposed thereon via an insulating film, and controls display by rotating the liquid crystal aligned substantially in parallel to a substrate within a plane that is substantially in parallel to the substrate by an electric field between the both electrodes. Each pixel constituting the display is divided into two regions, the extending directions of the strip electrode in each of the regions are orthogonal, the alignment azimuths of the liquid crystal of each of the regions are orthogonal, and the angles formed between the extending directions of the strip electrode and the alignment azimuth of the liquid crystal are the same.
US09081208B2

An electro-active optical cell is described including a layer of electro-active material, a front glass substrate member, and a back glass substrate member. The optical cell is capable of independently providing changeable optical power with the application of an electrical potential. The cell is also configured to be affixed to an external surface of a plastic substrate and to provide the changeable optical power, with at least one of the front substrate or the back substrate of the optical cell being an outermost optical layer. The layer of electro-active material may have a thickness less than 10 μm, and the glass substrate members may each have a thickness approximately between 20 μm and 500 μm.
US09081203B2

An optical image stabilizer for correcting an image blurred by shaking of a hand while an object is photographed using a mobile communication terminal is provided. The optical image stabilizer includes an image sensor. A lens assembly is mounted on an optical axis of the image sensor. A housing contains the lens assembly. A rotator provided between the housing and the lens assembly surrounding the lens assembly rotates the lens assembly around a first axis perpendicular to the optical axis and a second axis perpendicular to the first axis in engagement with the lens assembly. A driving member rotates the rotator around the first and second axes. The optical image stabilizer can be mounted in a miniaturized lightweight photographing device, so that a clear image can be captured even during vibration of a photographing device caused by hand-shaking.
US09081195B2

A 3D image display apparatus includes a tracking module, a position calculating module, an intensity calculating module, a 3D image processing module, an image converting module and a display module. The tracking module tracks an object and outputs coordinate information of the object. The position calculating module outputs position information according to the coordinate information. The intensity calculating module outputs intensity coefficient information according to the position information. The 3D image processing module receives the intensity coefficient information. The image converting module outputs target intensity information to the 3D image processing module according to original 3D image information. The display module receives modified 3D image information. The 3D image processing module outputs modified intensity information to the image converting module according to the intensity coefficient information and the target intensity information, and then the image converting module outputs the modified 3D image information according the modified intensity information.
US09081188B2

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for an electromechanical systems reflective display device. In one aspect, an electromechanical systems display device includes a reflective layer and an absorber layer. The absorber layer is spaced apart from the reflective layer to define a cavity between the absorber layer and the reflective layer. The absorber layer is capable of transmitting light into the cavity, absorbing light, and reflecting light, and includes a metal layer. A plurality of matching layers are on a surface of the absorber layer facing away from the cavity, the plurality of matching layers including a first matching layer disposed on the absorber layer and a second matching layer disposed on the first matching layer.
US09081187B2

The present invention relates to a multiple parallel confocal system including: a light source for irradiating light; a relay lens unit through which the light traveling toward a measuring object or the light reflected from the measuring object is passed, the relay lens unit having one or more lens for focusing the light irradiated from the light source; a multiple optical probe having a microlens array on which a plurality of microlenses is arranged, the microlenses into which the focused light through the relay lens unit is incident; and a photo detector for detecting the incident light reflected from the measuring object and passed through the microlenses and the relay lens unit.
US09081180B2

A display apparatus and method for a vehicle are provided. The display apparatus includes a laser scanning projector that projects an image onto a predetermined projection area and a first mirror that reflects the projected image. A second mirror reflects the image reflected from the first mirror and a third mirror reflects the image reflected from the second mirror. A first curved screen displays the image reflected from the third mirror and a fourth mirror is disposed between the laser scanning projector and the first mirror. A second curved screen displays an image reflected from the fourth mirror. A controller determines the image displayed on the first curved screen and the image displayed on the second curved screen. The fourth mirror is rotated by a motor with respect to a rotation shaft and selectively reflects the projected images.
US09081177B2

Exemplary methods and systems relate to detecting physical objects near a substantially transparent head-mounted display (HMD) system and activating a collision-avoidance action to alert a user of the detected objects. Detection techniques may include receiving data from distance and/or relative movement sensors and using this data as a basis for determining an appropriate collision-avoidance action. Exemplary collision-avoidance actions may include de-emphasizing virtual objects displayed on the HMD to provide a less cluttered view of the physical objects through the substantially transparent display and/or presenting new virtual objects.
US09081171B2

Methods, systems, devices and/or apparatuses are provided that selectively reflect the infrared spectrum independent of other regions of the solar spectrum in order to actively manage solar heat gain across surfaces such as windows, skylights, roofs, siding and the like.
US09081170B2

A zoom lens includes first to fifth lens units having positive, negative, positive, negative, and positive refractive powers. During zooming, the fourth lens unit having a positive lens and a negative lens does not move, and the second, third, and fifth lens units move. The fourth lens unit moves to have a component perpendicular to the optical axis. The focal length of the entire system at the telephoto end, the focal length of the fourth lens unit, the focal length and the material of the positive lens of the fourth lens unit, the maximum moving distance, at the telephoto end, of the fourth lens unit, the lateral magnification of the fourth lens unit at the telephoto end, and the lateral magnification, at the telephoto end, of a lens system disposed at the image plane side with respect to the fourth lens unit are appropriately set.
US09081165B2

Optical fiber anchors accomplishing low creep confinement or fixing of a section of optical fiber in an assembly compact enough to be used conveniently as an anchor or as an enabling part of a strain or temperature sensor while retaining low optical losses and the original buffer coating to prevent the fiber from being exposed to abrasion and other influences that could lead to breakage. A rigid body is used that is mechanically stiff and hard enough to prevent the fiber from cutting into it or distorting the medium or substrate when subjected to stress, even over a long period of years. Trapping can be accomplished by molding the bent fiber into the substrate or body, adhesively bonding or soldering the optical fiber into a confining curved groove in a body or substrate.
US09081155B2

A back post for an optical fiber connector according to the present disclosure is made from a main material mixed with an additive material. The main material is selected from the group consisting of poly ether ether ketone (PEEK), polyimide (PI), polyether imide (PEI) and polyether sulfone (PES) and the additive material is carbon fiber or glass fiber, wherein the content of the main material in the back post is from 50% to 95% by weight.
US09081148B2

Exemplary embodiments of apparatus, systems and methods can be provided for providing at least one electro-magnetic radiation to at least one sample. For example, a plurality of wave-guiding arrangements can be provided which are configured to (i) provide the electro-magnetic radiation(s), and (ii) at a point of emission of each of the wave guiding arrangements, cause a phase of each of the electro-magnetic radiation(s) to have a predetermined value. The exemplary apparatus can be part of a probe. Further the exemplary apparatus can include an interferometric arrangement provided in communication with the probe and/or be part of the probe.
US09081147B2

A retarder film provides a first light retardation and can be heat processed in one or more selected areas to provide a second light retardation in the selected area(s). The retarder film may have an absorption characteristic such that the heat processing can be carried out by selectively exposing the film to a suitable radiant beam. The retarder film is composed of a stack of contiguous ultrathin layers configured to provide an effective optical medium for visible light. Visible light propagates through the stack as an effective medium having effective refractive indices along principal x-, y-, and z-axes. At least some of the ultrathin layers possess intrinsic birefringence, and the effective indices of the stack are functions of the intrinsic refractive indices of the constituent ultrathin layers. The heat processing is carried out so that the ultrathin layer stack structural integrity is not substantially altered in the processed area(s).
US09081146B2

A polarizing membrane according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a polyvinyl alcohol-based resin membrane containing a dichromatic substance. The polyvinyl alcohol-based resin membrane has an Nz coefficient of 1.10 or more and 1.50 or less.
US09081140B2

Disclosed herein are various embodiments related to luminescence-based reflective display pixels. In one embodiment, among others, a luminescent-based pixel includes a luminescent layer including luminophores distributed in a matrix. The luminescent layer is configured to receive light from an ambient environment through a first side of the luminescent layer and has an index of refraction that is higher than an index of refraction of the ambient environment. The luminescent-based pixel includes a mirror disposed on a second side of the luminescent layer that is opposite the first side of the luminescent layer. The luminescent-based pixel also includes a diffusive surface to randomize the direction of incident light.
US09081139B2

Provided is a small optical waveguide device with little reflected light, the optical waveguide device including: an optical waveguide element of which a first output waveguide is inclined with respect to an output end face and a second output waveguide is inclined with respect to both the first output waveguide and the output end face; and a lens that allows beams respectively output from the first and second output waveguides to be parallel to each other.
US09081133B2

A polarizing plate protective film forming a polarizing plate by sandwiching a polarizer with two of the polarizing plate protective films, wherein at least one of the two polarizing plate protective films exhibits Ro defined by Expression (I) of 0 to 10 mm and Rt defined by Expression (II) of −20 to 20 mm, and also at least one of the polarizing plate protective films has a hard coat layer: Expression (I): Ro=(nx−ny)×d; Expression (II): Rt={(nx+ny)/2−nz}×d; wherein nx is a refractive index in a delayed phase axis direction in a plane of the polarizing plate protective film, ny is a refractive index in a direction at right angles to the delayed phase axis in the plane, nz is a refractive index in a film thickness direction, and d is a film thickness (nm).
US09081127B2

The present invention provides a positioning structure for light-guiding plate (LGP) and back frame, backlight module and liquid crystal display device thereof, wherein LGP disposed inside the back frame, first side inner wall of back frame disposed with a plurality of LEDs, second side inner wall adjacent to first side inner wall disposed with first magnetic body, a side of LGP corresponding to second side inner wall disposed with attachment body; first magnetic body and attachment body correspondingly attached, third side inner wall of back frame opposite to second side inner wall disposed with buffer plate, fourth side inner wall of back frame disposed with second magnetic body, a side of LGP corresponding to fourth side inner wall disposed with attachment body; second magnetic body and attachment body correspondingly attached. As such, back frame and LGP are firmly positioned and fixed to improve assembly yield arte.
US09081126B2

Disclosed is an edge-light type illumination device that saves space while increasing the heat dissipation efficiency of heat emitted from a light source. The disclosed illumination device is provided with: a light source (17); a light guide plate (18) having a light-receiving surface (18a) disposed facing the light source (17) and receiving light from the light source (17), and a light-emitting surface (18b) from which the light is emitted; a chassis (14) having a bottom plate (14a) arranged in parallel with the light emitting surface (18b), with the light source (17) arranged on an edge of the bottom plate (14a); and a heat dissipating member (30) having a mounting section (31) that faces the light-receiving surface (18a) and that has the light source (17) mounted thereon, and a heat-dissipating section (32) connected with the mounting section (31) so as to transfer heat and being in contact with the bottom plate (14a) of the chassis (14).
US09081109B1

A ground tracking apparatus for connection to a locator or other measurement device and configured to determine position, motion, and/or orientation information is disclosed. The ground tracking apparatus may include a ground follower assembly including one or more wheels, which may be detachably coupled to a buried object locator system to capture three-dimensional positional and orientation information during a locate process, as well as provide output data or information to be integrated with maps, photographs, drawings, or other data or information.
US09081105B2

A radiation detector includes two reflecting plate lattices that are combined into a single reflecting plate lattice. The use of such a structure simplifies the manufacturing of a scintillator. The radiation detector reduces the number of reflecting plate lattices that are stacked when manufacturing the scintillator, enabling the scintillator to be manufactured easily. Moreover, the number of reflecting plate lattices to be manufactured is reduced, reducing commensurately the number of components required for manufacturing the scintillator. The scintillator may be manufactured more easily and an inexpensive radiation detector may be obtained.
US09081103B2

A method for photon counting imaging with improved high-rate counting performance includes the step of applying an instant retrigger capability with adjustable dead time in cells of the detector array and operates an apparatus using a layer of photosensitive material, an L×K array of photodetector elements arranged in the layer of the photosensitive material, an N×M array of readout unit cells, including amplifying elements and at least one readout unit cells for at least one photodetector elements. The readout unit cells are controlled by signal processing elements with each readout unit cell having internal signal processing elements to generate a discriminator output signal representing an amplified signal of the electron-hole pairs generated by an incident photon or a number of incident photons in the respective photodetector element. The discriminator output signal is generated by comparing the amplified signal with a predetermined threshold level and the discriminator output signal is generated whenever the amplified signal exceeds the threshold level.
US09081088B1

The a system for measuring distance between an RFID reader and tag, including an adaptive linear combiner, which is a tapped delay line with controllable weights on each tap, and outputs that are summed and subtracted from a reference to produce an error signal. After a sufficient number of cycles, the weight distribution indicates the delay of the received signal with respect to the reference, and by extension determines the distance between the tag and receiver.
US09081086B2

A vehicle detection device includes: an antenna configured to sense electromagnetic waves; an image generation unit configured to generate a radio wave image; a road surface region detection unit configured to detect a road surface region in the radio wave image; a symmetry axis setting unit configured to set a first symmetry axis at a part of the boundary of the road surface region; a road surface reflection region setting unit configured to set a horizontal central line at a center of the radio wave image and set a road surface reflection region between the central line and the first symmetry axis; and a vehicle detection unit configured to compare the waveform of pixel outputs in the road surface reflection region with the waveform of pixel outputs in the road surface region and to detect the road surface reflection region as a vehicle.
US09081084B2

Embodiments of performing beam forming processing based on sampling data in an ultrasound system are disclosed. The ultrasound system includes an ultrasound data acquisition unit configured to form a receive signal based on an ultrasound signal reflected from a target object, perform an analog-to-digital conversion on the receive signal to form sampling data, select pixels, which the respective sampling data are used as pixel values thereof among the plurality of pixels, cumulatively assign the corresponding sampling data to the selected pixels and perform beam forming upon the cumulatively assigned sampling data for the respective pixels to form receive-focused data.
US09081080B2

A position fix for a mobile platform is determined using RSSI values for wireless signals received from access points (APs), at least one of which has dynamic transmission power control. The transmission power data for the APs is received from an entity separate from the APs, e.g., a central entity or a positioning assistance server. The RSSI values for wireless signals received from the APs are acquired, as is an RSSI heatmap. Using the transmission power data, the RSSI values and the RSSI heatmap, the position fix for the mobile platform is determined. The position fix may be determined by the mobile platform or a positioning assistance server. Additionally, a server may receive transmission power data for APs and may provide to a mobile platform RSSI heatmap information based on the transmission power data. The RSSI heatmap information may be, e.g., the transmission power data or a RSSI heatmap.
US09081072B2

In a magnetic resonance method and system to generate an image data set with a magnetic resonance system at least two phase coding gradients are activated in respective spatial directions. An RF excitation pulse is radiated. At least one raw data point in a k-space data set belonging to the image data set is read out per time period after the radiation of the RF excitation pulse. The time period for each raw data point is determined depending on a maximum strength achievable with the magnetic resonance system of the activated phase coding gradient that corresponds to the spatial direction in which the respective raw data point has the largest gradient moment in terms of absolute value. The maximum strength of this phase coding gradient that can be achieved with the magnetic resonance system is determined depending on the determined largest gradient moment.
US09081071B2

A method and system for providing an article of manufacture with increased longevity of hyperpolarized 1H signals (and other species) for NMR spectroscopy and MRI. The method involves providing a material including a molecular species susceptible of NMR spectroscopy, by providing parahydrogen (and other appropriate species) to disperse within the material/solvent to establish increased longevity of the NMR signals. The material can be in a solution with a surfactant and catalysts added to enhance the persistence of parahydrogen (or other species) in the form of enhanced solubility, microbubbles or micelles and resultant hydrogenation (or other species) of the material.
US09081057B2

A probe card handling carriage is applicable to various working environments. The probe card handling carriage includes a main body provided to be travelable on the ground, a drawer unit provided to be movable in a forward and backward direction with respect to the main body, and a transfer robot installed on the drawer unit to transfer a probe card.
US09081055B2

A method for reducing local specific absorption rate (“SAR”) during imaging of a subject with a magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) system is provided. A radio frequency (“RF”) excitation pattern is selected for an RF coil array to be used during the imaging. In this RF excitation pattern, locations in which local SAR exceeds a preselected threshold value are identified. Examples of threshold values include regulatory limits on local SAR. Using the identified local SAR hotspot locations, a cancellation electric field pattern that is defined by so-called “dark modes” of the coil array is determined. Imaging of the subject commences using the RF coil array and the MRI system, in which the RF coil array is used to simultaneously produce an RF excitation field and a cancellation electric field using the respective field patterns. This simultaneous production of the RF excitation and cancellation electric fields reduces local SAR at the hotspot locations.
US09081052B2

According to one example, there is provided a monitoring module for determining the status of electrical components in an array of N electrical components. The monitoring module comprises a resistance measurer to measure the resistance across a pair of diagnostic terminals, a comparator to compare the measured resistance with a set of reference resistances, and a status module to determine the status of at least one electrical component in the array based on the comparison.
US09081046B2

This disclosure provides a method and system for extending the capability of a proximity detection system that is based on use of low frequency magnetic fields, to avoid conflicts in crowded work sites. The improvement is attained by combining the advantages of these low frequency magnetic fields with the advantages of much higher frequency, radiated (RF) signals that are controlled to be produced at the same time, concurrent with each other, in a coordinated and/or synchronous manner.
US09081045B2

Analyzing a device under test (“DUT”) at higher frequencies. A phase shifter varies the phase of a standing wave on a transmission line coupled to the DUT. The standing wave magnitude is sampled at each of the phase shifts and one or more DUT characteristics are determined as a function of the sampled magnitudes and phase shifts. Further aspects include a related phase shifter comprising a waveguide having a plurality of sub-resonant slots formed therein and having active elements for loading the slots to control the phase shift applied to the signal.
US09081040B2

A utility meter and related methods are disclosed. The utility meter includes a sensor device positioned around a conductor to sense current flowing through the conductor. The sensor device includes a non-magnetic substrate, a coil comprising a plurality of turns wound about the substrate, and a dielectric material having a dielectric constant and positioned between the coil and the conductor. The utility meter also includes a meter control board in communication with the sensor device to determine an amount of electricity transmitted through the conductor from the power source to the user over time. The dielectric constant of the dielectric material is selected to reduce a capacitive coupling between the coil and the conductor and to reduce a sensitivity of the sensor device such that the meter control board comprises only one calibration coefficient for calibrating the sensor device over a current range.
US09081039B2

Methods and systems are provided for sensing electrical faults. The system includes a current sensor disposed between a battery and at least one electrical load. The current sensor is capable of sensing electrical current flowing from the battery to the load at a sensitivity sufficient to detect a current transient. The system also includes a controller in communication with the current sensor. The controller is capable of comparing the sensed current transient to a predetermined current transient for the load and signaling a fault when the sensed current transient and the predetermined current transient vary by a predetermined amount.
US09081038B2

A voltage monitor comprising a first capacitive potential divider for presenting an attenuated representation of an input voltage to a comparator.
US09081031B2

An electrical current sensor includes a first laminated body having a magnetic detection element disposed over a first substrate, a protective film formed over the first substrate and the magnetic detection element, and a coil formed over the protective film, and a second laminated body having a shield layer formed over a second substrate and which is formed by bonding the first laminated body and the second laminated body to each other with an adhesion layer interposed therebetween such that the magnetic detection element and the shield layer face each other.
US09081016B2

Methods and system for determination of an anti- antibody (anti-AB) in vitro in a sample from a patient treated with a therapeutic monoclonal antibody (TmAB). Also, methods and systems for the determination of antigen specific antibodies of a particular immunoglobulin class and for the identification of a patient who is at risk of developing an adverse drug reaction (ADR) during treatment with a TmAB.
US09081015B2

Anti-K63-linked polyubiquitin monoclonal antibodies, and methods for using the antibodies, are provided.
US09081012B2

The present invention relates to an apparatus for the isolation of extracellular vesicles from human fluid, and more particularly, to an apparatus comprising a channel formed on a microchip and a porous polymer monolith filter connected to the channel. The apparatus can be used to the diagnosis of disease including cancer from vesicular nucleic acid in a non-invasive manner. Capable of isolating and purifying a large quantity of vesicles from a small amount of a body fluid sample within a short time, the apparatus is expected to be advantageously and widely applied in the medical research and clinical diagnosis of disease including cancer.
US09081002B2

An assembly for testing platelet aggregation including an electrode subassembly that is mounted in a cuvette subassembly for use with relatively small samples containing platelets.
US09080999B2

A computer-implemented method for controlling command voltages applied to electrodes during an electrophysiology measurement procedure using a high-throughput measurement system is provided. An initial command voltage is applied to the electrodes to obtain baseline currents respectively associated with the electrodes. A common offset voltage is determined based on the baseline currents, and an adjusted command voltage is determined based on the initial command voltage and the common offset voltage. The adjusted command voltage is applied to at least one of the electrodes to obtain an adjusted current measured by the electrode. A local offset voltage for the electrode is determined based on the adjusted current measured by the electrode. A subsequent command voltage applied to the electrode incorporates the common offset voltage and the local offset voltage.
US09080989B2

