US09104677B2
Provided is a comprehensive pipeline management system using an information recognition means, the system including an integrated management server configured to generate an information recognition code using a serial number of a product related to water and sewer pipelines, and process storage and transmission of information related to the product and mapped to the information recognition code, an information recognition code printing terminal configured to print the information recognition code in a form attachable to the product, a user terminal configured to recognize the information recognition code from the product to which the information recognition code is attached, receive the product-related information mapped to the information recognition code from the integrated management server, output the received product-related information, generate location information and time information on the product received through a Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite, and transmit the generated location information and time information to the integrated management server, an authentication server configured to, when there is a request for information related to water and sewer pipelines from the user terminal to the integrated management server, authenticate authority of the user terminal, and a database (D/B) server configured to map and store the information recognition code and the product-related information, provide the stored information in response to the request for information on the product from the user terminal, and update and store the product-related information when the location information and the time information on the product is received from the integrated management server.
US09104675B1
For enabling a fast reverse lookup of parent directories storing records of hard links to a specified regular file, a file system manager maintains a hard link database (HLDB) storing information for addressing hard links to the regular files having multiple hard links. The HLDB contains a corresponding HLDB file for each regular file having multiple hard links. In a preferred implementation, the inode of each regular file stores the addressing information for one hard link to the regular file, a corresponding HLDB file stores the addressing information for other hard links to the regular file, each HLDB file is a directory accessed by invoking file system manager directory access routines, and the HLDB has a directory tree providing a multi-level hash index for searching the HLDB given the inode number of a regular file.
US09104674B1
A system, a method, and computer program product is disclosed for time sharing access control to data in a database system and executing a plurality of database processes to avoid contention of the database processes. A data table having a plurality of data groups or partitions is defined via a database management system, and is stored in a computer memory. A plurality of database process/time segments pairs are defined by pairing each of a plurality of database processes with each of a plurality of time segments. The defined pairs are stored in a computer memory. Each of the pairs is associated with at least one of a plurality of data groups or partitions of the data table, and the associations are stored in a computer memory. A request is received by the database management system that one of the database processes be given to access the data table. A time segment for the database process is determined via a computer processor. A database process/time segment pair for the database process is determined by using the determined time segment of the database process. The data group or partition of the data table with which the database process/time segment pair has been associated is determined via a computer processor. Access is allowed to data group or partition of the data table that was determined to be associated with the database process/time segment pair.
US09104666B2
An aspect of the present invention facilitates users/administrators to control access to electronic resources. In one embodiment, a tag data indicating the corresponding tags associated with each of a set of electronics resources is maintained. In response to receiving from an administrator, a search query indicating a search tag, the tag data is examined and a result set of electronic resources having tags matching the received search tag is identified. The administrator is thereafter enabled to specify an access policy for each of the result set of electronic resources. Thus, administrators are enabled to search for specific resources from a large number of resources and then specify the desired access policies for controlling access to the specific resources.
US09104659B2
Systems, methods and consumer-readable media for providing content-aware document analysis and modification are provided. A system for analyzing document content according to the invention may include a rules server that stores a set of expressions. Such expressions may define predetermined confidential information and/or patterns of confidential expressions. The system may further include a communication plugin that provides a platform for incorporating the set of confidential expression patterns as part of a document-producing application. Following incorporation of the communication plugin, an inline document monitor module according to the invention may form part of the document-producing application. The inline document monitor may monitor for the occurrence of at least one of the set of confidential expression patterns in a document.
US09104658B2
An electronic dictionary including: a dictionary storage unit to store dictionary information in which headwords and explanation information are correlated, respectively; an input unit; a CPU to retrieve a headword corresponding to the search string inputted by the input unit from the dictionary storage unit, display the headword in a headword list, read, from the dictionary storage unit, explanation information of a headword selected from the list, and display the explanation information; and a keyword registration unit to register an inputted keyword correlated with the headword whose explanation information is displayed, wherein the CPU retrieves a headword correlated with a keyword corresponding to the search string from the keyword registration unit when the search string is inputted by the input unit in a state where the keyword correlated with the headword is registered in the keyword registration unit, and adds the headword to the headword list to display the headword.
US09104657B2
Provided are techniques for locating one or more genome patterns. One or more lexical annotators that each identifies a sequence of nucleotides are created. One or more parsing rule annotators are created using at least one of (1) one or more of the lexical annotators, (2) one or more dictionary entries, and (3) one or more previously-defined parsing rule annotators. The one or more parsing rule annotators are used to discover the one or more genome patterns comprising a combination of the lexical annotators and the parsing rule annotators.
US09104655B2
Computerized systems and methods are disclosed for performing contextual classification of objects using supervised and unsupervised training. In accordance with one implementation, content reviewers may review training objects and submit supervised training data for preprocessing and analysis. The supervised training data may be preprocessed to identify key terms and phrases, such as by stemming, tokenization, or n-gram analysis, and form vectorized objects. The vectorized objects may be used to train one or more models for subsequent classification of objects. In certain implementations, preprocessing or training, among other steps, may be performed in parallel over multiple machines to improve efficiency. The disclosed systems and methods may be used in a wide variety of applications, such as article classification and content moderation.
US09104638B2
A high availability system includes a first computer on which a first virtual computer and a first hypervisor managing the first virtual computer operate, and a second computer on which a second virtual computer and a second hypervisor managing the second virtual computer operate. The first hypervisor includes an acquisition unit which acquires synchronization information associated with an event, wherein the event has occurred in the first virtual computer and accompanies an input to the first virtual computer, and a transmission unit which transmits the acquired synchronization information to the second hypervisor. The second hypervisor includes a reception unit which receives the synchronization information from the first hypervisor, and a control unit which performs control to match an input to the second virtual computer with an input to the first virtual computer in accordance with the received synchronization information.
US09104634B2
A system and method are disclosed for preparing and using snapshots in a virtualized environment. In accordance with one example, a first computer system prepares, in an area of a storage device, a snapshot of a virtual disk of a virtual machine that is hosted by a second computer system. The first computer system then provides to the second computer system a reference to the prepared snapshot.
US09104633B2
Hardware for performing sequences of arithmetic operations. The hardware comprises a scheduler operable to generate a schedule of instructions from a bitmap denoting whether an entry in a matrix is zero or not. An arithmetic circuit is provided which is configured to perform arithmetic operations on the matrix in accordance with the schedule.
US09104623B2
A storage system according to certain embodiments includes a client-side repository (CSR). The CSR may communicate with a client at a higher data transfer rate than the rate used for communication between the client and secondary storage. During copy operations, for instance, some or all of the data being backed up or otherwise copied to secondary storage is stored in the CSR. During restore operations, copies of the data stored in the CSR is accessed from the CSR instead of from secondary storage, improving performance. Remaining data blocks not stored in the CSR can be restored from secondary storage.
US09104619B2
Techniques for persisting data stored in volatile memory across a warm boot. One or more portions (referred to as “warm memory”) of volatile memory of the system can be reserved and configured such that the data stored by these portions is not affected by a warm boot thereby resulting in the data stored being persisted across a warm boot.
US09104617B2
A hybrid node of a High Performance Computing (HPC) cluster uses accelerator nodes for checkpointing to increase overall efficiency of the multi-node computing system. The host node or processor node reads/writes checkpoint data to the accelerators. After offloading the checkpoint data to the accelerators, the host processor can continue processing while the accelerators communicate the checkpoint data with the host or wait for the next checkpoint. The accelerators may also perform dynamic compression and decompression of the checkpoint data to reduce the checkpoint size and reduce network loading. The accelerators may also communicate with other node accelerators to compare checkpoint data to reduce the amount of checkpoint data stored to the host.
US09104616B1
According to one embodiment, in response to a request to write a prime segment of a file system of a storage system, one or more of the storage units are identified based on a prime segment write-map (PSWM). The PSWM includes storage unit identifiers (IDs) identifying the storage units to which a new prime segment should be written. The prime segment is then written in the one or more storage units identified from the PSWM, without writing the prime segment to a remainder of the storage units. The first prime segment is one of a plurality of prime segments collectively representing a prime. The prime contains metadata representing a consistent point of data stored in the file system, including a reference to a root of the file system. The first prime segment can be utilized to restore the file system back to a state represented by the consistent point.
US09104601B2
A computing device may merge two translation tables used when performing a DMA operation into a single, combined translation table. To merge the translation tables, the computing device may update a register in the IOMMU to include a pointer to the combined translation table. In addition, the IOMMU may clear one of the registers from having a pointer to one of the merged translation table. Doing so means the entries in this translation table are now no longer assigned. The IOMMU may update the register with the pointer to the combined translation table to include the unassigned entries in the combined translation table. In this manner, the entries from the two translation tables are merged into the single, combined table. The combined translation table may be owned or assigned to a service provider that originally owned one of the merged translation tables or to a completely different service provider.
US09104590B2
A plurality of storage apparatuses including a first and second storage apparatus, wherein said first storage apparatus is configured to have a first virtual volume composed of a plurality of virtual segments, at least said second storage apparatus is configured to have a pool composed of a plurality of real pages, each storage apparatuses is configured to manage a virtual pool comprising one or more pools including at least said pool, said virtual pool is composed of a plurality of virtual pages, each virtual page corresponding to any real page, and said first storage apparatus is configured to receive a write command that specifies an address belonging to an unallocated virtual segment, allocate a free virtual page to said unallocated virtual segment, and write data to the real page corresponding to the allocated virtual page, even when said first storage apparatus does not have a pool composed of real pages.
US09104575B2
A method for recovering from an error in a multi-core storage-system component is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes detecting an error in a first core of a multi-core component. The method determines whether the error was one of (1) detected by the first core; and (2) detected by a core other than the first core. In the event the error was detected by the first core and the error is recoverable, the first core recovers from the error without substantially impacting operation of other cores in the multi-core component. In the event the error was detected by a core other than the first core and the error is recoverable, a core other than the first core recovers from the error without substantially impacting operation of other cores in the multi-core component. A corresponding apparatus and computer program product are also disclosed.
US09104572B1
Various aspects of the performance of computing resources, such as storage volumes, are measured and used to train a probability model. The probability model is used in a query engine that is able to respond receive queries about a computing resource's state. The queries may specify a state of the computing resource and provide a set of measurements of the computing resource's performance. The query engine may use the probability model, which may be in the form of a contingency table, to provide information that indicates one or more most likely causes of the state.
US09104567B2
A memory-leak source in a data structure can be identified by counting insertions into the data structure and deletions from the data structure for locations in the execution path of a computer program. These insertion and deletion values can be used to identify at least one location as a memory-leak source that corresponds to an imbalance between insertions and deletions during the execution of the computer program.
US09104564B2
A computer implemented method for early data delivery prior to error detection completion in a memory system includes receiving a frame of a multi-frame data block at a memory control unit interface. A controller writes the frame to a buffer control block in a memory controller nest domain. The frame is read from the buffer control block by a cache subsystem interface in a system domain prior to completion of error detection of the multi-frame data block. Error detection is performed on the frame by an error detector in the memory controller nest domain. Based on detecting an error in the frame, an intercept signal is sent from the memory controller nest domain to a correction pipeline in the system domain. The intercept signal indicates that error correction is needed prior to writing data in the frame to a cache subsystem.
US09104556B2
Certain MLC blocks that tend to be reclaimed before they are full may be programmed according to a programming scheme that programs lower pages first and programs upper pages later. This results in more lower page programming than upper page programming on average. Lower page programming is generally significantly faster than upper page programming so that more lower page programming (and less upper programming) reduces average programming time.
US09104553B2
Mechanisms are provided for extending cache for an external storage system into individual servers. Certain servers may have cards with cache in the form of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and non-volatile storage, such as flash memory or solid-state drives (SSDs), which may be viewed as actual extensions of the external storage system. In this way, the storage system is distributed across the storage area network (SAN) into various servers. Several new semantics are used in communication between the cards and the storage system to keep the read caches coherent.
US09104547B2
Memory devices and methods to facilitate wear leveling operations in a memory device. In one such method, particular blocks of memory cells are excluded from experiencing wear leveling operations performed on the memory device. In at least one method, a user selects blocks of memory to be excluded from wear leveling operations performed on the remainder of blocks of the memory device. Selected blocks of memory are excluded from wear leveling operations responsive to a command initiated by a user identifying, either directly or indirectly, the selected blocks to be excluded.
US09104544B1
Mitigating eviction of the memory pages of virtualized machines. Upon detecting that a request to perform an I/O operation has been issued against a block stored a disk, a determination is made as to whether a pristine copy of the contents of the block is stored in memory. If a pristine copy of the contents of the block is stored in memory, then the request may be performed by updating mapping data that maps a page of memory to a location in memory at which the pristine copy is stored. In this way, the request is performed without performing the I/O operation against the block stored on disk. Various approaches for resharing memory, including memory of a template virtual machine, are discussed.
US09104543B1
Generally described, systems and methods are provided for detecting locations of failures of network paths. The system collects information from a plurality of nodes and links in a network, aggregates the collected performance information across paths in the network, processes the aggregated performance information for detecting failures on the paths, and determines at least one location for network failures. In some aspects, processing the aggregated information may include determining the performance information on each of the nodes and links in the network. The performance information on each of the nodes and links may be determined by application of a stochastic gradient descent (SGD) technique.
US09104529B1
A method, computer program product, and computing system for copying a cache system from a first machine to a second machine, wherein the cache system includes cache content and a content directory, thus generating a duplicate cache system on the second machine. The duplicate cache system includes duplicate cache content and a duplicate content directory. A plurality of data requests concerning a plurality of data actions to be taken on a data array associated with the first machine are received on the first machine. The plurality of data requests are stored on a tracking queue included within the data array associated with the first machine.
US09104528B2
A privacy control system is described herein for controlling dissemination of private information by a program. The privacy control system operates by performing static analysis to determine at least one flow within the program of private information, from a source to a sink. The static analysis is particularly configured to identify two types of flow, including: (a) an unvetted flow of untampered private information from the source to the sink; and (b) a flow of tampered private information from the source to the sink, whether vetted or unvetted. The privacy control system then prompts the user to provide a privacy control decision regarding the flow. The privacy control decision governs whether actual data or anonymized data is provided to the sink, or whether the program is terminated. A runtime system then runs the program in accordance with the privacy control decision.
US09104526B2
A transaction splitting apparatus and method are provided in which neighboring sub-transactions accessing a predetermined bank in each memory may access different banks. The transaction splitting apparatus includes a first processing unit to split a transaction into at least one sub-transaction, the transaction accessing a first bank among a plurality of banks comprised in a memory, and a second processing unit to translate an address of the at least one sub-transaction, to interleave the at least one sub-transaction using the plurality of banks.
US09104522B2
A data rewrite system including an in-vehicle apparatus and a rewrite apparatus is disclosed. The in-vehicle apparatus stores multiple operation data units in multiple storage areas and outputs version information of the operation data units and information about the storage areas to the rewrite apparatus. The rewrite apparatus selects a target storage area, which is a target for data update, from the storage areas of the in-vehicle apparatus by comparing the versions information, of the operation data units with version information of update data units. The rewrite apparatus updates the selected target storage area with the update data unit that corresponds to the operation data unit in the target storage area.
US09104520B2
The present invention provides a method for upgrading an application, and the method includes: obtaining a patch package corresponding to a current installation package of an application; removing a customized information portion from the current installation package and obtaining a data portion of the current installation package; generating a data portion of a new installation package according to the patch package and the data portion of the current installation package; obtaining the new installation package by adding the customized information portion to the data portion and the new installation package; installing the new installation package.
US09104514B2
An embodiment of the invention provides a method for multi-tenant enabling a service, where the service includes a plurality of service components. Rules are received from a provider of the service, wherein the rules include rules for isolating the service components and rules for sharing the service components. The service components are matched with virtualization environments and/or physical environments based on the rules. The virtualization environments include at least one isolation container and/or at least one shared container. The service components are stored in the virtualization environments and/or the physical environments based on the matching. The service components are mapped to the at least one isolation container of the virtualization environments, the at least one shared container of the virtualization environments, and/or the physical environments based on the storing of the service components.
US09104509B2
A program (e.g., an operating system) is provided a warning that it has a grace period in which to perform a function, such as cleanup (e.g., complete, stop and/or move a dispatchable unit). The program is being warned, in one example, that it is losing access to its shared resources. For instance, in a virtual environment, a guest program is warned that it is about to lose its central processing unit resources, and therefore, it is to perform a function, such as cleanup.
US09104505B2
Predicting acceleration in a hybrid system may comprise determining a number of cross system calls in a first host-accelerator computer architecture running a workload. Host machine overhead and accelerator overhead in the first host-accelerator computer architecture associated with each of the cross system calls may be determined. Communication delay associated with each of the cross system calls in the first host-accelerator computer architecture running a workload may be determined. An application response time may be predicted for a candidate application to be run in a second host-accelerator computer architecture, based at least on the determined host machine overhead, the accelerator overhead, and the communication delay associated with each of the cross system calls in the first host-accelerator computer architecture running a workload.
US09104501B2
A job may be divided into multiple tasks that may execute in parallel on one or more compute nodes. The tasks executing on the same compute node may be coordinated using barrier synchronization. However, to perform barrier synchronization, the tasks use (or attach) to a barrier synchronization register which establishes a common checkpoint for each of the tasks. A leader task may use a shared memory region to publish to follower tasks the location of the barrier synchronization register—i.e., a barrier synchronization register ID. The follower tasks may then monitor the shared memory to determine the barrier synchronization register ID. The leader task may also use a count to ensure all the tasks attach to the BSR. This advantageously avoids any task-to-task communication which may reduce overhead and improve performance.
US09104500B1
A scalable job scheduler for a multi-thread, multi-processor system synchronizes and schedules jobs for execution by using lists and jobs counters for the numbers of active jobs. It minimizes synchronization overhead by using atomic operations for incrementing and decrementing the counters. The scheduler assigns jobs for execution, and can awake up an available thread to pick up work. A parent job spawns child jobs and maintains a job counter. Spawned jobs are added to the list for execution and the counter of waiting jobs is incremented. When execution of a job begins, the parent's counter of outstanding child jobs is decremented. A parent job is suspended until its counter of uncompleted spawned child jobs reaches zero. As a job is completed, the scheduler decrements the counter of active jobs, and assigns the next job in the queue to an available thread.
US09104496B2
In an embodiment, an average busy-to-success ratio is calculated for partitions that submitted operations to a shared resource during a first time period. A first busy-to-success ratio for a first partition during the first time period is calculated. If the first busy-to-success ratio is greater than the average busy-to-success ratio and a difference between the first busy-to-success ratio and the average busy-to-success ratio is greater than a threshold amount, a throttle amount for the first partition is increased. A first operation from the first partition during a first time subdivision of a second time period is received. If a number of operations received from the first partition during the first time subdivision of the second time period is greater than the throttle amount for the first partition, a busy indication is returned to the first partition and the first operation is not submitted to the shared resource.
US09104494B2
Optimization of resource allocation in a virtual computer system is efficiently performed according to a method consistent with a virtualization design concept. The virtual computer system includes a plurality of virtual devices that share the physical resources of a computer and execute an application, a virtualization section that manages the plurality of virtual devices, and a management section that controls the virtualization section. The plurality of virtual devices set allocation of physical resources to the applications by a first optimization calculation using resource supply information from the management section and transmit resource request information corresponding to the resource allocation setting to the management section. The management section sets allocation of the physical resources to the virtual devices by a second optimization calculation using the resource request information from the plurality of virtual devices and transmits resource supply information corresponding to the resource allocation setting to the plurality of virtual devices. While the resource supply information and the resource request information are exchanged between the plurality of virtual devices and the management section, the first and second optimization calculations are performed, thereby dynamically allocating the physical resources.
US09104493B2
A system and method of managing a cluster of distributed machines is described. A cluster manager receives status updates regarding tasks running on each machine in the cluster from a task tracker running on the machine. The cluster manager receives resource requests from a job tracker created by a client wishing to run a job in the cluster. The cluster manager is responsible for implementing push-based fair scheduling of resources to the job trackers. The job tracker is responsible for running tasks for one job in the resource identified by the cluster manager. In one embodiment, the job tracker can run in the client for small jobs and in the cluster for larger jobs. The cluster manager can also be restarted, for example, for software updates without restraining the cluster.
US09104488B2
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: receiving, at a wake-up server, an indication that an agent device will be suspended, including at least one criterion for reestablishing the agent device; determining that the at least one criterion has been met; and, in response, reestablishing the agent device. Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: transmitting, by an agent device to a support server, a request message; transmitting, to a wake-up server, an indication that resources associated with the agent device will be released, including at least one criterion for reestablishing the agent device; transmitting, to the support server, an instruction to transmit a result message associated with the request message to the wake-up device; and releasing the system resources associated with the agent device.
US09104487B2
A capability is provided for reducing response variance of virtual processors. A controller receives a processing request. The controller may propagate the processing request toward multiple virtual processors hosted on multiple hardware devices contemporaneously. The controller may propagate the processing request toward a first virtual processor hosted on a first hardware device and propagate the processing request toward a second virtual processor hosted on a second hardware device based on a determination that a timeout period expires before a processing response is received from the first virtual processor. The timeout period may be determined based on one or more response time statistics of the virtual processor and one or more response time statistics of a physical processor.
US09104480B2
A memory management system is implemented at an application server. The management system includes a configuration file including configuration settings for the application server and applications. The configuration settings include multiple memory management rules. The management system also includes a memory management framework configured to manage settings of resources allocated to the applications based on the memory management rules. The applications requests for the resources through one or more independently operable request threads. The management system also includes multiple application programming interfaces (APIs) configured to facilitate communication between the applications and the memory management framework. The management system further includes a monitoring engine configured to monitor an execution of the request threads and perform actions based upon the configuration settings. The actions include notifying the applications about memory related issues and taking at least one preventive action to avoid the memory related issues.
US09104478B2
A method of processing a job is presented. A packet selector determines a candidate job list including an ordered listing of candidate jobs. Each candidate job in the ordered listing belongs to a communication stream. Jobs in the candidate job list that are eligible for execution are identified by determining whether a preceding job belonging to the same communication stream as the candidate job is present in the candidate job list, and, for each candidate job in the candidate job list, determining whether a preceding job belonging to the same communication stream as the candidate job is being prepared for execution. The packet selector determines a priority for each eligible candidate job in the candidate job list by at least comparing the communication stream of each candidate job to a communication stream of a first job executing within the data processor.
US09104475B2
A computing device and methods of operating the same are disclosed. The computing device may include a network interface that receives web content and a display that displays a displayable format of the web content. In addition, a plurality of browser processing components are included that carry out browser processing activity to generate a displayable format of the web content, and the computing device includes a browser management component that monitors at least one browser processing activity of a corresponding browser processing component and coordinates at least one browser management activity to either reduce the likelihood that the at least one browser management activity adversely affects performance of the plurality of browser processing components, or allow the at least one browser management activity to perform activities that leads to overall improvement of the browsing experience.
US09104474B2
Embodiments of the present invention may provide methods and circuits for energy efficient floating point multiply and/or add operations. A variable precision floating point circuit may determine the certainty of the result of a multiply-add floating point calculation in parallel with the floating-point calculation. The variable precision floating point circuit may use the certainty of the inputs in combination with information from the computation, such as, binary digits that cancel, normalization shifts, and rounding, to perform a calculation of the certainty of the result. A floating point multiplication circuit may determine whether a lowest portion of a multiplication result could affect the final result and may induce a replay of the multiplication operation when it is determined that the result could affect the final result.
US09104467B2
Systems and methods that enable a reduction of the power consumption involved in measuring a user's affective response to content. The reduction in power consumption is achieved by utilizing eye tracking to determine when a user is paying attention to content, and accordingly setting a mode of operation of a device that measures the user. Thus, by using different modes of operation, which are characterized by different energy consumption rates, the total power consumption of the device may be reduced, without loss of relevant measurements.
US09104458B1
Systems and method for the management of virtual machine instances are provided. A network data transmission analysis system can use contextual information in the execution of virtual machine instances to isolate and migrate virtual machine instances onto physical computing devices. The contextual information may include information obtained in observing the execution of virtual machines instances, information obtained from requests submitted by users, such as system administrators. Still further, the network data transmission analysis system can also include information collection and retention for identified virtual machine instances.
US09104456B2
Zone management of compute-based object stores is provided herein. An exemplary method may include assigning a virtual operating system container from the reserve zone pool to a task group, the task group including a set of tasks for a phase of a first request, and executing the set of tasks within the assigned virtual operating system container.
US09104446B2
An apparatus using a software start-up method, selects execution-targeted software data to be used for starting execution of the start-up processing, out of software data stored in a first storage device; starts the execution of the start-up processing by using the execution-targeted software data; searches for another software data other than the execution-targeted software data, from software data stored in the first storage device; determines whether the another software data is changed from its initial-state; and, if the another software data is changed, selects initial-state software data as the initial state of the another software data from said at least one software data stored in a second storage device, reads the initial-state software data from the second storage device, and replaces the another software data stored in the first storage device with the read initial-state software data by overwriting.
US09104441B2
The middleware presented herein maps a plurality of application user interfaces to a single user experience (i.e. user interface) so that a user is more comfortable with how information is presented. The middleware maps key elements of an original user interface into a standard user interface on a user's device. When a user interface is mapped, information or data is taken from the original user interface and is reconfigured to create the standard user interface displayed to the user. In embodiments, the middleware receives data associated with a user interface for an application, interprets the received data, parses the data, translates the parsed data by determining the correct template map and mapping the parsed data to a standard user interface, and configures the standard user interface with the translated data.
US09104440B2
This document describes techniques and apparatuses enabling a multi-application environment. In some embodiments, these techniques and apparatuses enable multi-application environments having combinations of immersive interfaces, windows-based interfaces, and a desktop treated as an immersive interface.
US09104437B2
A method of serialization in a data processing system includes serializing a mutable object utilizing a full serialization process, caching primitive data and metadata regarding the mutable object in binary format in cache and then checking whether primitive fields of the mutable object are modified. Thereafter, the mutable object is again serialized utilizing an abbreviated serialization process by reference to the cached primitive data and metadata if the primitive fields of the object are not modified. In the event that primitive fields of the object are modified, the full serialization process is utilized. Thereafter, the serialized mutable object is communicated to a distributed code element.
US09104433B2
A trace generation device including a directed graph generator configured to generate a directed graph in accordance with execution of compiled traces whose maximum length is limited to a certain length or shorter and that have been generated at a low optimization level, the directed graph representing transitions of execution between the compiled traces; a directed graph updater configured to traverse edges in the directed graph backward from a start point in timer-based sampling, the start point being a node corresponding to a trace in which a timer tick has occurred, and configured to increment a recompilation counter of a trace that the backward traversal has reached when stopping in front of a cyclic trace or at a trace not having any further edge; and a generator configured to determine the head of a corresponding trace as a head of a new trace.
US09104432B2
Compile-time recognition of graph structure where graph has arbitrary connectivity and is constructed using recursive computations is provided. In one aspect, the graph structure recognized at compile time may be duplicated at runtime and can then operate on runtime values not known at compile time.
US09104431B2
Deploying a software image from a source data-processing system on target data-processing entities of a target data-processing system, the software image including memory blocks being individually accessible, with a predefined subset of the memory blocks defining a bootstrap module. The deploying includes downloading the bootstrap module onto a main one of the target data-processing entities from the source data-processing system, booting the main target data-processing entity from the bootstrap module thereby loading a streaming driver in the bootstrap module, and serving each request of accessing a selected memory block of the software image on the main data-processing entity by the streaming driver.
US09104429B2
In one general aspect, a computer-readable storage medium can be configured to store instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform a process. The instructions can include instructions to identify, at a mainframe computing environment during an initiation phase associated with a management utility process, a set of tasks for implementing the management utility process, and instructions to send, to a non-mainframe computing environment, a description identifying at least a portion of the set of tasks. The instructions can also include instructions to receive an indicator, at the mainframe computing environment, that processing based on the at least the portion of the set of tasks associated with the management utility process has been completed, and instructions to execute a termination phase of the management utility process at the mainframe computing environment in response to the indicator.
US09104427B2
A computing system processes memory transactions for parallel processing of multiple threads of execution with millicode assists. The computing system transactional memory support provides a Transaction Table in memory and a method of fast detection of potential conflicts between multiple transactions. Special instructions may mark the boundaries of a transaction and identify memory locations applicable to a transaction. A ‘private to transaction’ (PTRAN) tag, directly addressable as part of the main data storage memory location, enables a quick detection of potential conflicts with other transactions that are concurrently executing on another thread of said computing system. The tag indicates whether (or not) a data entry in memory is part of a speculative memory state of an uncommitted transaction that is currently active in the system. Program millicode provides transactional memory functions including creating and updating transaction tables, committing transactions and controlling the rollback of transactions which fail.
US09104417B2
An electronic apparatus including a plurality of sensors, an application processor, and a micro-processor is provided. The plurality of sensors is configured to generate at least one sensing signal. The application processor is configured to execute an application procedure according to a sensing-merged signal. The micro-processor is coupled between the plurality of sensors and the application processor, and is configured to generate the sensing-merged signal according to the at least one sensing signal. By utilizing the electronic apparatus, not only power can be saved, but also the elasticity for choosing sensor chip vendors can be improved.
US09104400B2
A data processing system 2 includes a single instruction multiple data register file 12 and single instruction multiple processing circuitry 14. The single instruction multiple data processing circuitry 14 supports execution of cryptographic processing instructions for performing parts of a hash algorithm. The operands are stored within the single instruction multiple data register file 12. The cryptographic support instructions do not follow normal lane-based processing and generate output operands in which the different portions of the output operand depend upon multiple different elements within the input operand.
US09104398B2
A system is provided that invokes an external web service using a composite application. The system creates a composite application definition, where the composite application definition includes external web service information and a mapping of a task operation to a service operation. The system further dynamically generates the composite application based on the composite application definition, where the composite application includes computer code. The system further deploys the composite application.
US09104382B2
A dual leaf portable electronic device includes a base member having hinges mounted in a frame shell thereof, a top cover including a bracket and a display screen pivotally coupled to the bracket and having positioning holes on a bottom side thereof and respectively aimed at respective locating holes on the bracket, and positioning devices each including a movable latch having a coupling base pivotally coupled to one respective hinge at an eccentric location and a latch body extended from the coupling base and insertable through one respective locating hole of the bracket into one respective positioning hole of the display screen to lock the display screen to unlock the display screen from the bracket.
US09104379B2
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a first wall, a second wall, a moving portion, a flexible cable, and a first contact portion. The moving portion is located between the first wall and the second wall. The cable comprises a curving portion between the first wall and the second wall, a first portion brought into contact with the first wall, and a second portion brought into contact with the second wall. The first contact portion is provided on the first wall and is in contact with the first portion of the cable. The cable can slide more smoothly on the first contact portion than on the second wall.
US09104373B1
A computer tablet storage system. The system may have one or many main docks and one or many tablet holders. A computer tablet is retained within each tablet holder, and the tablet holder is insertable into and removable from an associated main dock. While inside the main dock, the computer tablet is protected against damage and unauthorized use. The main dock includes a door aperture and a tablet tray assembly movable toward and away from the bay door aperture and within the dock housing. The tablet holder (with tablet therein) is releasably engageable with the tray assembly. In the system, the tablet tray assembly is movable between a forward position in which a tablet is extended through the bay door for use, and a tray back position in which the tablet is retracted completely within the dock housing interior. A master control may regulate operation of the system.