An invention for making productive uses of normally undesirable whiskers is provided. Embodiments of the invention include a variety of apparatuses and methods associated with forming and using whiskers as well as forming whisker compounds is disclosed. For example, whisker detection modules can be created which provide a whisker surveillance capability. The whisker detection modules can further be coupled with a whisker response system such as an alarm or insulating material dispersing system. Another aspect of the invention is providing a variety of environments or microenvironments with regard to a whisker forming structure to affect whisker creation such as maximizing whisker formation. Another example includes provision of a variety of embodiments for manufacturing compounds of whiskers of various metal and metal alloys, including structures and methods is provided. Whisker compounds produced using various embodiments of the invention can be used for various applications.
US09080987B2

A process for detecting oil or lubricant contamination in the production of an article by adding a Stokes-shifting taggant to an oil or lubricant of a machine utilized to produce the article or a component thereof, irradiating the articles produced with a first wavelength of radiation, and monitoring the articles for emission of radiation at a second wavelength. The taggant can be in the form of a composition containing a Stokes-shifting taggant, which absorbs radiation at a first wavelength and emits radiation at a second wavelength, different from said first wavelength, dissolved or dispersed in an oil or lubricant.
US09080986B2

A disclosed transparent body detection system includes an image acquisition unit acquiring a vertical polarization image and a horizontal polarization image by acquiring an image of a first region, the image including a transparent body having characteristics in which a polarization direction of transmission light changes; a placing table on which the transparent body is to be placed; a polarization filter disposed opposite to the image acquisition unit across the placing table and at a position including a second region, an image of the second region including at least the transparent body in the first region and being acquired; and an image processing apparatus detecting the transparent body based on distribution of vertical/lateral polarization degree of a vertical/lateral polarization degree image based on the vertical polarization image and the horizontal polarization image.
US09080976B2

A measuring device measures singlet oxygen luminescence which is excited by one or more photosensitizers. The measuring device contains a photosensitive detector, an excitation source, and a control and evaluating unit that is coupled to the photosensitive detector and the excitation source. The excitation source is configured to radiate excitation light into a measurement volume from a plurality of emission positions in order to excite the photosensitizer or photosensitizers. The excitation source preferably contains light-emitting diodes as lighting devices, the light of which is used directly as an excitation light in order to excite the photosensitizers.
US09080970B2

A device for controlled transport of ions is provided comprising an ion source element and an ion target element both conducting ions of a first class e.g. cations, and an ion selective element which conducts ions of a second class e.g. anions. The device further comprises a transport element, which receives ions from the ion source element and releases them to the ion target element in response to an electrochemical potential difference provided across the ion transport element. In use a first electrochemical potential is applied to the control element, which increases the concentration of ions of said second class, which increased concentration in turn increases the ion transport rate of ions of said first class in the ion transport element.
US09080964B2

A gas sensor element (100) includes a laminate of a detection element (300) and a heater (200), and a porous protection layer (20) covering a forward end portion thereof. The laminate has a measuring chamber (107c) into which a gas-to-be-measured is introduced via a diffusion resistor (115). The porous protection layer includes an inner porous layer (21), and an outer porous layer (23). The inner porous layer has a higher porosity than the outer porous layer and the diffusion resistor. As viewed in a plurality of 100 μm×100 μm regions a1 to a3 and b1 to b3 on sections of the inner porous layer and the diffusion resistor, respectively, a pore diameter greater than the greatest pore diameter CDIF in the regions of the diffusion resistor exists in each of the regions of the inner porous layer.
US09080956B2

A biosensor includes a working electrode 101, a counter electrode 102 opposing the working electrode 101, a working electrode terminal 103 and a working electrode reference terminal 10 connected to the working electrode 101 by wires, and a counter electrode terminal 104 connected to the counter electrode 102 by a wire. By employing a structure with at least three electrodes, it is possible to assay a target substance without being influenced by the line resistance on the working electrode side.
US09080955B2

A biosensor includes a working electrode 101, a counter electrode 102 opposing the working electrode 101, a working electrode terminal 103 and a working electrode reference terminal 10 connected to the working electrode 101 by wires, and a counter electrode terminal 104 connected to the counter electrode 102 by a wire. By employing a structure with at least three electrodes, it is possible to assay a target substance without being influenced by the line resistance on the working electrode side.
US09080951B2

A method of using a 1.5D array ultrasonic probe as a component of an inspection system intended for different diameter cylindrical parts without mechanical adjustments of the probe is presented. In particular, the method is presented as a way to improve the near surface resolution over an extended range of cylindrical parts diameter and inspection depths/tubes wall thickness with respect to usual 1D arrays of fixed curvature along the elevation axis. The method relies on a customizable concentric firing pattern of the acoustic pulses with respect to the cylindrical part surface, and on adjustment of the aperture size of the said array. The intended effect is to sharpen and minimize the extent of the front wall echo and to optimize the response from an eventual flaw in the inspected range.
US09080940B2

A sensor chip maybe provided that is used in a specimen material detection device with which a solution can be prevented from remaining, an irregularity can be prevented from occurring in a concentration, and a fluctuation of a signal can be prevented from occurring during a detection, and as a result it is possible to carry out an inspection in an accurate manner.
US09080939B2

A method of measuring a glycosylated protein proportion by an AC impedance method includes passing an AC voltage or AC to two inspecting electrodes; covering a solution containing glycosylated protein completely onto the inspecting electrodes; measuring an impedance value between the electrodes and calculating the difference between the impedance value and an impedance value of a solution without glycosylated protein by an AC impedance inspection device; comparing the impedance difference with AC impedance difference/glycosylated protein concentration to obtain the proportion of the glycosylated protein in the solution containing glycosylated protein. The solution without glycosylated protein includes a salt solution and a non-glycosylated protein; the proportion of glycosylated protein in the solution containing glycosylated protein refers to the proportion of glycosylated protein in the total quantity of protein in the salt solution; and the proportion of glycosylated hemoglobin of the total quantity of hemoglobin in the salt solution.
US09080930B2

The invention provides a method for sampling gas in a flue gas stream (31) of an incineration furnace (1) or another CO2-containing gas stream. The method comprises sampling CO2 from the flue gas stream (31) of the incineration furnace (1) and storing CO2 from the flue gas stream (31) in a storage device (5). The storage device comprises a solid, preferably silica- or alumina-based CO2 storage material, which can be regenerated. The method further preferably involves transporting the storage device (5) to an analysis site (10) comprising an apparatus for 14C analysis, retrieving at least part of th stored CO2 from the storage device (5) and determining, based on the 14C analysis, the ratio of biomass-derived and fossil-derived CO2 in the flue gas stream (31).
US09080928B2

An apparatus including first and second sensor elements, the first sensor element includes a first sensor material. The second sensor element includes a second sensor material. The first sensor material is configured such that an electrical property of the first sensor material is dependent upon the temperature of the environment in which the first and second sensor elements are located. The second sensor material is configured such that the same electrical property of the second sensor material is dependent upon the relative vapor pressure of a fluid in the environment in which the first and second sensor elements are located, the respective temperature and fluid relative vapor pressure dependencies of the first and second sensor materials allowing the temperature and fluid relative vapor pressure of the environment to be determined based on combined measurements of the electrical property of the first and second sensor materials in the environment.
US09080926B2

A life-cycle prognosis is created of a rolling-element bearing. As from manufacturing of the bearing and during the bearing's life-cycle that may include periods of the bearing's non-use, service life data is obtained indicative of one or more factors that occur during the life-cycle and that affect the length of the life-cycle. The service life data is obtained together with identification data that is representative of a machine-readable identifier, applied to the bearing at manufacturing. The identifier serves to uniquely identify the bearing throughout its life. The identification data is used for identifying in a database a history log of the bearing. The service life data is accumulated in the history log of the bearing as from the manufacturing. The history log is used with a specific mathematical life-cycle model for creating an update of the life-cycle prognosis.
US09080911B2

A boost converter is provided for tracking change in input voltage. The boost converter comprises at least one input for connection to a DC voltage source for supplying an input voltage; at least one output configured to supply an output voltage having a value that is greater than a value of said input voltage by at least a predetermined offset value; feedback means adapted to provide a feedback voltage, based on said output voltage, to a switching element of said boost converter, and a feedback voltage regulator means adapted to combine said feedback voltage with an input voltage characteristic so as to adjust said output voltage to be offset and proportional to said input voltage characteristic.
US09080909B2

A control and measurement system for a coriolis flowmeter having a flowtube, a driver adapted to vibrate the flowtube, and a pair of sensors adapted to generate signals indicative of movement of the flowtube when it is being vibrated by the driver, wherein the sensors are positioned relative to one another so the signals from the sensors are indicative of a mass flow rate of fluid through the flowtube. A digital drive signal generator is adapted to generate a variable digital drive signal for controlling operation of the driver. The digital drive signal generator can be adapted to cause the driver to resist motion of the flowtube during a first time period and amplify motion of the flowtube during a second time period. The digital drive signal generator can also be adapted to initiate motion of the flowtube by sending one or more square wave signals to the driver.
US09080908B2

An in-line flowmeter for large diameter pipes includes an outer pipe with a diameter equal to that of the pipe to which it is coupled and an inner measuring tube carrying a portion of the flow, the flow through the measuring tube being sensed by a flowmeter associated with the measuring tube and with the total combined flow rate out of the in-line flowmeter calculated from the sensed flow through the measuring tube.
US09080907B2

This invention relates to hot film shear stress sensors and their fabrication. We describe a hot film shear stress sensor comprising a silicon substrate supporting a membrane having a cavity underneath, said membrane bearing a film of metal and having electrical contacts for heating said film, and wherein said membrane comprises a silicon oxide membrane, where in said metal comprises aluminium or tungsten, and wherein said membrane has a protective layer of a silicon-based material over said film of metal. In preferred embodiments the sensor is fabricated by a CMOS process and the metal comprises aluminium or tungsten.
US09080902B2

A gas meter of the present invention includes a flow measuring section for measuring a flow value of a gas flowing through a fluid passage connected to a gas instrument at each specified time interval; a measurement flow memory for storing the measured flow value; and a fuel cell determiner section for determining that the instrument using a gas is a fuel cell, when a condition A and a condition B are satisfied, in which the condition A is such that a maximum value of determination target flow values is equal to or less than a second predetermined value, the determination target flow values being a predetermined number of flow values measured before and after a reference flow value which is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value and is closest to the first predetermined value, the determination target flow values being included in stored flow values, and the condition B is such that a difference value derived by subtracting from each of all of the determination target flow values, an average value found from the each determination target flow value and a predetermined number of measurement flow values measured before the each determination target flow value, is equal to or less than a third predetermined value.
US09080898B2

This disclosure discloses an encoder. The encoder includes a slit array and an optical module. The optical module includes a point light source and a light receiving array comprising a plurality of light receiving elements arranged side by side along the measurement axis and arranged around the point light source in a plane parallel to the slit array, the light receiving elements being respectively receiving light irradiated from the point light source and reflected from the reflection slit. The light receiving array includes a first light receiving array and a second light receiving array. The point light source, the first light receiving array and the second light receiving array are arranged in the manner that a shortest distance between the point light source and the first light receiving array is smaller than a shortest distance between the point light source and the second light receiving array.
US09080894B2

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for improving a data transfer rate from an intelligent electronic device (IED) to external PC clients, via a network interface. In one embodiment, an FTP based approach is disclosed which allows for significant optimization of download speeds providing as much a 100 times the download speed capability. In accordance with one aspect of present disclosure, an improved data rate is achieved by utilizing a high-speed transfer protocol, such as the FTP protocol in conjunction with a novel file system incorporated into the IED.
US09080887B2

A method of operating a PND or navigation system is described, together with a PND or navigation system for performing such a method. The PND or navigation system includes memory storing map data consisting of base map data files and supplemental corrective data files. In at least one embodiment, the method includes correlating the current location with the map data, and in the event that the current location and derived map data are seemingly at odds with one another, performing at least one secondary action. In at least one embodiment, the secondary action may be the issuing of an approve/reject prompt to the user, or the automatic creation, modification or deletion of a new or pre-existing correction. In a further aspect, at least one embodiment of the invention also provides for a PND or navigation system storing an indication of a home location, and prompting a user to visit nearby locations for which corrections exist, followed by prompted or automatic confirmation or rejection thereof.
US09080885B2

Methods and apparatus for a map tool for determining which points of interest in a map region for which to display designations or labels in a map view such that a displayed designation does not disappear and reappear as a user zooms in or out of a map view or as a user pans across a map region. Also disclosed are methods and apparatus for a ranking tool that uses a hierarchy of categories in order to classify points of interest, where for each given hierarchical category, the points of interest within the given hierarchical category are further ranked according to ranking data for each given point of interest and also ranked according to the quantity of the ranking data for the given point of interest.
US09080884B2

Provided is a navigation technique which allows a person other than a user who received a route guide to operate a navigation device through an interaction process. The navigation device is characterized by being provided with an instruction reception unit, a process unit, and an output unit. The instruction reception unit receives an instruction for a process from an external device. The process unit executes a process in accordance with the instruction received by the instruction reception unit. The output unit outputs output information which is obtained as the result of the process executed by the process unit.
US09080880B2

The present disclosure relates to motion based message delivery. A method includes receiving an information about an asset, calculating the time required for an asset to reach a safe zone, displaying the time required for an asset to reach a safe zone, displaying a communication options to communicate with a person operating the asset, and displaying a map incorporating the location of the asset, a graphical indicator of the time required to reach a safe zone, and/or a graphical indicator of communication options. Another method may include receiving a request to communicate, determining if the communication originates from, or is directed to, an asset in a safe zone, placing the communication if the asset is in the safe zone, and/or delaying the communication until the asset is in a safe zone.
US09080871B2

A microelectromechanical sensor includes: a supporting structure, having at least one first electrode and one second electrode, which form a capacitor; and a sensing mass made of non-conductive material, which is arranged so as to interact with an electric field associated to the capacitor and is movable with respect to the supporting structure according to a degree of freedom so that a relative position of the sensing mass with respect to the first electrode and to the second electrode is variable in response to external stresses. The sensing mass is made of a material selected in the group consisting of: intrinsic semiconductor materials, oxides of semiconductor materials, and nitrides of semiconductor materials.
US09080865B2

The present invention provides an orthogonality compensation method for length measurement device, including: providing a measuring platform and a plurality of alignment marks, wherein the measuring platform comprises a chassis, a rectangular measuring table mounted on the chassis, an inspection microscope arranged above the measuring table, and a laser device mounted on the chassis and coupled to the inspection microscope; mounting the alignment marks on the measuring table and recording the coordinates of the alignment marks with respect to the coordinate system of the measuring table to provide reference coordinates; using the inspection microscope to read actual coordinates of the alignment marks with respect to the coordinate system of the measuring table and comparing the actual coordinates with the reference coordinates; and carrying out correction of coordinates if differences exist between the actual coordinates and the reference coordinates, so as to make the actual coordinates equal to the reference coordinates.
US09080863B2

The present invention is related to the semiconductor manufacturing field, especially a method for monitoring alignment between contact holes and polycrystalline silicon gate by setting a plurality of equidistant contact holes with same sharp on poly-silicon and residual active area, and then obtain the process alignment profile of the quantized values in the plane in order to have a better control of process quality, thereby have a better control of the quality of the process.
US09080855B2

A method utilizing image correlation to determine position measurements in a machine vision system. In a first operating state, the machine vision system utilizes traditional scale-based techniques to determine position measurements, while in a second operating state, image correlation displacement sensing techniques are utilized to determine position measurements. The image correlation techniques provide for higher accuracy for measuring distances between features that are separated by more than one field of view. The user may toggle between the operating states through a selection on the user interface, and guidance may be provided regarding when the image correlation mode is likely to provide higher accuracy, depending on factors such as the distance to be measured and the characteristics of the surface being measured.
US09080854B2

A tactile surface texture method including: measuring at least one force perceived by a force sensor during a relative movement of the sensor with respect to a surface to be characterized; calculating one or more time and/or frequency parameters of an output signal transmitted by the sensor representative of the previously measured force; determining a value of a tactile descriptor of multiple tactile descriptors through application of a continuous transfer function to the previously calculated parameters, the transfer function being previously determined by regression from a learning database associating, for each descriptor, plural values of the tactile descriptor with plural values of one or more time and/or frequency parameters calculated from measurements made by the force sensor on multiple test surfaces representative of values of the tactile descriptor in question.
US09080851B2

A size inspection device includes a detecting platform, a positioning assembly, four first detecting assemblies, four second detecting assemblies, a third detecting assembly, and a controller. The detecting platform includes a mounting plate. The positioning assembly is detachably mounted on the mounting plate for holding the workpiece on the detecting platform. The controller is electronically connected to the first detecting assemblies, the second detecting assemblies, and the third detecting assembly. The four first detecting assemblies and the four second detecting assemblies are slidably mounted on the mounting plate and are capable of obtaining a first moving distance and a second moving distance respectively. The third detecting assembly is mounted on the mounting plate and is capable of obtaining a third moving distance. The controller obtains the moving distances and determines whether or not the workpiece is of passing or failing quality.
US09080841B1

A hydro-reactive projectile is provided for striking a target. The projectile includes a housing composed substantially of aluminum and having a peripheral surface; and at least one cavity within said housing and a plurality of conduits connecting said cavity to said surface, wherein the cavity contains water.
US09080840B2

An electronic weapon with an installed deployment unit, from which wire-tethered electrodes are launched, provides a stimulus current through a target to inhibit locomotion by the target. A canister of compressed gas propels the electrodes. The canister is located in the deployment unit in a manner that facilitates the design and manufacture of a relatively narrow deployment unit.
US09080833B1

A system for mounting a plurality of tactical attachments to firearms having a magazine tube is disclosed. Tactical attachments or devices such as laser illumination sights, flashlights, magazine extension tubes, and breaching tools are interchangeable and attached with a single adapter mounted to the end of a magazine ammunition tube. Adapters of varying lengths provide increased ammunition capacity. The tactical devices have a common mounting structure for mating to the adapter, which includes a locking ring to assure the tactical device cannot become dislodged from the adapter during firearm usage. The adapter/tactical device interface allows rapid swapping of tactical devices without the need of tools.
US09080830B2

A dart gun for medicating or tranquilizing animals, which includes a barrel and a breech plug, the barrel including a bore defining a longitudinal axis extending from a muzzle end to a breech end, and the breech end including a breech plug chamber and a notch. The breech plug is removably engageable with the breech plug chamber and includes a plug member, an extractor, and a baffle member. The extractor provides convenient loading, firing and ejecting of a blank firing cartridge that is used to fire the dart from the barrel. The baffle rod provides for muffling the sound of the explosion of the blank firing cartridge, and reduces the amount of heat and flames that are exposed to the dart when firing the blank firing cartridge.
US09080827B2

A robotized arm is installable on a vehicle by a supporting plate, on which the arm is mounted. The vehicle includes a conventional passenger compartment, adapted to house operators. At the free end of the arm is supported an armament and the robotized arm enables the armament to have at least four degrees of freedom in space.
US09080824B2

A method for disabling a firing chamber of a firearm which comprises the steps of inserting a first end of an elongate body into a firing chamber through a port of a firing chamber, wherein the elongate body comprises a smooth continuous external surface extending radially about a length of the elongate body from the first end toward a second end of the elongate body. Also, positioning the first end of the elongate body in alignment with a barrel of the firearm bending the elongate body and positioning the second end of the elongate body and a grasping member connected to the elongate body outside of the port. Also, a method of enabling use of a firearm with a blocked firing chamber, which includes the step of grasping the grasping member and pulling on the grasping member removing the first end of the elongate body from the firing chamber.
US09080823B1

A buffer assembly has a rod, a cap having a forward end against which a bolt carrier pushes during a firing cycle, the cap being movable along the rod, a shock absorbing plug attached to a rearward end of the rod for engaging an end wall of a receiver extension during an intermediate part of the firing cycle, a buffer tube moveable on the rod, a buffer spring engaged between the plug and the buffer tube for biasing the buffer tube toward a forward position, a counterweight mounted for movement on the rod, a shock absorbing washer between the counterweight and the cap for smoothing an impact between the counterweight and the cap at an end of the firing cycle, and a counterweight spring that is weaker than the buffer spring, for biasing the counterweight toward the cap.
US09080817B2

A method for manufacturing a two-phase heat exchange device is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a container having an opening and a first wick structure disposed on the inner surface thereof, adding a predetermined material into the container, providing an cover and joining the cover with the container to construct a main body of the two-phase heat exchange device, wherein the cover seals the opening to form a closed space within the main body, and forming a second wick structure on the inner surface of the cover, wherein the first and second wick structures form a continuous structure covering the entire inner surface of the main body.
US09080814B2

Provided is a continuous casting method of a silicon ingot for continuously casting the silicon ingot by arranging, inside an induction coil, a bottomless cold crucible having a part along an axial direction that is circumferentially divided into a plurality of strip elements, forming molten silicon inside the cold crucible through electromagnetic induction heating by the induction coil, and solidifying the molten silicon while pulling it down from the cold crucible, wherein as the cold crucible, used is a cold crucible with Ni—B alloy plating on a portion in the inner surface thereof that faces the outer side surface of the molten silicon and the outer surface of the silicon ingot. The method can reduce the damage to the inner surface of the cold crucible, in addition to the contamination of cast ingots with impurities.
US09080806B2