US09104359B2
An integrated printer driver includes the capability to discover available ad-hoc printing devices and obtain the features and options currently supported by those ad-hoc printing devices. The integrated printer driver automatically selects a particular ad-hoc printing device based upon a user's selected feature and option set and allows a user to print an electronic document prior to an ad-hoc communications link being established with the particular ad-hoc printing device. The integrated printer driver renders the electronic document and generates a print job, and holds the print job until an ad-hoc communications link is established with the particular ad-hoc printing device. After the ad-hoc communications link has been established, the integrated printer driver determines whether the particular ad-hoc printing device is capable of successfully processing the print job and if so, causes the print job to be transmitted to the ad-hoc printing device.
US09104355B2
A terminal apparatus may receive first information relating to a first function executing apparatus from the first function executing apparatus. The first function executing apparatus may be configured to execute a print function. The terminal apparatus may select, by using the first information, a particular communication scheme from among M1 items of communication schemes in a case where the first information is received. Each of the M1 items of communication schemes may be different from each other and may be a communication scheme available for the first function executing apparatus to receive print data. The terminal apparatus may send first print data to the first function executing apparatus in accordance with the particular communication scheme in a case where the particular communication scheme is selected from among the M1 items of communication schemes.
US09104351B2
A non-transitory printing control program product is disclosed. The printing control program product causes a computer to function as a printing data generating unit which generates printing data for normal printing and printing data for trial printing such that the printing data for the normal printing and the printing data for the trial printing are printed by the same printing apparatus, the printing data for the normal printing and the printing data for the trial printing being generated from the same submitted manuscript data; and a printing data management unit which receives the printing data for the normal printing and the printing data for the trial printing and which causes the same printing apparatus to print the printing data for the normal printing and the printing data for the trial printing in accordance with the normal printing condition and the trial printing condition.
US09104340B2
Systems and methods for performing hierarchical storage operations on electronic data in a computer network are provided. In one embodiment, the present invention may store electronic data from a network device to a network attached storage (NAS) device pursuant to certain storage criteria. The data stored on the NAS may be migrated to a secondary storage and a stub file having a pointer pointing to the secondary storage may be put at the location the data was previously stored on the NAS. The stub file may redirect the network device to the secondary storage if a read request for the data is received from the network device.
US09104337B2
Systems capable of transformation of logical data objects for storage and methods of operating thereof are provided. One method includes identifying among a plurality of requests addressed to the storage device two or more “write” requests addressed to the same logical data object, deriving data chunks corresponding to identified “write” requests and transforming the derived data chunks, grouping the transformed data chunks in accordance with the order the requests have been received and in accordance with a predefined criteria, generating a grouped “write” request to the storage device, and providing mapping in a manner facilitating one-to-one relationship between the data in the obtained data chunks and the data to be read from the transformed logical object. The method further includes obtaining an acknowledging response from the storage device, multiplying the obtained acknowledging response, and sending respective acknowledgements to each source that initiated each respective “write” request.
US09104336B2
Systems capable of transformation of logical data objects for storage and methods of operating thereof are provided. One method includes identifying among a plurality of requests addressed to the storage device two or more “write” requests addressed to the same logical data object, deriving data chunks corresponding to identified “write” requests and transforming the derived data chunks, grouping the transformed data chunks in accordance with the order the requests have been received and in accordance with a predefined criteria, generating a grouped “write” request to the storage device, and providing mapping in a manner facilitating one-to-one relationship between the data in the obtained data chunks and the data to be read from the transformed logical object. The method further includes obtaining an acknowledging response from the storage device, multiplying the obtained acknowledging response, and sending respective acknowledgements to each source that initiated each respective “write” request.
US09104334B2
A modified or host driver operable on a host computer communicates with a host interface of a PCIe adapter. A controller memory space is managed by the kernel space of the host operating system. The modified driver entirely avoids the overhead associated with making a copy from the application or user space to a separate kernel space managed by the operating system in the host computer. The modified driver uses a base address register to identify the location of the cache storage in the controller memory space. The size of the cache store is communicated to the modified driver upon a power on initialization of the PCIe adapter and the host computer. A memory map managed by the modified driver identifies cache storage locations as an offset from the base address register.
US09104330B1
A method, computer program product, and computing system for identifying a target storage device upon which a plurality of logical storage devices are to be defined. The target storage device includes a plurality of physical storage blocks. At least a first logical storage device and a second logical storage device are defined for mapping within the target storage device. Each of the first and second logical storage devices includes a plurality of logical storage slices. At least a portion of the logical storage slices for each of the first and second logical storage devices are non-sequentially mapped to at least a portion of the plurality of physical storage blocks included within the target storage device to generate an interlaced target storage device.
US09104322B2
The invention creates a method for enabling a terminal to determine an activated memory configuration of a storage medium that can be operated in the terminal. For this purpose an interruption and subsequent restoration of the contact existing at an interface of the storage medium between the storage medium and the terminal is—at least partly—simulated, wherein upon the simulation of the restoration or interruption of the contact the terminal is caused to determine the activated memory configuration of the storage medium.
US09104316B2
For runtime dynamic performance skew elimination in a computer environment, an exemplary computer environment is configured for calculating a rank heats by utilizing a plurality of fine-grained statistics collected at an extent granularity, including considering bandwidth (BW) and input/outputs per second (IOPS) metrics. An adaptive data placement plan is generated to relocate the data.
US09104313B2
An interface controller may control the way a function is presented for selection by a user interface in an electronic device. The interface controller may include a usage detection system configured to detect the way in which the electronic device is being or has been used. The interface controller may also include a presentation controller configured to automatically change the way in which the function is presented for selection by the user interface based on the way in which the usage detection system detects the electronic device is being or has been used.
US09104312B2
A system and method for entering text from a user includes a programmed processor that receives inputs from the user and disambiguates the inputs to present word choices corresponding to the text. In one embodiment, inputs are received in two or more modalities and are analyzed to present the word choices. In another embodiment, a keyboard is divided into zones each of which represents two more input characters. A sequence of zones selected by the user is analyzed to present word choices corresponding to the zone selected.
US09104302B2
Methods and systems for interacting with graphical user interface elements to invoke commands and initiate requests in a multi-device environment are described. Content from a first set top box is received at a mobile computing device having a touchscreen. The touchscreen is then used by the user to drag-and-drop a first graphical user interface element representing the content to over a second graphical user interface element. This causes the content to be shared from the first set top box to a second set top box, the second set top box automatically initiating download of the content.
US09104292B2
A user interface of electronic apparatus includes at least one launched indicator and at least one non-launched indicator, and the arrangement of the launched indicator and non-launched indicators forms a loop path so that the indicators can have a revolution around a center of the loop path according to a direction command inputted by a user. Each launched indicator indicates an executed program, each non-launched indicator indicates a non-executed program, and the indicator moved to a specific location is defined as a selectable indicator. The user can control the program indicated by the selectable indicator with any operation.
US09104291B2
A method, display system, computer software product for controlling an icon appearance are disclosed. A display controller of the display system displays an icon control window on a display screen of the display system for changing an icon appearance of the display system conveniently. The control window includes at least one sample icon for a user's preview, and the sample icon's appearance is automatically updated upon receiving inputs for a new icon appearance from a user. When the user is satisfied with the updated sample icon's appearance and enters an execution command, the display controller finally changes the icon appearance of the display system by changing corresponding display properties according to the user inputs.
US09104289B2
Improved podcasts and techniques that facilitate their use are disclosed. The improved techniques can pertain to creating, publishing, hosting, accessing, subscribing, managing, transferring, and/or playing podcasts. According to one aspect, a client application can subscribe to podcasts and then automatically monitor the podcasts for updates to be downloaded. In the event that user interest in a podcast becomes inadequate, downloading of further updates can be restricted. According to another aspect, a podcast can be subscribed to through use of a portable subscription file. According to still another aspect, podcast feeds can be enhanced to include segment elements and other metadata.
US09104283B2
A human-machine interface device is provided having a transparent detection zone and an access zone, and including a surface having electrodes made from a conductive transparent material in the detection zone, conductive connecting tracks arranged in the access zone and connected to the surface having electrodes, a first conductive surface in the transparent zone made from transparent material, and utilized as a guard for the surface having electrodes. The connecting tracks are arranged in a sandwich between a second and a third conductive surfaces utilized as second and third guards for these connecting tracks. Linking tracks are made from a transparent conductive material for linking the connecting tracks to electrodes of the surface having electrodes. The linking tracks are positioned between the electrodes when these linking tracks are situated on the detection surface; and positioned between the second and third guards when these linking tracks are in the access zone.
US09104276B2
A touch screen panel includes odd-numbered row transparent sensing cells formed of a transparent electrode on odd-numbered rows in a touch screen active area. Even-numbered row transparent sensing cells are formed of a transparent electrode on even-numbered rows in the same layer as the odd-numbered row transparent sensing cells. Odd-numbered row metal lines and even-numbered row main lines are formed of a metal in a position detecting line area positioned at a periphery of the touch screen active area, and which are respectively connected to the odd-numbered row transparent sensing cells and the even-numbered row transparent sensing cells. Bridges formed of a transparent electrode connect the even-numbered row main lines and the even-numbered row transparent sensing cells to each other with odd-numbered row main lines interposed therebetween, wherein the odd-numbered row main lines among the odd-numbered row metal lines are formed in parallel with the even-numbered row main lines.
US09104273B1
A capacitance measurement sensor, having a voltage subtractor that rejects common signals between the columns or rows of a touch sensor matrix depending on which are driven and which are being sensed, is described.
US09104271B1
Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, machine, device, manufacture, circuit, composition of matter, and/or user interface adapted for and/or resulting from, and/or a method and/or machine-readable medium comprising machine-implementable instructions for, activities that can comprise and/or relate to: tracking movement of a gloved hand of a human; interpreting a gloved finger movement of the human; and/or in response to interpreting the gloved finger movement, providing feedback to the human.
US09104261B2
An apparatus, comprising a processor, memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, working with the processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: receiving an indication of an input environment, determining that the input environment negatively affects at least one input mode, determining that the input mode is active, and causing display of an input environment notification is disclosed.
US09104257B2
According to one embodiment, a display apparatus includes signal lines, and pixels. Each of the pixels includes a pixel electrode and a pixel control switch, and being classified into any of pixel groups. Each of the pixel groups includes a memory, and a sensor circuit which is configured to provide data for a detection signal to the memory when detecting the input information. The pixel control switch is configured to switch the voltage level of the pixel electrode in accordance with data for the display signal input via the signal line and the data for the detection signal input from the memory.
US09104252B2
Techniques for enabling software-assisted assignment of control of peripherals (e.g., assigning ownership of or assigning access to the peripherals) by a computing device. In accordance with techniques described herein, assignment of control of peripherals is aided by input from software facilities that instruct a peripheral management facility regarding assignment of peripherals. Software facilities may instruct the peripheral management facility in different ways. In some cases, a software facility may instruct the peripheral management facility how to assign control of a peripheral in a particular way, while in other cases a software facility may instruct the peripheral management facility how to assign control of a group of peripherals. In other cases, a software facility may not instruct a peripheral management facility how to assign control of peripherals, but may identify one or more groups of peripherals for which control should be assigned as a group.
US09104250B2
A real-time quantifying system for use in quantifying input device user behavior is introduced. The real-time quantifying system performs real-time quantification on user behavior of at least an input device operating and controlling a computer apparatus. The real-time quantifying system includes an input device and a portable electronic device connected thereto by wireless connection. The input device includes a sensing module and a wireless communication module. Various data detected during a process of operation of the computer apparatus by a user are sent by the input device to the portable electronic device in real time. Then, the data are processed by the portable electronic device to generate a graphical data for display. Accordingly, the real-time quantifying system displays the user's control status in real time and assesses the user's attributes and user behavior according to the graphical data.
US09104243B2
A vehicle operation device is provided, including: a gesture sensor configured to sense a user's hand to generate image information, and a gesture recognizer configured to recognize a gesture by using the image information and generate feature information of the recognized gesture. A controller is configured to generate vehicle state information by sensing a vehicle state and perform a control operation corresponding to the feature information, in which the gesture recognizer determines whether the gesture or the vehicle state correspond to a gesture cancellation condition by using the image information and the vehicle state information and initializes a recognition operation of the gesture when the gesture or the vehicle state corresponds to the gesture cancellation condition.
US09104241B2
A method for enabling multiple functions to be performed by a first mobile device during a video conference within a mobile device environment includes: performing a second function at a first mobile device while a first function is being performed at the first mobile device without interruption of the first function, wherein the first function is a video conference between a first entity associated with the first mobile device and a second entity associated with a second mobile device, and wherein the first function and the second function are different functions.
US09104237B1
An electronic gift (e-gift) giving system includes a first computing device that receives from a second computing device of a giver, e-gift information associated with an e-gift to be given to a recipient and reveal video information from the second computing device. From this information, the first computing device generates an interactive reveal video that, when displayed on a recipient computing device of the recipient, receives one or more user interface input actions and generates one or more tactile feedback actions to be performed by the second computing device in response to the user interface input action.
US09104234B2
The present invention uses biometrics for the quantitative determination of software ease of use by collecting biometric data from a software user, identifying changes in the biometric data as the user uses the software, determining if the changes are indicative of software ease of use issues, and generating a signal as output if the changes are determined to be indicative of software ease of use issues. The sensors may be integrated into a computer mouse or other peripheral device with which the user comes in regular contact during use.
US09104227B2
A steering apparatus comprises a rotatable steering shaft and a sensor which senses angular movement of the steering shaft. An electromagnetic actuator actuates a stop mechanism to releasable engage the steering shaft. There is a microcontroller which causes the electromagnetic actuator to actuate the stop mechanism to fully engage the steering shaft and prevent rotation of the steering shaft in a first rotational direction, which corresponds to movement towards the hardstop position, while allowing rotational play between the steering shaft and the stop mechanism in a second direction, which corresponds to rotational movement away from the hardstop position, when the sensor senses that the steering shaft has reached a hardstop position. A driver applies a reserve polarity pulse to the electromagnetic actuator when the stop mechanism is fully engaged and the steering shaft is rotated, as permitted by the rotational play, in the second rotational direction.
US09104226B2
A rocker button switch device of a dog leash includes: an outer shell, a line wheel, a button, a locking slider, an unlocking slider, and a translation slider, wherein the button is mounted in a corresponding groove on the outer shell, the button is a rocker button, and able to rotate about a rocker central axle, two ends of the button respectively contact the locking slider and the unlocking slider directly and slidingly, for driving the locking slider and the unlocking slider to move up and down, the translation slider includes a translation spring, the translation slider and the unlocking slider push each other by inclined plane sliding, and the translation slider and the locking slider are locked together via a buckle. The rocker button switch device of the dog leash is simple in movement, convenient to use, and stable in performance.
US09104221B2
A power supply module and a power supply method corresponding to an electronic device. The power supply module includes a low-dropout (LDO) voltage regulator to adjust an input signal received from a battery and output a stabilized output signal, and an external load calculation circuit to calculate an external load value at a power output node of the LDO voltage regulator and stabilize the output signal based on the external load value.
US09104219B2
A power converter including a multi-phase output stage, a comparator, and a time calculating unit is disclosed. The multi-phase output stage includes a plurality of channels. The comparator compares a first input signal with a second input signal to provide a setting signal. The time calculating unit adjusts on time duty cycles of the channels with the variation of the load according to the setting signal. When the load becomes larger, the frequency that the comparator provides the setting signal will be increased to cause that the on time duty cycles of the channels are overlapped.
US09104208B2
A process fluid regulator includes a regulator body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet connected by a fluid flow path. A control element is disposed within the fluid flow path, the control element cooperating with a seat to control fluid flow through the regulator body. An actuator is attached to the regulator body, the actuator providing force to move the control element relative to the seat. The actuator includes a housing and a diaphragm within the housing, the diaphragm dividing the actuator housing into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. A high pressure bleed valve is attached to the lower chamber to vent residual gas from the lower chamber, which creates additional volume for process liquid in the lower chamber. This additional volume improves effectiveness and response time of the process fluid regulator.
US09104199B2
A method of monitoring a device, the method comprising: measuring one or more device operating parameters and a device performance parameter during one or more device operational periods; recording a plurality of data points, each data point comprising the device operating parameters and the associated device performance parameter; identifying one or more steady state regions in the device performance parameter and selecting a plurality of the data points from the one or more steady state regions in the device performance parameter; selecting one or more groups (40) of the steady state data points in the device operating parameter space by virtue of a predetermined density of the steady state data points in the device operating parameter space; and comparing the device performance parameter within the groups so as to identify a change in the performance of the device.
US09104195B2
A semi-automatic welding work cell, including a welding job sequencer that automatically selects a welding schedule for use by an operator in the semi-automatic welding work cell. The automatic selection may be by way of elapsed time, a detection of welding operations, a detection of the amount of welding wire supplied for the welding operation, or a detection of the amount of energy supplied for the welding operation.
US09104193B2
A robot programming device (10) includes: a processing line designating unit (21) that designates a processing line (41); an operation mode designating unit (22) that designates an operation mode of the teaching point; a program generation unit (23) that generates a program for a robot (12) based on the processing line and the operation mode; an interference target designating unit (24) that designates a tool non-processing part as an interference target; an interference detection unit (25) that detects interference between the robot and the workpiece, at a teaching point; a non-interference position search unit (26) that searches for a non-interference position; and a correction unit (27) that corrects a position of the teaching point based on a search result.
US09104190B2
Exemplary embodiments are directed to a safety module for connection to an automation device or automation system which is provided for control of safety critical and non-safety critical processes and/or plant components. The module includes a communication board that includes a processing unit which is connected via an input/output bus slave and an external input/output bus connected to a central processing unit, and one or more secure processing units arranged on one or more circuit boards having safety oriented input/output circuits for safety oriented functions. A serial communication master is connected via communication links to at least one of the circuit boards so that the at least one circuit board receives messages sent by the communication board, transmits safety oriented messages from and/or to the processing unit of the communication board via one of the secure processing units.
US09104181B1
A time-to-digital converter includes a first gated ring oscillator, a second gated ring oscillator, a phase adjusting unit, and a digital converter unit. The first gated ring oscillator includes a plurality of first delay cells connected in a cyclic structure and operating in response to an enable signal. The second gated ring oscillator includes a plurality of second delay cells connected in a cyclic structure and operating in response to the enable signal. The phase adjusting unit adjusts a phase of a second circulation signal circulating in the second gated ring oscillator so as for the second circulation signal to have a predetermined phase difference with respect to a first circulation signal circulating in the first gated ring oscillator. The digital converter unit samples output signals of the first delay cells and the second delay cells to output a digital value corresponding to duration of the enable signal.
US09104180B2
A watch including a case in which there is arranged a control system, which includes a time base and is arranged to be able to perform several functions, the watch further including at least two analog display elements and a digital display controlled independently by the control system, the watch further including a control acting on the control system. The watch is arranged in a first, normal operating mode to provide the user with a time indication by the analog display elements driven by the control system fitted with the time base, and the watch is arranged in a second, special operating mode to allow the user to select a function via the control, to display on the digital display a value associated with the selected function, and to move an analog display element opposite the value associated with the selected function.
US09104173B2
An image forming apparatus, comprising: an image formation unit configured to form an image on a sheet; a sensor unit having a light-emitting device and a light-receiving device; a frame to which the sensor unit is attached; at least one projection provided on one of the sensor unit and the frame, the at least one projection being formed to have a contacting part which projects to contact an other of the sensor unit and the frame; and at least one engagement part provided on one of the sensor unit and the frame, the at least one engagement part being formed to engage with at least one catching part provided on an other of the sensor unit and the frame and to press the at least one projection in a direction of increasing a contact surface pressure of the contacting part by causing elastic deformation.
US09104172B2
A developing cartridge is provided. The developing cartridge includes a housing which accommodates developer therein, a receiving member which receives a driving force output member provided in an image forming apparatus, a developing roller which rotates by the driving force received by the receiving member, and a detectable rotary member including a detectable portion, which is a detection target to be detected by a detection member provided in the image forming apparatus, and a contact portion which is provided away from the detectable portion. The detectable rotary member rotates from a retreat position to an initial position where the detectable rotary member is rotated by the driving force received by the receiving member, by the contact portion contacting an interference member fixed in the image forming apparatus in a process of mounting the developing cartridge into the image forming apparatus.
US09104156B2
A fixing device to fix an unfixed image carried on a recording medium includes an endless, rotary fixing member; a heat source to heat the fixing member; an opposed member disposed opposite the fixing member and to form a fixing nip in combination with the fixing member; and a biasing member disposed opposite the opposed member with the fixing member interposed therebetween, to press the fixing member from a back side of the fixing member against the opposed member at the fixing nip; grip portions at which the fixing member and the opposed member contact each other in areas through which the recording medium does not pass, among the fixing nip along a direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the recording medium; and a cleaning member to clean an outer circumference of at least one of the grip portions of the fixing member and the opposed member.
US09104155B2
If the positional relationship between the rubbing roller and the contact angle of the belt-like fixing member is changed by inclination of the steering roller, it is always possible for the rubbing roller to abut on the range where the belt-like fixing member is wrapped. As a result, it is possible to maintain uniform surface roughness for the fixing member surface layer, allowing the recording material to maintain evenness in the gloss.
US09104154B2
In accordance with one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming section (1) configured to form a toner image on an image receiving medium; a fixing apparatus (20) configured to heat, using a heating component (21), the image receiving medium formed with the toner image to fix the toner image; a fan (66) configured to cool the heating component at least; and a control section (60) configured to enable, after the image forming section finishes an image forming operation, the fan to operate for a given time when the elapsed time for image forming operation is shorter than a first formation time, and enable the heating component to idle without generating heat while operating the fan, when the elapsed time for image forming operation is equal to or longer than the first time.
US09104148B2
An image heating apparatus includes a rotatable heating member configured to heat a toner image on a sheet; a belt unit including an endless belt configured to heat the rotatable heating member by contacting an outer surface of the rotatable heating member, and a supporting mechanism configured to rotatably supporting the endless belt; a detector configured to detect that the endless belt is out of a predetermined zone in a widthwise direction of the endless belt; and a tilting mechanism configured to tilt the belt unit in a direction of causing the endless belt to return into the predetermined zone based on an output of the detector.
US09104141B2
A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes an outlet port positioned on the front of a housing for transferring toner from a reservoir to a developer unit. The toner cartridge includes an engagement member having a first engagement surface and a second engagement surface. The first engagement surface is positioned proximate the rear of the housing to receive an actuation force from an actuation feature of an image forming device. The second engagement surface is positioned proximate the front of the housing below the outlet port to engage a shutter on an inlet port of the developer unit. The engagement member is movable from a first position to a second position upon receiving the actuation force. As the engagement member moves from the first position to the second position, the second engagement surface protrudes from the front of the housing to engage the shutter of the developer unit.
US09104135B2
A toner cartridge according to one example embodiment includes a housing that has an elongated shape extending from a first side to a second side. The housing defines a reservoir for containing toner therein. An exit port is in fluid communication with the reservoir and faces downward on the front of the housing near the first side. A first leg portion and a second leg portion each projects from the bottom of the housing and extends along a front-to-rear dimension of the housing. The first leg portion has a first outer side spaced inward from the first side of the housing and the second leg portion has a second outer side spaced inward from the second side of the housing. The first outer side and the second outer side are unobstructed to limit the side-to-side travel of the toner cartridge during insertion into the image forming device.
US09104122B2
Disclosed are methods and systems for determining a topography of a lithographic optical element and/or a holder of a lithographic optical element. In one embodiment, the method includes directing electromagnetic radiation towards a lithographic optical element, where the electromagnetic radiation comprises electromagnetic radiation in a first predetermined wavelength range and electromagnetic radiation in a second predetermined wavelength range. The method further includes using the lithographic optical element to adsorb the electromagnetic radiation in the first predetermined wavelength range, and to reflect at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation in the second predetermined wavelength range towards a substrate comprising a photosensitive layer, thereby exposing the photosensitive layer to form an exposed photosensitive layer. The method still further includes performing an evaluation of the exposed photosensitive layer and, based on the evaluation, determining a topography of the lithographic optical element.
US09104113B2
An electrical field is applied through an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) photoresist layer along a direction perpendicular to an interface between the EUV photoresist layer and an underlying layer. Secondary electrons and thermal electrons are accelerated along the direction of the electrical field, and travel with directionality before interacting with the photoresist material for a chemical reaction. The directionality increases the efficiency of electron photoacid capture, reducing the required EUV dose for exposure. Furthermore, this directionality reduces lateral diffusion of the secondary and thermal electrons, and thereby reduces blurring of the image and improves the image resolution of feature edges formed in the EUV photoresist layer. The electrical field may be generated by applying a direct current (DC) and/or alternating current (AC) bias voltage across an electrostatic chuck and a conductive plate placed over the EUV photoresist layer with a hole for passing the EUV radiation through.
US09104112B2
Provided is a mask blank that is improved in adhesion of a thin film for forming a transfer pattern to a resist, thus capable of suppressing the occurrence of collapse, chipping, or the like of a formed resist pattern. The mask blank has, on a transparent substrate 1, a thin film 2 which is for forming a transfer pattern and is made of a material containing a metal. The thin film 2 has a surface modified layer in the form of an oxide film containing a hydrocarbon. The surface modified layer of the thin film 2 can be formed by, for example, causing a highly concentrated ozone gas and an unsaturated hydrocarbon gas to act on the thin film.
US09104108B2
The present invention provides a holder for holding a substrate, the holder including a base to be received by a table, the base including a first surface arranged to receive the substrate to be held by the holder and a second surface opposite to the first surface, a first support provided on the second surface and arranged to surround a through hole formed in the base and configured to contact the table, a second support provided on the second surface and arranged to surround the first support and to contact the table, and a plurality of first pins provided in a region of the second surface between the second support and an outer edge of the base and arranged to contact the table.
US09104101B2
A resist composition including a resin component which generates acid upon exposure and exhibits changed solubility in a developing solution under the action of acid, the resin component including a resin component having a structural unit represented by a general formula (a0-0-1) shown below in which R represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms or a halogenated alkyl group of 1 to 5 carbon atoms, R0-1 represents a single bond or a divalent linking group, each of R2, R3 and R4 independently represents a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group which may have a non-aromatic substituent, or R3 and R4 may be bonded to each other to form a ring together with the sulfur atom, and X represents a non-aromatic divalent linking group or a single bond.
US09104096B2
A stereoscopic image display apparatus includes: an image data acquiring unit which acquires two pieces of image data having horizontal parallax; a composition unit which generates display data by composing the two pieces of image data; a line image overlapping unit which overlaps two longitudinal line images with an image based on the display data, and independently moves the two longitudinal line images in a horizontal direction; a parallax information derivation unit which derives parallax information about parallax between the two longitudinal line images; a parallax information overlapping unit which additionally overlaps the parallax information with the image based on the display data; and a display unit which displays the images based on the display data, on which the longitudinal line images and the parallax information are overlapped, such that a producer may easily and accurately identify parallax of each subject image in the display data.
US09104095B2
A stereoscopic display illuminator includes a first light source, a curved mirror, a rotational wheel, an actuator, a multi-band filter, and an optical module. The first light source is used for providing a first light beam. The rotational wheel is disposed between the first light source and the curved mirror. The first light beam is reflected and passes through the rotational wheel in sequence. The multi-band filter allows portion of the first light beam to pass through, and allows another portion to be reflected, where the wavelengths of these two portions do not overlap. The optical module disposed between the first light source and the rotational wheel is used for guiding the first light beam to the rotational wheel, and guiding the first light beam to propagate either from the first reflective segment or from the curved mirror to two opposite sides of the multi-band filter.
US09104093B2
An illumination optical system includes a lens unit that is arranged on a path of an emitted light to an image forming element for forming an image; a holding unit that holds the lens unit; and an elastic body that is attached to the holding unit, and has integrally-formed first and second parts, the first part being biased in a direction of an optical axis of the light to press the lens unit, and the second part being biased in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the optical axis to press the lens unit.
US09104084B2
There is described an optical modulation system for transmitting modulated optical light. The system comprises an electro-optic modulator having at least two arms through which light is transmitted and an imbalance electrode located on at least one arm. A current source is configured to inject current into the imbalance electrode for modifying the phase of light passing through the arm. A dither generator is configured to modulate the injected current, or bias voltage applied to at least one of the arms, with a dither signal. A phase sensitive detector is configured to detect an error in the phase of light emitted by the modulator. An operating point controller is configured to monitor the detected phase error and adjust the current injected into the imbalance arm so as to compensate for the detected error and thereby control an operating point of the modulator.
US09104080B2
The present disclosure provides a liquid crystal display, including at least one repairing line, a short circuit bar area, a number of data line pads, a number of testing lines for connecting short circuit bars on the short circuit bar area and the data line pads, a wiring area, a displaying area, and a number of data lines passing through the wiring area and the displaying area; first ends of the data lines being electrically connected to the data line pads and second ends of the data lines extending to be located under the displaying area; the repairing line comprising a first portion isolably intersecting with the testing lines, a second portion isolably intersecting with the second ends of the data lines, and a third portion connecting the first portion and the second portion in the repairing of a disconnected line.
US09104069B2
A backlight module includes a back plate having at least one side and a backlight unit including an optical plate and an optical film. The at least one side has a surface, and the surface is disposed with a supporting member. The supporting member includes a horizontal portion and a vertical portion extended from the horizontal portion. In addition, the vertical portion includes a plane surface and a protruding piece, and the plane surface is used for supporting the optical plate and the protruding piece is used for positioning the optical film; and a liquid crystal display device has the backlight module.
US09104066B2
There is provided a metal structure that holds the display unit, as the main structure, and a casing structure that is integrally molded from resin onto the metal structure. The metal structure is resilient against flexural loads, torsional loads, and other deformations from the exterior upon the display unit composed of thin plate glass, because the member that protects the display unit is in a box shape. The display unit itself can be protected from damage even if rigidity is reduced because of a thinner profile. The metal structure is manufactured by thin plate pressing and sufficient strength can be maintained even if the thickness is low. Furthermore, the metal structure is configured as a frame part of the entire casing, the rigidity of the entire device can therefore be maintained by using this structure, and the mounting board and functional components other than the display unit can also be protected.
US09104063B2
A 3D image display apparatus includes a display unit, a first polarizer with a polarization axis, a second polarizer and a switching unit. The switching unit includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a liquid crystal layer. The first substrate is disposed with a first conductive layer on an inner surface thereof along a first direction and is electrically coupled to a first voltage source. The second substrate is parallel to the first substrate and disposed with a second conductive layer on an inner surface thereof along a second direction and is electrically coupled to a second voltage source. The first and second directions have an angle therebetween. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first and second substrates and includes a plurality of liquid crystals each having a slow axis.
US09104045B2
A method of determining parameters for fitting an ophthalmic lens to a frame, including the following steps: providing an eyeglass frame including at least one temple portion having a bezel intended to enable the nesting of an ophthalmic lens; and determining the shape of the profile of the bezel at a point in the temple portion of said frame. Associated method of fabricating an ophthalmic lens.
US09104042B2
Oriented contact lenses have patterns in which the portion that substantially lies over the sclera when worn on-eye is brightly colored or tinted; the colored or tinted contact lenses can have colored or tinted central portions that enhance the iris when worn on-eye and limbal rings that enhance the limbus.
US09104035B2
A display device for a user to observe a stereo image through a pair of polarization glasses includes a projector, a switchable polarizer, and a sensor. The projector sequentially displays a first image, a first middle image, a second image, and a second middle image on a projection screen. The switchable polarizer is located between the projector and the projection screen and is switchable between a first mode and a second mode, so that each of the first and second images has a first or second polarization after passing through the switchable polarizer in the first or second mode and is then projected onto the projection screen. The sensor is coupled to the switchable polarizer and senses the images on the projection screen. When the sensor senses the first middle image or the second middle image, the switchable polarizer switches between the first mode and the second mode.