A refrigerator with a fast freeze compartment is disclosed. The refrigerator comprises a no frost freezer compartment and a fresh food compartment. The refrigerator has a fast freeze compartment disposed within the fresh food compartment in which a food item can be placed, wherein the fast freeze compartment comprises an adjustable baffle adapted to change the cross section area of the air passage. The refrigerator further has a fan configured to propel cold air toward the fast freeze compartment, wherein the fast freeze compartment has a rear wall provided with at least one fan and a front swinging door, the adjustable baffle being located between side walls.
US09080805B2

A cooling storage cabinet includes a freezing compartment, a refrigerating compartment, a compressor, a three-way valve, and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured such that: when an internal temperature of the freezing compartment becomes lower than a lower limit temperature during R-compartment F-compartment alternate cooling, starting R-individual overcool preventing control is requested, the rotational speed of the compressor is decreased by one stage and, subsequently, the three-way valve enters “R-side open state”, and individual cooling of the refrigerating compartment is executed; thereafter, every 30 seconds, the rotational speed of the compressor is decreased by one stage; when the refrigerating compartment temperature becomes lower than a lower limit temperature, stopping R-individual overcool preventing control is requested; and then, the process shifts to individual cooling of the freezing compartment, and after the freezing compartment again becomes lower than the lower limit temperature, the compressor is stopped.
US09080793B2

A method and apparatus in connection with a vortex tube process. A pressurized medium flow is fed into a nozzle inlet. The medium flow expands while moving forward. The medium flow is twisted while entering a working tube. The twisted medium flow is divided into separate cold and hot flows. The cold flow is discharged from the vortex tube via a cold flow head after going through a hole in the center of a wall limiting a first end of the working tube. The hot flow is discharged from the vortex tube via a hot flow head after passing through the working tube having a flow valve at its second end. Parameters of thermodynamic processes in the vortex tube are controlled: by regulating the hot flow rate in the hot flow head by regulating the medium flow in the nozzle inlet, by regulating an efflux speed of the cold and/or hot flows in the vortex tube, and/or by intensification of heat transfer in the vortex tube by mechanical, chemical and/or electrical assemblies therein. To enable a wide range adjustment of parameters of the conditions for a gaseous flow of a medium, the medium flow may be affected at least by: precooling and/or preionization in connection with the nozzle inlet; extra moisturization in the working tube; and/or mechanical vibration in the working tube before the hot flow head valve.
US09080785B2

A display device of an air conditioner and an air conditioner having the same are provided. The display device may include a display including a film configured to allow display of an image corresponding to operation information of the air conditioner and that enables a touch input; a controller that controls display of the image; and a light emitting device that emits light toward the film. The controller may display the image on the display, receive a command concerning the operation information via the touch input, and change the image according to the touch input.
US09080784B2

HVAC methods and systems are provided for issuing a component change notification to a user when an air filter or other replaceable component should be changed. In some instances, an HVAC controller may solicit information from a user that is related to one or more features of the replaceable component (e.g. air filter) of the HVAC system. This can include, size, type, model number and/or any other suitable feature, parameter and/or property. In some cases, the time before a component change notification message is issued by the HVAC controller may be dependent on, determined by, and/or adjusted based on the received information. In some instances, the HVAC controller may display at least some of the received information in a subsequently issued component change notification message.
US09080777B2

A reflector for an elongate radiant tube heater having a tubular conduit through which hot combustion gases flow comprises an elongate metal reflecting member that can extend along the length of the tube heater in order to cover the top and sides thereof and a layer of heat resistant insulation extending over the reflecting member. The reflector includes two central panel portions meeting along the longitudinal centerline and forming an outwardly facing angle ranging between 30 and 100 degrees, preferably between 45 and 80 degrees. A bisector of this angle extends substantially vertically and is vertically aligned with a centerline of the tubular conduit during use of the reflector. The reflector has several longitudinal panel sections extending outwardly and downwardly from the central panel portions.
US09080774B2

A cooker is provided. The cooker includes a casing defining an exterior of the cooker, a cavity part disposed in the casing, the cavity part including a cooking chamber having an interior to receive food, a burner disposed in the cooking chamber to burn a mixture gas of air and gas so as to supply energy to the interior of the cooking chamber, a compartment member dividing the interior of the cooking chamber into a food cooking region and a gas mixing region where air and gas are supplied to form a mixture gas, and a door configured to selectively close or open the cooking chamber. A portion of air flowing in the casing is supplied to the gas mixing region.
US09080773B2

A pitot tube assembly is provided for a radiant tube heater having a blower for providing combustion air to a burner. The assembly includes a mounting plate for attaching the assembly to a wall of a housing of the blower. First and second, substantially L-shaped pitot tubes extend through the mounting plate and are connected thereto and have respective inner leg sections which are arranged within an outlet section of the blower during use of the radiant tube heater. These leg sections extend in opposite directions to their respective pressure sensing ends. The first pitot tube measures impact pressure created by the blower and the second pitot tube measures static pressure. These tubes are connectible to a differential pressure switch arrangement for controlling operation of the burner. As part of a burner assembly, there is a mixing cup unit mountable within the burner tube of the heater and capable of mixing primary air and combustible gas. A gas valve unit regulates flow of the gas to the cup assembly.
US09080772B2

An ignition system includes a housing defining an interior and an exhaust outlet. The housing is configured and adapted to be mounted to a combustor to issue flame from the exhaust outlet into the combustor for ignition and flame stabilization within the combustor. A fuel injector is mounted to the housing with an outlet of the fuel injector directed to issue a spray of fuel into the interior of the housing. An igniter is mounted to the housing with an ignition point of the igniter proximate the outlet of the fuel injector for ignition within the interior of the housing.
US09080757B2

A bulb-type lamp having both heat dissipation and size/weight reduction properties with a lower thermal load on a lighting circuit. An LED module is mounted in a case with a base member to allow dissipation of heat. An LED mount member closes another end of the case and allows conduction of heat to the case. A lighting circuit receives power via the base member. The lighting circuit is disposed inside a circuit holder. An air space exists between the circuit holder and both the case and the mount member. The lighting circuit is isolated from the air space by the circuit holder. A relationship 0.5≦S1/S2≦3.0, is satisfied where S1 denotes an area of a portion of the mount member in contact with the case and S2 denotes an area of the portion of the mount member in contact with a substrate of the LED module.
US09080754B2

A light of a light string includes a receptacle having upper and lower sections. The upper section includes a support plate on which an LED straddles. The lower section includes therein a separation board and two stop boards having a wedge-like shape arranged at each side of the separation board. The pins of the LED extend into the lower section and each positioned against an upright face of the separation board and the stop boards. Metal cores of electrical wires that are partially stripped are received between the stop boards to contact the pins of the LED. A bottom lid having holding board provided thereon is coupled to the lower section, so that the holding boards force the metal cores of the electrical wires into tight engagement with the pins of the LED by being fixed between the separation board and the stop boards.
US09080744B2

A light system based on at least two chips, in particular LEDs containing chips may include at least one first chip capable of emitting a primary radiation, a layer containing a phosphor mounted in front of the first chip, for converting the primary radiation of the first chip into secondary radiation, at least one second chip capable of emitting a second primary radiation with a greater wavelength than the primary radiation, wherein the layer is arranged spaced apart from the first chip, wherein the second chip is arranged in such a way that its radiation is substantially not absorbed by the phosphor.
US09080740B2

A planar lighting device includes a circuit substrate, a plurality of light sources disposed on the circuit substrate, a reflection layer disposed on the circuit substrate, the reflection layer including a first region having a plurality of openings where the respective light sources are located, and a second region connected to the first region, wherein the second region is bent in a direction from the first region, a hole pattern having a plurality of holes provided in the second region of the reflection layer, wherein at least two holes of the hole pattern are different in size, and an optical sheet disposed on the light sources.
US09080738B2

A vehicular lamp comprising includes a light-emitting diode that is used as a light source and that emits light; and a light transmitting member that is arranged in a path of the emitted light and through which the light is passed. The light transmitting member shields the light-emitting diode from infrared rays that travel in an opposite direction to a traveling direction of the light.
US09080725B2

A pressure vessel includes an inner liner, a tubing connector, and an anti-leakage unit. The inner liner is disposed in an outer shell and defines an inner space. The tubing connector is disposed outwardly of the inner space and is welded to the outer shell. The anti-leakage unit has inner and outer sealing rings, and a clamping member that extends into the tubing connector and the inner space and that has inner and outer end flanges. The inner and outer end flanges are disposed inside and outside the inner space, respectively. The inner and outer end flanges cooperatively provides a clamping force to press the inner and outer sealing rings against the inner liner and the tubing connector, respectively.
US09080712B2

A fluidic connector including a connecting element and a mated connecting element wherein the connecting element includes a body defining a flow channel, a locking device for axially locking the body with a body of the mated element and a sealing ring that is displaced between a closed position, when the connector is in uncoupled configuration, and an open position wherein fluid can flow in the connector and wherein the sealing ring includes a housing that receives a coupling member which in a first position attaches the body of the connecting element with the sealing ring in the closed position, and which in a second position attaches the body of the mated connecting element with the sealing ring in the open position.
US09080711B2

A thin adhesive lubricating composition that can cover at least one thread and a screwing abutment of a threaded element of a component of a tubular threaded joint. The screwing abutment can bear against another abutment of another component of the tubular threaded joint in a terminal make up phase. The lubricating composition includes a matrix in which there is dispersed at least one braking additive selected to impart thereto, in addition to lubrication, a coefficient of friction to make it possible to obtain a torque on shoulder resistance value at least equal to a threshold value.
US09080710B2

An example accumulator reservoir includes a housing. The housing contains a system fluid chamber, a working fluid chamber, and a residual chamber. Vent paths are configured to vent fluid from the residual chamber. Each of the vent paths extends nonlinearly between a first opening and a second opening.
US09080700B2

Coupling devices for joining pipe ends include annular gaskets. Example gaskets include pipe interface profiles for sealing performance and manufacturability.
US09080698B2

A clamp for attaching a pipe with a narrow width portion to a support member, includes a first member including a first concave portion adapted to be connected to the support member; and a second member whose base end is hinge-connected to the first member and whose front end is selectively engaged with the first member. The second member includes a second concave portion facing the first concave portion and defines a housing portion receiving the narrow portion together with the first concave portion in a state wherein the front end is engaged with the first member. The first concave portion and the second concave portion support the narrow portion in a posture wherein the first radial direction is orthogonal to a direction in which the first member and the second member face each other, and abut against a portion in the first radial direction of the narrow portion.
US09080695B2

An assembly comprising a strut comprising mounting holes to affix one or more attachments and one or more fixtures to the strut, and support holes shaped to receive and couple beaded rods with the strut for suspension of the strut, wherein the strut is coupled to the beaded rods without a threaded coupling.
US09080693B2

An automated vehicle system for laying pipe includes a vehicle (e.g., a stringing trailer) with a bed for storing a plurality of pipes. Tilted gravity members extend across the bed of the vehicle to feed the pipes toward a chute with conveyor running toward the rear of the vehicle. A gate arm and rocker arm mechanism ensure that pipes are fed one at a time onto the conveyor to lay a series of pipes on the ground. Optionally, a joining trailer can be connected behind the vehicle for joining the pipes together before the pipe is placed on the ground.
US09080680B2

A gas shut-off valve assembly designed to automatically close gas flow in a gas conduit in response to a seismic vibration comprises a trigger mechanism disposed in a trigger mechanism housing, a springless sealing mechanism disposed in a valve housing, a latching mechanism configured to engage the springless sealing mechanism to keep the gas conduit open, and a pressure release valve. Upon sensing a seismic vibration, the trigger mechanism disengages the springless sealing mechanism from the latching mechanism. Simultaneously, the springless sealing mechanism swings down and rotates around an axis by gravitational force to close off gas flow in the conduit. To reopen gas flow, the pressure release valve is actuated to relieve accumulated gas pressure inside the valve housing and the springless sealing mechanism is manually reset to its original open position.
US09080678B2

A gas valve unit for setting a gas volumetric flow supplied to a gas burner of a gas appliance, in particular a gas cooking appliance includes a plurality of on/off valves which can be actuated mechanically by moving at least one body relative to the on/off valves. Each one of the on/off valves has an opening and a movable blocking body, which rests on a valve seat when the on/off valve is closed to thereby close off the opening.
US09080660B2

Sloped-for-rain urban sidewalks are horrible for wheelchair users because of the constant veering-off threat caused by gravity. Anybody who tries to self-propel a wheelchair on a city sidewalk for the first time is in for a rude awakening—the user must use one hand to steer by retarding one wheel, and that makes propelling inefficient, difficult and frustrating, to say nothing of the dangerous veering-off threat. Applicant's solution is to provide joining means to couple and uncouple the drive wheels. The joining means, when coupled, causes the two drive wheels to rotate in unison preventing the wheelchair from veering-off so that it travels straight when traversing a sloped surface, and when uncoupled allowing the two drive wheels to rotate at different speeds to allow turning. Joining means comprises: slip-clutch, gear configuration or the like, and may be automatic or user controlled.
US09080657B2

A multi-ratio transmission system with parallel vertical and coaxial planet gears is provided, including: multiple planet gear sub-systems, a coupling assembly, a setting element, a setting element controller, an annular gear, a cylindrical casing, a sprocket and a central axle. The planet gear sub-systems are disposed coaxially in series along a first axis. Each of the planet gear sub-system includes a sun gear and at least one planet gear. The coupling assembly transmits the rotation between every two adjacent planet gear sub-systems. The setting element optionally engages with the sun gear. The annular gear is engaged to the planet gear and is installed onto a one-way clutch. The cylindrical casing encloses the planet gear sub-systems. The sprocket is installed onto the one-way clutch for connecting an external transmission system. The central axle enables the hollowed tube of the setting element controller to rotate around the central axle.
US09080649B2

An electromechanical damper for a vehicle for damping between two components mechanical oscillations by which a drive torque is transmittable to an electric generator for generating a damping force includes first and second gearboxes in the form of planetary gear trains, each having a sun wheel, with the sun wheels being connected to end faces of a rotor of the generator, respectively. A stator housing forms a gear element which is integrated in the first and second gearboxes. The sun wheel, ring gear and planet wheels of the first and second gearboxes are each provided with helical teeth in axial direction, with the helical teeth of the sun wheel of one of the first and second gearboxes and the sun wheel of the other one of the first and second gearboxes being directed in opposition to one another.
US09080645B2

The present invention provides methods and systems for a device for producing compressed air that allows for the expeditious adjustment of a drive belt that includes a base having a substantially triangular shape with at least a first side having a top portion and a bottom portion, a second side having a top portion and a bottom portion, and a third side having a top portion and a bottom portion. The first side, second side, and third side collectively form a cavity therein. A motor is disposed within the cavity of the base and engaged to the first side of the base. A first compressor is slidingly engaged to the second side of the base and a second compressor is slidingly engaged to the third side of the base.
US09080644B2

In an apparatus for controlling a continuously variable transmission, a transmission ratio, an input shaft rotational speed and an input torque, etc., are detected, an axial thrusts of the drive and driven pulleys are detected therefrom, an inter-shaft force is detected, a friction coefficient of the driven pulley including at least a radial component of the friction coefficient μRDN is calculated in accordance with predetermined relational equations, a target axial thrust of the driven pulley is calculated based on at least the friction coefficient and the axial thrust of the driven pulley is controlled based on the calculated target axial thrust.
US09080637B2

A dynamic damper for attenuating torsional vibration of a rotary member, in which a weighted center of a rolling member is offset from a geometric center to trace an elliptical orbit of a cycloid pendulum. The dynamic damper including, a housing having a rolling surface on its inner surface is formed in a rotary member, and a rolling member held in the housing in a manner to be rolled on the rolling surface by torque pulse exerted on the rotary member. In the dynamic damper, a curvature of the rolling surface is entirely constant, and a radius of the rolling member is smaller than that of the rolling surface. A weighted center of the rolling member is offset from a geometric center thereof. The rolling member is guided by a guiding mechanism to roll on the rolling surface.
US09080635B2

A torque converter, including: a damper assembly including a cover plate including a first plurality of openings, a flange, and at least one spring in contact with the flange and the cover plate; a turbine including at least one first blade and a shell including a portion disposed radially inward of the at least one blade, and a second plurality of openings in the portion; a turbine plate with a third plurality of openings; and a plurality of fasteners passing through the first, second, and third pluralities of openings. The plurality of fasteners: fixedly secure the cover plate, the portion of the turbine shell, and the turbine plate to one another; or fixed securing the portion of the turbine shell to the turbine plate and restricting rotation of the cover plate with respect to the portion of the turbine shell to the turbine plate.
US09080620B2

The invention relates to a method for determining the filling quantity in the actuating system of a clutch arrangement which has a forward clutch and a reverse clutch for a respective connection of an input shaft to an output shaft for drive purposes. A first controllable actuating unit is provided for actuating the forward clutch, and a second controllable actuating unit is provided for actuating the reverse clutch.
US09080613B2

A starting device configured with a multi-plate clutch and a damper device. The damper device may include an input element to which power from a motor is transmitted via the multi-plate clutch, an outer peripheral-side elastic body to which the power is transmitted from the input element, an inner peripheral-side elastic body that is placed on an inner peripheral side of the outer peripheral-side elastic body, an intermediate element that transmits the power from the outer peripheral-side elastic body to the inner peripheral-side elastic body, and an output element to which the power is transmitted from the inner peripheral-side elastic body. The input element may be coupled to a clutch drum of the multi-plate clutch so that the input element and the clutch drum interpose the intermediate element therebetween.
US09080609B2

Characteristics of joint sections using rivets 11a that join flat sections 12a, 12b of a pair of cage elements are improved regardless of differences in the volumes of the rivets 11a. A head section 16a and a crimped section 19a of a rivet 11a comprise flange sections 23a, 23b and convex sections 24a, 24b. The inside surfaces of the flange sections 23a, 23b press against the outside surfaces of the flat sections 12a, 12b. The convex sections 24a, 24b have a truncated cone shape with the maximum diameter being on the flange section 23a, 23b side. The diameter d24 of the apex of the convex sections 24a, 24b is equal to or less than the inner diameter R15 of circular holes 15, and the outer diameter D23 of the flange sections 23a, 23b is equal to or greater than the outer diameter D24 of the bottom section of the convex sections 24a, 24b. Furthermore, the amount of protrusion L23 that the flange sections 23a, 23b protrude from the convex sections 24a, 24b is equal to or less than two times the thickness T23 in the axial direction of the flange sections 23a, 23b.
US09080604B2

A plain bearing shell includes a slide face of which, in the region of the apex of the plain bearing shell, is convexly curved in the axial direction at least at the edge regions, wherein the curvature is at its most pronounced at the apex of the plain bearing shell and decreases continuously in the circumferential direction of the plain bearing shell toward the two partial surfaces. A method for producing such a plain bearing shell is also provided.
US09080596B2

A double ended extendable driveshaft (106) comprises a first shaft portion (152, 154) that has a proximal end and a distal end; a first shaft coupler (110, 112) fixed to the distal end of the first shaft portion (152, 154); a first rotary coupler (160, 160′, 162) supported for rotation on the proximal end of the first shaft portion (152, 154); a second shaft portion (152, 154) having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the second shaft portion (152, 154) is slidingly coupled to the proximal end of the first shaft portion (152, 154); a second shaft coupler (110, 112) fixed to the distal end of the second shaft portion (152, 154); a second rotary coupler (160, 160′, 162) supported for rotation on the proximal end of the second shaft portion (152, 154); and an actuator (158) coupled to the first rotary coupler (160, 160′, 162) and the second rotary coupler (160, 160′, 162) to extend and retract the first shaft portion (152, 154) with respect to the second shaft portion (152, 154).
US09080589B2

A hollow element such as a hollow rivet or a nut element for attachment to a component consisting of a composite material such as a fiber reinforced plastic part or a fabric reinforced plastic part is presented. The element has a flange part and a shaft part extending away from the flange part and/or a rivet section, wherein the rivet section, is present, can also be formed at the free end of the shaft part, with the a hollow element furthermore having a central passage, which is optionally provided with a thread cylinder. The hollow element is used in combination with an auxiliary tip which is either inserted from the flange side of the element through the passage, or from the side of the free end of the shaft part of the rivet section into the passage, such that a conically converging region of the auxiliary tip projects from the free end of the shaft part or of the rivet section.
US09080585B2

A collapsible tubular rod includes a tubular rod body which has first and second rod segments and which is convertible between collapsed and assembled states, a socket body fixed in the first rod segment, a plug member configured to be brought into rotatable engagement with the socket body, a guiding sleeve sleeved on the plug member, and a spring-loaded pin received in the plug member so as to extend outwardly of the guiding sleeve, and a connecting cord. When the tubular rod body is in the assembled state, the plug member and the guiding sleeve are guided by the socket body to permit the spring-loaded pin to extend outwardly of an outer surface of the first rod segment.
US09080575B2

A method of detecting stall in an axial fan through acoustical measurements in air the air flow, includes measuring the sound emanating from the flow adjacent the fan, preparing a visual representation of the sound, comparing the visual representation with a library of fixed visual representations derived from a plurality of tests representative of the performance of the fan under a range of operating parameters, selecting the fixed visual representation most closely matching the visual representation of the said sound, and deriving a control signal from the selected fixed visual representation. The visual representations are formed by a symmetrised dot pattern (SDP) technique.
US09080560B2

A hydraulic motor or pump includes eccentric shafts arranged in a planet position with respect to the output shaft, subject to the action of two propelling members for each shaft, which are arranged in a tangential position with respect to the output shaft and act on intermediate planetary fixed parts alternated with the shafts. The propelling members receive flow of pressurized fluid regulated by rotatory openings, which connect the propelling members to the pressure circuit or to the discharge one. The motor can be connected, through the eccentric shafts, to ordinary or planetary gearings. The gearing presents an actual piston displacement and one or two different equivalent piston displacements. The shape of the motor is annular, or sectoral, with a circular open space available inside the motor for different applications. The number of the planet shafts has no limits, since they independently transmit the torque-allowing annular shapes of any size.
US09080556B2

The present invention relates to a vertical shaft wind power system and an equipment to adjust the angle of the fan blade automatically, the system includes an equipment to adjust the fan blade automatically, in which the outboard side of the rotary support is pivotally connected with the back of the fan blade, the inner side of the rotary support is connected with the fan blade support plate, which is arranged in the vertical shaft wind power system and the rotary can roll together with the fan blade support plate; the power device is associated with the lower end of the positioning shaft to drive the positioning shaft to rotate; the rotary crankshaft is associated with the upper end of the positioning shaft, the rotary crankshaft can rotate with the positioning shaft synchronously; the eccentric shaft is arranged on the eccentric position of the rotary crankshaft, the eccentric shaft is sleeved with eccentric shaft, the eccentric shaft can rotate around the eccentric shaft; the outer end of the fan blade draw bar is rotatablely connected with the fan blade, the inner end of the fan blade is rotatablely connected with the eccentric plate; the mechanism consists of the rotary support, the fan blade draw bar and the fan blade can adjust the angle of the fan blade automatically, when the power device make the positioning shaft associated with the wind direction, the fan blade can rotate with wind to turn the windward side of the fan blade to the best position.
US09080553B2

A method and apparatus for control of redundant devices in a wind turbine is provided, comprising operating a first redundant device and at least one other redundant device such that the first redundant device is expected to fail before any of the at least one other redundant devices.
US09080548B2

An underwater apparatus for generating electric power from ocean currents and deep water tides. A submersible platform including two or more power pods, each having a rotor with fixed-pitch blades, with drivetrains housed in pressure vessels that are connected by a transverse structure providing buoyancy, which can be a wing depressor, hydrofoil, truss, or faired tube. The platform is connected to anchors on the seafloor by forward mooring lines and a vertical mooring line that restricts the depth of the device in the water column. The platform operates using passive, rather than active, depth control. The wing depressor, along with rotor drag loads, ensures the platform seeks the desired operational current velocity. The rotors are directly coupled to a hydraulic pump that drives at least one constant-speed hydraulic-motor generator set and enables hydraulic braking. A fluidic bearing decouples non-torque rotor loads to the main shaft driving the hydraulic pumps.
US09080542B2

A method for restarting a vehicle engine that is stopped at a known crank angle includes actuating a clutch located in a torque path between a starting motor and the engine with desired pressure related to the known crank angle during the restart, and using the starting motor to drive the engine during the restart.
US09080541B2

A starting element has a housing (4) and a guide pin (6) for centering the starting element during assembly. The guide pin (6) is made of sheet metal and is connected to the housing (4) by means of a positive connection. A method of producing such housing of a starter element is also disclosed.
US09080535B2

A reciprocating internal combustion engine includes a reciprocating piston in a cylinder bore of a cylinder housing forming an assembly together with a cylinder head. Two connecting rods are connected between the piston and first and second crankshafts. The two crankshafts are functionally connected to two synchronization gears of a spur gear box. The synchronization gears are connected to the crankshafts in a torque-proof manner such that the crankshafts rotate synchronously in opposite directions. The engine operates based on the diesel principle and with exhaust gas turbocharging, wherein the engine is an outboard engine for a watercraft. The exhaust gas turbocharger has an exhaust gas turbine and a compressor and/or a shaft which carries a turbine wheel and a compressor wheel which runs perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension of the watercraft. The turbocharger is attached on an upper end-face wall of the assembly.
US09080531B2

A cylinder structure satisfies the following conditions: 12%≦d/a≦27%, where d is a distance between a cylinder inner surface 12a and an exhaust valve member 20b, and a is a diameter of the exhaust valve member; 40%≦c/b≦50%, where c is a length of a non-guided portion of the exhaust valve 20 located below a lower end of a sleeve 26 when the exhaust valve 20 is closed, and b is a diameter of a cylinder bore; and 0.5%≦e/S≦0.8%, where e is a gap between an exhaust valve rod 20a and the sleeve 26 and S is a diameter of the exhaust valve rod 20a.
US09080528B2

A control device for an internal combustion engine, which determines a fuel injection quantity deviation state and/or an intake oxygen concentration-related parameter deviation state on the basis of the relationship between the target value (Qtgt) of the fuel injection quantity and an NOx concentration deviation (ΔNOx) indicating the difference of the measured value or the estimate value of the NOx concentration of exhaust gas with respect to a predetermined NOx reference concentration, the control device having a state determination means for, on the basis of a first determination index including the amount of change of the NOx concentration deviation (ΔNOx) when the target value (Qtgt) of the fuel injection quantity increases within a predetermined range and the NOx concentration deviation (ΔNOx) when the target value (Qtgt) of the fuel injection quantity is a predetermined first value (Qtgt2), determining whether the fuel injection quantity deviation is zero, positive, or negative.
US09080527B2

In a fuel injection system of an internal combustion engine, fuel is delivered from a high-pressure pump into a fuel rail. The quantity of the delivered fuel is influenced by a quantity control valve which is activated by an electromagnetic actuating device. The level of control of the quantity control valve during the transition from the closed state to the open state of the quantity control valve is provided in the form of a sufficiently flat, descending progression which allows a robust control of the opening motion with regard to the varying specimen properties.
US09080523B1

Methods and systems are provided for a boosted engine having a split exhaust system. One method includes reducing knock by flowing a combination of exhaust from towards the end of an exhaust stroke and blowthrough air to the intake of a compressor via a compressor inlet valve.
US09080511B2

An integrated thermal system for a gas turbine engine includes an Air-Oil Cooler and an Air-Air PreCooler within a housing, the Air-Air PreCooler downstream of the Air-Oil Cooler.
US09080500B2

Device for exchanging heat between an acidiferous gas and a heat transfer medium, with at least one flow duct for the acidiferous gas which consists essentially of aluminum and/or an aluminum alloy.
US09080496B2

A cast exhaust manifold for an engine is disclosed that is fastened to the engine by a number of independent flanges between each pair of which a spacer is positioned to produce an interference fit when the exhaust manifold is at ambient temperature. The use of independent flanges allow the exhaust manifold to expand when heated without creating high levels of internal stress and the spacers prevent undue distortion of the exhaust manifold when the exhaust manifold cools.
US09080483B2

In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method for controlling regeneration for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, wherein the exhaust system includes a particulate filter is provided, where the method includes determining a mass flow rate of oxygen received from the internal combustion engine, determining a particulate mass within the particulate filter, determining a desired particulate burn rate based on the mass flow rate of oxygen and the particulate mass and determining a current particulate burn rate. The method also includes determining a correction value based on the desired particulate burn rate and the current particulate burn rate, determining a temperature set point for exhaust gas entering the particulate filter based on the correction value, an engine speed and an engine load and communicating a signal, from a controller, to control a parameter for a regeneration system based on the determined temperature set point.
US09080473B2

A variable cam timing phaser for an internal combustion engine includes a housing (10) and a rotor (20) connected coaxially with respect to a camshaft for rotation relative to one another. The housing (10) and the rotor (20) can define at least one cavity (10a) with a vane (22) dividing each cavity (10a) into a first chamber (16) and a second chamber (18). A control valve (24) can have a longitudinally reciprocal spool (36). The spool (36) can move between an advance timing position and a retard timing position within a Cam Torque Actuated mode of operation, an advance timing position within a Torsional Assist mode of operation, and at least one null position. The spool (36) can connect the first chamber (16), the second chamber (18), a check valve (40) and an actuating fluid supply source (46) with respect to one another, and can connect a passage (62) associated with a lock pin (60) between an exhaust vent (48a, 48b) and the actuating fluid supply source (46).
US09080467B2

A method is provided for regulating a brief increase in power of a steam turbine that has an upstream fossil-fired once-through steam generator having a plurality of economizer, evaporator and superheater heating surfaces which form a flow path and through which a flow medium flows. The flow of the flow medium through the fossil-fired once-through steam generator is increased in order to achieve the brief increase in power of the steam turbine. The method involves using desired enthalpy value at the outlet of an evaporator heating surface as a control variable for determining a desired value for the flow of the flow medium through the fossil-fired once-through steam generator. The desired enthalpy value is reduced in order to achieve the brief increase in power of the steam turbine.
US09080461B2

A gas turbine engine having at least one spool assembly, the at least one spool assembly including a fan rotor, a compressor disposed downstream of the fan rotor, a turbine and a shaft connecting the fan rotor, compressor and turbine, a joint affixed to an upstream end of the shaft, and including a first link connecting the fan rotor to the shaft and a second link connecting the compressor to the shaft, the second link being less rigid then the first link.
US09080437B2

A shaft-locating device can include a cylindrical inner collet having an engaging surface on an inner diameter and an outward-facing tapered portion on an outer surface and an outer nut, concentrically located around the inner collet. The outer nut can have an inward-facing tapered portion that engages the outward-facing tapered portion of the inner collet, causing the inner diameter of the inner collet to become smaller, thus engaging, for example, a shaft around which the inner collet is located. In embodiments, a shoulder on the inner collet can prevent axial movement of a shaft-mounted component such as, for example, a bearing.
US09080424B2

A system for controlling a temperature of a downhole component is disclosed. The system includes: a cooling material in thermal communication with the downhole component; and a container configured to house the cooling material therein, the cooling material configured to undergo an endothermic reaction and decompose at a selected temperature and absorb heat from the downhole component.
US09080423B2

A three-ring seal assembly is provided to seal across extrusion gaps of varying size when used during down hole fishing operations.
US09080421B2

A flow control assembly can be mechanically adjusted, rotationally or translationally, inside a tubing downhole between multiple positions by an intervening tool from the surface to change resistivity to flow through the flow control assembly. The positions among which the flow control assembly can be adjusted can include a closed position, a fully open position, and positions at which fluid experiences various resistances prior to flowing to an inner area of the tubing.
US09080420B2

A system of sliding valves wherein the inserts of multiple sliding valves may be shifted to an open position using a single shifting ball. Each individual sliding valve has a movable insert that, depending upon the position of the insert within the sliding valve, may either block or permit fluid to radially flow between the interior and exterior of the sliding valve. The insert has a profile about the interior of the movable insert allowing a shifting tool to connect to and move the insert so that fluid may be prevented from entering the interior portion of the sliding sleeve.
US09080414B2

This disclosure is directed to a method of using a packer having at least two areas of relative rotation. The disclosure is further directed toward a method of using a packer incorporating a jet port, a highly debossed mandrel and/or a J-pin rotatably disposed within a drag block assembly for continuously and redundantly engaging a J-slot area disposed in the mandrel.
US09080400B1

A roof-bolt drill bit may include at least one cutting element having a cutting face and a cutting edge adjacent the cutting face. The roof-bolt drill bit may also include a bit body rotatable about a rotational axis in a rotational direction, with the rotational axis extending between a forward end and a rearward end of the bit body. The at least one cutting element may be mounted to the bit body at the forward end. The bit body may include at least one debris port defined in a side portion of the bit body located axially rearward from at least a portion of the at least one cutting element. The bit body may also include an internal passage defined within the bit body and at least one debris channel defined in the bit body.
US09080399B2

An earth-boring tool may comprise at least one cavity formed in a face thereof. At least one retractable pad residing in the at least one cavity may be coupled to a piston located at least partially within the at least one cavity. Additionally, a valve may be positioned within the earth-boring tool and configured to regulate flow of an incompressible fluid in contact with the piston through an opening of a reservoir. A cartridge may comprise a barrel wall defining a first bore, and a piston comprising at least one retractable pad positioned at least partially within the first bore. The barrel wall and the piston may define a first reservoir within the first bore, and a valve may be positioned and configured to regulate flow through an opening to the first reservoir. Related methods and devices are also disclosed.
US09080395B2

A connection mechanism has a drive section with a thread on one end and is constructed as a sleeve. A shaft element having a thread matching the thread of the drive section can be screwed together with the drive section. At least one interlocking element forming an interlock with the sleeve is provided in addition to the thread.
US09080383B2

A motorized climb assist assembly is provided. The motorized climb assist assembly includes a looped belt, an attaching member, a motor assembly and a fall arrest system. The attaching member is coupled to the looped belt. A safety harness is in turn coupled to attaching member. The motor assembly includes a motor and a drive sheave. The motor has a drive shaft. The drive sheave is coupled to the drive shaft. In addition, the drive sheave is in contact with the looped belt. The fall arrest system is integrated with the drive sheave and is configured to limit the looped belt movement as the result of a fall event.
US09080381B2

A power assist module for use in roller tube driven products, such as roller shades. The module may be pre-wound prior to installation in a roller tube and retains its pre-wound condition, even after use, when removed from the roller tube.
US09080380B2

A door lite frame comprises a first frame component comprising first screw bosses and first grip sockets, and a second frame component comprising second screw bosses and second grip sockets. The first and second frame components are constructed to permit arrangement of the first and second frame components in an assembled state and a nested state with respect to one another. In the assembled state, the first screw bosses are correspondingly aligned with the second screw bosses, and the first and second frame components are secured to each other. In the nested state, at least one of the first screw bosses of the first frame component is mated with at least one of the second grip sockets of the second frame component.
US09080377B2

A base structure and associated method for converting the base structure into an operable vane on a shade for an architectural opening. The base structure includes a back sheet and a front sheet attached together in engagement regions spaced along the length of the back sheet and front sheet. The front sheet is separated into front strip sections having a free end. Operating elements are positioned along the back sheet and situated so as to move relative thereto. The operating elements are attached adjacent to a free end of the front strip. Movement of the operating elements actuates the free end of the front strip to move from a closed position to an open position as desired by the user.
US09080376B2

Inside a glass-enclosed chamber is a Venetian blind connected to internal elements for operating it, the elements being workable from outside to raise, lower and incline the slats. The raw slats of the blind are obtained by moulding a rolled strip of aluminum alloy hardened by magnesium. The strip has not been lapped in order to maintain a degree of roughness on both surfaces, ready to receive a reflecting layer. Reflective stratification includes a layer of pure aluminum adherent to the body of the slat that serves to fix a reflective type of interferential dielectric multilayer. Average thickness of the layer of sputtered aluminum depends on the diffusivity of reflected radiation required in relation to the maximum height of the peaks of surface roughness on the body of the slats. Useful multilayers increase reflectance to levels averaging over 85% on a wide interval of wavelengths from near infrared to ultraviolet.
US09080370B2

The present invention relates to a self-contained protection device (1, 1a-1b) for provisionally blocking a passage (10) such as a corridor, a door, or a window, characterized in that it includes at least one longitudinally-extendable bar (2, 2a-2b), preferably a telescopic bar, the extension thereof being actuatable by an actuator (3), said bar being capable of being removably locked in an extended configuration between two wall surfaces (10a, 10b) defining said passage, referred to as locking surfaces, said extendable bar supporting one or preferably a plurality of blocking member(s) (4) to form a protection screen (5, 5a, 5b) blocking said passage, in which said blocking member(s) is or are preferably removably fixed.
US09080359B2

A roller assembly comprising: a roller housing comprising first and second side walls and first and second end walls forming an enclosure; a carriage assembly comprising a carriage body and at least two carriage wheels rotatably attached to the carriage body, wherein the carriage assembly is located within the enclosure such that the at least two carriage wheels are arranged to protrude from the bottom of the enclosure during use; wherein the carriage body comprises a support portion and at least two concentric pivot points arranged to locate within slanted passages formed in the first and second side walls to allow the carriage body to rotatably pivot about the pivot points; an intermediate adjusting mechanism slidably engaged with the roller housing and arranged to move lengthwise within the enclosure, the intermediate adjusting mechanism comprising a first engagement surface located on an extending member, wherein the extending member extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the lengthwise movement of the intermediate adjusting mechanism and the first engagement surface is arranged to engage with the support portion; and an adjustment mechanism that passes through an adjustment aperture formed in the first end wall, whereupon movement of the adjustment mechanism the intermediate adjusting mechanism is caused to move lengthwise within the enclosure, wherein the movement of the intermediate adjusting mechanism causes the carriage body to move along the slanted passage.
US09080344B2

A modular crypt structure comprising a frame, a module insert defining a chamber and a closure panel and methods of constructing the same are disclosed. The chamber functions as a crypt module and receives bodily remains or portions thereof. The chamber is closed by attaching a closure panel, such as a stone crypt front to the frame. The modular crypt frame may comprise a plurality of horizontal bars and a plurality of vertical bars. A method of constructing a modular crypt structure comprises erecting a frame, providing at least one module insert, configuring the insert to define a chamber adapted to receive bodily remains, and closing the crypt module. A modular crypt system including a niche side wall is also disclosed having a niche side wall frame, a niche insert defining a plurality of niches positioned within the frame, and a closure panel positioned on the niche side wall frame.
US09080340B2

A device for moving coverings for insulating pools, which covering is composed of two parts connected to each other in an articulated manner, which parts of the covering lie flat on an upper edge of the pool in a closed state. In order to enable a comfortable motorized movement of such a covering into a preferably horizontal position behind the pool and back again without modifying the pool itself, the rear part of the covering is connected to the pool by a hinge, and the front part of the covering is connected to two lifting arms which are arranged at the sides of the pool and which are driven by at least one drive, such that when the lifting arms rotate, the covering is able to be transferred from the closed state to an open state in which the covering lies behind the pool and back again by a lifting/folding motion.
US09080336B1

A support assembly has two position rods attachable to two beam members spaced apart and attached vertically on a platform structure. A platform support frame is slidably engaged at opposed spaced apart sides on the two position rods and the platform support frame may be moved vertically by a hydraulic actuator. A work platform is rotatably attached at a floor edge to the platform support frame for the work platform to be rotated between a horizontal position and a vertical position by a hydraulic actuator. A work floor of the work platform has a central portion having an opening therein. A telescoping arm is slidably inserted in a plate that is attached centrally in the platform support frame for extending and retracted the telescoping arm over the work floor by a hydraulic actuator. A hydraulic control unit is connected to each hydraulic actuator.
US09080328B1

A downspout drain collar for connecting a rain gutter downspout to a downspout attachment is provided. The collar includes a collar flange adapted to removably engage the downspout attachment. The collar includes a collar body having a top portion, a bottom portion, a transition portion connecting the top portion to the bottom portion, and an axis extending through an opening defined by the body. The collar includes at least one armature extending from the collar toward the axis when the downspout drain collar is not secured to the rain gutter downspout, with each armature configured to be moved to removably secure the downspout drain collar to the rain gutter downspout.
US09080326B2

An extendible height container is provided in which the corner elements telescope to extend the height of the container from standard ISO dimensions. An enlarged shelter can be formed from the container by providing sides which fold down to form the floor of the shelter and a flexible cover supported above the floor thus created.
US09080322B1

A sink cover is provided with a domed portion to accommodate conventional sink fixtures and allow the cover to lay in a generally planar attitude in use. The perimeter of the cover includes folded portions to capture and retain loose hair that falls onto the cover during use. The cover is preferably formed of thin water-resistant paper to enable compact packaging.
US09080320B1

An apparatus for re-directing the fluid flow emanating from an existing shower head which comprises a boot, a mechanical slide fastener, which in a preferred construction is fluid-tight, a thumb handle hose clamp, a flexible hose, and a spray nozzle. The apparatus is intended to co-operate with an existing shower head, which existing shower head has a supply line. The boot of the apparatus encompasses the shower head and is closed around the supply line thereof by the mechanical slide fastener. Once closed thereon, it is secured by the thumb handle hose clamp, which facilitates a fluid-tight seal. When fluid flows from the existing shower head, it exits the boot through the flexible hose, which transfers it to the spray nozzle, from where it is dispensed.
US09080318B2

A motor grader includes a frame, a work implement, a lifter guide, a lifter bracket and a lift cylinder. The lifter guide is joined to the frame and encloses the frame. The lifter bracket encloses the lifter guide. The lift cylinder is attached to the lifter bracket for driving the work implement. The lifter guide includes an annular portion and a first leg portion, the annular portion enclosing an outer periphery of the frame. The first leg portion is continuous to an inner periphery of the annular portion. The first leg portion protrudes from the annular portion in a side view, and the first leg portion is welded at an outer edge to the frame.
US09080312B2

There is provided a hydraulic excavator in which occurrence of minute vibrations in a control lever can be suppressed. The hydraulic excavator includes: a first pilot pressure control valve outputting a pilot pressure in accordance with operation of the control lever; an upstream pilot conduit having one end connected to the first pilot pressure control valve; a proportional solenoid valve connected to the other end of the upstream pilot conduit; a downstream pilot conduit having one end connected to the proportional solenoid valve; and a pilot switching valve for a boom having a second pilot port connected to the other end of the downstream pilot conduit, and controlling operation of the boom. A volume of the upstream pilot conduit is larger than a volume of the downstream pilot conduit.
US09080310B2