US09104033B2
An optical device for providing a synthetic integral image (25) comprises a polymer foil stack. A first interface of the polymer foil stack comprises optically distinguishable image data bearer structures (16A-C) in a first array. A second interface of the polymer foil stack has focusing elements (1) in a second array. A ratio between distances between neighboring objects in the first array and of focusing elements in the second array in a first direction is different from a ratio between distances between neighboring objects in the first array and of focusing elements in second array in a second direction. This leads to that the synthetic integral image corresponding to the image data bearer structures is perceptible with requested proportions when the polymer foil stack is given a certain curvature. Also polymer foil stacks giving rise to synthetic integral image only when viewed from a very short distance are described. The appearance of the synthetic integral image during bending or moving of the polymer foil stack is used for authentication. A change in apparent image depth during rotation is alternatively used for authentication.
US09104031B2
An active optical device and a display apparatus including the same are provided. The active optical device includes: first to third electrodes that are sequentially disposed spaced apart from one another; a first refractive index change layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode and in which a refractive index is changed by an electric field; and a second refractive index change layer disposed between the second electrode and the third electrode and in which a refractive index is changed by an electric field.
US09104030B2
An illumination system is disclosed for providing dual-excitation wavelength illumination for non-linear optical microscopy and micro-spectroscopy. The illumination system includes a laser system, an optical splitting means, a frequency shifting system, and a picosecond amplifier system. The laser system includes a laser for providing a first train of pulses at a center optical frequency ω1. The optical splitting means divides the first train of pulses at the center optical frequency ω1 into two trains of pulses. The frequency shifting system shifts the optical frequency of one of the two trains of pulses to provide a frequency shifted train of pulses. The picosecond amplifier system amplifies the frequency shifted train of pulses to provide an amplified frequency-shifted train of pulses having a pulse duration of at least 0.5 picoseconds.
US09104027B2
Provided herein is an optical turbulence device configured for insertion between the target collimator and the sensor unit being tested, which simulates a turbulence effect. The turbulence device for imparting wavefront aberrations to a projected radiation beam includes an optical phase element for altering the optical phase of a radiation beam. The optical phase element includes a plurality of active areas disposed on a surface of the phase element. The plurality of active areas includes a plurality of variations for imparting wavefront aberrations to a radiation beam, thereby altering optical phase of the beam. The device further includes a driving mechanism coupled to the optical phase element for transitioning the optical phase element between a plurality of positions, thereby exposing a different active area of the optical phase element to the radiation beam. The optical phase element is configured to be positioned at an intermediate focal plane of an inverting a focal optical assembly.
US09104024B2
A heads-up display comprises a housing. A display panel is disposed within the housing. An objective lens is disposed within the housing. An achromatic lens is disposed within the housing between the display panel and the objective lens.
US09104023B2
A clamshell car head-up display device includes a body, a display module, a lid, a shaft group and a shaft, the display module is provided to project display information on the reflector plate of the lid, and the shaft group is provided to fix the flip angle of the lid when being lifted, to thereby ensure that the information screen does not be shaken due to car driving.
US09104009B2
An imaging optical system includes, in order from the object side to the image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, an aperture stop, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element, and a sixth lens element arranged along an optical axis. The first lens element has a concave image-side surface in the vicinity of the optical axis. The second lens element has a negative refractive power. The third lens element has a convex object-side surface in a vicinity of an optical axis. The fourth lens element has a convex object-side surface in the vicinity of the optical axis. The fifth lens element has a convex image-side surface in the vicinity of the optical axis. The sixth lens element is made of plastic and has a convex image-side surface in a vicinity of an outer circumference.
US09104005B2
A fiber optic enclosure assembly includes a fiber optic enclosure and a cable shroud assembly. The fiber optic enclosure includes a base having a first end, an oppositely disposed second end, and first and second sides that extend between the first and second ends. A cover is engaged to the base. The cable shroud assembly includes a first piece engaged to the first and second sides of the base of the fiber optic enclosure at the first end of the base. The first piece includes a base wall, a first side wall that extends outwardly from the base wall and an oppositely disposed second side wall. The first piece includes a plurality of cable management spools disposed on the base wall. A second piece is engaged to the first piece. The second piece is configured to cover cables that enter/exit the first end of the base.
US09103985B2
To reduce the wavelength dependence of the phase difference given to the lightwaves traveling through the optical waveguide arms of a coherent mixer, the optical waveguide device includes a first optical branching device branching a first input light and outputting to a first and a second optical waveguides, a second optical branching device branching a second input light and outputting to a third and a fourth optical waveguides, a first optical coupler that mixes lightwaves travelling through the first and the third optical waveguides, and then branches and outputs a first and a second output lights, a second optical coupler that mixes the lightwaves which travel through the second and the fourth optical waveguides, and then branches and outputs a third and a fourth output lights. Here optical path lengths are mutually equal between the first and the second optical waveguides, and between the third and the fourth optical waveguides.
US09103980B2
An adjustable mirror device is provided that includes a free-standing or wall-mountable construction, whereon a mirror frame is slidably mounted thereto without the use of fasteners. A free-standing mirror support comprises an upstanding mirror frame support having a first and second side rail and lower support legs that allow the side rails to remain in an upright configuration without secondary support. The wall-mountable mirror support comprises a fastenable frame that affixes to a wall for supporting the mirror frame in the same manner as the free-standing embodiment. The mirror frame backside surface comprises a first and second magnetic strip running vertically therealong. These strips secure to ferric material strip extending along each side rail of the free-standing or wall-mountable mirror frame support embodiment. The magnetic attachment allows the user to slidably reposition the mirror without fasteners or tools.
US09103977B2
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a hard, water-resistant anti-fog coating, and particularly relates to a method for manufacturing a hard, water-resistant anti-fog coating on plastic material. In this method, an organic-inorganic hard adhesion layer and a hydrophilic anti-fog coating film are prepared for manufacturing a hard, water-resistant anti-fog coating. Both of the organic-inorganic hard adhesion layer and the hydrophilic anti-fog coating have C═C double bonds. Therefore, the organic-inorganic hard adhesion layer and the hydrophilic anti-fog coating are adhered to each other tightly. It brings high hardness, high water resistance and good anti-fog effect.
US09103975B2
The invention relates to methods, devices, systems and uses of such systems for the generation and detection of electromagnetic fields carrying orbital angular momentum. An electromagnetic wave placed in a resonator having a closed-loop waveguide supporting a guided wave propagating at resonance with angular order, p, and with an angular grating patterned in the closed-loop waveguide, the angular grating having a integer number, q, of grating elements. The angular grating selectively couples the guided wave mode to a free space radiation mode having an OAM quantity, l, and out-of-plane wave vector component, krad,z, and wherein significant coupling to the grating occurs only when the following wave matching condition is satisfied: l=p−mq where: m is the diffraction order of the angular grating, m=1, 2, 3, . . . ,.
US09103974B2
Semiconductor devices having an optical transceiver include a cladding on a substrate, a protrusion vertically extending trough the cladding and materially in continuity with the substrate, and a coupler on the cladding and the protrusion.
US09103973B2
Planar, polarization insensitive, optical elements to control refraction of transmitted light in free space are disclosed. In one aspect, an optical element includes a substrate having a planar surface, and a polarization insensitive, high contrast, sub-wavelength grating composed of posts that extend from the planar surface. The grating has at least one region. Within each region, cross-sectional dimensions of the posts and/or lattice arrangement of the posts are nonperiodically varied to control refraction of light transmitted through the optical element.
US09103972B2
Aspects of the invention are directed to a method for forming an optical waveguide structure. Initially, a base film stack is received with an optical waveguide feature covered by a lower dielectric layer. An etch stop feature is then formed on the lower dielectric layer, and an upper dielectric layer is formed over the etch stop feature. Subsequently, a trench is patterned in the upper dielectric layer and the etch stop feature at least in part by utilizing the etch stop feature as an etch stop. Lastly, a waveguide coupler feature is formed in the trench, at least a portion of the waveguide coupler feature having a refractive index higher than the lower dielectric layer and the upper dielectric layer. The waveguide coupler feature is positioned over at least a portion of the optical waveguide feature but is separated from the optical waveguide feature by a portion of the lower dielectric layer.
US09103971B2
An optical module includes a substrate, an optical device including a surface-emitting or -receiving element mounted on a surface of the substrate with a light-emitting or -receiving portion, an optical fiber disposed parallel to the surface of the substrate and in a longitudinal direction of the substrate, a damming member provided between the optical device and the substrate to extend in a width direction of the substrate and dividing a gap between the optical device and the substrate in the longitudinal direction of the substrate into a first portion and a second portion, and a mirror provided at one side surface of the damming member a tip of the optical fiber. The first portion provided on an opposite side to the optical fiber is filled with an underfill resin, and the second portion provided on a side close to the optical fiber is filled with an optical fiber fixing resin.
US09103969B2
The present invention is dedicated to a process for improving the adhesion properties between a first coating obtained from a curable composition and a second coating, through the incorporation of a cleavable surfactant in said curable composition and subsequent cleavage thereof. Said process comprises: depositing onto the substrate of an optical article a first layer of a first curable composition comprising at least one cleavable surfactant, curing at least partially said first curable composition, thereby forming a first coating, forming a second coating onto said first coating, wherein, after said first curable composition has been deposited onto the substrate, and before deposition of the second coating, said optical article is subjected to a treatment step resulting in a cleavage of at least a portion of the cleavable surfactant. Curable compositions containing cleavable surfactants and optical articles having deposited thereon stacks of coatings formed by the above process are also described.
US09103965B2
The invention provides an amphiphilic siloxane-containing vinylic monomer which comprises one sole ethylenically unsaturated group and a siloxane-containing group covalently linked to the ethylenically-unsaturated group through a hydrophilic linker. The present invention is also related to a polymer, an actinically-crosslinkable silicone-containing prepolymer, a silicone hydrogel polymeric material, or a silicone hydrogel contact lens, which comprises monomeric units derived from an amphiphilic siloxane-containing vinylic monomer of the invention. In addition, the invention provides a method for making silicone hydrogel contact lenses using a water-based lens-forming formulation comprising an amphiphilic siloxane-containing vinylic monomer of the invention and/or an actinically-crosslinkable silicone-containing prepolymer of the invention.
US09103964B2
The present invention relates a method for manufacturing an intraocular lens in a closed mold, wherein an acrylic monomer composition containing a single high refractive index monomer according to formula (I): is polymerized by employing an initiator that is activated by light having a wavelength of 390 nm or more.
US09103959B2
A lighting device for a vehicle may include one or more light sources and one or more light conducting rods including a lens through which light radiated from the light source enters and a light outlet surface through which light entering an inside through the lens exits to an outside, in which the lens includes a light inlet surface configured to refract the light entering from the light source in parallel and a light outlet surface configured to collect parallel light passing through the light inlet surface to an upper portion of the light conducting rod, and a reflective body configured to reflect the light collected at the upper portion of the light conducting rod toward the light outlet surface of the light conducting rod may be installed on the light conducting rod, thereby improving light efficiency.
US09103958B2
A back light module includes a bezel, a light-guiding plate, an optical film and a fixing element. The bezel includes frame strips defining an accommodating space. Each frame strip has a bottom surface, a carrier surface opposite to the carrier surface, and a lateral surface connected between the bottom and carrier surfaces and facing to the accommodating space. The lateral surface of the frame strips has a first cave extended from the carrier surface through the bottom surface. The light-guiding plate and the optical film are configured in the accommodating space. The optical film has at least a first protrusion within the first cave. The fixing element is configured on the carrier surfaces of the frame strips and a portion of the optical film and corresponds to the boundary between the first protrusion and the first cave. A display device using the back light module is provided.
US09103957B2
A back light module includes a bezel, a light source assembly and a first circuit board. The bezel has a carrier surface, a first back surface opposite to the first back surface, and a through hole passing through the bezel from the carrier surface to the first back surface. The light source assembly is disposed on the carrier surface, and the first circuit board is disposed on the first back surface. The light source assembly includes a second circuit board and a plurality of light emitting elements. The second circuit board is electrically connected to the first circuit board by its conductive pin set via the through hole. Since the light source assembly is electrically connected to the first circuit board by the conductive pin set, the assembly process is simplified and the cost is decreased. A display device using the back light module is also provided.
US09103953B2
This is directed to a LED light fixture having a shaped light guide array with a CPC reflector for directing light off-axis, and methods for constructing the same. A LED light fixture includes a LED module providing light and an elongated light guide array placed adjacent to the LED module. The elongated light guide array can include a curved outer surface through which light is emitted into an environment. To further control the output of light, and to direct light off-axis, the light guide array can include a CPC reflector disposed around a boundary or periphery of the light guide array. The CPC reflector can be angled such that light is directed at angles above a cut-off angle by which the reflector is rotated about a focus.
US09103950B2
An angular intensity distribution shaping member includes a first surface for receiving a light beam emitted from a light source, the first surface having a length in a width direction that is longer than that in a thickness direction; second surfaces forming a plate-shaped light path on which the light beam incident from the first surface propagates by total reflection, the second surfaces including at least one adjustment surface for spreading a full angle of an angular intensity distribution, in the width direction, of the light beam incident from the first surface so that the full angle becomes wider than that of the angular intensity distribution of the light beam just after emission from the light source; and a third surface through which the light beam exits, the full angle of its angular intensity distribution in the width direction having been widened by the at least one adjustment surface.
US09103948B2
A fiber bypass module and its adapted in-line equipment are provided. The fiber bypass module has an optical switch, a plurality of connectors, and a circuit substrate with an electrical signal control connector exposed. The electrical signal control connector may be plugged to the socket of the in-line equipment to receive the electrical control signal sent from the in-line equipment. The optical switch is provided on the circuit substrate and the electrical signal control connector is electrically connected with the optical switch such that the received electrical control signal is transmitted to the optical switch to execute the switching mode of the optical switch. Each of the plurality of connectors may be extended remotely to connect optical transceivers and optical network equipments, so that the optical transceivers and the fiber network equipments do not have to be provided at the same place as the in-line equipment.
US09103940B2
A method for identifying clock timing discrepancies in a plurality of clocks that are each associated with a seismic receiver, comprises the steps of collecting from at least a pair of receivers a data set corresponding to a selected time period, cross-correlating the data sets between at least one pair of receivers so as to produce cross-correlated data for positive, zero, and negative time lags, comparing the cross-correlated data for the positive and negative time lags to measure a timing asymmetry about the zero-lag time, and, for a receiver pair for which there is a non-zero timing asymmetry, using the asymmetry to identify a timing discrepancy between the clocks associated with that receiver pair. The each data set can be filtered so as to obtain data in a selected frequency range, which may avoid an active shot frequency. The data may be collected in the absence of active seismic shots.
US09103935B2
The method of first arrival picking of seismic refraction data is embodied in software that uses the τ-p transform on energy-ratio seismic records. First, the seismic shots are gathered. Next, the energy ratio (ER) is computed, and then the τ-p transform of the energy ratio is computed. Using a binary mask, a corresponding first arrival energy is selected. The transform is combined with the binary mask and presented as input to an inverse τ-p transform. The inverse transform data is then thresholded, and indices of ER first arrivals are detected based on the thresholds. The software then creates a vector of indices or time samples of picks. This method can be used to better guide the subsequent careful picking of first arrivals. Moreover, the method automatically interpolates missing picks.
US09103934B2
A technique facilitates the acquisition of seismic data at a substantially reduced source volume. The methodology generally comprises conducting a seismic survey with seismic sources that have a reduced source volume to collect seismic data. The low frequency data which is lost due to the reduced source volume is replaced with data acquired from a complementary method, such as a receiver-side acquisition method. The two sets of data are combined to provide a comprehensive seismic survey image without requiring conventional seismic source volume.
US09103933B2
Prior information describing a distribution of values of a parameter relating to physical characteristic of a target structure is received. Acquired survey data of the target structure is received. Using a probabilistic technique, the prior information and the survey data is assimilated to produce an estimated property of the target structure.
US09103929B2
A position-finding apparatus, particularly a handheld position-finding appliance, having a position-finding unit, is provided for the purpose of using a measurement signal to detect the presence of an article arranged in an examination object and which has a sensor unit, a computation unit, and a display unit. The computation unit associates differing sensor elements of the sensor unit with differing display points of the display unit in at least one dimension.
US09103921B2
Photonic crystal scintillators and their methods of manufacture are provided. Exemplary methods of manufacture include using a highly-ordered porous anodic alumina membrane as a pattern transfer mask for either the etching of underlying material or for the deposition of additional material onto the surface of a scintillator. Exemplary detectors utilizing such photonic crystal scintillators are also provided.
US09103920B2
An apparatus comprising: a radiation sensor having one or more radiation sensors and an on-board power harvester.
US09103919B2
A method is disclosed for transmission of register contents of a CT detector with hierarchical hardware structure, wherein the first hierarchy level is formed by a control unit containing a register table for the read-out register contents of FPGAs lying lower down in the hierarchy and an intermediate register store for register contents to be written. With each new reading, the new register contents for FPGAs lying lower down in the hierarchy arriving during the respective preceding reading from the central control at the control unit are forwarded to the next hierarchy level. With each new reading, the register contents of all FPGAs lying lower down in the hierarchy are re-entered into the register table of the control unit. Finally, in the event of a readout command transferred asynchronously from the central control, the register contents are read out exclusively from the register table.
US09103913B2
A signal processing method of a positioning apparatus includes the following steps. A satellite signal is received to provide at least a distance information. A correction value of a phase measurement time is generated according to the distance information and phase data of the satellite signal are corrected in sequence accordingly. The phase data are received and when a quantity of the phase data is equal to a preset quantity, a first low order polynomial fitting and a first Chi-square test are performed to generate an estimated parameter. A next phase data of the satellite signal is estimated to generate an estimated phase data according to the estimation parameter. An actual phase data is obtained. A detection and a compensation of a cycle slip are performed according the estimated phase data and the actual phase data to output a corrected phase observation value.
US09103909B2
A system for determining whether an object is within a region of interest includes a radiofrequency signal receiver outside of the region of interest configured to receive radiofrequency signals from the direction of the region of interest; and a radiofrequency transponder having a directional antenna outside of the region of interest and configured to transmit radiofrequency signals away from the radiofrequency signal receiver and towards the region of interest. Presence of an object within the region of interest causes radiofrequency signals transmitted by the radiofrequency transponder to reflect off of the object towards the radiofrequency signal receiver.
US09103908B2
Disclosed is a security monitoring method determining whether a trespasser is detected and a position of the trespasser in a set security space and monitoring sound generated at the position of the trespasser by using an acoustic image generated from acoustic signals generated by an acoustic generating device and an acoustic measuring device in an array type. An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a security monitoring system including: an acoustic generating device that generates acoustic signals; a plurality of acoustic measuring devices that receive the acoustic signals; and an acoustic image processing device that generates an acoustic image using a beamforming algorithm from the acoustic signals received in the plurality of acoustic measuring devices and determines a position of a trespasser by comparing the acoustic image after the trespasser is detected with the acoustic image before the trespasser is detected.
US09103907B2
A system uses range and Doppler velocity measurements from a lidar system and images from a video system to estimate a six degree-of-freedom trajectory of a target. The system estimates this trajectory in two stages: a first stage in which the range and Doppler measurements from the lidar system along with various feature measurements obtained from the images from the video system are used to estimate first stage motion aspects of the target (i.e., the trajectory of the target); and a second stage in which the images from the video system and the first stage motion aspects of the target are used to estimate second stage motion aspects of the target. Once the second stage motion aspects of the target are estimated, a three-dimensional image of the target may be generated.
US09103898B2
A method includes the acts of acquiring a blade of k-space calibration data; acquiring a set of T1-weighted k-space imaging data, the set of T1-weighted k-space imaging data having blades of undersampled k-space data rotated about a section of k-space. Each blade of undersampled k-space data includes first data points having acquired data and second data points that are missing data. The method also includes generating a set of reconstruction weights for the blades of undersampled k-space data using the blade of k-space calibration data; synthesizing k-space data for at least a portion of the second data points using the set of reconstruction weights; and generating a T1-weighted image using the T1-weighted k-space imaging data and the synthesized k-space data.
US09103889B1
There is disclosed a flat NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) coil system especially adapted for evaluating thin samples of material(s), or samples in which a thin surface region of the sample is to be examined. The apparatus and method work well in a static magnetic field oriented generally perpendicular to the planes of the flat sample and coil. In one preferred mode, the coil is located approximately parallel to (and generally proximate to or in flush contact with) the surface of the subject sample, while the coil typically also is oriented so that the flux of the strong static field for performing the NMR is approximately normal to the planes of the coil and the sample surface. The coil has a wire path routed to define at least one continuous “figure eight” double loop arrangement, to improve operational performance of the complete coil.
US09103887B2
The present invention relates to a method for adjusting transitions in a bit stream of a signal to be evaluated by comparison with a predetermined expected bit stream, comprising the steps of receiving said bit stream signal by a transition adjustment filter, providing a transition frame signal to said transition adjustment filter, said transition frame signal providing information for eliminating non-deterministic clock latencies within said bit stream of said received signal, and adjusting said bit stream of said received signal according to said transition frame signal resulting in an adjusted bit stream being in alignment to said expected bit stream.
US09103879B2
An apparatus and method is provided for switching input pins to scan channels to increase test coverage. In one embodiment, a scan system connects a small number of input pins to several scan channels so that the input pins may be selectively switched. The input pins may transmit independent test vectors to test a large number of test areas on a semiconductor chip. The scan system may include a switching device such as a multiplexer (MUX).
US09103863B2
Provided are a method and apparatus for measuring a location of a terminal using a magnetic field. For example, the apparatus may measure a location of a terminal using a magnetic field obtained by a magnetic field sensor and one or more sensor values obtained by a plurality of other sensors.
US09103858B2
There is provided a capacitance sensing apparatus including a driving circuit unit applying a driving signal to a first capacitor at a predetermined interval; and a sensing circuit unit sensing a change in capacitance generated by the first capacitor based on the driving signal, in which a portion of a plurality of switches included in the sensing circuit unit operate at a first interval, the same as the interval of the driving signal, and remaining switches among the plurality of switches operate at a second interval, different from the first interval.
US09103855B2
A radiation signal measurement system for millimeter wave transceivers is disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention utilize a laser to align the laser with an antenna. The transceiver is then moved into the path of the laser to align the laser with the transceiver. The transceiver or antenna orientation is changed such that the transceiver and antenna face each other, in an aligned position. Millimeter wave absorber material is applied to the inside and outside of the testing chamber to minimize reflections and interference from outside sources.
US09103854B2
The present inventors recognized a need to leverage the data from Advanced Metering Systems (AMIs) in the management of electrical outages. To address this and/or other needs, they present inventors devised, among other things, systems, methods, and software that not only intelligently filter and communicate AMI outage data to Outage Management Systems (OMSs), but also facilitate communications between OMSs and multiple types of AMI systems. One exemplary system includes an outage management module that receives AMI outage data in the form of “last gasp” messages from meters and determines whether the OMS is already aware of a power outage associated with those meters. If the OMS is already aware of an outage associated with these meters, the outage management module excludes the outage reports from its communications with the OMS, thereby preserving its capacity to handle new outage information and overcoming a significant obstacle to using AMI data within OMSs.
US09103853B2
Embodiments of the disclosure provide a current sensor including a conductive element and at least two magnetic field sensors. The conductive element includes at least three separate terminal areas, a common conductive area and at least three separate intermediate areas connecting the respective separate terminal areas to the common conductive area. Each of the terminal areas is connected separately via a respective separate intermediate area of the at least three separate intermediate areas to the common conductive area to guide a current applied to the respective terminal area into the common conductive area. The at least two magnetic field sensors are arranged at different geometric positions adjacent to the at least three separate intermediate areas, wherein each of the magnetic field sensors is configured to sense a magnetic field component of each current flowing into the common conductive area to provide a sensor signal based thereon.
US09103850B2
A micromechanical sensor comprising a substrate (5) and at least one mass (6) which is situated on the substrate (5) and which moves relative to the substrate (5) is used to detect motions of the sensor based on an acceleration force and/or Coriolis force which occur(s). The mass (6) and the substrate (5) and/or two masses which move toward one another are connected by at least one bending spring device (1) for a relative rotational motion. The bending spring device (1) has multiple, in particular two, spring bars (2) extending essentially parallel to one another for improving the linear spring characteristic of the bending spring device during the rotational motion, and at least one meander (3) on at least one, preferably on all, of the spring bars (2).
US09103844B2
A pulse-type rotation speed transducer and a method for manufacturing the same are described. The pulse-type rotation speed transducer has, as inductive components, a central pole pin, a coil coaxially disposed as a pickup winding around the pole pin and measurement leads, a permanent magnet that is in effective connection with the pole pin, and a sleeve disposed coaxially around the pole pin and the coil. Spacers of an intermediate product ensure coaxial disposition in the context of testing cycles and measurement cycles, cavities within the sleeve being filled with a plastic compound in the context of the final product, accompanied by embedding of the components.
US09103843B2
The invention provides a device for detecting drugs of abuse or other compounds in saliva. The invention thus provides a device for detecting the presence of one or more analytes in a saliva sample, comprising: (a) One or more pre-treatment regions for specifically or non-specifically removing at least a part of the fraction of the saliva sample interfering with detection of the one or more analytes; and (b) A detection region comprising a biosensor surface, the surface comprising: molecules capable of specifically binding the one or more analytes; or the one or more analytes and/or analyte analogs.
US09103841B2
Provided is a method of measuring the presence and/or the amount of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in a sample, which method is characterized by comprising the step of treating the sample in advance with an acidic solution, and a kit of measuring the presence and/or an amount of GLP-1 in a sample, the kit containing (a) the acidic solution, (b) an antibody specific to GLP-1, and (c) an instruction manual.
US09103836B2
A method of analyzing bone formation or determination of cell state with regard to differentiation of osteoblasts and/or fibroblasts in a subject is provided, the method comprising detecting PCPE isoforms in a biological sample from the subject; and comparing the PCPE isoforms from the sample of biological fluid with PCPE isoforms of a predetermined standard or a sample obtained from healthy individuals.
US09103832B2
Disclosed is a therapeutic method including administering a TIM-3 antibody or its TIM-3 binding fragment to a subject who is suspected to be suffering from blood tumor and in whom TIM-3 has been expressed in a Lin(−)CD34(+)CD38(−) cell fraction of bone marrow or peripheral blood or a subject who has been received any treatment for blood tumor. Conceived diseases include those diseases which can be treated through the binding or targeting of the TIM-3 antibody or its TIM-3 binding fragment to blood tumor cells (AML cells, CML cells, MDS cells, ALL cells, CLL cells, multiple myeloma cells, etc.), helper T cell (e.g., Th1 cells, Th17 cells), and antigen-presenting cells (e.g., dendritic cells, monocytes, macrophages, and cells resembling to the aforementioned cells (hepatic stellate cells, osteoclasts, microglial cells, intraepidermal macrophages, dust cells (alveolar macrophages), etc)).
US09103829B2
The invention relates to a method of identifying a specific fungal species in patient tissue or body fluid. The method comprises the steps of extracting and recovering DNA of the fungal species from the patient tissue or body fluid, amplifying the DNA, hybridizing a probe to the DNA to specifically identify the fungal species, and specifically identifying the fungal species. The invention also relates to a method of identifying a mycotoxin in patient tissue or body fluid. The method comprises the steps of extracting and recovering the mycotoxin from the patient tissue or body fluid, contacting the mycotoxin with an antibody directed against the mycotoxin, and identifying the myocotoxin. Both of these methods can be used to determine if a patient is at risk for or has developed a disease state related to a fungal infection, and to develop an effective treatment regimen for the patient.
US09103825B2
A microfluidic device adapted to perform many simultaneous binding assays including but not limited to immunological experiments, such as ELISA assays, with minimal cross-talk between primary and secondary antibodies.
US09103823B2
Methods, devices, kits and compositions for detecting the presence or absence of roundworm in a fecal sample are disclosed herein. The methods, devices, kits and compositions of the present invention may be used to confirm the presence or absence of roundworm in a fecal sample from a mammal that may also be infected with one or more of hookworm, whipworm, and heartworm. Confirmation of the presence or absence of roundworm in the mammal may be made, for example, for the purpose of selecting an optimal course of treating the mammal and/or for the purpose of determining whether the mammal has been rid of the infection after treatment has been initiated.
US09103822B2
Certain disclosed embodiments of the present invention concern the synthesis, derivatization, conjugation to immunoglobulins and signal amplification based on discrete, relatively short polymers having plural reactive functional groups that react with plural molecules of interest. Reactive functional groups, such as hydrazides, may be derivatized with a variety of detectable labels, particularly haptens. The remaining reactive functional groups may be conjugated directly to a specific binding molecule, such as to the oxidized carbohydrate of the Fc region of the antibody. Disclosed conjugates display large signal amplification as compared to those based on molecules derivatized with single haptens, and are useful for assay methods, particularly multiplexed assays.
US09103816B2
The present invention is to present a blood sample analyzing apparatus, comprising: an aspirator for aspirating a blood sample to be used for measurement; a coagulation determiner for determining whether the blood sample is coagulated or not; and an aspirating controller for controlling an operation of the aspirator based on a determination result by the coagulation determiner.
US09103814B2
A solvent delivery subsystem for a chromatography device performs relatively low pressure, high flow mixing of solvents to form a gradient and subsequent high pressure, low flow delivery of the gradient to the separation column. The mixing of the gradient is independent and does not interfere with the gradient delivery. To form the gradient, the outputs of an aqueous pump and an organic pump are mixed to fill a storage capillary while a downstream point from the storage capillary is vented to atmosphere. After gradient formation, the vent to atmosphere is closed, the solvent delivery system rises to high pressure, and only the aqueous pump runs for gradient delivery. To maintain integrity of the fluid stream, the solvent delivery system uses feed forward compensation and controls at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of pressure and flow in the conduit means to follow a gradual ramp.
US09103809B2
An automated liquid handling system is disclosed. A system includes a first pipetting group, which includes at least one pipettor, movably arranged on a first arm; and a second pipetting group, which includes at least one pipettor, movably arranged on a second arm, wherein the first arm and the second arm are movably arranged on at least one track such that the first arm and the second arm can independently move along the at least one track while keeping the first arm parallel with the second arm, wherein the at least one pipettor of the first pipetting group is arranged on a side of the first arm facing the second pipetting group, wherein the at least one pipettor of the second pipetting group is arranged on a side of the second arm facing the first pipetting group.
US09103805B2
Environmental measurement display systems that can be used in home and commercial environments are disclosed. The environmental measurement display system can include an environmental sensor array, signal-processing circuitry, a power supply, a display device, a communications system, a data storage system, and a remote data visualization system.
US09103797B2
Disclosed herein are methods for the detection and/or quantification of anionic surfactants. Also disclosed herein are test kits, which utilize the disclosed methods, to estimate the anionic surfactant concentration in samples, such as environmentally-derived samples. In some specific embodiments, the method and the test kit may be used to detect, among other things, aqueous film forming foams that comprise anionic surfactants.
US09103794B2
The present invention relates to the field of molecular diagnostics, and in particular to diagnostics based on a liquid crystal assay format. In particular, the present invention provided improved substrates and methods of using liquid crystal assays for quantitating the amount of an analyte in a sample. The present invention also provides materials and methods for detecting non-specific binding of an analyte to a substrate by using a liquid crystal assay format.
US09103792B2
A method is disclosed whereby luminescence images are captured from as-cut or partially processed bandgap materials such as multicrystalline silicon wafers. These images are then processed to provide information is then utilized to predict various key parameters of a solar cell manufactured from the bandgap material, such as open circuit voltage and short circuit current. The information may also be utilized to apply a classification to the bandgap material. The methods can also be used to adjust or assess the effect of additional processing steps, such as annealing, intended to reduce the density of defects in the bandgap materials.