A hydraulic system is disclosed that has first and second passages connecting a pump to an actuator in closed-loop manner, and first and second load-holding valves within the first and second passages. The hydraulic system may also have a regeneration valve connected to the first and second passages between the actuator and the first and second load-holding valves to selectively connect the first and second passages. The hydraulic system may further have a controller configured to cause a control valve to simultaneous move the first and second load-holding valves toward flow-blocking positions when pump displacement is about zero. The controller may also be configured to selectively cause the regeneration valve to connect the first and second passages when pump displacement is non-zero, and to cause only one of the first and second load-holding valves to move to its flow-blocking position when the regeneration valve connects the first and second passages.
US09080307B2

A work vehicle includes an engine, an exhaust gas post-processing device, an engine room, a cooling fan, a cooling unit and a first exhaust pipe. The exhaust gas post-processing device includes a diesel particulate filtering device, a selective catalyst reduction device, a connecting pipe connecting the diesel particulate filtering device and the selective catalyst reduction device, and an injection device configured and arranged to inject a reducing agent into the connecting pipe. The engine room accommodates the engine and the exhaust gas post-processing device. The cooling fan is configured to suck in air from one side and to exhaust air from another side to produce an air flow. The cooling unit is disposed on the one side of the cooling fan. The first exhaust pipe has one end arranged to suck in air around the injection device and another end located between the cooling fan and the cooling unit.
US09080306B2

The invention provides a method of laying a foundation of a tower construction which comprises a base flange. The method comprises the steps of: providing a number of anchor rods, providing a ring-shaped formwork, arranging the anchor rods in a pit in the ground, arranging the formwork in engagement with the anchor rods so as to be supported thereby, casting a concrete element, casting a second casting layer in a groove in the concrete element, the groove being provided by the formwork, lowering the base flange onto the second casting layer, and fixing the base flange to the concrete element.
US09080298B2

Disclosed is a retaining wall construction system for preventing tsunamis and flood damages and a construction method thereof. The retaining wall construction system includes hexagonal multi-layered interlocking blocks built in a plurality of lines for forming a retaining wall, wherein S-shaped connection sections are formed on an outer periphery for a plurality of interlocking blocks, and hexagonal multi-layered interlocking blocks, which are adjacent to each other and different from each other, are connected to each other via the S-shaped connection sections to be movable in the vertical direction.
US09080296B2

The present disclosure describes a preformed or hot applied thermoplastic marking composition comprising at least 5 weight percent of an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, wherein said composition includes a planar top surface portion and a planar bottom portion that are coplanar to each other, wherein said bottom portion is directly applied to an alkaline substrate wherein the alkalinity of said substrate is measured by pH and said pH is greater than 8.0 and wherein said preformed thermoplastic is adhered to said substrate via application of heat or pressure or both heat and pressure and wherein said top surface portion and bottom planar portion comprises an intermix that exists throughout said thermoplastic composition.
US09080286B2

A method for treating odorous gases of a chemical pulp mill, according to which method odorous gases are combusted in a separate combustion device and flue gas generated therein is scrubbed. The scrubbed flue gas is led into a recovery boiler. The flue gas is scrubbed in a series of scrubbers wherein scrubbing solution discharged from one scrubber may be fed to a preceding scrubber.
US09080283B2

An apparatus and method for controlling a drying cycle of a laundry treating appliance by monitoring a temperature of the exhaust air flow.
US09080282B2

A laundry dryer includes a drum. A moisture sensing system detects an average moisture content of launderable items as they are dried within the drum and provides a moisture signal to an electronic controller. A user interface presenting a setpoint selection element such that when a moisture setpoint is selected by a machine operator during a drying cycle, an operational state of the dryer machine is controlled by the electronic controller based on the moisture setpoint and the moisture signal.
US09080277B2

A laundry treating appliance for treating a laundry load according to at least one cycle of operation including a rotatable drum at least partially defining a treating chamber in which a laundry load is received for treatment, a motor rotatably driving the drum in response to a motor control signal, and a controller outputting a motor control signal to rotate the drum according to a speed profile having at least a constant speed phase, where the drum is rotated at a constant speed, and an acceleration phase, where the drum is accelerated to the constant speed and a method of operating a laundry treating appliance to determine an inertia of the laundry load.
US09080273B2

A method for treating a load of washing by sensing a quantity of liquid in an outer tub with a sensor, monitoring a signal from the sensor, wetting a washing with a quantity of water that is less than a quantity of water required to saturate the washing, rotating the drum at a first speed which is greater than a speed required to spread the washing around the drum, until a space between the outer tub and a drum is filled with suds and the suds reach the interior of the drum, and activating a heater.
US09080262B2

A bulking apparatus includes a hot air generator, an air supply duct having an inlet for receiving hot air and an outlet for delivering hot air to nonwoven fabric, and a sucking part sucking in hot air delivered from the outlet and passed through nonwoven fabric. The air supply duct has an inflow portion leading hot air introduced into the inlet to flow in parallel to the transverse direction of the nonwoven fabric and an outflow portion forming an angle with the inflow portion leading hot air flowing through the inflow portion to the outlet. The air supply duct has a plurality of baffle plates disposed therein, each baffle plate having a flow-facing part and a flow-guiding part located in the inflow and outflow portions, respectively. The baffle plates are arranged such that the inflow path in the inflow portion has a decreasing cross-sectional area with distance from the inlet.
US09080257B2

A fibrous plant stalk decorticator is disclosed. The decorticator includes a feeding device a breaker roll having a first plurality of blades, and a skutcher roll having a second plurality of blades. The skutcher is positioned such that the first and second pluralities of blades overlap. A plurality of air outlets pass through the blades and are configured to provided pressurized air to the fibrous plant stalk as it is passed through the decorticator.
US09080255B2

Monodispersed silver nanowires are formed by a process utilizing a polyol. A capping agent is mixed in the polyol to form a substantially homogeneous solution. The solution is heated to a level below a boiling point of the polyol. The solution is diluted with a diluent which may consist of water and/or alcohol, and the solution is centrifuged to produce the silver nanowires.
US09080252B2

An approach is provided for a method to manufacture a crystalline silicon ingot. The method comprises providing a mold formed for melting and cooling a silicon feedstock by using a directional solidification process, disposing a barrier layer inside the mold, disposing one or more silicon crystal seeds on the barrier layer, loading the silicon feedstock on the silicon crystal seeds, heating the mold to obtain a silicon melt, and cooling the mold by the directional solidification process to solidify the silicon melt into a silicon ingot. The mold is heated until the silicon feedstock is fully melted and the silicon crystal seeds are at least partially melted.
US09080232B2

An electromagnetic vibration suppression device 1 includes a plurality of electromagnet pairs 2 (2A, 2B) disposed in the width direction of a steel sheet Sa. Each electromagnet pair is oppositely disposed in the thickness direction of the steel sheet Sa traveling in a predetermined direction. A control section 4 is adapted to control current to be applied to each electromagnet 2A, 2B to suppress the vibration of the steel sheet Sa traveling between electromagnets 2A and 2B. The control section 4 is arranged to determine an edge position Sae of the steel sheet Sa by computation based on an inputted width dimension of the steel sheet Sa and a meandering amount of the steel sheet Sa inputted therein, and separately control a current amount to be applied to the electromagnets 2A and 2B based on the edge position Sae of the steel sheet Sa.
US09080229B2

A composite stainless steel composition is composed essentially of, in terms of wt. % ranges: 25 to 28 Cr; 11 to 13 Ni; 7 to 8 W; 3.5 to 4 Mo; 3 to 3.5 B; 2 to 2.5 Mn; 1 to 1.5 Si; 0.3 to 1.7 C; up to 2 O; balance Fe. The composition has an austenitic matrix phase and a particulate, crystalline dispersed phase.
US09080224B2

A method for forming a titanium-aluminum based alloy in which titanium subchlorides and aluminum that have already been heated in a first zone are moved into and heated in an intermediate zone to a temperature at which at least a portion of the material can accrete and form a cake on a surface located in the intermediate zone. The non-caked material is moved to and heated in a second zone to form the titanium-aluminum based alloy. The caked material is periodically removed from the surface in the intermediate zone and heated with the non-caked material in the second zone.
US09080222B2

The invention relates to a method for producing hardened profiles, in particular hardened open profiles, wherein the component is at least partly heated to above the austenitizing temperature of the base material and after heating the component is cooled at a rate above the critical hardening rate, the energy necessary for the heating being introduced at least partly by induction, wherein free edges are provided in the component to adjust a temperature or hardness gradient over the cross section of the component, the size, type and extension of the edges being set for a desired degree of hardness and/or hardness gradient.
US09080220B2

The present invention relates to a composition comprising: at least one botulinum neurotoxin, and at least one opiate derivative or its salt. The invention also relates to a product comprising at least one botulinum neurotoxin and at least one opiate derivative or its salt, as a combination product for simultaneous, separate or sequential therapeutic use in the treatment or prevention of pain and of neuromuscular disorders.
US09080209B2

The present invention provides systems, methods, and compositions for nucleic acid detection based on non-mass determined base compositions. For example, in certain embodiments, base count data for a template nucleic acid is generated using an approach that does not measure molecular mass of the template nucleic acid (e.g., by sequencing the template nucleic acid) and a database comprising base count entries is queried to identify the target nucleic acid. In particular embodiments, sequencing is employed which is conducted in substantially real-time.
US09080207B2

The present technology provides for an apparatus for detecting polynucleotides in samples, particularly from biological samples. The technology more particularly relates to microfluidic systems that carry out PCR on nucleotides of interest within microfluidic channels, and detect those nucleotides. The apparatus includes a microfluidic cartridge that is configured to accept a plurality of samples, and which can carry out PCR on each sample individually, or a group of, or all of the plurality of samples simultaneously.
US09080203B2

A method of screening for the presence and/or extent of a pathology in a subject, the pathology characterized by an abnormal chromosomal component in a cell of the subject, comprising the steps of: contacting a biological sample comprising cell nuclei from said subject with, one or more distinguishable labeled probes directed to at least one chromosomal sequence that characterizes the abnormality under conditions that promote hybridization of the one or more probes to the at least one sequence, automatically obtaining a representation of the one or more distinguishable labels hybridized to the chromosomal sequences, automatically analyzing the distribution and intensity of binding of the one or more labels in the representation to determine the presence and/or extent of an abnormal chromosomal component; and automatically reporting results of the analysis; wherein the steps are carried out without intervention by a human.
US09080197B2

An object of the invention is to provide a medical drug, a food and drink having a role in regulating the concentration of equol in vivo and being capable of taking for a long time with high safety and provide a selective medium for a microorganism having conversion ability to equol and a method of detecting the same. Provided are an equol concentration-raising or reducing agent containing a carbohydrate as an active ingredient; use of a carbohydrate for producing the equol concentration-raising or reducing agent; a method of raising or reducing the concentration of equol by administrating a carbohydrate in an effective dose; a selective medium containing a carbohydrate for a microorganism having conversion ability to equol; and a method of detecting a microorganism having conversion ability to equol by use of the selective medium.
US09080192B2

The present disclosure relates to the use of an amino acid dehydrogenase in combination with a cofactor regenerating system comprising a ketoreductase. In particular embodiments, the process can be used to prepare L-tert-leucine using a leucine dehydrogenase.
US09080189B2

An organic acid is produced by allowing a bacterium which has an ability to produce an organic acid and has been modified so that expression of the sucE1 and mdh genes are enhanced, or a product obtained by processing the bacterium, to act on an organic raw material in a reaction mixture containing carbonate ions, bicarbonate ions, or carbon dioxide gas, and collecting the organic acid.
US09080174B2

RNA interference (RNAi) agents and the use of the RNAi agents for treating hepatitis B infection in individuals, as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing the RNAi agents are provided. The RNAi agents, or constructs for expressing them are utilized to inhibit expression of at least one Hepatitis B virus (HBV) gene, wherein each agent comprises an effector sequence complementary to or substantially complementary to a predicted sequence transcribed from a target region. In some embodiments of the present invention, the agents have more than one effector sequence; wherein the multiple effectors may target the same region of an HBV gene, different (possibly overlapping) regions of the same gene and/or different HBV genes.
US09080173B2

The present invention generally concerns methods and compositions for treating mutated K-ras expressing cancers.
US09080166B2

Disclosed is a composite of enzyme and fiber matrix with three-dimensional structure. The composite of enzyme and fiber matrix with three-dimensional structure includes a significantly large amount of an enzyme loaded in and immobilized in/onto a matrix when compared to conventional composites. In addition, the immobilized enzyme is prevented from leaching from the matrix when an external impact is applied to the composite of enzyme and fiber matrix with three-dimensional structure. Therefore, the stability of the composite of enzyme and fiber matrix with three-dimensional structure of the present invention is maintained even after a long period passes since a remarkably great amount of enzymes compared with a known composite can be supported and immobilized to a matrix, and the immobilized enzyme is not easily released by an external impact. In addition, it is possible to stably immobilize a great amount of enzymes even if a functional group covalently bonding to enzymes is hardly present on the surface of fiber. Therefore, it is possible to remarkably improve performance by using the composite of enzyme and fiber matrix with three-dimensional structure of the present invention in a biosensor, a bio-fuel cell and the like, compared with the case using a known matrix composite.
US09080156B2

DNA polymerases having increased reverse transcriptase efficiency relative to a corresponding, unmodified polymerase are provided. The polymerases are useful in a variety of primer extension methods. Also provided are related compositions, including recombinant nucleic acids, vectors, and host cells, which are useful, e.g., for production of the DNA polymerases.
US09080147B2

The present invention provides a preparation of undifferentiated embryonic stem (ES) cells sustainable for a prolonged period in an undifferentiated state which will undergo stem cell renewal or somatic differentiation. Preferably the cells are capable of somatic differentiation in vitro and are inclined to differentiate away from an extraembryonic lineage. The present invention also provides method of culturing embryonic stem (ES) cells to improve stem cell maintenance and persistence in culture. The method also provides a culture of ES cells prepared by the method as well as differentiated cells derived from the embryonic cells resulting from directed differentiation procedures provided by the present invention.
US09080136B2

Anionic polymers comprising. organic counterfoils exhibit improved biodegradability. The anionic polymers are useful as antiscalants. The biodegradability of an anionic polymer may be improved by replacing inorganic counterions with organic counterions.
US09080132B2

A composition (C) of formula (I): R1—O-(G)p-H (I). G is a reducing sugar, R1 is a heptyl radical, p is a decimal number, and 10. Also, compositions (C1) having 0.2-40% mass of composition(s) (C) and 0.2-80% mass non-ionic surfactant(s) of formula (II), which may be used to clean hard surfaces.
US09080122B2

A lubricant composition is disclosed that includes (a) a machining oil and (b) an exfoliated graphite nanoparticle (EGN) material stably dispersed in the machining oil. The lubricant composition is a stable suspension and is suitable for use as a liquid lubricant in a Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL) process. In the MQL process, the lubricant composition is applied/transferred to a worksite in the form of a mist. The presence of the EGN material in the lubricant composition provides high-temperature stability and lubricity under MQL conditions. A very small amount is transferred especially at high cutting speeds where the mist of the machining oil evaporates, but the EGN material remains on the surface to provide lubricity. Any operation involving machining can benefit from this lubricant composition. The method provides important benefits of reducing chipping on cutting tools and providing the additional lubricity especially when the cutting become very hot and thus extending tool life.
US09080118B2

The invention provides the use of a highly paraffinic distillate fuel in a diesel fuel composition for reducing the formation of injector nozzle deposits when combusted in a diesel engine having a high pressure fuel injection system, wherein the distillate fuel has an aromatics content less than 0.1 wt %, a sulfur content less than 10 ppm and a paraffinic content of at least 70 wt %, such that the diesel fuel composition has a relative fouling behavior of 70% or less and a density of more than 0.815 g. cm−3 (at 15° C.).
US09080110B2

Method of removing metals from hydrocarbon feedstock using esters of carboxylic acids, and additives for the same, are provided, wherein hydrocarbon stream including crude oil containing metals and salts thereof, wherein metal is calcium and its salt is calcium naphthenate, is mixed with an effective metal-removing-amount of an aqueous extraction-solution of non-precipitating and non-fouling additive comprising a chemical compound selected from a group consisting of methyl or ethyl or propyl or isopropyl mono- and/or di-esters of any one of the carboxylic acids selected from the groups consisting of maleic acid, maleic anhydride, and fumaric acid, or an appropriate combination of said esters, or an appropriate combination of any of said esters with any of said carboxylic acids to form a hydrocarbonous phase and an aqueous phase containing the metal ions; and separating aqueous phase.
US09080104B2

The invention relates to compounds of the general formula (I): Lu3−x−zAxAl5−y−zScyO12:MnzCaz,, where A stands for Y, Gd or Tb, x stands for a value from the range from 0 to 2.90, y stands for a value from the range from 0 to 0.50, z stands for a value from the range from 0.005 to 0.05, and to a process for the preparation of these phosphors and to the use thereof as conversion phosphors or in lamps.
US09080103B2

A phosphor layer attaching kit includes a phosphor layer and a silicone pressure-sensitive adhesion composition for attaching the phosphor layer to an optical semiconductor element or an optical semiconductor element package. A percentage of the peel strength of the silicone pressure-sensitive adhesion composition is 30% or more.
US09080100B2

To provide a polymerizable liquid crystal composition showing good coating properties even when a support substrate has a low solvent resistance, and having uniform alignment properties. A polymerizable liquid crystal composition is prepared by containing as components an acrylate polymerizable liquid crystal compound, a compound represented by formula (3), and a non-liquid crystalline compound having an acryloyl group or a methacryloyl group as a reactive moiety, and having a functional group including a hydroxyl group as a reactive dilution solvent in one molecule. When the polymerizable liquid crystal composition is applied onto the support substrate, dried and irradiated with light, the polymerizable liquid crystal composition showing good coating properties even when the support substrate has the low solvent resistance, and having the uniform alignment properties can be obtained.
US09080092B2

A non-toxic deicing/anti-icing fluid includes at least 20% by weight of a freeze point depressant selected from short chain polyols having 3 to 5 carbon atoms. The fluid further includes at least 10% by weight of water, a thickener, a surfactant, and a pH moderator. The fluid meets the requirements of SAE/AMS 1428 or its revisions for a non-Newtonian, Type II, III, or IV aircraft deicing/anti-icing fluid.
US09080073B2

A partial-discharge-resistant insulating varnish has a polyamide-imide enamel varnish and an organo-silica sol that are dispersed in a solvent. The solvent has 50 to 100% by weight of γ-butyrolactone. An insulated wire has a conductor, and a partial-discharge-resistant insulation coating film formed on the surface of the conductor. The partial-discharge-resistant insulation coating film is made of the partial-discharge-resistant insulating varnish.
US09080068B2

A method for depositing a Group 1b/gallium/(optional indium)/Group 6a material using a gallium formulated ink, comprising, as initial components: (a) a Group 1b/gallium/(optional indium)/Group 6a system which comprises a combination of, as initial components: a gallium component; a selenium component; an organic chalcogenide component; a Group 1b component comprising, as an initial component, at least one of CuCl2 and Cu2O; optionally, a bidentate thiol component; optionally, an indium component; and, (b) a liquid carrier component; depositing the gallium formulated ink on the substrate; heating the deposited gallium formulated ink to eliminate the gallium carrier, the first liquid carrier, the second liquid carrier and the, optional, third liquid carrier leaving a Group 1b/gallium/(optional indium)/Group 6a material on the substrate; and, optionally, annealing the Group 1b/gallium/(optional indium)/Group 6a material.
US09080067B2

A method of formulating ink for high-speeding printing includes controlling a surface tension of the ink to equal to or greater than 26 mN/m, equal to or greater than 28 mN/m, or equal to or greater than 30 mN/m. The surface tension is measured when the ratio of the total non-volatiles volume fraction of the ink to the maximum total non-volatiles volume fraction of the ink is a ratio between about 0.40 and about 0.90. An ink for high-speed printing includes one or more resins, one or more colorants, one or more solvents, and one or more additives. The ink can be a flexographic ink, a rotogravure ink, a heatset offset ink, or a publication gravure ink. A print of the ink includes less than 1% of pinholes by area. A method of printing includes preparing an ink and applying the ink to a substrate. The ink has a surface tension of equal to or greater than 26 mN/m, and the substrate moves at a speed of greater than 1200 feet/min.
US09080061B2

A coating composition includes a matrix polymer containing functional moieties capable of undergoing crosslinking reactions and at least one crosslinker, wherein the crosslinker and functional moieties are selected such that a reaction to form the crosslinks occurs sequentially by either heat/UV, partitioning between the phases, and or the generation of other functional groups by first crosslinker's reaction with the backbone functions. The matrix polymer may optionally be dispersed or emulsified in water or other non-solvent.
US09080052B2

Stable, high performance polymer compositions including polybenzimidazole (PBI) and a melamine-formaldehyde polymer, such as methylated, poly(melamine-co-formaldehyde), for forming structures such as films, fibers and bulky structures. The polymer compositions may be formed by combining polybenzimidazole with the melamine-formaldehyde polymer to form a precursor. The polybenzimidazole may be reacted and/or intertwined with the melamine-formaldehyde polymer to form the polymer composition. For example, a stable, free-standing film having a thickness of, for example, between about 5 μm and about 30 μm may be formed from the polymer composition. Such films may be used as gas separation membranes and may be submerged into water for extended periods without crazing and cracking. The polymer composition may also be used as a coating on substrates, such as metal and ceramics, or may be used for spinning fibers. Precursors for forming such polymer compositions are also disclosed.
US09080050B2