US09103785B2
A method and apparatus for performing melting curve analyses of nucleic acids on a microarray is described. The present method includes varying the temperature of a fluid on a microarray to dissociate and remove target DNA, scanning the mircoarray for fluorescence, collecting the target DNA removed from the microarray, and reusing the collected target DNA and the microarray. The apparatus of the present disclosure includes a microarray stage, a light source and detector, and a temperature controller, wherein the temperature controller is configured to adjust the temperature of a fluid within a sample chamber on the microarray such that the temperature of the fluid is varied during the analysis such that target DNA is dissociated from the microarray, and wherein the light source is directed to the microarray and the resulting fluorescence is perceived by the detector.
US09103784B1
We describe a new technique, standing wave axial nanometry (SWAN), to image the axial location of a single nanoscale fluorescent object with sub-nanometer accuracy and 3.7 nm precision. A standing wave, generated by positing an atomic force microscope tip over a focused laser beam, is used to excite fluorescence; axial position is determined from the phase of the mission intensity.
US09103780B2
A pretreatment device 10 for analysis of dissolved ions, which comprises: a sample solution flow channel 11 through which a sample solution containing dissolved ions flows; an acceptor solution flow channel 13 which is arranged adjacent to the sample solution flow channel 11 so as to intercalate a dialysis membrane 12 between the acceptor solution flow channel 13 and the sample solution flow channel 11; a pair of electrodes 14a, 14b which are so arranged as to intercalate the sample solution flow channel 11 and the acceptor solution flow channel 13 therebetween, wherein one of the pair of electrodes 14a, 14b is provided on the sample solution flow channel 11, and the other one of the pair of electrodes 14a, 14b is provided on the acceptor solution flow channel 13; a direct current power source 5 which enables the generation of a predetermined potential difference between the electrodes 14a, 14b; and an electrode separator 15 provided between the dialysis membrane 12 and an inside surface of the electrode provided on the acceptor solution flow channel 13.
US09103778B2
An image-based refractive index measuring system comprises an optical device and an electronic device. The optical device is used to guiding an external light which is passed through an analyte. The electronic device comprises an image capture module, an image analyze module and a display module. The image capture module generates a first image by capturing the external light source. The image analyze module connects to the image capture module to receive the first image, and analyzes the first image in order to generate an analytical result comprising the refractive index of the analyte. The display module connects to the image analyze module to receive and display the analytical result.
US09103776B2
Sensors, processes for manufacturing the sensors, and processes of detecting a target molecule with the sensor generally includes a substrate including a channel and first and second electrodes electrically connected to the channel, wherein the channel includes a monolayer of surface functionalized graphene or surface functionalized carbon nanotubes, wherein the surface functionalized graphene or surface functionalized carbon nanotubes include an imidazolidone compound.
US09103770B2
A mechanism is provided for determining an isoelectric point of a molecule. A first group of capacitance versus voltage curves of a capacitor is measured. The capacitor includes a substrate, dielectric layer, and conductive solution. The first group of curves is measured for pH values of the solution without the molecule bound to a functionalized material on the dielectric layer of the capacitor. A second group of capacitance versus voltage curves of the capacitor is measured when the molecule is present in the solution, where the molecule is bound to the functionalized material of the dielectric layer of the capacitor. A shift is determined in the second group of curves from the first group of curves at each pH value. The isoelectric point of the molecule is determined by extrapolating a pH value corresponding to a shift voltage being zero, when the shift is compared to the pH values.
US09103768B2
Disclosed is an analysis system and method for visualizing heat conduction of a solid state sample. The analysis system includes a sealed jig chamber, a jig, an air tempering unit, and a thermal image camera. The sealed jig chamber includes a chamber door for opening/closing the jig chamber. The jig is removeably mounted in the jig chamber and comprises a heat source in surface contact with a solid state sample to induce the heat conduction of the solid state sample. The air tempering unit supplies hot air into the jig and supplies cool air into the jig chamber. The thermal image camera photographs the heat conduction of the solid state sample to acquire a thermal image or video.
US09103767B2
Using an optical computing device includes optically interacting electromagnetic radiation with a sample and a first integrated computational element arranged within a primary channel, optically interacting the electromagnetic radiation with the sample and a second integrated computational element arranged within a reference channel, producing first and second modified electromagnetic radiations from the first and second integrated computational elements, respectively, receiving the first modified electromagnetic radiation with a first detector, and receiving the second modified electromagnetic radiation with a second detector, generating a first output signal with the first detector and a second output signal with the second detector, and computationally combining the first and second output signals with a signal processor to determine the characteristic of interest of the sample.
US09103766B2
The present invention can be described as an apparatus and cartridge for detecting the presence of an analyte in a fluid. The invention can also be described as a method of detecting the presence of an analyte in a fluid using the apparatus and cartridge. The method comprises the steps of clamping a sensor cartridge into a cartridge receiver of the apparatus, providing fluid to a fluid flow-path of the cartridge, illuminating at least a portion of a sensor, and using a photodetector to detect a change in the optical property of the sensor, wherein the change is caused by the presence or absence of an analyte in the fluid.
US09103764B2
A method of estimating the time and flight of an acoustic signal transmitted by a transmit acoustic transducer determines a difference in time between receiving the transmitted acoustic signal and receiving an electromagnetic wave transmitted by the transmit acoustic transducer coincident with transmitting the acoustic signal.
US09103761B2
The presence of a detectable entity within a detection volume of a microfabricated elastomeric structure is sensed through a change in the electrical or magnetic environment of the detection volume. In embodiments utilizing electronic detection, an electric field is applied to the detection volume and a change in impedance, current, or combined impedance and current due to the presence of the detectable entity is measured. In embodiments utilizing magnetic detection, the magnetic properties of a magnetized detected entity alter the magnetic field of the detection volume. This changed magnetic field induces a current which can reveal the detectable entity. The change in resistance of a magnetoresistive element may also reveal the passage of a magnetized detectable entity.
US09103760B2
A flow cytometer including a laser, indexing structure, adjustment structure, and sensor structure. The cytometer is conventionally used with a removable microfluidic cassette, which is installed at a first position that is enforced by the indexing structure. The adjustment structure changes a relative position between an interrogation aperture of the cassette and the laser beam. Feedback from the sensor structure is used to optimize propagation of the laser through the interrogation aperture to reduce (and hopefully eliminate) autofluorescence caused by beam impingement onto the cassette.
US09103758B1
A method for manufacturing a test specimen assembly. A first material for the test specimen assembly and a witness coupon are positioned relative to each other. A surface treatment is applied onto a first surface of the first material and onto a surface of the witness coupon. An adhesive is applied onto the first surface of the first material. A second surface of a second material for the test specimen assembly is placed onto the first surface of the first material with the adhesive. The adhesive is cured to form the test specimen assembly.
US09103749B2
A testing container is described having a vessel with a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending between the first end and the second end. The first end forms an opening into the vessel. The sidewall has one or more protrusions extending inwardly therefrom. The one or more protrusions form a gap having a width in a range between 2-4 mm, and the one or more protrusions have sufficient strength to withstand lateral pressure of a swab positioned in the gap relative to the one or more protrusions and to remove a head of the swab.
US09103745B2
A method of detecting nitrogen compound emissions in exhaust gases treated with selective catalytic reduction achieved by injecting a reducing agent into the gases and by passing these gases through a catalyst include sending the signal collected by a gas detector arranged in the exhaust gas downstream from the catalyst and representative of the amount of NOx (NOxsonde) at the catalyst outlet to a computing unit, decomposing this signal into a value representative of the effective NOx amount (NOxréel) at the outlet of catalyst established by the SCR catalyst model, into a detector perturbation coefficient (k) and into a value representative of the ammonia amount (NH3réel) via an integrated model so as to obtain NOxsonde=NOxréel+k.NH3réel, evaluating coefficient (k) from this decomposition, and determining the presence of nitrogen compounds downstream from the catalyst when coefficient (k) is greater than or equal to 1.
US09103736B2
A method, apparatus and computer-readable medium for determining deformation of a plurality of coupled members. A distributed strain sensor string on a first member is coupled to a distributed strain sensor string on a second member. Signals are obtained from the sensor strings. A subset of strain data relating to sensor strain on the first member and the second member is created. A virtual sensor string is created having a plurality of virtual sensors placed on the first and second members including a joint therebetween. Strain data of sensors in the distributed stain sensor strings is mapped to sensors in the virtual sensor string. The deformation of the plurality of coupled members is determined using the strain data of the virtual sensors.
US09103731B2
The present disclosure relates to a high temperature resistance temperature detector for measuring exhaust gas temperature for example. The structure includes a resistive element disposed on an insulated carrier. The structure further includes a housing disposed over the carrier and resistive element for inhibiting oxidation of the element which would result in failure of the detector.
US09103712B2
A housing for a weighing apparatus includes a bottom plate on which the weighing apparatus can be installed or which comprises part of the weighing apparatus. A surrounding elastic sealing element is located on the underside of the housing such that when the housing is placed in an installed position relative to a carrier element on which the weighing apparatus is connected, the bottom plate is sealed in an outside annular circumferential area of the underside of the bottom plate with respect to the surface of the carrier element. In the installed position, side walls of a housing upper part encompass the surrounding side wall of the bottom plate such that a lower front surface of the side walls impinges on an area of the sealing element which protrudes beyond the outside circumference of the bottom plate. This impingement seals the housing side walls with respect to the bottom plate.
US09103711B2
A beam scale assembly for proportioning a first component in a first container and a second component in a second container including a balance beam extending between a first balancing area and a second balancing area for receiving the first and second containers respectively. A pivot extends downwardly between the first and second balancing areas along a tipping axis. The balancing areas each have a center and define a distance axis across the center in spaced and parallel relationship to the tipping axis. A connection interconnects the balancing area and the balance beam along an adjustment axis and facilitates rotation of the balancing area relative to the balance beam about the adjustment axis for adjusting the distance between the distance axis of the balancing area and the tipping axis.
US09103709B2
Apparatus for flow prover precisely measures the volume and the flow rate of a fluid through a cylinder. The prover includes a piston within a cylinder supporting a shaft extending longitudinally through the cylinder, which cylinder receives and discharges the fluid by translation of the piston from the fluid receiving end to the fluid discharging end. Motive means draws the shaft and piston toward the fluid receiving end of the cylinder. Travel of the piston in the direction from the fluid receiving end to the fluid discharging end of the cylinder is sensed at discrete locations to provide an indication of the volume of fluid therebetween and the related flow rate. Each of a plurality of emitter/detector modules provides piston position sensing signals reflective of the volume and rate of fluid flowing through the cylinder. A switch bar rigidly and permanently fixes the position of the emitter/detector modules with respect to the piston and with respect to one another. An immovable gate or aperture regulates the cross-section of the light beam striking the detector and ensures that the measured volume is repeatable and cannot be altered due to external factors such as in-field use, service, maintenance on components or the like.
US09103700B2
Position information of a movable body within an XY plane is measured with high accuracy by an encoder system whose measurement values have favorable short-term stability, without being affected by air fluctuations, and also position information of the movable body in a Z-axis direction orthogonal to the XY plane is measured with high accuracy by a surface position measuring system, without being affected by air fluctuations. In this case, since both of the encoder system and the surface position measuring system directly measure the upper surface of the movable body, simple and direct position control of the movable body can be performed.
US09103688B2
A vehicle's driving personality is adapted to a driver by determining a driver's ability to operate the vehicle by monitoring the driver's operation. The driver's operation, such as vehicle speed, lane usage, and braking, is compared to known characteristics of the road segment on which the vehicle is being driven. The driver's competency is evaluated by comparing how the driver operates a vehicle on a segment of roadway to how the vehicle could be operated and stay within limits imposed by law. A driver's ability to operate the vehicle can also be obtained from sensors that monitor a driver's heart rate, respiration rate, eye movement, and other health-indicating autonomic responses. After the driver's capabilities are determined, navigation instructions provided to the driver thereafter are modified to route the driver over roads that are either preferred or appropriate for the driver's physical abilities.
US09103680B2
An image pickup device picks-up forward images, and a GPS information acquiring section acquires satellite information that includes Doppler frequencies. A position/velocity vector computing section computes a velocity vector by using the Doppler frequencies. A locus computing section computes a locus of positions of ones own vehicle. A projected image generating section generates, from the forward images, projected images that are projected onto a road surface. A local map generating section records road surface images, that are obtained for respective points on the locus of ones own vehicle, at respective regions of a local map that is determined on the basis of a traveling direction of a moving body at each point on the locus and a set position and a posture of the image pickup device. Due thereto, a local map generating device can, by a simple structure, generate a highly accurate map.
US09103677B2
An approach for generating optimal itineraries is presented. As a response to a first message sent to a remote computer system by a global positioning device transported by a vehicle on a trip, the device receives a second message indicating optimal itineraries of the trip. The device receives a selection of an optimal itinerary indicating a path, a hop, an updated service provider to provide a service to a mobile device transported by the vehicle, and an updated network for providing the service. The device detects the vehicle at a position indicated by the hop, and in response, generates a third message indicating the updated service provider and the updated network. The global positioning device sends the third message to the mobile device and as a result, the mobile device makes a connectivity change to the updated service provider and/or to the updated network.
US09103676B2
An interferometer employed, in part, as a Sagnac interferometer or fiber optic gyro (FOG) includes a light source that provides a source light wave that is split into first and second light waves that are directed to traverse a defined optical loop path in opposite directions. The defined optical loop path in accordance with the present invention is provided by multiple waveguides wound into a coil such that the opposite traveling first and second light waves serially travel through all of the waveguides in opposite directions around the optical loop path.
US09103674B2
A sensor element includes a base part 21, drive vibration arms 221 and 222, adjustment vibration arms 241-244 that vibrate in response to drive vibration of the drive vibration arms 221 and 222, detection electrodes that output a charge according to a physical quantity applied to the drive vibration arms 221 and 222, first adjustment electrodes provided on the adjustment vibration arms 241 and 242 and electrically connected to the detection electrodes for outputting a charge in response to vibration of the adjustment vibration arms 241 and 242, and second adjustment electrodes provided on the adjustment vibration arms 243 and 244 and electrically connected to the detection electrodes for outputting a charge in a reverse polarity with respect to the first adjustment electrodes in response to vibration of the adjustment vibration arms 243 and 244.
US09103672B2
Gyroscopic measurements are provided, by a system comprising a vibrating gyroscope, in the form of an output signal. The vibrating gyroscope provides an original measurement signal. A periodic control signal (CP) is applied to it over a time period, which signal is suitable: for rotating the geometric position of vibration in a first direction, during a part of the time period; and for rotating the geometric position of vibration in a second direction opposite to the first direction, during the other part of the time period; said control signal having a zero mean over said time period and exhibiting portions of signal at high frequency relative to the output signal; said output signal being based on a corrected signal emanating from the original measurement signal; in which the corrected signal is based on an identification of errors made during the signal portions at high frequency.
US09103664B2
Provided is a method for controlling a fabrication cluster using an optical metrology system that includes an optical metrology tool, an optical metrology model, and a profile extraction algorithm. The method comprises: selecting a number of rays for the illumination beam, selecting beam propagation parameters, using a processor, determining beam propagation parameters from the light source of the to the sample structure, determining the beam propagation parameters from the sample structure to the detector, calculating intensity and polarization of each ray on the detector, generating a total intensity and polarization of the diffraction beam, calculating a metrology output signal from the total intensity and polarization, extracting the one or more profile parameters using the metrology output signal, transmitting at least one profile parameter to a fabrication cluster, and adjusting at least one process parameter or equipment setting of the fabrication cluster.
US09103663B2
A depth calculation method of a depth sensor includes outputting a modulated light to a target object, detecting four pixel signals from a depth pixel based on a reflected light reflected by the target object, determining whether each of the four pixel signals is saturated based on results of comparing a magnitude of each of the four pixel signals with a threshold value, and calculating depth to the target object based on the determination result.
US09103652B2
A non-contact sheet conductivity measurement system includes a magnetic head apparatus, a computing system coupled to the magnetic head apparatus, a linear actuator coupled to the magnetic head apparatus, a motor controller coupled to the magnetic head apparatus, a power supply coupled to the magnetic head apparatus and a frequency meter coupled to the magnetic head apparatus.
US09103651B2
Method of determining a property of a sample from a correlogram obtainable by scanning of a surface of the sample through a focal plane of an objective using broad-band interferometry is provided. The correlogram may be displaying interference radiation intensity as a function of the scanning distance from the surface. The correlogram may be correlated with a secondary correlogram to obtain a cross correlogram or with the same correlogram to obtain an autocorrelogram. A property of the sample may be determined from the auto or cross correlogram.
US09103647B2
A position detection device includes a first component provided by molding of a first mold resin with a first hall IC, a second component provided by molding of a second mold resin with a second hall IC, a terminal connected to a first wiring of the first component and to a second wiring of the second component, and a third mold resin molded to hold and protect the first component, the second component and the terminal. The third mold resin fixing the first component and the second component to each other. Accordingly, the position detection device can be provided, which includes a component usable commonly for a variety of position detection devices which are different in the number of hall ICs.
US09103643B2
There is provided an impact resistance self-destruct fuse installed in a shell and functioning to ignite explosion of the unexploded shell occurred in the case that a shell falls on the inclined ground or barriers but fails to be exploded by a mechanical fuse, by the configuration including a fuse slide having grooves formed on the top and the bottom at one side of the fuse slide so as to be easily breakable by absorbing the impact occurred when the shell falls and bounces, a battery displaced inside the portion of the fuse slide which is separated off by the grooves, and a battery hit needle located along the line where the battery is located in order to hit the battery, and a detonator exploded by the electric energy from the battery or exploding the impact resistance self-destruct fuse by sensing the short of the battery in circuits.
US09103638B2
A diversionary device has a housing containing a pyrotechnic cartridge (24) with an ignitable fuse (52). A firing arrangement includes an ignition cap (60) containing a primer charge (54). Passageways (74, 82) in the housing and ignition cap define a first flow path from the primer charge to a region of the housing in which the fuse (52) is located through which flash from the primer charge can flow to ignite the fuse (52). A further flow path connects said region of the housing with the exterior of the housing to supply the fuse with oxygen for reliable burning. The device may be a multi-burst device containing a plurality of cartridges (24) and the first flow path may include a flash divider (86) for directing a proportion of the flash from a primer charge on to the fuse (52) of each cartridge. The housing may be separable to allow replacement of the cartridges (24).
US09103637B1
A covert taggant dispersing grenade includes: a shell, the covert taggant disposed in the shell; a dispersal apparatus operably associated with the covert taggant to disperse the covert taggant; and a propulsion section operably associated with the shell for propelling the shell through an atmosphere. A method for dispersing a taggant includes: launching a grenade containing a taggant over a target, the taggant being invisible in the spectrum of the human eye; and covertly dispensing the taggant over the target.
US09103636B1
An explosive device includes a housing and an explosive charge within the housing. The explosive charge includes a primary explosive charge and a shaped charge placed against an inside surface of the housing. The explosive device may further include a buffering material that separates the shaped charge and the primary explosive charge. The shaped charge provides a means for opening the housing before detonating the primary explosive charge, thereby enhancing the blast effect from detonating the primary explosive charge.
US09103635B1
An explosive device includes a hollow container having an inner volume holding an explosive. A piezoelectric ceramic connected to the container also has an electrical connection to the explosive. A deformation of the container applies mechanical stress to the piezoelectric ceramic which produces a potential difference or an electric current discharged using the electrical connection. The discharge detonates the explosive. The piezoelectric ceramic may be inside the container or on an outer surface and may be later inserted into the container to arm the explosive device. The container may have an outer surface that is an electrical insulator to prevent accidental electrostatic detonation. The explosive is optionally a plastic explosive. The electrical connection to the explosive optionally includes electrical conductors spaced apart to form a gap that is dimensioned to enable a spark to cross the gap when the piezoelectric ceramic deforms a pre-designated amount.
US09103626B1
A firearm has a frame with an interchangeable barrel that is mounted to the frame through a tool-less knockdown pin. The barrel has ports in a smooth-bore section and no ports in a rifled-bore section, and the ports are progressively spaced, with the ports closest to the rifled-bore section having a greater distance between the ports than the ports closest to the muzzle. Preferably, the firearm is a multi-chamber design such as a revolver with a firing cylinder or a multi-barrel breech-loader that holds multiple rounds of ammunition together with a storage-firing clip while stored in an ammunition compartment and also when loaded into the firing chambers and discharged by the firearm. The frame preferably has a trigger mechanism with a sear assembly that includes a block assembly with a wedge block that translates on a guide rod and a disconnect block that is supported by a disconnect rest.
US09103624B1
A ballistic trajectory adjustment mechanism for a toy gun includes an inner barrel penetrating through a gun base, a rubbing sleeve mounted on the inner gun barrel and a rubbing portion positioned inside the inner gun barrel. The inner gun barrel penetrates through a gear set. A flexible press plate includes one end inserting into the gear set and another extended to the rubbing sleeve. An adjustment barrel rotates under the exertion of an external force to drive the gear set to rotate in order to allow a restricting end of the flexible press plate to generate upward and downward movements and to press onto the rubbing sleeve for changing the position of the rubbing portion. With such configuration, the position of the rubbing portion can be adjusted via the adjustment barrel; therefore, the objective of correcting the ballistic trajectory is achieved.
US09103622B2
Provided is bow including: a handle; a pair of wings; and a bow string, wherein a coupling pin is formed in a rear side of one end of each wing coupled to the handle, and a fitting groove is formed at one end of each wing, wherein a coupling groove into which the coupling pin of each wing is coupled is formed at one end of the handle, and a fixing pin that is inserted into the fitting groove of each wing is formed at the one end of the handle, and wherein a buffer pin member that is configured to include a pin member that is inserted into an insertion hole formed in each wing and coupled to the handle and a first cushioning member that is formed between a front end of the pin member and each wing, is provided at each end of the handle.
US09103597B2
A plate heat exchanger includes a plurality of heat exchanger plates formed of a metal sheet and permanently joined to each other by means of a braze material to form a plate package having first plate interspaces and second plate interspaces. Each heat exchanger plate has a pattern forming a heat transfer area and a plurality of porthole areas. Each heat exchanger plate extends along a main extension plane. The areas extend, on one side of the heat exchanger plate, between a primary level at a distance from the main extension plane and a secondary level at a distance from and on an opposite side of the main extension plane. Each heat exchanger plate has a depth defined by the distance between the primary level and the secondary level. The depth is equal to or less than 1.0 mm.
US09103586B2
Processes to separate a light hydrocarbon stream comprising ethylene, ethane, and C3+ hydrocarbons into an ethylene stream, an ethane stream, and a C3+ hydrocarbon stream, including: feeding the light hydrocarbon stream to a deethanizer; separating the light hydrocarbons in the deethanizer to form a C3+ hydrocarbon bottoms stream and a C2-rich overhead stream comprising ethylene and ethane; separating the C2-rich stream in a C2-rectifier to form a first ethylene stream and an ethane-rich bottoms stream; and separating the ethane-rich bottoms stream in a C2-splitter to form a second ethylene stream and an ethane stream.
US09103577B2
An ice making system for a refrigerator includes a base member; an icemaker mounted to the base member for making ice pieces; a driving unit mounted to a rear surface of the base member such that a motor shaft thereof is in a horizontal state; an ice bank horizontally inserted into the base member in a detachable manner, for storing the ice pieces made by the icemaker; a detachable mounting unit for detachably mounting the ice bank to the base member; and an ice crusher assembly provided at the ice bank so as to be connected to or separated from the driving unit, for crushing the ice pieces. Since the ice bank has only to be horizontally pushed into the base member for coupling, or horizontally pulled out of the base member for separation, processes for coupling or separating the ice bank to/from the base member are facilitated.
US09103574B2
An air conditioner includes: a heat source-side unit having a compressor, a heat source-side heat exchanger, a first throttle device and a super-cooling heat exchanger; a load-side unit having a second throttle device and a load-side heat exchanger; a switching device for switching connections of discharge and intake sides of the compressor between the heat source-side unit and the load-side unit; a refrigerant reservoir supplying refrigerant and connected to a refrigerating cycle between the first throttle device of the heat source-side unit and the heat source-side heat exchanger through a refrigerant filling switch valve; and a controller controlling the switching device, the first throttle device, the second throttle device and refrigerant filling switch valve.
US09103573B2
A heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system for a vehicle is disclosed, the HVAC system including at least one thermoelectric device for providing supplemental heating and cooling for air supplied to a passenger compartment of the vehicle to maximize an efficiency of operation of the vehicle during operation of the HVAC system.
US09103564B2
The solar energy converter for generating electric energy and heated fluid comprises a multi-layer assembly, a photovoltaic panel and a manifold assembly. The multi-layer assembly is a casing and comprises N layers separated by at least one separator floor, each layer has at least one channel adapted to contain a fluid stream, and each layer has a first opening and a second opening. The photovoltaic panel has a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface of the photovoltaic panel contacts the multi-layer assembly. The manifold assembly comprises N passages for containing the fluid streams, the Kth passage is adapted to distribute the fluid stream to be heated into the channel of the Kth layer through the corresponding first opening and collect the heated fluid stream from the channel of the Kth layer through the corresponding second opening, wherein N is a positive integer, K is a positive integer less than or equal to N.
US09103550B2
A control system for a water heater generally includes a water heater controller configured to receive upper and lower sensor temperatures associated with water in the respective upper and lower portions of the tank. The water heater controller is configured to determine a value indicative of a portion of water in the tank at a desired set-point temperature as a function of the upper sensor temperature, the lower sensor temperature, and the desired set-point temperature. The water heater controller is configured to wirelessly transmit at least one signal indicative of said value indicative of the portion of water in the tank at the desired set-point temperature. A user interface includes a plurality of selectively illuminated segmented portions. The user interface is configured to receive said value from the water heater controller and to selectively illuminate a number of segmented portions representative of said value.
US09103544B2
A lighting module has an array of light emitters, a heat sink having a first surface, the array of light emitters being mounted to the first surface, a microchannel cooler arranged on a second surface of the heat sink on an opposite side of the heat sink from the first surface, the microchannel cooler arranged to transport a liquid through a channel on the second surface of the heat sink, and a cooling unit thermally coupled to a microchannel cooler and arranged to remove heat from the liquid.
US09103543B2
A lamp stand docking station. The lamp stand docking station includes a base, wherein the base is configured to support the lamp stand docking station. The lamp stand docking station also includes a clamp attached to the base. The clamp includes an adjustable arm for securing an external device and a lamp.
US09103537B2
Disclosed is a heat-dissipating apparatus and an illuminator using the same. The heat-dissipating apparatus includes a heat sink including one side contacted with a heat generating portion and the other side having heat-dissipating pins arranged at the edge thereof and a space formed inside the heat-dissipating pins; and a driver that is positioned in the space and keeps the heat-dissipating pins cool by sucking outside air and discharging inside air with a pumping operation.
US09103536B2
A printed circuit board (1), having a front side (2) for population with at least one semiconductor light source (4) and having at least one securing element (6) accessible via a rear side (3), wherein the at least one securing element (6) is embodied as an electrical through-conduction element for at least one of the semiconductor light sources.
US09103533B1
A studio lamp apparatus includes a housing structure including front and back ends, and an interior region between the front and back ends. The apparatus also includes a support structure coupled to the housing structure, which holds the housing structure in a suspended state. The apparatus includes a Fresnel lens coupled to the front end and a plurality of vents on the back end. The apparatus includes a lamp assembly within a portion of the interior region. The lamp assembly may have a reflector device operably coupled to a lamp device that has a resonator structure and a bulb including a fill material coupled to the resonator structure. The lamp device may also have an RF probe coupled to the bulb to supply power to the fill material and a focusing device between the Fresnel lens and the lamp assembly.
US09103531B2
A lighting assembly (10) comprising: a casing (24) having a bowl-like structure with a bottom wall (24a) defining a window opening (26), and joined to said casing (24), a stack of elements comprising: a light radiation source (12, 14) situated opposite said opening (26) so as to direct said light radiation towards the outside of the casing (24); and a driving circuit board (16) for said radiation source (12, 14).
US09103528B2
A solid state illumination system is provided as a replacement for conventional arc light, metal halide and Xenon white-light sources for applications in life sciences including, microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and endoscopy. The solid state illumination system generates high quality white light output from LED light sources. The white light output is continuous in the visible spectrum from 380 nm to 650 nm and is suitable for imaging all the most common fluorophores and fluorescent proteins. In embodiments, an LED light pipe engine is used to generate a portion of the spectral content of the white light output. In alternative embodiments the solid state illumination system produces light output of a selectable color.
US09103527B2
A light source unit includes LED 1 with an emission surface and polarizer 2 that is positioned opposite the emission surface of LED 1 and in which the direction of a transmission axis varies depending on a position in the plane of polarizer 2. Polarizer 2 includes a recessed and protruding structure which transmits, from among light that travels from LED 1 side into polarizer 2, a portion of the light whose polarization direction is parallel to the transmission axis, while reflecting and diffracting a portion of the light whose polarization direction is orthogonal to the transmission axis. The recessed and protruding structure includes diffraction grating 3.
US09103524B2
Methods and apparatus provide for a display device comprising a plurality of display panels arranged adjacent to one another along the respective peripheral edges thereof, and wherein respective first and second viewing planes form an obtuse angle T relative to each other. The display device further includes a cover sheet located in proximity to, and covering the first and second viewing planes, and includes a light compensation portion located proximate to the peripheral edges of the first and second flat panel displays, and has a curvature complementary to the obtuse angle between the respective first and second viewing planes. The light compensation portion bends light produced by respective peripheral areas of the first and second flat panel displays proximate to the respective peripheral edges thereof to reduce visual discontinuities introduced by the peripheral edges into an image displayed on the first and second flat panel displays.
US09103521B2
A lighting apparatus is provided which includes a drive section which applies electric current to a light source which is a semiconductor element emitting light with application of electric current, at least one heat sink which is mounted with the light source and transfers heat generated by the emission of the light source, and a temperature measurement section which is mounted to the heat sink and measures temperature of the heat sink which is used for estimating temperature of the light source. The light source and the drive section are mounted to the same heat sink or to the heat sinks which are thermally coupled to each other.
US09103518B2
A vehicle headlight of a small projector type can provide a favorable light distribution for an overhead sign area along with a light distribution used as a low beam. The headlight can include a semiconductor light source and a projector lens including first, second and third light-emitting surfaces. The headlight can project light having high brightness underneath a horizontal cut-off line while projecting other light in the downward direction using the first and third light-emitting surfaces. Additionally, the headlight can be configured to illuminate light having small chromatic aberration toward the overhead sign area using the second light-emitting surface located between the first and third light-emitting surfaces. Thus, the headlight can provide a favorable light distribution pattern used as a low beam and a favorable light distribution pattern for the overhead sign area using the light that color separation is inhibited so as to conform to a vehicular standard.
US09103515B1
A replacement LED lamp module for a street light includes a heat dissipating cover (10), a driver (20), and an LED module (30). The heat dissipating cover (10) has a receiving cavity (14) and a receiving recess (15) disposed inward of a bottom of the heat dissipating cover (10). The driver (20) is installed in the receiving cavity (14). The LED module (30) is disposed corresponding to the receiving recess (15) and fixed to the heat dissipating cover (10); the LED module (30) is electrically connected to the driver (20). Thus, the replacement of the LED lamp module can be achieved without affecting the main structure of the conventional street light.
US09103508B2
An LED lamp includes a plurality of LED modules arranged in direction x, a tubular enclosure for housing the LED modules that is open at ends spaced from each other in direction x, and end caps respectively closing the ends of the tubular enclosure in direction x. Each of the end caps is configured to diffuse light from the LED modules while transmitting the light, and includes an emission surface for emitting light in a direction z perpendicular to direction x. This arrangement ensures that the LED lamp has a good appearance even when it is made long.
US09103505B2
A heat dissipation structure for LED lighting includes a light shade, at least one LED module, a wind guide member and a light seat. The light shade has a first opening and a second opening. The light shade further has at least one first extension section between the first and second openings. The LED module is inlaid in the first extension section. The light seat is connected with the light shade to form at least one perforation therebetween. The wind guide member serves to directly suck in airflow through the perforation to dissipate the heat generated by the LED module. The heat of the LED module is carried out of the first opening so as to lower the temperature of the LED module. Accordingly, the heat dissipation structure is free from any radiating fin assembly so that the total weight is reduced and the heat dissipation efficiency is enhanced.
US09103501B1
A gas cylinder safety purge and anchor system features a gas cylinder with a plurality of cylinder apertures located around a neck outside periphery. The system features a cylindrical purge deflector with a plurality of deflector apertures located on a internal deflector cap component wall that align with the cylinder apertures when the purge deflector is positioned on the neck. The system features a valve on the cylinder. The system features an anchor assembly having a linear outer tube and a linear inner shaft located in the outer tube. In a first position, a first anchor projection, a second anchor projection, a third anchor projection, and a fourth anchor projection are each located perpendicularly with respect to the outer tube. In a second position, the first anchor projection, the second anchor projection, the third anchor projection, and the fourth anchor projection are each retracted.
US09103497B1
A system and method for regasifying LNG using ambient air vaporizers without ambient air fog formation. The warm moist ambient air is cooled and dried using cold recovery from the cryogenic LNG stream by means of an intermediate heat transfer fluid circulated in a closed loop followed by the addition of a warm diluent air stream such that the final temperature of the exit stream of mixed air is at or above the ambient air dew point. Adjustable diluent air dampers permit an induced draft ambient vaporizer assembly.
US09103496B2
A light curtain for use with a machine, such as a press brake. The light curtain includes a controller which is communicatingly connected to a controller of the machine, and at least one presence detector which is connected to the controller of the light curtain. The light curtain also includes at least one sensor which is configured to sense position and/or speed of movement of a moveable part of the machine, in use, the controller of the light curtain receives feedback from the at least one presence detector as well as from the at least one sensor which is configured to sense position and/or speed of movement of the moveable part of a machine. The controller of the light curtain signals the controller of the machine to operate the machine based on the feedback which is received by the light curtain. Preferably, the at least one presence detector is sequentially programmable to effectively provide blanked-out sections, and the controller of the light curtain uses the at least one sensor to detect when the moveable part of the machine is moving through the blanked-out section, and cause the machine to slow down to a safer speed.
US09103472B2
Systems, methods and apparatuses for the installation or removal of buoyancy modules onto or from a submerged conduit are described herein. A system may include a buoyancy module (30), a control panel (76), an actuating means (72), and a clamp tool (40). The buoyancy module may include at least two sections. The clamp tool may hold the sections of the buoyancy module. The clamp tool (40) may include at least two plates (50, 52, 54, 56) that are actuated opened or closed, using the control panel (76) and/or the actuating means (72) during attachment or removal of the buoyancy module (30) to the submerged conduit (10).
US09103468B2
Microfluidic devices, along with their methods of formation and use, are provided. The microfluidic device can include a substrate with a main channel and a first auxiliary channel defined in the substrate's surface. The main channel has a main width of about 1000 μm or less. The first auxiliary channel intersects with the main channel at a first aperture defined in a first side wall of the main channel. A second auxiliary channel can intersect with the main channel at a second aperture defined in a second side wall of the main channel. A plurality of main channels and respective auxiliary channel(s) can be included on the surface.
US09103467B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a vibration damping system including a fixed element, a moveable element arranged to move linearly along an axis relative to the fixed element in response to a non-mechanical force, and an inerter element coupling the moveable element to the fixed element, and configured to convert the linear motion of the moveable element into rotational motion about the axis. The vibration damping system may be applied to many types of valves. In some embodiments, the vibration damping system may be applied to pressure relief valves. In some embodiments, the moveable element rotates to provide inertial damping. In other embodiments, the inerter element rotates to provide inertial damping.
US09103460B2
A control head for a fluidically actuated valve having a main body which comprises a coupling device for fixing the main body to a shaft section of the valve and which supports a control valve device which is designed to provide a control fluid flow for actuating a fluid regulating agent in order to activate the valve, said regulating agent being arranged in the shaft section in a linearly movable manner, and having a path measurement device arranged on the main body, which is designed to determine an axial position of the regulating agent along a movement axis.
US09103454B2
The disclosure relates to a process valve for a media flow path, particularly for use in the beverage industry or pharmaceutical, chemical and food industry, including at least one valve disk, at least one primary seal lying on the valve disk, at least one secondary seal, and at least one hollow space bounded by at least one primary seal and at least one secondary seal having at least one conically tapered groove for holding the secondary seal. The secondary seal is incorporated in such a manner that it seals on only one side and is permeable to media that flow out of the hollow space.
US09103448B2
A plug valve including a valve body having an inlet port, an outlet port and a central chamber extending between the inlet port and the outlet port. The valve also includes an inlet seal segment within the central chamber and includes a bore extending therethrough and aligned with the inlet port. An outlet seal segment is disposed within the central chamber having a bore extending therethrough and aligned with the outlet port. A plug member is disposed in the central chamber and is moveable between an open position, to facilitate fluid flow through the plug valve, and a closed position, to block fluid flow through the plug valve. First and second side segments are disposed between and interlocked to the inlet and outlet seal segments to encircle the plug member. The side segments are tensioned to preload the seal segments against the plug member to prevent the flow of fluid between the seal segments and the plug member.
US09103443B2
A sealing structure for a cylindrical body has an O-ring holder in which a planar O-ring that provides a seal in the planar direction and a radial O-ring that provides a seal in the axial line direction of the cylindrical body are incorporated in the crossing direction provided at both end parts of the cylindrical body; a pressing means for pressing the O-ring holder in the axial line direction of the cylindrical body via a pressing lid; the O-ring holder is pressed against a tube sheet of the fluid chamber via the pressing lid by the pressing means to press the planar O-ring onto the tube sheet, whereby a fluid tight seal is provided between the fluid chamber and the outside; and the radial O-ring is pressed onto the outer periphery of the cylindrical body to provide a fluid tight seal between the fluid passage and the fluid chamber.
US09103434B2
A fail-to-neutral diagnostic technique for a transmission that includes a variator may include monitoring a state of a pressure differential valve fluidly coupled to a high side pressure applied to at least one actuator coupled to at least one corresponding roller of the variator and also fluidly coupled to a low side pressure applied to the at least one actuator, determining from the state of the pressure differential valve a variator torque sign corresponding to whether torque transferred by the at least one roller is positive or negative, determining an expected variator torque sign based on current operating conditions of the transmission, and commanding the transmission to a true neutral condition if the determined variator torque sign is different from the expected variator torque sign.
US09103428B2
In a structure for coupling a V-belt type continuously variable transmission with an engine of a vehicle, the engine includes a first opening through which a crankshaft passes. A coupling plate mounted on a plate mounting surface that surrounds the first opening includes a second opening through which the crankshaft and an upper end flange of the oil pan pass. First and second seal plates are disposed on front and back surfaces of the coupling plate, and the first and second seal plates seal a space into which the upper end flange is inserted. A liquid seal agent seals gaps of various locations of the second opening.
US09103426B2
A left-right drive force difference transient control computation value calculating section uses a map search, based on a change rate of a target yaw rate, to find a left-right rear wheel drive force difference transient control computation value, which is a basic target value for a turning response transiently requested by a driver. A left-right drive force difference transient control gain computing section sets a left-right drive force difference transient control gain to be smaller than 1 in a low vehicle speed region. A transient control computing section multiplies the left-right rear wheel drive force difference transient control computing value by the left-right drive force difference transient control gain to calculate a left-right rear wheel drive force difference transient control amount and contributes the same to a left-right wheel drive force distribution control.
US09103411B2
A belt tensioner for attaching to a generator of an auxiliary unit drive of an internal combustion engine, including a tensioner housing mounted on the generator having a cavity, two tensioning rollers which act with a pretensioning force on the belt in a direction of revolution upstream and downstream of the pulley of the generator, a bow spring which produces the pretensioning force accommodated in the cavity, a circular-arc-shaped tensioning lever mounted in the cavity movable in a plane of the circular arc and which is acted on by the force of the bow springs and supports one of the tensioning rollers, and a sliding bearing for the tensioning lever, which sliding bearing extends at the inlet of the cavity. The tensioning lever has a steel core with an aluminum sheath which completely encloses the part of the steel core which extends outside the cavity and inside the sliding bearing.
US09103396B2
A device is provided for reducing first cylinder vibratory force F1 and second cylinder vibratory force F2 which are generated when a crankshaft is rotated, in a parallel twin cylinder internal combustion engine in which a crankshaft is provided with a first crankpin and a second crankpin at a predetermined phase angle and a cylinder block is formed with a first cylinder and a second cylinder.
US09103392B2
A control mechanism for decoupling a drive ratchet on a bicycle hub makes it possible to push the bicycle backwards while the foot pedals of the pedal crank drive remain still. These functions can be applied to folding bicycles, in which pedal movements are harmful when in their folded up state. The control mechanism includes a controlling sleeve coupled to the drive ratchet, which is indirectly connected by means of a frictional device to the unmoving hub axle.
US09103388B2
The present invention concerns a method of controlling a double clutch transmission (1) comprising two clutches (2a, 2b) one of which that is transmitting torque being the active clutch while the other one constituting the incoming clutch characterized by combining the incoming clutch preparation and the torque handover from the active clutch by over actuating the incoming clutch and shutting off the active clutch in a non proportional way, based on a feedback signal from the incoming clutch.
US09103384B2
A rotation transmission device includes an outer ring having an inner cylindrical surface, and an inner ring having outer cam surfaces. A pair of rollers and an elastic member biasing the rollers away from each other are mounted between the cylindrical surface and each adjacent pair of the cam surfaces. The rollers and the elastic members are retained by a control retainer and a rotary retainer each having a flange and crossbars extending from the flange and circumferentially alternating with the crossbars of the other retainer. The respective opposed pairs of rollers are pushed by the respective crossbars to a disengaged position when the retainers rotate relative to each other. The crossbars of the retainers are disposed between the outer ring and the inner ring and the flanges are provided outside the outer ring to minimize the axial length of the outer ring.
US09103383B2
A first clutch link for a driving clutch is capable of engaging another clutch link through interaction of a receptacle chamber and a projection. The first clutch link includes a contact surface and a counter surface, which are located on parallel planes. A hole is implemented behind the counter surface and is connected via a gap to the receptacle chamber. This hole extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the driving clutch. A spring element is situated in the hole and has a contact area for contact on the other clutch link, which protrudes through the gap into the receptacle chamber. The hole has at least one opening, whose edge projects at least partially radially inward with respect to the hole in order to prevent the spring element from slipping through the opening of the hole.
US09103381B2
A carrier ring for an encoder assembly includes a suspension device with resilient members. The encoder assembly includes a sensing device, such as a sensor head, for scanning directly toward a rotatable encoding member positioned on the carrier ring. The carrier ring is intended to be installed on a shaft of a machine.
US09103380B2
An axle support structure includes a drive source output shaft, an axle, a vehicle body-side member, a vehicle wheel bearing and a floating shaft. The drive source output shaft is configured to be rotated by a drive source. The axle is disposed coaxially with the drive source output shaft to rotate integrally with a vehicle wheel. The vehicle wheel bearing is coupled to the axle for rotatably supporting the axle on a vehicle body-side member. The floating shaft has a first linking part linked with the drive source output shaft with a degree of freedom in a non-rotational direction, and a second linking part linked with the axle with a degree of freedom in a non-rotational direction, such that power is transmitted from the drive source output shaft to the axle. The vehicle wheel bearing is disposed axially between the first and second linking parts.
US09103361B2
A clip includes a clip body, displacement portions, engagement portions and curved protruding portions. The clip body can be accommodated between a first through-hole of a protruding portion of a first object to be fixed and a second object to be fixed. The displacement portions are provided on both end portions of the clip body along a virtual line. The engagement portions are provided at leading end side of the displacement portions so as to engage with the protruding portion when the clip body is pulled out from the first through-hole. The curved protruding portions provided at both end portions of the clip body and each are engaged with a curved corner portion formed in the second object to be fixed when the clip body is pulled out from the first through-hole.
US09103359B2
A hydrostatic transmission comprises a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic motor, first and second main fluid passages fluidly connecting the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor so as to constitute a closed fluid circuit, a charge fluid passage, a plurality of first charge check valves and a plurality of second charge check valves. The plurality of first charge cheek valves are interposed between the charge fluid passage and the first main fluid passage so as to allow only flow of fluid from the charge fluid passage to the first main fluid passage when the first main fluid passage is hydraulically depressed relative to the charge fluid passage. The plurality of second charge check valves are interposed between the charge fluid passage and the second main fluid passage so as to allow only flow of fluid from the charge fluid passage to the second main fluid passage when the second main fluid passage is hydraulically depressed relative to the charge fluid passage.
US09103352B2
A ventilator for use in air-conditioning and refrigeration technology has a housing of plastic material in a one-part configuration having integrally formed therein an inlet nozzle, cylinder-shaped flow guiding means, outlet guide vanes, and a diffusor. A drive motor is arranged in the housing. An impeller wheel is rotatably supported about a central axis in the housing and driven by the drive motor. A protective screen is connected to the housing. A motor support is connected by the outlet guide vanes to the housing. The impeller wheel has vanes with radially outwardly positioned vane ends, wherein the vane ends are embodied as flow elements (winglets). The flow elements are spaced at a minimal spacing relative to a sidewall of the housing. The drive motor is an external rotor motor that is embodied either as an alternating current asynchronous motor (AC) or an electronically commutated direct current motor (EC).
US09103350B2
A ceiling fan blade includes a blade having at least one locking plate embedded in the interior. The locking plate is provided thereon with at least one locking base protruding out of the reverse side of the blade. A blade holder to be locked with the blade is bored with a locking hole at a location corresponding with the locking base for the locking base to be inserted therein. The blade is firmly locked on the blade holder via at least one locking member. By so designing, there is not any locking member on the downward obverse side of a ceiling fan blade, able to maintain a smooth and pretty external appearance of the ceiling fan blade.
US09103349B2
Provided is a driving motor that will meet the requests of making the length of a rotating axis of the driving motor to be shorter in the axial direction, and which will also have waterproof, vibration resistance, and soundproof characteristics. In this driving motor (3); a motor interior-space (35) is formed by a housing (21) that has a first and second opening and which is formed to be cylinder shaped, and a flange (22) that blocks the second opening of this housing (21); and a stator assembly (18), a rotor assembly (20), a lower-side end section of the rotating axis (12) that has been placed lower than the flange (22) up until now, and a control circuit-board (19) are all made to be contained in this motor interior-space (35). Furthermore, a ring-shaped elastic member (45) is made to interpose between the upper-side end section of the rotating axis (12) and the first opening of the housing (21); and the lower-side end section of the rotating axis (12), the stator assembly (18), and the rotor assembly (20) are made to be fixed to the flange (22) through a mounting elastic member (59).
US09103340B2
A hose cartridge for removably mounting a hose on a peristaltic pump has a roller wheel for pumping a fluid through the hose in a closed loop encircling an opening through which the roller wheel extends when the hose cartridge is mounted. A method for mounting such a hose cartridge includes introducing a holding rod of the pump into a holding portion of the hose cartridge, and carrying out a rotational movement of the hose cartridge about an axis defined by the holding rod until the working position of the hose cartridge is reached. The holding rod and the fixing bar both thus extend substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the roller wheel.
US09103339B2
A piston pump includes a main body having an inlet, an outlet, and a chamber fluidly connected to form at least a portion of a first fluid flow path for receiving a flow of fluid therein. The pump also includes a second fluid flow path to provide fluid communication between the chamber and a point upstream of the inlet of the main body. A piston is disposed in the chamber of the main body and reciprocatingly moves therein to cause the flow of the fluid through at least one of the first fluid flow path and the second fluid flow path. An adjustment element is disposed in the main body and configured to adjust an effective flow of the fluid through the first fluid flow path.
US09103333B2
The invention relates to an axial piston machine of a kind that has a plurality of pistons each reciprocating in a respective cylinder in a direction substantially parallel or at an angle less than 30 degrees to a crankshaft axis. The crankshaft axis presents a crank that is at an angle to the crankshaft axis and to which a reciprocator is mounted. The reciprocator effects the controlled movement of the pistons in their cylinders via a connection mechanism that connects each said piston with said reciprocator. The machine includes at least one pair of rotational constraint mechanisms to constrain the movement between the reciprocator and the pistons.
US09103318B2
A system and method for correcting a nacelle wind velocity of a wind power generator are provided. The nacelle wind velocity correction system includes: a measurement information collection unit that collects a nacelle wind velocity that is measured by a nacelle anemometer that is installed on a nacelle of the wind power generator; a wind velocity difference generator that generates nonlinear wind velocity difference information of a nacelle wind velocity on a unit basis by calculating a wind velocity difference between a standard wind velocity of a met tower that is measured for a predetermined period and the nacelle wind velocity; a correction unit that generates a nonlinear correction equation using the nacelle wind velocity and the nonlinear wind velocity difference information and that calculates a nacelle correction wind velocity according to the nonlinear correction equation; and a controller that controls an operating state of the wind power generator according to a preset cut-in speed and cut-out speed using the nacelle wind velocity.
US09103317B2
A wind operated electricity generating system for decreasing wind resistance of a moving vehicle and harvesting energy from the air encountered, comprises a box portion having a front opening, a rear opening and an inside compartment. When a vehicle is moving, air is funneled through the increasingly narrow inside compartment. The air is directed through a series of vanes to a plurality of blade of a multiple turbines that are thereby caused to rotate. The turbines are in turn mechanically connected to electromechanical generators, which generate electricity to be supplied to the vehicle. The electricity generated is stored in battery packs that may be utilized for propulsion of the vehicle. The electromechanical generator speed is controlled under a safe rotational speed by a braking mechanism attached to a shaft of the electromechanical generator.
US09103305B2
A modular engine family comprises an engine block assembly having an upper end extending at an angle a from a rear of the engine block assembly to a front thereof. An engine block closes the upper end and defines a crankcase comprising a crankshaft having three journals supported by journal bearings for rotation therein. First and second piston pins and associated first and second piston/rod assemblies are disposed in piston cylinders of a first cylinder housing assembly wherein the first and second piston pins are located in the same radial position on the crankshaft and are spaced longitudinally to define a firing interval of 360 degrees. A cylinder head is configured to close open ends of the piston cylinders to thereby define combustion chambers with the first and second pistons; the cylinder housing assembly reclined from vertical towards the rear of the engine block by an angle β.
US09103282B2
A shaft cover support for a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The shaft cover support not only provides enhanced support to a shaft cover of the gas turbine engine, but also includes a cooling fluid chamber for passing fluids from a rotor air cooling supply conduit to an inner ring cooling manifold. Furthermore, the shaft cover support may include a cooling shield supply extending from the cooling fluid chamber between the radially outward inlet and the radially inward outlet on the radially extending region and in fluid communication with the cooling fluid chamber for providing cooling fluids to a transition section. The shaft cover support may also provide additional stiffness and reduce interference of the flow from the compressor. In addition, the shaft cover support accommodates a transition section extending between compressor and turbine sections of the gas turbine engine.
US09103280B2
The present invention relates to a mechanical system and method that modulates airflow in an aircraft inlet diffuser that is used in conjunction with an aircraft engine that integrates both a center turbine engine and a high Mach engine such as a constant volume combustor (CVC) arrangement or ramjet arrangement with intakes formed co-centrically about the turbine. The modulation system uses two articulating components, a movable air flow duct and an articulating cone. The air flow duct, in a first position, is in exclusive air flow communication with the circular intake face of the turbine in a first position to receive air from the intake diffuser. In this configuration the expandable cone is in a retracted position and does not redirect airflow and allows the aircraft to operates in low speed mode as only the turbo jet receives airflow. In a transition speed mode, the air flow duct is retracted to allow air flow to both the turbo jet and the CVC. At its widest expanse, the articulating cone completely covers the turbo jet circular intake face directing air solely to the high Mach aircraft engine to allow the aircraft to operate in high speed mode.
US09103279B2
Systems and methods for model based control optimization for gas turbine systems. In one embodiment, a nonlinear optimization process with multiple nonlinear constraints create a set of control schedules that can work across an ambient range based on specific unit characteristics derived from a single test ambient. As part of model based control for a gas turbine system, all of the control schedules are defined based on a nominal unit. Multiple control loops are active across the ambient range with each control loop being active at a different ambient condition. This optimization process provides a set of control schedules to provide optimized performance for a specific gas turbine system or unit over a wide operation range.
US09103278B2
An engine of a straddle-type vehicle includes first, second, and third cylinders arranged, in this order, from right to left in a front view of the vehicle; first, second, and third intake pipes in communication with the first, second, and third cylinders, respectively; and first, second, and third exhaust pipes in communication with the first, second, and third cylinders, respectively. The first, second, and third exhaust pipes have different lengths and the first, second, and third intake pipes have different lengths.
US09103277B1
A moment-cancelling, four-stroke engine is disclosed. The engine includes a first cylinder having a first piston and a second cylinder having a second piston, a first crankshaft operably connected to the first piston and a second crankshaft operably connected to the second piston. The first crankshaft rotates in a first direction and the second crankshaft rotates in a second direction that is opposite the first direction to cancel the moments applied to the engine and reduce engine vibration.
US09103273B2
Methods and systems are provided for adjusting the opening of a scroll valve of a binary flow turbine. Scroll valve adjustments are used at different engine operating conditions to improve engine performance and boost response. Scroll valve adjustments are coordinated with wastegate and EGR valve adjustments for improved engine control.
US09103271B2
Embodiments may provide an exhaust gas management arrangement for an engine. The exhaust gas management arrangement may include a port disposed to capture an exhaust gas leaked from a movable portion of an exhaust gas flow directing mechanism. The arrangement may also include a passage to direct the leaked exhaust gas to a crankcase of the engine.
US09103265B2
A freeze detecting device for an active shutter of a vehicle includes an engine control unit that outputs an opening signal, opens an active shutter, takes in travelling wind to an engine compartment, and inhibits heat damage when an external air temperature is at or below a freezing determination temperature and also a load state is high. On the other hand, when an opening signal is output from the engine control unit but the active shutter does not perform an opening action, a determination of being frozen solid is made, a warning is displayed on the display to warn the vehicle driver.
US09103256B2
An object is to reduce man-hours for evaluations of design, test, and the like for securing an exhaust gas purifier to an engine, while also making the exhaust gas purifier more compact. The exhaust gas purifier includes a plurality of filter bodies and to purify exhaust gas discharged from the engine, a purification casing including a plurality of purification cases that house the filter bodies, an exhaust gas pressure sensor to detect an exhaust gas pressure in the purification casing, and an exhaust gas temperature sensor to detect an exhaust gas temperature in the purification casing. The two sensors are disposed on the outer circumferential side of the purification casing so as to fit in the length range in the purification casing in the exhaust gas flow direction.
US09103250B2
An exhaust gas heat exchanger includes a tube through which exhaust gas flows, a fin disposed in the tube, and protruded tabs protruded from the tube or the fin. Each of the protruded tabs is inclined to an upstream side, and has a polygonal shape more than a quadrilateral shape having at least a bottom side, one lateral side and another lateral side. An angle of the one lateral side to the bottom side is set smaller than 90 degrees and than an angle of the other lateral side to the bottom side. The bottom side is placed to intersect with a perpendicular direction to the exhaust gas flow direction, and the other lateral side is located upstream from the one lateral side. According to the exhaust gas heat exchanger, it is possible to improve heat exchange efficiency by generating a swirl flow for facilitating heat transfer effectively.
US09103249B2
An engine exhaust heat recovery system includes an engine exhaust heat conduit that interacts with a two-phase fluid that exists in liquid and gaseous states within a single closed loop. A first heat exchanger, which may be a boiler, interfaces with and receives heat from the engine exhaust conduit. Exhaust heat energy converts the fluid from the liquid state into the gaseous state for transfer into a heat expander situated downstream of the first heat exchanger. The heat expander utilizes the gaseous heat energy to rotate a flywheel, and a system of clutches is situated and adapted to permit the flywheel to transfer mechanical energy for subsequent, selective production of work upon demand. In one disclosed embodiment, the heat expander may be a high-speed turbine with a rotary power shaft coupled to a transmission and a plurality of clutches adapted to engage and actuate the flywheel.
US09103245B2
An engine system is disclosed in which the transfer of heat from pressurized oil flowing through an integrally formed oil transfer passage of the engine is reduced by providing a thermal barrier between the oil and the engine. In one example the thermal barrier is provided by the use of a thick walled plastic tube and in other embodiments ribs are used to separate an oil flow passage from the engine.
US09103240B2
A configuration of a camshaft phaser (1), which has a drive element (2), and at least two output elements (3, 4), the drive element (2) and the output elements (3, 4) having a plurality of radially oriented vanes (6) which overlap the lateral surfaces (9) of the adjacent element in the axial direction (7).
US09103233B2
A means to effect a trip response regardless of the electro-mechanical actuator type used for improving electro-hydraulic and electro-mechanical integrated control systems for a steam turbine. To achieve this goal, electro-mechanical actuators can be equipped with multiple coils or multiple motors (usually a primary and a secondary). In a dual-coil configuration, the primary is energized according to an output of a PID controller, whereas the secondary coil is regulated by a separate control element. The entire system is powered by means of Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) with AC output which can provide sufficient time for trip response using primary coil or motor. At the same time, secondary coil or motor is powered by independent power from a UPS and/or separate battery backup. Whenever trip response is required, and there is a complete main power interruption secondary coil or motor is quickly energized to provide adequate trip response.
US09103230B2
An apparatus for the creation of an impingement jet generating annular swirls includes a fluidic switching element having an inlet branch with an inlet opening via which cooling gas can be supplied to the fluidic switching element, outlet branches provided downstream of the inlet branch and ending each in an outlet opening, a branching point at which the inlet branch splits into the outlet branches, and control means for controlling the cooling gas flowing in the inlet branch such that the cooling gas is routed alternatingly into the one or the other of the outlet branches, with an impingement jet pulsating at a frequency being generated in each outlet branch. The fluidic switching element is designed and provided for emitting cooling gas at the outlet openings with a mean outflow velocity and a frequency such that the impingement jet exiting the outlet openings forms annular swirls.
US09103221B2
A system and method for securing a blade within a disk so as to eliminate the need for permanently deforming materials associated with the blade disk is disclosed. A recess is formed generally within each slot used to secure a blade within the disk. A retaining insert is positioned within the recess and a wedge insert is positioned within a slot of the retaining insert, such that a pressure is applied to the retaining insert thereby deflecting the retaining insert into a pre-set radial position to prevent axial movement of the blade within the slot of the disk.
US09103214B2
A vane structure for a gas turbine engine includes an airfoil section with a platform segment adjacent to a ring. An insert is adjacent to the platform segment and an overwrap is wound around the ring and the insert.
US09103211B2
A method for manufacturing roller pockets in a stator of a gerotor device generally includes providing a stator having a cavity including a generally cylindrical section defining a central axis and a plurality of roller pockets angularly spaced around a periphery of the cylindrical section. Each roller pocket is configured to receive a respective roller, which acts as an internal tooth of the gerotor device. Each roller pocket defines a generally cylindrical roller pocket bearing surface. The method further includes grinding each roller pocket bearing surface of each roller pocket with a grinding wheel rotating about a rotational axis perpendicular to the central axis. A stator for a gerotor device is also described.
US09103209B2
A shearer system for removing material along a mineable distance relative to a mining environment includes a rail assembly to support movement of a shearer carriage thereon. The system further includes a haulage motor structured and arranged to move the shearer carriage along the rail assembly. The system has a rotatably driven cutter that is positionable relative to the shearer carriage. The system further includes an actuator supported by the shearer carriage for changing a cutting height of the cutter. The system further includes a controller that can control a velocity of the shearer carriage based on a translation speed of the cutter, a maximum speed of the shearer carriage, a current cutter height, and a desired cutter height. Optionally, the controller can further control the velocity of the shearer carriage based on a predetermined stopping distance of the shearer carriage.
US09103199B2
An apparatus and methods for pumping a fluid mixture from a wellbore location to a selected location is disclosed. The apparatus, in one embodiment, includes a container configured to be placed in the wellbore, wherein the container is configured to mix therein a fluid received from a first source and an additive received from a second source, and a pump unit coupled to the container and configured to pump the mixed fluid from the container to the selected location. The method in one embodiment includes: supplying a fluid from a first source to a container placed in a wellbore; supplying an additive from a second source to the container; allowing the fluid and the additive to mix in the container to form a mixed fluid; and pumping the mixed fluid from the container to the selected location.
US09103193B2
The present invention provides a method and system for providing on-site electrical power to a fracturing operation, and an electrically powered fracturing system. Natural gas can be used to drive a turbine generator in the production of electrical power. A scalable, electrically powered fracturing fleet is provided to pump fluids for the fracturing operation, obviating the need for a constant supply of diesel fuel to the site and reducing the site footprint and infrastructure required for the fracturing operation, when compared with conventional systems.
US09103178B2
A latching system has a latch body, a latch carrier and two latch dogs. The latch dogs are retained in the latch carrier by two pins. The latch carrier is located within the latch body. The latch body has slots through which the latch dogs can extend. The pins pass through both latch dogs and through longitudinal slots in the latch carrier. The pins are fixed at their opposite ends to the latch body. When the latch carrier is moved axially the latch dogs move parallel to each other between: a latching position where the latch dogs extend from the latch body and latch carrier and can engage a latching mechanism; and a release position where the latch dogs retract inwardly.
US09103173B2
Coated diamond particles have solid diamond cores and at least one graphene layer. Methods of forming coated diamond particles include coating diamond particles with a charged species and coating the diamond particles with a graphene layer. A composition includes a substance and a plurality of coated diamond particles dispersed within the substance. An intermediate structure includes a hard polycrystalline material comprising a first plurality of diamond particles and a second plurality of diamond particles. The first plurality of diamond particles and the second plurality of diamond particles are interspersed. A method of forming a polycrystalline compact includes catalyzing the fox of inter-granular bonds between adjacent particles of a plurality of diamond particles having at least one graphene layer.
US09103167B2
A rod-mounting apparatus for a drilling apparatus is disclosed. The rod-mounting apparatus comprises: a bracket installed at a frame of a main body of the drilling apparatus and having a rod; a base member rotatably mounted on the bracket; a rotating member hinged to one side of the base member to hold and rotate an end of a rod mounted to or separated from a driving shaft; a clamping unit mounted on the rotating member to clamp the end of the rod; and a driving unit mounted on the base member to rotate the rotating member in a direction in which in which the rod makes the rotating member stand or lie. The rod-mounting apparatus of the present invention enables rods to be smoothly connected or separated during a drilling work, thereby improving the drilling efficiency.
US09103163B2
A door frame protection apparatus includes a first upright bar having a first end and a second end, the first end being anchored to a surface at a first anchor point, a second upright bar having a third end and a fourth end, the third end being anchored to the surface at a second anchor point, an overhead crossbar coupled to the second end of the first upright bar and to the fourth end of the second upright bar, a first impact absorption member resting on the first anchor point and having the first upright bar extending therethrough, the first impact absorption member being rotatable about the first upright bar, and a second impact absorption member resting on the second anchor point and having the second upright bar extending therethrough, the second impact absorption member being rotatable about the second upright bar.