A lactam composition which comprises the following components: from 3 to 25% by weight of a random vinylaromatic-diene copolymer (A), where the random vinylaromatic-diene copolymer is composed of at least one block (S) which forms a hard phase and which is composed of vinylaromatic monomers, and of at least one random block (S/B) which forms a soft phase and which has vinylaromatic monomers and diene monomers, from 75 to 97% by weight of at least one lactam component (B), and also optionally reinforcing materials and/or additives has improved viscosity in the melt and can be used for producing polyamide moldings.
US09080031B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball resin composition that comprises an ionomer resin with an excellent resilience and fluidity. Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball excellent in the resilience without lowering the durability significantly in a golf ball using the ionomer resin for the intermediate layer. The present invention provides a golf ball resin composition comprising, 100 parts by mass of (A) an ionomer resin consisting of a metal ion-neutralized product of a ternary copolymer composed of ethylene, α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms and α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester, and from 25 parts to 100 parts by mass of (B) a metal salt of a fatty acid having 18 to 30 carbon atoms. The golf ball of the present invention is not limited, as long as it comprises a constituent member formed from the golf ball resin composition of the present invention.
US09080023B2

A foam molding method, a foamed plastic formed by the method, and a foaming agent used in the foam molding method are provided. The foam molding method may include rotating a screw provided in a barrel, feeding a granular or powdered raw material and a foaming agent into the barrel, the foaming agent producing foam through a chemical reaction, melting the fed raw material and producing a gas from the foaming agent, and phase-changing the produced gas to a supercritical state and mixing the gas with the melted raw material.
US09080021B2

Provided is a polycarbonate-polyorganosiloxane copolymer having high impact resistance and excellent transparency, in particular, a high total light transmittance and a small haze, and a method of producing thereof. Specifically, provided is a polycarbonate-polyorganosiloxane copolymer, containing a main chain having a repeating unit represented by the following general formula (I) and a constituent unit represented by the following general formula (II), in which: n in the general formula (II) is 25 to 50; and the copolymer satisfies the following conditions (a) and (b): (a) a molded article having a thickness of 2 mm made of the copolymer has a total light transmittance measured based on ISO 13468 of 88% or more and a haze measured based on ISO 14782 of 0.7% or less; and (b) a molded article having a thickness of 3 mm made of the copolymer has a total light transmittance measured based on ISO 13468 of 88% or more and a haze measured based on ISO 14782 of 1.0% or less. (In the formulae, R1 and R2 each independently represent a halogen atom, an alkyl group or an alkoxy group, X represents a single bond, an alkylene group, an alkylidene group, a cycloalkylene group, a cycloalkylidene group, —S—, —SO—, —SO2—, —O— or —CO—, and a and b each independently represent an integer of 0 to 4. R3 to R6 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group or an aryl group, Y represents a single bond, or an organic residue containing an aliphatic or aromatic moiety, and n represents an average repetition number.)
US09080014B2

A method includes producing libraries of nanoparticles having highly controlled properties, which can be formed by mixing together two or more macromolecules in different ratios. One or more of the macromolecules may be a polymeric conjugate of a moiety to a biocompatible polymer. The nanoparticle may contain a drug. The moiety may include a polypeptide or a polynucleotide, such as an aptamer. The moiety may be a targeting moiety, an imaging moiety, a chelating moiety, a charged moiety, or a therapeutic moiety. Another aspect is directed to systems and methods of producing such polymeric conjugates. In some embodiments, a solution containing a polymer is contacted with a liquid, such as an immiscible liquid, to form nanoparticles containing the polymeric conjugate. Other methods use such libraries, use or administer such polymeric conjugates, or promote the use of such polymeric conjugates. Kits involving such polymeric conjugates are also described.
US09080006B2

The present invention relates to the use of an adhesive compound, in particular a pressure-sensitive adhesive compound, based on silylated polyurethanes for bonding optical components, in particular optical films, wherein the adhesive compound has a transmission according to ASTM D 1003 of greater than 86% and a haze according to ASTM D 1003 of less than 5%.
US09080005B2

The present invention includes a process and apparatus for the production of methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) isomer mixtures with a low 2,2′-MDI isomer content and a high 2,4′-MDI isomer content. The resulting mixtures have an increased reactivity and are acceptable in food grade application due to the reduction in primary aromatic amines formed during the curing process. The process and apparatus also include controlling the amount of 4,4′-MDI, which is the most reactive isomer in the mixture allowing use in a wide variety of applications.
US09080003B2

Methods of forming olyurethane foams that are the reaction product of at least one polyisocyanate and a polyol composition are provided. The polyol composition includes at least one natural oil based polyol and at least one poly(propylene oxide) polyol and is desirably free of non-natural oil based polyols made from alkylene oxide units, other than propylene oxide units. The natural oil based polyol is present in a quantity sufficient to increase the processing window for the foam relative to a foam made using the same process and the same components, absent the natural oil based polyol. As a result, the present foams can provide very open-cellular structures with the superior performance properties of a poly(propylene oxide) polyol-based foam.
US09079999B2

New methods for the grafting of complex polymer coatings onto conducting surfaces, new grafting compositions and new substrates with grafted coating of the grafting compositions are disclosed. The method offers a new and convenient approach for the preparation of polymer coatings by electrochemically grafting and reactive crosslinking, and/or graft polymerizing.
US09079994B2

A polymerizable composition that comprises a first component comprising a (meth)acrylate and an organic peroxide as an oxidizing agent and a second component comprising a (meth)acrylate and a cysteine as a reducing agent which has a partial structure represented by the following structural formula, the first component and/or the second component further comprising a polymerization promoter:
US09079991B2

Ethylene copolymers having a relatively high melt flow ratio and a multimodal profile in a temperature rising elution fractionation (TREF) plot are disclosed. The copolymers can be made into film having good dart impact values and good stiffness properties under decreased extruder pressures.
US09079969B2

This invention describes soluble, monovalent, non-natural protein molecules that can activate NK cells and certain T-cells to attack specific cellular target cells by attaching the NKG2D-binding portions of monovalent MICA or MICB protein, i.e. their α1-α2 platform domain, to the intended target cell specifically. The α1-α2 domain is contiguous with a heterologous α3 domain that has been genetically modified to bind directly or indirectly to the extracellular aspect of the target cell, thereby serving as the targeting domain. The genetic modification to create a non-natural and non-terminal targeting motif within the α3 domain can include a portion of an antibody, another protein molecule or portion thereof, a peptide, or a non-natural, modified α3 domain of a MIC protein.
US09079961B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a probe, primer, primer set and antibody for determining neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenic purpura or the risk of developing it. According to the present invention, there is provided a probe, primer, primer set and antibody for use in the detection of the thymine residue at position 1297 in the GPIIIa.
US09079959B2

Provided is a pharmaceutical composition for treating and/or preventing abnormal bone metabolism targeting a protein encoded by a gene strongly expressed in osteoclasts. Specifically provided is a pharmaceutical composition containing an antibody which specifically recognizes human Siglec-15 and has an activity of inhibiting osteoclast formation, and the like.
US09079954B2

The present invention relates to discovery of the ectopic expression of EDEM2 in a production cell to improve the yield of a useful multi-subunit protein. Thus, the present invention provides for production cell lines, such as the canonical mammalian biopharmaceutical production cell—the CHO cell, containing recombinant polynucleotides encoding EDEM2. Also disclosed is a production cell containing both an EDEM2-encoding polynucleotide as well an XBP1-encoding polynucleotide. Improved titers of antibodies produced by these cell lines are disclosed, as well as the improved cell densities attained by these cells in culture.
US09079943B2

The present disclosure provides TC-83 VEE-derived replicons, alphaviral replicon particles and immunogenic compositions containing TC-83 alphaviral replicon particles which direct the expression of at least one antigen when introduced into a suitable host cell. The TC-83 VEE-derived ARPs described herein are improved in that they are subject to a lower vector-specific immune response than prior art ARPs.
US09079927B1

The present disclosure relates to therapeutic compositions comprising substituted imidazoliums having multiple acidic groups. The compounds may be used to treat diseases or conditions such as those associated with bone, cancer, or pain. Compositions, dosage forms, methods of treating diseases or conditions, methods of preparation, and other related embodiments related to the substituted imidazoliums are also described herein.
US09079919B2

The present invention provides spiro-[1,3]-oxazines and spiro-[1,4]-oxazepines of formula I having BACE1 and/or BACE2 inhibitory activity, their manufacture, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as therapeutically active substances. The active compounds of the present invention are useful in the therapeutic and/or prophylactic treatment of e.g. Alzheimer's disease and type 2 diabetes.
US09079913B2

Provided herein are compounds, compositions, and methods in the field of medicinal chemistry. The compounds and compositions provided herein relate to spiro-oxindoles which function as antagonists of the interaction between p53 and MDM2, and their use as therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and other diseases.
US09079909B2

Compounds, compositions and methods for the treatment of retinal degenerative diseases, such as retinitis pigmentosa, Leber's congenital Amaurosis, Syndromic retinal degenerations, age-related macular degeneration and Usher Syndrome, and hearing loss associated with Usher Syndrome are described herein.
US09079904B2

This disclosure relates to new heterocyclic compounds that may be used to modulate a histamine receptor in an individual. Pyrido[3,4-b]indoles are described, as are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds and methods of using the compounds in a variety of therapeutic applications, including the treatment of a cognitive disorder, psychotic disorder, neurotransmitter-mediated disorder and/or a neuronal disorder.
US09079903B2

A heterocyclic compound represented by Formula 1 below and an organic light-emitting device including the heterocyclic compound: wherein X1 and X2, X1 and R1 to R10 are defined as in the specification.
US09079893B2

Medicinal use The disclosure relates to compounds of formula (I) for use in the treatment or prophylaxis of respiratory syncitial virus (RSV) infection in particular viral exacerbation of a respiratory disorder such as bronchitis, asthma, COPD and/or cystic fibrosis, methods of treating or preventing RSV infection employing said compounds or pharmaceutical composition comprising the same.
US09079885B2

The present invention provides a new class of excited state intramolecular charge transfer (ESIPT) dye compounds based on mono or dihydroxy substituted 1,3-bisiminoisoindole motif and metal complexes containing such compounds as ligands. The present invention also provides OLEDs containing the compound and/or metal complex as the emissive material.
US09079876B2

Disclosed are imidazole derivatives as represented by formula (I), and preparation method and use thereof. The compounds can inhibit cyclooxygenase and treat diseases mediated by cyclooxygenase.
US09079873B2

The present invention is directed to a process for the preparation of benzyl [(3aS,4R,6S,6aR)-6-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyltetrahydro-3aH-cyclopenta[d][1,3]dioxol-4-yl]carbamate (VI), to products of said process and the use thereof.
US09079871B2

An improved process is proposed for preparing cyclocarbonate-functionalized compounds of the general formula (I) where R1 and R2 in each occurrence are independently selected from hydrogen, methyl and ethyl, l in each occurrence independently is from 2 to 50, m in each occurrence independently is 0 or 1, and n is =3, subject to the proviso that the sum of all l values in the molecule is from 5 to 100, by reacting a chloroformate of formula (II) with a trifunctional amine of the general formula (III) characterized in that the reacting is carried out in an aqueous/organic two-phase system in the presence of an auxiliary base and of a phase transfer catalyst.
US09079866B2

The present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I), or a form thereof, wherein ring A, R1, R2, R3, R3′, L, W, and V are as defined herein, useful as FLAP modulators. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of Formula (I). Methods of making and using the compounds of Formula (I) are also within the scope of the invention.
US09079863B2

The invention relates to the provision of two novel crystalline forms I and II for 5-amino-2,3-dihydrophthalazine-1,4-dione sodium salt. Surprisingly, it was discovered that form I and form II have differing immunological effects. This advantageous property is useful for immunospecific applications. In addition, both forms have advantageous physicochemical properties, which are useful in the production, further processing and/or use of a pharmaceutical preparation of form I or form II or a mixture of both.
US09079859B2

The present invention provides methods for inhibiting growth and proliferation of HIF pathway proficient cells by administering GLUT1 inhibitors of the invention to HIF pathway proficient cells.
US09079842B2

A method for separating a salified phenolic compound from a reaction medium including same is described. Also described, is a method for separating salified phenolic compounds from an aqueous reaction medium resulting from the reaction of a phenolic compound and glyoxylic acid in the presence of a base, which leads to a reaction medium including at least the excess of the starting salified phenolic compound and the various salified mandelic compounds resulting from the reaction, wherein the reaction medium including the starting salified phenolic compound is contacted with an adsorbent substrate. This leads to the selective adsorption of the phenolic compound onto said substrate and to the recovery of an aqueous flow containing the salified mandelic compounds from the reaction, and in that the phenolic compound attached onto the adsorbent is desorbed by means of a regenerating treatment of the adsorbent.
US09079833B2

Process for the preparation of polysulfide of formula (I) HS—(CH2)n—O—(CH2)m—O—(CH2)p—[S—S—CH2)nO—(CH2)m—O—(CH2)p]q—SH (I) wherein m is an integer in the range 1 to 4, n and p are integers in the range 1-10, and q is an integer in the range 1-60, by oxidizing a bismercaptodiether compound of formula (II) HS—(CH2)n—O—(CH2)m—O—(CH2)p—SH (II) with elemental sulfur in the presence of a base and a protic solvent. This process has a high selectivity towards linear disulfides.
US09079828B2

Novel polymerizable compounds comprising a polyalicyclic structure element and certain functional groups, mixtures comprising one or a plurality of these compounds and corresponding curable blends and products as well as their respective use as dental material or for the preparation of a dental material are described. A method for preparing these compounds or mixtures and a method for preparing a product, preferably a product suitable for dentistry, are also described.
US09079827B2

The invention provides a method for producing an aromatic amide carboxylic acid derivative represented by the following Formula (2), including a step of reacting an aromatic amide halide derivative represented by the following Formula (1) with carbon monoxide. In the following Formulae (1) and (2), R1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms; X1 represents a fluorine atom or a cyano group; X2 represents a halogen atom; and n represents an integer of from 0 to 3.
US09079802B2

Embodiments of this disclosure pertain to articles exhibiting scratch-resistance and improved optical properties. In some examples, the article exhibits a color shift of about 2 or less, when viewed at an incident illumination angle from about 0 degrees to about 60 degrees from normal under an illuminant, and hardness of at least 14 GPa at an indentation depth of at least 100 nm from the surface of the article. In one or more embodiments, the articles include a substrate, and an optical film disposed on the substrate. The optical film includes a scratch-resistant layer and an optical interference layer. The optical interference layer may include one or more sub-layers that exhibit different refractive indices. In one example, the optical interference layer includes a first low refractive index sub-layer and a second a second high refractive index sub-layer. In some instances, the optical interference layer may include a third sub-layer.
US09079800B2

A composite ceramic body which includes three phases consisting of a MgO phase, a YAP (YAlO3) phase and a spinel (MgAl2O4) phase. This composite ceramic body has a plasma resistance greater than that of alumina and approximately equal to that of MgO. Mechanical properties, such as hardness and bending strength, of the composite ceramic body, are approximately equal or superior to those of Al2O3. A raw material cost and a manufacturing cost thereof are lower than those of a rare-earth oxide. Further, electric conductive particles may be added thereto to lower an electrical resistivity. The composite ceramic body is suitably usable as component parts for a semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
US09079798B2

Porous composites of mullite and cordierite are formed by firing an acicular mullite body in the presence of a magnesium source and a silicon source. In some variations of the process, the magnesium and silicon sources are present when the acicular mullite body is formed. In other variations, the magnesium source and the silicon source are applied to a previously-formed acicular mullite body. Surprisingly, the composites have coefficients of linear thermal expansion that are intermediate to those of mullite and cordierite alone, and have higher fracture strengths than cordierite at a similar porosity. Some of the cordierite forms at grain boundaries and/or points of intersection between mullite needles, rather than merely coating the needles. The presence of magnesium and silicon sources during acicular mullite formation does not significantly affect the ability to produce a highly porous network of mullite needles.
US09079796B2

A plant for producing cement clinker from calcium carbonate-containing raw meal. A preheating stage preheats the raw meal, which preheating stage is heated by exhaust gases from a following sintering stage. A stage is provided for deacidification and sintering of the raw meal. A cooling stage for the sintered meal is of at least two-stage design and has a gas separation stage for separating exhaust gases from the deacidification and sintering stage which is routed in a first gas circuit from the cement clinker cooling gas. A gas/gas heat exchanger is arranged downstream of the preheating stage in the gas flow direction, through which heat exchanger heat from the combined exhaust gases which leave the preheating stage is transferred into a gas, extracted from the gas for cooling the cement clinker, routed in a second gas circuit, for drying the raw meal in a preceding grinding stage.
US09079795B2

A coated article includes a low-E coating having an absorbing layer located over a functional layer (IR reflecting layer) and designed to cause the coating to have an increased outside reflectance (e.g., in an IG window unit) and good selectivity. In certain embodiments, the absorbing layer is metallic, or substantially metallic, and is provided directly over and contacting a lower of two IR reflecting layers. In certain example embodiments, a nitride based layer (e.g., silicon nitride or the like) may be located directly over and contacting the absorbing layer in order to reduce or prevent oxidation thereof during heat treatment (e.g., thermal tempering, heat bending, and/or heat strengthening) thereby permitting predictable coloration, high outside reflectance values, and/or good selectivity to be achieved. Coated articles according to certain example embodiments of this invention may be used in the context of insulating glass (IG) window units, vehicle windows, other types of windows, or in any other suitable application.
US09079791B2

A system (10) and method for positioning a hot glass sheet G on a roll conveyor 24 for further processing utilizes sensors (60, 62, 64) for sensing a conveyed glass sheet position and a turntable (72) having an actuator (74) for providing axial shifting of rolls (26) supported on the turntable to properly locate the glass sheet G, without any sliding between the glass sheet and the conveyor rolls, both rotationally and laterally for further processing which is specifically disclosed as forming.
US09079789B2

In a capacitive deionization water desalination apparatus, the waterways of the cell are physically switchable between treatment-phase and purge-phase. In treatment-phase, the waterways conduct the flow of water thickness-wise, in-series, through the whole stack of electrodes and spacers. In purge-phase, the waterways conduct the flow of purge-water into the edges of the spacers, and along the spacers parallel to the plane of the spacers.
US09079782B2

A titanium oxide particle that can develop non-conventional and novel physical properties, a method for manufacturing the same, and a magnetic memory, an optical information recording medium, and a charge accumulation type memory using the same are provided. A silica-coated titanium hydroxide compound particle is directly produced through a sol-gel technique and not through a reverse micelle technique, and the silica-coated titanium hydroxide compound particle is subjected to a calcination process. Hence, a titanium oxide particle 1 can be provided which can develop non-conventional and novel physical properties such that it does not perform phase transition at a room temperature and a Ti3O5 particle body can always maintain the characteristic as a paramagnetic metal in all temperature ranges unlike conventional bulk bodies that perform phase transition between a non-magnetic semiconductor and a paramagnetic metal at a temperature near about 460 K.
US09079766B1

A method for bulk separation of single-walled tubular fullerenes (100) based on chirality is provided wherein an array of longitudinally directed channels (32) are formed on a crystalline substrate (30) to form a separation plate (300). At least one of the separation plate (300) and a solution or suspension of the single-walled tubular fullerenes (100) is displaced relative to the other for so exposing at least a portion of the plurality of single-walled tubular fullerenes (100) to the channels (32). Each of the channels (32) exposes portions of the upper surface (38) of the crystalline substrate (30) and the longitudinal direction is selected to be an energetically favored “locking angle” for single-walled tubular fullerenes (100a) of one chiral angle to be adsorbed to the exposed substrate surface (38). The adsorbed angle-walled tubular fullerenes (100a) are subsequently removed from the separation plate (300).
US09079749B2

A simple node transportation system having a vehicle traveling on a route having nodes, a traditional control module controlling the vehicle, and any combination of a node controller and a vehicle controller. The node controller has a traditional touch module connecting to the traditional control module and sending a control instruction to the traditional control module, an input module photographing an image and a gesture, a node control module recognizing the gesture and transferring the corresponding control instruction, and an output module displaying the image and the corresponding control instruction. The vehicle controller has a traditional touch module connecting to the traditional control module and sending a control instruction to the traditional control module, an input module photographing an image and a gesture, a vehicle control module recognizing the gesture and transferring the corresponding control instruction, and an output module displaying the image and the corresponding control instruction.
US09079732B1

An exemplary apparatus herein includes a registration item positioned at the end of a shelf. Further, tamper elements contact the sides of sheets of media on the shelf to align them and push them toward the registration item. In addition, a frame element is connected to each of the tamper elements and a biased member is connected to the frame element. A motor is connected to the biased member. Rotation of the motor moves the tamper elements in a closed curve path motion relative to the shelf and the registration item. With increasing speed of the rotation of the motor, the biased member expands, and this increases the distance of the closed curve path motion and increases the force applied by the tamper elements against the sheets of media being moved toward the registration item along the shelf.
US09079726B2