US09103161B2
A spacer tape (9) for insulating glass (2) with at least two glass panes (3 and 5) consists of a substrate strip (21) and a hose (20) that is connected to the latter. The hose (20) can be pressed together, e.g., folded, so that its dimension, viewed crosswise to the longitudinal extension of the substrate strip (21), can be reduced, and the spacer tape (9) can be wound on drums. For use, the hose (20) is expanded, e.g., unfolded, and a compound (15), containing hygroscopic material, is introduced into its interior, which can take place by the longitudinally extending slot (25) in the hose (20). Then, the side walls (27) of the hose (20) are coated with adhesive (13), and at least two glass panes (3 and 5) of insulating glass (1) can be assembled with use of the spacer tape (9) as a spacer.
US09103159B2
There is provided an apparatus for an automatic/semiautomatic door, and more particularly, to an apparatus for an automatic/semiautomatic door to prevent the door from leaving its track during an opening/closing process and to maintain airtightness between the inside and the outside when closed. In the apparatus for the automatic/semiautomatic door, airtight frames are separably assembled at the top, bottom and both sides of the automatic/semiautomatic door and wherein an airtight structure is buried in a floor surface coming in contact with the bottom of an opening/closing door of the automatic/semiautomatic door, so that the airtight frame is air-tightly and slidably inserted into the airtight structure. Therefore, any gap between the inside and outside is blocked to improve airtightness by preventing drafts, noise, etc. and the opening/closing door is prevented from shaking or leaving its track.
US09103148B2
A shower door assembly is disclosed comprising a top frame and a bottom frame; a first movable glass door having at least two first roller units at a top end of the first movable glass door and at least two second roller units at a bottom end of the first movable glass door; and a second movable glass door having at least two third roller units at a top end of the second movable glass door and at least two fourth roller units at a bottom end of the second movable glass door. The first and third roller units are slidably engaged with the top frame, and the second and fourth roller units are slidably engaged with the bottom frame. At least one of the first roller units is located between the third roller units and pressed by a first pressing device provided on the third roller units, and as a result at least one of the second roller units is located between the fourth roller units and pressed by a second pressing device provided on the fourth roller units.
US09103145B2
A case latch assembly includes a first and second lock mounting parts, a strike plate member provided on the first lock mounting part, a hinge member, and a strike plate engagement member. The hinge member is mounted for pivotable movement on a torsion element arranged to apply torsion to the hinge member to bias the hinge member towards or away from the second lock mounting part. The strike plate engagement member is mounted on the hinge member and is reciprocally moveable between a closed position in which the strike plate engagement member engages with the strike plate member and an open position in which the strike plate engagement member is disengaged from the strike plate member.
US09103140B2
Disclosed is an ornamental ignition switch cover for a motorcycle that provides a decorative and functional appearance while concealing the underlying ignition switch, ignition key, or the keyhole. The device takes the form of a knob or a lever made from metal or other suitable material. The knob portion includes a hollow cavity that provides coverage for the underlying ignition key or the keyhole. The knob portion connects to the ignition switch by an attachment mechanism, such as screws or magnets, which are provided on the knob portion or are provided about the ignition switch perimeter. In this way, the device provides an ignition cover with an outward look of a firearm cylinder or other personalized cover while concealing the presence of the ignition key or the keyhole. The device rotates clockwise or counterclockwise so that it may be locked and unlocked.
US09103138B2
A collapsible canopy structure includes one or more eaves, one or more fixed eave mounts, one or more sliding eave mounts and one or more vertical poles. Each of the vertical poles has a top end and a bottom end. Each of the vertical poles is connected by at least one of the one or more eaves. At least one of the fixed eave mounts is coupled to at least one of the eaves and attached proximate to the top end of at least one of the vertical poles. At least one of the sliding eave mounts is coupled to at least one of the eaves and slidingly coupled to one of the vertical poles between its top end and its bottom end. One or more detent elements include a round or spherical detent surface that engages an opening of the one or more vertical poles.
US09103133B2
A wave generating apparatus mobile application controller and method is provided in which a mobile controller actuates a plurality of wave generating chambers in sequence using a delay between actuation of each chamber to produce a rideable wave in a pool. The mobile application controller allows the user to select the exact type of wave to be produced by the wave generator apparatus by selecting size, shape, and pattern of the wave. The application also allows the user to use a camera to photograph or record herself or someone else, even while riding a wave.
US09103116B2
A tubular passage for poured concrete decks has an intumescent tube held in a two-part, clamshell base. First and second, spaced apart, funnel shaped, diaphragm seals are connected to a first tubular passage or an adjustable length tubular extension. A cap for closing either tube has an inclined outer surface to form a beveled entrance to the passage in the concrete. An aerator box may be connected to the base. Hinged ends on the base allow the shape and length of support to be altered.
US09103115B2
A panel-like/sheet-like finishing element (11) for covering floors and walls, for example in the renovation of old buildings, is provided with heat-insulating and sound-absorbing properties if its interior (15) is provided, between outer covering layers (12, 13), with channel-forming undulating supporting structures (16) filled with high-density coarse granules (21). The supporting structures (16) are connected to the covering layers (12, 13) along the vertex lines (17) so as to provide wet-strength action, and the interior (15), between these covering layers, is sealed by enclosing edging strips (19) to provide wet-strength action, with the simultaneous inclusion of moisture-tight, but vapour-permeable, supporting layers (20) on covering layers (12, 13). If this finishing element (11) is mounted vertically, the granule-filled channels (14) run horizontally.
US09103108B2
A connection between standard metal studs with a separate backing connector is provided. The backing connector has a planar backing web with lateral longitudinal flanges that receives the lip flange of a first wall stud and a projecting tab that interfaces with the side member of the first wall stud. The backing connector also has members that interface with and attach to selected portions of the surfaces of the second wall stud without engaging the lip flange of the second wall stud. The backing connector is adjustable in length.
US09103102B1
A flow control assembly for a single lever faucet includes a coupler adapted to operatively connect a handle to a valve stem of a valve assembly. A cam mechanism has a valve stem portion and a handle portion, where the cam mechanism is operatively connected to the valve stem and the cam mechanism engages the valve stem to move the valve stem to a predefined open position in response to the handle being moved from a neutral handle position to a water on position. The coupler provides a biasing resistance that increases resistance to handle movement as the handle is oriented in a position other than a neutral handle position.
US09103093B2
To automatically prevent a reverse movement by inhibiting an excessive increase in an output torque of an electric motor.A means (31) calculates a target value for a rotation speed based on a command from a system (20), a means (32) calculates a deviation between a detection value from a rotation speed sensor (81) and the target value, a means (33) calculates a first target torque in a direction that the deviation will be eliminated, and a means (34) calculates, based on a command from the system (20), a second target torque in the same direction as the target value. A means (50) calculates a variation in a rotation angle of an electric motor (12) in a first range, and a means (60) calculates the same variation in a second range. A means (40) calculates, based on the variations from the means (50, 60), a third target torque in a direction that the rotation angle will return to a rotation angle before a predetermined time (t), and a means (73) limits the first target torque to one of the second and third target torques, said one target torque being in the same direction as the first target torque and being greater in absolute value. Substantially an entirety of the first range specifies a range for the variation in one direction, a remaining small range specifies a range for the variation in the other direction, substantially an entirety of the second range specifies a range for the variation in the other direction, and a remaining small range specifies a range for the variation in the one direction.
US09103090B2
An apparatus comprising: a pole erected relative to a ground surface and defining a pole axis; a first anchor drive rod connected to the pole and extended, parallel to the pole axis, from the pole to below the ground surface; and a second anchor drive rod connected to the pole and extended, at a non zero angle to the pole axis, from the pole to below the ground surface. Methods of bracing and supporting the pole are also discussed.
US09103088B2
An internal caisson/jacket leg cutter and method provides a frame having upper and lower end portions. The upper end portion has rigging that enables the frame to be lifted. Extensible arms are movably supported upon the frame. The arms extend and retract along generally radially extending lines. Extension of the arms enables them to contact the inside surface of a caisson/jacket leg and thus center and anchor the frame within the caisson/jacket leg interior. A cutting mechanism at the lower end portion of the frame includes one or more rotary cutters or milling devices that cut the caisson/jacket leg wall as these cutters traverse an arc shaped path, tracking the caisson/jacket leg wall.
US09103086B2
An oil spill skimmer for removing heavy hydrocarbons from bodies of water, having a plurality of oleophilic oil separation devices, a housing and frame structure that is suitably supported above a body of water, an adjustable wave damper supported by the housing at a front of the skimmer, an at least one flow inducer supported by the housing at a rear of the skimmer, and ballast-adjustable tanks. The at least one flow inducer for inducing inflow such that water is pulled at the front of the skimmer and directed out a bottom of the skimmer while collecting the spillage in a collection area. The ballast can be moved in and out of the tanks to increase or decrease buoyancy and influence the wave riding or wave heave of the skimmer.
US09103083B1
An animal excrement collection system includes an animal excrement collection assembly having a hollow scooper device including a base having a flat tapered blade, a first curved upward first side wall, and a second curved upward second side wall; a cylindrical shaped open-ended collection receptacle having a body with a through-hole, at least two fasteners, and a handle; and a storage bag. The animal excrement collection system prevents the user from coming into contact with the animal excrement by scooping the animal excrement and dropping the animal excrement directly into the storage bag via the through-hole of the body thereby providing a sanitary means for preventing direct contact with the animal excrements.
US09103079B2
A milling machine includes a frame, a rotor coupled to the frame and vertically adjustable, a chamber coupled to the frame and at least partially surrounding the rotor, a speed sensor configured to measure a speed of the machine, a height sensor configured to measure a height of the rotor, a ground characteristic sensor configured to measure a ground characteristic, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the speed of the machine from the speed sensor, receive the height of the rotor from the height sensor, receive the ground characteristic from the ground characteristic sensor, determine a target speed for the machine, determine a target height for the rotor, adjust the speed of the machine to the target speed, and adjust the height of the rotor to the target height.
US09103075B2
A system and method for forming concrete tiles for use in concrete walkways and concrete patios and courtyards. The system includes a unitary frame with two or more slanted sidewalls with a plurality of pickup points placed within an interior opening of the unitary frame. Concrete poured into the interior opening of the frame forms a beveled or slanted concrete sidewalk tile. The pickup points are buried in the beveled concrete sidewalk tiles. When an opening in the pickup points is uncovered, a means to pick and place the beveled concrete sidewalk tiles is provided. Slanted or beveled sidewalls prevent binding to or interference with adjacent slanted or beveled sidewalk tiles to facilitate lifting.
US09103067B2
Provided are a textile fabric sheet having stain and liquid resistance including a fabric sheet, a polyurethane coating layer formed on the fabric sheet and a stain-resistant coating layer formed on the polyurethane coating layer and a method of preparing the same. Thus, a texture characteristic of the fabric substrate itself can be exhibited, and due to the polyurethane coating layer and the stain-resistant coating layer stacked in two steps, excellent water resistance, stain resistance and air permeability can be exhibited.
US09103060B2
The present invention relates to a washing machine and a method of operating the washing machine. In operating the washing machine according to inputted settings, each washing cycle is divided into a plurality of steps, and a washing tub or pulsator is controlled to be differently operated for each step. Accordingly, the washing machine may be operated in various patterns to effectively remove contaminants from the laundry.
US09103048B2
A process and a device for producing crystalline silicon, particularly poly- or multi-crystalline silicon are described, wherein a melt of a silicon starting material is formed and the silicon melt is subsequently solidified in a directed orientation. A phase or a material is provided in gaseous, fluid or solid form above the melt in such a manner, that a concentration of a foreign atom selected from oxygen, carbon and nitrogen in the silicon melt and thus in the solidified crystalline silicon is controllable, and/or that a partial pressure of a gaseous component in a gas phase above the silicon melt is adjustable and/or controllable, the gaseous component being selected from oxygen gas, carbon gas and nitrogen gas and gaseous species containing at least one element selected from oxygen, carbon and nitrogen. The formation of impurity compound precipitations or inclusions, in particular of silicon carbide affecting electric properties of solar cells, can be effectively inhibited and prevented according to the present invention.
US09103043B2
An electrolyzing system for electrolyzing a brine solution of water and an alkali salt to produce acidic electrolyzed water and alkaline electrolyzed water is provided. The system includes an internal chamber for receiving the brine solution and two electrolyzer cells immersed in a brine bath. Each electrolyzer cell includes an electrode, at least one ion permeable membrane supported relative to the electrode to define a space communicating between a fresh water supply and a chemical outlet into which brine enters only through the membrane. One of the electrodes is coupled to a positive charging electrical supply and the other to a negative charging electrical supply.
US09103029B2
A processing apparatus for processing objects, includes: a processing container structure having a bottom opening and including a processing container having a processing space for housing the objects, the container having a nozzle housing area on one side of the processing space and a slit-like exhaust port on the opposite side of the processing space from the nozzle housing area; a lid for closing the bottom opening of the processing container structure; a support structure for supporting the objects and which can be inserted into and withdrawn from the processing container structure; a gas introduction means including a gas nozzle housed in the nozzle housing area; an exhaust means including a plurality of exhaust systems for exhausting the atmosphere in the processing container structure; a heating means for heating the objects; and a control means for controlling the gas introduction means, the exhaust means and the heating means.
US09103028B2
The present invention aims at providing a method for forming a metal oxide film which can further improve the production efficiency while maintaining low resistance of a metal oxide film formed thereby. In the method for forming a metal oxide film of the present invention, a solution (4) containing a metallic element and ammonia (4a) is formed into a mist. Meanwhile, a substrate (2) is heated. Then, the solution (4) formed into a mist is supplied onto a first main surface of the substrate (2) being heated.
US09103023B2
A nonmagnetic material particle-dispersed ferromagnetic material sputtering target comprising a mixture of an alloy containing 5 mol % or more and 20 mol % or less of Cr, 5 mol % or more and 30 mol % or less of Pt, and Co as the remainder thereof, and nonmagnetic material particles, wherein the structure of the target includes a phase (A) in which the nonmagnetic material particles are uniformly micro-dispersed in the alloy, and a spherical alloy phase (B) dispersed in the phase (A) in which the ratio of its volume in the target is 4% or more and 40% or less. Obtained is a nonmagnetic material particle-dispersed ferromagnetic material sputtering target capable of improving the leakage magnetic flux to obtain a stable electrical discharge with a magnetron sputtering device, and which has high density and generates few particles during sputtering.
US09103022B2
The present disclosure relates to an amorphous aluminum alloy coating. The aluminum alloy coating may specifically include one of cerium, cobalt and/or molybdenum as alloying elements and be applied by a physical vapor deposition process to a desired thickness. The coating may supply improved corrosion resistance to a given environmental condition.
US09103015B2
A sliding element, in particular a piston ring, preferably made of cast iron or steel, has a coating which has a plurality of layers of CrN (14) and a-C:H:Me coatings (16) alternately. In a method for coating the sliding element, in particular a piston ring, preferably made of cast iron or steel, a plurality of layers of CrN and a-C:H:Me coatings are applied alternately.
US09103013B2
A thermal spray powder having a first component A mechanically blended with a second component B, wherein the first component A is a metal or metal composite, preferably at least one of Ni—Cr—Al clad ABN, Ni—Cr—Al clad HBN, Ni—Cr—Al clad agglomerated hexagonal boron nitride powder with organic binder, Ni—Cr—Al agglomerated hexagonal boron nitride powder with inorganic binder, an MCrAlY type powder where M is at least one of Ni, Co, Fe, and wherein component B is a polymer clad with at least one of nickel, nickel alloys, nickel chrome alloys, nickel chrome aluminum alloys, nickel aluminum alloys, cobalt and cobalt alloys. The result is a thermal spray powder of four distinctly different phases making the powder a four-phase blend.
US09103006B2
Disclosed herein is a nickel-titanium alloy comprising nickel, titanium, and at least one rare earth element. The nickel-titanium alloy comprises from about 34 at. % to about 60 at. % nickel, from about 34 at. % to about 60 at. % titanium, and from about 0.1 at. % to about 15 at. % at least one rare earth element. The nickel-titanium alloy may further include one or more additional alloying elements. In addition to radiopacity, the nickel-titanium alloy preferably exhibits superelastic or shape memory behavior. Medical devices comprising the nickel-titanium alloy and a method of making them are also disclosed.
US09102998B2
An acid treatment, in a liquid medium, of a solid containing a halophosphate and a rare earth compound is described. Further described, is the addition of a base to the medium obtained previously and separation of a solid phase from a liquid phase; mixing and calcination of the solid obtained previously with an alkaline solid compound; redispersing the calcined product in water, separation of the solid product from the suspension obtained in the preceding step; dispersing this solid in water and acidification of the dispersion and separation of the solid from this dispersion.
US09102986B2
The present invention relates to primers and probes that can be used in various assays to detect a new strain of Chlamydia trachomatis. The invention further provides for the simultaneous detection of other diseases, especially Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
US09102973B2
Recombinant DNA techniques are used to produce oleaginous recombinant cells that produce triglyceride oils having desired fatty acid profiles and regiospecific or stereospecific profiles. Genes manipulated include those encoding stearoyl-ACP desturase, delta 12 fatty acid desaturase, acyl-ACP thioesterase, ketoacyl-ACP synthase, and lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase. The oil produced can have enhanced oxidative or thermal stability, or can be useful as a frying oil, shortening, roll-in shortening, tempering fat, cocoa butter replacement, as a lubricant, or as a feedstock for various chemical processes. The fatty acid profile can be enriched in midchain profiles or the oil can be enriched in triglycerides of the saturated-unsaturated-saturated type.
US09102972B2
The present invention relates to Rhizobium sp. KB10 strain having properties of promoting growth of Botryococcus braunii, which is an alga capable of producing biodiesel, and also enhancing production performance of biodiesel. Mores specifically, it relates to novel Rhizobium sp. KB10 strain which has properties of promoting growth of Botryococcus braunii used for biodiesel production and also enhancing content of C18 (i.e., oleate) corresponding to high quality biodiesel component as much as 900%. By using root colonizing bacteria like Rhizobium, it is possible to promote effectively the slow cell growth of Botryococcus braunii and increase as much as possible the oleate amount, which is a high quality biodiesel component. Further, by carrying out mixture culture using such bacteria, problems associated with contamination by other microorganisms during a process of producing biodiesel by culture in an outside environment can be dramatically solved.
US09102960B2
This document describes biochemical pathways for producing adipic acid, caprolactam, 6-aminohexanoic acid, 6-hydroxyhexanoic acid, hexamethylenediamine or 1,6-hexanediol by forming two terminal functional groups, comprised of carboxyl, amine or hydroxyl groups, in a C6 aliphatic backbone substrate. These pathways, metabolic engineering and cultivation strategies described herein rely on CoA-dependent elongation enzymes or analogs enzymes associated with the carbon storage pathways from polyhydroxyalkanoate accumulating bacteria.
US09102957B2
Provided is a method for degrading an organic material. Also provided is a useful low-molecular organic material. The method for degrading an organic material is characterized by comprising a step for preparing the organic material to be degraded, and a step for treating said organic material with mother cell lytic enzymes which are formed through cytolysis associated with the spore formation of a spore-forming aerobic bacterium.
US09102956B2
A biomass hydrothermal decomposition apparatus that feeds a solid biomass material 11 from one side of an apparatus body 42, feeds hot water 15 from the other side, to hydrothermally decompose the biomass material 11 while bringing the biomass material 11 into counter contact with the hot water 15, dissolves hot-water soluble fractions in hot water, discharges the hot water to outside from the one side of the apparatus body 42 as a hot-water effluent 16, and discharges a biomass solid (a hot water insoluble) 17 to outside from the other side. The biomass hydrothermal decomposition apparatus includes an effective reaction region A formed from the other side to the one side of the apparatus body 42, in which a feeding temperature of the hot water 15 (for example, 200° C.) is maintained for a predetermined period of time to cause hydrothermal decomposition, and a temperature drop region B in which a temperature is rapidly dropped to a temperature (for example, 140° C.) at which the hot-water soluble fractions are not excessively decomposed (for example, from 200° C. to 140° C.), immediately after it is out of the effective reaction region A.
US09102948B2
MPO1 and MPO2 can be regulated for either decreasing or increasing alkaloid levels in plants, in particular in Nicotiana plants. In particular, suppressing or overexpressing one or more of MPO1 and MPO2 may be used to decrease or increase nicotine and nicotinic alkaloid levels in tobacco plants. Suppression or overexpression of one or more of MPO1 and MPO2 may be used in combination with modification of expression of other genes encoding enzymes on the nicotinic alkaloid biosynthetic pathway such as A622, NBB1, PMT, and QPT.
US09102945B2
The present disclosure relates generally to gene promoters including promoters from oil palm plants, and to plants (including plants having genetic modifications) that include such promoters. The gene promoters of the present disclosure may be useful in facilitating expression of beneficial and/or desired phenotypic characteristics in plants and plant products.
US09102944B2
Provided are methods, compositions, and kits for cloning of DNA using DNA topoisomerase. The methods comprise (I) combining into a mixture (A) a first polynucleotide comprising an origin of replication, a selectable marker, two topoisomerase recognition sequences, and two nicking agent recognition sequences, each of the topoisomerase recognition sequences being within 50 nucleotides of at least one of the nicking agent recognition sequences and each of the two nicking agent recognition sequences being nicked, with (B) a sequence-specific topoisomerase and (C) a second polynucleotide having 5′ hydroxyl on each end; and (II) transforming the mixture into a host organism, thereby cloning the second polynucleotide. Formation or purification of a DNA-protein adduct prior to the addition of the second polynucleotide is not required. Also provided are vector sequences to facilitate performance of the methods and methods for modifying a vector of interest to render it useful in the disclosed methods.
US09102943B2
The present invention provides a method for producing a virus vector, which comprises a step wherein cells that are capable of producing a virus vector are cultured in a culture medium that contains, as active components, a retinoic acid and a histone deacetylase inhibiting substance; and a culture medium for the production of a virus vector, which is characterized by containing, as active components, a retinoic acid and a histone deacetylase inhibiting substance.
US09102942B2
The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating diseases related to abnormal proliferation of cells, comprising a cytoplasmic heat shock protein (Hsp)60 kDa inhibitor as an active ingredient, and to a screening method and a kit using the composition. According to the present invention, substances which inhibit expression of cytoplasmic Hsp 60 genes or inhibit activity of cytoplasmic Hsp 60 or inhibit binding between cytoplasmic Hsp 60 and IKK protein prevent interaction between cytoplasmic Hsp 60 and IKK complexes to make NF-κB path inactive, and thus induce apoptosis. Therefore, the substances can be valuably used in preventing or treating diseases related to abnormal proliferation of cells, such as cancer, inflammatory diseases or hyperproliferative vascular diseases.
US09102932B2
The invention relates to orthogonal pairs of tRNAs and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase that can incorporate unnatural amino acid into proteins produced in eubacterial host cells such as E. coli, or in a eukaryotic host such as a yeast cell. The invention provides, for example but not limited to, novel orthogonal synthetases, methods for identifying and making the novel synthetases, methods for producing proteins containing unnatural amino acids, and translation systems.
US09102931B1
Disclosed is a method to incorporate xylose transport related genes into a yeast strain for lignocelluloses to ethanol production. More specifically, the invention relates to novel Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains NRRL Y-50463 and yeast strains having novel xylose transporter genes, the genes deposited as GenBank JF343555, GenBank JF343556, GenBank JF343557, GenBank JF343558, and GenBank JF343559. The yeast strains having said genes are deposited as Y-50465, Y-50466, Y-50746, Y-50747, Y-50748, and Y-50749.
US09102929B2
The present invention provides a novel β-glucosidase nucleic acid sequence, designated bgl6, and the corresponding BGL6 amino acid sequence. The invention also provides expression vectors and host cells comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding BGL6, recombinant BGL6 proteins and methods for producing the same.
US09102903B2
The invention relates to the use of manganese or iron complexes which, as well as a tetraoxolene unit, contain two macrocyclic, N-containing ligands, especially cyclen or cyclam ligands, in washing and cleaning compositions in the form of granules or powder or solution or suspension for bleaching of colored stains both on textiles and on hard surfaces. The invention also relates to washing and cleaning compositions which comprise such complexes as bleach activators and to the use thereof for textile washing or for dishwashing detergents and other uses in personal care and other areas.
US09102894B2
A rust preventive oil composition comprising a nonionic surfactant with a hydrophilic-lipophilic index of 10-12 at 0.1-10% by mass based on the total amount of the composition, and at least one rust-preventing additive selected from among sarcosine compounds, sulfonic acid salts, esters, amines, carboxylic acids, fatty acid amine salts, carboxylic acid salts, paraffin waxes, oxidized wax salts, alkyl or alkenylsuccinic acid derivatives and boron compounds, the composition having a 40° C. kinematic viscosity of 1-50 mm2/s.
US09102889B2
The present application generally relates to a riser quench system comprising a quench line and one or more quench injecting ports for injecting a renewable fuel oil into the riser of a fluidized catalytic cracker co-processing a renewable fuel oil and a petroleum fraction as reactants.
US09102881B2
A process for reforming a hydrocarbon stream is presented. The process involves splitting a naphtha feedstream to at least two feedstreams and passing each feedstream to separation reformers. The reformers are operated under different conditions to utilize the differences in the reaction properties of the different hydrocarbon components. The process further includes passing one or more catalyst streams through the reformers to optimize selectivity and conversions.
US09102877B2
The present invention relates to systems and methods for producing fuels. In an embodiment, the invention includes a method of producing a diesel-equivalent fuel, including pyrolyzing biomass to form a pyrolysis oil and contacting the pyrolysis oil and an alcohol with a metal oxide catalyst at a temperature of greater than about 60 degrees Celsius. In an embodiment, the invention includes a method of refining pyrolysis oil including contacting pyrolysis oil and an alcohol with a metal oxide catalyst at a temperature of greater than about 60 degrees Celsius. In an embodiment, the invention includes a system for processing biomass into fuel including a pyrolysis chamber defining an interior volume; a first heating element configured to heat the pyrolysis chamber; a refining chamber in selective fluid communication with the pyrolysis chamber, the refining chamber defining an interior volume, a metal oxide catalyst disposed within the interior volume; and a second heating element configured to heat the refining chamber. Other embodiments are also described herein.
US09102874B2
A luminescent element is disclosed including: a luminescent substrate; and a metal layer with a metal microstructure formed on a surface of the luminescent substrate; wherein the luminescent substrate comprises a luminescent material with a chemical composition of Y2SiO5:Tb. A preparation method of a luminescent element and a luminescence method are also provided. The luminescent element has good luminescence homogeneity, high luminescence efficiency, good luminescence stability and simple structure, and can be used in luminescent devices with ultrahigh brightness.
US09102869B2
A liquid crystal composition and an AM liquid crystal display device are described. The liquid crystal composition contains a specific compound having a small viscosity as a first component, may further contain a specific compound having a large negative dielectric anisotropy as a second component and a specific compound having a small viscosity as a third component, and has a negative dielectric anisotropy and a ratio of rotational viscosity to an elastic constant in the range of 4.2 GPa·s/N or lower. The liquid crystal display device includes the composition.
US09102860B2
A microemulsion delivery system containing a well treatment agent in a water-in-oil microemulsion may be used for well remediation as well as in other treatment operations including stimulation, acidizing, and drilling. In addition, the water-in-oil microemulsion delivery system may be used to clean surface equipment and downhole equipment.
US09102841B2
A yellow ink composition includes a particulate pigment; a dispersant; a water-soluble solvent; and water, wherein the ink composition satisfies the following relationship: 0.02≦Y/X≦0.07 (1) wherein X represents a maximum absorbance of the ink composition at a wavelength of from 400 to 450 nm; and Y represents an absorbance thereof at a wavelength of 500 nm.
US09102840B2
A polyurethane resin-bonded pigment may exhibit excellent image density, dispersibility, storage stability, and resolubility, and may form an ink film that exhibits marker resistance and rubfastness. The polyurethane resin-bonded pigment is produced by bringing (I) a pigment having a surface acidic group into contact with (II) a basic compound having two or more amino groups selected from a primary amino group and a secondary amino group in its molecule in an aqueous medium to obtain a pigment having an unreacted surface amino group, and bringing the pigment having an unreacted surface amino group into contact with (III) a water-dispersible polyurethane resin having an isocyanate end group and (IV) a polyisocyanate compound to bond the pigment having an unreacted surface amino group and the water-dispersible polyurethane resin (III) having an isocyanate end group via a urea bond.
US09102837B2
An apparatus for use in removing painted markings is provided that includes a first covering that is dissolvable by water. A second covering is included that is dissolvable by water. A paint removal agent is present and is located between the first covering and the second covering. A method for removing painted markings is also provided.
US09102831B1
Cross-linked zein articles are prepared by a melt process where zein is mixed with polyethylene maleic anhdyride. The melt processing can be conducted as a batch process (e.g., as in a torque rheometer) or as a continuous process (e.g., as in reactive extrusion using a screw extruder). This process provides a zein article that has reduced solubility in acetic acid (a solvent that normally dissolves unaltered zein) and/or increased tensile strength.
US09102830B2
The present invention provides biodegradable, biocompatible bis-(α-amino acyl)-diol-diester-containing poly(ester amide) (PEA) and poly(ester urethane) (PEUR) co-polymer compositions with mechanical properties that can be readily tailored by selection of various combinations and proportions of the building blocks of the co-polymers. The compositions are suitable for use in production of drug-releasing biodegradable particles and implantable surgical devices, such as stents and internal fixation devices. The co-polymer compositions, particles and surgical devices biodegrade in vivo by enzymatic action to release bioactive agents in a controlled manner over time as well as biocompatible breakdown products, including one to multiple different amino acids.
US09102828B2
The invention relates to a composition including: 45 to 95 wt % of a semi-aromatic copolyamide containing at least two separate units having the following general formulation: A/X.T, where A is selected from among a unit obtained from an amino acid, a unit obtained from a lactam, and a unit having the formula (diamine Ca).(diacid in Cb), and XT denotes a unit obtained from the polycondensation of a diamine in Cx and from terephthalic acid, with x being the number of carbon atoms of the diamine in Cx, said copolyamide having a polymoleoularity index, noted Ip, of less than or equal to 3.5, measured by gel permeation chromatography, and an amino chain end content of between 0.020 meg/g and 0.058 meg/g; and 5 to 55 wt % of at least one cross-linked polyolefin. The invention also relates to a method for preparing said composition and to the uses thereof.
US09102825B2
A method for making a thermoplastic material includes: (a) partially crosslinking an elastomer composition at a first crosslinking temperature to form a thermoplastic, partially crosslinked elastomer composition; (b) mixing a thermoplastic polymer composition with the thermoplastic, partially crosslinked elastomer composition and heating the mixture to a second crosslinking temperature higher than the first crosslinking temperature, wherein the thermoplastic polymer composition is liquid at the second crosslinking temperature; and (c) continuously mixing the mixture while further crosslinking the elastomer composition to form a thermoplastic material having a dispersed phase of crosslinked elastomer composition in the thermoplastic polymer composition. The elastomer composition may include an elastomer compounded with a curing agent and optionally additional components. A thermoplastic material resulting from this process may be molded or shaped by any method used for forming thermoplastic materials into articles, such as molding, extrusion, or thermoforming.
US09102809B2
A method is provided for producing a flame retardant thermoplastic elastomer composition, wherein the method includes (1) a step of preparing a thermoplastic elastomer composition by dynamically vulcanizing a thermoplastic elastomer composition precursor containing (A) an ethylene-α-olefin-based copolymer rubber, (B) a propylene-based polymer and (C) a mineral oil-based softening agent in the presence of (D) a crosslinking agent, and (2) a step of kneading the thermoplastic elastomer composition, (E) a halogen-free flame retardant, (F) a zinc oxide, and optionally (G) a polyhydric compound.
US09102804B2
A method for producing a water-absorbing resin comprises circulation of the water-absorbing resin in a predetermined amount in a pulverization step before a surface cross-linking step. At least a part of a classified polymer is supplied again to the same or a different pulverization step before the surface cross-linking step, wherein the circulation pulverization ratio in the pulverization step, represented by the following equation, is 1.10 to 1.50: (Circulation pulverization ratio)=(total supply amount of the water-absorbing resin to the pulverization step)/(total discharge amount of the water-absorbing resin at the drying step) wherein (total supply amount of the water-absorbing resin to the pulverization step)=(total discharge amount of the water-absorbing resin at the drying step)+(amount of the classified polymer supplied again to the same or a different pulverization step).
US09102798B2
The present invention relates to a process for the production of low-halogen-content polybiphenyl sulfone polymers, to the resultant polybiphenyl sulfone polymers, to polybiphenyl sulfone polymers having less than 400 ppm content of polymer-bonded halogen, to thermoplastic molding compositions comprising these polybiphenyl sulfone polymers, and to their use for the production of moldings, of fibers, of films, of membranes, or of foams.
US09102793B2
A polyester resin comprising residues of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid and a diol, which can be used for producing a molded article having excellent impact resistance, and a method of producing the polyester resin. The polyester resin has structural units represented by general formulae (1) and (3): R1 in general formula (1) is an optionally substituted acyclic aliphatic hydrocarbon group. R2 in general formula (3) represents an alkylene group, and m represents an integer from 2 to 1,140, provided that a case where R2 represents an ethylene group and m represents 2 is excluded.
US09102785B2
Curable compositions based on polyuretidiones, polythiols and photoactivable bases are disclosed. Also a process for generating isocyanate groups by exposing uretidiones to radiation in the range of 100-315 nm is disclosed. The process can be used in a dual curing system for curing compositions that comprise groups that under go photoinduced polymerizations and active hydrogen groups that react with the generated isocyanates.
US09102783B2
A strippable coating composition for floors which contains at least 50% by weight of an aqueous polyurethane resin relative to the total solid content, wherein the hydroxyl-containing compound component constituting the aqueous polyurethane resin comprises (A) a polyester polyol component prepared from 1,6-hexanediol and either an aliphatic dibasic acid and/or an aromatic dibasic acid, (B) a low-molecular alicyclic diol component, and (C) an unsaturated fatty acid ester polyol. The strippable coating composition can form a coating film that has a tear strength of 0.3N or more, a break strength of 10 MPa or more, and an elongation at break of 50% or more.
US09102779B2
A flexible polyurethane foam with improved resistance to discoloration from oxidation is disclosed. Such discoloration may be due to exposure to oxides of nitrogen, for example, the oxides commonly found in burnt gas fumes. The foam may be used for applications such as intimate apparel and other consumer products that need extended term color stability. The foam composition includes high levels of reactive and non-reactive phosphite esters that improve color stability without disadvantage to the foam's physical and aesthetic properties during and after production.
US09102777B2
Disclosed is an emulsion binder containing an A-B block copolymer. The A-B block copolymer has a number average molecular weight of 5,000 to 100,000, and a polydispersity index (weight average molecular weight/number average molecular weight) of not greater than 1.7. The polymer block A has an acid value of 0 to 30 mgKOH/g and a glass transition point of not higher than 60° C. The polymer block B has an acid value of 75 to 250 mgKOH/g. The A-B block copolymer has been neutralized with an alkaline material, and has been allowed to self-emulsify in an aqueous medium to form emulsion particles having an average particle size of 30 to 300 nm.
US09102771B2
A method is disclosed for producing a water-absorbent resin by a reversed-phase suspension polymerization method, wherein an odor originating from a raw material component, in particular, a petroleum hydrocarbon dispersion medium, is further reduced as compared with a water-absorbent resin obtained by a conventional method, and a water-absorbent resin obtained by the method. More specifically, a method is disclosed for producing a water-absorbent resin by performing a reversed-phase suspension polymerization of a water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer in a petroleum hydrocarbon dispersion medium, comprising adding and dispersing an aqueous solution of a water-soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing a hydrophilic polymeric dispersion agent to a petroleum hydrocarbon dispersion medium in the presence of a surfactant under stirring, and performing a reversed-phase suspension polymerization using a radical polymerization initiator, and a water-absorbent resin obtained by the method.
US09102765B2
A method is provided for producing a dehydrated biopolymer powder, said method comprising the successive steps of: a) providing a filter cake comprising biopolymer material and 30 to 60 wt. % of water; b) contacting said filter cake with a pressurized gas to extract water from the filter cake, said pressurized gas having a pressure and a temperature below the critical point of the gas; c) separating water-containing pressurized gas from the dehydrated filter cake; and d) collecting a dehydrated biopolymer powder wherein the pressurized gas has a pressure of at least 0.6 MPa (6 bar) and up to 6 MPa (60 bar), and a temperature of 10 to 40° C.
US09102763B2
Described herein are bioresponsive protein polymers for therapeutic applications, including delivery to physiologically demanding environments, such as the eye surface. Bioresponsive protein polymers can be fused with biopharmaceuticals using genetic engineering techniques for enhanced therapeutic activity. In certain embodiments, the unique temperature-sensitive phase separation properties of bioresponsive protein polymers, allows generation of therapeutics resistant to ocular clearance. Such fusion proteins containing bioresponsive protein polymers and biopharmaceuticals allow retention of drugs in the eye for much longer periods of time. Improved biostability and bioavailability improves drug efficacy, while reducing cost and eliminating the need for repeated drug Application.
US09102756B2
The present invention relates to compositions of peptide and polypeptide analogs that are resistant to proteolysis, pharmaceutical uses thereof, and methods of preparation thereof.
US09102750B2
The present invention provides compositions, combinations, methods, sequences and kits for use of novel fluorescent proteins derived from the genus Branchiostoma. Specifically, polynucleotide and polypeptide sequences encoding fluorescent proteins isolated from Branchiostoma floridae, including harmonized sequences, which permit enhanced expression of the encoded polypeptides in mammalian cells in vivo are provided.
US09102749B2
The invention is directed to a method of forming a gel, a gel obtainable by said method, a heat treated native potato protease inhibitor, the use of said protease inhibitor, and a foodstuff comprising said gel or said protease inhibitor. The method comprises the subsequent steps of: providing a solution of native potato protease inhibitor isolate having an isoelectric point of more than 6.0 and a molecular weight of less than 35 kDa; subjecting the native potato protease inhibitor solution to a heat treatment to a temperature of 65-121° C. for at least 10 minutes, or an UHT treatment at temperatures above 121° C., at an ionic strength of less than 60 mM and a pH of less than 4.5 yielding a heat treated native potato protease inhibitor solution; and setting the ionic strength of the native potato protease inhibitor solution to more than 60 mM.
US09102748B2
The present invention relates to a method to isolate genes involved in the process of asymmetric cell division. The invention relates further to genes isolated using this method, and their use in controlling root formation, preferably lateral root formation.
US09102742B2
Regions of B. anthracis protective antigen are provided representing sequences recognized by antibodies in subjects that have vaccine induced lethal toxin neutralizing anti-PA IgG responses. The recognition of these PA regions enhances the utility of anti-PA IgG reactivity as an immune correlate of protection against anthrax in a subject and increases predictive probability of survival. Also provided are vaccines that include at least one of these PA regions that when administered to a subject improve the predictive value of vaccine induced anti-PA IgG and TNA responses as immune correlates of protection against inhalation anthrax.
US09102739B2
An anti-glypican-3 antibody comprising one or more amino acid substitutions introduced in the Fc region is disclosed. Preferably, in the anti-glypican-3 antibody, one or more of the amino acid residues at the positions 239, 298, 326, 330 and 332 in the Fc region are substituted with other amino acid residues. Since the Fc-modified anti-glypican-3 antibody of the invention exhibit enhanced ADCC activity, it is useful in treating cancers, such as hepatic cancer. Also disclosed are an anticancer agent comprising the anti-glypican-3 antibody of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, as well as a method of treating a patient with cancer comprising administering to the patient the anticancer agent of the invention.
US09102737B2
Human antibodies immunospecific for human CD27 are capable of blocking CD27 binding to its ligand CD70 and neutralizing bioactivity of CD27 including, but not limited to, CD27 intracellular signaling, T-cell proliferation and activation, B-cell proliferation and differentiation, plasmablast formation and alleviation of antibody responses, stimulation of tumor cells by CD70, and the production of soluble mediators from T and B-cells. The antibodies are useful in diagnosing or treating CD27 activity associated diseases and conditions.
US09102723B2
The invention provides a method for producing a host cell protein-(HCP) reduced antibody preparation from a mixture comprising an antibody and at least one HCP, comprising an ion exchange separation step wherein the mixture is subjected to a first ion exchange material, such that the HCP-reduced antibody preparation is obtained.
US09102719B2
The present invention relates to the identification of polynucleotides and polypeptides involved in insulin and adiponectin signaling and regulation of glucose production. The invention further relates to the use of the identified polynucleotides and polypeptides, and inhibitors of the polynucleotides and polypeptides, in the regulation of glucose production and the monitoring and treatment of metabolic disorders such as diabetes.
US09102718B2
The present invention relates to methods that involve administration of an anti-S1 P antibody or antibody fragment or derivative to a subject having or suspected of having an ocular disease or condition, including one involving choroidal neovascularization, in order to achieve a desired effect. Such effects include reducing the size of a choroidal neovascularization lesion in the eye, decreasing or resolving retinal pigment epithelial detachment, decreasing central retinal lesion thickness, and preserving or improving visual acuity. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising an anti-S1 P antibody for ocular administration are also provided. The compositions and methods are particularly useful for treating subjects having age-related macular degeneration, particularly exudative or wet age-related macular degeneration.
US09102711B2
The present disclosure relates to methods and materials for mutagenesis, including for the generation of novel or improved proteins and libraries or arrays of mutant proteins or nucleic acids encoding such mutant proteins.
US09102704B2
A compound of formula I wherein: R7 is selected from: ORA, where RA is selected from C1-4 saturated alkyl, optionally substituted by phenyl, which may bear a chloro substituent, pyridyl and furanyl; chloro; NH2; —CH2—O—C(═O)Me; R8 is OProto, where Proto is a silicon-based oxygen protecting group orthogonal to Rc; R9 is selected from H, methyl and methoxy; Rs is selected from CF3, (CF2)3CF3, CH3 and (formula 2) and Rc is selected from: (i) C(═O)—ORC1, where RC1 is a saturated C1-4 alkyl group; (ii) —CH2—O—C(═O)RC2, where RC2 is methyl or phenyl; (iii) CH2—O—Si—(RSi1)(RSi2)(RSi3), where RSi1, RSi2, RSi3 are independently selected from C1-6 a saturated alkyl group and a phenyl group; and (iv) C(—YRC3)(—YRC4) where each Y is independently O or S, and where RC3 and RC4 are independently a saturated C1-4 alkyl group, or together form a C2-3 alkylene.
US09102699B2
An amine or hydrazide derivative of a sialic acid unit, e.g. in a polysaccharide, is reacted with a bifunctional reagent at least one of the functionalities of which is an ester of N-hydroxy succinimide, to form an amide or hydrazide product. The product has a useful functionality, which allows it to be conjugated, for instance to proteins, drugs, drug delivery systems or the like. The process is of particular utility for derivatising amine groups introduced in sialic acid terminal groups of polysialic acids.
US09102697B2
The present invention relates to trioxacarcin compounds of the formula: (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable forms thereof; wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, and R9 are as defined herein. The present invention also provides processes for preparing such compounds and intermediates thereto; pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds; and methods of use and treatment.
US09102696B2
This invention relates to a novel compound having high refractive index suitable for use in optical resin materials, etc., without containing a sulfur atom, and to a method of preparing the same, in which the compound is a phosphorus-based (meth)acrylate compound represented by Formula (I).
US09102694B1
A combination of a substrate selected from silicon, silicon carbide or a metal and a grapheme precursor having the following properties: (a) an aromatic structure that forms the basis of the graphene structure, said aromatic structure being selected from the group consisting of: benzene, naphthalene, pyrene, anthracene, chrysene, coronene, and phenanthrene, or a cyclic or acyclic structures which can be converted to aromatic structures and (b) functional groups that can react with each other to form additional aromatic structures.
US09102681B2
This invention provides, but is not limited to, novel oleanolic acid derivatives having the formula: wherein the variables are defined herein. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions, kits and articles of manufacture comprising such compounds, methods and intermediates useful for making the compounds, and methods of using the compounds and compositions.
US09102680B2
The present invention provides a new forms of (R)—N-methylnaltrexone, and compositions thereof, useful as a peripheral mu opioid receptor antagonist.
US09102679B2
The invention relates to novel 1,6-disubstituted pyrazolopyrimidinones of formula (I), in which Hc is a tetrahydropyranyl-group and R1 is the group V—W—*, whereby V and W independently of each other may be an aryl group or an heteroaryl group, which independently of each other may optionally be substituted. According to one aspect of the invention the new compounds are for use as medicaments or for the manufacture of medicaments, in particular medicaments for the treatment of conditions concerning deficits in perception, concentration, learning or memory. The new compounds are also for the manufacture of medicaments and/or for use in the treatment of e.g. Alzheimer's disease, in particular for cognitive impairment associated with Alzheimer's disease.
US09102674B2
The invention provides a chemical entity of Formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3, Y, and n have any of the values described herein and compositions comprising such chemical entities; methods of making them; and their use in a wide range of methods, including metabolic and reaction kinetic studies, detection and imaging techniques, and radioactive treatments; and therapies, including inhibiting MAO, and MAO-B selectively, enhancing neuronal plasticity, treating neurological disorders, providing neuroprotection, treating a cognitive impairment associated with a CNS disorder, enhancing the efficiency of cognitive and motor training, providing neurorecovery and neurorehabilitation, enhancing the efficiency of non-human animal training protocols, and treating peripheral disorders (including obesity, diabetes, and cardiometabolic disorders) and their associated co-morbidities.
US09102669B2
The present invention is directed to novel piperidinyl-pyridazinyl derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as inhibitors of SCD1, useful in the treatment of obesity, type-II diabetes and other related metabolic disorders.
US09102668B2
The present invention is directed to novel polymorphs and salts of a compound which is an inhibitor of kinase activity.
US09102665B2
The present invention relates to novel cysteinyl leukotriene (specifically LTD4) antagonists, mainly to quinolin, quinoxaline or benz[c]thiazole derivatives represented by the general formula (I), or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, process of preparation thereof, and to the use of the compounds in the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions for the therapeutic treatment of disorders related to cysteinyl leukotriene, in mammals, more specially in humans.
US09102662B2
Substituted indazole derivatives of formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, as defined in the specification; the compounds of the invention may be useful in therapy in the treatment of diseases associated with a deregulated protein kinase activity, like cancer.
US09102661B2
Compositions and methods are disclosed in embodiments relating to induction of cell death such as in cancer cells. Compounds and related methods for synthesis and use thereof, including the use of compounds in therapy for the treatment of cancer and selective induction of apoptosis in cells are disclosed. Compounds are disclosed that have lower neurotoxicity effects than other compounds.
US09102660B2
A process provides for producing chiral prostacyclin derivatives of Formula (I) in high yield from meso anhydrides.
US09102659B2
Multifunctional nitroxide derivatives comprising a potassium channel opener and a reactive oxygen species (ROS) degradation catalyst that can act as an anti-oxidant, as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising them are provided. The multifunctional compounds and pharmaceutical compositions are useful for treatment of diseases, disorders or conditions associated with oxidative stress or endothelial dysfunction.
US09102654B2
The present application provides processes for making pesticidal compounds and compounds useful both as pesticides and in the making of pesticidal compounds.
US09102649B1
The present invention relates to compounds of Formula I and Formula II or its pharmaceutical acceptable salts, as well as polymorphs, solvates, enantiomers, stereoisomers and hydrates thereof. The pharmaceutical compositions comprising an effective amount of compounds of Formula I and Formula II; and formulated to treat an underlying etiology by oral administration, delayed release or sustained release, transmucosal, syrup, topical, parenteral administration, injection, subdermal, oral solution, rectal administration, buccal administration or transdermal administration.
US09102644B2
The present invention describes methods and apparatuses for the synthesis of 5-(chloromethyl)-2-furaldehyde (CMF) from saccharides in pure or crude form, the method comprising: (a) continuously contacting saccharides in pure or crude form, hydrochloric acid, and an organic solvent, by way of a continuous, biphasic-flow reactor assembly at a temperature from about 60 degrees C. to about 200 degrees C. and pressures from about 1 atmosphere to about 20 atmospheres, such that CMF is produced; (b) separating 5-(chloromethyl)-2-furaldehyde by liquid/liquid and solid/liquid phase separation; (c) producing at least five kilograms per day with at least 50% yield. Embodiments of the present invention can produce CMF in a continuous fashion, with high yield and without degradation of CMF to such side products as 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF), 2-(2-hydroxyacetyl)furan (HAF) and levulinic acid (LA).
US09102642B2
Compounds of Formula (I), wherein the substituents are as defined in claim 1, are suitable for use as herbicides.
US09102634B2
Enantiomerically enriched (1 S,4R)-2-oxa-3-azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene of formula wherein PG1 is an amino-protective group, are prepared from cyclopentadiene via hetero-Diels-Alder cycloaddition with protected 1-C-nitroso-β-D-ribofuranosyl halides of formula wherein X is a halogen atom selected from fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine, PG2 is a hydroxyl-protective group and PG3 is a 1,2-diol-protective group.
US09102633B2
The present invention relates to the compound of the formula: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, as well as compositions containing the same, processes for the preparation of the same, and therapeutic methods of use therefore in promoting hydration of mucosal surfaces and the treatment of diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, bronchiectasis, acute and chronic bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, emphysema, and pneumonia.
US09102631B2
Disclosed are novel 1-(arylmethyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinazoline-2,4-diones and analogs thereof, represented by the Formula 1: wherein Ar, A, R1, R3-R6 are defined herein. Compounds having Formula I are PARP inhibitors. Therefore, compounds of the invention may be used to treat clinical conditions that are responsive to the inhibition of PARP activity, such as cancer.
US09102626B2
The present disclosure provides methods for identifying therapeutic agents that are multifunctional radical quenchers. It also provides compounds of formula (I), (II), or (II-A): and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, compositions comprising these compounds, and methods of using these compounds in a variety of applications, such as treatment or suppression of diseases associated with decreased mitochondrial function resulting in diminished ATP production and/or oxidative stress and/or lipid peroxidation.
US09102615B2
The invention relates to the R-enantiomer of N-carbamoylmethyl-4-phenyl-2-pyrrolidinone (R-Carphedon) of pharmacological value. The method of its preparation includes the N-alkylation of 4(R)-phenyl-2-pyrrolidinone with ethyl bromoacetate in the presence of a strong base and the treatment of intermediate N-ethoxycarbonylmethyl-4(R)-phenyl-2-pyrrolidinone with ammonia.
US09102609B2
The disclosure provides for catalytic multivariate metal organic frameworks and methods of use thereof.
US09102604B1
A method for cleaning a distilling column includes providing a distilling column including a packing containing nickel and adding hydrochloric acid to the distilling column to wash at least a portion of the packing, thereby cleaning the distilling column.
US09102596B2
In a method of manufacturing 4,4″-dihydroxy-m-terphenyl, a 2-cyclohexene-1-one or 3-hydroxycyclohexane-1-one, and phenol are used as materials, Step (A), Step (B), and Step (C) are implemented in this order, or Step (D) and Step (C) are implemented in this order: Step (A) to obtain a 1,1,3-trisphenol by causing the 2-cyclohexene-1-one or 3-hydroxycyclohexane-1-one and phenol to react with each other in the presence of a catalyst; Step (B) to obtain a bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)cyclohexene by causing the 1,1,3-trisphenol to undergo breakdown reaction; Step (C) to obtain a 4,4″-dihydroxy-m-terphenyl by dehydrogenating the bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)cyclohexene; Step (D) to obtain a bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)cyclohexene by causing the 2-cyclohexene-1-one or 3-hydroxycyclohexane-1-one and phenol to react with each other in the presence of a catalyst.
US09102593B2
This invention relates to a novel chemical process for the synthesis of 2-ethyoxycarbonylamino-5-(4-fluorobenzylamino)-nitrobenzene and its use in the preparation of 2-amino-4-(4-fluorobenzylamino)-1-ethoxycarbonylaminobenzene (retigabine/ezogabine) and its polymorphic forms thereof.
US09102586B2
According to the present invention, a method of producing DADPM is provided. The method comprises: converting benzene into nitrobenzene thereby providing a nitrobenzene stream and a first aqueous waste stream comprising nitrobenzene; converting said nitrobenzene from said nitrobenzene stream into aniline, thereby providing an aniline stream and a first part of a second aqueous waste stream comprising aniline; removing nitrobenzene from said aniline prior to converting said aniline from said aniline stream into DADPM; converting said aniline from said aniline stream into DADPM thereby providing a second part of said second aqueous waste stream comprising aniline; stripping aniline and nitrobenzene from said first and second aqueous waste stream by means of a stripping column; providing the stripped aniline and nitrobenzene to said aniline cleaning apparatus or to said nitrobenzene stream.
US09102585B2
Efficient continuous process for manufacturing of 4-aminodiphenylamine from aniline and nitrobenzene
An efficient continuous manufacturing process for 4-aminodiphenylamine by coupling aniline with nitrobenzene in the presence of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) as a base, using flow reactors wherein base decomposition is considerably reduced by optimizing base quantity, process conditions and process equipment.
US09102581B2
Recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. Separation and purification processes of crude ethanol product are employed to allow recovery of ethanol and remove impurities. In addition, the process involves separating the crude ethanol product using an extractive distillation column that employs an extraction agent, such as a recycled stream comprising water.
US09102566B2
A method of manufacturing a reinforced plate glass by which glass surface strength is sufficiently increased, and a stable quality reinforced plate glass is manufactured at high production efficiency. The reinforced plate glass is formed of an inorganic oxide glass, and is provided with a compression stress layer by chemical reinforcement on plate surfaces opposed to each other in a plate thickness direction. Plate end faces have regions where a compression stress is formed and regions where no compression stress is formed.
US09102563B2
Various embodiments of free-space fiber waveguide connectors, feed-throughs and GRIN lens assemblies and methods of bonding GRIN lenses in, and aligning waveguide fibers to, such connectors, feed-throughs and assemblies. In one embodiment, a free-space fiber waveguide connector includes: (1) an insert having a waveguide fiber bonded in a fiber mount attached proximate one end of the insert and an angle-faced GRIN lens attached proximate an opposing end of the insert and (2) a lens collar attached to the GRIN lens, the one end defining a reference plane and a virtual axis of the GRIN lens perpendicular to the reference plane, the fiber mount adjustable to a reflection from a reflective surface bonded parallel to the reference plane.
US09102556B2
A spill control material has a combination of a pre-defined blended granule size mixture of amorphous alumina silicate in an aggregate blend of a plurality of predefined sieve grades where the combination has enhanced encapsulation properties greater than a single granule formulation. The pre-defined blended granule size mixture of amorphous alumina silicate has granules ranging in sizes larger than five microns and less than sixty-six microns in an aggregate blend of sieve grades #3 and #0.
US09102551B2
Water purification media contain an activated carbon having at least one of specific a particle size, surface area, and porosity; and a microcrystalline and/or amorphous titanosilicate at least partially coating the activated carbon. Methods of making the media of microcrystalline and/or amorphous titanosilicate coated activated carbon involve contacting activated carbon with titanosilicate precursors. Methods of purifying water involve contacting water containing both heavy metals and volatile byproducts with the media.
US09102544B2
A treatment system and process is described herein to separate constituent parts from aqueous-based products or by-products, such as wastewater from a cellulosic ethanol process. The treatment system may include an ultrafiltration system, a first reverse osmosis system and a second reverse osmosis system. The treatment system may be configured to operate in modified batch mode.
US09102542B1
The method of producing activated carbon from fuel oil includes mixing the fuel oil with an activating chemical at room temperature to produce an activated fuel oil, carbonizing the activated fuel oil to produce activated carbon, and optionally washing the activated carbon produced. The produced activated carbon has high efficiency and it may be activated in a process that requires a comparatively low amount of energy, thus allowing the activated carbon to be regenerated in-situ.
US09102534B2
A process for reducing CO2 emissions from combined cycle power generation processes utilizing a gaseous hydrocarbon feed, which includes splitting the hydrocarbon feed into two portions; a first portion ≦45% by volume of the feed and a second portion ≧55% by volume of the feed, feeding the first portion to an autothermal reforming process to generate a hydrogen-containing gas and a carbon dioxide stream, combining the hydrogen-containing stream with the second portion, combusting the resulting hydrogen-containing fuel stream with oxygen containing gas in a gas turbine to generate electrical power and passing the exhaust gas mixture from the gas turbine to a heat recovery steam generation system that feeds one or more steam turbines to generate additional electrical power. The captured carbon dioxide stream may be fed to storage or enhanced oil recovery processes. The process may be retrofitted into existing combined cycle processes.
US09102531B2
A method is provided for controlling the operating temperature of a catalytic reactor using a closed-loop system that provides for varying the reactor input and other operating parameters in order to maintain the operating temperature of the reactor at or near the initial setpoint temperature for operation of the reactor. In one example, maximum and minimum operating temperatures with a catalytic partial oxidation reactor are controlled, as well as maintaining control over the corresponding minimum required ratio of oxygen atoms to carbon atoms, such that the operating temperature within the reactor is maintained below the material limits but above threshold temperatures for coking.
US09102524B2
A photomultiplier tube includes a photocathode, a first electrode, and a second electrode opposedly disposed to the first electrode and separated from it to create a space therebetween. An anode opposedly disposed to the photocathode. The first electrode and the second electrode are disposed between the anode and the photocathode. The photocathode is adjacent to the first electrode and separated from it, and the anode is adjacent to the second electrode and separated from it. An amplifying medium is disposed in the space between the first electrode and the second electrode. The amplifying medium includes metal oxide nanoparticles and/or an aerogel. The metal oxide nanoparticles have an aspect ratio greater than or equal to about 5.
US09102523B2
The present invention includes an electron-discharge signal system with a supercharged electron source and process therefor. The system may be any signal modification unit such as a klystron, magnetron, traveling wave tube, etc. The system includes a heat-responsive electron source, supercharger, collector, a wave modification assembly, and a bleeder module. The electron source discharges an electron beam along a predetermined electron path. The supercharger heats the electron source upon absorption of electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined signal characteristic redirected by the system. The bleeder module redirects a portion of the system's output signal to the supercharger, which heats in response thereto. In other embodiments, the system may be operated entirely by electromagnetic radiation from a freestanding signal source.
US09102518B2
The invention relates to a process for modifying the properties of a thin layer (1) formed on the surface of a support (2) forming a substrate (3) utilized in the field of microelectronics, nanoelectronics or microtechnology, nanotechnology, characterized in that it consists of: forming at least one thin layer (1) on a nanostructured support with high specific surface (2), and treating the nanostructured support with high specific surface (2) to generate internal strains in the support causing its deformation at least in the plane of the thin layer so as to ensure corresponding deformation of the thin layer to modify its properties.
US09102513B1
A MEMS package structure including a chip, a MEMS device, a lid, a sealant and a first moisture barrier is provided. The chip comprises an active surface. The MEMS system device is disposed on the active surface. The lid is covered on the chip and comprising a recess, wherein the MEMS device is in the recess. The sealant is disposed between the chip and the lid so as to seal the recess, wherein a thickness of the sealant is less than a height of the MEMS device. The first moisture barrier is sealed around the chip, the sealant and the lid.
US09102510B1
Apparatuses and methods for removing liquid, such as oil, gas, or fuel, from an overturned tanker truck are disclosed herein. One or more ports are provided along the side of a tanker truck compartment, which may be accessed in the event of a rollover of the tanker truck. The port is sealed during normal use of the truck but may be opened from the outside in order to remove fuel. Additionally, an opening tool is disclosed in the event the port is below the internal liquid surface level, in order to prevent spills.
US09102506B2
Method for the assembly of a mobile crane, particularly a telescopic crane, at a construction site, having a main boom as well as at least one boom enhancement loaded on a transport in turn having at least one lattice section. The method includes the steps of moving the mobile crane and/or the transport, to coarsely align the crane main boom and at least one lattice section of the boom enhancement to each other, connecting the crane main boom to the lattice section by one or more traction elements, and raising the main boom, which results in traction being applied to the one or more traction elements, to align the axes of the junctions of the main boom and of the lattice section at least partially for the subsequent assembly.
US09102505B2
The invention relates to bridge crane assembly and a method for installation of a bridge crane. The invention is especially applicable for use in service and repair of vehicles and other heavy equipment in field conditions, such as crisis areas. The bridge crane assembly is supported by two containers (91, 92), upon which there are support frames (10, 20). The support frames are fixed to the top corners of the containers with twistlocks (19a-19d, 29a-29d), and the support frames support a crane bridge (30) with a hoist (40).
US09102494B2
The invention relates to a collating apparatus (90), which includes a conveying track on which, in a closed circuit, a multiplicity of receiving units (13) arranged one after another in the direction of circulation to hold pre-products to be collated circulate, and on which, in at least one collating region (94, 95, 96), a plurality of feed devices are arranged one after another in the direction of circulation, from which pre-products are discharged into the receiving units (13) moving past on the conveying track. In such a collating apparatus, flexible operation is made possible in that the receiving units (13) are conveyed on the conveying track by means of a three-dimensionally flexible, preferably chain-like, conveying element, in that the receiving units (13) in each case have clamping means, which hold the pre-products collated in the receiving units (13) in a clamped manner, and in that at a plurality of points of the conveying track there are arranged transfer devices (91, 92, 93) which transport collated pre-products away from the receiving units (13) for post processing.
US09102493B2
In general, the present invention comprises of a control unit with a tape applicator with operative members to selectively actuate sensors of a multiple sensor arrangement each of which is positioned to detect movement or position caused by a carton or the dispensing tape; specifically, the signal caused by the present of the carton; the movement caused by the dispensing tape as the carton being taped, and a further signal actuated based on the size (depletion) of the dispensing tape roll. The detected signals from the sensors are sent to a control unit with a multiple timing circuit or a preprogrammed micro processor with predetermined sequences and time values to generate and emit a correspond alarm signal based on the following control logics.
US09102492B2
A sheet processing apparatus includes a conveyance unit to transport a sheet bundle including multiple sheets in a sheet conveyance direction and a binding device including a clamping unit. The clamping unit includes multiple projections and multiple recesses to engage the respective projections to clamp the sheet bundle inserted therebetween. At least one of the multiple projections includes an inclined portion facing a sheet conveyance direction, and an inclination of the inclined portion is 45 degrees or smaller relative to a face parallel to the sheet conveyance direction.
US09102491B2
An improved tape delivery assembly for delivering a turn-up tape across a moving web of paper being wound onto a spool, the assembly being part of a paper web turn-up system, the tape being used to sever and transfer the leading edge of the cut paper web onto an empty spool. The track body of the tape delivery assembly extending across the paper web comprises a dual internal pathway, having a primary longitudinal channel and a secondary longitudinal channel through which a primary or secondary tape is passed, respectively. A primary tape dispenser assembly delivers the primary tape into the primary channel and a secondary tape dispenser assembly delivers the secondary tape into the secondary channel. A braking mechanism is provided to retard travel of the primary and secondary tapes for removal from the track body.