A coupler assembly to transfer powdered material from a container includes an active valve with a docking part and a passive valve with a complementary docking part. The two docking parts enable the two valves to be secured together such that both the passive valve and the active valve can be opened. The coupler assembly includes a spigot that is movable between a first position in which the spigot allows the active valve to close with the spigot on the opposite side of the active valve to the docking part which engages the passive valve, and a second position in which the active valve is held in an open position and the spigot provides a passage for material passing through the passive valve to flow through the active valve whilst substantially preventing exposure of part of the active valve to any of the flowing material.
US09079725B2

Device (10) for forming packs of bags (P) for moving from a first area (S1), where an already produced bag (P) is arranged, to a second area (S2) for collecting the bags in packs, comprising at least one rotor (14) carrying a pair of supports (17) for the bag (P) and suction means to fix the bag (P) to the support while the rotor (14) rotates. The device advantageously comprises means (18) designed to maintain said support (17) in a position parallel to itself during the movement between the first area (S1) and the second area (S2).
US09079712B2

A method of maintaining structural integrity of a subsiding earthen fluid containment structure is disclosed and comprises forming a lined containment infrastructure (100) including a convex bulged crown portion (120), floor portion (110) and sidewall portions (115) which enclose a comminuted earthen material (126) within an enclosed volume (125) such that fluid flow from the lined containment compound is restricted. The bulged crown flattens, thickens and diminishes in surface area during subsidence of the comminuted earthen material as fluid is removed. The bulged crown is shaped to avoid tensile stresses which may otherwise result in breach or failure of lined containment during subsidence. Further, the lined containment structure can include an inner insulative layer and an outer impermeable seal layer having unique contributions as described in more detail herein.
US09079711B2

A receptacle includes a body configured to receive a liner and a cinch disposed on the body. The cinch includes a projection disposed outward of the body and configured such that at least a portion of the liner can be disposed between the projection and the body. The cinch further includes a slot having an open end and a closed end, wherein the slot is disposed substantially adjacent the projection and configured such that at least a portion of the liner can be disposed and retained within the slot.
US09079710B2

A waste storage device includes a waste storage part for storing a waste item and a packaging device arranged in an upper part of the waste storage part. The packaging device includes two film feed rollers, two waste sealing rollers which pull out films and are arranged in parallel that the peripheral surfaces thereof are in contact via the pulled out respective films in a normal state and at least one of which has the peripheral surface that is elastically deformed along the shape of the waste item, and a driving part which rotates the rollers. Two friction rollers which are driven and rotated to sandwich the films sealing the waste item having passed between the waste sealing rollers and pull them downward are provided below the waste sealing rollers. The device prevents a waste item sealed with resin films from being caught in rollers such as waste sealing rollers.
US09079709B2

A heat set container including a base portion, a shoulder portion, and a sidewall portion extending from the shoulder portion to the base portion. The shoulder portion, the sidewall portion and the base portion cooperate to define a receptacle chamber within the container into which product can be filled. A plurality of vacuum panels are equidistantly disposed about the shoulder portion. A plurality of transition lands are disposed between adjacent ones of the plurality of vacuum panels and spaced outwardly relative thereto. The plurality of vacuum panels cooperate to be inwardly collapsible from a first outside diameter to a second outside diameter in response to at least internal vacuum forces.
US09079703B2

An outlet assembly for a spray dispenser comprises a container, an actuator member comprising at least one finger, a deformable outlet member, and an adjustment member defining an adjustment edge. The container supports the actuator member. The outlet member is arranged adjacent to the actuator member such that the outlet member is adjacent to the at least one finger. The adjustment member is arranged relative to the actuator member such that the adjustment edge is in contact with the at least one finger. Movement of the adjustment member relative to the actuator member displaces the adjustment member relative to the actuator member to cause the adjustment edge to deform the at least one finger. As the adjustment edge deforms the at least one finger, the at least one finger deforms the outlet member to alter a cross-sectional area of the outlet opening.
US09079699B2

A carrier comprising a top panel, a first side panel foldably connected to the top panel, a second side panel foldably connected to the top panel, a first bottom panel connected to the first side panel by at least one first strut, and a second bottom panel connected to the second side panel by at least one second strut. At least one container-receiving portion can comprise a first retaining feature and an opposing second retaining feature. At least a portion of the first retaining feature or the second retaining feature is disposed in the first side panel or the second side panel. A container can be retained by at least one of the first retaining feature and the second retaining feature. At least a portion of at least one of the first bottom panel and the second bottom panel is disposed between the container and the top panel.
US09079694B2

A cap assembly comprising a body, a sealing membrane and a retaining ring. An opening is provided through the body and includes a recessed circumferential channel and a membrane engaging flange positioned proximate the recessed circumferential channel. The sealing membrane covers the opening and includes a body engaging flange and a pierceable surface. The retaining ring is positioned with the sealing membrane engagement surface in overlying engagement with the sealing membrane. Extension of the tab into the recessed circumferential channel of the body releasably maintains the overlying engagement and biases the retaining ring against the membrane. The inner wall structure of the retaining ring extends radially inward beyond the membrane engaging flange of the sealing membrane, to, in turn, protect the membrane.
US09079692B2

Disclosed herein are disinfecting caps that can be used to cover and disinfect both a male medical connector and needleless injection site when not in use or when disconnected from each other. The caps contain a disinfecting agent.
US09079690B1

A freezer bag, a storage system, and a method of freezing are provided. The freezer bag includes a pliable housing including at least one panel and a seam, the at least one panel and the seam defining a cavity within the pliable housing, a port extending from the pliable housing, and a tufting coupling opposing sides of the pliable housing, the tufting dividing the cavity into a plurality of regions.
US09079686B2

In one aspect, the invention is directed to a port assembly for establishing fluid communication between a first container and a second container. The port assembly includes a retainer for connecting a first container, where the retainer is positioned in a cavity defined by a port housing that includes an axially fixed actuator. The housing also includes a plug member constructed to seal a fluid passageway between the port housing and an interior of a second container. The plug member is configured to move axially relative to the actuator. Rotation of the retainer relative to the actuator causes the plug member to move to an open position in which it does not seal a fluid passageway between the port housing and an interior of a second container. The rotation of the retainer relative to the port housing also causes the retainer to move axially relative to the port housing so that the actuator forces a stopper associated with a first container connected to the retainer into a first container.
US09079684B2

Embodiments described herein provide a system for molding cheese having a pressboard for compressing cheese in a cheese mold. The pressboard includes spring alignment features to align a set of leaf springs that help ensure even compression of the cheese.
US09079683B2

A pallet base that comprises an internal honeycomb structure made of plastic, a metal sheet arranged on either side of the internal honeycomb structure that extends over an entirety of the internal honeycomb structure, and an outer sheet of plastic adjoined to each metal sheet. The internal honeycomb structure includes a plurality of honeycomb cells and a plurality of joining edges of the honeycomb cells. The joining edges of the honeycomb cells include ends that extend away from said honeycomb cells. The metal sheets may be provided with through-holes for passage of the ends of said joining edges. The ends of said joining edges may be heat-welded to the outer sheets of plastic.
US09079679B2

The present application relates to tray sealing apparatus (100) comprising a heat sealing tool (6), a pair of laterally spaced transfer mechanisms (66) for transferring trays to and away from the heat sealing tool along corresponding laterally spaced tray feed lanes, film supply apparatus for supplying respective heat sealable films to the sealing tool one in alignment with each tray feed lane. The sealing tool comprises a pair of lower support members (61a, 61b), each aligned with a respective one of the tray feed lanes and on to which one or more trays can be transferred. The tray sealing apparatus further comprises a common upper plate (65) having heaters aligned respectively in use with each tray on the lower support members; and means for selectively moving the lower support members towards the upper plate so as to bring the tray(s) on that lower support member into contact with the corresponding film, whereby the upper plate heat seals the film to the tray(s).
US09079655B2

The system includes deflection transmission means (16) to provide a deflection position of the high-lift device (8) for each setting angle position of an adjustable HTP (2). Preferably, the deflection transmission means (18,20,23) comprise essentially of a mechanical linkage connected between the high-lift device (8) and the aircraft (1).
US09079654B2

A technique which can assemble a mandrel having a substantially cylindrical shape and being dividable into plurality of segments, which is used for manufacturing, for example, a fuselage of an aircraft, with high position accuracy and an easy manner. In a segment fastening step, a segment which is a fastened target is fastened to a specified fastening portion which is one of a plurality of fastening portions set along a pair of support rings placed to face each other. In a rotation step, before the segment fastening step, the support rings are rotated so that the specified fastening portion is located at an uppermost portion of the support rings. In the segment fastening step, the segment which is the fastened target is placed between the support rings and lifted vertically up to a height corresponding to the specified fastening portion and then fastened to the support rings.
US09079648B2

Propulsion device for boats or device or energy production comprising: a first track a second track; driving wheels each having a peripheral surface comprising a friction device rotatably arranged in at least one frame, wherein the first track is arranged in contact with the friction devices at a first set of driving wheels, the second track is arranged in contact with the friction devices at a second set of driving wheels, such that the tracks move with the same speed as the peripheral surface of the rotatable driving wheels where the track is in contact with the friction devices when the driving wheels rotate; a plurality of shovel rollers each comprising a first and a second end and between the ends a device with an outer periphery, wherein the first ends of the shovel rollers are arranged in the first track and the second ends of the shovel rollers are arranged in the second track such that the shovel rollers move with the tracks in relation to the structure when the driving wheels rotate, wherein the device further comprises a flat continuous carpet-like device with side-ends which is arranged between the first and second sets of driving wheels and abutting the outer periphery of the shovel rollers; that the carpet-like device forms a shovel surface between two of the shovel rollers, and that the formed shovel moves in relation to the frame when the shovel rollers move in relation to the frame.
US09079646B2

A safety device comprising a body portion secured to the torso of a swimmer and having support straps and a handle to permit an instructor to provide support for the swimmer is disclosed. The safety device may be used for a variety of purposes, such as teaching individuals how to swim. During use, an instructor or other individual may provide support and/or guidance for the swimmer by lifting or pulling on the handle. The device may be constructed to provide both freedom of movement for the swimmer and direct contact with the instructor, thereby allowing for a safe, yet challenging, learning experience.
US09079641B2

A connector for a assembling members of a floating dock system comprises at least one post and a brace extending from the post. The post is shaped generally complimentarily to the shape of the socket, and comprises a generally convex midsection connected between a pair of generally falcate end portions. The post and brace define a flat, generally horizontal top surface to the connector.The dock system also includes a supplemental floatation system having a hollow floatation member body defining a chamber. The body includes a water port positioned to place the body interior in communication with water. An air port positioned vertically above the water port is placed in communication with a pump. A valve can be positioned between the chamber and the pump to selectively place the chamber in communication with the pump or to place the chamber in communication with the atmosphere.
US09079640B1

A system for directing actions of a helmsman of a lifeboat has a lifeboat with a connector at opposite ends thereof, a shackle sensor cooperative with each of the connectors so as to sense whether the shackle is engaged or released from the connector, and a display positioned within the lifeboat that is cooperative with the shackle sensor so as to provide the helmsman with a visual indication of the engagement or release of the shackle from the connector. Each of the connectors has a hook pivotally mounted thereto. A hook sensor is cooperative at the hook so as to sense whether the hook is in the open position or the closed position. Water sensors are mounted to the lifeboat so as to sense whether the lifeboat has contacted a surface of the body of water. The various sensors are cooperative with the display so as to provide the helmsman with a sequence of operations during the use of the lifeboat.
US09079638B2

A watercraft is provided. The watercraft includes a cockpit. The watercraft further includes a stern-facing seat having a movable backrest. The seat is outside of the cockpit. An aquatic activity platform extends to a stern of the watercraft from the seat, and defines a foot rest for the seat. An engine is positioned substantially further towards a bow of the watercraft than the seat. A storage compartment has an opening positioned further towards the bow than the backrest of the seat. The backrest is movable to a first position to expose the opening and provide access to the storage compartment, and to a second position to conceal the opening.
US09079634B2

A bicycle having a pedal crank drive (12) and having an electrical auxiliary drive, which is connected to the pedal crank drive (12), is described, which has a wheel hub motor (7) having a freewheel hub for the rear wheel (6). To provide advantageous drive conditions, it is proposed that the wheel hub motor (7) for the rear wheel (6) have a drive connection via a transmission gearing (8) to an electrical auxiliary motor (9) of identical size.
US09079633B2

Uni-wheel personal mobility vehicle with self-balancing function is disclosed. This transportation device can be pedaled by a driving force provided by the driver's manpower and/or the in-wheel motor's electric power. The uni-wheel personal mobility vehicle with self-balancing function is equipped with an inertial sensing and control driving module, an in-wheel motor, and a steering mechanism consisting of a transmission pulley set, an idle pulley set, a transmission cable, and a spring set, therefore the personal mobility vehicle can simultaneously maintain its self balance when being propelled by driver's pedaling force or the in-wheel motor's electrical torque; moreover, the driver can also make the personal mobility electric vehicle change its direction by rotating a handlebar similar to steering a bicycle, wherein the rotation of the handlebar would simultaneously pull one side of the transmission cable via the transmission pulley set to steer the vehicle and maintain its lateral balance.
US09079632B2

Phase gear and lever mechanism converts reciprocating power to rotary power with phase gear providing power stroke of greater duration than travel stroke so as to develop efficient power through a power stroke. A modified lever and gear mechanism converts reciprocating power to rotary power at variable out power ratio. Both converting mechanisms are applied as bicycle drive mechanisms. Both mechanisms are applied together in a bicycle one as a drive mechanism, the other for synchronizing the drive mechanism.
US09079628B2

The present invention is a bicycle having a frame capable of flexing under downward force so that when downward force is applied a front spring assembly and a rear spring assembly are able to store and release the energy allowing the bike to jump in the air. The spring assemblies of the present invention use bow springs made from fiberglass/epoxy, graphite/epoxy, or fiberglass/nylon instead of traditional coil springs. The bow springs allow the spring assemblies to return a greater amount of energy than their coil spring counterparts while keeping overall weight of the spring assembly down.
US09079619B2

A vehicle frame component for limiting the movement of the wheel of the vehicle toward the cab of a cab on frame vehicle including a base member welded to openings in the frame side rail and extending outwardly and located proximal the wheel structure. In one embodiment the vehicle frame component is located forward of the wheel and includes a tire puncture device to deflate the tire during an offset front impact and in a second embodiment the vehicle frame component is located rearward of the wheel. The vehicle frame component has particular utility during an offset front impact where the offset is less than approximately twenty-five percent (25%) of the width of the vehicle.
US09079609B2

A first valve opening degree correction value computation unit computes a correction value (first valve opening degree correction value) for the absolute value of a valve opening degree command value on the basis of a rotation speed deviation computed by a rotation speed deviation computation unit in a pump driving motor control unit. A second valve opening degree computation unit computes a correction value (second valve opening degree correction value) for the valve opening degree command value on the basis of the sign of the valve opening degree command value and the first valve opening degree correction value. A correction value addition unit adds the second valve opening degree correction value to the valve opening degree command value set by the valve opening degree command value setting unit.
US09079598B1

A foldable trolley includes a chassis frame, which includes a front wheel set and a rear wheel set between a slidable plate is arranged for driving the rear wheel set to collapse toward the front wheel set. The first frame is coupled to a first driver device and is mounted on the slidable plate. The second frame is coupled to a second driver device and connected to the first frame. The first driver device drives the first frame to bend toward the front wheel set and the first frame drives the slidable plate to move simultaneously so as to have the rear wheel set to collapse towards the front wheel set. The second driver device drives the second frame to bend toward the rear wheel set so as to achieve an effect of multiple-stage folding to effectively reduce the overall size after folding.
US09079597B2

A support rack for holding a plurality of pans includes a first side frame including a first vertical support member and a second vertical support member, and a second side frame including a first vertical support member and a second vertical support member. A hinge assembly couples the first and second side frames and is operable to position the rack in a first position in which the first side frame and the second side frame are parallel and spaced a predetermined distance apart, a second position in which the first side frame and the second side frame are nonparallel, and a third position in which the first side frame and the second side frame are parallel but closer in proximity than the predetermined distance.
US09079591B2

An actuator for a brake system of a rail vehicle has a set-value detection unit that outputs a set value or a set value corrected by a reducing signal of an anti-skid control device for a decelerating force or a decelerating torque to a set-value control device. The latter controls the set value to a first output set value. A switch-over device connects an output of the set-value control device to a input of a set-value/force conversion device in a first switching position. In a second switching position, the set-value/force conversion device receives the signal from a fall-back unit. Braking devices convert an actual value of the force into an actual value of the decelerating force or decelerating torque. When impermissible deviations from a fast braking set value in a fast-braking operation are found, the switch-over device switches from the first to the second switching position.
US09079586B2

A method and system are described for extending an operating range of a motor vehicle, the vehicle having a first mode of operation and an economy mode of operation. A vehicle range may be estimated based on a vehicle fuel level and the first mode of operation. A distance to a fuel location may also be estimated. The economy mode of vehicle operation may be automatically entered a predetermined period of time after the estimated vehicle range based on the vehicle fuel level and the first operating mode decreases to within a predetermined threshold of the estimated distance to a fuel location.
US09079583B2

In a case of engagement when a clutch K0 disposed between an engine 12 and a motor generator MG is engaged during EV running while a release instruction for the clutch K0 is output, drive of the engine 12 is changed such that a rotation speed NE of the engine 12 approaches a rotation speed NMG of the motor generator MG and, therefore, a drag torque of the engine 12 can be suppressed regardless of an engagement state of the clutch K0, and generation of longitudinal acceleration can be suppressed by reducing a slip time of the clutch K0. Therefore, a control device of a hybrid vehicle 10 can be provided that reduces a driver's uncomfortable feeling in a simplified manner in a case of wrong engagement of the clutch K0.
US09079579B2

A control apparatus for a vehicle is provided with a plurality of actuators which perform sprung vibration suppression control, a vertical acceleration sensor configured to detect sprung vertical acceleration, and a plurality of actuator attitude control units which control the respective actuators such that the vertical acceleration detected by the vertical acceleration sensor becomes vertical acceleration corresponding to a target sprung state.
US09079573B2

An assembly includes a fluid reservoir and a master cylinder for a motor vehicle hydraulic brake system, the fluid reservoir being fastened to the master cylinder by a releasable connection and including at least one connection fitting, which is received in a corresponding connection aperture of the master cylinder. The fluid reservoir includes one or more components, which under a defined force applied to the fluid reservoir, allow a movement of at least one part of the fluid reservoir in the direction of the master cylinder.
US09079569B2

A windscreen wiper device comprising a carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper blade of a flexible material, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device for an oscillating arm, wherein the oscillating arm is pivotally connected to the connecting device about a pivot axis near one end, with the interposition of a joint part, with the special feature that the connecting device and the joint part are provided with mutually cooperating pivot means for pivotally connecting the joint part to the connecting device, the joint part having an at least substantially U-shaped cross-section at wherein the joint part comprises a recess in the base of the U-shaped cross-section for snappingly connecting the oscillating arm to the joint part.
US09079567B2

The invention relates to a wiper motor control for controlling a wiper motor that moves a wiper arm in a pendulum motion between two turning positions, said wiper motor control being designed to control a speed of the wiper arm dependent on a position of the wiper arm. The speed of the wiper arm in turning regions, which comprise the turning positions, follows a specified progression independent of the speed of the wiper arm between the turning regions.
US09079563B2

A seatbelt retractor includes a rotation transfer mechanism configured to transfer rotation of an adjustment gear to a sensor housing to swing the sensor housing in the front-back direction of a vehicle. The turning axis of the adjustment gear and the swing axis of the sensor housing intersect each other at a predetermined angle with the swing axis of the sensor housing arranged in a horizontal direction with respect to the left-right direction of the vehicle. An inertial element support surface of the sensor housing is kept horizontal by swing motion of the sensor housing in the front-back direction of the vehicle, even if a seat back is tilted in the front-back direction of the vehicle.
US09079560B2

A device location determination includes authenticating a device within range of a vehicle via a node in a vehicle. The vehicle includes a first peripheral device and a second peripheral device that is disposed at a location on the vehicle that is different than the first peripheral device. The peripheral devices are coupled to an antenna of the node. The device location determination also includes receiving from the device a first signal strength value associated with a first signal of the first peripheral device, a second signal strength value associated with a second signal of the second peripheral device, and a third signal strength value associated with a third signal transmitted by the node. The device location determination also includes determining a location of the device from the signal strength values and performing a remote function with respect to the vehicle.
US09079555B2

Methods and apparatus to transmit a range of frequencies targeting a vehicle, monitoring performance of an engine of the vehicle, determining a first frequency in the range of frequencies that disrupts operation of the engine, and dwelling on the first frequency to disrupt the engine, reducing power and continuing to dwell at the first frequency to maintain disruption of the engine.
US09079551B2

A front stay member is inserted into a through-hole in a bumper reinforcement. A first end of a middle stay member is fitted onto a portion of the front stay member that protrudes from the through-hole until the first end of the middle stay member comes into contact with the bumper reinforcement. A rear stay member is inserted into a second end of the middle stay member until the second end of the middle stay member comes into contact with the step on the rear stay member. A magnetic field shaper is disposed so as to face portions of an outer peripheral surface of the middle stay member that respectively overlap the front stay member and the rear stay member, and the middle stay member is clinched onto the front and rear stay members by applying an electromagnetic force to the magnetic field shaper.
US09079549B2

A modular bumper arrangement for a vehicle, including a cross-member composed of fiber reinforced plastic, two side parts made of plastic, wherein one side part is arranged or is arrangeable in each case at each of the two ends of the cross-member, and two fastening parts for fastening the bumper arrangement to a body structure of the vehicle, in which one fastening part is fastened or is fastenable to each side part.
US09079547B2

A mounting structure of a woofer for a vehicle may include a reinforcement member combined with a panel and having a flat base surface and a stepped base surface, a first bending member disposed between the flat base surface and the stepped base surface, and the panel formed of an upper part and a lower part, a second bending member being formed between the upper part and the lower part, wherein the reinforcement member may be combined with the panel in a way that the flat base surface of the reinforcement member may be in contact with the upper part of the panel and the stepped base surface of the reinforcement member may be in contact with the lower part of the panel, and wherein the first bending member and the second bending member may be spaced apart to form a space therebetween.
US09079542B1

A deployable hanger for a vehicle comprises a handle operable between deploying and non-deploying positions, two extension members disposed at least partially within the handle and tab members that are free of engagement with the extension members when the handle is in the deploying position, wherein the extension members are oppositely biased toward an extended position, and wherein the tab members selectively engage the extension members when the handle is in the non-deploying position.
US09079541B2

A watercraft carrier having a cradle shaped base member and a center support bracket pivotally connected to the base member in a releasably locking manner by at least two lockable pivotal positioning assemblies. The lockable pivotal positioning assemblies featuring interlocking hubs having interlocking gear teeth and gear groves. The lockable pivotal positioning assemblies enabling the center support bracket to be locked at any number of angular positions relative the base member.
US09079534B1

A modular track and cam storage system for marine vessels comprising a track extrusion having a c-channel, and a cam latch assembly comprising a latch, a bolt, and a cam. The cam is substantially rectangular in shape having at least two rounded opposing corners. The cam of the cam latch assembly is configured to be horizontally received in the c-channel of the track extrusion and is configured to be rotated within the c-channel such that the cam is slideably engaged with said track extrusion. Manipulating the latch will cause the cam to rotate, in order or manually engage the cam latch assembly with the track extrusion. The cam is capable of being locked within said c-channel by flipping the latch downward about the bolt. The cam latch assembles are attached to a storage accessory such as a storage bag, a trash bag, a cup holder, a basin, a rod holder.
US09079529B2

A vehicle lighting unit serving as a vehicle headlight can form a light distribution pattern optimized according to the country or the area with a smaller number of parts when compared with the conventional vehicle headlights of this type. Further, there can be provided a light guide lens for use in such a vehicle lighting unit.
US09079526B2

A driving ability reduction determining apparatus comprising a virtual image display portion, an operation portion, a response detection portion and a driving ability determination portion is disclosed. The virtual image display portion emits a determination-usage display image toward a windshield, thereby displaying to the driver the determination-usage display image as a virtual image through the windshield. The operation portion is operated by the driver when the driver visually recognizes the determination-usage display image. The response detection portion detects a response situation of driver's operation of the operation portion in response to display of the determination-usage display image by the virtual image display portion. The driving ability determination portion determines the driving ability reduction of the driver based on a detection result of the response detection portion.
US09079522B2

A shallow-draft dolly for moving a pre-fabricated storm shelter or other load throw threshold with minimal clearance. In one embodiment, the dolly has two side rail units, each with a lower and an upper bar; four wheel arms with attached wheels extending from the ends of the side rails, at least two of which are pivotally attached; front and rear cross members disposed between the ends of the side rail units; and two or more intermediate cross members transversing between the lower bars, thereby providing a slatted load bed positioned at or below the axles of the wheels, and wherein the front cross member is removable such that a load may be moved over an open pit with the wheels astride the pit, the load lifted from the bed, the front cross member removed, and the dolly rolled from underneath the load thereby leaving the load suspended over the pit.
US09079512B2

A vehicle seat with roller guide is provided, wherein the roller guide includes at least one guide rail, which is at least partially open at the side, and at least one roller which rolls in the guide rail and is connected by at least one shaft to parts of the vehicle seat, wherein a roller cover part of the roller can roll with a running surface of the roller along an inner wall, on the lower side of the roller, of the guide rail arranged parallel to or at an angle to the longitudinal course of the axis, wherein at least the roller cover part of the roller is made from material that can be deformed by pressurization by means of seat occupation and in a movement-free state without seat occupation rests on the inner wall, on the lower side of the roller, and an inner wall, running parallel thereto on the upper side of the roller, of the guide rail so as to make contact.
US09079505B1

A system and method for management of an energy storage system for a vehicle is disclosed. The energy storage system may comprise a battery system for a vehicle such as an electric vehicle or hybrid-electric vehicle. Vehicles may be in a group or fleet. The management system may be configured to use data and information available from data sources over a network or by instrumentation/sensors for vehicle systems. Data and information could be used in a system to manage the configuration and operation of the energy storage system and components, manage/control inventory and use/life-cycle of components, and/or aggregated/analyzed in analytics function for systems and components. Predictive control of the battery system may be implemented through a management system using data sources external to the vehicle. Inventive concepts and features of the systems and methods are indicated in the specification and FIGURES.
US09079504B2

An electric automobile in which a power control unit is disposed in a motor room formed at a front section of a vehicle: wherein a charging port or a power supply port is provided on a lateral surface of the front section of the vehicle; a charging connector or a power supply connector for connection to a charging power supply or an external device is attached to the charging port or the power supply port; the charging connector or the power supply connector is disposed in a manner so that a forward end thereof is located rearward of a forward end of a front wheel, and a rearward end thereof is located forward of a dash panel that partitions the motor room and a vehicle cabin; the charging connector or the power supply connector and the power control unit are connected by a cable; and a connection section between the cable and the power control unit is provided forward of the charging connector or the power supply connector.
US09079497B2

Methods and systems for a complete vehicle ecosystem are provided. Specifically, systems that when taken alone, or together, provide an individual or group of individuals with an intuitive and comfortable vehicular environment. The present disclosure includes a system to generate a vehicle communication system. The vehicle communication system can determine which devices are within the vehicle. From this determination, the vehicle communication system may create a universal bus and hotspot where applications, data, multimedia information, and resources can be shared both with the vehicle and with the other devices in the vehicle.
US09079495B2

A disconnectable all-wheel drive system for motor vehicles having a multi-speed power take-off unit and a multi-speed rear drive module.
US09079493B2

The present disclosure provides a method for controlling a power take-off assembly. The method includes providing a drive unit, a transmission having an output, a speed sensor, a controller including a memory unit and a processor, and the power take-off assembly including a clutch and a solenoid. The method also includes storing a first threshold in the memory unit, determining a current input speed of the drive unit with the speed sensor, and comparing the current input speed to the first threshold. The method further includes controlling an amount of hydraulic pressure supplied to the clutch and engaging the clutch.
US09079483B2

Provided is a connector component that allows easily performing coupling of connectors with each other. In a connector component (a vehicle-side electrical connector) according to an embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle-side connector is mounted on a base bracket via mounting members formed of rubber, elastic deformation of the mounting members permits a relative positional displacement of the base bracket and the vehicle-side connector in a compressing direction (Z-direction) as well as a relative positional displacement in a sliding direction (a direction in an X-Y plane). Therefore, even when there is a positional displacement and/or inclination between the vehicle-side electrical connector and a battery-side electrical connector and a relative positional displacement in the sliding direction has occurred, self-correction is performed by elastic deformation of the mounting members. Thus, according to the vehicle-side electrical connector, coupling when coupling the battery-side electrical connector can be easily performed.
US09079482B2

The present invention relates to a powered vehicle. The powered vehicle includes a first frame assembly and a second frame assembly. A first axle is coupled to the first frame assembly and a second axle is coupled to the second frame assembly. The powered vehicle further includes a first powertrain assembly and a second powertrain assembly. The first powertrain assembly and second powertrain assembly are interchangeably coupled to the first axle and second axle.
US09079480B1

Embodiments of glass run weather strips and door assemblies are described herein. Such assemblies may include a door frame defining a window opening and a window moveable between an open and closed position. A weather strip may be attached to the door frame such that a portion of the window is in contact with the weather strip and an interior garnish may be installed such that a garnish pin extends into an aperture in the weather strip.
US09079479B2

An automated vehicle sunshade system includes a roller on which is mounted shield material. A motor opens the shield material so as to block sunlight entering a vehicle through a window.
US09079478B1

A system of two door panels is defined with the panels arranged one above the other, each with independent horizontal movement operation. Each door panel is provided with a support and guide system that allows each to be moved horizontally into and away from an enclosure opening. The construction of the doors and supports enables attachment and operation on small lightweight vehicles in the nature of golf carts and similar vehicles. The construction details enable the panels to be secured onto to integrated into small light weight personal vehicles such as golf-carts and similar vehicles without substantially altering the vehicle's performance and operation.
US09079477B2

A vehicle door panel, which can prevent a slide-openable door panel from deviating from a swing-openable door panel when the swing-openable door panel is opened, is provided. The vehicle door structure 10 includes a slide door panel 14, a swing door panel 16, a slide mechanism 18 and a hinge mechanism 20, and includes a lock mechanism 22 for locking the slide door panel 14 to the swing door panel 16 when the swing door panel 16 is opened. The lock mechanism 22 is configured by a locking portion 50 installed in the swing door panel 16 and protruding toward the slide door panel 16 when the swing door panel 16 is opened, and an opening portion 60 installed in the slide door panel 14 and locked by the locking portion 50 when the swing door panel 16 is opened.
US09079473B2

A coupled torsion beam axle type suspension system (CTBA) may include trailing arms respectively coupled to opposite ends of a torsion beam, and a vehicle body-engaging unit provided in a front end portion of each of the trailing arm and engaging the each of the trailing arms to a vehicle body, wherein each vehicle body-engaging unit includes a trailing arm bush that may be coupled to a front end portion of the trailing arm, a rotation link disposed in front of the trailing arm bush and engaged thereto in a width direction of a vehicle, a slider rotatably connected to a front end portion of the rotation link, and slidable along a length direction of the vehicle body, and a connection link pivotally connecting an outer end portion of the rotation link and the vehicle body.
US09079467B2

An axle-to-beam or crossbrace-to-beam connection for a vehicle axle/suspension system includes an axle or crossbrace having at least one depression formed therein. A sleeve is formed with at least one depression and disposed about the axle or crossbrace so that the axle or crossbrace depression and the sleeve depression matingly engage one another to form a mated pair of depressions. A method of forming the axle-to-beam or crossbrace-to-beam connection includes providing an axle or crossbrace and disposing a sleeve about the axle or crossbrace. At least one mated pair of depressions is simultaneously formed in the axle or crossbrace and the sleeve. The sleeve is immovably mounted to a vehicle axle/suspension system.
US09079466B2

Amphibious vehicle 10 has both land propulsion capability as well as marine propulsion capability. At least two axles with wheels 12 are spaced apart along the length of the vehicle. At least one intermediate axle with retractable wheel(s) 14 is positioned between the other axles. This additional axle may improve manoeuvrability over rough ground. Wheel(s) 14 may be retracted on water and/or on land. Wheels 12may also be retractable. One or more axles may be driven, full time or selectively. The vehicle may plane on water, and may have a vee type hull (11 FIG. 2). Marine propulsion may be by means of a jet drive. Wheel(s) 14 may retract vertically or through arcs around a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Skid steer may be used. Mudguards, a vehicle roof, and retraction guides for the wheels (slides 16 , FIG. 2) may be fitted. Pairs of slides may provide roof supports. A forward control driving position may be provided.
US09079464B2

A work holding device includes a first jaw piece having an elongated first connection member for connecting the work holding device to a support. The first connection member defines a first passage. A second jaw piece has an elongated second connection member positionable within the first passage. The second connection member defines a second passage in communication with the first passage. A spindle assembly movably couples the second jaw piece to the first jaw piece. The spindle assembly is configured to move the second jaw piece with respect to the first jaw piece to create a clamping pressure when an object is placed between the first jaw piece and the second jaw piece.
US09079459B2

This application discloses a tire comprising a circumferential tread including at least one tread element having a top surface, at least one edge, and at least one chamfered surface extending between the top surface and the edge. The chamfered surface is oriented at an angle relative to the top surface of the tread element that varies along the length of the chamfered surface. Alternatively, the chamfered surface may have a width and a height that vary along their respective lengths.
US09079458B2

Tire blocks are described. The techniques described herein may enable multiple blocks of foam to substantially fill an inside of a tire. Each of the blocks used to fill a tire may have a wedge shape and a rigidity that is sufficient to operate the tire without air pressure. The wedge shape of each of the tire blocks has sides that may be positioned at least partially against sidewalls of the tire and sides that may be positioned against other blocks of foam. The tire can then be inflated to the desired air pressure for operation. Because of the density of the foam and the wedge shape design, a failed tire can still be used for normal operation.
US09079457B2

The present invention provides a pneumatic radial tire for heavy load, having lug grooves in respective side regions of a tread surface, in which tire an amount of slip of the trailing edge of each of land portions defined by the lug grooves, with respect to a road surface, when the tire is rotated with load applied thereon is advantageously reduced without causing decrease in partial wear resistance of the land portions at a road contact surface thereof and generating cracks at the lug groove bottom. The pneumatic radial tire for heavy load, having a plurality of lug grooves 2 provided in respective side regions of a tread surface 1 to extend in the tread width direction, open at respective side edges of the tread surface 1, and define land portions 3 therebetween, is characterized in that: in a cross section of each lug groove 2 in the width direction thereof, only a groove wall 4 on the step-in side of each land portion 3 is bent at at least one bent point in the depth direction of the corresponding lug groove 2 such that a portion 4a of the groove wall, located on the inner side in the radial direction than the bent point f, is tilted in a direction that narrows a groove width.
US09079452B2

A decorative laminate includes a decorative layer composed of a resin impregnated decorative sheet and a core layer composed of plural resin impregnated core sheets of core paper, wherein an exposed sheet at a bottom of the decorative laminate is subjected to a parchment treatment.
US09079450B2

The invention provides a plastic eraser comprising a vinyl chloride resin as a base resin and a combination of 4,5-epoxy-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid bis(2-ethylhexyl) and diethylene glycol dibenzoate as plasticizers, wherein the plastic eraser comprises the base resin in an amount of 25-60% by weight, and the combination of plasticizers in an amount of 30-60% by weight, and wherein the proportion of the diethylene glycol dibenzoate in the combination of plasticizers is 5-60% by weight, and wherein the plastic eraser has a hardness in the range of 55-75, and a gel hardness in the range of 3.0-6.0 kgf.
US09079446B2

A photo media may comprise a substrate, the substrate having an image receiving side and a non-image receiving side, an extruded barrier layer disposed on the non-image receiving side of the substrate, and a laminate layer disposed on the image receiving side of the substrate after an ink layer is printed. The photo media may further comprise an image receiving layer disposed on the image receiving side of the substrate between the substrate and the laminate layer.
US09079432B2

A sheet conveying device that more appropriately corrects a positional deviation for a sheet and reduces the time required for a correction of the positional deviation. The sheet conveying device includes a guide unit, for guiding the edges of the sheet that is conveyed and for correcting a positional deviation, and a buffer unit located upstream of the guide unit to form a slack for the sheet, so that one part of the slack formed by the buffer unit is guided by the guide unit. The buffer unit includes an upstream roller pair and a downstream roller pair, and a slack for the sheet is formed between the upstream roller pair and the downstream roller pair.
US09079426B2

A web press includes a web travel path for a continuous media web between a first nip and a second nip. The web travel path includes a first portion in which the web moves in a first direction and which includes a first printer configured to print on a first side of the web. The web travel path also includes a second portion in which the web moves in a second direction, with second portion including a second printer configured to print on a second side of the web. The web travel path is configured to control a drying time via the respective first and second portions being in a generally parallel, vertically stacked relationship and with each respective first and second portion extending in a generally horizontal orientation.
US09079424B2

A light emitting part includes plural light emitting thyristors that each have an anode and a cathode and that are lit in the on state; a light-on signal line that is connected with the cathodes or the anodes of the plural light emitting thyristors and that supplies current, the current which causes the plural light emitting thyristors to be lit; and a diversion thyristor that has an anode and a cathode, the anode or the cathode which is connected with the light-on signal line, and that diverts current, the current which flows to a light emitting thyristor to be lit among the plural light emitting thyristors in the on state. A potential of the light-on signal line may be set so that the diversion thyristor and at least one light emitting thyristor among the plural light emitting thyristors become the on state in parallel.
US09079423B2

An apparatus and method of securing and maintaining the integrity of desired information on a ribbon and media subsequent to a printing operation is provided. The apparatus and method includes a thermal transfer printer having a print station and a printhead operable for performing a printing operation. The printhead is capable of performing an initial print operation and then being raised from the media, thereby allowing the used ribbon to be rewound a predetermined distance about a supply spindle. Thereafter, a second print operation is performed on the space previously printed upon using characters, designs or block-out patterns and the used ribbon is then wound onto a take-up spindle. In exemplary embodiments, the used ribbon can also be reprinted with a waste media several times thus further obscuring the image on the used ribbon.
US09079420B2

Provided is a printer for forming an image layer in which the effect of a background image is reduced when a color image layer representing an image and a background image layer superimposed onto the color image layer are printed on a printing medium. The printer includes a control circuit which performs control to cause ink to be discharged from at least one of a first nozzle group and a second nozzle group, on the basis of both first ink level data indicating ink quantity created by color-converting first image data for forming a color image layer representing an image, and second ink level data indicating ink quantity created by color-converting second image data that forms a background image layer superimposed onto the color image layer and has a data format that is different from the data format of the first image data.
US09079411B2

An ink cartridge comprises a main body comprising a first surface, a second surface, and a chamber, configured to store ink, disposed between the first surface and the second surface; an ink outlet portion disposed on the first surface of the main body configured to direct the ink from the chamber to an exterior of the main body; and an electronic circuit board disposed on the main body. The electronic circuit board comprises an electrical interface, a first portion facing a second direction that intersects a first plane that is perpendicular to the first direction, a second portion facing a third direction away from the ink outlet portion that intersects a second plane that is parallel to the first direction, and a connecting portion between the first portion and the second portion. The electrical interface is disposed on an area of the electronic circuit board including the connecting portion.
US09079409B2

Disclosed is a fluid ejection device for an inkjet printer that includes a substrate. The substrate includes at least one trench and a plurality of fluid flow vias configured in at least three parallel rows arranged over each trench of the at least one trench. Each row of the at least three parallel rows includes a set of fluid flow vias from the plurality of fluid flow vias arranged in one of a uniform manner and a non-uniform manner such that each fluid flow via of the set of fluid flow vias is configured in a spaced-apart relation with an adjacent fluid flow via. The each fluid flow via is configured in a diagonal relationship relative to a neighboring fluid flow via of an adjacent row of the at least three parallel rows. The fluid ejection device also includes a flow feature layer and a nozzle plate.
US09079404B1

A user interface for a printing apparatus, the printing apparatus including a plurality of print heads and an apparatus control system, each of the plurality of print heads being movable in a first direction, includes a display including a window. The display is configured to be connected to the apparatus control system and arranged to visualize an aligning of the plurality of print heads in the window. The window includes, for each pair of neighboring print heads in the first direction of the plurality of print heads, a user operable digital object. A color of the user operable digital object is changeable by means of a color function on the window for selecting a color for the user operable digital object. Upon a change of the color of the user operable digital object by means of the color function, a change in a distance in the first direction between the corresponding pair of neighboring print heads is determined, the change in distance being proportional to the change of the color of the user operable digital object.
US09079403B2

An inkjet printer including an inkjet printhead positioned relative to a media feed direction. The printhead has a plurality of color planes for ejecting different inks, each color plane including a nozzle row defined in a nozzle face of the printhead, and each nozzle in a respective color plane being supplied with a same ink. The printhead is plumbed such that a first color plane positioned furthest upstream with respect to the media feed direction ejects yellow ink and a second color plane neighboring the first color plane ejects black ink.
US09079399B2

A printing system for printing a fluid includes a print head for ejecting droplets of the fluid; a first fluid storing section for storing a first amount of the fluid; a second fluid storing section for storing a second amount of the fluid, the second fluid storing section being in fluid communication to the pressure chamber in a power down situation; and a pre-tension device configured for arranging the second amount of the fluid in a pre-tension state in the second fluid storing section, thereby providing a positive fluid pressure on the nozzle in a power down situation, which positive fluid pressure is selected such that a third amount of fluid passes through the nozzle in response to said positive fluid pressure and forms a film on the nozzle plate. The printing system according to the invention supports the recovery of the print head after a power down situation.
US09079393B2

In accordance with one embodiment, an ink jet head comprises a driving signal generator configured to apply rectangular waveform electric field pulse to a partition wall forming a pressure chamber for ejecting ink; wherein the driving signal generator applies, to a second partition wall adjacent to a first partition wall forming the pressure chamber for ejecting ink and a third partition wall adjacent to the second partition wall, electric field pulse including at least one rectangular waveform which is a rectangular waveform opposite to the electric field pulse applied to the adjacent first partition wall and has a pulse width determined based on the electric field pulse at the timing corresponding to the electric field pulse applied to the first partition wall, in a case of ejecting ink from any of the plurality of pressure chambers.
Patent Agency Ranking