US09102490B2
A web winding apparatus comprises two bobbins each being able to wind a web thereon; a cutter provided movably between the bobbin on one side and the bobbin on the other side for cutting the web being transferred; and a web pressing member provided at a position to face the cutter so that the web being transferred is put between the web pressing member and the cutter. The web pressing member is provided movably together with the cutter between the two bobbins, is configured to operate as cutter receiving member which presses and cuts the web in cooperation with the cutter, and is further configured to press a cut end of the web so cut on the bobbin being empty while holding the cut end of the web, to wind the cut end on the bobbin being empty.
US09102488B2
By abutting a positioning member against an abutting surface provided in an image forming apparatus body, positioning in a mounting direction of a sheet storing portion drawably mounted on the image forming apparatus body. A position of the positioning member is changed stepwise by a support portion having a receiving surface abutting against the positioning member, and the shift of the sheet storing portion positioned by the positioning member with respect to the image forming portion is adjusted stepwise.
US09102486B2
An accommodating device includes an accommodating portion including a bottom portion and in which a member to be accommodated is accommodated, a stacking member disposed in the accommodating portion such that, while one end side of the stacking member serves as a fulcrum, the other end side thereof is able to move upward, and on which the member to be accommodated is stacked, a lifting/lowering mechanism that lifts the other end side and causes the stacking member to drop under its own weight by releasing a lifting force, and a buffer member that acts as a buffer between the stacking member and the bottom portion of the accommodating portion while being constantly in contact with a bottom surface of the stacking member and a top surface of the bottom portion of the accommodating portion within a movable range in which the lifting/lowering mechanism causes the stacking member to move.
US09102485B2
A sheet conveyance apparatus includes a conveyance roller pair, an urging portion, a releasing portion, and a moving portion. The conveyance roller pair includes a first roller and a second roller, and conveys a sheet. The urging portion applies a pinching force to the conveyance roller pair. The releasing portion releases the pinching force of the conveyance roller pair against an urging force of the urging portion. The moving portion moves the conveyance roller pair, the urging portion, and the releasing portion in a width direction intersecting with a sheet conveyance direction.
US09102480B2
A pallet dispenser includes a frame adapted to support a stack of pallets. The frame includes four screws with spiral flights. The pallets rest on the top edge of the spiral flights of the screws. Rotation of the screws then lowers the stack and allows the bottom pallet to drop to a support below the screws.
US09102473B2
The present invention provides a simple suspension bridge type belt conveyor, which includes a simple suspension bridge body, a conveyor belt, a trough support roller apparatus and a circular support roller apparatus. There are multiple supporting pillars beneath the simple suspension bridge body. The trough support rollers apparatus and the circular support roller apparatus are fixed on the simple suspension bridge body. The conveyor conveys materials on the conveyor belt, which is moving through the trough support rollers apparatus and the circular support roller apparatus. By means of aforementioned way, the simple suspension bridge type belt conveyor with respect to the present invention, is able to make the conveyor belt pass over the pillars of simple suspension bridge without overstressing the conveyor belt, and has lower manufacturing cost and higher conveying efficiency.
US09102463B2
Methods and apparatus provide for filling at least one cavity with a liquid via: partly filling a cavity of a semifinished product containing at least two cavities, covering the semifinished product at least in some areas, so as to prevent the escape of liquid from the semifinished product, displacing at least some of the liquid from the already partially filled cavity, such that at least one other cavity is completely filled by a portion of the displaced liquid and another portion of the displaced liquid at least partially fills at least one overflow.
US09102462B2
A nicotine-containing chewing gum piece packed in a wrapping of laminate, where the laminate comprises at least an inner layer facing the chewing gum and a nicotine degradation agent barrier layer of a metal foil. The nicotine-containing chewing gum piece is shaped as an elongate plate having two ends and a thickness and a length, where the length is in the range of 8 to 20 times the thickness. The wrapping has two elongate edges sealed to one another in a fin area extending along the length of the chewing gum piece and two sealed end areas extending beyond the ends of the chewing gum piece.
US09102461B2
An insulative member for surrounding and embracing an exterior surface of a hot-beverage drink cup to provide a grippable low-temperature thermal barrier that can be gripped by a consumer, the member comprising a sheet comprising insulative cellular non-aromatic polymeric material having localized plastic deformation in the sheet and providing a plastically deformed first material segment having a first density located in a first portion of the sheet and a second material segment having a second density lower than the first density located in an adjacent second portion of the sheet.
US09102458B2
The present disclosure belongs to the field of liquid crystal displays (LCDs), and more particularly relates to a packing device of a backlight module including a fixing frame, a rotating shaft, and a clamping piece which can rotate around the rotating shaft. The rotating shaft is fixed to the fixing frame. The clamping piece includes an upper arm and a lower arm, and the upper arm and the lower arm are respectively used for clamping upper and lower surfaces of the backlight module. When an opening formed by surrounding the upper arm and the lower arm is upward, one edge of the backlight module can be put above the lower arm. Then, the backlight module is slowly put down, and the lower arm of the clamping piece rotates around the fixing shaft under stress. When the opening formed by surrounding the upper arm and the lower arm of the clamping piece is in a horizontal direction, the lower arm comes into contact with the lower surface of the backlight module to form a supporting state, and the upper arm of the clamping piece is pressed against the upper surface of the backlight module. Thus, the backlight module is completely fixed. The packing device of the backlight module of the present disclosure can be up and down stacked, and the stress of each layer of backlight module is uniform. Thus, a problem of affecting optical quality of the backlight module due to gravity accumulation is solved.
US09102454B2
A packaging wrapper (14) is made of material (48) having inner (50) and outer (52) laminate structures bonded together. A peelable flap (24) is defined in the wrapper by means of offset score lines (54, 56) in the laminate structures, the structures being bonded together in a marginal region between the score lines by means of a peelable adhesive (60). In one aspect of the invention, the score lines (54, 56) are formed using a pair of contra-rotating die cylinders (80, 82, FIG. 8) positioned on opposite sides of the laminated film Each cylinder contacts a respective laminate structure and has a blade (86, 88) for forming a score line in that structure. In another aspect, the laminate structures (50, 52) are bonded together using a single peelable adhesive (60) both within and outside of the marginal region. In a further aspect, the structures (50, 52) are not bonded together in at least part of the marginal region to provide a lifting tab (46) for the flap.
US09102453B2
The disclosure relates to a gusseted reclosable package with an internal unisex reclosure strip. The reclosure strip has upper and lower flanges, and a two or three-point connection, rather than a four-point connection, to the interior circumference of the package. This results in the package having a higher internal (product side) opening strength than the external (consumer side) opening strength, thereby allowing the package to be easily opened by the consumer while maintaining a high burst strength.
US09102450B2
A tubular container (2) which comprises a tubular body portion (6), a lid (8) for closing a first end of the body portion (6), a strengthening member (7) at the first end of the body portion (6), and an end closure Member (17) for closing a second end of the body portion (6), the strengthening member (7) being attached to the lid (8) by a hinge which is formed to be integral with the strengthening member (7) and the lid (8), the lid (8) being such that it fits into the strengthening member (7), the strengthening member (7) being such that it has a skirt portion (13) inside the first end of the body portion (6) and a pair of oppositely positioned extension members (15) which extend from the skirt portion (13) into the body portion (6) and which are for receiving pressure applied to the body portion (6) in order to ensure that the strengthening member (7) deforms so as to enable the lid (8) to pop open and in order to ensure that the pressure does not collapse the first end of the body portion (6), the lid (8) having a concave portion (18) for receiving part (16) of the strengthening member (7) that is inwardly deformed by the pressure, the lid (8) having a flap (28) that flexes in response to the inward deformation of the part (16) of the strengthening member (7), and the lid (8), the fixing member (7) and the end closure member (17) all being made of a plastics material.
US09102449B2
A dispensing cap including a closure having a top pivotably mounted to a base by a hinge. The closure is rotatably mounted to a ring. The top of the dispensing cap is opened only when the hinge is aligned with a notch formed in the ring and pressure is applied to flexible areas of the ring to disengage mating members of the ring and the top.
US09102446B2
A clam shell plastic container includes a rectangular container body with a floor and tapered sides and an integral lid. The container body and lid are thermoformed in one piece and in an open configuration. A first hinge along the side of the container body between the container body and the lid allows the lid to rotate into a closed position on the container body. A tear strip adjacent the first hinge allows a user to separate the lid from the container body to open the container body. After separation the lid is relocked to the container body along the side opposite the first hinge and a second hinge along this opposite side is used thereafter to open the container.
US09102439B2
A cup assembly configured to be coupled to a second cup assembly is provided. The cup assembly includes a container having an open top, a closed bottom base, and a sidewall extending between the open top and the base. The open top, the base, and the sidewall define a cavity of the container. The cup assembly further includes a lid configured to removably couple to the container. The lid includes a lower portion configured to be received within the cavity of the container to couple the lid to the container.
US09102434B2
A plastic container that is adapted for adjustment to internal volumetric changes such as those that occur as a result of internal pressure and temperature changes during the hot-fill process includes a container body defining an internal space. The container body has at least one flexible panel defined therein, which includes an outer flexible panel portion and an inner flexible panel portion. The outer flexible panel portion has a shape when a pressure equilibrium exists between the internal space and ambient external pressure, and is further constructed and arranged to assume a shape of increased concavity when a sufficient underpressure exists in the internal space. The inner flexible panel portion is constructed and arranged to flex relative to the outer flexible panel portion in order to accommodate internal pressure changes within the container body. The inner and outer flexible panel portions accordingly work in tandem to permit efficient vacuum uptake in a hot-fill type container. In addition, a boundary between the outer and inner flexible panel portions is preferably entirely curved.
US09102431B2
The present invention provides a support structure article having a frame with a top side, bottom side, back side and front side. The front side may include both a straight front side and slanted front side between the top side and the straight front side. The top side and bottom side of the frame may be parallel, and the back side and straight front side of the frame may be parallel. The top side and bottom side of the frame may each be perpendicular to the back side and straight front side of the frame. The article may also have a first set and a second set of crossing members inside the frame that intersect. A bag is also provided having walls that correspond in shape to the sides of the frame. Methods of making and using the bags and/or support structures of the present invention are also provided.
US09102428B2
An apparatus for laying sliced foods (11) into containers (390) comprises a main transport unit (20, 91) and a secondary transport unit (50, 150) downstream of the main unit. The two units are adapted to carry sliced foods (11) from a slicing station to a packaging station.A control unit (40) controls the individual and combined movements of the two transport units based on at least one arrangement parameter (P1, P2) inputted through a user interface (60).The apparatus for laying sliced foods (11) into containers (390) receives these foods from a slicing station through a feeding station (80, 180) and causes advancing of same to a laying unit for arrangement in containers (310).The containers (390) are then routed to a packaging station.
US09102427B2
A hinge comprises a post that forms a pivot axis for a lid. A ring portion is rotatably mounted on the post portion and comprises a hole having a recess extending from the periphery of hole where the hole receives the post. A pin on the post is dimensioned to fit into the recess when the recess rotates into alignment with the pin to lock the lid in an open position. The hinge may be used on a trash container that comprises a receptacle and a lid pivotably mounted to the receptacle at the hinge.
US09102426B2
An apparatus and method for reducing stress marks and pleats on a package. The apparatus includes the use of an elongated filling tube. The dimensions of the elongated filling tube reduce the stress on the film as it is being formed around the filling tube. Further, the dimensions of the elongated filling tube prevent the formation of pleats as the sealing jaws must travel a decreased distance to seal, and the filling tube cross section better resembles the final package.
US09102410B2
A tray table assembly for a passenger seat including a horizontal rail arranged alongside the seat, the horizontal rail having a length extending from the seatback to a position forward of the seat, a carriage assembly configured to travel horizontally along the rail, and a tray table attached to the carriage assembly, the tray table configured to pivot between a vertical orientation in which the tray table is stowed alongside the seatback and a horizontal orientation in which the tray table is positioned forward of the seatback.
US09102407B2
A resonance engine is disclosed including: a driver plate, to which is coupled at least one oscillatory transducer; a drive signal generator connected to the oscillatory transducer for excitation thereof; a first spring-mass resonator, having a first natural resonant frequency, with a proximal end attached to the driver plate and a free distal end; and a reaction means attached to the driver plate substantially opposite to the first spring-mass resonator. When the oscillatory transducer is excited by a drive signal from the generator having a component at or close to said natural resonant frequency, the first spring-mass resonator oscillates at resonance, substantially in anti-phase to the driver plate. Small vibrational strains in the oscillatory transducer are converted to large strains of controllable kinematic movements.
US09102405B2
The invention aims to transfer a substantial volume of high-quality, high-volume real-time data, which currently cannot be achieved by wireless techniques, between a mobile airborne observation platform and the ground station via a tethered fiber connection between said platform and said ground station.
US09102404B2
The invention relates to a method for controlling the deceleration on the ground of a vehicle. The method obtains, from the crew of the vehicle or from an outside operator, parameters relating to its current position and its current speed. Then it determines a reference position and speed of the vehicle, the reference position being a theoretical position to be reached by the vehicle. Finally it determines, from indicated parameters and from reference parameters, a deceleration command with a view to ending up at a target position at a preselected speed.
US09102399B2
A flight control system includes a command model modified in response to a Life Improving Control (LIC) algorithm. An inverse aircraft model is in communication with the command model to generate a flight control system command to command an aircraft state. A feedback path from the command model and the aircraft state is also modified in response to the Life Improving Control (LIC) algorithm.
US09102397B2
An airfoil, a fan assembly and an unducted contra-rotating fan engine include fabricating at least one airfoil including a suction and a pressure side coupled together at a leading and a trailing edge and extending therebetween. The airfoil includes a plurality of chord sections having a chord length. The airfoil including a tip profile defining a reducing slope extending from the leading edge at the tip portion along at least a portion of the chord length. The tip profile is configured to reduce the high unsteady pressure near the tip portion of the airfoil.
US09102395B2
A propulsive system for aircraft that has a jet engine and a nacelle surrounding the aforementioned jet engine. The nacelle has a front section fixed relative to the jet engine, and a rear extremity behind the front section, and has a rear section with two petals hinged relative to the front section. Each of the two petals in a position called zero-setting forms an extension of the front section of the nacelle in which the inside and outside surfaces of the petals and, respectively, determine the aerodynamic forms of the rear section, which are in geometric continuity with the inside and outside surfaces and, respectively, that determine the aerodynamic forms of the front section. The petals can be set individually at a positive or negative setting angle to put into play the reverser, APU, air brake, vectorial, and taxiing modes of the propulsive system.
US09102393B2
A wing assembly for an aircraft is disclosed having a spar, a wing cover, and a rib. The spar has a web portion and a flange portion joined by a radius corner, wherein a gap is formed at an interface between the spar, the wing cover and the rib. The assembly further includes a seal member which substantially covers the gap, and sealant provided between the seal member and the rib and/or the wing cover and/or the spar so as to seal the gap.
US09102391B2
A system for efficiently transporting hydrogen from where it can be economically made to where it is most needed including an airship having an exoskeleton made up of equal length spokes and equal sized hubs with six spokes terminating at each hub forming a set of hexagons. This set of connected hexagons forms the 3-dimensional shape of the ship by allowing various spokes to flex to different radii. A skin is attached external to the exoskeleton.
US09102387B2
An underwater light-equipped watercraft system includes a watercraft and a removable submersible lighting system. The lighting system includes a harness and a light unit coupled to the harness. The watercraft has a bottom surface that is disposed underwater when the watercraft is used in the water. The harness is removably mounted around at least a portion of the watercraft such that the light unit is disposed against the bottom surface of the watercraft.
US09102364B2
The invention relates to a cross member assembly, in particular a floor cross member assembly and/or a footwell cross member assembly, on a vehicle body, having a cross member (4) which extends in the vehicle transverse direction and on which at least one longitudinal member (6), to which force may be applied, in particular in a crash situation, and which essentially extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction, is supported by force in a defined longitudinal member supporting area (13), the cross member assembly having at least one member component (9, 10, 11) which extends away from the cross member (4) diametrically opposed to the longitudinal member (6) to which force may be applied and/or which is connected in a member component connecting area. According to the invention, a defined, force-conducting load path profile (12), which is designed to be elevated and/or recessed in relation to an adjacent surface area of the cross member (4), is provided on the cross member (4) and extends from the longitudinal member supporting area (13) in the direction of or up to at least one member component (9, 10, 11) and forms a defined load path area on the cross member side.
US09102361B2
A vehicle hood includes an outer hood member, an inner hood member attached to an under side of the outer hood member and defining at least one fold-initiating opening through the inner hood member and a plurality of structural reinforcements defined by the inner hood member, wherein the at least one fold-initiating opening is positioned distal from each of the plurality of structural reinforcements.
US09102358B2
A vehicle includes a frame rail that extends along and is longitudinally offset from a longitudinal axis. A load transferring member includes a first axial end that is attached to an outboard surface of the frame rail. The load transferring member extends along a centerline thereof, toward the forward axial end of the frame rail, to a second axial end of the load transferring member. The centerline of the load transferring member extends between the first axial end and the second axial end of the load transferring member to define a concave curved shape relative to the outboard surface of the frame rail. The load transferring member includes a cross sectional shape perpendicular to the centerline of the load transferring member that increases in area, when measured from the second axial end moving toward the first axial end.
US09102355B2
A method is provided for assisting a driver of a vehicle during operation by providing the driver with a desired steering feel, wherein the vehicle includes a steering arrangement including a manually operated steering device, at least one pair of ground engaging members and a mechanical interconnection between the steering device and the ground engaging members. The method includes detecting a steering angle and determining a desired steering device guiding force based on the detected steering angle, providing the driver with the desired steering feel based on the desired steering device guiding force, and detecting the steering angle in a position at a ground engaging member side of an elastic steering force transmitting element in the steering arrangement.
US09102352B1
In an electric steering device, a plurality of periodic disturbances (M(f1o), M(f2o), . . . M(fno)) can occur which are to be compensated, while additionally occurring, in particular non-periodic, disturbances (Mstoer) are not to be compensated. So as to enable simultaneous compensation of a plurality of such periodic disturbances based on a model (Gnom(s)) of the steering device, it is proposed to map the further disturbances Mstoer occurring in addition to the disturbances M(f1o), M(f2o), (Mfno) to be compensated, together with inaccuracies or modeling errors (Δs) of the model (Gnom(s)) in the form of an unstructured disturbance (Mstoer).
US09102348B2
A baby carriage includes a frame, a lock mechanism, a seat back and a webbing. The frame has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The lock mechanism has a housing and a lock member, the housing is disposed on the first end, a through hole is formed on the housing, and the lock member is disposed in the through hole. The webbing passes through the through hole, it is wound around a back side of the seat back and attached on the second end. The webbing is clamped in the lock member, so as to keep the seat back at a recline angle. When the lock member is operated to release the webbing, the webbing is capable of moving within the through hole, so as to adjust the recline angle of the seat back.
US09102347B2
Present embodiments include a modular welding component transportation system. The system includes a front panel and a wheel assembly. The front panel includes a support platform configured to support a welding system component and the wheel assembly includes a first plurality of wheels. The system also includes a rail configured to adjustably couple with the front panel proximate a first end of the rail and configured to couple with the wheel assembly proximate a second end of the rail. Locating surfaces of the wheel assembly are configured to receive and align the rail for engagement with walls of the wheel assembly. The system further includes a second plurality of wheels configured to be coupled with the front panel or proximate the first end of the rail.
US09102343B2
An electric cart apparatus includes a basket in which objects are to be held. A plurality of front and rear legs is erected downward from the basket. First ends of oblique links are coupled with the basket. Second ends of the oblique links are coupled with lower sections of the front legs. Each of the oblique links is divided into an upper link and a lower link. The lower link has a sliding slot which extends in a lengthwise direction. The upper link has a link engagement portion which is to move along the sliding slot. First ends of auxiliary links are coupled with link coupling portions of the oblique links. Second ends of the auxiliary links are coupled with central portions of the rear legs. Wheels are coupled with lower ends of the front and rear legs.
US09102340B2
A railway circuit for detecting the free or occupied state of the same and for sending signalling information along a railway line to a vehicle travelling along said railway line. A signal generator generates a signal with varying current modulated with FSK technique on a basis of a modulation code. The signal is supplied to a coil magnetically coupled with first and second rails that constitute the single railway circuit to induce a variable current modulated by the code on the electric circuit formed by the portions of the first and second rail short-circuited alternatively by the electric joint. The vehicle is provided with a current sensor suitable for detecting the variable current for extraction of the code and sending the signal to the driver. A signal generator generates a signal in compliance with new safety requirements to determine, with the receiver, the free/occupied state of the railway circuit.
US09102338B2
An onboard communication system for a locomotive consist is disclosed. The communication system may have first and second locomotive communication subsystems. The first communication subsystem may be located on a first locomotive. Each communication subsystem may have a messaging unit communicatively connected to a radio. The first messaging unit may be communicatively connected to the second messaging unit. The second messaging unit may be configured to receive a data communication from the second radio and send the data communication to the first messaging unit. The first messaging unit may be configured to receive the data communication from the second messaging unit, receive a copy of the data communication from the first radio, determine that the data communications are duplicate copies of one another, and send one of the data communications to a locomotive control system based on the determination.
US09102328B2
A motor vehicle with a hybrid drive includes a combustion engine, an electric machine, which can be operated as a motor and used for starting the combustion engine, a control unit, and a starter which can be used for starting the combustion engine. When startup of the combustion engine is imminent, the control unit is designed to select the electric machine and/or the starter for starting the combustion engine depending on at least one operating parameter of the motor vehicle which describes the drive dynamics requirement and/or the torque requirement for the hybrid drive and/or a requirement of a controller of the motor vehicle.
US09102320B2
A method to control a hybrid electric vehicle includes operating a compression ignition engine based on an engine-on request, and performing an exhaust aftertreatment procedure when a fraction of an engine-on time is greater than an aftertreatment condition threshold. A vehicle has a compression ignition engine with an exhaust aftertreatment system, and a controller. The controller is configured to: (i) operate the engine based on an engine-on request, and (ii) perform an exhaust aftertreatment procedure for the vehicle when an engine-on fraction for a designated time is greater than an aftertreatment condition threshold. A computer readable medium having stored data representing instructions executable by a controller to control a vehicle includes instructions for operating the engine based on an engine-on request, and instructions for performing an exhaust aftertreatment procedure for the vehicle when an engine-on time fraction is greater than an aftertreatment condition threshold.
US09102319B2
A vehicle power transmission device is disposed on a hybrid vehicle having an engine and an electric motor, the vehicle power transmission device includes a first member having one of outer circumferential teeth disposed around one axial center or inner circumferential teeth meshing with the outer circumferential teeth and a second member having the other teeth, the inner circumferential teeth and the outer circumferential teeth meshes with each other to limit relative rotation around the one axial center between the first member and the second member, the relative rotation between the first member and the second member is limited to transmit torque of the electric motor to drive wheels.The vehicle power transmission device comprises: a sliding member sliding relative to at least one of the first member and the second member while generating frictional resistance as the first member and the second member relatively rotate within a range corresponding to a circumferential gap between the outer circumferential teeth and the inner circumferential teeth, the sliding member being a hollow elastic body, the sliding member sliding relative to at least one of the first member and the second member depending on magnitude of the torque of the electric motor.
US09102316B2
In a method for assisting the calculation of vehicle speed in a vehicle that comprises an axle differential on at least one vehicle axle and a braking device for decelerating individual wheels of the vehicle axle, in the case of deceleration of the vehicle via the drive train, one wheel of the vehicle axle is additionally decelerated by way of the braking system, the rotation speed of the oppositely located wheel being taken as the basis for ascertaining the vehicle speed.
US09102313B2
A method of operating a vehicle with hybrid-electric powertrain having an engine, a generator, and a battery is provided. A vehicle start input signal is received from an operator interface. A master controller initiates after receiving input from the operator interface. A secondary controller initiates after starting initiation of the master controller. A battery pack cell voltage balancing test is performed utilizing the master controller. Voltage within the battery pack cells is balanced based upon the balancing test. An isolation contactor closes after balancing the voltage within the battery pack. A signal from the master controller to the secondary controller to begin operation is generated after closing the isolation contactor. Alternately, voltage within the battery pack cells based upon results of the balancing test may take place dynamically during vehicle operation after closure of the isolation contactor.
US09102304B2
A protective device has a gas generator and a chamber that is limited by a stretchable membrane and is expandable through gas of the gas generator. The membrane is elastic and a stretchability of the membrane is limited at least in a first portion through a reinforcement.
US09102295B2
The invention relates to a method (400) for monitoring a rental vehicle, said vehicle including a navigation/geolocation device arranged such as to determine and report the positioning coordinates of said vehicle, said method including the following steps: verifying (406) that the positioning coordinates of said vehicle are inside a previously recorded predetermined area and, if the positioning coordinates are not inside the predetermined area, executing a step (408-440) of indicating the anomaly. The invention also relates to a system implementing such a method.
US09102294B2
A vehicle alarm communication system is provided, comprising a handheld electronic device and a vehicle system that utilizes a global positioning satellite (GPS) network and a cellular network to communicate the status of a parked vehicle. The vehicle system comprises a vehicle alarm that monitors the vehicle status when parked, a processing means, and a pair of antennas for communicating data to the key fob using a cellular network and a GPS network. The location of the vehicle is tracked in real-time via the GPS network for vehicle tracking or vehicle locating, while the cellular network is used to communicate status alerts to the key fob. The alerts communicate possible break-ins, vehicle collisions or similar vehicle alarm system changes in state. The use of dual networks allows the systems to communicate data to the user simultaneously, or in lieu of one another if one network is not available.
US09102293B2
A determination is made as to whether an expected signal has not been received from a stolen vehicle tracking (SVT) module in a vehicle. When the expected signal has not been received, at least one operating parameter of the vehicle is determined and based upon the at least one operating parameter, a reason for the absence of the expected signal is determined. Based upon the determined reason for the absence of the expected signal, it is then determined whether or not to issue an alarm.
US09102283B2
An audio driver cabinet is configured for movement between a first orientation within a storage structure and a second orientation outside the storage structure. The audio driver cabinet includes a side wall structure, a first wall, a second wall and a sound driver. The first wall closes off the first end of the side wall structure. The second wall is attached to an interior surface of the side wall structure between a first end and a second end of the side wall structure. A first audio chamber is defined between the first and second walls within the side wall structure. A second audio chamber is defined between the second wall and an open end of the side wall structure. The sound driver is fixed to the second wall facing the second audio chamber. The second end of the side wall structure be an open end or can be sealed.
US09102276B1
A bag holding apparatus supports a bag from a headrest post of a vehicle seat. The apparatus includes a strap having a top end and a bottom end. A coupler is attached to the strap proximate the top end. The coupler is configured for supporting the strap from a headrest post of a vehicle seat. A support member is attached to the strap proximate the bottom end. The support member is configured for supporting a bag therefrom.
US09102275B1
A ladder rack for a vehicle having a cab and a cargo area behind the cab. The rack has two front and two rear upwardly extending legs affixed to the cargo area proximally to and distally from the cab, respectively. Two side sections extending between longitudinally adjacent front and rear legs, respectively; and front overhang sections extending from the front legs, respectively, over and displaced above the cab. The sections each including an upper bar assembly, a lower bar and an attachment for attaching the sections to an adjacent leg. Each of the attachments has a plate and fasteners, the upper bar assemblies and lower bars being end abutting against one or more plates, being fixed to the plates and being displaced from one another at the plates. The plates extend between the upper bar assemblies and the lower bars and outwardly beyond each. The fasteners of the attachments are received by a plate and an adjacent leg beyond the upper bar assembly and the lower bars. Crossbars extend between the front overhang sections, front legs and the side sections. Vertical adjustment of some of the crossbars is provided.
US09102274B2
The invention relates to a resilient infill for positioning in a channel in a crossbar of a roof rack or load carrier. The infill comprises a flexible upper portion and a base comprising a bottom. A pair of flexible, opposing side walls extend from the bottom and curve upwardly and outwardly to meet with outer edges of the flexible upper portion. The width of the upper portion is greater than the width of the bottom and the infill has a substantially hollow interior. The infill is compressible and makes minimal wind noise when positioned in the crossbar of a roof rack located on a moving vehicle.
US09102271B2
A vehicle trailer backup assist system and method includes a hitch angle detection apparatus and a target monitor controller. The target monitor controller processes images acquired of the trailer towed by a towing vehicle to assist with placement of a target on the trailer. The target monitor controller also monitors the target and provides feedback to the user as to proper positioning of the target on the trailer. A target move detection routine detects movement of a target by processing the pixels of the image to determine if a new trailer has been connected. Further, a trailer connection monitoring routine monitors for a changed trailer based on loss of the hitch angle or target for a predetermined time period.
US09102266B2
An exterior door handle assembly includes an illumination device and a handle portion movable to open a vehicle door. The illumination device includes at least one illumination source that, when actuated, emits light. The illumination device includes a lighting strip that is disposed at the handle portion, and the lighting strip extends at least partially along a length dimension of the handle portion. When the illumination source is actuated, the lighting strip is illuminated and the illumination is viewable at least partially along the length dimension of the handle portion by a person viewing the handle portion of the exterior door handle assembly from outside of the vehicle door. When the illumination source is not actuated, the lighting strip may not be readily viewable by and discernible to a person viewing the handle portion of the exterior door handle assembly from outside of the vehicle door.
US09102263B2
The indicator comprises: a light-emitting member capable of emitting light, wherein the light-emitting member has a segment with a shape corresponding to an outline of a gate groove; a face panel disposed in opposed relation to the light-emitting member, and adapted, during the light-emitting of the light-emitting member, to allow light having the shape corresponding to the outline of the gate groove to be transmitted therethrough; and a cover member disposed just above the face panel, and formed with an opening which surrounds a position where the light transmitted through the face panel appears on an outer surface of the face panel.
US09102262B2
In a method of controlling different lighting functions in a vehicle, activation of another one of the lighting functions is dependent on an actual speed of the vehicle, when manually switching from a currently activated one of the lighting functions to the other one of the lighting functions. In particular, when a low beam is automatically activated and a predefined speed is exceeded, activation of a parking light is barred while the low beam remains activated.
US09102261B2
A method, a system, and an apparatus used to automatically exchange identification and collision-related information utilizing wireless communication devices during vehicular accidents are presented. Upon collision, an impact sensor detects and registers the crash, causing a processor to trigger a collision warning, record selected identification and collision-related information in an electronic file, and exchange the same through a secure wireless connection with a collision-activated information exchange device (CIED) of the other vehicle involved and/or with an information exchange device (IED) or devices in the area of the collision. The stored electronic files can later be accessed by and/or even transmitted to authorities to serve as evidence in hit-and-run investigation and/or accident reconstruction.
US09102260B2
A hopper for transportation of mineral or aggregates which prevents the material from falling off due to movements or slope, and which improves load performance and facilitates the download. In the joining areas between the front and the floor and between the sides and the floor there are folded or cylindered pieces giving curvature to such joining points, thus adding anti-adherent features to this hopper. The front is folded with a wide radius, also achieving an anti-adherent feature. There are also folds in the front and the shield to avoid beams in those areas of the hopper, thus decreasing the total weight of such hopper and reducing the appearance of cracks and lessening the amount of welding. Additionally, the area of release is wider than the front and shield portions to allow for a better sliding of the material during unloading.
US09102259B2
The present invention relates to a chain winch apparatus useful for utilizing, for example, as tie-downs for heavy equipment on the decks of railcars, trucks, or other vehicles, although the invention should not be limited to its preferred application. More specifically, the present invention relates to a chain winch apparatus for winching and holding a chain, such as a ½″ chain, and for tensioning the chain for the afore-mentioned tie-down applications. Methods of use are further provided.
